NACE J – Information and Communication | Public Tenders

NACE J: IT and telecommunications in public tenders. Software development, IT services, telecommunications — CPV codes and contracting authorities.

Definition: NACE Section J covers publishing activities, the production of films and broadcasting, telecommunications services, and information technology and IT services. The latter are particularly significant in public procurement: digitalisation and IT modernisation of public administration generate substantial tender volumes each year.

What does NACE J cover?

Division	Title	Brief description
58	Publishing activities	Publishers, book trade, software publishing
59	Motion picture, video and television programme production, sound recording and music publishing	Film, TV production, sound recording
60	Programming and broadcasting activities	Radio and television
61	Telecommunications	Fixed-line, mobile, internet, satellite
62	Computer programming, consultancy and related activities	Software development, IT consulting, IT operations
63	Information service activities	Hosting, database operation, portals

Public Tenders in IT and Telecommunications

The IT sector is one of the most dynamic and high-volume areas of public procurement. E-government, digitalisation of administration, cybersecurity and broadband roll-out continually drive public IT procurement volumes.

Typical Contract Types

Software development and maintenance: Bespoke software for administrative processes, specialist applications, e-government portals
IT operations and data-centre services: Cloud services, hosting, data-centre outsourcing
Telecommunications services: Fixed-line, mobile and internet access for authorities
Cybersecurity: Penetration tests, security operations centres (SOC), security consulting
IT consulting and implementation: ERP roll-outs, digitalisation projects, project management
Geodata and geographic information services: GIS systems, digital map services
Print services and document management: Managed print services, DMS introduction

Thresholds

Supply and service contracts in IT from EUR 221,000 (other contracting authorities) or EUR 143,000 (central contracting authorities, e.g. federal ministries) are subject to EU-wide tendering.

Common CPV Codes

CPV Code	Title	Scope
72000000	IT services: consulting, software development, internet and support	General IT contracts
72200000	Software programming and consultancy services	Bespoke development, customisation
72500000	Computer-related services	IT operations, helpdesk
64200000	Telecommunications services	Network, mobile, internet
72600000	Computer support and consultancy services	IT consulting, advice
48000000	Software packages and information systems	Standard software, licences

Contracting Authorities

Federal data centres and public-sector IT service providers: BRZ (Austria), ITZBund (Germany) as central IT buyers
Federal ministries and authorities: Independent IT procurement and digitalisation projects
Regions and municipalities: E-government portals, administrative software
Schools and universities: Learning management systems, IT infrastructure
Hospitals and healthcare institutions: Hospital information systems (HIS), telemedicine

FAQ

What tenders are available for IT companies? IT companies find contracts in software development (CPV 72200000), IT operations (72500000), telecommunications (64200000) and IT consulting (72600000). EU-wide tenders are published on TED, national tenders on procurement platforms such as ANKÖ (A), DTVP and eVergabe.de (D).

How are cloud services tendered publicly? Cloud services (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) are increasingly tendered via framework agreements or as service contracts. Specific requirements: data protection (GDPR), data location in the EU, certifications (ISO 27001, BSI C5, EUCS). Dynamic purchasing systems (DPS) are gaining importance in IT.

Can start-ups and SMEs participate in IT tenders? Yes, particularly for smaller lots and national procedures. Many authorities use innovation partnerships or market consultations (request for information) to identify new providers. Bidding consortia and sub-contracting also enable smaller firms to access larger contracts.

Last updated: January 2026 All information is provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.