Framework Service Contract for the Progressive maintenance of the QSAR Toolbox and IT implementation of the latest scientific and toxicological developments

This summary outlines a framework service contract opportunity issued by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) for the maintenance and development of the QSAR Toolbox, a software tool for chemical safety assessment.

Eligible applicants include companies in the IT services sector, such as both small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large enterprises. The opportunity operates under a procurement contract, specifically a service contract, not a grant or loan, and there is no requirement for a consortium, allowing for single applicants or groups.

Applicants must be established in the EU or European Economic Area (EEA), with no specific countries mentioned in the contract details. The contract focuses on IT services related to the QSAR Toolbox, which falls under the biotech/medtech sector due to its application in chemical safety.

The total estimated contract value is €4 million, with a maximum duration of 72 months, starting with an initial period of 24 months that can be renewed twice. This contract is classified under CPV code 72000000, indicating it pertains to IT services, including consulting and software development.

The application process is open, and submissions must be made electronically by 15 September 2025. The evaluation of tenders will prioritize the best price-quality ratio, emphasizing both quality and price in a 70% to 30% weight distribution.

Successful candidates will receive monetary compensation for the services provided, as there is no co-funding requirement. The application involves a singular stage involving the submission of proposals and subsequent evaluation. While success rates are not specified, generally in competitive procurement, they can vary.

In summary, this tender represents a significant opportunity for IT service providers to contribute to the ongoing development and maintenance of important software for chemical safety assessment under the auspices of EU public procurement procedures. Interested applicants should prepare their submissions in accordance with the guidelines provided in the tender documents available through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

This is an invitation to tender for a Framework Service Contract for the Progressive maintenance of the QSAR Toolbox and IT implementation of the latest scientific and toxicological developments. The procedure identifier is ECHA/2025/OP/0005. The submission method is electronic and the call is open for submission.

The description is for a framework service contract to develop Phase V of the QSAR Toolbox. The procedure type is an open procedure. The estimated total value is 4,000,000 EUR. The TED publication date is 08/07/2025. The lead contracting authority is the European Chemicals Agency. The main classification (CPV) code is 72000000, which refers to IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support. The nature of the contract is for services. The maximum contract duration is 72 months. The award method is best price-quality ratio. It is a framework agreement without reopening of competition.

Key Milestones:
TED publication date: 08/07/2025
Date and time of public opening: 16/09/2025 11:00 Europe/Helsinki
Deadline for receipt of tenders: 15/09/2025 15:00 Europe/Helsinki
Contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after: 05/09/2025 04:00 Europe/Helsinki

The following documents are available for download:
1. Invitation to Tender Invitation letter, published on 08/07/2025, Version 1, no translations available.
2. Tender specifications, published on 08/07/2025, Version 1, no translations available.
3. Technical specifications, published on 08/07/2025, Version 1, no translations available.
4. Template for Financial Offer Financial offer form, published on 08/07/2025, Version 1, no translations available.
5. Declaration on Honour, published on 08/07/2025, Version 1, no translations available.
6. Draft FWC Draft contract, published on 08/07/2025, Version 1, no translations available.
7. Pre-existing rights Draft contract annex, published on 08/07/2025, Version 1, no translations available.
8. Subsistence and accommodation costs table Draft contract annex, published on 08/07/2025, Version 1, no translations available.
9. Staff capacity form Other invitation to tender document, published on 08/07/2025, Version 1, no translations available.

