Enhancing Galileo Search and Rescue: Exploring New Orbits and Complementary Service Innovations

The European Commission's Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS) has issued a call for tenders designated as EC-DEFIS/2025/OP/0018, centered on "Enhancing Galileo Search and Rescue: Exploring New Orbits and Complementary Service Innovations." This tender aims to develop and propose innovative solutions that will enhance the performance of Galileo's Search and Rescue (SAR) services, focusing on improving detection probability and location accuracy. The project requires the enrichment of the service portfolio with new functionalities and the integration of new technologies and existing commercial solutions to deliver effective SAR services.

The procedure is an open call, allowing eligible entities to submit proposals electronically. The estimated total value of the contract is €300,000, with a maximum contract duration of 12 months. The evaluation will be based on the best price-quality ratio. Key dates include a TED publication date of September 23, 2025, a public tender opening on November 19, 2025, and a deadline for submissions set for November 18, 2025. The contracting authority will not respond to questions submitted after November 10, 2025.

This procurement contract focuses on advanced space technology services, particularly in satellite navigation and emergency services, with a CPV code of 73120000 indicating it relates to experimental development services. Participation is open to large enterprises, research institutes, and specialized technology companies, as indicated by the exclusion of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

To participate, entities must obtain a Participant Identification Code (PIC), which is mandatory for submission, either as a sole candidate or as part of a consortium. Although a single lot structure exists with no explicit consortium requirement, applicants may choose to partner for technical collaboration. The submission process is electronic, and attached documents must comply with specified size and naming conventions. The eSubmission system supports various file types while ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of the submissions through encryption.

In conclusion, this tender represents an opportunity for organizations with a strong technical background in satellite systems and technology to contribute to the enhancement of critical SAR services using advanced innovations. The emphasis on quality in the evaluation criteria reflects the specialized nature of this procurement and the European Commission's commitment to public safety through improved technology in space-related operations.

The European Commission, DG DEFIS Defence Industry and Space, has published a call for tenders EC-DEFIS/2025/OP/0018 titled "Enhancing Galileo Search and Rescue: Exploring New Orbits and Complementary Service Innovations". The TED reference for this call is 182/2025 619873-2025.

The project aims to develop and propose innovative solutions to enhance the Galileo Search and Rescue (SAR) services performances, specifically focusing on improving detection probability and location accuracy. It also seeks to enrich the service portfolio with new functionalities and leverage new technologies and existing commercial solutions to provide an improved service to SAR operators and a more effective SAR service for people in distress.

This is an open procedure, and submissions must be electronic. The estimated total value of the contract is 300,000 EUR. The nature of the contract is for services, with a maximum duration of 12 months. The award method will be based on the best price-quality ratio. No framework agreement is mentioned.

Key milestones include:
TED publication date: 23/09/2025
Date and time of public opening: 19/11/2025 10:00 Europe/Brussels
Deadline for receipt of tenders: 18/11/2025 16:00 Europe/Brussels
The contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after: 10/11/2025 07:00 Europe/Brussels

The main classification (CPV) code is 73120000 Experimental development services.

The following documents are available for download:
ENEN-Invitation to tender EC-DEFIS2025OP0018 Enhancing Galileo Search and RescueInvitation letterPublished on 23/09/2025Version 1 No translations available
ENFINAL tender specifications SAR long term service evolutions+LSO comments CLEANTender specificationsPublished on 23/09/2025Version 1 No translations available
ENdeclaration-on-honour-tenders Enhancing Galileo Search and Rescue EC-DEFIS2025OP0018Declaration on honour (tender)Published on 23/09/2025Version 1 No translations available
ENEC-DEFIS-2025-OP-0018 - contrat-direct-service-2024 FR Recast-en+LSO commentsDraft contractPublished on 23/09/2025Version 1 No translations available
ENAnnex IV Contract - Declaration on pre-existing rightsDraft contract annexPublished on 23/09/2025Version 1 No translations available
ENAnnex III - VAT shareDraft contract annexPublished on 23/09/2025Version 1 No translations available
ENAnnex 7 - Galileo PSIOther invitation to tender documentPublished on 23/09/2025Version 1 No translations available
ENAnnex 9 - Compliance matrix to SALOther invitation to tender documentPublished on 23/09/2025Version 1 No translations available
ENAnnex 10 - Letter of representationOther invitation to tender documentPublished on 23/09/2025Version 1 No translations available
ENAnnex 11 - Participation conditionsOther invitation to tender documentPublished on 23/09/2025Version 1 No translations available

