European Hydrogen Sustainability and Circularity Panel

The tender opportunity titled "European Hydrogen Sustainability and Circularity Panel" (identifier CLEANH2/2025/OP/0002) aims to establish, organize, manage, and coordinate activities related to sustainability and circularity in clean hydrogen initiatives. This tender is part of the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking and has an estimated total contract value of 2,000,000 EUR, with a maximum duration of 48 months. The focus is on integrating sustainability principles into projects aligned with the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking’s Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda.

Eligible applicants are legal entities, including public and private organizations, who can demonstrate the required professional expertise, with no specific restrictions on organization types mentioned. The procurement contract type is for services rather than a traditional grant. A single applicant is required to manage the framework contract; collaboration through subcontracting is permissible.

The geographic eligibility is likely limited to EU member states or associated countries, although specific limitations are not stated. The application process consists of an open call with a submission deadline of June 30, 2025, by 16:00 Brussels time. The evaluation criteria prioritize quality over cost, with a weighting of 70% for quality and 30% for price.

The project seeks to coordinate activities that will support the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking’s objectives related to sustainability in the energy sector, specifically in clean hydrogen. The submission will be made through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and must comply with the guidelines stated in the tender documents.

Selected candidates must adhere to specific selection criteria, including professional activity suitability, economic and financial standing, and technical and professional capability. The submission requires a Personal Identification Code, and while success rates are not explicitly stated, candidates should prepare for a competitive evaluation process. The documents required for submission include various technical and administrative specifications, as well as details regarding identified subcontractors.

The public opening of the tender submissions is scheduled for July 1, 2025. The contracting authority will not respond to queries submitted after June 19, 2025. Interested parties should ensure their submissions comply with the outlined technical requirements and deadlines.

The European Hydrogen Sustainability and Circularity Panel (EHSCP) tender, with procedure identifier CLEANH2/2025/OP/0002, is an open procedure call for tenders published on 08/05/2025. The tender aims to conclude a single service framework contract for the setup, organization, management, and coordination of the EHSCP and its activities. This panel will contribute to supporting the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (JU) in addressing and integrating sustainability and circularity aspects into its program and projects, aligning with the JU's objectives and its Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA). The estimated total value of this tender is 2,000,000 EUR. The main classification according to CPV is 73000000, which refers to research and development services and related consultancy services. The nature of the contract is for services, with a maximum contract duration of 48 months. The award method will be based on the best price-quality ratio, and it will be a framework agreement without reopening of competition.

The TED reference for this tender is 89/2025 296920-2025. The TED publication date is 08/05/2025. The date and time of the public opening is scheduled for 01/07/2025 at 10:00 Europe/Brussels time. The deadline for receipt of tenders is 30/06/2025 at 16:00 Europe/Brussels time. The contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after 19/06/2025 at 05:00 Europe/Brussels time.

The selection criteria include: Suitability to pursue the professional activity, Economic and financial standing, and Technical and professional ability. Detailed information on these criteria can be found in the procurement documents.

The available documents for this tender include:
1. Invitation to tender CLEANH22025OP0002 Sustainability and Circularity Panel Invitation letter, published on 08/05/2025, Version 1.
2. Part 1 Administrative Specifications EHSCP 2 Tender specifications - adm. part, published on 08/05/2025, Version 1.
3. Part 2 Technical Specifications EHSCP 2 Technical specifications, published on 08/05/2025, Version 1.
4. Annex 2 - Model Declaration-of-honour-tenders Sustainability and Circularity Panel CLEANH22025OP0002 Declaration on honour (tender), published on 08/05/2025, Version 1.
5. Model Framework Contract for Services EHSCP Draft contract, published on 08/05/2025, Version 1.
6. Annex 1 - List of documents (ID 14085799), Other invitation to tender document, published on 08/05/2025, Version 1.
7. Annex 3 - Model Power of Attorney (ID 14085801), Other invitation to tender document, published on 08/05/2025, Version 1.
8. Annex 4 - List of identified subcontractors (ID 14085802), Other invitation to tender document, published on 08/05/2025, Version 1.
9. Annex 5.1 - Commitment letter by identified subcontractor (ID 14085803), Other invitation to tender document, published on 08/05/2025, Version 1.
10. Annex 5.2 - Commitment letter by an entity on whose capacity is being relied, Other invitation to tender document, published on 08/05/2025, Version 1.

