MANAGED IT SERVICES 2026

Managed IT Services 2026 is an open EU procurement published by the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (CLEANH2/2026/OP/0014) to award a single-supplier framework contract for comprehensive managed IT and IT professional services with a strengthened emphasis on cybersecurity. The procedure is estimated at €15,000,000 and the framework duration is up to 60 months, with call-offs under fixed price, time and material, and quality-time-material models. Eligible economic operators established in programme-eligible jurisdictions may submit tenders electronically via the EU Funding and Tenders Portal using the provided templates and documentation. The primary published closing date for submissions is 30 September 2026 at 16:00:59 Brussels time.

What is funded

Scope summary

Framework contract for managed IT services and all IT professional services for the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking and associated entities, with strengthened emphasis on cybersecurity and operational efficiency.

Estimated contract value:Approximately €15,000,000 over the planned 60 month period. For full tender documentation see the notice Tender details ¹

1. 1Who can apply: legal entities (companies and consortia) able to deliver IT managed services and comply with EU procurement selection and security requirements.
2. 2Key contract features: framework agreement with model order forms, multiple pricing modalities (fixed price, time-based), SLA and security baseline annexes.
3. 3Award criteria: quality weighted 60% and price weighted 40% (consult tender documents for detailed scoring).
4. 4Duration and timing: planned duration 60 months; main submission deadline 30 September 2026 (16:00:59 Brussels time).

Lead contracting authority:Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking. Submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal (eSubmission).

Footnotes

1. 1Official tender page and published documents (specifications, terms of reference, annexes and templates) are available at the EU Funding & Tenders Portal: ec.europa.eu

Procurement snapshot

Title:MANAGED IT SERVICES 2026. Contracting authority: Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (lead). Call Identifier: CLEANH2/2026/OP/0014. Procurement type: Services — Framework agreement (FWC) for Managed IT Services covering the full range of IT professional services, with emphasis on cybersecurity, operational efficiency and use of Commission procurement channels. Main CPV: 72000000 (IT services). Estimated overall contract value: €15,000,000. Planned duration: 60 months. Submission method: eSubmission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Tendering lot: LOT-0001. Application deadline (closing date): 2026-09-30 16:00:59 Europe/Brussels. An earlier deadline date 2026-01-01 14:00:59 appears in metadata; primary published closing date is 2026-09-30 16:00:59.

Key dates:Publication date: 2026-07-21. Submission deadline: 2026-09-30 16:00:59 (CEST). Open tender event (information session/clarifications): 2026-10-01 10:00:00 (local). Additional information request cut-off: 2026-09-21. Consider-changed-until date for published documents: 2026-08-04 ¹.

What the tender covers

This procurement aims to award a successor framework contract to CAJU.2022.OP.02. The new FWC is not intended to introduce broad technological innovation but to consolidate and improve foundational managed IT services for the Joint Undertakings and associated entities. A notable change is the broadened scope to cover all IT professional services required for operations and a strengthened focus on cybersecurity services and efficiency gains. The contract is to be used by the Joint Undertakings and other involved entities and is designed to be compatible with existing Commission procurement channels (framework agreement and specific call-offs using fixed price, time material and quality-time material arrangements as described in annexes).

Who can apply and eligibility

Eligible applicants are economic operators able to sign public contracts for IT services under EU procurement rules. This generally includes private companies (SMEs and large enterprises), consortia and joint ventures, subcontracting arrangements, and other legal entities established and legally capable to perform contracts in the EU. The procurement notice flags SME suitability as false (i.e., it is not restricted to SMEs). Tenderers must meet the selection and qualification criteria published in the administrative specifications and support evidence (see Annex B5 and Annex B6 templates). Nationals and entities from EU Member States and those eligible to participate in Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking procurement under applicable treaty and programme rules are expected to be eligible; consult the contract documents for precise nationality/territorial eligibility clauses.

Eligible Applicant Types (detailed):Large enterprises, SMEs, system integrators, managed services providers, IT consultancies, cybersecurity specialists, subcontractors, consortia or joint ventures, research organisations and universities where relevant for service delivery, non-profit organisations if legally constituted to bid, and public bodies where allowed by procurement rules. Specific exclusions or restrictions are set out in the administrative specifications and must be checked in Annex Part 1 and the Invitation to Tender.

Funding and contractual model

This is a procurement tender to award a framework agreement and subsequent call-offs (service contracts). Funding type: procurement / service contract (framework agreement). The instrument is not a grant, loan or equity scheme — it is a public contract where the contractor will be paid (monetary compensation) under the terms of the contract and applicable order forms (fixed price, time/material, quality-time-material). Estimated total procedure value: €15,000,000.

