Maintenance and repair of electron microprobe and microscopes for the examination of highly radioactive samples

European Commission DG JRC JRC Karlsruhe invites open tenders EC-JRC/KRU/2026/OP/0003 for a single-supplier framework contract to provide preventive and corrective maintenance, repair services and spare parts supply for an electron probe microanalyser, transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscopes and a focused ion beam used with highly radioactive samples. The framework ceiling is €240,000 for up to 48 months with award to the lowest compliant price and electronic submission via the EU Funding and Tenders Portal with deadline 15 April 2026 at 12:00 Europe/Berlin. Bidders must satisfy legal, economic and technical selection criteria including trade registration, an average turnover threshold, three comparable projects and, for staff entering controlled areas, a Section 25 StrlSchG licence plus required security and radiation clearances.

Opportunity type and value

Tender (framework contract)

European Commission, DG JRC (JRC Karlsruhe) calls an open tender (single framework contract) for preventive maintenance, corrective repairs and supply of spare parts for a set of shielded and standard electron microscopes and an electron probe microanalyser used with highly radioactive samples. Estimated total framework ceiling: €240,000. Maximum duration: 48 months. Award method: lowest price.

Key dates:Publication: 13/03/2026. Deadline for receipt of tenders: 15/04/2026 12:00 (Europe/Berlin). Public opening: 15/04/2026 15:00 (Europe/Berlin). (An earlier metadata date of 01/01/2026 appears but the portal states the 15 April 2026 deadline.) ¹

What is funded

Services covered:preventive maintenance contracts, on-call corrective maintenance and repair interventions (including provision and installation of spare parts), and supply of listed spare parts for EPMA, TEM, FIB, SEMs (nuclearized and standard) as detailed in the technical specifications.

Who can apply

Eligible bidders:companies or consortia able to provide maintenance and repair services for electron microscopes and microprobes. Required: legal capacity, relevant trade registration, technical experience (e.g. at least three similar projects in the last five years), financial capacity (average turnover threshold as specified in tender), and where staff will work in controlled/radioactive areas they must hold relevant permits, radiological protection passes and security clearances.

1. 1Form of submission: electronic only via the Funding & Tenders Portal eSubmission.
2. 2Contract form: single framework contract with order/specific contract mechanism (no lots).
3. 3Key compliance: work in controlled areas requires licence under §25 StrlSchG and staff category A radiation medical surveillance; security/reliability checks may be required.

Selection and award

Procedure:open tender leading to one framework contractor. Evaluation excludes bidders in statutory exclusion situations. Selection checks cover legal, economic/financial and technical/professional capacity. Award criterion: lowest price among compliant tenders.

Tender documents (invitation letter, administrative and technical specifications, draft framework contract, financial model and forms) are published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Site visit arranged (see tender documents). Submission must follow eSubmission instructions and include required declarations, legal evidence and the financial offer as per Annex 6. ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Official tender dossier, documents and electronic submission are available on the Funding & Tenders Portal: JRC Karlsruhe maintenance tender.

Title:Maintenance and repair of electron microprobe and microscopes for the examination of highly radioactive samples. Procedure identifier: EC-JRC/KRU/2026/OP/0003. Procedure type: Open procedure. Contracting authority: European Commission, DG JRC - Joint Research Centre (JRC Karlsruhe). Nature of the contract: Services. Main CPV: 50000000 - Repair and maintenance services. Framework agreement: Single-supplier framework agreement without reopening of competition. Maximum framework contract duration: up to 48 months. Estimated total value and framework ceiling: €240,000. Award method: Lowest price. TED publication date: 13/03/2026 (TED ref. 51/2026 174476-2026). Place of performance: JRC Karlsruhe, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.

Official portal entry and documents are available at:Call page EU Funding & Tenders Portal – Tender EC-JRC/KRU/2026/OP/0003. Key documents include: Invitation to tender (ITT) ITT letter, Administrative specifications Adm. Annex, Declaration on Honour DoH template, Technical specifications Technical specifications, Draft Framework Contract Draft FWC, and the Financial Offer form Financial Offer (xlsx).

