EEA/ENS/TC/26/004 - Topic Centre on Environmental Noise Reporting, Data, Assessment and Networking services

EEA/ENS/TC/26/004 is an open tender by the European Environment Agency to establish a Topic Centre on Environmental Noise providing Reporting, Data, Knowledge and Networks services. The contract is a framework service agreement with an estimated total value of €1,150,000, initial duration 12 months and up to three renewals (maximum 54 months). Only organisations designated as Topic Centre Organisations (TCOs) by the EEA Management Board may submit tenders, and consortium bids are acceptable to cover multidisciplinary requirements. Tenders must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal by 04 August 2026 14:00:59 CEST and will be evaluated on quality (70%) and price (30%).

What it funds

Scope summary

A framework service contract to provide expert services on environmental noise across four domains: Reporting Services, Data Services, Knowledge Services, and Networks and Collaboration Services. Tasks include cross-cutting analysis, deliverable production and structured engagement with EEA units, Eionet partners and national noise reporters.

Who can apply:Legal entities and consortia able to deliver technical, analytical and networking services in environmental noise (consult procurement documents for detailed selection and qualification requirements) ¹.

1. 1Service provision contract for environmental noise expertise
2. 2Open to organisations/consortia meeting procurement selection criteria
3. 3Submission is by eSubmission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal

Awarding will be based on quality (70) and price (30). The procedure is an open eSubmission tender managed by the European Environment Agency. Interested bidders should consult the tender dossier and templates available on the portal.

Footnotes

1. 1Official tender documents, technical specifications and templates are available at the opportunity page Tender details.

Opportunity type and contracting authority

This is a procurement tender published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) to establish a framework service contract for a Topic Centre on Environmental Noise Reporting, Data, Assessment and Networking services (Call identifier EEA/2026/OP/0027). The procurement is for services and will be run as a framework contract concluded for an initial period of 12 months and renewable up to three times, giving a planned total duration of up to 54 months.

Lead contracting authority:European Environment Agency (EEA) — eea.europa.eu

Scope, objectives and service domains

The Topic Centre will provide expert services across four distinct but interconnected domains related to the EEA's work on environmental noise pollution: Reporting Services, Data Services, Knowledge Services, and Networks and Collaboration Services. Each domain requires cross-cutting analytical support, production of deliverables, quality assurance and structured engagement with EEA units, Eionet partners, national noise reporters and other experts. The services will support the EEA in collecting, validating, processing and reporting noise-related data, producing assessments and knowledge outputs, and maintaining and developing collaboration networks across Eionet and national stakeholders.

Key service areas (summary)

1. 1Reporting Services: support for statutory and non-statutory reporting activities, preparation of reports and deliverables, quality assurance of reporting outputs.
2. 2Data Services: collection, quality control, processing, curation, management and dissemination of environmental noise datasets; adherence to EEA IT and data management policies.
3. 3Knowledge Services: analytical work, assessments, evidence synthesis, methodological guidance, development of indicators and knowledge products on environmental noise.
4. 4Networks and Collaboration Services: coordination and facilitation of networks, training and capacity building with Eionet, national reporters and experts; stakeholder engagement and communication.

Contract and financial information

The procurement is a services contract under CPV main code 73000000. The estimated overall contract value is €1,150,000 for the full framework. The contract is structured as a framework agreement with an initial 12-month term and three possible renewals, resulting in a planned maximum period of 54 months. The award criteria combine quality and price with a weighting indicating 70 for quality and 30 for price according to the tender metadata (consult procurement documents for full detail).

Estimated contract value:€1,150,000 (estimated overall contract amount for the framework).

Procurement process, submission and timeline

This is an open tender published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Submission is electronic (eSubmission) via the portal. The tender includes a defined deadline for final submission, an open tender event and an additional information request period. Candidates must follow the documents and templates published with the invitation to tender and submit required technical and financial documents through the portal. An open tender event is scheduled the day after the submission deadline (check procurement documents for access details).

Who can apply and consortium requirements

The procurement documentation does not restrict applicants to a single legal status; a wide range of organisations typically eligible for EEA service contracts may apply. The tender allows and expects organisations with domain-specific expertise; consortium bids (joint bids) are commonly used and appropriate where multiple skills are needed (data engineering, noise expertise, reporting and stakeholder facilitation). Applicants must meet the selection and exclusion criteria and provide evidence of required capabilities and experience as set out in the procurement documents.

