Developing an EU platform to foster the use of native plants for nature restoration by public authorities, business and citizens

Open tender EC-ENV/2026/OP/0006 from the European Commission DG Environment seeks a contractor to develop a framework, dataset and functional mock-up for an EU information platform promoting native plants for nature restoration. Maximum budget €480,000 excluding VAT, contract duration up to 24 months, deliverables include Task 1 assessment (8 months), Task 2 database (18 months) and Task 3 mock-up (22–24 months). Eligible economic operators within the scope of the EU Treaties, GPA signatories and LIFE-associated third countries may apply, with joint tenders and subcontracting permitted subject to exclusion and selection criteria including turnover and technical capacity. Electronic submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal (eSubmission) by 20/04/2026 16:00 Europe/Brussels; award by best price-quality ratio (50% price, 50% quality).

What the tender buys

Scope in one line

Design and deliver a framework, dataset and a functional mock-up of an EU information tool to guide public authorities, businesses and citizens on which native plant species to use (including sourcing information), prioritised by biogeographic region and ecosystem service, and to support market uptake and supply.

Funding and contract form:Estimated total value €480,000; single direct service contract (open procedure) with a maximum duration of 24 months ¹

1. 1Task 1: EU-wide assessment of existing tools, market availability and stakeholder needs (deliverable within 8 months)
2. 2Task 2: Compile a criteria-searchable dataset covering at least 250 native plant species across EU biogeographic regions (deliverable within 18 months)
3. 3Task 3: Produce a user-tested mock-up online tool and guidance (final tool delivered by month 22, final version by month 24)

Who may apply

Open to economic operators (sole applicants or consortia). Tenderers must register in the EU Participant Register (PIC), meet the exclusion and selection criteria in the tender specifications, and submit tenders electronically via the eSubmission system.

Administrative essentials

Selection, deliverables and payment

Selection checks cover exclusion, legal and financial capacity and technical competence. Award is based on price (50%) and quality (50%) with required minimum quality thresholds. Payments: two interim progress-linked payments and final balance on delivery and approval of outputs.

Footnotes

1. 1Full procurement documents, tender specifications, invitation letter and eSubmission access are available on the Funding & Tenders Portal Tender dossier.

Procurement reference:EC-ENV/2026/OP/0006. Procedure type: Open procedure. Contracting authority: European Commission, Directorate-General for Environment (DG ENV), Directorate D - Biodiversity, Unit D2 - Natural Capital and Ecosystems Health. CPV: 90700000 Environmental services. Nature of the contract: Services. Estimated total value: €480,000 excluding VAT. Maximum contract duration: 24 months. TED reference: 46/2026 157066-2026. Award method: Best price-quality ratio. Submission method: Electronic via eSubmission on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Official opportunity page and documents:Funding & Tenders Portal notice and eSubmission access: Tender EC-ENV/2026/OP/0006. Invitation letter: OP0006_Native Plants Guide-INV_V1.pdf. Tender specifications: 0006 Native plants D2 final_V1.pdf. Draft contract: OC 0006 Native Plants CONTRACT_V1.pdf.

Opportunity scope and work to be contracted

Objective:Establish the full framework and data foundation for a future EU information tool and platform that will foster the use of native plants across the EU for nature restoration and wider public and private greening. The contract addresses three systemic gaps: a) lack of reliable guidance on what native plant species to use by location to maximise biodiversity and ecosystem services; b) lack of reliable EU-wide information on where to source such plants; c) supply gaps and limited market availability of native plants and seeds.