Scope of Services and Technical Context

The JRC Karlsruhe seeks a contractor to provide preventive and corrective maintenance, repair services, and the supply of spare parts for electron microanalytical and microscopy equipment used with highly radioactive samples. The equipment set includes: a shielded Electron Probe Microanalyser (EPMA), a nuclearized Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), two nuclearized Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEM), a Focused Ion Beam (FIB) instrument, and two standard SEMs. Several instruments are installed in hot cells or glove-boxes; certain components located in contaminated areas cannot be removed and, when defective, must be safely disposed of. For such cases, on-cell or in-glovebox work is carried out by JRC staff, guided and supervised by the contractor’s technician/engineer.

Corrective maintenance is defined as any intervention needed in case of malfunction or breakdown. Remote troubleshooting (phone/email) may be requested first; if unresolved remotely, on-site intervention must occur within 72 hours from notification. Corrective maintenance includes all labour, travel, and subsistence expenses. Spare parts supply must cover commonly required items listed non-exhaustively in Annex B of the technical specifications and the Financial Offer model.

Equipment and indicative spare parts coverage

• Philips XL40 SEM (cold and in glove-box): typical parts include EDX Detector Si(Li) CDU, Penning gauge XL40, PLCB and FIOT boards, multi-rail power supplies, tungsten tip boxes, SE/BSE detectors, primary vacuum and turbomolecular pumps, aperture strips, electrostatic lenses.
• TESCAN VEGA SEM: thermocouples for EDS detectors, tungsten filament boxes.
• CAMECA SX100R EPMA: counter tube window SUTW, spectrometer window PP, beam regulator, counter assembly, power control and VSBC boards.
• JEOL JSM-6400 SEM: scroll pumps (e.g., nXDS15i), apertures (AP50/70/110/170), scintillator tips, tungsten filaments, BSE/SE detectors.
• FEI TECNAI G2 TEM: network camera, condenser/objective aperture sets, aperture motors, EDS controller, NYCE3000 camera controller.
• FEI VERSA FIB: Pfeiffer IKR251 vacuum gauge, LMIS/electron beam aperture strips, Omniprobe tungsten needles and Cu grids, Ga/Pt/W reservoirs, stage and nanomanipulator motors, primary and turbo pumps.
• FEI Quattro SEM: Pfeiffer IKR251 gauge, electron beam aperture strip, primary/turbomolecular pump.

The Financial Offer template structures pricing for estimated annual corrective maintenance scenarios, labour-hour rates, travel subsistence, and detailed unit pricing for main spare parts across the above platforms. Quarterly consolidated invoicing is foreseen for corrective interventions and parts supplied.

Key Dates, Submission and Process

• Submission method: Electronic via eSubmission on the Funding & Tenders Portal. Participant registration and PIC are required.
• Deadline for receipt of tenders: 15/04/2026, 12:00 Europe/Berlin.
• Public opening (virtual): 15/04/2026, 15:00 Europe/Berlin (max. two representatives; prior email request with the eSubmission receipt required).
• Deadline for Q&A: The contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after 07/04/2026, 23:59 Europe/Berlin; create questions through the Portal’s Q&A tool.
• TED publication date: 13/03/2026.
• Optional site visit: 26/03/2026, 10:30 at JRC Karlsruhe. Advance registration (min. two working days) by emailing full name, date of birth, nationality and ID/passport number to jrc-procurement-karlsruhe@ec.europa.eu.

Tenders must be submitted in one of the official EU languages. The tender validity period and all detailed procedural provisions are set out in the Invitation to Tender and Administrative Specifications. Tenders are evaluated and ranked on the basis of the total price only, provided all minimum requirements and selection criteria are fulfilled and no exclusion/applicability issues arise.

