EU future regulatory framework for Higher Airspace Operations (HAO): Scientific studies supporting safety, sustainability and cyber-security impact assessments

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued a call for tenders identified as EASA/2025/OP/0014, focusing on scientific studies to develop the regulatory framework for Higher Airspace Operations (HAO). The goal of this initiative is to analyze safety, sustainability, and cybersecurity risks associated with HAO and establish appropriate safety, environmental, and cybersecurity targets. The study will also identify and quantify risks, along with potential mitigation measures.

This tender is categorized under public procurement with a total estimated contract value of 743,000 EUR and a duration of 20 months. It is an open procedure, meaning that all interested entities that meet the criteria can apply. The evaluation of submissions will focus on the quality of proposals (70%) compared to cost (30%).

Eligible applicants are likely to include research institutions, universities, and companies with relevant expertise in aviation-related studies, although specifics about eligibility types are not clearly defined in the raw data. Geographic eligibility is open within the EU, EEA, and possibly other associated countries reflecting typical EU public procurement standards.

To apply, entities must submit their tenders electronically by the deadline of 24 September 2025 at 17:00 CET. The date for the public opening of tenders is set for 25 September 2025. While specific success rates for tenders are not disclosed, competitive bids are anticipated in line with general market trends in public procurement.

There is no co-funding requirement, as the contract covers 100% of the service costs. The process requires a Personal Identification Code (PIC) for participation, which is mandatory for all entities seeking to submit a tender.

Documents pertaining to the tender, including specifications and contracts, are available for download. The task will also be aligned with the CPV code 73000000, which pertains to research, development, and consultancy services. The electronic submission system supports multiple file types, ensuring all applications adhere to the technical requirements laid out in the tender documents.

In summary, this opportunity invites capable organizations to partake in shaping the regulatory framework for HAO through rigorous scientific studies, emphasizing the critical areas of safety, sustainability, and cybersecurity. The tender reflects a structured approach to public procurement, ensuring transparency and equal opportunity for qualified candidates.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has published a call for tenders EASA/2025/OP/0014, related to the EU future regulatory framework for Higher Airspace Operations (HAO). The tender is for scientific studies supporting safety, sustainability, and cyber-security impact assessments. The TED reference for this call is 139/2025 480857-2025.

The objective of this study is to analyze the safety, sustainability, and cyber-security risks triggered by Higher Airspace Operations with a view to define appropriate safety, environmental, and cyber-security targets and design a proportionate regulatory framework. The results should include an identification of the types of risks, if possible a quantification of the level of risks, and possible mitigation measures.

This is an open procedure with an estimated total value of 743,000 EUR. The contract is for services, with a maximum duration of 20 months. The award method will be based on the best price-quality ratio. No framework agreement is specified.

The TED publication date is 23/07/2025. The date and time of the public opening is 25/09/2025 at 10:00 Europe/Berlin time. The deadline for receipt of tenders is 24/09/2025 at 17:00 Europe/Berlin time. The contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after 16/09/2025 at 05:00 Europe/Berlin time.

The main classification (CPV) code is 73000000, which refers to research and development services and related consultancy services.

The following documents are available for download:
1. ENEASA2025OP0014 EN-Invitation to tender HAO 2.7 Scientific studies finalInvitation letter, published on 23/07/2025, Version 1, no translations available.
2. ENEASA2025OP0014 HAO 2.7 - TENDER SPECIFICATIONS finalTender specifications, published on 23/07/2025, Version 1, no translations available.
3. ENEASA2025OP0014 Draft Direct Service Contract finalDraft contract, published on 23/07/2025, Version 1, no translations available.
4. ENEASA2025OP0014 HAO 2.7 Annexes finalTender specifications - adm. part, published on 23/07/2025, Version 1, no translations available.

Submissions must be sent exclusively via electronic submission at the address provided in the submission terms.

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

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.

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.

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.

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, etc.

Which size should attachments have?
eSubmission accepts files that are less than 50 MB in size.

How should I name attachments in eSubmission?
Name the attachments for your tender draft following the System Requirements.

Can I submit a video in eSubmission? Which formats are supported?
Check the System Requirements of eSubmission.

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. Go to F&T Portal, “My Invitations”. Click on “Select Organisation” from the “Action” column.

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 as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium).

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.

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.

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. Only one PIC per organisation must be used.

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 under 'How to Participate' > Participant Register.

What is the validity period of a PIC?
A PIC is unique and its validity is not limited in time.

How many languages does the system support?
The system is multilingual and supports all 24 official EU languages.

Which is the character set encoding in the system?
The character set encoding is UTF-8.

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.

Which file types does the system support?
The supported file types depend on the type of submission you want to make. The allowed file types are specified within the system requirements linked to the procedure in question.

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.

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. This is not blocking for you: you can submit.

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 sent when the time limit of receipt defined for the call for tenders has been reached. Until then, you had the possibility of withdrawing your submission.

In summary, this tender opportunity, EASA/2025/OP/0014, is a call for scientific studies to assess the safety, sustainability, and cyber-security risks associated with Higher Airspace Operations (HAO). The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is seeking a contractor to analyze these risks, quantify them where possible, and propose mitigation measures to inform the development of a proportionate regulatory framework. The tender is open to all eligible organizations, and submissions must be made electronically by the specified deadline. The project has a budget of 743,000 EUR and a maximum duration of 20 months. The selection will be based on the best price-quality ratio. A key requirement for participation is obtaining a Personal Identification Code (PIC). The eSubmission system supports various file types and uses encryption to ensure data integrity and confidentiality.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, given the nature of the tender for scientific studies and the CPV code (73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services), it can be inferred that eligible applicants could include research institutes, universities, consultancy firms, and other organizations with expertise in aviation safety, sustainability, and cybersecurity.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a service contract, as indicated by the "Draft Direct Service Contract final" document and the "Nature of the contract: services". This is a procurement process where the selected tenderer will provide services in exchange for payment.

Consortium Requirement: The text mentions that a Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory to participate in a call for tenders as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium). This suggests that both single applicants and consortia are eligible to apply.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is not explicitly stated. However, given that the contracting authority is the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), it can be inferred that the primary geographic focus is likely the EU and potentially associated countries.

Target Sector: The program targets the aviation sector, specifically focusing on Higher Airspace Operations (HAO). The thematic areas include safety, sustainability, and cybersecurity.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned. The region implicitly targeted is the European Union, given the contracting authority is the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Berlin is mentioned as the timezone for the date and time of the public opening and the deadline for receipt of tenders.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on research and development, specifically scientific studies to support impact assessments. The expected maturity is research and development leading to the definition of a regulatory framework.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the tender is 743,000 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, specifically conducting scientific studies.

Application Stages: The number of application stages is not explicitly stated, but it can be inferred that there is at least one stage involving the submission of a tender, evaluation, and selection.

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

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

This is a call for tenders issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for scientific studies related to the EU future regulatory framework for Higher Airspace Operations (HAO). The objective of the study is to analyze the safety, sustainability, and cybersecurity risks associated with HAO, with the goal of defining appropriate targets and designing a proportionate regulatory framework. The tender is open to both individual organizations and consortia. The estimated total value of the tender is 743,000 EUR, and the maximum contract duration is 20 months. Submissions must be sent electronically. The deadline for receipt of tenders is September 24, 2025, at 17:00 Europe/Berlin time. The tender will be awarded based on the best price-quality ratio. Tenderers need to register for a PIC (Personal Identification Code) to participate. The eSubmission system supports various file types, with a maximum of 200 files and a size limit of 50 MB per file. The system supports all 24 official EU languages and uses encryption to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of the information.