A standard classification system used to describe and categorise the subject matter of public procurement contracts and tender opportunities. Each Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV) code consists of an eight-digit classification code with a check digit, supported by supplementary vocabulary that provides additional detail about the goods, services, or works being procured. CPV codes help buyers classify procurements consistently and enable suppliers to identify relevant tender opportunities. While CPV remains widely used across the European Union and in many procurement systems, the UK Procurement Act 2023 introduces a new procurement classification approach that will progressively replace CPV codes for UK public procurement.
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)
A standard classification system of codes used to describe and categorise the subject matter of procurement contracts.
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Related Glossary Terms
The official compilation of permanent U.S. federal laws, providing the statutory basis for many contracting requirements.
A global classification system used to categorize products and services for procurement and spend analysis.
A unique 12-character identifier assigned via SAM.gov to organizations doing business with the federal government, replacing the DUNS number.
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