• Task 1 – EU-wide assessment of existing tools and initiatives: Map and analyse local, regional, and national tools that guide the use of native plants across EU biogeographic regions and locations and for different ecosystem services. Produce replication fiches for the most promising schemes. Analyse current native seed and plant market availability and identify gaps. Undertake stakeholder engagement (e.g., public, municipal authorities, planners, developers, architects, ecologists, horticulturists, farmers, foresters) to capture user needs and challenges; propose mechanisms to link users to suppliers (e.g., nurseries). Output informs Task 2.
• Task 2 – Compile a criteria-searchable EU database: Gather and structure all information required for a comprehensive database and guidance covering at least 250 EU27 native plant species (herbaceous, shrubs, trees), aligned with applicable EU law and the EU Guidelines on biodiversity-friendly afforestation, reforestation and tree planting. Ensure broad coverage across EU biogeographic regions with at least 80 species per region, spanning habitat types, altitudes, soils, and taxonomic and functional diversity. Identify threatened native plants suitable for conservation gardening, using Red Lists where relevant. For each biogeographic zone and by plant category, identify top 10 species most suited for services in addition to supporting biodiversity and pollinators: reducing local temperatures; reducing air and water pollution; reducing stormwater run-off; flood risk reduction; CO2 capture; increasing ecosystem climate resilience. Also identify the 20 most widely marketed non-native plants with low or adverse wildlife value and propose, per biogeographic zone, native functional replacements that are available or could be cultivated.
• Task 3 – Recommendations and preparation for an EU-wide information tool: Deliver a functional, user-tested mock-up of an online guidance tool that lets users select EU biogeographic region, ecosystem service priorities and site parameters, and outputs suitable native plant options with data on suitability (region, soil, climate resilience including drought resistance), ease of cultivation, planting, maintenance, indicative costs, availability and sourcing options by user location. Provide all underlying data, selection parameters, algorithms, images and mapping assets in a format ready for web implementation, updating, and eventual translation to other EU languages. Include a visual identity proposal, user handbook and guidance. Include stakeholder testing for usability.

Deliverables and timetable:Inception report (within 2 weeks of signature). Deliverable 1: Task 1 assessment report (by month 8). Deliverable 2: database and dataset for Task 2 (by month 18). Deliverable 3: functional mock-up tool with handbook and recommendations (by month 22); final version and final report by month 24. Progress reports at months 8 and 18 accompany Deliverables 1 and 2; a kick-off meeting within 2 weeks of inception report, progress meetings within 2 weeks of each progress report, ad-hoc meetings as required (max. two per month), and a final meeting within 2 weeks of the final report.

Policy context and alignment:The contract supports the EU Green Infrastructure Strategy, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 including the EU Nature Restoration Plan, the Nature Restoration Regulation, and the 2023 EU Pollinators Initiative (Action 8.3 on pollinator-friendly native plant guidelines), by equipping public authorities, businesses and citizens with actionable guidance and by stimulating market supply of native plants.

Eligibility, participation and evaluation

Eligible Applicant Types

Participation is open to any natural or legal person within the scope of the EU Treaties, to international organisations, and to natural or legal persons from GPA countries and third countries eligible under and associated to the LIFE Programme at the time of award. Tenderers may be, for example, SMEs, large enterprises, universities, research institutes, consultancies, nonprofits and NGOs, public sector bodies, and individuals acting as economic operators. Joint tenders and subcontracting are permitted. Capacity may be fulfilled collectively in a consortium and by relying on third-party capacities subject to rules.

Funding Type

Public procurement service contract. Payments against deliverables with interim payments and balance; no grants or co-funding.

Consortium Requirement

Single tenderers or joint tenders are allowed. No mandatory consortium requirement. All group members in a joint tender are jointly and severally liable; a group leader acts as single contact point and signs on behalf of all members.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility)

Eligible on equal terms:natural and legal persons within the scope of the EU Treaties; international organisations; persons established in GPA countries; and persons established in third countries eligible for and associated to the LIFE Programme at award. Entities subject to EU restrictive measures are excluded. Subcontracting and reliance on capacities must not circumvent access rules.

Target Sector

Environment and biodiversity; nature restoration; pollinators and ecology; horticulture and forestry; agriculture and agro-ecology; climate adaptation and mitigation; green infrastructure and nature-based solutions; data and ICT for environmental decision-support tools; public sector green procurement and urban greening.

Mentioned Countries

Belgium (contracting authority address in Brussels). The scope references EU27 biogeographic regions and Member States in general.

Project Stage

Research and assessment (mapping and market/user needs analysis), database development, and demonstration via a functional mock-up online tool with user testing and validation, culminating in final recommendations for an EU-hosted platform.

