Ports Powering the Hydrogen Economy

Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (CLEANH2) invites tenders for a direct service contract titled Ports Powering the Hydrogen Economy to provide consulting services supporting European ports in hydrogen and hydrogen-derivative infrastructure strategy development. Estimated contract value is €500,000, maximum duration 24 months, with electronic submissions via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal (eSubmission) due 27 May 2026 at 16:00 Brussels time. Scope includes support for port financing and investment strategies, port-to-port cooperation and stakeholder engagement, policy and institutional interface work, and project development assistance including a minimum of six port case studies. Award is on the best price-quality ratio (70% quality / 30% price) and bidders must meet selection criteria on financial turnover, technical experience and team composition as set out in the tender documents.

What is funded

Scope

Procurement of consultancy and research services to support European ports:deepen analysis, produce strategic plans for hydrogen and hydrogen-derivative use, develop port-to-port cooperation, advise on policy interface and finance, and provide project development assistance for a minimum of six port case studies.

Estimated budget:Total estimated value €500,000; contract duration up to 24 months.

Who can apply

Eligible applicants

Open procedure for economic operators established in the EU/EEA and other countries with procurement access. Single entities or consortia may tender; subcontracting is allowed. Tenderers must satisfy exclusion and selection criteria (financial, technical and professional capacity).

Key practical facts

1. 1Deadlines: questions cutoff 11/05/2026; tender submission 27/05/2026 16:00 (Brussels time); public opening 28/05/2026 10:00.
2. 2Submission method: electronic only via eSubmission / Funding & Tenders Portal F&T Portal ¹.
3. 3Award: best price-quality ratio; quality weighting 70%, price 30%.
4. 4Contract type: direct service contract; maximum duration 24 months; possible repeat services up to 50% of initial value by negotiated procedure.

Selection & deliverables

Selection requires minimum economic/financial capacity (average turnover threshold) and technical experience (project references and team CVs). Deliverables include an inception report, four task reports (finance, cooperation, policy, case studies), a final study, slide decks and a collected data pack.

How to apply:Register your organisation (PIC) and submit electronically through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal / eSubmission before the deadline; tenders must include administrative, technical and financial envelopes and the Declaration on Honour as specified in the tender documents ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Full tender documents, templates and electronic submission are available on the F&T Portal opportunity page: Ports Powering the Hydrogen Economy F&T Portal opportunity.

Basic opportunity information

Title:Ports Powering the Hydrogen Economy. Procedure reference: CLEANH2/2026/OP/0002. Contracting authority: Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (Clean Hydrogen JU). Procedure type: Open procedure (call for tenders). Main CPV: 73000000 Research and development services and related consultancy services. Nature of contract: Services. Estimated total value: €500,000 (exclusive of VAT). Maximum contract duration: 24 months. Award method: Best price-quality ratio. TED reference: 76/2026 268302-2026. TED publication date: 20/04/2026. Key tender documents published in English: Invitation to tender, Technical Specifications (Part 2), Administrative Specifications (Part 1), Draft contract, Model Declaration on Honour.

Deadlines:Deadline for receipt of tenders (electronic via eSubmission): 27 May 2026, 16:00 Europe/Brussels. Public opening (virtual): 28 May 2026, 10:00 Europe/Brussels. Last date for contracting authority to respond to questions: 11 May 2026, 23:59 Europe/Brussels ¹.

Scope, objectives and tasks

Summary of scope:procurement of consultancy and research services to support European ports in deepening analysis and developing strategic plans for the use of hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives. The services will enable links between ports and renewable energy producers, local industries, shipping operators, heavy-duty transport stakeholders, and support international port-to-port partnerships and green shipping corridors. The study must deliver strategic analysis, financial readiness assessments, policy and governance recommendations, port-to-port cooperation frameworks, and project development assistance (PDA) to a minimum of six port case studies.

Study objectives (detailed)

The study must:1) support port financing and investment strategies (assess investment needs for 2030 and 2050, identify bottlenecks, map funding instruments, propose innovative financing/de-risking models and good practice selection methodology); 2) enhance policy and institutional interface (monitor relevant EU legislation and international frameworks, propose governance models, engage with EU bodies and international organisations); 3) foster port-to-port cooperation and green shipping corridors (strengthen Global Ports Coalition participation, organise two international working meetings annually, build a digital peer-learning platform, define corridor technical/regulatory requirements); 4) provide Project Development Assistance (PDA) to at least six ports (technical, legal, financial assessments, risk analysis, investment concepts and a roadmap to Final Investment Decision).

