The new list of CPV Codes which classifies the Calls for Tenders published by the Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, entered into force on September 17th, 2008. All the Calls for Tenders published in the S Series of the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) are already available in Euroalert.net adapted to this new codification.

The Office for Official Publications of the European Communities have established over 9,000 sectoral codes which compose a unique code system to classify public contracts. As Euroalert.net recently announced, the Office for Official Publications of the European Communities has agreed on some amendments to the code classification of the Calls for Tenders.

The CPV Codes consist of a main vocabulary which defines the subject of the contract, and a supplementary vocabulary to add further qualitative information. The main vocabulary is based on a tree structure complying codes of up to 9 digits (an 8 digit code plus a check digit) associated with a wording that describes the type of supplies, works or services defining the subject of the contract.

CPV Codes are essential, as the use of different nomenclatures would be detrimental to the openness and transparency of public procurement in Europe. The impact over the quality and the publication deadlines of the Calls, would be a de facto restriction to the free access to public procurement by all economic operators.

Using Euroalert.net subscription to EU Calls for Tenders widget, any subscriber can display in its own web or intranet, all the information about the Calls for Tenders published in the S Series of the Official Journal of the European Union, applying among others those new CPV codes to fit its sectoral interests.

Besides, in Euroalert.net you can download all the CPV Codes updated to September 17th, 2008.