Funding Amount

Maximum budget €480,000 excluding VAT, covering fees and all costs including travel and subsistence (no separate reimbursement). Price revision not applicable. Payment plan: two interim payments of 30 percent each linked to Deliverables 1 and 2, and payment of the balance upon acceptance of final deliverables.

Application Type

Open call for tenders with single submission via eSubmission on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Electronic-only submission; one tender per tenderer.

Nature of Support

Monetary payments under a services contract based on accepted deliverables and compliance with contract conditions.

Application Stages

Single-stage submission and evaluation. Includes administrative compliance check, access verification, exclusion and selection criteria assessment, technical quality evaluation and financial offer assessment to identify the best price-quality ratio.

Success Rates

No success rate statistics are provided in the documentation.

Co-funding Requirement

No co-funding required. This is a fully paid service contract; the contractor delivers services for an agreed fixed price.

Timelines, formalities and contacts

Submission channel and prerequisites:Submissions must be made exclusively via eSubmission on the Funding & Tenders Portal. Each participating entity must be registered in the Participant Register and use its PIC (9-digit). Signatures should preferably use a Qualified Electronic Signature. Tenders may be submitted in any official EU language; working language for deliverables is English.

Q&A clarifications:Only fully completed projects in the past five years are eligible under selection Criterion A; ongoing projects are not admissible. For Criterion A1, experience must be shown in ecology and the specified specialist areas collectively, but not necessarily within the same project. Reference periods: A1 three years; A2 five years; A3 two years; A4 five years.

Selection, award and contractual requirements

Exclusion and access

Entities in exclusion situations per Article 138(1) of the Financial Regulation, or subject to EU restrictive measures, are not eligible. A Declaration on Honour on exclusion and selection criteria is required with the tender; evidence may be requested from the presumed winner before award.

Selection criteria: Economic and financial capacity

• Minimum average yearly turnover over the last two financial years: above €480,000.
• Evidence: Profit and loss accounts and balance sheets for the last two closed financial years (most recent year closed within last 18 months), or bank statements if unavailable.
• Assessment: Consolidated across all involved entities that contribute to meeting the criterion.

Selection criteria: Technical and professional capacity

• Criterion A1: Experience in ecology plus specialist expertise in at least horticulture, agriculture including agro-ecology, and forestry; also experience drafting reports and recommendations and developing online tools. Evidence: 3 projects in the last 3 years, each minimum €200,000, with client statements confirming execution.
• Criterion A2: Capacity to work in English. Evidence: 3 projects in the last 5 years demonstrating required language coverage.
• Criterion A3: Capacity to draft reports in English. Evidence: one document of at least 10 pages authored in the last 2 years (verification on 5 pages).
• Criterion A4: Capacity to work in at least 3 EU countries. Evidence: 3 projects in the last 5 years that collectively cover the required geography.
• Team requirements: Project Manager with at least 7 years of experience, including management of teams of at least 5 people and projects of at least €250,000 across at least 3 countries; at least 2 team members with English at C1 level (certificate or past relevant experience); at least 3 ecology experts (one with at least 10 years, others at least 5 years of professional experience); a data collection team of at least 3 people with collectively 10 years of experience in data collection techniques. Evidence: CVs and language evidence as applicable.
• All technical and professional capacity evidence must be provided with the tender.

Award criteria and thresholds

• Price: 50 percent weight (total price of the tender covering all requirements).
• Quality: 50 percent weight (maximum 100 points) across three sub-criteria:
• 1) Quality of proposed methodology: up to 50 points; minimum threshold 25 points.
• 2) Organisation of work and allocation of resources: up to 30 points; minimum threshold 15 points.
• 3) Quality control measures: up to 20 points; minimum threshold 10 points.
• Overall technical sufficiency threshold: minimum total 65 points out of 100.
• Ranking is by best price-quality ratio (total price divided by total quality points; lowest ratio wins). Detection of abnormally low tenders applies per the Financial Regulation.

Contract implementation and payments

• Direct services contract with ownership by the Union of results and intellectual property rights, and licensing arrangements for pre-existing materials.
• Interim payments: 30 percent after approval of the first progress report and Deliverable 1; 30 percent after approval of the second progress report and Deliverable 2; balance after approval of final tool and final report.
• Price revision: not applicable. Travel and subsistence are part of the lump sum price.
• Security, confidentiality, fraud prevention, environmental and equal opportunity provisions apply.
• Checks, audits, and OLAF/EPPO oversight can occur during the contract and up to five years after final payment.

