NUTS Code
Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics — a geographic classification system used in EU procurement to specify the location where a contract will be performed. Ranges from NUTS 0 (country) to NUTS 3 (small region).
In Detail
The Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS) is a hierarchical geographic classification system maintained by Eurostat that divides the EU into regions at multiple levels of granularity. In EU procurement, NUTS codes are used in contract notices to specify the location where the contract will be performed, enabling suppliers to search for opportunities by geographic area. The system has four levels: NUTS 0 (country, e.g., NL = Netherlands), NUTS 1 (major socio-economic regions, e.g., NL3 = West-Netherlands), NUTS 2 (basic regions for regional policy, e.g., NL33 = South Holland), and NUTS 3 (small regions, e.g., NL332 = Agglomeration The Hague).
NUTS codes are mandated in EU procurement notices under the eForms standard and were also required under the legacy Standard Forms. Every contract notice must include at least one NUTS code indicating the main place of performance. For contracts that span multiple regions (such as national-level service contracts), the notice may include multiple NUTS codes at the appropriate level. The NUTS classification is updated periodically (approximately every three years) to reflect changes in administrative boundaries, with the current version being NUTS 2024.
Beyond procurement, NUTS codes are used across EU policy for regional statistics, structural fund allocation, and cohort analysis. In the procurement context, NUTS codes serve both a practical function (helping suppliers find local opportunities) and an analytical function (enabling regional spending analysis, cross-border procurement measurement, and economic impact assessment). The combination of CPV codes (what is being purchased) and NUTS codes (where it will be performed) forms the fundamental discovery mechanism for EU procurement opportunities.
Practical Context
How it works in practice
Suppliers typically configure NUTS codes alongside CPV codes in their opportunity monitoring profiles. A Dutch construction company, for example, might monitor NUTS codes covering the western Netherlands (NL3) for works contracts, while also tracking the entire country (NL) for larger national contracts. TenderRadar allows users to set up geographic filters at any NUTS level, and the platform uses NUTS codes to calculate distance-based relevance for local suppliers. For cross-border suppliers, NUTS codes help identify opportunities in specific target regions without the noise of a full country-level search.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many NUTS levels are there?
There are four levels: NUTS 0 (country), NUTS 1 (major socio-economic regions), NUTS 2 (basic regions), and NUTS 3 (small regions). Below NUTS 3, there is an additional level called LAU (Local Administrative Units) which covers municipalities, but LAU is not commonly used in procurement notices.
How do I find the NUTS code for a specific location?
Eurostat provides an interactive NUTS map and lookup tool on its website. You can search by region name or browse the hierarchical structure. TenderRadar also provides NUTS code selection in its search filters with an interactive map interface. Most EU countries' statistical offices also maintain NUTS code references.
Are NUTS codes used outside the EU?
NUTS codes officially cover EU member states, but equivalent 'statistical regions' have been defined for EFTA countries (Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein), EU candidate countries, and potential candidates. These are sometimes called 'statistical regions' rather than NUTS regions, but they follow the same hierarchical structure and coding principles.
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