CPV 182 – Underwear and Knitwear

What does CPV Group 182 cover?

CPV Group 182 (18200000) classifies public contracts for the procurement of underwear and knitwear for public sector use. This includes thermal and functional base layers for uniformed services operating in cold or demanding outdoor conditions, standard underwear for supply to prison populations, military-issue base layers and socks, knitwear such as sweaters and cardigans for public sector staff and, in certain institutional contexts, laundered underwear supplies for care home residents.

Public sector procurement of underwear and knitwear is concentrated in a number of specific institutional contexts. The armed forces and police services procure functional base layers, thermal underwear and socks as part of their operational clothing packages. Prison services procure basic underwear, socks and T-shirts for distribution to inmates. Care homes and hospitals procure underwear and knitwear for residents and patients in their care. Public employees working in cold environments – forestry workers, outdoor maintenance crews – may receive thermal base layers as part of their issued workwear.

Framework agreements covering annual call-off quantities are the standard procurement structure, with requirements for consistent sizing, colour conformity and wash durability. Sustainability criteria, including organic cotton certification and verified supply chain ethics, are increasingly applied.

Further information on the CPV system is available from the European Commission (SIMAP) and Regulation (EC) No 213/2008 amending the CPV.

Typical Services in CPV 182

• Thermal and functional base layers for uniformed services
• Military-issue underwear, T-shirts and socks
• Prison supply underwear and basic knitwear
• Sweaters and cardigans for public sector indoor staff
• Care home and hospital underwear for residents and patients
• Sports and performance knitwear for public training facilities

Examples of Tenders with CPV 182

• Thermal base layer supply for a state police force: A regional police administration tenders supply of thermal underwear tops and bottoms, moisture-wicking T-shirts and heavyweight duty socks for its operational officers working extended outdoor shifts.
• Underwear and knitwear for a correctional facility: A prison authority procures a standard supply package of underwear, crew-neck T-shirts, socks and basic knitwear for distribution to its inmate population under a two-year framework.
• Care home underwear and knitwear for a municipal operator: A publicly operated care home group procures a range of comfortable, easy-care underwear, cardigans and thermal vests for elderly residents, meeting specific care-washing durability requirements.

Current tenders with CPV 182 are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on national procurement platforms.

Who is CPV 182 relevant for?

Public Contracting Authorities

Armed forces, police services, correctional facilities, publicly operated care homes and hospitals are the primary contracting authorities under CPV 182. Wash durability, sizing consistency, comfort specifications and, increasingly, sustainable sourcing criteria are standard requirements.

Companies and Bidders

Textile manufacturers, underwear producers, knitwear suppliers and institutional clothing distributors are the main bidders. Certified sustainable sourcing (e.g. GOTS, Fair Trade), quality management certification and references for comparable institutional supply are increasingly important competitive factors.

Information on eligibility criteria and procurement procedures is available from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).

How does Bond help with CPV 182?

Tender Match – Automatically Find Tenders (CPV 182)

With tender.match, textile manufacturers, underwear producers and institutional clothing suppliers automatically receive all relevant tenders with CPV 182 directly in their dashboard. BOND indexes tenders from over 1,000 procurement portals in the EU – from TED to national platforms and regional contracting authorities. Instead of manually searching dozens of portals every day, matching underwear and knitwear contracts are filtered and delivered by industry, competency, region, and company profile. An automated gap analysis immediately shows where the company meets the requirements and where gaps exist. This ensures companies never miss a deadline and can focus on preparing their bids.

Company Match – Find the Right Partners and Suppliers (CPV 182)

For companies looking for suppliers, subcontractors, or consortium partners for underwear and knitwear supply projects, company.match provides direct access to qualified firms from an EU-wide database of over 28 million companies. Especially for larger framework supply contracts, company.match automatically identifies suitable partners for bidding consortia and partial services – increasing the chances of winning the contract.

Frequently Asked Questions about CPV 182

What does the CPV code 18200000 mean?

The CPV code 18200000 covers the group "Underwear and Knitwear" in the EU's Common Procurement Vocabulary. It classifies public contracts for the supply of base layers, thermal garments, underwear and knitwear to public institutions including the armed forces, police services, correctional facilities and care homes.

How do I find tenders with CPV 182?

Tenders with CPV 182 are published at EU level on TED. Below-threshold contracts are commonly found on national platforms. Bond aggregates all sources and delivers targeted results.

What are the requirements for participating in tenders with CPV 182?

Requirements typically include quality management certification, wash durability testing, sustainable sourcing documentation and references for comparable institutional underwear and knitwear supply. Details are governed by the VgV or the UVgO depending on contract value.