Capacity building for the implementation of pollinator monitoring provisions under the Nature Restoration Regulation

The European Commission DG Environment has published an open tender (Call reference EC-ENV/2026/OP/0016) to provide capacity building for implementation of the EU Pollinator Monitoring Scheme (EU-PoMS) and to strengthen national butterfly monitoring capacity under the Nature Restoration Regulation. The contract is a services tender with an estimated value of €3,500,000, a planned duration of 48 months, and activities including development of taxonomic tools, training, and support for national monitoring schemes. Tenders must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal by 6 July 2026 at 16:00:59 Brussels time, and will be evaluated on quality (60%) and price (40%).

What it funds

Scope summary

A DG Environment service contract to strengthen technical capacity in Member States for pollinator monitoring under the Nature Restoration Regulation. Activities include: enhancing taxonomic tools and expert capacity for the EU pollinator monitoring method (EU-PoMS) and building national butterfly monitoring capacity to support EU-PoMS and the European Butterfly Monitoring Scheme.

Estimated budget and duration:Estimated overall contract value €3,500,000. Planned contract period 48 months. Tenders submitted electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal. ¹

1. 1Who can apply: economic operators (single or consortium) registered in the Participant Register with a PIC; public and private entities eligible to provide technical services to the Commission
2. 2Submission: eSubmission through the Funding & Tenders Portal; tender deadline (main): 6 July 2026 16:00:59 Brussels time (additional date referenced: 1 January 2026)

Full procurement documents (tender specifications, draft contract, invitation) and submission portal are available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal: F&T Portal - tender page.

Footnotes

1. 1See Tender Specifications and Invitation to Tender on the Funding & Tenders Portal for detailed eligibility, selection and award criteria, and submission instructions.

Opportunity type and administering authority

Type:Tender (public procurement) administered by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Environment (DG Environment). Call identifier: EC-ENV/2026/OP/0016. Main CPV: 90700000 (environmental services). Estimated overall contract amount: €3,500,000. Planned contract duration: 48 months.

Objective and scope

The objective of the contract is to strengthen capacity for the implementation of pollinator monitoring provisions under the Nature Restoration Regulation. The contract is designed to complement existing Commission technical capacity-building activities in Member States and to provide technical support in two specific areas: (i) strengthening taxonomic tools and expert capacity to support implementation of the EU pollinator monitoring method (EU-PoMS), and (ii) strengthening national capacity for butterfly monitoring to support both EU-PoMS and the European Butterfly Monitoring Scheme.

Key activities expected:Expected activities include development and improvement of taxonomic tools and resources, training and expert support for taxonomic identification, capacity building workshops and guidance for Member State monitoring teams, development or refinement of protocols and materials for EU-PoMS implementation, targeted support to establish or scale-up butterfly monitoring schemes at national level, dataflow and interoperability advice for linking national schemes to EU-PoMS and the European Butterfly Monitoring Scheme, and provision of technical reports, deliverables and guidance materials over the contract duration ¹.

Eligibility and applicant requirements

This is a public procurement tender open to economic operators eligible to participate in EU public procurement procedures. Tender submissions must be made electronically via the Commission eSubmission system (Funding and Tenders Portal). Bidders need to be registered in the Commission Participant Register and hold a Participant Identification Code (PIC). The tender is a services contract intended for organisations able to deliver technical, scientific and capacity-building services in biodiversity monitoring, taxonomy and citizen science or national monitoring schemes. The procurement documents (Invitation to tender, Tender specifications and Draft contract) contain full selection and exclusion criteria, required supporting documents and detailed technical requirements.

Eligible applicant types (detailed):Eligible applicants include private and public organisations capable of fulfilling the contract, for example: universities, research institutes, environmental consultancies, NGOs with operational monitoring expertise, consortia of specialists (taxonomists, entomologists, biodiversity monitoring experts), national monitoring organizations, and other legal entities that can register in the Participant Register and meet the procurement selection criteria. SMEs are not specifically targeted as 'SME suitable' was flagged false for this contract; however SMEs may participate as members of consortia if they meet requirements.

Procurement modality and submission

Procedure type:open tender (publication on the Funding and Tenders Portal and OJ S 91/2026 - 323419-2026). Submission method: mandatory eSubmission via the Funding and Tenders Portal. Tender validity period specified in tendering terms: 9 months. An open tender event is scheduled (occurrence date: 7 July 2026 at 10:30 Europe/Brussels). The deadline for submission is 6 July 2026, 16:00:59 Europe/Brussels. Additional Information Request period ends 28 June 2026. Annexes and tender documents (Tender specifications, Draft contract, Invitation to tender) are published on the F&T Portal and must be consulted for full instructions. Tenders submitted in any other way (email or paper) will be disregarded.

