EU future regulatory framework for Higher Airspace Operations (HAO): Study on civil Communications, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) needs and capabilities in HAO & Study on Meteorology (MET) and space weather services for HAO

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued a call for tenders, designated EASA/2025/OP/0010, focused on developing the EU's future regulatory framework for Higher Airspace Operations (HAO). This opportunity involves two significant studies: one examining civil Communications, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) capabilities, and the other assessing Meteorology (MET) and space weather services for HAO.

The first study aims to analyze the functionality of current civil CNS systems at higher altitudes, addressing specifications for high-speed and autonomous aircraft operations. It will cover identifying technical limits, risks, and necessary regulatory amendments, proposing alternative options as required. The second study will evaluate safety risks posed to HAO by meteorological and space weather phenomena, ensuring that current MET capabilities are adequate for operations in higher airspace.

This tender is characterized by a single lot structure, with an estimated total value of 390,000 EUR and a contract duration of 18 months. The application process is an open call, where submissions are required to be made electronically by September 3, 2025. The award method will emphasize a best price-quality ratio, with a selection criteria divided as 70% for quality and 30% for cost.

Eligible applicants are legal entities from EU member states and associated countries, including research organizations and technological consultancies capable of delivering the required studies. Applicants must register for a Personal Identification Code (PIC) for participation, and there is no requirement for co-funding from applicants. The process does not specify a consortium requirement, making it accessible to single applicants.

The documents detailing the tender provisions are available electronically, and potential bidders are urged to adhere to the submission guidelines, including file sizes and supported formats. The tender process begins with a public opening scheduled for September 4, 2025, following the submission deadline.

This procurement supports the Horizon Europe program's aim to enhance EU aviation leadership through research and development, reflecting significant advancements in aviation technology and operational safety standards.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has published a call for tenders, EASA/2025/OP/0010, concerning the EU future regulatory framework for Higher Airspace Operations (HAO). The tender is for two studies: one on civil Communications, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) needs and capabilities in HAO, including spectrum needs, and another on Meteorology (MET) and space weather services for HAO. The TED reference is 129/2025 448013-2025.

The first study will analyze whether current civil CNS capabilities will function at higher altitudes (above controlled airspace) and provide adequate services for higher airspace operations (e.g., high speed, long range, autonomy). The study will include analysis, highlight limits and risks, propose alternative options, and identify the need for regulatory amendments.

The second study will analyze the safety risks to HAO from meteorological or space weather phenomena and assess whether current MET capabilities and services, as well as current space weather services, can support HAO. It will propose alternative options or mitigation measures and identify necessary regulatory amendments.

This is an open procedure with an estimated total value of 390,000 EUR. The TED publication date is 09/07/2025. The main classification (CPV) is 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services. The nature of the contract is for services, with a maximum contract duration of 18 months. The award method is based on the best price-quality ratio. No framework agreement is specified.

Key milestones include:
TED publication date: 09/07/2025
Date and time of public opening: 04/09/2025 10:00 Europe/Berlin
Deadline for receipt of tenders: 03/09/2025 11:00 Europe/Berlin
Deadline for questions: 26/08/2025 05:00 Europe/Berlin

Four documents are available for download:
ENEASA2025OP0010 EN-Invitation to tender HAO 2.3 2.5 Studies CNS MET finalInvitation letter, published on 09/07/2025, Version 1, no translations available.
ENEASA2025OP0010 EN TENDER SPECIFICATIONS HAO 2.3 2.5 Studies CNS MET finalTender specifications, published on 09/07/2025, Version 1, no translations available.
ENEASA2025OP0010 Draft Direct Service Contract finalDraft contract, published on 09/07/2025, Version 1, no translations available.
FRAnnexes Word formatOther invitation to tender document, published on 09/07/2025, Version 1, no translations available.

Submissions must be sent exclusively via electronic submission.