Administrative, Legal and Security Requirements

• Access to procurement: open to all natural or legal persons within the scope of the EU Treaties, international organisations, GPA signatories, and certain eligible third countries under the Euratom Research and Training Programme 2026–2027 (per Council Regulation (Euratom) 2025/1304), subject to conditions.
• Exclusion and restrictive measures: all involved entities must not be subject to exclusion grounds under Article 138(1) FR, nor to EU restrictive measures under TEU Article 29 or TFEU Article 215.
• Security and nuclear site access: all personnel deployed at JRC Karlsruhe must comply with JRC security requirements. Reliability clearance (AtZüV §2 Nr.1, German Atomic law) is mandatory prior to work; non-EU personnel also require an EC special security check (approx. 7 working days for <=5 workdays engagement, about 7 weeks for >5 workdays in controlled area).
• Radiation protection: entities deploying staff in the controlled area must hold a valid §25 StrlSchG licence (Permit for activities/work in installations belonging to others). Every worker in the controlled area must have an officially registered radiation pass per §68 StrlSchV (Category A), and will receive internal radiation protection instructions. Where maintenance must occur in hot laboratories, protective measures are set by JRC’s Radiation Protection sector (AGS).
• Working hours and access: general working window 07:45–16:30; controlled area activities 08:00–12:00 and 13:00–16:30 (Fridays to 15:30). Access requires valid identity document; logistics for goods through Building 811, Wings R/E, within warehouse delivery hours.
• Health, safety and environment: compliance with EU and national HSE rules; provision of PPE, risk analyses where required, coordination with JRC’s responsible persons. Hazardous substances require prior notification (data sheets at least 10 working days in advance).
• Data protection: processing under Regulation (EU) 2018/1725; e-invoicing and electronic exchanges may be required via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal or Peppol.
• Financial and contractual: VAT exemption per Protocol on Privileges and Immunities; quarterly interim payments; no pre-financing, no performance guarantee or retention money; price revisions per HICP index during the framework term as foreseen in the Draft FWC; potential negotiated procedure for up to 50% repetition of similar services within three years post-signature.

Selection, Award and Contract Structure

• Exclusion criteria: Declaration on Honour required; evidence may be requested prior to award.
• Selection criteria: Legal/regulatory capacity (enrolment in relevant trade register; §25 StrlSchG licence for any entity deploying staff into controlled area); Economic/financial capacity (average yearly turnover over the last two closed financial years above €120,000; evidence via P&L or bank statements); Technical/professional capacity (at least three comparable microscope maintenance projects in the last five years; provide project list with scope, dates, amounts, roles, and invoiced values).
• Award criteria: Price 100% (lowest compliant price wins).
• Framework: Single-supplier FWC; specific contracts or order forms will be issued under the agreed terms; no reopening of competition.
• Service levels: On-site corrective maintenance within 72 hours of notification; remote troubleshooting support; supply of spare parts; quarterly consolidated invoicing.
• Warranty: minimum 1 year for any spare part or equipment above €2,000 supplied and installed under the contract; warranty excludes items that have been in contact with radioactive contamination or cannot be returned decontaminated; includes software updates and free telephone/email support for minor issues during warranty.

What the Tender Covers in Practice

• Preventive and corrective maintenance planning and execution for EPMA, TEM, SEMs (nuclearized and standard), and FIB systems.
• Rapid fault diagnosis, remote assistance, and on-site interventions within agreed response times.
• Procurement and delivery of critical spare parts under Incoterms DDP to JRC Karlsruhe.
• Technical supervision and instruction of JRC staff for glove-box/hot-cell operations where required.
• Documentation and compliance with JRC’s nuclear safety, radiation protection, site access and logistics procedures.

Eligibility and Categorisation

Eligible Applicant Types:Economic operators that can be natural or legal persons capable of delivering specialised maintenance and repair of electron microscopy and microanalysis equipment. This includes SMEs and large enterprises, OEMs and authorised service partners, specialised scientific instrumentation service companies, and, where they can meet all regulatory and licensing conditions, individuals. Joint tenders are allowed; subcontracting is permitted within the rules set out in the Administrative Specifications. Any entity deploying staff into JRC’s controlled area must hold a valid §25 StrlSchG licence and meet radiation protection requirements.

Funding Type:Procurement – service contract under a single-supplier framework agreement. Contractor is paid for services and parts delivered.