1. 1Submission method: Electronic eSubmission via the Commission Funding & Tenders Portal (Participant Register PIC required).
2. 2Deadline: 06/07/2026 16:00:59 (Europe/Brussels).
3. 3Open tender event (online/administrative meeting): 07/07/2026 10:30 (Europe/Brussels).
4. 4Documents available: Invitation to tender, Tender specifications, Draft contract and Annexes (published 12/05/2026).
5. 5Tender validity period: 9 months from submission (per tendering terms).

Consortium and contracting arrangements

Consortia are allowed and commonly used in complex technical support contracts. The procurement project lot indicates services; the contract is intended to be awarded to one contractor (LOT-0001). The tender documentation contains detailed requirements on tenderer qualification, documentation for joint tenders (if applicable), and contractual clauses. The procurement is not indicated as a framework agreement or DPS; contracting systems included metadata but the procurement project is a single services contract with a planned 48-month implementation period.

Geographic and beneficiary scope

Beneficiaries/activities are focused on EU Member States and the implementation of EU-level monitoring schemes (EU-PoMS and European Butterfly Monitoring Scheme). Eligible tenderers may be established in EU Member States and other countries eligible under EU public procurement rules (check tender documents for precise nationality/economic operator eligibility). The contracting authority is the European Commission (DG Environment), therefore work will support EU-wide implementation across Member States.

Mentioned countries or regions:European Union Member States (implementation targeted at Member States). No individual Member States were explicitly listed in the summary; the region of focus is the EU and EU-funded environment programmes.

Financial information

Estimated overall contract value:€3,500,000. This figure is given as the estimated total procedure value and the estimated overall contract amount in the procurement metadata. The contract is a paid services contract (the Commission will procure services and pay the contractor under the contractual terms in the Draft Contract).

Funding type:Primary financial mechanism: public procurement (service contract) — the Commission will pay the contractor for service delivery per contractual terms. This is not a grant, loan or equity instrument; it is a tendered service contract.

Project maturity and expected deliverables

Project stage:implementation and demonstration of monitoring capacity with elements of development/refinement of methodologies. The contract will cover technical development (taxonomic tools), training, national capacity building, methodological guidance, and outputs linking to operational monitoring schemes. The nature of outputs will include technical guidelines, training materials, workshops, expert support, and consolidated reports to the Commission.

Application and evaluation process

Application type:open tender (advertised on the Funding & Tenders Portal and in the Official Journal). Submission via eSubmission required. Awarding criteria: quality and price. Metadata shows award criterion weighting with quality at 60% and price at 40% (consult tender documents for precise sub-criteria, scoring scales and thresholds). The tender documents will specify exclusion grounds, selection criteria (financial and professional capacity), and required supporting evidence.

Application stages and timeline:Number of application/evaluation stages: typically 1 main submission stage (electronic tender) followed by evaluation and possible clarifications or negotiations if allowed; the procurement metadata indicates an open tender event on 07/07/2026. Administrative request window for additional information ends 28/06/2026. The exact number of formal stages (pre-selection, award, contract signature) and potential interviews or clarifications will be described in the Tender specifications.

1. 1Publication of tender documents: 12/05/2026 (Invitation to tender, Tender specifications, Draft contract).
2. 2Additional information request period closes: 28/06/2026.
3. 3Tender submission deadline: 06/07/2026 16:00:59 (Europe/Brussels).
4. 4Open tender event: 07/07/2026 10:30 (Europe/Brussels).
5. 5Contract award and signature: timing depends on evaluation; planned implementation period: 48 months.

Success rates and co-funding

Success rates:not specified in the tender documentation. In competitive EU public tenders, success rate depends on number and quality of bidders; historically success rates vary widely and cannot be predicted from available metadata. Co-funding: not applicable in the sense of grants; the contractor will be paid by the Commission under the contract. Proposals should include pricing (price element weighted in award at 40%) and demonstrate capacity; no requirement for applicants to co-fund the contract is indicated, but contractors must finance their own proposal preparation costs and may need to cover interim cashflow until contract payments are made under contractual payment terms.

