Fused PNT Analyses based on European Infrastructure

The European Commission's Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS) has issued a call for tenders under the reference EC-DEFIS/2025/OP/0030 for a project titled "Fused PNT Analyses based on European Infrastructure." This initiative aims to explore the potential of communication-oriented Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations to enhance Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) services, collectively referred to as Fused PNT.

The estimated total value of the contract is €385,000, and it covers a period of 12 months. The objectives include developing a software receiver to track 3GPP reference signals for Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), modeling multipath channels and inter-satellite interference, enhancing an existing end-to-end emulator, and demonstrating the performance of the Fused PNT service under realistic conditions.

The opportunity is structured for larger entities, as the SME indicator is marked as false, thereby excluding small and medium-sized enterprises from participation. It is an open procedure allowing for electronic submission of tenders submitted by a single entity or a consortium, although the focus is primarily on single applicants.

The project targets sectors related to space technology, telecommunications, and defense, with specific interests in advanced satellite communications and signal processing. As it is a procurement contract rather than a grant, beneficiaries will receive funds in exchange for services delivered.

The submission deadline is set for November 24, 2025, at 16:00 CET, with a public opening scheduled for November 25, 2025. Tenderers must register for a Participant Identification Code (PIC) to participate, and technical specifications will need to be adhered to, including electronic submission requirements and file limitations.

The evaluation for awarding the contract will be based on the best price-quality ratio, aligning with EU standards for public procurement. The project aligns with broader European objectives of enhancing technological autonomy and resilience in the space sector, particularly by decreasing dependence on external systems for critical navigation services.

Overall, the initiative represents a strategic investment in Europe's space capabilities, focusing on the advancement and validation of innovative satellite-based PNT solutions.

The European Commission, DG DEFIS Defence Industry and Space, has launched a call for tenders EC-DEFIS/2025/OP/0030 for "Fused PNT Analyses based on European Infrastructure". The TED reference for this call is 179/2025 610906-2025.

The European Commission is initiating a study regarding the potential utilization of communication-oriented Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations to facilitate the deployment of a complementary Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) service, commonly referred to as Fused PNT.

The tender focuses on the development of a user terminal prototype and a simulated environment designed to evaluate the performance of Fused PNT under realistic propagation conditions and inter-satellite interference.

The main goals of the European Commission in this procurement are:

Develop a software receiver that supports the acquisition and tracking of 3GPP reference signals for Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN).

Model multipath channel and intersatellite interference to test the software receiver under realistic satellite-based propagation channel and interferences.

Consolidate and complement the End-to-End (E2E) emulator by incorporating multipath and intersatellite interference models.

Demonstrate the performance of fused PNT ranging in a representative simulated environment.

Validate the acquisition and tracking performance in a realistic environment.

This is an open procedure with an estimated total value of 385,000 EUR. The contract's nature is for services, with a maximum duration of 12 months. The award method will be based on the best price-quality ratio. No framework agreement is associated with this tender.

Key milestones include:

TED publication date: 18/09/2025

Date and time of public opening: 25/11/2025 10:00 Europe/Brussels

Deadline for receipt of tenders: 24/11/2025 16:00 Europe/Brussels

The contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after: 14/11/2025 07:00 Europe/Brussels

Submissions must be sent exclusively via electronic submission.

The following documents are available for download:

ENEN-Invitation to tender EC-DEFIS2025OP0030 Fused Positioning Navigation and TimingInvitation letterPublished on 18/09/2025Version 1 No translations available

ENFusedPNT draft tender-specifications finalTender specificationsPublished on 18/09/2025Version 1 No translations available

ENdeclaration-of-honour-tenders Fused Positioning Navigation and Timing EC-DEFIS2025OP0030Declaration on honour (tender)Published on 18/09/2025Version 1 No translations available

ENFINAL contrat-direct-service-2024 FR Recast-en Fused PNTDraft contractPublished on 18/09/2025Version 1 No translations available

ENAppendix 2 Security requirements en 2025Draft contract annexPublished on 18/09/2025Version 1 No translations available

ENAnnex IV - pre-existing rights formDraft contract annexPublished on 18/09/2025Version 1 No translations available

ENAnnex III - VAT shareDraft contract annexPublished on 18/09/2025Version 1 No translations available

FAQ regarding 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. If the issue persists, clear the cache and cookies.

