CPV 312 – Electricity Distribution and Control Apparatus

What does CPV Group 312 cover?

CPV Group 312 (31200000) classifies public contracts for electricity distribution and control apparatus – the devices and assemblies that manage the distribution, protection and control of electrical energy within buildings and networks. This includes low-voltage switchboards and main distribution panels, modular circuit breakers, residual current devices (RCDs), fuses and fuse gear, contactors and motor starters, relay protection devices, metering and measurement equipment, and programmable logic controllers (PLCs) used in building automation and industrial control contexts.

Public procurement of distribution and control apparatus is closely tied to new construction projects, building refurbishments and energy system upgrades. When a municipality constructs a new public building, a school or a sports hall, the complete electrical distribution infrastructure – from the main switchboard through to individual floor distribution panels – is typically tendered as a supply package under CPV 312, often alongside installation works under CPV 45. Similarly, renovation projects for ageing public buildings frequently require replacement of outdated distribution panels and protection devices.

Grid operators in public ownership procure medium-voltage switchgear and protection relays for their substations. Public lighting control systems, including time-clock and DALI control gear for street lighting, also fall within this group.

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 312

• Low-voltage main distribution boards and sub-distribution panels
• Modular circuit breakers, RCDs and surge protection devices
• Contactors, motor starters and soft starters
• Medium-voltage switchgear for substations
• Metering, measurement and energy monitoring equipment
• Building automation control gear and PLCs

Examples of Tenders with CPV 312

• Electrical distribution equipment for a school new-build: A district authority procures the complete electrical distribution package for a new secondary school: main switchboard, floor distribution panels, circuit breakers and surge protection devices to specification.
• Switchgear replacement for a municipal water treatment plant: A municipal water authority replaces ageing medium-voltage switchgear in its main pumping station with modern arc-flash-resistant switchgear including protection relays and remote monitoring.
• Smart metering and energy management for public buildings: A city administration procures smart energy meters and a building energy management system for monitoring and optimising power consumption across 45 municipal buildings.

Current tenders with CPV 312 are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on national procurement platforms such as the German Procurement Portal (DTVP).

Who is CPV 312 relevant for?

Public Contracting Authorities

Municipal building authorities, public utilities and grid operators, hospitals and healthcare facilities, transport infrastructure operators and public housing authorities are the primary contracting authorities under CPV 312. Standards compliance (IEC 61439 for switchboards, IEC 60947 for control gear) and CE marking are standard specification requirements.

Companies and Bidders

Electrical switchboard fabricators, distribution equipment manufacturers and distributors, and systems integrators specialising in low and medium-voltage technology are the typical bidders. Switchboard factory testing capability, relevant standards compliance documentation and references for comparable supply projects are key eligibility requirements.

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 312?

Tender Match – Automatically Find Tenders (CPV 312)

With tender.match, switchboard fabricators, distribution equipment suppliers and electrical systems integrators automatically receive all relevant tenders with CPV 312 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 distribution equipment 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 312)

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

Frequently Asked Questions about CPV 312

What does the CPV code 31200000 mean?

The CPV code 31200000 covers the group "Electricity Distribution and Control Apparatus" in the EU's Common Procurement Vocabulary. It classifies public contracts for the supply of distribution panels, circuit breakers, switchgear, protection relays and control equipment for public buildings and infrastructure.

How do I find tenders with CPV 312?

Tenders with CPV 312 are published at EU level on TED. Below-threshold contracts are commonly found on national platforms such as DTVP. Bond aggregates all sources and delivers targeted results.

What are the requirements for participating in tenders with CPV 312?

Requirements typically include CE conformity documentation, IEC standard compliance, factory type test certificates, technical data sheets and references for comparable electrical distribution supply. Details are governed by the VgV or the UVgO depending on contract value.