Submission contents and templates

The following documents must be uploaded with the tender via eSubmission, using the specified templates where provided:

• Technical tender: Address all minimum requirements in Section 1.4 of the specifications and all award criteria. Specify any personal data processing location if outside the EU/EEA.
• Financial tender: Use the Financial tender form (Annex 6) to provide a complete price and breakdown, in euros, VAT-free.
• Declaration on Honour on exclusion and selection criteria (Annex 2) for each involved entity as required.
• Evidence of legal capacity (trade or professional register enrolment or authorisation).
• Economic and financial capacity evidence: profit and loss accounts and balance sheets for the last two financial years for concerned entities.
• Technical and professional capacity evidence: project references for Criteria A1–A4 with client statements; team CVs and language evidence for Criteria B1–B4; sample authored report for A3.
• Administrative Information Form (Annex 8).
• If applicable: Agreement/Power of attorney for joint tenders (Annex 3); List of identified subcontractors and proportion of subcontracting (Annex 4) and commitment letters for identified subcontractors (Annex 5.1); commitment letters for entities on whose capacity the tenderer relies (Annex 5.2).

Formatting and publication of final deliverables:The final study report must include an abstract in English and French and an executive summary (max 6 pages), carry Commission-provided identifiers (ISBN, catalogue number, DOI), include the prescribed disclaimer, and comply with the European Commission’s Visual Identity Manual. Final delivery: a single consolidated, compliant PDF with report, executive summary, and annexes, following the Publications Office naming rules (to be provided with identifiers).

Key operational details

• Place of performance: Contractor’s premises.
• Language: Working language for deliverables is English; tenders may be submitted in any official EU language.
• Opening session: Virtual; attendance by up to two representatives per tenderer upon timely request, with submission receipt.
• Contact for opening attendance and public opening info: env-tenders@ec.europa.eu.
• PIC registration and eSubmission guidance: see eSubmission Quick Guide and System Requirements.
• Data protection: personal data processed under Regulation (EU) 2018/1725; privacy notice available on the Portal.
• Security and cybersecurity: compliance with Commission security requirements, including incident notification obligations under the contract’s security appendix.

FAQs and eSubmission technical constraints

• Attachment size limit: files less than 50 MB; up to 200 attachments per tender; observe naming constraints per System Requirements.
• Supported browsers: latest Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.
• Encryption: all uploaded documents are encrypted by the system; content not accessible after submission.
• PIC is mandatory for tenderers and consortium members; not mandatory for subcontractors.
• Draft submissions can be edited until the deadline; after deadline, submission and attachments cannot be changed.

Comprehensive categorisation answers

Eligible Applicant Types:Natural persons and legal entities acting as economic operators, including SMEs, large enterprises, universities, research institutes, nonprofit organisations, NGOs, public authorities and agencies, consultancies and engineering firms, horticulture and forestry specialists, data and ICT service providers, and international organisations. Joint tenders and subcontracting permitted with role-specific documentation.

Funding Type:Public procurement service contract with fixed price in euros and staged payments upon deliverable acceptance.

Consortium Requirement:Not required. Single tenderers or joint tenders are acceptable. In joint tenders, members are jointly and severally liable and appoint a group leader.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Applicants from the EU, international organisations, GPA signatory countries, and third countries eligible for and associated to the LIFE Programme at the time of award. Entities subject to EU restrictive measures are ineligible.

Target Sector:Environment, biodiversity, nature restoration, pollinators, ecology, agriculture and agro-ecology, forestry and horticulture, nature-based solutions, climate adaptation and mitigation, ICT and software services for environmental decision support, public procurement and urban greening.

Mentioned Countries:Belgium (contracting authority in Brussels). EU27 biogeographic regions referred.

Project Stage:Research and assessment; database design and development; demonstration and validation via a functional mock-up; final recommendations for scale-up to an EU-hosted online platform.

Funding Amount:Up to €480,000 excluding VAT for the total contract value. No price revision, all costs included in the lump sum.