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.

Is it possible to view the details of the submission after the deadline? No, the content is encrypted upon upload and cannot be decrypted after the deadline.

Where can I find my submissions in Manage My Area, in the Funding & Tenders portal? Submissions can be found in ‘My Submission(s)’.

Which size should attachments have? Attachments must be less than 50 MB.

How should I name attachments in eSubmission? Follow the System Requirements for attachment names.

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

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”.

Do I need to validate my PIC in order to submit a tender in eSubmission? A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for all participants.

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.

How many attachments can I upload per submission? The system allows a maximum of 200 files per tender.

Why do tenderers need a PIC? A PIC is mandatory to submit a tender or a request to participate.

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 under 'How to Participate' > Participant Register.

How many languages does the system support? The system 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.

Which file types does the system support? The supported file types depend on the type of submission. Refer to the system requirements.

Can I view and edit my draft submission? Yes, until the submission deadline.

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.

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 opportunity focuses on advancing Fused Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) technologies by leveraging communication-oriented LEO constellations. The European Commission seeks a contractor to develop a user terminal prototype and a simulated environment to assess the performance of Fused PNT under realistic conditions. The project involves developing a software receiver for 3GPP NTN signals, modeling signal interference, enhancing an existing emulator, and demonstrating and validating PNT ranging performance. The tender is an open procedure with a budget of 385,000 EUR and a 12-month duration, aiming to improve PNT service capabilities through innovative satellite-based solutions.

Eligible Applicant Types: The opportunity is open to any type of applicant capable of providing the requested services. This includes, but is not limited to, companies, research institutions, and other organizations with relevant expertise. The tender documents specify that a Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for participation, whether as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium). Subcontractors also require a PIC.

Funding Type: This opportunity is a procurement, specifically a call for tenders. The nature of the contract is for services.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity is open to both single applicants and consortia. The tender documents mention the possibility of participating as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium).

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is not explicitly stated, but given that it is an EU tender, it is likely open to entities within the EU and potentially other countries that have agreements with the EU.

Target Sector: The target sector is space, specifically focusing on Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) technologies. It also involves elements of ICT, telecommunications, and research and development consultancy services. The specific area is Fused PNT, which involves the use of communication-oriented Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations to provide complementary PNT services.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned. The opportunity is from the European Commission, implying that it is at least open to EU member states.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on development, demonstration, and validation. The tender specifies the development of a user terminal prototype, a simulated environment, and the validation of acquisition and tracking performance in a realistic environment.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of this procurement is 385,000 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 rendered, as this is a procurement contract.

Application Stages: The number of application stages is not explicitly mentioned, but it involves at least one stage of submitting a tender.

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

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

Summary:

This opportunity is a call for tenders from the European Commission, DG DEFIS (Defence Industry and Space), focusing on "Fused Positioning Navigation and Timing (PNT) Analyses based on European Infrastructure." The project aims to study the potential use of communication-oriented Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations for a complementary PNT service. The main goals include developing a software receiver supporting 3GPP reference signals for Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), modeling multipath channel and inter-satellite interference, consolidating and complementing the E2E emulator, demonstrating the performance of fused PNT ranging in a simulated environment, and validating acquisition and tracking performance in a realistic environment.

The estimated total value of the procurement is 385,000 EUR, and the maximum contract duration is 12 months. The procedure type is an open procedure, and submissions must be sent electronically. The deadline for receipt of tenders is 24/11/2025 at 16:00 Europe/Brussels. The award method is based on the best price-quality ratio.

The tender requires the development of a user terminal prototype and a simulated environment to assess the performance of Fused PNT under realistic conditions. This involves expertise in areas such as software receiver development, signal processing, satellite communications, and simulation environments. Tenderers must register for a Participant Identification Code (PIC) to participate, and submissions must adhere to specific technical requirements, including file size limits (under 50 MB per file) and naming conventions. The system supports all 24 official EU languages and uses encryption to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of the information.