CPV 40 – Electricity, Gas, Steam and Hot Water

What does CPV 40 cover?

CPV Division 40 covers the supply of electricity, gas, steam and hot water by public contracting authorities and utilities. This encompasses electricity generation, transmission and distribution; natural gas and liquefied gas supply; steam and hot water production for industrial and district heating purposes; and combined heat and power (CHP) supply. The division is primarily used when public bodies procure energy supply contracts rather than energy infrastructure construction works.

Within the CPV hierarchy, Division 40 is distinct from Division 45 (construction works), which covers the physical construction of power plants, grid infrastructure and pipeline networks. Division 40 relates to the supply of the energy product itself – such as a local authority procuring electricity under a multi-year framework agreement, or a municipal utility procuring natural gas for district heating. Public bodies of all types – from individual buildings to entire municipal portfolios – regularly tender their energy supply requirements.

The liberalisation of European energy markets under EU Directives 2009/72/EC and 2009/73/EC means that most public bodies are free to competitively tender their electricity and gas supply contracts. Large public authorities frequently aggregate demand across departments and buildings to achieve better pricing. Sustainability and renewable energy criteria (e.g. guaranteed renewable electricity tariffs, green gas certificates) are increasingly included in award criteria. Further information on the CPV system is available from the European Commission (SIMAP) and in Regulation (EC) No 213/2008.

Key CPV Groups in Division 40

Examples of Tenders with CPV 40

• Electricity Supply Framework for Federal Authority Portfolio: A federal agency tenders a two-year electricity supply framework for 26 administrative buildings with a total annual consumption of 18 GWh, requiring 100% certified renewable electricity with guarantees of origin.
• Natural Gas Supply for Municipal Housing Company: A municipal housing company procures natural gas for the heating systems of 4,200 residential units under a three-year supply contract, including balancing and metering services.
• District Heating Connection and Supply for New City Quarter: A city development company procures district heating connection and supply for a new urban development area of 1,200 housing units, with a 20-year concession for the district heating network operator.

Current tenders with CPV 40 are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on national procurement platforms such as the German Procurement Portal (DTVP).

Who is CPV 40 relevant for?

Public Contracting Authorities

Federal agencies, state governments, municipalities, universities, hospitals and public transport operators regularly tender energy supply contracts under CPV 40. Demand aggregation across building portfolios and departments is common practice to achieve volume pricing. Multi-year framework agreements with defined call-off volumes and price adjustment mechanisms are the standard contract form.

Companies and Bidders

Licensed electricity and gas suppliers, district heating operators, energy traders and combined heat and power operators are the primary bidders under CPV 40. Operating licences under energy law (EnWG in Germany), financial stability evidence and proof of supply capacity are standard eligibility requirements. Companies offering renewable energy products or sustainability-linked supply contracts may benefit from green award criteria. Further information on participation requirements is available from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).

How does Bond help with CPV 40?

Tender Match – Automatically Find Tenders (CPV 40)

With tender.match, energy suppliers and utility companies automatically receive all relevant tenders with CPV 40 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 energy supply 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 40)

For companies looking for suppliers, subcontractors, or consortium partners for large energy supply projects, company.match provides direct access to qualified firms from an EU-wide database of over 28 million companies. Especially for larger supply consortia or CHP and district heating 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 40

What does the CPV code 40000000 mean?

The CPV code 40000000 designates the division "Electricity, gas, steam and hot water" in the European Common Procurement Vocabulary. It covers all public procurement of energy supply products, including electricity, natural gas, steam, hot water and district heating.

How do I find tenders with CPV 40?

Tenders with CPV 40 can be searched on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) using the code filter. The German Procurement Portal (DTVP) lists current national procurements. Bond automatically delivers profile-matched tenders from over 1,000 EU-wide portals.

What are the requirements for participating in tenders with CPV 40?

Energy suppliers must hold the relevant operating licences under national energy law. Financial stability, proof of supply capacity and compliance with balancing and metering obligations are standard requirements. Applicable procedural rules are set out in the VgV and the UVgO.