EMODnet Secretariat and the European Atlas of the Seas

The European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) has issued a call for tenders, identified as CINEA/2025/OP/0011, for managing the EMODnet Secretariat and the European Atlas of the Seas. The purpose of this tender is to continue administrative support for the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) and related activities that align with the European Commission’s Ocean Observation initiative. The contract is valued at approximately €2,625,000 and is classified under CPV code 73100000, which pertains to research and experimental development services.

The procedure for this tender is an open call, allowing any eligible organizations to submit their tenders electronically via the eSubmission system. The submissions must be received by July 16, 2025, at 17:00 Europe/Brussels, with a public opening scheduled for July 17, 2025. Questions regarding the tender must be submitted by July 8, 2025, to receive responses from the contracting authority, which will not address inquiries submitted after this date.

Eligible applicants include research institutes, universities, specialized service providers, and potentially consortia, although there is no explicit requirement for a consortium. The tender is primarily targeting organizations with expertise in marine research, data management, and providing technical services. Geographic eligibility is likely focused on EU member states and associated countries, given the nature of the project.

The contract duration includes an initial term of 24 months, with renewal options, totaling a maximum of 42 months. The evaluation for awarding the contract will weigh 70% on quality and 30% on price, adhering to standard EU procurement methodologies. There is no co-funding requirement, as the contract is fully funded.

Interested organizations must ensure they comply with all technical specifications for the submission process, including the necessity for a Personal Identification Code (PIC), required for participation. The system is designed to handle documents in all 24 official EU languages and utilizes encryption for secure submissions.

For more detailed information about the EMODnet network and related initiatives, interested parties can refer to various online resources linked within the tender documentation.

The European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) has published a call for tenders CINEA/2025/OP/0011 for the EMODnet Secretariat and the European Atlas of the Seas. The TED reference for this call is 105/2025 355773-2025. The publication date is 03/06/2025.

The procedure type is an open procedure, and submissions must be electronic. The aim of this call is to conclude a contract for running a Secretariat to administer the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) and the European Atlas of the Seas, and to support other activities related to the European Commission’s Ocean Observation initiative to ensure coherence with EMODnet. It will take over and continue the tasks from the present EMODnet Secretariat.

More information on the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) can be found on https://emodnet.ec.europa.eu/en and on https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/maritimeforum/en/frontpage/160. The European Atlas of the Seas is available at https://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/atlas/maritime_atlas/. Information on the Ocean Observation initiative can be found at https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12539-Ocean-observation-sharing-responsibility. The current EMODnet Secretariat is located at https://emodnet.ec.europa.eu/en/emodnet-secretariat.

The estimated total value of the tender is 2,625,000 EUR. The main classification (CPV) is 73100000 - Research and experimental development services. The nature of the contract is for services, and the maximum contract duration is 42 months. The award method is based on the best price-quality ratio. There is no framework agreement.

Key milestones include:
TED publication date: 03/06/2025
Date and time of public opening: 17/07/2025 10:00 Europe/Brussels
Deadline for receipt of tenders: 16/07/2025 17:00 Europe/Brussels
Deadline for submitting questions: 08/07/2025 05:00 Europe/Brussels

The following documents are available for download:
Invitation to tender CINEA2025OP0011 EMODnet Secretariat Invitation letter, published on 03/06/2025, Version 1, No translations available
Tender Specifications CINEA 2025 OP 0011 EMODnet Secretariat Tender specifications, published on 03/06/2025, Version 1, No translations available
Annex 1 List of documents CINEA 2025 OP 0011 EMODnet Secretariat Tender specifications - adm. part, published on 03/06/2025, Version 1, No translations available
Annex 2 Declaration on Honour CINEA 2025 OP 0011 EMODnet Secretariat Tender specifications - adm. part, published on 03/06/2025, Version 1, No translations available
Annex 2.1 Technical Professional capacity CINEA 2025 OP 0011 EMODnet Secretariat Tender specifications - adm. part, published on 03/06/2025, Version 1, No translations available
Annex 3 Agreement Power of attorney - CINEA 2025 OP 0011 EMODnet Secretariat Tender specifications - adm. part, published on 03/06/2025, Version 1, No translations available
Annex 4 List of subcontractors - CINEA 2025 OP 0011 EMODnet Secretariat Tender specifications - adm. part, published on 03/06/2025, Version 1, No translations available
Annex 5.1 Commitment letter Identified subctr - CINEA 2025 OP 0011 EMODnet Secretariat Tender specifications - adm. part, published on 03/06/2025, Version 1, No translations available
Annex 5.2 Commitment letter Third party - CINEA 2025 OP 0011 EMODnet Secretariat Tender specifications - adm. part, published on 03/06/2025, Version 1, No translations available
Annex 6-Financial tender CINEA 2025 OP 0011 EMODnet Secretariat Financial offer form, published on 03/06/2025, Version 1, No translations available