Templates, required documents and application structure

Tender documents published with the notice include the Invitation to tender letter, Tender specifications (including technical and administrative requirements), Draft contract and Annexes. Applicants must follow the eSubmission forms and templates provided through the Funding & Tenders Portal. Key sections to prepare and include in the eSubmission are: identification data and PICs of each participating organisation, administrative and legal documents (declarations, evidence of non-exclusion, financial capacity), technical offer (methodology, workplan, personnel CVs, past relevant experience, deliverables and milestones), and price offer (detailed budget and pricing table consistent with the Draft Contract). The Tender specifications will contain the exact structure, headings and documentation checklist to be used; bidders must strictly follow those templates and submission instructions.

1. 1Mandatory registration in the Participant Register and use of PIC for each legal entity.
2. 2Submission exclusively via eSubmission (Funding & Tenders Portal eForms and attachments).
3. 3Documents to include: signed Invitation to tender where required, completed tender forms, technical offer, staff CVs, references of similar contracts, and price schedule as per Draft Contract.
4. 4Follow the Tender specifications' structure for the technical and financial proposals and provide evidence for selection criteria (financial capacity, professional capacity).

Technical and sector focus

Target sector:environment and biodiversity monitoring, specifically pollinator monitoring and butterfly monitoring. Technical topics include taxonomy, development of taxonomic tools and identification aids, capacity building and training, standardized monitoring protocols (EU-PoMS), data management and interoperability with the European Butterfly Monitoring Scheme, and operationalization of monitoring across Member States. Required expertise will include entomology (pollinators: bees, hoverflies, butterflies and other relevant taxa), taxonomy and identification, ecological monitoring methodology, citizen science mobilization (where relevant), training delivery and technical report writing.

How to apply and useful links

Tenders must be submitted through the Funding & Tenders Portal eSubmission system. Access the tender package, questions and eSubmission via the opportunity page on the Funding & Tenders Portal. The Contract Notice is published in the Official Journal (OJ S 91/2026 - 323419-2026 dated 12/05/2026). See the portal opportunity page for downloads, instructions and the eSubmission Quick guide. The F&T Portal link to the tender documents and submission is provided in the procurement metadata ¹.

Summary and recommendation

This open tender by the European Commission, DG Environment, seeks a contractor to deliver EU-wide technical capacity building to implement pollinator monitoring under the Nature Restoration Regulation. The contract (estimated €3.5 million, 48 months) focuses on strengthening taxonomic tools and expert capacity for EU-PoMS and reinforcing national butterfly monitoring capacity to align with EU-PoMS and the European Butterfly Monitoring Scheme. Eligible applicants are organisations and consortia with relevant scientific, taxonomic and monitoring experience; submissions must be made electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal by 6 July 2026. Interested parties should consult the published Invitation to tender, Tender specifications and Draft contract for full requirements, follow the provided eSubmission templates and ensure compliance with selection and exclusion criteria. This opportunity is suited to multidisciplinary teams combining taxonomic expertise, monitoring programme implementation experience and capacity-building/training capabilities to support Member States in operational monitoring.

Footnotes

1. 1Tender and procurement documents, downloads and eSubmission are available on the Funding & Tenders Portal opportunity page: Capacity building for the implementation of pollinator monitoring provisions under the Nature Restoration Regulation || ec.europa.eu

Funding Opportunity Overview

The European Commission, Directorate-General for Environment, is issuing a public tender to strengthen capacity for implementing pollinator monitoring provisions under the EU Nature Restoration Regulation. This contract aims to complement existing Commission activities for technical capacity building in Member States by enhancing taxonomic tools, expert capacity, and national monitoring infrastructure. The initiative directly supports the EU's commitment to reverse pollinator population declines by 2030, a key target under the Nature Restoration Regulation (Regulation EU 2024/1991).

Contract Identification and Publication Details

Call Reference:EC-ENV/2026/OP/0016

Official Journal Reference:OJ S 91/2026 - 323419-2026, published 12 May 2026

Portal Access:All tender documents, specifications, and submission details are available at EU Funding and Tenders Portal

Scope and Objectives

The contract has two primary components. First, it will strengthen taxonomic tools and expert capacity to support implementation of the EU Pollinator Monitoring Scheme (EU-PoMS), which is the standardised, science-based methodology for monitoring pollinator diversity and abundance across Member States. Second, it will enhance national capacity for butterfly monitoring to support both the EU-PoMS and the European Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (eBMS). ¹

The EU-PoMS methodology, finalised in October 2024 and refined through the SPRING project, provides a harmonised framework for tracking the status, trends, and distribution of pollinators across Europe. Member States are required to implement this scheme no later than 16 December 2026, making this capacity-building contract essential for ensuring effective deployment across the EU.

