CPV 353 – Military Equipment

CPV 353 covers public procurement of military equipment, arms and weapons systems for defence forces, subject to defence procurement rules and security regulations.

What does CPV Group 353 cover?

CPV Group 353 (35300000) classifies public contracts for military equipment – armaments, weapons systems and associated equipment procured for use by armed forces and defence organisations. This includes small arms and light weapons, crew-served weapons systems, artillery and related ammunition, military communications and C4ISR equipment specific to military use, night-vision and optics equipment for military applications, as well as non-lethal military equipment and individual soldier systems (body armour, combat helmets, load-bearing equipment, individual first aid kits).

Procurement under CPV 353 is subject to specialised legal frameworks that differ significantly from standard public procurement. In the European Union, defence procurement above threshold values is governed by Directive 2009/81/EC (the Defence Procurement Directive), implemented in Germany through the VSVgV (Vergabeverordnung Verteidigung und Sicherheit). This framework allows for classified specifications, restricted tenderer selection, additional security clearance requirements and specific provisions for supply security and industrial capability maintenance.

The armed forces procurement offices (such as BAAINBw in Germany) are the primary contracting authorities. Procurement is often multi-year, covering lifecycle support, training, spares and upgrades alongside the initial equipment delivery. International cooperative procurement programmes through NATO or EU defence cooperation frameworks also fall under related CPV codes.

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 353

Small arms and light weapons for military service
Night-vision devices and military optics
Individual soldier systems (armour, helmets, load-bearing equipment)
Military communications equipment and C4ISR systems
Non-lethal military equipment and crowd control systems
Training systems and simulation equipment for military use

Examples of Tenders with CPV 353

Personal load-bearing equipment for armed forces: A defence procurement agency tenders supply of modular load-bearing equipment, tactical vests and webbing systems for infantry units, with compatibility requirements for existing body armour platforms.
Night-vision devices for a military reconnaissance unit: A defence authority procures third-generation image intensifier night-vision devices for its reconnaissance personnel, with specific performance, durability and environmental requirements.
Military communications equipment for command posts: An armed forces authority procures secure tactical communications equipment for mobile command post configurations, requiring encryption certification and compatibility with existing battlefield management systems.

Current tenders with CPV 353 are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and may also appear on restricted procurement platforms or defence procurement notice boards.

Who is CPV 353 relevant for?

Public Contracting Authorities

National armed forces procurement agencies, defence ministries and their subordinate purchasing authorities are the primary contracting authorities under CPV 353. Procurement follows the defence procurement rules of Directive 2009/81/EC and national implementing legislation, with frequent use of negotiated procedures and classified specifications.

Companies and Bidders

Defence industry companies, specialist military equipment manufacturers and system integrators are the principal bidders. Security clearance at appropriate classification levels, proven defence industry capability, compliance with NATO standards and references for comparable military supply contracts are essential eligibility requirements. Export control compliance (EU Dual Use Regulation, national weapons trading law) is a further mandatory consideration.

Information on the legal basis for defence procurement is available from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).

How does Bond help with CPV 353?

Tender Match – Automatically Find Tenders (CPV 353)

With tender.match, defence equipment manufacturers and military supply specialists automatically receive all relevant tenders with CPV 353 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 military 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 353)

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

Frequently Asked Questions about CPV 353

What does the CPV code 35300000 mean?

The CPV code 35300000 covers the group "Weapons and Ammunition" in the EU's Common Procurement Vocabulary. In the context of CPV Group 353, it is used to classify public contracts for military weapons, arms and associated equipment procured by defence authorities under the specialised defence procurement rules of Directive 2009/81/EC.

How do I find tenders with CPV 353?

Above-threshold defence tenders are published on TED under the Defence Directive. Non-sensitive below-threshold military equipment contracts may appear on DTVP. Bond aggregates all published sources and delivers targeted results.

What are the requirements for participating in tenders with CPV 353?

Requirements typically include facility security clearance, personnel security vetting, compliance with NATO or national military standards, export control compliance, industrial capability evidence and references for comparable defence supply contracts. The procurement framework is defined by Directive 2009/81/EC and the VgV for non-sensitive elements.