Submissions must be sent exclusively via electronic means at the address for submission provided.

Some frequently asked questions (FAQ) are answered:
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In summary, this is a call for tenders by CINEA to find an organization to run the Secretariat for EMODnet and the European Atlas of the Seas. The selected organization will be responsible for administering these networks and supporting the European Commission's Ocean Observation initiative. The tender is open, with electronic submissions required by July 16, 2025. The contract is worth an estimated 2,625,000 EUR and will last for 42 months. Interested parties should download the tender documents and follow the instructions for electronic submission, ensuring they meet all technical requirements and deadlines. A PIC code is mandatory for participation.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated, but based on the nature of the tender, it is likely open to organizations capable of running a secretariat and supporting related activities. This could include research institutes, universities, consortia of organizations, private companies, or other entities with relevant expertise. The tender specifications documents would provide further clarity on eligibility criteria.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a service contract, as indicated by the "Nature of the contract: services". This means the selected tenderer will be contracted to provide specific services in exchange for payment.

Consortium Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required or if a single applicant is sufficient. However, given the scale and nature of the project, a consortium might be advantageous or even necessary to demonstrate the required breadth and depth of expertise. The tender documents would specify if a consortium is mandatory. The text mentions "a member of a group (consortium)" when referring to the Personal Identification Code (PIC), suggesting that consortia are permitted.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is not explicitly mentioned in the provided text. However, given that it is an EU funding opportunity related to the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) and the European Atlas of the Seas, it is highly likely that the eligibility is focused on entities within the EU, EEA, or possibly EU candidate countries. The specific eligibility criteria would be detailed in the tender specifications.

Target Sector: The target sector is primarily focused on marine observation and data, oceanography, and related research and development services. This includes activities related to the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet), the European Atlas of the Seas, and the European Commission’s Ocean Observation initiative. The CPV code 73100000 indicates "Research and experimental development services".

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned. The focus is on the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) and the European Atlas of the Seas, implying a European or EU-wide scope.

Project Stage: The project stage is operational. The tender aims to find an entity to run a secretariat and administer existing networks and initiatives (EMODnet and the European Atlas of the Seas). It is about continuing and supporting existing activities rather than starting something new.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the contract is 2,625,000 EUR.

Application Type: The application type is an open call for tenders, as indicated by "Procedure type: Open procedure" and "Open For Submission".

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for providing services. The selected tenderer will be paid for running the secretariat and administering the networks.

Application Stages: The number of application stages is not explicitly stated, but it is likely a multi-stage process involving submission of a tender, evaluation of the tender based on selection criteria, and potentially further clarification or negotiation before awarding the contract. The tender documents would outline the specific stages.

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, CINEA2025OP0011, issued by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) for the running of a Secretariat to administer the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) and the European Atlas of the Seas. The tender also includes support for other activities related to the European Commission’s Ocean Observation initiative to ensure coherence with EMODnet. The procedure type is an open procedure, meaning any eligible organization can submit a tender. The estimated total value of the contract is 2,625,000 EUR, and the maximum contract duration is 42 months. The award method is based on the best price-quality ratio. The TED publication date was 03/06/2025, and the deadline for receipt of tenders is 16/07/2025 at 17:00 Europe/Brussels. The contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after 08/07/2025 at 05:00 Europe/Brussels. Submissions must be sent electronically via the eSubmission system. A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for participation. The maximum number of documents that can be uploaded per tender is 200, and the maximum file size for attachments is 50 MB. The system supports all 24 official EU languages and uses UTF-8 character set encoding. The system encrypts all uploaded documents to ensure integrity and confidentiality.