1. 1Eligible applicant types (typical and expected): universities and research institutes; specialised consultancies; SMEs and larger service providers; nonprofit organisations and NGOs with technical expertise; public bodies and agencies; consortia or joint ventures combining above actors.
2. 2Consortium requirement: Not strictly mandated as single-or-consortium only in the metadata, but the scope and 'Overview of expertise' annex and typical EEA Topic Centre procurements indicate consortium bids are appropriate and likely necessary to cover multidisciplinary service requirements. Candidates may bid alone or as part of a consortium; check specific tenderer qualification requests in the procurement documents.
3. 3Geographic eligibility (beneficiary scope): Open to organisations established in the EEA/EU member states and cooperating countries in the Eionet network. The EEA works with its Eionet network and cooperating countries; the tender is published on the EU portal and follows EU procurement rules. Ukraine is explicitly referenced in EEA outreach materials as a cooperating country; the formal eligibility follows rules in the procurement documents and portal for candidate participation.

Award criteria, evaluation and requirements

Awarding will be based on combined quality and price criteria. Metadata shows an indicative weighting of 70 for quality and 30 for price; bidders must consult the technical specifications and tender instructions for the detailed scoring model, thresholds and sub-criteria. Selection criteria will include evidence of technical capability, relevant experience, staff expertise, data management and IT compliance, quality assurance procedures, and the financial offer submitted on the provided template.

Documents and templates provided (key attachments):Procurement package includes: invitation to tender, technical specifications, draft framework service contract (Annex 2 to TS), financial offer template (Annex 1 to TS), overview of expertise template (Annex 3 to TS), checklist for eSubmission (Annex 6 to TS), EEA corporate standards (Annex 4 to TS), and EEA IT and Data Management policies (Annex 5 to TS). The documents were published on 2026-06-10 and may be amended until the consider-changed-until date shown in the portal.

1. 1Annex 1 to TS — Financial offer template (Microsoft Word/DOCX).
2. 2Annex 2 to TS — Draft Framework Service Contract (PDF).
3. 3Annex 3 to TS — Overview of expertise (Excel workbook).
4. 4Annex 4 to TS — EEA Corporate Standards (PDF).
5. 5Annex 5 to TS — EEA IT and Data Management Policies (PDF).
6. 6Annex 6 to TS — Checklist for eSubmission (PDF).
7. 7Technical specifications (main technical requirements and deliverables).
8. 8Invitation to tender (formal call document).

Application content and template guidance

Bidders must submit a technical proposal demonstrating how they will deliver the four service domains, provide CVs and evidence of key personnel, describe consortium roles (if relevant), show previous experience with environmental noise reporting and data management, and provide quality assurance and stakeholder engagement plans. Financial offers must be completed using the provided financial offer template (Annex 1 to TS). An 'Overview of expertise' Excel file is provided to structure required capability information.

1. 1Technical proposal structure (typical, to be confirmed against technical specifications): executive summary; understanding of the assignment; detailed methodology for each service domain; workplan and timeline; deliverable list and milestones; risk management; QA/QC approach; data management and security compliance; stakeholder engagement plan; resource and consortium organisation chart; CVs of key staff.
2. 2Financial proposal structure: use Annex 1 to TS financial offer template. Provide price breakdowns per staff category, unit rates, estimated volumes, overheads and total tender price for the framework. Include consistency with proposed workplan.
3. 3Supporting templates: complete Annex 3 overview-of-expertise workbook; provide copies of relevant certificates or declarations for exclusion/selection criteria; follow the eSubmission checklist in Annex 6 to TS before final upload.

Submission method and stages

Submission method:electronic submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal (eSubmission). The portal enforces submission deadlines and required document formats. There is an additional information request period ending 2026-07-27; bidders should use the portal to request clarifications before that date. An open tender event is indicated for 2026-08-05 which may cover administrative opening or clarifications — consult the portal event details.

1. 1Application stages: 1) Preparation and submission via eSubmission; 2) Administrative and eligibility check; 3) Technical and financial evaluation against award criteria; 4) Award decision and contracting. In practice bidders pass through at least two principal selection phases (administrative/eligibility and evaluation leading to award).
2. 2Number of application stages: effectively 2 to 3 evaluation stages (administrative check, technical evaluation, price evaluation) before contract award.

Nature of support and funding modality

This tender will result in a paid services contract (procurement):successful bidders enter into a framework service contract and receive payment for delivered services under contract rates and terms. This is not a grant. The EEA will pay the contractor according to the contract and the invoicing/payment terms set out in the draft framework and contract documents.

Co-funding, eligibility restrictions and SME suitability

Co-funding:No co-funding from applicants is required because this is a procurement contract where the contractor is remunerated by the EEA. Financial offers must reflect the full cost of delivery. SME suitability: the metadata lists the SME suitable indicator as false; this means the contract is not specifically earmarked or structured as an SME-targeted contract. SMEs may still bid alone or as partners in consortia but should ensure capacity to deliver the full scope.