Submissions must be sent exclusively at the address for submission given below. The submission method is electronic.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
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. If the issue persists, clear the cache and cookies on the Internet browser. Published on 13/02/2025 20:52
2. 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. Published on 13/02/2025 20:52
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. Thus, the system will not allow decryption after the upload. Published on 13/02/2025 20:50
4. Where can I find my submissions in Manage My Area, in the Funding & Tenders portal?
 Submissions can be found in one of these sections: In ‘My Submission(s)’: tenders in response to open calls for tenders, requests to participate. Published on 17/10/2024 20:40
5. Which size should attachments have?
 eSubmission accepts files that are less than 50 MB in size. Any larger sizes will not be accepted by the system. Published on 17/10/2024 20:36
6. How should I name attachments in eSubmission?
 Name the attachments for your tender draft following the System Requirements. See the following conditions: The attachment names must follow the naming conventions specified in the System Requirements. Published on 03/10/2024 16:39
7. Can I submit a video in eSubmission? Which formats are supported?
 Check the System Requirements of eSubmission. Published on 03/10/2024 16:37
8. 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. Published on 03/10/2024 16:37
9. 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). For subcontractors PIC is not mandatory. Published on 03/10/2024 16:36
10. 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. A) For procurement procedures: B) For request to participate. Published on 03/10/2024 16:36
11. 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. Check the eSubmission System Requirements in the documentation. Published on 03/10/2024 16:35
12. 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. Published on 23/04/2024 17:14
13. 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. If your organisation is a bigger structure, use the PIC of the central entity. Published on 23/04/2024 16:07
14. 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
15. How many languages does the system support?
 The system is multilingual and supports all 24 official EU languages. Published on 01/04/2024 19:56
16. Which is the character set encoding in the system?
 The character set encoding is UTF-8. Published on 22/02/2024 23:58
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. Published on 22/02/2024 23:57
18. 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. Published on 21/02/2024 23:55
19. 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. Published on 24/03/2023 21:32
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. This is not blocking for you: you can submit. Published on 03/08/2021 22:07
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 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. Published on 03/08/2021 22:05

In summary, this is a call for tenders by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) for a framework service contract to develop Phase V of the QSAR Toolbox. The QSAR Toolbox is a software application used for predicting the properties and potential hazards of chemicals. The contract involves IT services, including consulting, software development, Internet and support. The estimated total value of the contract is 4 million EUR, and the maximum duration is 72 months. The award will be based on the best price-quality ratio. Tender submissions must be electronic, and the deadline for submission is September 15, 2025. Interested parties should download the tender documents and follow the instructions for electronic submission. A PIC (Personal Identification Code) is mandatory for participation. 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 also supports all 24 official EU languages and uses UTF-8 character encoding.

Eligible Applicant Types: The content does not explicitly state the eligible applicant types. However, given that it is a call for tenders for a framework service contract, eligible applicants are likely to be organizations, companies, or consortia with the necessary expertise in IT services, consulting, and software development. The requirement for a PIC (Personal Identification Code) suggests that any legal entity can apply.

Funding Type: Procurement. This is a call for tenders for a framework service contract, indicating a procurement process.

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). Therefore, either a single applicant or a consortium is acceptable.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The content does not explicitly define geographic eligibility. However, given that it is an EU funding opportunity, it is likely open to entities within the EU and potentially EEA countries.

Target Sector: This program targets the IT sector, specifically IT services, consulting, software development, and Internet support. It also targets the chemical and toxicological sector, as the project involves the maintenance and IT implementation of scientific and toxicological developments for the QSAR Toolbox.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the reference to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and the EU Funding & Tenders Portal implies that the opportunity is relevant to the European Union. The time zone "Europe/Helsinki" is mentioned.

Project Stage: The project involves the progressive maintenance of the QSAR Toolbox and IT implementation of the latest scientific and toxicological developments, specifically Phase V of the QSAR Toolbox. This suggests the project is in a development and implementation stage.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the contract is 4,000,000 EUR.

Application Type: Open call. The procedure type is described as an open procedure.

Nature of Support: Money. This is a service contract, so the beneficiaries will receive monetary compensation for the services they provide.

Application Stages: The content does not explicitly detail the number of stages. However, the documents provided (Invitation to Tender, Tender Specifications, Technical Specifications, etc.) suggest a multi-stage process involving submission of a tender, evaluation, and contract award.

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

Co-funding Requirement: The content does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

This is a call for tenders by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) for a framework service contract to develop Phase V of the QSAR Toolbox and implement the latest scientific and toxicological developments in IT. The QSAR Toolbox is a software application used to predict the properties of chemicals. The contract is valued at 4,000,000 EUR and has a maximum duration of 72 months. The procedure is an open procedure, meaning any eligible organization or consortium can submit a tender. The submission must be electronic, and the deadline for receipt of tenders is September 15, 2025. The contract will be awarded based on the best price-quality ratio. Tenderers must register for a PIC (Personal Identification Code) to participate. The successful tenderer will be responsible for the progressive maintenance of the QSAR Toolbox and the implementation of new scientific and toxicological features. The documents provided include the invitation to tender, tender specifications, technical specifications, a template for the financial offer, a declaration on honour, a draft contract, and annexes related to pre-existing rights and subsistence/accommodation costs. The system supports all 24 official EU languages and uses encryption to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of the information. The maximum number of documents that can be uploaded per tender is 200, and the maximum file size is 50 MB.