Financial Information

Estimated Total Contract Value:€3,500,000

Currency:EUR

Contract Duration:48 months (4 years)

The contract is funded through EU budget allocations for environmental programmes under the 2021-2027 financial framework. Funding is provided by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Environment.

Submission Deadlines and Key Dates

Tender Submission Deadline:6 July 2026 at 16:00:59 (Brussels time, UTC+2)

Tender Validity Period:9 months from submission deadline

Additional Information Request Deadline:28 June 2026

Tender Opening:7 July 2026 at 10:30 (Brussels time)

Procurement Procedure and Type

This is an open call for tenders using a competitive dialogue procedure. The contract is classified as a service contract under CPV code 90700000 (Services related to environmental protection and management). The procedure is open to all eligible economic operators meeting the qualification and technical requirements specified in the tender documentation.

Eligibility and Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants include legal entities established in EU Member States, candidate countries, and associated countries. Applicants may submit tenders individually or as part of a joint tender (consortium). The tender specifications note that SMEs are not specifically excluded, though the contract value and technical complexity suggest that experienced organisations with relevant expertise are preferred. ²

Organisations must be registered in the European Commission's Participant Register to submit a tender. Each organisation obtains a Participant Identification Code (PIC), a 9-digit unique identifier. Organisations already registered should reuse their existing PIC when preparing tenders.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Tenderers must demonstrate specific technical and professional qualifications. The tender specifications require evidence of expertise in the following areas:

• Pollinator taxonomy and identification, particularly for wild bees, butterflies, hoverflies, and moths
• Development and implementation of standardised monitoring methodologies
• Capacity building and training delivery to Member State authorities and experts
• Butterfly monitoring scheme development and coordination
• Experience working with EU Member States on environmental monitoring programmes
• Knowledge of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation and related biodiversity policy frameworks

Tenderers should provide evidence of past performance on similar projects, including references to previous contracts involving pollinator monitoring, biodiversity assessment, or capacity building for environmental implementation.

Award Criteria and Evaluation

The contract will be awarded based on the most economically advantageous tender (MEAT) principle. The evaluation criteria are weighted as follows:

Detailed evaluation sub-criteria are specified in the tender specifications document. Applicants should consult the full procurement documents for comprehensive guidance on how quality will be assessed, including methodology, work plan, team composition, and alignment with EU-PoMS requirements.

Submission Requirements and Process

All tenders must be submitted exclusively through the electronic submission system (eSubmission) accessible via the EU Funding and Tenders Portal. Tenders submitted by email, post, or any other method will be disregarded. ³

Tenderers must prepare their submissions in accordance with the tender specifications and draft contract provided. The submission must include:

• Administrative documentation (organisation registration, legal status, financial capacity)
• Technical proposal addressing all requirements in the specifications
• Detailed work plan and methodology for capacity building activities
• Team composition with CVs of key personnel
• References to previous relevant projects and experience
• Financial proposal with detailed cost breakdown
• Signed declaration of honour and compliance statements

Detailed instructions on tender preparation and submission are available in the eSubmission Quick Guide accessible from the portal.

Key Deliverables and Activities

The successful contractor will be responsible for delivering capacity-building activities across two main work streams:

Work Stream 1: Taxonomic Tools and Expert Capacity:Development and provision of taxonomic identification tools, training materials, and expert support to enable Member States to implement the EU-PoMS for wild bees, butterflies, hoverflies, and moths. This includes creating accessible identification guides, conducting training workshops, and establishing expert networks.

Work Stream 2: Butterfly Monitoring Capacity:Strengthening national capacity for butterfly monitoring by expanding the European Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (eBMS) to additional Member States and supporting integration with EU-PoMS. This includes establishing new monitoring schemes in countries where they do not yet exist and harmonising methodologies across the EU.

The contractor must ensure that all capacity-building activities are science-based, aligned with the finalised EU-PoMS methodology, and designed to enable Member States to meet the mandatory implementation deadline of 16 December 2026.

