Lightweight RPAS Emissions Monitoring

The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has issued a call for tenders, designated as EMSA/2025/OP/0032, specifically for Lightweight Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) for emissions monitoring services. This procurement opportunity has an estimated total value of €8,000,000 and follows an open procedure with electronic submission through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal. The main classification code for this tender is 60440000, which pertains to aerial and related services.

The contract duration is a maximum of 48 months and operates under a framework agreement, meaning that the contracting authority can request services multiple times throughout the contract term without reopening competition. The award will be based on the best price-quality ratio, where evaluative criteria includes 70% for quality and 30% for price.

Participation is open to any economic operators capable of providing the required services, but the tender data indicates it may not be as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Applicants can submit their proposals individually or in consortia, though there is no explicit requirement to form a consortium.

Geographically, the tender is primarily targeted at entities within the European Union, given EMSA's status as an EU agency. However, international operators may also be eligible depending on specific terms outlined in the tender specifications. The project is at the commercialization stage, seeking established technologies for practical deployment in environmental monitoring.

The opportunity is focused on the environment and transport sectors, particularly in monitoring emissions potentially from maritime sources. The tender submissions are due by March 3, 2026, at 16:00 Europe/Lisbon time, with the opening scheduled for March 5, 2026, at 10:00.

Submissions must include a detailed technical proposal and comply with the outlined specifications, which encompass evidence of operational capabilities and necessary qualifications. Successful contractors will be compensated for the services rendered as stipulated in the framework agreement. The contracting authority will not respond to inquiries submitted after February 23, 2026, at 08:00.

In summary, this tender presents a significant opportunity for qualified bidders capable of delivering lightweight RPAS solutions for emissions monitoring, with a clear emphasis on quality of service and technological capability throughout the procurement process.

The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has published a call for tenders, EMSA/2025/OP/0032, for Lightweight RPAS Emissions Monitoring. This is an open procedure with electronic submission. The estimated total value of the contract is 8,000,000 EUR. The TED publication date is 18/12/2025. The main classification (CPV) is 60440000 Aerial and related services. The nature of the contract is for services, with a maximum contract duration of 48 months. The award method is based on the best price-quality ratio. It is a framework agreement without reopening of competition. The TED reference is 244/2025 843930-2025. The date and time of the public opening is 05/03/2026 at 10:00 Europe/Lisbon. The deadline for receipt of tenders is 03/03/2026 at 16:00 Europe/Lisbon. The contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after 23/02/2026 08:00 Europe/Lisbon.

The following documents are available for download:

EN01 Invitation to tender LRPAS Emissions25 Invitation letter Published on 18/12/2025 Version 1 No translations available
EN02 Tender Specifications LRPAS Emissions25 Tender specifications Published on 18/12/2025 Version 1 No translations available
EN02-I Appendix I to TS Detailed Specifications and Offer Template LRPAS Emissions25 Technical specifications Published on 18/12/2025 Version 1 No translations available
EN02-II Appendix II to TS Specifications for Data Provision LRPAS Emissions25 Technical specifications Published on 18/12/2025 Version 1 No translations available
EN02-III Appendix III to Evidence Selection Criteria Tech Prof Cap Template LRPAS Emissions25 Technical specifications Published on 18/12/2025 Version 1 No translations available
EN02-IV Appendix IV to TS- Financial Offer Template LRPAS Emissions25 Financial offer form Published on 18/12/2025 Version 1 No translations available
EN02-V Appendix V to TS Initial Configuration Test LRPAS Emissions25 Technical specifications Published on 18/12/2025 Version 1 No translations available
EN02-VI Appendix VI to TS Capability and Interfacing LRPAS Emissions25 Technical specifications Published on 18/12/2025 Version 1 No translations available
EN02-VII Appendix VII to TS Readiness Test LRPAS Emissions25 Technical specifications Published on 18/12/2025 Version 1 No translations available
EN03 Framework Service Contract LRPAS Emissions25 Draft contract Published on 18/12/2025 Version 1 No translations available

