Consolidated Tape Provider selection procedure - OTC derivatives

This document outlines a public procurement tender issued by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) for the selection of a Consolidated Tape Provider (CTP) specifically for Over-The-Counter (OTC) derivatives market data services. The procurement is not a grant; it is a service provision contract where successful bidders will be compensated for their services, backed by EU funds.

Eligible applicants include established private companies, financial service providers, and data service providers, although small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may not find this opportunity suitable due to the substantial technical and financial requirements involved. The procedure requires submission by a single entity, as there is no mandatory consortium formation, and it is structured as a single lot.

Geographically, the tender is open to entities within the EU, reflecting the EU funding indicator, with no specific country exclusions mentioned. However, parties should verify eligibility through detailed procurement documents. The target sector for this tender encompasses financial services and capital markets infrastructure, focusing on data services related to OTC derivatives.

The contract is set for a duration of 60 months, and while the funding amount appears corrupted in the provided data (noted as 1 EUR), it is advisable for applicants to consult the official procurement notice for accurate financial information.

The application process involves at least two stages: a request to participate, which has a deadline of February 11, 2026, followed by a formal tender submission for those qualified. The submissions must be made electronically through the designated Funding and Tenders Portal, requiring various supporting documentation relevant to technical specifications and compliance. Each submission must include a Personal Identification Code (PIC), and electronic submissions will employ encryption measures to maintain confidentiality and integrity.

Although success rates for such tenders were not disclosed, these are typically variable depending on applicant quality and competition. There is no co-funding requirement; the buyer, ESMA, will fully fund the service contract.

Overall, this procurement opportunity targets entities with extensive capabilities in financial market infrastructure and data processing, aiming to enhance transparency and efficiency in the OTC derivatives market through the establishment of a comprehensive consolidated tape. Interested parties should refer to the specific procurement documents available through the Funding and Tenders Portal for detailed instructions, requirements, and timelines associated with the submission.

This is a call for tenders for a Consolidated Tape Provider (CTP) selection procedure for Over-The-Counter (OTC) derivatives. The procedure identifier is ESMA/2026/CPN-CC/0001. The submission method is electronic and the call is currently open for submission. The procedure type is a competitive procedure with negotiation. The estimated total value is 1 EUR. The TED publication date is 05/01/2026. The lead contracting authority is the European Securities and Markets Authority. The main classification (CPV) code is 66152000, which refers to financial market regulatory services. The nature of the contract is for services. The maximum contract duration is 60 months. The award method is best price-quality ratio. There is no framework agreement. The deadline for receipt of requests to participate is 11/02/2026 at 15:00 Europe/Paris time.

The following documents are available for download:

1. ENCTP Application specifications - OTC Derivatives, Tender specifications - adm.part (requests to participate), Published on 05/01/2026, Version 1, No translations available.
2. ENAnnex III - List of documents to provide with request to participate, Tender specifications - adm.part (requests to participate), Published on 05/01/2026, Version 1, No translations available.
3. ENAnnex I - Selection and award criteria - OTC Derivatives CTP, Technical specifications (requests to participate), Published on 05/01/2026, Version 1, No translations available.
4. ENAnnex IV - Templates A5 and A6, Technical specifications (requests to participate), Published on 05/01/2026, Version 1, No translations available.
5. ENAnnex II - Declaration on honour, Declaration on honour (requests to participate), Published on 05/01/2026, Version 1, No translations available.
6. ENInvitation submit request participate OTC CTP Jan 2026, Invitation to submit a request to participate, Published on 05/01/2026, Version 1, No translations available.

Submissions must be sent exclusively at the address for submission provided, using the electronic submission method.

Some frequently asked questions (FAQ) and their answers related to the eSubmission system are:

How to proceed if the system is slow or doesn’t work while uploading/downloading documents?
Make sure you use the latest versions of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. If the issue persists, try the following steps: 1. Clear the cache and cookies on the Internet browser.

Which Internet browsers does eSubmission support?
Use the latest versions of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. For the most up-to-date technical recommendations, click on the link System Requirements.

Is it possible to view the details of the submission after the deadline?
No, the content of the submission is not accessible after submitting the tender as the system encrypts all attachments upon upload. Thus, the system will not allow decryption after the upload.

Where can I find my submissions in Manage My Area, in the Funding & Tenders portal?
Depending on the type or step of procedure, you can find the submissions in one of these sections: In ‘My Submission(s)’: tenders in response to open calls for tenders, requests to participate.

Which size should attachments have?
eSubmission accepts files that are less than 50 MB in size. Any larger sizes will not be accepted by the system.

How should I name attachments in eSubmission?
In eSubmission, you must name the attachments for your tender draft following the System Requirements. With regards to all attachment names, please see the following conditions: The attachment name must follow the naming convention.

Can I submit a video in eSubmission? Which formats are supported?
Check the System Requirements of eSubmission.

I received an invitation from the F&T Portal but cannot view the procurement documents.
Invited candidates can only see the procurement documents after having selected an organisation. Go to F&T Portal, “My Invitations”. Click on “Select Organisation” from the “Action” column.

