“European Hydrogen Refuelling Stations Availability System”

The European Commission, through the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, has released a call for tenders named "European Hydrogen Refuelling Stations Availability System" (E-HRS-AS). This procurement opportunity involves securing a contractor for the operation, maintenance, and further development of the E-HRS-AS platform, essential for hydrogen mobility support. The initiative aims to maintain the existing platform's functionality while ensuring compliance with the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR). Key tasks for the contractor include platform hosting, data availability from Hydrogen Refuelling Stations (HRS), improving user experience, implementing technical upgrades, and stakeholder engagement.

The procurement is necessary due to the absence of an existing framework that adequately addresses the required combination of IT maintenance and regulatory compliance for hydrogen mobility. The overall contract is valued at 600,000 EUR and has a maximum duration of 48 months, with proposals required to be submitted electronically by July 28, 2025. The contracting authority is not obligated to respond to inquiries after July 17, 2025.

Eligible applicants for this tender include companies with expertise in IT services and data integration relevant to hydrogen infrastructure. No restrictions on applicant types have been specified, suggesting that both small and large enterprises may apply. The procurement is an open procedure, allowing for broad participation, and no consortium requirement is outlined.

The primary nature of support is monetary compensation in exchange for services provided. The evaluation of proposals will prioritize quality at 70% and cost at 30%, based on the best price-quality ratio. Key deadlines include the public opening of tenders on July 29, 2025, and the submission of questions until July 17, 2025.

In summary, this tender represents a crucial opportunity for companies to contribute to the EU's hydrogen infrastructure by ensuring the operational efficiency of the E-HRS-AS, thus supporting the transition to cleaner energy solutions in transportation.

The European Commission, specifically the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, has published a call for tenders CLEANH2/2025/OP/0005 for the procurement of services related to the European Hydrogen Refuelling Stations Availability System (E-HRS-AS). The tender, titled "European Hydrogen Refuelling Stations Availability System," aims to secure a contractor for the operation, maintenance, and further development of the E-HRS-AS platform.

The primary objective is to ensure the continuity of the existing platform while also supporting compliance with new legal obligations outlined in the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR). This includes facilitating real-time data sharing with National Access Points (NAPs) and integrating the system with the broader European data ecosystem, encompassing the European Alternative Fuels Observatory (EAFO) and the Trans-European Transport Network (TENtec).

The scope of services to be provided by the contractor includes: Platform hosting and maintenance, Ensuring data availability from Hydrogen Refuelling Stations (HRS), Implementing user experience improvements, Performing technical upgrades, Engaging with relevant stakeholders.

The contracting authority emphasizes that there is no existing framework contract that adequately covers the specific combination of IT maintenance, AFIR compliance support, and data integration required for hydrogen mobility. This new procurement is deemed necessary to guarantee regulatory alignment, data continuity, and functional enhancements that go beyond the scope of any previous contractual agreements, while also considering the eventual cessation of public funding for the project.

This is an open procedure, meaning any interested party can submit a tender. The estimated total value of the contract is 600,000 EUR. The TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) publication date for this tender is June 19, 2025. The lead contracting authority is the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking. The main Classification of Products and Services (CPV) code is 73000000, which refers to research and development services and related consultancy services. The nature of the contract is for services. The maximum contract duration is 48 months. The award method will be based on the best price-quality ratio. The contract will be a framework agreement without reopening of competition.

Key milestones for this tender are: TED publication date: June 19, 2025, Date and time of public opening: July 29, 2025, at 10:00 Europe/Brussels time, Deadline for receipt of tenders: July 28, 2025, at 16:00 Europe/Brussels time, Deadline for submitting questions: July 17, 2025, at 05:00 Europe/Brussels time.

