NACE P – Education | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE Section P covers all levels of the education system, from early childhood education to higher education and adult education. In public procurement, educational institutions are both significant contracting authorities (for equipment, IT, catering) and themselves the subject of tenders (education services).

What does NACE P cover?

Division 85 is broken down into:

• 85.1 – Pre-primary education
• 85.2 – Primary education
• 85.3 – Secondary education (lower and upper secondary)
• 85.4 – Higher education (universities, universities of applied sciences)
• 85.5 – Other education (driving schools, language schools, sports schools)
• 85.6 – Educational support activities

Public Tenders in Education

Educational institutions are important public contracting authorities for teaching materials, IT equipment, school catering and building management. At the same time, training and qualification services (further training for authority staff, vocational training for the unemployed) are tendered by the public sector.

Typical Contract Types

• IT equipment for schools: Tablets, laptops, digital boards, Wi-Fi infrastructure, learning platforms
• Teaching materials and schoolbooks: Learning material, books, digital teaching materials
• School catering and meal supply: Lunch catering and break-time service in compulsory schools
• Education services: Vocational training measures for employment agencies, training for authority staff
• School building works: New build and refurbishment of school buildings, sports halls and kindergartens
• Language courses and counselling: Integration courses, language support measures, career counselling
• Research contracts: Educational research, evaluations for ministries of education

Thresholds

Supply and service contracts from EUR 221,000 (schools as contracting authorities) are subject to EU-wide tendering. Education services may, as social and specific services, be subject to a simplified procedure (threshold: EUR 750,000).

Common CPV Codes

Contracting Authorities

• School authorities (regions, municipalities): IT equipment, teaching materials, school catering, buildings
• Federal Employment Agency / AMS Austria: Vocational training and qualification measures
• Federal ministry of education: Educational research, schoolbook procurement
• Universities and universities of applied sciences: IT infrastructure, research contracts, mensas
• Adult-education centres and training providers: Tenders for qualification measures by public bodies

FAQ

What tenders are available for education and training providers? Vocational training measures, retraining and qualification courses are tendered by employment agencies (BA/AMS) under SGB III or the Austrian Labour Market Promotion Act. These tenders are subject to the simplified procedure for social services. Bidders must demonstrate recognition as a training provider and quality evidence (AZAV/AkKs).

How are schoolbooks and teaching materials awarded? In Austria, schoolbooks are procured through the central Schulbuchaktion mechanism of the federal ministry of education. In Germany, procurement is carried out at regional level, partly via framework agreements of the regions. Publishers and educational media providers may participate in tenders.

Are private schools subject to procurement obligations? No, private educational institutions without public ownership or funding are generally not subject to procurement law. Where private schools are predominantly publicly funded or state-controlled, however, they may qualify as contracting authorities.

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