Some frequently asked questions (FAQ) are also available, addressing technical aspects of the eSubmission system:
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. Clear the cache and cookies if issues persist. Published on 13/02/2025 20:52
Which Internet browsers does eSubmission support: Use the latest versions of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Refer to the System Requirements link for technical recommendations. Published on 13/02/2025 20:52
Is it possible to view the details of the submission after the deadline: No, the content is not accessible after the deadline due to system encryption. Published on 13/02/2025 20:50
Where can I find my submissions in Manage My Area, in the Funding & Tenders portal: Submissions can be found in ‘My Submission(s)’. Published on 17/10/2024 20:40
Which size should attachments have: Attachments must be less than 50 MB in size. Published on 17/10/2024 20:36
How should I name attachments in eSubmission: Follow the System Requirements for attachment names. Published on 03/10/2024 16:39
Can I submit a video in eSubmission? Which formats are supported: Check the System Requirements of eSubmission. Published on 03/10/2024 16:37
I received an invitation from the F&T Portal but cannot view the procurement documents: Select an organisation in the F&T Portal under “My Invitations”. Published on 03/10/2024 16:37
Do I need to validate my PIC in order to submit a tender in eSubmission: A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory. Published on 03/10/2024 16:36
I have an issue uploading a file in eSubmission and it’s giving me an error. What do I do: Ensure the file follows the technical requirements of the system. Published on 03/10/2024 16:36
How many attachments can I upload per submission: The system allows a maximum of 200 files per tender. Published on 03/10/2024 16:35
Why do tenderers need a PIC: A PIC is mandatory to submit a tender or request to participate. Published on 23/04/2024 17:14
How do I register my organisation and get a Participant Identification Code (PIC): Check if the organisation is already registered using the Search PIC tool. Published on 23/04/2024 16:07
What is the validity period of a PIC: A PIC is unique and its validity is not limited in time. Published on 22/04/2024 22:55
How many languages does the system support: The system supports all 24 official EU languages. Published on 01/04/2024 19:56
Which is the character set encoding in the system: The character set encoding is UTF-8. Published on 22/02/2024 23:58
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Which file types does the system support: The supported file types depend on the type of submission. Published on 21/02/2024 23:55
Can I view and edit my draft submission: Yes, until the submission deadline. Published on 24/03/2023 21:32
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. Published on 03/08/2021 22:07
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. Published on 03/08/2021 22:05

In summary, this tender opportunity from EASA seeks expert studies to analyze the future needs and capabilities for higher airspace operations. It focuses on two key areas: CNS (Communications, Navigation, and Surveillance) and MET (Meteorology) including space weather. The studies aim to identify gaps in current capabilities, assess safety risks, and propose regulatory amendments to support the safe and efficient operation of aircraft in higher altitudes. The tender is open to all qualified organizations and requires electronic submission of proposals by the specified deadline. A Participant Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for participation. The tender documents provide detailed specifications and requirements for the studies, and potential bidders are encouraged to review them carefully.

Eligible Applicant Types: The content does not explicitly specify the eligible applicant types. However, given that it is a call for tenders for studies, it is likely that eligible applicants could include research institutes, universities, consulting companies, and other organizations with expertise in aviation, communications, navigation, surveillance, meteorology, and space weather. The requirement for a PIC (Personal Identification Code) suggests that any legal entity capable of entering into a contract with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is eligible.

Funding Type: Procurement. The opportunity is described as a "call for tenders," and the "Nature of the contract" is specified as "services," indicating a procurement process where the contracting authority (EASA) is purchasing services from the selected tenderer.

Consortium Requirement: The content mentions that a PIC is mandatory to participate 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 content does not explicitly define geographic eligibility. However, given that the contracting authority is the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), it is highly likely that the geographic eligibility includes EU member states, and potentially EEA countries and other countries with agreements with the EU.

Target Sector: The program targets the aviation sector, specifically focusing on Higher Airspace Operations (HAO). The thematic areas include communications, navigation, and surveillance (CNS), meteorology (MET), and space weather services. The specific sub-sectors are civil aviation, research and development services, and regulatory amendments related to aviation safety.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned. The relevant region is the EU, given the contracting authority is the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on research and development, specifically conducting studies. The studies are intended to analyze existing capabilities, identify gaps and risks, propose alternative options, and identify the need for regulatory amendments. This suggests a project stage ranging from research to development and validation.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the tender is 390,000 EUR.

Application Type: Open call. The procedure type is explicitly stated as an "Open procedure," meaning any interested and eligible party can submit a tender.

Nature of Support: Non-monetary services. The selected tenderer will receive a service contract to conduct the studies.

Application Stages: The content does not explicitly specify the number of stages. However, based on the standard EU procurement procedures, it is likely that there will be stages involving eligibility checks, selection criteria assessment, and award criteria assessment.

Success Rates: The content does not provide information on success rates.

Co-funding Requirement: The content 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 two studies related to the EU future regulatory framework for Higher Airspace Operations (HAO). The first study concerns civil Communications, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) needs and capabilities in HAO, including spectrum needs. This study will analyze the functionality of current civil CNS capabilities at higher altitudes and their ability to provide adequate services for high-speed, long-range, and autonomous operations. The second study focuses on Meteorology (MET) and space weather services for HAO, analyzing safety risks from meteorological or space weather phenomena and assessing the ability of current MET and space weather services to support HAO. Both studies aim to identify limits, risks, and necessary regulatory amendments, and propose alternative options or mitigation measures.

The procedure is an open call, meaning any eligible organization can submit a tender electronically. The estimated total value of the tender is 390,000 EUR, and the maximum contract duration is 18 months. The award method is based on the best price-quality ratio. Submissions must be sent electronically, and the deadline for receipt of tenders is 03/09/2025 at 11:00 Europe/Berlin time. The contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after 26/08/2025 at 05:00 Europe/Berlin time. Tenderers must register for a PIC (Personal Identification Code) to participate, either as a sole candidate or as part of a consortium. The eSubmission system supports various file types and has a maximum attachment size of 50 MB per file, with a limit of 200 files per tender. The system supports all 24 official EU languages and uses encryption to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of the information.