Do I need to validate my PIC in order to submit a tender in eSubmission?
The Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory to participate in a call for tenders as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium). For subcontractors PIC is not mandatory.

I have an issue uploading a file in eSubmission and it’s giving me an error. What do I do?
When uploading a file in eSubmission, you must first make sure it follows the technical requirements of the system.

How many attachments can I upload per submission?
The maximum number of documents the system will allow you to upload per tender is 200 files.

Why do tenderers need a PIC?
It is mandatory to register for a PIC if you intend to submit a tender or a request to participate. Only one PIC per organisation must be used.

How do I register my organisation and get a Participant Identification Code (PIC)?
First, check if the organisation is already registered using the Search PIC tool under 'How to Participate' > Participant Register.

How many languages does the system support?
The system is multilingual and supports all 24 official EU languages.

Which is the character set encoding in the system?
The character set encoding is UTF-8.

Does the system use encryption to ensure the integrity and the confidentiality of the information?
Yes, the system encrypts all uploaded documents, using an asymmetric key as an encryption mechanism.

Which file types does the system support?
The supported file types depend on the type of submission you want to make. The allowed file types are specified within the system requirements linked to the procedure in question.

Can I view and edit my draft submission?
Until the deadline for the submission has been reached, submissions in the draft status can be edited, viewed and deleted.

In the submission report, under the name of our entity, "Legal form: UNKNOWN" is displayed while in the system, our legal form was correctly displayed. Is this a problem for the submission?
No, it is just a display issue. This is not blocking for you: you can submit.

I sent my submission on time and a few days later, I received an automatic email informing me that the deadline for the reception of submissions had been reached. Does this mean that my submission was not correctly sent?
No, this is an auto-generated notification sent when the time limit of receipt defined for the call for tenders has been reached. Until then, you had the possibility of withdrawing your submission.

In summary, this is a call for tenders by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) to select a Consolidated Tape Provider (CTP) for Over-The-Counter (OTC) derivatives. The tender process involves a competitive procedure with negotiation, and submissions must be made electronically by the specified deadline. The selected provider will be responsible for consolidating and disseminating trading data for OTC derivatives. The tender documents outline the application specifications, required documents, selection and award criteria, and templates for submission. A PIC (Personal Identification Code) is mandatory for participation. The eSubmission system supports various file types and encrypts uploaded documents for security. The contract has a maximum duration of 60 months, and the award will be based on the best price-quality ratio.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, given the nature of the tender for a Consolidated Tape Provider (CTP) selection procedure for OTC derivatives, it is likely that eligible applicants would include entities capable of providing financial market regulatory services. This could include financial institutions, data providers, regulatory technology firms, or consortia thereof.

Funding Type: This opportunity is a procurement, specifically a service contract. The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) is seeking a provider of services related to a Consolidated Tape for OTC derivatives.

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. However, the FAQ section mentions that a Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory to participate in a call for tenders as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium), implying that both single applicants and consortia are eligible.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is not explicitly mentioned. Given that the lead contracting authority is the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), it is highly likely that the geographic eligibility includes at least the EU. Further details would need to be checked in the official documentation.

Target Sector: The target sector is finance, specifically financial market regulatory services related to Over-The-Counter (OTC) derivatives.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned. The relevant region is the EU, given the involvement of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA).

Project Stage: The project stage is not explicitly stated, but it appears to be at the stage of implementation or service provision, as ESMA is seeking a provider to operate a Consolidated Tape.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value is listed as 1 EUR, which is likely a placeholder. The actual contract value would depend on the proposals received and the negotiated terms. The opportunity is best classified as variable.

Application Type: The application type is an open call for tenders, with a competitive procedure involving negotiation.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for services.

Application Stages: The application stages are not fully detailed in the provided text, but it is implied that there is at least a two-stage process: a request to participate, followed by a full tender submission. The procedure type is a competitive procedure with negotiation, suggesting multiple stages of evaluation and potential negotiation.

Success Rates: Success rates are not mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding requirements are not mentioned in the provided text.

Summary:

This opportunity is a call for tenders issued by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) for the selection of a Consolidated Tape Provider (CTP) for Over-The-Counter (OTC) derivatives. The procedure is a competitive one with negotiation, and submissions must be sent electronically. The estimated total value is listed as 1 EUR, which is likely a placeholder. The contract duration is specified as 60 months. The deadline for receipt of requests to participate is February 11, 2026, at 15:00 Europe/Paris time. Interested parties must submit their requests to participate electronically through the designated eSubmission system. The tender documents include application specifications, a list of required documents, selection and award criteria, templates, and a declaration of honor. The eSubmission system supports multiple languages and uses encryption to ensure data integrity and confidentiality. Applicants need a Personal Identification Code (PIC) to participate, whether as a single entity or as part of a consortium. The maximum file size for attachments is 50 MB, and the system allows up to 200 files per submission. The call aims to improve transparency and efficiency in the OTC derivatives market by establishing a consolidated tape that provides comprehensive trading information.