A total of 14 documents are available for download related to this tender: ENEN-Invitation to tender CLEANH22025OP0005 E-HRS Availability System Invitation letter, Part 1 Administrative Specifications final Tender specifications - adm. part, Part 2 Technical specifications E-HRS Availability System final Technical specifications, Annex 2 - Model declaration-of-honour-tenders E-HRS Availability System CLEANH22025OP0005 Declaration on honour (tender), EN Model Service FWC CLEANH22025OP0005 1 Draft contract, Annex 4 - List of identified subcontractors (ID 14085802), Annex to Technical Specifications - E-HRS-AS Data Flow Diagram- E-HRS-AS overview-sketch v000.003, Annex to Technical Specifications -E-HRS-AS -access-operators-portal 20250228, Annex to Technical Specifications -E-HRS-AS Serverarchitektur v05.drawio, Annex to Technical Specifications -SYSTEM-SPECSfin anmerkung enda.

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

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In summary, this tender is an invitation for companies to bid on a contract to operate, maintain, and develop the European Hydrogen Refuelling Stations Availability System. This system is crucial for providing information on hydrogen refuelling stations across Europe. The winning bidder will need to ensure the system is up-to-date, compliant with EU regulations (specifically AFIR), and integrated with other European data platforms. The project involves IT maintenance, data management, and stakeholder engagement, with a focus on ensuring the long-term sustainability of the system even after public funding ends. The tender is open to all eligible companies, and the contract will be awarded based on the best value for money.

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 providing IT maintenance, data integration, and regulatory compliance services. This could include SMEs, large enterprises, research institutions, and consultancies with relevant expertise. The requirement for a Participant Identification Code (PIC) suggests that any legal entity can apply.

Funding Type: This is a procurement of services, specifically for the operation, maintenance, and further development of the European Hydrogen Refuelling Stations Availability System (E-HRS-AS).

Consortium Requirement: The tender documentation 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). Therefore, both single applicants and consortia are eligible.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is not explicitly stated, but given that it is an EU tender related to the European Hydrogen Refuelling Stations Availability System, it is highly likely that the eligibility extends to entities within the EU and possibly EEA countries.

Target Sector: The target sector is primarily related to hydrogen energy and IT services. Specifically, it targets the operation, maintenance, and development of the European Hydrogen Refuelling Stations Availability System. This includes IT maintenance, data integration, and support for compliance with the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR). The relevant sectors are energy, transport, ICT, and cleantech.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the opportunity is focused on the European Hydrogen Refuelling Stations Availability System, implying a focus on the EU and potentially the broader EEA region.

Project Stage: The project is in the operation and maintenance phase, requiring further development and technical upgrades. It is beyond the research and development stage, focusing on ensuring the continuity and improvement of an existing platform.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the procurement is 600,000 EUR.

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

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for services rendered, specifically for the operation, maintenance, and further development of the European Hydrogen Refuelling Stations Availability System.

Application Stages: The number of application stages is not explicitly mentioned, but it is likely a multi-stage process involving administrative checks, technical evaluation, and financial assessment.

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

Co-funding Requirement: The co-funding requirement is not explicitly stated.

Summary:

This opportunity is a call for tenders by the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking for the procurement of services related to the operation, maintenance, and further development of the European Hydrogen Refuelling Stations Availability System (E-HRS-AS). The primary goal is to ensure the continuity of the existing platform while supporting compliance with the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), including real-time data sharing with National Access Points (NAPs) and integration with the European data ecosystem (EAFO, TENtec). The services required encompass platform hosting and maintenance, ensuring data availability from Hydrogen Refuelling Stations (HRS), enhancing user experience, implementing technical upgrades, and engaging with stakeholders. The procedure type is an open procedure, and submissions must be made electronically. The estimated total value of the contract is 600,000 EUR, with a maximum contract duration of 48 months. The award method is based on the best price-quality ratio, and the selected contractor will enter into a framework agreement without reopening of competition. The deadline for receipt of tenders is 28/07/2025, and the contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after 17/07/2025. The tender requires a Personal Identification Code (PIC) for participation, whether as a sole candidate or as part of a consortium. The system supports electronic submissions with a maximum file size of 50 MB per attachment and a limit of 200 files per tender. The system is multilingual, supporting all 24 official EU languages, and uses encryption to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of the information.