Consultancy services to carry out a data request and validation for the gas Transmission System Operators (TSOs) efficiency benchmark of the European ...

The European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) is planning to issue a tender for consultancy services focused on data request and validation for the gas Transmission System Operators (TSOs) efficiency benchmark. The estimated contract value is €140,000 and the duration is set for 10 months. This is a procurement opportunity, specifically designed for specialized consultancy firms with expertise in the energy sector.

The main details of this opportunity are as follows:

- The timing for expressions of interest will begin on December 18, 2025, with a registration deadline of January 5, 2026.
- The call identifier for this tender will be ACER/2026/MVP/0001-EXA.
- It is important to note that the opportunity is not suitable for small and medium enterprises, indicating a preference for larger consulting firms or enterprises with substantial experience in energy sector analysis.
- The application phase will permit electronic submissions, with the method of expression of interest being specifically outlined for online participation.

The contract type is characterized as a service procurement rather than a grant, as it involves direct payment for consultancy services. There are no requirements for a consortium, and it appears to cater exclusively to single applicants with relevant expertise.

The focus of this consultancy will be on analyzing operational performance in the energy sector, particularly related to natural gas transmission, and will likely contribute to improving regulatory understanding and efficiency benchmarks for gas TSOs throughout EU member states.

While the geographic eligibility has not been formally restricted, it is implicitly available to entities that can operate within EU energy regulations. Interested parties should be prepared for a competitive bidding process, with expectations surrounding qualifications and submission quality, although success rates for such tenders are typically low.

Overall, this announcement serves as a pre-information notice, indicating that more detailed procurement documents will be made available as the negotiated procedure progresses, and potential bidders should monitor the situation closely for updates.

This is a pre-information notice, announcing the European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators' (ACER) intention to publish a future negotiated low or middle value procedure. This is not a call for tenders.

The procedure identifier is ACER/2026/MVP/0001-EXA.

The title of the planned call for tenders is "Consultancy services to carry out a data request and validation for the gas Transmission System Operators (TSOs) efficiency benchmark of the European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators".

The procedure type is a planned negotiated procedure for a middle/low value contract.

The estimated total value is 140,000 EUR.

The lead contracting authority is the European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators.

The main classification (CPV) code is 79400000, which refers to Business and management consultancy and related services.

The nature of the contract is for services.

The maximum contract duration is 10 months.

There is no framework agreement associated with this procedure.

The start date for expression of interest is 2025-12-18 Europe/Brussels.

The deadline for expression of interest is 06/01/2026 06:59 Europe/Ljubljana.

The indicative date of launch of the negotiated procedure is 2026-01-06 Europe/Ljubljana.

The method of expression of interest is electronic.

To express interest, applicants should use the "Express interest" link.

Submissions must be sent exclusively at the address for submission given.

A question and answer section is available, where users can log in to create questions, view public Q&As, FAQs, and download Q&As in XLS format.

One FAQ is available: "Where can I find the procurement documents for calls for tenders with ‘ExA' in the reference? References that feature an ‘ExA’ are not calls for tenders. They are a publication announcing the contracting authority’s intent to launch in the future a low or middle negotiated procedure." This was published on 03/10/2024 17:32.

In summary, this is a pre-announcement for a future opportunity to bid on a consultancy contract with the European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER). The project involves providing consultancy services for data request and validation related to the efficiency benchmarking of gas Transmission System Operators (TSOs). The estimated value of the contract is 140,000 EUR, and it is expected to last for a maximum of 10 months. The expression of interest phase is scheduled to begin in December 2025, with the negotiated procedure launching in January 2026. Interested parties should monitor the provided channels for further updates and instructions on how to participate in the negotiated procedure once it is officially launched. It is important to note that this announcement is not a call for tenders, but rather a notification of an upcoming opportunity.

Eligible Applicant Types: The opportunity is for consultancy services, so eligible applicants would likely be consulting firms or organizations with expertise in business and management consultancy, specifically related to the energy sector and data validation.

Funding Type: This is a procurement opportunity, specifically a planned negotiated procedure for a middle/low value contract. The nature of the contract is for services.

Consortium Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required or if a single applicant is sufficient. However, given the nature of consultancy services, both single applicants and consortia could potentially be eligible, depending on the specific requirements outlined in the future call.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The opportunity is being launched by the European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators, suggesting that the geographic eligibility is likely focused on entities within the EU or those that can provide services relevant to EU energy regulations. The exact geographic eligibility will likely be detailed in the future call for tenders.

Target Sector: The target sector is energy, specifically related to gas Transmission System Operators (TSOs) and the efficiency benchmark of the Agency. It also targets business and management consultancy.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the context implies a focus on the European Union due to the involvement of the European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators.

Project Stage: The project stage is for consultancy services, which implies a need for expertise in data request and validation. This suggests a stage where data collection and analysis are required to support the efficiency benchmark of gas TSOs.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the contract is 140000 EUR, placing it in the €50k–€200k range.

Application Type: The application type is a planned negotiated procedure, meaning that it is not an open call for tenders but rather a procedure where the contracting authority will invite specific candidates to submit proposals. There is an expression of interest phase before the negotiated procedure is launched.

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

Application Stages: There are at least two stages: an expression of interest, followed by a negotiated procedure. The exact number of stages within the negotiated procedure is not specified.

Success Rates: Since this is a planned negotiated procedure, the success rates are not publicly available and will depend on the number of candidates invited to negotiate and the quality of their proposals. It is likely to be higher than an open call, but no specific estimate can be provided.

Co-funding Requirement: The information does not specify whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

This is a pre-announcement for a future negotiated procurement procedure by the European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER). The procedure identifier is ACER/2026/MVP/0001-EXA. The contracting authority intends to procure consultancy services to carry out a data request and validation for the gas Transmission System Operators (TSOs) efficiency benchmark of the Agency. This is not a call for tenders at this stage, but rather a publication announcing the intent to launch a low or middle value negotiated procedure in the future. The estimated total value of the contract is 140000 EUR, and the maximum contract duration is 10 months. The start date for expression of interest is 2025-12-18, and the deadline for expression of interest is 2026-01-06. The indicative date of launch of the negotiated procedure is 2026-01-06. The method of expression of interest is electronic. The main classification (CPV) code is 79400000, which corresponds to business and management consultancy and related services. Interested parties should monitor the provided link for more information and to express their interest electronically. This opportunity is aimed at consultancy firms with expertise in the energy sector, specifically in data collection, validation, and benchmarking related to gas transmission.