Regulatory and Policy Context

This contract directly supports implementation of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation (Regulation EU 2024/1991), which entered into force on 18 August 2024. The regulation establishes binding commitments for Member States to reverse the decline of pollinator populations by 2030. ⁴

The EU Pollinator Monitoring Scheme (EU-PoMS) was formally established through Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/2188, published in 2025. This delegated act provides the standardised, science-based methodology that Member States must implement. The methodology was developed through extensive consultation, including input from the SPRING project (Strengthening Pollinator Recovery through Insect Monitoring and Guidance), which ran from May 2021 to November 2023.

The contract also supports the EU Pollinators Initiative and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, which recognise pollinators as essential for food security, ecosystem resilience, and nature conservation.

Contract Terms and Conditions

Payment Method:Electronic payment is required. The contract will specify payment milestones linked to deliverable completion and approval.

Ordering:Electronic ordering procedures will be used for all contract management and administration.

Post-Award Process:The draft contract specifies the terms governing contractor obligations, intellectual property rights, confidentiality, liability, and dispute resolution. Contractors must comply with all EU financial regulations and audit requirements.

The contract will be subject to EU procurement law, including the Public Procurement Directive, and will include standard clauses on conflict of interest, fraud prevention, and data protection compliance.

Documentation and Further Information

The following documents are available for download from the EU Funding and Tenders Portal:

• Invitation to Tender (OP 0016_NRR capacity building pollinators INV_V1.pdf)
• Tender Specifications (0016 NRR capacity building pollinators final_V1.pdf)
• Draft Contract (OC 0016 NRR capacity building pollinators CONTRACT_V1.pdf)

All documents are available in English. Tenderers are advised to review the complete tender specifications and draft contract carefully before preparing their submission, as these documents contain detailed requirements, evaluation criteria, and contractual terms.

For technical questions or clarifications regarding the tender, applicants should submit inquiries through the portal by the additional information request deadline of 28 June 2026. The European Commission will provide written responses to all substantive questions.

Participant Registration

All organisations wishing to submit a tender must be registered in the European Commission's Participant Register before submission. Registration is free and can be completed online. Each organisation receives a unique 9-digit Participant Identification Code (PIC) upon registration. Organisations already registered should verify that their registration information is current and accurate before submitting a tender.

Key Considerations for Applicants

Prospective applicants should note the following important points:

• The submission deadline is firm and strictly enforced. Tenders received after 16:00:59 on 6 July 2026 will not be accepted.
• Only electronic submission through eSubmission is permitted. No alternative submission methods are accepted.
• The contract requires sustained engagement with EU Member States over a 4-year period, necessitating strong organisational capacity and experience in international coordination.
• Expertise in pollinator taxonomy and monitoring is essential. Organisations without demonstrated experience in these areas are unlikely to be competitive.
• The quality criterion (60% weight) is more heavily weighted than price (40%), indicating that technical excellence and methodological soundness are prioritised.
• Applicants should carefully review the draft contract to understand all obligations, including reporting requirements, intellectual property provisions, and audit compliance.
• Joint tenders (consortia) are permitted and may be advantageous for combining complementary expertise in taxonomy, monitoring, and capacity building.

Related EU Initiatives and Context

This contract is part of a broader EU commitment to pollinator conservation. Related initiatives include the development of Key Pollinator Areas (KPAs) and Buzz Lines (landscape connectivity corridors) to support pollinator movement and resilience across Europe. The Science Service for Biodiversity has published guidance on identifying and mapping these areas, which may inform the contractor's capacity-building approach.

The European Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (eBMS) has been expanded to six additional EU countries (Denmark, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, and Romania) through the SPRING project. The successful contractor will build on this foundation to further strengthen butterfly monitoring capacity across the EU.

Footnotes

1. 1The EU-PoMS methodology covers wild bees, butterflies, hoverflies, and moths as priority pollinator groups. The scheme provides standardised approaches for collecting annual data on pollinator abundance and diversity, assessing trends, and evaluating the effectiveness of restoration efforts.
2. 2The tender specifications indicate that SMEs are not explicitly excluded from participation. However, the contract value of €3.5 million and the requirement for sustained capacity building across multiple Member States suggest that organisations with significant experience and resources are more likely to be successful.
3. 3The eSubmission system is the mandatory submission platform. Detailed instructions on system access, account creation, and tender preparation are available in the eSubmission Quick Guide, which can be accessed from the EU Funding and Tenders Portal.
4. 4The EU Nature Restoration Regulation (Regulation EU 2024/1991) establishes legally binding restoration targets for Member States, including specific commitments to reverse pollinator population declines by 2030. The regulation entered into force on 18 August 2024, with Member States required to implement the EU-PoMS by 16 December 2026.