Submissions must be sent exclusively via electronic submission.

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In summary, this is a call for tenders by the European Commission, DG DEFIS, seeking innovative solutions to enhance the Galileo Search and Rescue services. The project aims to improve detection probability, location accuracy, and service portfolio by leveraging new technologies. The call is open to all eligible tenderers who can submit their proposals electronically by the deadline of November 18, 2025. The tender will be awarded based on the best price-quality ratio, and the maximum contract duration is 12 months. The estimated total value of the contract is 300,000 EUR. Tenderers need to register and obtain a PIC (Personal Identification Code) to participate. The eSubmission system supports various file types and uses encryption to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of the information.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated, but given that it is an open procedure tender, it is likely open to a wide range of entities including companies, research organizations, and other legal entities capable of providing the required services. The participation conditions document, Annex 11, should provide more specific details.

Funding Type: This is a procurement opportunity, specifically a service contract. The nature of the contract is services.

Consortium Requirement: The tender documentation mentions that a Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory to participate as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium). Therefore, both single applicants and consortia are eligible.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is not explicitly stated, but since it is an EU tender related to Galileo, it is likely open to entities within the EU and possibly EEA, and potentially other countries with agreements with the EU. The participation conditions document, Annex 11, should provide more specific details.

Target Sector: The target sector is space, specifically related to the Galileo Search and Rescue (SAR) services. This includes areas such as satellite technology, telecommunications, emergency services, and related technologies for improving detection probability and location accuracy in search and rescue operations. The main classification (CPV) code is 73120000, which refers to experimental development services.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the opportunity is related to the EU's Galileo program, implying that it is relevant to the EU member states.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on development and proposing innovative solutions to enhance existing services. This suggests a development and demonstration stage, aiming to improve and expand the capabilities of the Galileo SAR services. The project involves experimental development services.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the contract is 300,000 EUR.

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

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for providing services related to enhancing Galileo Search and Rescue capabilities.

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, and contract award.

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 a call for tenders (EC-DEFIS/2025/OP/0018) issued by the European Commission, DG DEFIS (Defence Industry and Space), focused on "Enhancing Galileo Search and Rescue: Exploring New Orbits and Complementary Service Innovations." The project aims to develop and propose innovative solutions to improve the performance of Galileo's Search and Rescue (SAR) services, specifically focusing on enhancing detection probability and location accuracy. It also seeks to enrich the service portfolio with new functionalities and leverage new technologies and existing commercial solutions to provide a more effective SAR service.

The procedure type is an open procedure, meaning any eligible entity can apply. The estimated total value of the contract is 300,000 EUR, and the maximum contract duration is 12 months. The award method will be based on the best price-quality ratio.

The key milestones include a TED publication date of September 23, 2025, a public opening date of November 19, 2025, and a deadline for receipt of tenders on November 18, 2025. The contracting authority will not answer questions submitted after November 10, 2025.

Submissions must be sent electronically. The tender documentation includes an invitation letter, tender specifications, a declaration on honour, a draft contract, and several annexes covering aspects such as pre-existing rights, VAT share, Galileo PSI, compliance matrix, letter of representation, and participation conditions.

To participate, tenderers need to register for a Participant Identification Code (PIC). The eSubmission system supports various file types and has a maximum attachment size of 50 MB per file and a limit of 200 files per submission. The system supports all 24 official EU languages and uses encryption to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of the information.