Consortium Requirement:Single-supplier framework contract. Joint tenders (consortia) are permitted at submission, with joint and several liability and a designated group leader. Subcontracting is allowed and must follow identification and commitment letter rules where applicable.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Open to entities within the scope of the EU Treaties, international organisations, GPA countries, and third countries eligible under the Euratom Research and Training Programme 2026–2027 (including those negotiating association, provided the association agreement applies at contract award). All entities must not be subject to EU restrictive measures.

Target Sector:Scientific instrumentation services with focus on electron microscopy and microanalysis; nuclear safety and radiation-controlled environment services; industrial maintenance of advanced analytical platforms. Relevant domains: nuclear safety, scientific equipment maintenance, advanced materials analysis, industrial processes/components, and laboratory infrastructure services.

Mentioned Countries:Germany (site of performance: JRC Karlsruhe, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany). Eligibility extends to EU, GPA, and specified Euratom-eligible third countries as described in the Administrative Specifications.

Project Stage:Operational service delivery. The contract covers ongoing maintenance and repair services rather than research, development, or demonstration.

Funding Amount:Framework contract ceiling of €240,000 over up to 48 months. No minimum ordering commitment is implied; orders are placed via specific contracts/order forms within the ceiling.

Application Type:Open call for tenders, single-stage submission via eSubmission on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Nature of Support:Money: payment for services rendered and spare parts supplied under the framework service contract, VAT-exempt under the relevant EU privileges and immunities.

Application Stages:1. Submission via eSubmission with required forms. 2. Opening session. 3. Evaluation: access to procurement, administrative compliance, exclusion, selection, compliance with technical requirements, and award on lowest price. 4. Award notification and contract signature. 5. Implementation through specific contracts/order forms.

Success Rates:No success rate is published. Award is made to the lowest-priced tender meeting all eligibility, exclusion, selection and compliance requirements.

Co-funding Requirement:No co-funding by the contractor is required. The contractor must however cover costs associated with meeting security and clearance requirements, and quote prices free of VAT and all duties. Quarterly invoicing applies for delivered services and parts.

Application Package and Templates

1. 1Invitation to Tender (ITT): Provides procedural instructions, submission method, deadlines, optional site visit, opening session logistics, contacts during the procedure, and data protection notice.
2. 2Administrative Specifications (Part 1): Defines scope and contract set-up, lots (not divided), place of performance, framework contract mechanism, volume/value (ceiling), duration, electronic exchanges, security requirements, fraud prevention and detection, environmental and equal opportunities requirements; tendering rules on access, registration in Participant Register (PIC), joint tenders and subcontracting, evaluation and award steps, selection criteria and evidence, and content of the tender.
3. 3Technical Specifications (Part 2): Describes the services in detail, including corrective maintenance definitions, response times, warranty conditions, delivery terms (Incoterms DDP), norms and standards (CE compliance, 230V), and extensive operational and safety requirements for working in JRC’s controlled areas. Includes Annex A (per-instrument maintenance/repair operations) and Annex B (main spare parts).
4. 4Draft Framework Contract (FWC): Sets special and general conditions, order of precedence, FWC scope and implementation via specific contracts/order forms, prices, price revision based on HICP, payment arrangements, communication methods (including use of the EU Portal), IP clauses, liability, force majeure, liquidated damages for delay and price reduction mechanisms, suspension/termination rules, checks and audits, and security requirements for contractors.
5. 5Declaration on Honour (DoH): Template to declare absence of exclusion grounds, fulfilment of selection criteria, absence of conflicting interests and restrictive measures, and independence of the submitted tender; requires signature (QES recommended).
6. 6Financial Offer Form (xlsx): Multi-sheet model including at minimum: Corrective maintenance scenario for one year (labour hours, units, rates), Travel/subsistence or other cost lines as specified, Detailed spare parts pricing per instrument family (Philips XL40, TESCAN VEGA, CAMECA SX100R, JEOL JSM-6400, FEI TECNAI G2, FEI VERSA, FEI Quattro), and an Overview sheet aggregating net and gross totals. The total amount must match the value encoded in eSubmission. Pricing must be expressed in EUR, free of VAT and other charges.
7. 7Agreement/Power of Attorney (for joint tenders): Establishes the group, leader’s authority, joint and several liability, and payment arrangements.
8. 8List of Identified Subcontractors and commitment letters: Identification of subcontractors relied upon for selection criteria or with an intended share above 20%, plus signed commitment letters by identified subcontractors (Annex 5.1) and by any non-subcontractor entities whose capacities are relied upon (Annex 5.2).