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

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This tender is for Lightweight RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems) or drones to monitor emissions. The European Maritime Safety Agency is seeking a contractor to provide aerial and related services using these drones. The goal is to monitor emissions, likely from ships or other maritime sources. The procedure is an open one, meaning any eligible organization can submit a tender. The contract is a framework agreement, which means that multiple service requests can be made during the 48 month duration of the contract. The award will be based on the best price-quality ratio, so the tenderers should focus on both competitive pricing and a high-quality technical proposal. The tender documents, including the invitation letter, tender specifications, technical specifications, financial offer form, and draft contract, are available for download. The submission must be done electronically through the designated portal. A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for participation.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, given that this is a call for tenders with an estimated total value of 8,000,000 EUR and the nature of the contract being services related to aerial services, it is likely that eligible applicants include companies, organizations, or consortia with the technical and professional capacity to provide lightweight RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems) services for emissions monitoring. This could include SMEs, large enterprises, research institutes, or public-private partnerships with expertise in RPAS technology, emissions monitoring, and aerial services.

Funding Type: The funding type is procurement, specifically a service contract. The call is for tenders, and the nature of the contract is explicitly stated as "services." The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) is seeking to procure services related to lightweight RPAS for emissions monitoring. A framework agreement, without reopening of competition, will be used.

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required or if a single applicant is sufficient. However, the FAQ section 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). This suggests that both single applicants and consortia are eligible to apply.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is not explicitly mentioned in the provided text. Given that this is an EU funding opportunity, it is highly likely that the beneficiary scope includes EU member states and potentially EEA countries or EU candidate countries. Further details would need to be checked in the official call documents to confirm the exact geographic eligibility.

Target Sector: The target sector is environment and transport, specifically focusing on emissions monitoring using RPAS technology. The call is for "Lightweight RPAS for Emissions Monitoring," indicating a focus on aerial services for environmental monitoring purposes. The main classification (CPV) code is 60440000, which refers to aerial and related services.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned in the opportunity details. The contracting authority is the European Maritime Safety Agency, suggesting a European scope.

Project Stage: The project stage is likely to be at the commercialization or operational stage. The call is for a service contract to provide emissions monitoring using RPAS, implying that the technology and services are already developed and ready for deployment. The appendices mention initial configuration tests and readiness tests, suggesting that the selected tenderer will need to demonstrate the operational readiness of their RPAS system.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the contract is 8,000,000 EUR. This represents the total budget allocated for the framework agreement over its maximum duration of 48 months.

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

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for services. This is a procurement contract where the selected tenderer will be paid for providing lightweight RPAS services for emissions monitoring.

Application Stages: The number of application stages is not explicitly stated, but it can be inferred that there are multiple stages. The tender process involves submitting a tender, which will then be evaluated based on the best price-quality ratio. The appendices to the tender specifications include evidence selection criteria, technical specifications, and financial offer templates, suggesting a multi-stage evaluation process.

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

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement. As this is a procurement contract, it is unlikely that co-funding is required from the applicant. The contracting authority will fully fund the service contract.

Summary: This is a call for tenders issued by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) for lightweight RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems) services for emissions monitoring. The procedure identifier is EMSA/2025/OP/0032. The estimated total value of the contract is 8,000,000 EUR, and the maximum contract duration is 48 months. The submission method is electronic, and the deadline for receipt of tenders is 03/03/2026 at 16:00 Europe/Lisbon time. The contract will be awarded based on the best price-quality ratio, and a framework agreement without reopening of competition will be used.

The call targets companies, organizations, or consortia with the technical and professional capacity to provide RPAS services for emissions monitoring. This includes expertise in RPAS technology, emissions monitoring sensors, data provision, and aerial services. Tenderers must submit a detailed technical and financial offer, including evidence of their capabilities and compliance with the tender specifications. The appendices to the tender specifications outline the detailed requirements for the RPAS system, data provision, technical and professional capacity, and financial offer. The selected tenderer will be responsible for providing lightweight RPAS services for emissions monitoring, including initial configuration tests, capability and interfacing, and readiness tests. The European Maritime Safety Agency is not bound to reply to questions submitted after 23/02/2026 08:00 Europe/Lisbon.