Deployment of a European testing infrastructure for the transition to PQC in different usage domains

The European Cybersecurity Industrial, Technology and Research Competence Centre (ECCC) has issued a call for tenders identified as ECCC.BUH.2025.OP.0015, focusing on the deployment of a European testing infrastructure for the transition to Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) in various usage domains. The estimated contract amount is €25 million, and the duration of the contract is set for 48 months, concluding on February 20, 2026, at 15:00 Europe/Bucharest time.

This procurement opportunity serves as an open procedure requiring electronic submission of tenders via the eSubmission platform. It explicitly targets large businesses, technical service providers, and consortia with expertise in IT services and cybersecurity, making it unsuitable for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Participants must hold a Participant Identification Code (PIC) to submit their proposals.

The tender aims to create an infrastructure that enables European organizations to test and validate their systems against quantum threats, ensuring cybersecurity resilience as computing technology evolves. The primary objectives of the tender include the deployment of testing facilities, operational protocols, and certification services relevant to various sectors such as government, finance, and critical infrastructure.

Applicants can submit tenders as either single entities or as part of a consortium, with inclusion of subcontractors allowed, though not mandatory. The project has a geographic scope that appears to be open to all EU member states and likely EEA nations.

Application details include open call processes, with evaluation criteria weighted at 70% for quality and 30% for price, emphasizing company capabilities in delivering high-quality services. Required documentation for submissions consists of various forms including invitations letters, technical specifications, financial tender forms, and declarations on honor, along with commitment letters from subcontractors.

The procurement documents specify that submissions must be made electronically and adhere to particular technical specifications regarding file size and format. The overview does not disclose specific success rates for prior applications, nor does it require matching funds from applicants.

In summary, this opportunity represents a significant investment in future cybersecurity infrastructure, underpinning the EU's strategic commitment to maintain digital sovereignty amidst advancing technological challenges. Interested organizations should ensure they meet all eligibility requirements and submit complete documentation by the specified deadline while navigating the submission process through the eSubmission system.

The European Cybersecurity Industrial, Technology and Research Competence Centre (ECCC) has published a call for tenders, ECCC.BUH.2025OP.0015, for the deployment of a European testing infrastructure for the transition to Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) in different usage domains. The TED reference for this tender is 245/2025 849943-2025.

The procedure type is an open procedure, and the submission method is electronic. The estimated total value of the tender is 25,000,000 EUR. The TED publication date is 19/12/2025. The main classification (CPV) code is 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support. The nature of the contract is for services, and the maximum contract duration is 48 months. The award method is based on the best price-quality ratio. No framework agreement is mentioned.

Key milestones include the TED publication date on 19/12/2025, the date and time of the public opening on 23/02/2026 at 14:00 Europe/Bucharest, and the deadline for receipt of tenders on 20/02/2026 at 15:00 Europe/Bucharest. The contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after 12/02/2026 at 06:00 Europe/Bucharest.

The available documents include:

1. Invitation to tender ECCC.BUH.2025OP.0015 PQC Testing Infrastructure Invitation letter, published on 19/12/2025, Version 1, No translations available.
2. Tender Specifications Part 1 - ECCC.BUH.2025.OP.0015 Tender specifications - adm. part, published on 19/12/2025, Version 1, No translations available.
3. Tender Specifications Part 2 - ECCC.BUH.2025.OP.0015 Technical specifications, published on 19/12/2025, Version 1, No translations available.
4. Annex 02 DoH - ECCC.BUH.2025.OP.0015 Declaration on honour (tender), published on 19/12/2025, Version 1, No translations available.
5. Annex 03 - Agreement.Power of attorney Other invitation to tender document, published on 19/12/2025, Version 1, No translations available.
6. Annex 04 - List of identified subcontractors Other invitation to tender document, published on 19/12/2025, Version 1, No translations available.
7. Annex 05.1. - Commitment letter by an identified subcontractor Other invitation to tender document, published on 19/12/2025, Version 1, No translations available.
8. Annex 05.2. - Commitment letter by an entity on whose capacities is being relied Other invitation to tender document, published on 19/12/2025, Version 1, No translations available.
9. Annex 06 - Financial Tender Form - ECCC.BUH.2025.OP.0015 Financial offer form, published on 19/12/2025, Version 1, No translations available.
10. Annex 07 - Administrative identification form Other invitation to tender document, published on 19/12/2025, Version 1, No translations available.