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

Some frequently asked questions (FAQ) and their answers related to the eSubmission system are also provided:
1. 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 on the Internet browser.
2. Which Internet browsers does eSubmission support? Use the latest versions of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Refer to the System Requirements link for the most up-to-date technical recommendations.
3. 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.
4. 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 in restricted procedures, and requests for clarifications.
5. Which size should attachments have? Attachments should be less than 50 MB in size.
6. How should I name attachments in eSubmission? Follow the System Requirements for attachment names.
7. Can I submit a video in eSubmission? Which formats are supported? Check the System Requirements of eSubmission.
8. I received an invitation from the F&T Portal but cannot view the procurement documents. Select an organization in the F&T Portal under “My Invitations”.
9. Do I need to validate my PIC in order to submit a tender in eSubmission? A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for participation as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium).
10. 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.
11. How many attachments can I upload per submission? The maximum number of documents is 200 files.
12. Why do tenderers need a PIC? It is mandatory to register for a PIC to submit a tender or a request to participate.
13. How do I register my organization and get a Participant Identification Code (PIC)? Check if the organization is already registered using the Search PIC tool under 'How to Participate' > Participant Register.
14. What is the validity period of a PIC? A PIC is unique and its validity is not limited in time.
15. How many languages does the system support? The system supports all 24 official EU languages.
16. Which is the character set encoding in the system? The character set encoding is UTF-8.
17. 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.
18. Which file types does the system support? The supported file types depend on the type of submission and are specified within the system requirements.
19. Can I view and edit my draft submission? Until the deadline, submissions in draft status can be edited, viewed, and deleted.
20. 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 and is not blocking for submission.
21. 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.

In summary, this tender is an invitation for organizations to bid for a framework contract to establish and manage the European Hydrogen Sustainability and Circularity Panel. The panel's purpose is to integrate sustainability and circularity into the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking's projects, aligning with its strategic goals. The tender is open, with electronic submissions required by June 30, 2025. The contract, valued at 2 million EUR, will be awarded based on the best price-quality ratio and will last for 48 months. Interested parties must meet specific selection criteria related to their professional, economic, and technical capabilities, as detailed in the tender documents. The eSubmission system supports various file types and languages, encrypts data for confidentiality, and requires a PIC for participation.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated but can be inferred from the selection criteria, which mention "Suitability to pursue the professional activity," "Economic and financial standing," and "Technical and professional ability." This suggests that a range of entities, including companies, research organizations, and other organizations with the relevant expertise, could be eligible. The requirement for a PIC (Personal Identification Code) indicates that registered organizations are targeted. Subcontractors are also mentioned, implying that both single applicants and consortia are possible.

Funding Type: The funding type is procurement, specifically a service framework contract.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity is for a single service framework contract, but the inclusion of annexes related to subcontractors suggests that while a single entity will hold the contract, they may rely on subcontractors, indicating that both single applicants and consortia-like structures are possible.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is not explicitly stated, but given that it is an EU tender from the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, it is highly likely that the primary geographic eligibility is for entities within the EU and potentially associated countries.

Target Sector: The target sector is clearly focused on hydrogen, sustainability, and circularity. More specifically, it targets research and development services and related consultancy services within the hydrogen sector, aligning with the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking's objectives and its Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA).

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the opportunity is from the European Hydrogen Sustainability and Circularity Panel, implying a focus on the EU.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on the setup, organization, management, and coordination of the European Hydrogen Sustainability and Circularity Panel (EHSCP). This suggests a focus on implementation and operational activities rather than early-stage research or development.

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

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

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for services provided under the framework contract.

Application Stages: The number of application stages is not explicitly mentioned, but the process involves submitting a tender, which will then be evaluated based on the selection criteria. This suggests at least a two-stage process: submission and evaluation.

Success Rates: The success rates are not mentioned.

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding requirements are not mentioned.

Summary:

This is an invitation to tender, CLEANH22025OP0002, issued by the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (JU) for the establishment, organization, management, and coordination of the European Hydrogen Sustainability and Circularity Panel (EHSCP). The primary goal is to integrate sustainability and circularity principles into the Clean Hydrogen JU's projects and overall program, aligning with its Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA). The procedure is an open call for tenders, meaning any eligible organization can apply, and submissions must be made electronically. The estimated total value of the framework contract is 2,000,000 EUR, and the maximum contract duration is 48 months. The award will be based on the best price-quality ratio. The tender documents outline the selection criteria, focusing on the suitability to pursue the professional activity, economic and financial standing, and technical and professional ability of the tenderers. The deadline for submitting tenders is June 30, 2025, at 16:00 Brussels time. The public opening of the tenders will occur on July 1, 2025, at 10:00 Brussels time. The contracting authority will not answer questions submitted after June 19, 2025, at 05:00 Brussels time. The tender involves submitting various documents, including an invitation letter, administrative specifications, technical specifications, a declaration of honor, a draft contract, and annexes related to subcontractors and their commitments. The eSubmission system supports various file types and has specific requirements for attachment sizes and naming conventions. A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for participation. The system supports all 24 official EU languages and uses encryption to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of the information.