Geographic scope and mentioned countries

The opportunity is published by the EEA and targets delivery across the EEA's area of interest and the Eionet network. The procurement documentation and the EEA's materials reference Eionet member and cooperating countries. Ukraine is explicitly mentioned in EEA public materials as a cooperating country; formal eligibility and the list of participating countries will follow the procurement documents and portal rules.

1. 1Region: European Environment Agency (EEA) / Eionet network (EU Member States, EEA EFTA states, and cooperating countries such as Ukraine according to EEA cooperation arrangements).
2. 2Explicit country mention in scraped context: Ukraine (mentioned in EEA background content).

Target sectors and technical focus

Primary sector:environment (environmental noise). Cross-cutting technical focuses: environmental data management, environmental reporting, assessment and analytics, stakeholder networking and capacity building, IT and data governance, and dissemination. ICT and data engineering capabilities are required to support data services; methodological competence in noise assessment and policy-relevant knowledge production is expected.

1. 1Primary thematic sector: environment — environmental noise pollution monitoring, reporting and assessment.
2. 2Relevant technical areas: environmental data collection and quality assurance, geospatial data handling, indicator development, statistical analysis, knowledge synthesis, stakeholder engagement platforms, and compliance with EEA IT and data policies.

Project maturity and expected deliverables

This procurement is for implementation-stage service delivery. The contractor is expected to provide operational services, produce specified deliverables (reports, datasets, assessments, training materials, network facilitation outputs) and meet quality and data management requirements described in the technical specifications. The project stage therefore corresponds to delivery, implementation and repeated annual reporting cycles rather than early-stage research or seed activity.

Project stage:Implementation / Service delivery / Demonstration of operational capability to manage noise reporting and data processes.

Success rates and competition

Exact success rates are not published. This is a competitive open procurement on the EU portal. As a single-lot framework contract with an open call and significant scope, competition is likely to be strong among specialised consultancies, research institutes and consortia with proven track records in environmental noise, data services and EEA-style reporting. No guaranteed number of awards or reserve lists are indicated in the metadata; bidders should assume standard competitive odds for EEA framework service procurements.

Co-financing and financial constraints

No co-financing requirement from the bidder is indicated; the contractor will be paid under the framework contract. Bidders must however propose financially sustainable offers and may be required to demonstrate financial solvency and capacity as part of selection criteria.

How to prepare a compliant bid (checklist)

1. 1Register and prepare eSubmission account on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.
2. 2Download and read: invitation to tender, technical specifications, draft framework contract, annexes (1 to 6) and EEA policies attached to the call.
3. 3Complete Annex 1 financial offer template and Annex 3 overview of expertise file as provided.
4. 4Prepare a structured technical proposal aligned with the four service domains, including methodology, workplan, deliverables, quality assurance, data management and stakeholder engagement.
5. 5Provide required selection and exclusion evidence (legal, financial, capacity statements).
6. 6Compile CVs and proof of experience for key personnel and consortium partners (if any).
7. 7Use the Annex 6 eSubmission checklist to ensure all files and formats comply before final upload.
8. 8Submit via eSubmission before 2026-08-04T14:00:59Z and retain confirmation of successful upload.

Templates and application form structure

The procurement package contains specific templates that must be used. Key templates and their expected structure are described below; bidders must complete the exact files supplied rather than substituting formats.

1. 1Annex 1 to TS Financial offer template (DOCX): structured price table to fill in unit rates, person-days, other costs and total contract price; follow instructions inside the document to ensure consistency with the technical offer.
2. 2Annex 3 to TS Overview of expertise (XLSX): workbook with sheets to capture organisation details, partner roles (for consortia), specific experience items, staff profiles and references. Complete all mandatory fields and ensure consistency with CVs.
3. 3Technical specifications (PDF): defines deliverables, tasks, reporting requirements, milestones, performance indicators, data management and IT security requirements. Structure proposal to mirror the tasks and deliverables listed.
4. 4Draft framework service contract (Annex 2 to TS) (PDF): contractual terms including duration, renewals, invoicing, liability, confidentiality and data ownership. Review carefully and state any clarifications only through the official question period.
5. 5Annex 6 Checklist for eSubmission (PDF): use before final submission to ensure required documents and formats are present and named correctly.

Additional procurement-specific notes

The tender uses an electronic submission and evaluation process managed via the Funding & Tenders Portal. Bidders should respect the stated deadlines for clarification requests (additional information request period) to receive formal answers through the portal. The procurement is listed as eo-procurement-document selection criteria source and contains a tender validity period of 6 months; bidders should ensure offers remain valid for that period as required.