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

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

1.  How to proceed if the system is slow or doesn’t work while uploading/downloading documents? Use the latest versions of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. If the issue persists, clear the cache and cookies on the Internet browser.
2.  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.
3.  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.
4.  Where can I find my submissions in Manage My Area, in the Funding & Tenders portal? Submissions can be found in ‘My Submission(s)’: tenders in response to open calls for tenders, requests to participate.
5.  Which size should attachments have? eSubmission accepts files that are less than 50 MB in size.
6.  How should I name attachments in eSubmission? Follow the System Requirements for naming attachments.
7.  Can I submit a video in eSubmission? Which formats are supported? Check the System Requirements of eSubmission.
8.  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.
9.  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.
10. I have an issue uploading a file in eSubmission and it’s giving me an error. What do I do? Make sure it follows the technical requirements of the system.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. How many languages does the system support? The system is multilingual and supports all 24 official EU languages.
15. Which is the character set encoding in the system? The character set encoding is UTF-8.
16. 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.
17. Which file types does the system support? The supported file types depend on the type of submission you want to make.
18. 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.
19. 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.
20. 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.

In summary, this tender opportunity focuses on deploying a European testing infrastructure to facilitate the transition to post-quantum cryptography. The ECCC is seeking qualified organizations to provide IT services, including consulting, software development, and support, to establish this infrastructure. The project has a substantial budget of 25 million EUR and a duration of 48 months. Interested parties must submit their tenders electronically by February 20, 2026, and should carefully review all provided documents and FAQs to ensure compliance with the submission requirements. A key aspect is the use of the eSubmission system, which has specific technical requirements regarding file size, naming conventions, and supported browsers. A Participant Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for participation. The project aims to enhance cybersecurity by preparing for the adoption of post-quantum cryptographic solutions across various usage domains within Europe.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, based on the nature of the tender, it can be inferred that eligible applicants could include organizations capable of deploying and managing a testing infrastructure, such as IT service providers, research institutions, universities, and consortia thereof. The requirement for a Personal Identification Code (PIC) suggests that any legal entity can apply.

Funding Type: The funding type is procurement, specifically a service contract. The call is an "invitation to tender," and the "Nature of the contract" is explicitly stated as "services."

Consortium Requirement: The text mentions the possibility of submitting a tender as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium). Therefore, both single applicants and consortia are likely eligible. Annex 04 requires a list of identified subcontractors, which further supports the possibility of consortium applications.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is not explicitly stated. However, given that it is an EU funding opportunity managed by the European Cybersecurity Industrial, Technology and Research Competence Centre, it is highly likely that the geographic eligibility includes at least EU member states and possibly EEA countries or other countries associated with EU programs.

Target Sector: The target sector is ICT (Information and Communication Technology) and cybersecurity. The tender focuses on the "Deployment of a European testing infrastructure for the transition to PQC (Post-Quantum Cryptography)," which falls under the broader categories of IT services, consulting, software development, Internet, and support, as indicated by the CPV code 72000000.

Mentioned Countries: Bucharest (Romania) is mentioned as the timezone for the date and time of the public opening and the deadline for receipt of tenders. No other countries are explicitly mentioned.

Project Stage: The project stage is deployment and implementation. The tender is for the "Deployment of a European testing infrastructure," implying that the underlying research and development are already at a mature stage, and the focus is now on building and operating the infrastructure.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the tender is 25,000,000 EUR.

Application Type: The application type is an open call for tenders, with electronic submission.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for services rendered, specifically the deployment and operation of the PQC testing infrastructure.

Application Stages: The number of application stages is not explicitly mentioned, but the presence of administrative and technical specifications, a declaration of honor, and a financial tender form suggests a multi-stage evaluation process. At a minimum, there would be an eligibility check, a technical evaluation, and a financial evaluation.

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

Co-funding Requirement: The co-funding requirement is not explicitly mentioned.

Summary: This is an invitation to tender (ECCC.BUH.2025OP.0015) issued by the European Cybersecurity Industrial, Technology and Research Competence Centre (ECCC) for the deployment of a European testing infrastructure for the transition to Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) in various usage domains. The total estimated value of the tender is 25,000,000 EUR, and the maximum contract duration is 48 months. The procedure type is an open procedure, and the submission method is electronic. The deadline for receipt of tenders is February 20, 2026, at 15:00 Europe/Bucharest time. The tender aims to establish a testing infrastructure to support the adoption of PQC, which is crucial for maintaining cybersecurity in the face of advancing quantum computing capabilities. The tender documents include an invitation letter, administrative and technical specifications, a declaration of honor, forms for agreements and power of attorney, lists of subcontractors, commitment letters, a financial tender form, and an administrative identification form. The tender is relevant to organizations with expertise in IT services, cybersecurity, software development, and infrastructure deployment. A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for participation. The eSubmission system supports multiple languages and encrypts uploaded documents. The maximum file size for attachments is 50 MB, and the maximum number of attachments per submission is 200.