1. 1Primary financial mechanism: procurement / framework service contract (money paid to the contractor).
2. 2Contract types available via annexes: fixed price, time & material (TM), quality-time-material (QTM), model order forms for supplies and maintenance.
3. 3Contract documents include a template framework contract and specific contract templates for different pricing models (Annex A4 family).

Consortium, scope and geographic eligibility

Consortium requirement:The notice does not mandate a consortium structure; single economic operators may apply. Consortia or joint ventures are typically permitted under EU procurement rules and are commonly used for complex service contracts such as managed IT services. The tender documents (administrative specifications and selection criteria) describe how consortia should be organised, led and evidenced in the submission.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Primary geographic scope: EU (participation governed by EU public procurement rules and the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking programme legal basis). The contracting documents should be consulted for explicit lists of eligible countries (Member States, Horizon/Programme-associated countries or other eligible third countries where applicable).

Target sectors, project stage and technical focus

Target sector:Information and Communication Technology (ICT) with emphasis on managed IT services and cybersecurity. Secondary relevance: operations and infrastructure support for the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking and associated hydrogen-related activities. Expected project maturity: operational delivery and long-term managed services (demonstration to operations/scale-up of services). The tender focuses on delivery, service management, maintenance, security baseline compliance and operational efficiency rather than research or early-stage R&D.

Application, evaluation and templates

Application type:Open call for tenders published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Submission via eSubmission (Funding and Tenders Portal). Submission method code: ESUBMISSION (required). Tender submission must follow the Invitation to Tender and administrative specifications and must include the requested declarations, technical questionnaires and financial offer templates.

Application templates and documents provided:The procurement provides a comprehensive set of tender documents and templates that bidders must use or complete: Invitation to Tender; Part 1 Administrative Specifications; Part 2 Technical Specifications; Annex A0 Infrastructure Description; Annex A1 Service Requirements; Annex A2 Technical Evaluation Questionnaire (DOCX); Annex B1 Financial Offer (XLSX); Annex B2 Service Level Agreement; Annex B3 Security requirements and ethics reminder; Annex B4 Security Baseline and Acceptable Use Policy; Annex B5 Contracts List template; Annex B6 Contract Reference Template; Draft Framework Contract and Draft Specific Contract and Model Order Forms. Bidders must complete Annex A2 (technical evaluation questionnaire) and Annex B1 (financial offer) and supply the declaration of honour (Annex 2) and any supporting documentation requested in the administrative specifications.

1. 1Annex A2 Technical evaluation questionnaire — used for qualitative/technical scoring.
2. 2Annex B1 Financial Offer form — mandatory financial submission template (spreadsheet).
3. 3Annex 2 Model declaration-of-honour — mandatory legal declaration.
4. 4Annex A4 family — template framework contract, data appendices (Fixed Price, TM, QTM), model order forms.
5. 5Annex B3 and B4 — security requirements and baseline policies — bidders must demonstrate compliance.

Evaluation and award

Award criteria:The tender's awarding strategy includes a quality versus price split. The published lot metadata shows a 60% weighting for quality and 40% for price. Bidders will be assessed on technical quality (based on the Technical Evaluation Questionnaire and service requirements), security compliance, past performance/contract references (templates provided), and the financial offer submitted in the specified format. Exact evaluation methodology and subcriteria are set out in the procurement documents and administrative/technical specifications.

Application stages and process:The call appears structured as a single-stage open tender where interested bidders submit full proposals (administrative, technical and financial) by the closing date. There is an open tender event listed (information session) and a clarifications window. The procurement will result in the award of a framework agreement followed by potential multiple call-offs. The procurement system types referenced include a framework agreement (fa-wo-rc) and mentions of dps usage indicators; review of the draft contract will clarify order mechanisms.

1. 1Stage 1: Submission of full tender (administrative compliance, technical questionnaire, financial offer).
2. 2Stage 2: Evaluation of eligibility/selection, technical quality and price. Possible clarifications or requests for supplementary information during evaluation.
3. 3Stage 3: Contract award (framework agreement) and signature; subsequent call-offs as required during contract period.

Commercial and contractual details

Estimated overall contract amount:€15,000,000. Contract duration: up to 60 months. Contract modalities: framework agreement with the capacity to issue specific contracts or orders using fixed-price, time & material and quality-time-material models. Service Level Agreement is provided as Annex B2 and forms part of the contractual commitments. Security, ethics and inventory management provisions are included as specific annexes and draft clauses (Annex A3, B3, B4).

Procurement constraints and selection notes

SME suitability indicator is false, meaning the opportunity is not restricted to or specifically reserved for SMEs. The awarding documents ask tenderers to consult the procurement documents for specifics on award subcriteria and the weighting scheme. Tender validity period for offers is 6 months. Electronic ordering and payment are foreseen during contract execution. Appeal procedures are referenced with an identified appeal receiver.