Application Type:Open call for tenders; single electronic submission via eSubmission; one tender per tenderer; tenders may be withdrawn and resubmitted before the deadline.

Nature of Support:Monetary payments for services delivered to the European Commission under a direct services contract; includes two interim payments and a final balance after acceptance.

Application Stages:1 stage. Evaluation comprises access and administrative checks, exclusion and selection criteria, technical quality scoring and financial evaluation to determine best price-quality ratio.

Success Rates:Not published in the call documentation.

Co-funding Requirement:No co-funding. The contractor is paid for services; travel and subsistence must be included in the offered price.

Templates:Use the provided annex templates and structure: Annex 1 list of documents to submit; Annex 2 Declaration on Honour on exclusion and selection; Annex 3 Agreement/Power of attorney for joint tenders; Annex 4 List of identified subcontractors and proportion of subcontracting; Annex 5.1 Commitment letter by identified subcontractor; Annex 5.2 Commitment letter by an entity on whose capacities is being relied; Annex 6 Financial tender form with roles, working days, task allocation, cost breakdown and totals; Annex 7 Travel and subsistence ceilings (for workshops/conferences if applicable; not for contractor staff travel); Annex 8 Administrative Information Form; Annex 9 Content, Structure and graphic requirements for final deliverables including abstract, executive summary in English and French, identifiers, required disclaimer, EC visual identity compliance, and single consolidated PDF final delivery. Technical tender should explicitly address: methodology for Task 1-3; stakeholder engagement plan; database design and data model; selection parameters and algorithms; usability testing approach; visual identity and multilingual readiness; workplan and Gantt; risk management; resource plan and time allocation per task; quality control and language QA; data protection, security, and IPR approach; and clear mapping to award criteria with evidence of added value beyond minimum requirements. Financial tender must price all tasks and deliverables, including meetings and any travel, with clear linkage to the workplan.

Summary explanation of the opportunity

This open tender from the European Commission’s DG Environment commissions a comprehensive, two-year services project to lay the groundwork for an EU platform that promotes the selection and sourcing of native plants for nature restoration and greening across the EU. The contractor will map existing guidance tools and market initiatives, analyse user needs and supply gaps, and compile a high-quality, criteria-searchable database of at least 250 native species with broad biogeographic coverage. The work explicitly targets delivery of ecosystem services such as heat reduction, pollution reduction, stormwater management, flood risk reduction, CO2 capture and climate resilience, in addition to supporting biodiversity and pollinators. A functional mock-up of a user-friendly online guidance tool will be produced, with full data, parameters, algorithms, images and proposed visual identity ready for conversion to an EU-hosted web platform. The service contract is valued at up to €480,000, evaluated on best price-quality ratio with substantive technical methodology, organisation, and quality control scoring. Eligible bidders include any qualified economic operators within the EU Treaties’ scope, international organisations, GPA countries and LIFE-eligible associated third countries. A consortium is optional. The submission is electronic-only through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, with strict evidence-based selection including turnover, multi-country experience, English capability, and an expert team in ecology, horticulture/agro-ecology/forestry, reporting, tool development, and data collection. This opportunity is well-suited to consortia of environmental consultancies, botanical and ecological institutes, horticulture and forestry experts, and ICT developers with experience in environmental data tools, aiming to deliver a high-impact, practical instrument to accelerate native plant uptake and the EU’s nature restoration, biodiversity and pollinator objectives.

Footnotes

1. 1All official documents and submission are accessed via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal notice Tender EC-ENV/2026/OP/0006. Refer to the Invitation letter, Tender specifications, and Draft contract for binding details.

Opportunity Overview

This is an open procedure call for tenders (EC-ENV/2026/OP/0006) launched by the European Commission, DG Environment, to develop a framework addressing gaps in information on native plant species for biodiversity benefits and ecosystem services, sourcing options, and market availability. The platform targets public authorities, businesses, and citizens to support EU policies including the Nature Restoration Regulation, EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, and EU Pollinators Initiative.

Estimated total value:€480,000 (maximum budget, excluding VAT). Nature of contract: services. Maximum duration: 24 months. TED reference: 46/2026 157066-2026. TED publication date: 06/03/2026.