What to Prepare Before Submission

• Register or verify organisation in the EU Participant Register and ensure the PIC is active; keep SME status up to date if applicable.
• Compile evidence for selection criteria (may be requested at short notice): trade/professional register proof; §25 StrlSchG licence if deploying staff in controlled area; profit and loss statements or bank attestations for the last two closed financial years; project references list for at least three comparable microscope maintenance engagements in the past five years.
• Fill and sign the Declaration on Honour (QES recommended).
• Complete the Financial Offer workbook with consistent totals matching the eSubmission Total Amount field.
• If joint tendering: sign the Agreement/Power of Attorney; define roles and tasks of each group member; prepare identification and commitment letters for relevant subcontractors or relied entities.
• If attending the optional site visit: send required attendee details to the indicated email at least two working days before the visit.

Invoicing, Warranty and Logistics Highlights

• Quarterly interim payments: submit invoices summing interventions and parts for the relevant period, in line with the FWC terms (e-invoicing via Funding & Tenders Portal or Peppol; JRC Karlsruhe Receiver ID: 5425025839704).
• VAT handling: Invoice amounts are free of VAT under EU privilege; include the required VAT exemption statement for intra-community supplies where applicable.
• Price revision: As per Draft FWC, prices may be revised annually based on the HICP index (formula-defined).
• Delivery: Incoterms DDP to JRC Karlsruhe (Building 811), with warehouse receiving hours specified; do not leave goods without warehouse acknowledgement.
• Warranty: Minimum one-year warranty on supplied and installed parts/equipment above €2,000; software updates free during warranty; telephone/email support free for minor issues; warranty exclusions apply to contaminated items or those not returnable decontaminated.

Summary

This open tender from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC Karlsruhe) will establish a single-supplier framework service contract for up to four years, covering maintenance, repair, and spares for a suite of high-end electron microscopy and microanalysis instruments operating in radiation-controlled environments. The scope includes rapid-response corrective maintenance (on-site within 72 hours), remote troubleshooting, and provision of critical spare parts for EPMA, TEM, SEMs (nuclearized and standard), and FIB platforms from makers such as Philips, TESCAN, CAMECA, JEOL, and FEI. Bidders must demonstrate legal, financial and technical capacity, including a §25 StrlSchG licence if deploying staff in controlled areas, adequate turnover, and at least three comparable projects in the past five years. Security conditions include reliability clearance and, for non-EU personnel, a Commission special security check. The framework ceiling is €240,000, award is by lowest price among fully compliant tenders, and implementation is via specific contracts/order forms with quarterly invoicing. Submission is fully electronic through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, supported by standard templates (Declaration on Honour, Financial Offer workbook, joint tender and subcontracting forms), and governed by precise operational, safety and warranty terms suited to the nuclear laboratory context.

Opportunity Overview

This is an open procedure call for tenders (EC-JRC/KRU/2026/OP/0003) launched by the European Commission, DG JRC - Joint Research Centre, for the maintenance and repair of specialized microscopy equipment used for microstructure investigation of highly radioactive samples at JRC Karlsruhe, Germany. The equipment includes a shielded electron probe microanalyser (EPMA), nuclearized Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), two nuclearized Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEM), a Focused Ion Beam (FIB), and two standard SEMs. Services cover preventive maintenance, corrective repairs, and provision of spare parts.