Success rates, co-funding and commercial risk

Success rates:not published. As a competitive open European tender for a multi-million euro framework agreement, typical success rates are low — multiple bidders will compete and only selected economic operators will be appointed to the framework. Exact probability depends on the number and quality of bids received. Co-funding requirement: none — this is a public procurement awarding payment for services; bidders do not need to provide co-funding, but must propose commercial prices and meet contractual performance obligations. Financial viability and evidence of experience will be required as part of selection criteria.

Practical advice for bidders

Read Part 1 Administrative Specifications and Part 2 Technical Specifications in full. Use the provided templates (Annex A2 technical questionnaire and Annex B1 financial offer) and complete the Declaration on Honour. Ensure compliance with Annex B3 and B4 security requirements. Prepare contract references using Annex B6 and contracts list using Annex B5. Verify national/territorial eligibility in the administrative specifications. Plan for eSubmission ahead of the closing date and check the clarifications timeline. Expect quality to be the dominant evaluation factor (60% weight).

Explicitly mentioned countries and jurisdictions

No specific countries are listed in the tender text beyond referencing the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking and the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. The geographic eligibility is therefore aligned with EU procurement rules and the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking participation rules (EU Member States and programme-associated countries as per the programme legal basis).

Final summary — what is this opportunity about?

MANAGED IT SERVICES 2026 is an open EU tender published by the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking to establish a multi-year framework agreement for comprehensive managed IT services and IT professional services supporting the Joint Undertakings and related entities. The procurement seeks successors to an earlier framework (CAJU.2022.OP.02) and prioritises operational efficiency and strengthened cybersecurity capabilities rather than introducing wide-ranging innovations. The framework will allow multiple types of specific contracts and order forms (fixed price, time & material, quality-time-material) to be issued during the contract period. The estimated contract pool value is €15 million over up to five years. Bidders must submit electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal using provided templates (notably the technical questionnaire and financial offer), comply with detailed security and SLA requirements, and satisfy selection and qualification criteria in the administrative specifications. Quality is weighted heavily in award decisions (60% quality / 40% price). The set of annexes and draft contracts are comprehensive and must be followed strictly in the submission. Interested economic operators established in eligible jurisdictions should review the full procurement documents on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, prepare their technical and financial proposals using the supplied templates, and submit by the 2026-09-30 16:00:59 deadline to participate in the tendering process.

For the official tender documentation and downloads (invitation to tender, administrative and technical specifications, all annexes and templates) consult the EU Funding & Tenders Portal tender page for reference ID 9b0b9094-65bb or the shorter screen link under the Call Identifier CLEANH2/2026/OP/0014. Tender details on the Funding & Tenders Portal Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Tender documents published 2026-07-21 include: Part 1 Administrative Specifications, Part 2 Technical Specifications, Invitation to Tender, Annexes A0-A4 (including draft framework contract and data appendices), Annexes B1-B6 (financial offer, SLA, security requirements, contract reference templates), Annex A2 Technical evaluation questionnaire and Annex 2 Declaration of Honour. Access them on the tender page: ec.europa.eu

This is an EU procurement tender for managed IT services. According to the opportunity metadata, it is intended to succeed the previous framework contract CAJU.2022.OP.02, broaden coverage to all IT professional services, improve efficiency, and place a stronger emphasis on cybersecurity while supporting the Joint Undertakings and related entities through existing Commission procurement channels.

Core procurement facts

Eligibility and participation

• Eligible bidders are economic operators able to deliver IT managed services anywhere in the European Economic Area.[1]
• Participation is not reserved, so the available record does not indicate a restricted set-aside.[1]
• Tenders may be submitted by a sole entity or by a joint tender or group of economic operators.[1]
• Subcontracting is permitted under the procurement rules.[1]

Deadlines and submission

The metadata supplied with the opportunity lists two deadline timestamps, 1 January 2026 at 14:00:59 UTC and 30 September 2026 at 16:00:59 UTC. The live record shows the procedure was published on 21 July 2026 and is open for submission, so the January timestamp is inconsistent with the publication record and the September timestamp is the more credible active closing date.[1] The €15,000,000 figure should be read as the estimated total value of the framework rather than a guaranteed spend, because the contract is described as a 60 month single-supplier framework contract.[1] Tender submissions for EU procurement are normally made electronically through the Funding and Tenders Portal, using EU Login and the Participant Register with a PIC where required.[18][23]

What applicants should be ready to show

• Proven delivery of managed IT services at scale, ideally in public sector or highly controlled environments.
• Capability to cover cybersecurity services, including protection, monitoring, incident response, and service hardening.
• Ability to provide broader IT professional services beyond classic managed infrastructure support.
• Operational reach across the EEA and the ability to work within framework contract and call-off arrangements.