Referenced procurement documents and where to find them

All procurement documents and templates are available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal opportunity page for EEA/ENS/TC/26/004. Key documents published on 2026-06-10 include the invitation to tender, technical specifications, draft framework contract, financial offer template, overview of expertise, eSubmission checklist and EEA corporate and IT/data policies. Bidders must download the current versions from the portal and monitor the portal for any document changes or clarifications Tender opportunity on Funding & Tenders Portal. ¹

Final summary

This procurement seeks a Topic Centre contractor to deliver comprehensive services on environmental noise for the European Environment Agency across four domains: reporting, data, knowledge and networks. The contract is a framework service agreement with an estimated total value of €1,150,000 and a potential duration up to 54 months (initial 12 months plus renewals). The tender is an open, competitive electronic procurement; bidders must submit a technical and financial offer using the provided templates and comply with the technical specifications and EEA policies. Eligibility is consistent with EEA and EU procurement rules and the Eionet cooperation network; consortium bids are appropriate to cover the multidisciplinary requirements. Interested bidders should consult and follow the annexed templates and the detailed technical specifications on the Funding & Tenders Portal and submit questions through the portal in the specified clarification period prior to the 2026-08-04 deadline.

Footnotes

1. 1Direct access to the procurement documents and attachment list is available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal opportunity page for call EEA/2026/OP/0027 (Tender reference EEA/ENS/TC/26/004). Use the portal eSubmission interface to download the latest files and submit your bid.

Opportunity Overview

This tender seeks a Topic Centre Organisation to provide expert services across four domains: Reporting Services, Data Services, Knowledge Services, and Networks and Collaboration Services for the European Environment Agency's (EEA) work on environmental noise pollution ¹.

The contract is a framework agreement with an initial period of 12 months, renewable up to three times, totaling a maximum duration of 54 months ².

Estimated Contract Value:The estimated overall contract amount is €1,150,000 ³.

Who Should Apply

Organisations must first be designated as a Topic Centre Organisation (TCO) by the EEA Management Board to be eligible to submit a tender ⁴.

Prospective TCOs must indicate interest to their national Eionet Representative, who will grant access to the submission tool for the designation process ⁵.

Designation Process Steps

1. 1Contact the Eionet Representative in your country to confirm eligibility and provide contact details
2. 2Receive access to the submission tool and complete the application before the deadline
3. 3Await validation and designation by the EEA Management Board
4. 4Submit a tender for the specific Topic Centre call once designated

Key Deadlines

Award Criteria

The award is based on quality (70%) and price (30%), with quality assessed according to criteria detailed in the procurement documents ⁶.

Required Expertise & Deliverables

The Topic Centre must provide cross-cutting analytical support, produce deliverables, and engage with EEA units, Eionet partners, national noise reporters, and experts ⁷.

Key deliverables include support for strategic noise mapping, exposure assessment, action plan development, and quiet area preservation under the Environmental Noise Directive (END) ⁸.

Submission Requirements

Tenders must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal using the eSubmission method ⁹.

Required documents include the Financial offer template, Overview of expertise, Draft Framework Service Contract, and compliance with EEA Corporate and IT/Data Management policies ¹⁰.

Official Resources

Full tender details and documents are available at EU Funding & Tenders Portal ¹¹.

Information on becoming a Topic Centre Organisation is available at EEA Topic Centres Call ¹².

Footnotes

1. 1Technical specifications define the four service domains and engagement requirements EU Funding Portal.
2. 2Draft Framework Service Contract specifies the 12-month initial period with three renewals EU Funding Portal.
3. 3Estimated overall contract amount is €1,150,000 as stated in the procurement documents EU Funding Portal.
4. 4Only designated Topic Centre Organisations can participate in the tender call EEA Topic Centres Call.
5. 5Eionet Representatives grant access to the submission tool for prospective TCOs EEA Topic Centres Call.
6. 6Award criteria weights are 70% quality and 30% price EU Funding Portal.
7. 7Technical specifications outline engagement with EEA units, Eionet partners, and national reporters EU Funding Portal.
8. 8Environmental Noise Directive (END) requirements include noise mapping, exposure assessment, and action plans EEA Noise Topic.
9. 9Submission method is electronic via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal EU Funding Portal.
10. 10Required documents include financial offer template, expertise overview, and compliance with EEA policies EU Funding Portal.
11. 11Official tender page with all documents and details EU Funding Portal.
12. 12EEA call for interest for new Topic Centres 2027-2030 EEA Topic Centres Call.