Key Deadlines:Deadline for receipt of tenders: 20/04/2026 16:00 Europe/Brussels. Questions after: 10/04/2026 23:59 Europe/Brussels. Public opening: 21/04/2026 10:30 Europe/Brussels.

Who Can Apply

Open to natural and legal persons within the scope of EU Treaties, international organisations, and entities from third countries with relevant agreements (e.g., WTO GPA signatories, LIFE programme eligible countries). No lots. Joint tenders and subcontracting permitted. Involved entities must not be subject to EU restrictive measures.

Exclusion Criteria

• Situations under Article 138(1) of Financial Regulation (e.g., bankruptcy, grave professional misconduct, fraud).
• Declaration on Honour required (Annex 2). Evidence requested from successful tenderer.

Selection Criteria

Economic and Financial Capacity (Criterion F)

Average yearly turnover of last two years above €480,000 (consolidated for joint tenders). Evidence: Profit/loss accounts and balance sheets (most recent closed within 18 months).

Technical and Professional Capacity

• A1 (3 years): 3 projects (min. €200,000 each) in ecology, horticulture/agro-ecology, forestry, reports/online tools.
• A2 (5 years): 3 projects showing English capacity.
• A3 (2 years): 1 report (min. 10 pages) in English.
• A4 (5 years): 3 projects covering at least 3 EU countries.
• Team: Project Manager (7+ years), 2 C1 English speakers, 3 ecologists (1 with 10+ years, 2 with 5+), data collection team (10+ years collective). Evidence: CVs, references, certificates.

All evidence must be submitted with tender. Consolidated assessment for tenderer as a whole (including identified subcontractors). Registration in Participant Register (PIC) required.

Scope of Work

Develop framework for EU-wide information tool on native plants (min. 250 species across EU27 biogeographic regions, covering herbaceous plants, shrubs, trees). Tasks: (1) Assess existing tools/market gaps/stakeholder needs (8 months); (2) Build searchable database (18 months); (3) Mock-up tool with recommendations (24 months). Includes stakeholder engagement, species selection for ecosystem services (e.g., CO2 capture, flood reduction), replacements for non-native plants.

Key Deliverables and Milestones

1. 1Inception report (2 weeks post-signature).
2. 2Deliverable 1: Task 1 report (8 months).
3. 3Progress report 1 (8 months).
4. 4Deliverable 2: Database (18 months).
5. 5Progress report 2 (18 months).
6. 6Deliverable 3: Mock-up tool/guide (22-24 months).
7. 7Final report (24 months).

Meetings

• Kick-off (2 weeks post-inception).
• Progress meetings (2 weeks post-reports).
• Ad-hoc (max. 2/month).
• Final (2 weeks post-final report).
• Up to 2/year expert groups.

Evaluation and Award

Best price-quality ratio (Price:50%; Quality: 50%). Quality sub-criteria: Methodology (50 pts, min. 25), Organisation/resources (30 pts, min. 15), Quality control (20 pts, min. 10). Minimum total quality: 65/100. Abnormally low tenders may be rejected.

Submission Requirements

Electronic via eSubmission on F&T Portal. Documents per Annex 1 (e.g., Declaration on Honour, financials, CVs, references). Tenders in any official EU language; English prevails. PIC registration mandatory.

Key Documents:Available at EU Funding & Tenders Portal: Invitation letter, Tender specifications (Annex I), Draft contract (Annex II).

Payment Terms

1. 1Interim 1: 30% (post-Deliverable 1/progress report 1, 60 days).
2. 2Interim 2: 30% (post-Deliverable 2/progress report 2, 60 days).
3. 3Balance: 40% (post-final report/tool, list of pre-existing rights, 60 days).

All via electronic exchange system. VAT-exempt (EU institutions). No pre-financing/performance guarantee.

Q&A Highlights

Additional Notes

Place of performance:Contractor's premises. IP: Union owns results; pre-existing rights licensed royalty-free. Security/data protection obligations apply. Governing law: EU/Belgian.

Primary source:EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Subscribe for updates.

Footnotes

1. 1Q&A 12/03/2026 11:04.
2. 2Q&A 12/03/2026 14:52.
3. 3Q&A 12/03/2026 17:37.