The procurement results in a single framework contract (FWC) without reopening of competition, awarded to the lowest price compliant tender. TED reference: 51/2026 174476-2026. Primary documents available at EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Key Dates and Milestones

• TED publication date: 13/03/2026
• Site visit (optional): 26/03/2026 at 10:30, JRC Karlsruhe (register at jrc-procurement-karlsruhe@ec.europa.eu)
• Deadline for questions: 07/04/2026 23:59 Europe/Berlin
• Tender submission deadline: 15/04/2026 12:00 Europe/Berlin (electronic via eSubmission)
• Public opening: 15/04/2026 15:00 Europe/Berlin (virtual)

Contract Details

Estimated total value:€240,000 (maximum framework contract ceiling).

Duration:Initial 12 months, automatically renewable 3 times for 12 months each (maximum 48 months). Specific contracts must be signed before FWC expiry; services completed within 6 months after.

Award method:Lowest price (100% price criterion). No technical tender required; financial tender uses provided Excel model (Annex 6).

Payment terms:Quarterly interim invoices for corrective maintenance/repairs/spare parts. Balance payment within 30 days of approval. No pre-financing or guarantees.

Eligibility and Who Can Apply

Open to all natural/legal persons within EU Treaties scope, international organisations, GPA signatories, and third countries with relevant agreements or under Euratom Research Programme. No lots. Joint tenders allowed (group leader handles contact). Subcontracting permitted (identify those >20% or for selection criteria).

Exclusion Criteria

Standard Financial Regulation exclusions (bankruptcy, tax/social security breaches, grave misconduct, fraud, etc.). Declaration on Honour required (Annex 2). Evidence requested from winner.

Selection Criteria

• Legal/Regulatory: Trade register proof; §25 StrlSchG licence for controlled area work (submit with tender).¹
• Economic/Financial: Average turnover last 2 years > €120,000 (consolidated; evidence on request).
• Technical/Professional: 3 similar projects (scope/complexity) completed in last 5 years (consolidated; evidence on request).

Scope of Services and Technical Requirements

Corrective maintenance (on-site within 72 hours of notification, including labour/travel/subsistence); spare parts supply (priced in financial model sheets: Corrective maintenance, Spare parts for Philips XL40, TESCAN VEGA, CAMECA SX100R, JEOL JSM6400, FEI TECNAI G2, FEI VERSA, FEI Quattro). Remote troubleshooting first. In-glovebox/hot cell work by JRC staff under contractor supervision/instructions.

Place of performance:JRC Karlsruhe, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, D-76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany (controlled/contaminated areas).

Security and Access Requirements

• Personnel: Reliability clearance (AtZüV cat.1, 4 weeks); EU security check (non-EU: 7 weeks); Radiation pass (§68 StrlSchV, Category A, annual medical); §25 StrlSchG permit.
• Working hours: 07:45-16:30 (controlled area: 08:00-12:00/13:00-16:30); overtime needs approval.
• Compliance: German Atomic Law, StrlSchG/StrlSchV, JRC manual, radiation protection (delimitation contract).

Financial Tender Structure

Use Annex 6 Excel:Overview, Corrective maintenance (e.g., service/hour, amounts), Spare parts lists per instrument. Net total price for evaluation (cell HI7). DDP Incoterms; 1-year warranty (>€2,000 parts, excludes contaminated items). Prices fixed first year, revisable annually via HICP index.

Submission Requirements

1. 1Register in Participant Register (PIC required).
2. 2Electronic submission via eSubmission on F&T Portal.
3. 3Documents: Declaration on Honour, legal/regulatory evidence, financial tender (Annex 6).
4. 4No technical offer; price-only evaluation.

Risks and Considerations for Applicants

• Strict nuclear/radiation compliance; non-compliance blocks access.
• Volumes indicative (no commitment to full €240K).
• Lowest price wins; ensure competitive pricing on spares/labour.
• Joint tenders: Joint/several liability.
• Post-award: Up to 50% extension via negotiated procedure within 3 years.

Full documents:6 available (ITT, Admin Annex, DoH, TS, Financial Offer, Draft FWC). Q&A via Portal. Subscribe for updates.

Footnotes

1. 1German StrlSchG §25 licence mandatory for controlled area staff; proof with tender.