NACE 25 – Manufacture of Fabricated Metal Products | Public Tenders

Definition: NACE 25 covers the manufacture of fabricated metal products by forming, joining, surface treatment and machining of metal semi-finished products — excluding the manufacture of machinery, vehicles and electronic equipment. The division supplies a broad range of construction products, equipment items and security technology to public contracting authorities.

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

What does NACE 25 cover?

NACE 25 (Manufacture of fabricated metal products) is one of the most procurement-intensive divisions in public contracting — from steel bridges and safety barriers to locks for government buildings.

Division 25 within Section C (Manufacturing) is broken down into the following groups:

Public contracting authorities — from road authorities and defence ministries to municipal building departments — are major buyers in virtually all groups of this division.

Public tenders: scope of activity NACE 25

NACE 25 is one of the most versatile divisions in public procurement: the product range extends from security-critical defence procurement to everyday fittings for public buildings.

Typical contract types

• Structural steel for bridges and roofs: supply and installation of steel girder constructions for cycle and pedestrian bridges, hall roofs at railway stations and school sports halls
• Safety barriers and passive road safety: supply of crash barriers (vehicle restraint systems under EN 1317) for federal roads and motorways
• Road signs and traffic signs: signs in accordance with road-traffic regulations, signposts, posts and brackets for signage programmes
• Containers for waste disposal: underground containers, collection containers, recycling containers for municipal waste-management operations
• Locks and fittings for public buildings: locking systems, door fittings, security cylinders for schools, administrative buildings and correctional facilities
• Defence procurement: weapons and ammunition for armed forces, police and customs under defence contracts (VSVgV)

Thresholds and procurement procedures

Supply contracts for metal products are subject to the EU supply threshold (EUR 221,000 for classic contracting authorities). Defence procurement falls under the procurement law for defence and security contracts (VSVgV / § 104 GWB) with diverging procedural rules and elevated security requirements.

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 25

Current tenders with these CPV codes are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on national procurement platforms.

For whom is NACE 25 relevant in procurement law?

Public contracting authorities

Road authorities at federal and state level are the main buyers of safety barriers, road signs and structural steel for bridges. Municipal building departments and building-management companies procure locking systems and fittings for administrative buildings, schools and cultural institutions. The Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) and the Austrian Federal Procurement Agency (BBG) are the central buyers for defence goods from Group 25.4.

Companies and bidders

To participate in public tenders in the NACE 25 area, the following evidence is typically relevant:

• Product certifications: CE marking for construction products under the CPR, EN 1317 for safety barriers
• Quality management: ISO 9001, plus AQAP-2110 (NATO quality standard) for defence
• Security screening: for contracts under VSVgV, security screening of employees and of the company is required
• References: comparable supplies and installations from the last 3–5 years
• Craft authorisations: welding qualifications under EN 1090 for load-bearing steel structures

Frequently asked questions on NACE 25 and public tenders

What distinguishes NACE 25 from NACE 24?
NACE 24 covers the manufacture and initial processing of metals (blast-furnace products, semi-finished products), whereas NACE 25 maps the further processing into finished metal products by forming, joining and coating.

How are locking systems for public buildings tendered?
As a supply contract (locks, cylinders, fittings) or as a service contract with a supply element (planning, supply, installation, key management). A master-key system is frequently tendered for an entire building or property, allowing for later extensions.

Do special procurement rules apply to defence procurement?
Yes — contracts for weapons, ammunition and military equipment (Group 25.4) are subject in Germany to the VSVgV (Procurement Ordinance for Defence and Security) and in Austria to BVergGVS 2012. These provide for specific secrecy requirements, divergent procedure types and exemptions.

Must steel structures be CE-marked?
Yes — load-bearing steel components must be executed under EN 1090 and CE-marked accordingly. The execution class (EXC1–EXC4) determines the requirements for welding supervision, material evidence and testing scope.

NACE 25 in context: Section C and related divisions

• NACE C – Manufacturing: parent section with all manufacturing activities
• NACE 24 – Manufacture of basic metals: upstream metal production and semi-finished products
• NACE 28 – Manufacture of machinery and equipment: machinery and plant for all sectors
• NACE 33 – Repair and installation of machinery and equipment: maintenance and servicing of equipment

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