Mobile 24/7 Outdoor Passive Radio Frequency (RF) - based Counter Unmanned Aircraft System (Counter-UAS)

The document outlines a procurement opportunity from the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) for a Mobile 24/7 Outdoor Passive Radio Frequency-based Counter Unmanned Aircraft System (Counter-UAS). The aim is to find a supplier for advanced technology to counter unmanned aircraft systems around critical infrastructure and public spaces. This opportunity is not a grant but a procurement contract structured to acquire specific technical equipment. The project requires a mobile system capable of continuous operation, easy deployment, and dismantling.

Key details include a focus on security and defense, specifically related to counter-drone technology. The procurement type is categorized under supplies with an expected contract duration of 6 months. The technical specifications call for features like RF signal recording, direction finding, machine learning-based classification, and support for free updates of the drone signature library for the product's lifespan.

Eligible applicants are thought to be commercial suppliers and manufacturers who can fulfill these specialized requirements, with indications that small and medium enterprises may find the complexities challenging. Applications must be submitted electronically, with a deadline for expressions of interest set for September 2, 2025, and a planned contract award date on September 3, 2025.

The announcement specifies that this notification is not a call for tenders but a pre-information notice intended for potential participants to express their interest. Interested parties should monitor the EU Funding & Tenders Portal for the official call for tenders and are encouraged to submit their interest via the provided method. The procurement is under EU public procurement rules, likely opening participation for entities from EU member states and possibly extending to other international suppliers.

Overall, this represents a significant opportunity for firms specializing in counter-UAS technology to engage with the European Commission's research initiatives in security.

This is a pre-information notice, announcing the European Commission, DG JRC - Joint Research Centre's intention to publish a future negotiated procedure for a middle/low value contract. This is not a call for tenders.

The procedure identifier is EC-JRC/GEE/2025/MVP/4126-EXA.

The subject of the planned call for tenders is a Mobile 24/7 Outdoor Passive Radio Frequency (RF) - based Counter Unmanned Aircraft System (Counter-UAS).

The JRC DRONE project investigates technologies to counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) around critical infrastructure and public spaces. To support this, the project requires a mobile, outdoor-deployable RF-based C-UAS system capable of continuous 24/7 operation.

The system will be installed for multi-month periods on a tripod (without permanent fixtures), used to collect RF signal data, detect UAS and operators, and assess system performance in live environments. After each deployment phase, it must be easily dismantled and redeployed elsewhere.

The solution must include transport case, tripod, 25-meter power and Ethernet cables, a web-based user interface, and support for RF signal recording, direction finding, and machine learning-based classification. Free updates of the drone signature library must be included for the lifetime of the product.

The nature of the contract is supplies. The maximum contract duration is 6 months. No framework agreement is mentioned.

Milestones:
Start date for expression of interest: 2025-08-19 Europe/Brussels
Deadline for expression of interest: 03/09/2025 05:59 Europe/Brussels
Indicative date of launch of the negotiated procedure: 2025-09-03 Europe/Brussels

The method of expression of interest is electronic. To express interest, use the "Express interest" link. Submissions must be sent exclusively at the address for submission given.

The main classification (CPV) code is 32300000 - Television and radio receivers, and sound or video recording or reproducing apparatus.

A question and answer section is available. One question has been asked: Where can I find the procurement documents for calls for tenders with ‘ExA' in the reference? The answer is: References that feature an ‘ExA’ are not calls for tenders. They are a publication announcing the contracting authority’s intent to launch in the future a low or middle negotiated procedure. This was published on 03/10/2024 17:32.

In summary, this is a pre-information notice from the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) regarding a future procurement opportunity. The JRC is planning to launch a negotiated procedure to acquire a mobile, outdoor-deployable, RF-based Counter-UAS system. This system will be used within the JRC DRONE project to investigate technologies for countering unmanned aircraft systems around critical infrastructure and public spaces. The system needs to operate continuously (24/7), be easily transportable and deployable on a tripod, and include features such as RF signal recording, direction finding, machine learning-based classification, and a web-based user interface. The announcement provides details on the planned timeline, including the start and end dates for expressing interest, and the indicative launch date for the negotiated procedure. It emphasizes that this is not a call for tenders yet, but a notification of an upcoming opportunity. Parties interested in participating in this future procurement should express their interest electronically through the provided link.

Eligible Applicant Types: The opportunity details do not explicitly state eligible applicant types. However, given the nature of the contract (supplies for a C-UAS system) and the contracting authority (European Commission, DG JRC), it is likely that eligible applicants would include companies (SMEs and large enterprises) that can supply the required equipment and services. Research institutes or universities with relevant technological capabilities might also be eligible.

Funding Type: This is a planned negotiated procedure for a middle/low value contract, indicating a procurement. The nature of the contract is supplies.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity details do not specify whether a consortium or a single applicant is required. It is possible that both single applicants and consortia could be eligible, but this would need to be confirmed in the full call for tenders documentation when it is released.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The opportunity is being launched by the European Commission, suggesting that the geographic eligibility is likely to include EU member states. The specific eligibility criteria will be detailed in the full call for tenders documentation.

Target Sector: The target sector is security/cybersecurity, specifically related to counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS). It also touches on advanced machines/processes, and potentially software services due to the web-based user interface and machine learning aspects.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned. The contracting authority is the European Commission, DG JRC, implying that the opportunity is open to entities within the European Union.

Project Stage: The project stage is likely to be at the commercialization stage, as the requirement is for a mobile, deployable system that can be used in live environments. The system should include features like RF signal recording, direction finding, and machine learning-based classification, suggesting a mature technology.

Funding Amount: The opportunity is described as a "planned negotiated procedure for middle/low value contract." This suggests that the funding amount is likely to be in the range of under €50k to €200k, or possibly up to €1M, but this is speculative. The exact amount will be specified in the call for tenders.

Application Type: The application type is a planned negotiated procedure. This means that after the expression of interest, selected applicants will be invited to negotiate the terms of the contract.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive a service contract for the supply of a mobile, outdoor-deployable RF-based C-UAS system. This includes the equipment itself, as well as related services such as free updates of the drone signature library.

Application Stages: The application process appears to involve at least two stages: an expression of interest and a subsequent negotiated procedure for selected applicants.

Success Rates: The success rates are not mentioned in the provided text. As this is a negotiated procedure, the success rate will depend on the number of applicants who express interest and the number who are then invited to negotiate.

Co-funding Requirement: The opportunity details do not mention any co-funding requirement.

Summary: This is a pre-announcement for a future negotiated procurement procedure by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC). The JRC is seeking a supplier for a mobile, outdoor-deployable Radio Frequency (RF)-based Counter Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS). This system will be used to detect and classify drones and their operators around critical infrastructure and public spaces. The system must be capable of 24/7 operation, easily deployable and dismantled, and include features like RF signal recording, direction finding, and machine learning-based classification. The contract is considered to be of middle/low value, and the maximum contract duration is 6 months. The first step is to express interest electronically, with a deadline of September 3, 2025. The indicative date for the launch of the negotiated procedure is September 3, 2025. This announcement is not a call for tenders, but rather a notification of the JRC's intention to launch a negotiated procedure in the future. Companies or research institutions that can supply the described C-UAS system should monitor the EU Funding & Tenders Portal for the official call for tenders and consider submitting an expression of interest.