NACE U – Activities of Extraterritorial Organisations and Bodies | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE U covers the activities of extraterritorial organisations and bodies – in particular international organisations such as the United Nations (UN), NATO, the European Union and its institutions, and diplomatic missions. These bodies award considerable contract volumes under their own procurement rules, which differ from national legislation.

Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: January 2026

What does NACE U cover?

NACE U (Activities of extraterritorial organisations and bodies) classifies international organisations that lie outside the regular national economic statistics, but are nonetheless significant public contracting authorities.

Section U consists of a single division:

Although NACE U is statistically a residual section, the institutions it captures are of considerable economic importance in public procurement: the EU institutions alone award contracts worth several billion euros each year.

Public Tenders: Scope of NACE U

International organisations and EU institutions award extensive contracts for goods, services and works – but under their own procurement rules, independent of national law.

Typical Contract Types

• IT and digitalisation: Software development, IT infrastructure, cybersecurity for international institutions
• Advisory services: Policy advice, research contracts, evaluation services for EU programmes
• Construction and infrastructure: Refurbishment and extension of buildings of international organisations
• Logistics and supply: Humanitarian aid goods, logistics for UN missions, supply chains
• Communication and media: Public relations, translation services, publication production
• Security services: Guarding, access control, physical security for diplomatic facilities

Procurement Rules of International Organisations

International organisations such as the European Commission, the UN and NATO are not subject to national procurement legislation (GWB, BVergG). Separate procurement rules apply:

• EU institutions: EU Financial Regulation (EU) 2018/1046, procurement manuals of the respective Directorates-General
• United Nations: UN Financial Regulations and Rules and the procurement manual of the respective sub-organisations (UNDP, UNICEF, WFP)
• NATO: NATO Procurement Guidelines and annexes to the NATO Treaty
• World Bank / IMF: Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers

Relevant CPV Codes for NACE U

In tenders by international organisations, CPV codes are also frequently used, even where there is no EU directive obligation. The following overview shows typical CPV codes in contracts of these institutions.

Tenders of the EU institutions can be found on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) under the "European Institutions" filter. UN tenders are published on UNGM (United Nations Global Marketplace).

For Contracting Authorities and Bidders

International Organisations as Contracting Bodies

EU institutions (Commission, Parliament, Council, Court of Justice, ECB etc.) are not, as bodies of the EU, contracting authorities within the meaning of Directive 2014/24/EU – they are subject to the EU Financial Regulation. Their tenders are nonetheless published on TED and are accessible to European undertakings. UN organisations publish tenders on UNGM and their own portals. NATO tenders are accessible via the NSPA (NATO Support and Procurement Agency) portal.

Companies and Bidders

Companies seeking contracts with international organisations must meet specific requirements:

• Supplier registration: Registration on UNGM, the eSender portal of the European Commission or the NATO NSPA portal as a prerequisite for bid submission
• Financial capacity: Evidence of sufficient liquidity and creditworthiness in line with institution-specific requirements
• Technical capability: Reference lists at international level, evidence of multilingual capacities
• Compliance: Anti-corruption declarations, data protection in line with institutional requirements, export compliance
• Security clearances: For security-relevant contracts (NATO, EU institutions), national security clearances may be required

Frequently Asked Questions on NACE U and Public Tenders

Do German or Austrian procurement laws apply to contracts of the European Commission?
No. The EU institutions are subject to their own financial regulation ((EU) 2018/1046) and the associated implementing rules. National procurement laws do not apply. Legal protection in EU tenders is provided through the European Court of Justice or institution-specific complaint procedures.

How can I find current tenders from UN organisations?
Tenders by the UN and its sub-organisations are published primarily on UNGM (United Nations Global Marketplace). Individual organisations such as UNICEF, WFP or UNHCR additionally operate their own procurement portals.

Can a small undertaking obtain contracts from international organisations?
Yes – particularly in specialist and advisory services. International organisations also award smaller contracts and increasingly emphasise supplier diversity. Classification as a small undertaking (SME) under the EU definition may lead to simplified requirements in some EU programmes.

Which languages are required for bids to international organisations?
EU institutions generally accept bids in all EU official languages but frequently prefer English or French as procedural languages in tenders. UN organisations work in the six UN official languages; in practice, English is dominant.

• NACE T – Activities of Households: Previous section with domestic staff and own use
• NACE O – Public Administration: National public administration and security
• NACE P – Education: Education sector in the public sphere

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