What is Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)? Definition

CPV is an acronym for Common Procurement Vocabulary. It is a multi-lingual thesaurus used by European public procurement authorities when drawing up contract notices and award criteria in order to facilitate cross-border competition. The CPV was first published in 2003 and has been revised several times since then. It is currently in its third edition, which came into force on 1 January 2017. The CPV consists of a main vocabulary (CPV code) and a supplementary vocabulary (CPV addendum). The main vocabulary comprises a hierarchical structure of around 30,000 commodity and service groups, each identified by a unique 8-digit code. The supplementary vocabulary consists of around 5,000 terms which can be used to refine the description of a particular procurement.

What is CPV?

The Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV) is an EU-wide standardised system for the classification of goods and services. It is used by public authorities when procuring goods and services, and aids economic operators in identifying opportunities. The CPV code consists of a main vocabulary for identifying the subject matter of a contract, and a supplementary vocabulary for adding further detail.

The CPV was first established in 2003, and has been revised several times since then. The latest version was published in 2016.

The CPV can be used by any public or private sector organisation that procure goods or services within the EU.

What is the purpose of CPV?

The purpose of CPV is to provide a common language for defining the goods and services procured by public authorities. This common language makes it easier for public authorities and suppliers to communicate about procurement opportunities and tender requirements. It also enables public authorities to compare apples with apples when assessing tenders.

What are the benefits of using CPV?

There are many benefits of using CPV, including:

-Increasing transparency and comparability of public procurement across the EU
-Facilitating cross-border procurements
-Helping to ensure that only eligible products and services are procured
-Allowing for more accurate searching of procurement opportunities
-Enabling the publication of procurement notices in the Official Journal of the European Union

How is CPV used?

CPV is used to standardize the descriptions of products and services that are procured by the public sector. This makes it easier for public procurement officials to identify potential suppliers, compare bids, and award contracts. It also helps to ensure that all suppliers are bidding on the same thing, and that there is a level playing field for competition.

What are the different types of CPV codes?

There are different types of CPV codes depending on the country in which they are used. In the European Union, there are two types of CPV codes: the main CPV code and the supplementary CPV code. The main CPV code is used to identify the main object of a contract, while the supplementary CPV code is used to identify additional objects of a contract.

In the United States, there are three types of CPV codes: the prime commodity code, the product service code, and the special item number. The prime commodity code is used to identify the primary object of a contract, while the product service code is used to identify additional services that may be required. The special item number is used to identify unique items not covered by either the prime commodity or product service codes.

How are CPV codes structured?

CPV codes are eight-digit numerical codes used to identify products and services procured by the European Union. The first two digits of a CPV code identify the main product group, while the remaining six digits are used to further specify the product or service.

How can I find out more about CPV?

If you want to learn more about CPV, the best place to start is with the European Commission’s website. Here you can find information on the history of CPV, as well as how it is used today.

You can also find helpful resources on CPV from other websites, such as:

– The United Nations Statistics Division: has a glossary of terms related to CPV
– The World Bank: has a page dedicated to explaining CPV codes
– OECD: provides an overview of CPV and its use

Conclusion

The Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV) is a system used by the European Union to standardize the classification of goods and services. The CPV code is made up of eight digits, with each digit representing a different category. The first two digits represent the main product group, while the remaining six digits are used to identify specific products within that group. By using the CPV system, businesses can easily compare prices for similar products from different suppliers.