Required deliverables, meetings and timeline

Deliverables include an inception report (within 2 months of kick-off), interim and final reports, four thematic reports (Financial readiness; International cooperation and green corridors; Policy and governance; Case studies), a final consolidated study and a publishable summary (less than 30 pages with executive summary). Drafts must be submitted for review; final reports in editable formats (Word, PPT) with Clean Hydrogen JU visual identity applied. The contractor must provide a collected data pack containing background data, projections and tools in agreed editable formats.

Eligibility, selection and award rules

Submission method:exclusively electronic via eSubmission (EU Login required). Languages: tenders may be submitted in any EU official language; procurement documents are in English and the English version is the sole authentic text. Participant Register (PIC) is mandatory. The contracting authority will apply exclusion checks under Article 138 of the Financial Regulation and will require a Declaration on Honour (model provided). The tenderer must comply with selection criteria (economic/financial and technical/professional) and meet minimum levels described below. Award criterion: Most economically advantageous tender on the basis of price (30%) and quality (70%). Quality sub-criteria and scoring are provided in the procurement documents.

Minimum selection thresholds (key points):Economic/financial: consolidated average turnover for the last two financial years above €300,000. Technical/professional: consolidated evidence of at least 3 similar projects (min. €200,000 each) in the last 5 years; language delivery in at least two EU official languages including English; team composition with a Project Manager (min. 5 years managing similar projects of at least €300,000 covering at least 3 countries) and experts covering hydrogen technologies and infrastructures, maritime and heavy-duty transport, heavy industry, policy and safety for hydrogen, data analysis, market assessment/business planning, project promoter engagement, financing and investments, stakeholder coalition management and international cooperation (each expert minimum 3 years’ experience).

Who can apply and how to form a bid

Eligible applicant types:single legal entities or consortia (joint tender). Subcontracting is permitted. Entities on whose capacities the tenderer relies (not subcontractors) are allowed for selection criteria but must provide commitment letters (Annex 5.2). Joint tenders must appoint a group leader with a power of attorney (Annex 3). A Participant Identification Code (PIC) is required for each organisation taking part. Tenderers must submit the Declaration on Honour on exclusion and selection criteria and other administrative forms listed in Annex 1 to the Administrative Specifications.

Tender forms and templates (structure)

The procurement documents supply mandatory templates and forms. The tender must include:1) Declaration on Honour (Annex 2), 2) Agreement/Power of attorney for joint tenders (Annex 3), 3) List of identified subcontractors and commitment letters (Annex 4 and Annex 5.1), 4) Commitment letters for entities on whose capacities the tenderer relies (Annex 5.2), 5) Technical tender (methodology, workplan, team CVs, project references, man-hour breakdown per task, quality control system and deliverable drafts where asked), 6) Financial tender (total price in EUR, breakdown of price; price must be VAT-excluded). The final contract uses the Model Direct Service Contract and its General Conditions; tenderers must read draft contract conditions carefully (intellectual property, data, deliverables and licence terms).

1. 1Administrative submission package (Annex 1 list) — upload via eSubmission per instructions.
2. 2Technical tender — methodology, task breakdown, project management plan, CVs, project references and sample deliverables.
3. 3Financial tender — total price in EUR, breakdown, confirmation that price is VAT excluded.

Eligibility and geographic scope

Beneficiary scope:Participation is open to natural and legal persons established in the territory covered by the EU Treaties and, where applicable, to third countries that have special agreements with the EU on procurement or are associated to Horizon Europe. The procedure is not open under the WTO GPA. The study targets European ports; the contractor will be required to ensure European geographical coverage of case studies and include EU-13 representation where relevant.

Funding and contract modalities

Funding type:procurement / service contract funded by the Clean Hydrogen JU (EU-funded activity under Horizon Europe). Nature of support: contractual payment for services (money). Estimated contract value: €500,000 excluding VAT for the full contract; the contracting authority may award additional repeat contracts up to 50% of the initial contract value within three years by negotiated procedure without prior publication when services are similar. Payments and schedule: interim payments are specified in the draft contract (inception / interim / balance). See the draft Model Direct Service Contract for invoicing, VAT handling and payment terms. The award will be based on best price-quality ratio (30% price / 70% quality).

Consortium requirement and contracting form

Consortium requirement:The tender accepts both single applicants and consortia (joint tenders). If a consortium is used, a group leader must be appointed and all members will be jointly and severally liable for contract performance. The contracting authority will sign with the group leader. Subcontracting is permitted; identified subcontractors (those on which capacity reliance is declared or which will perform over 10% of the contract) must be listed and supply commitment letters.

Project maturity and target sectors

Project stage:The study covers analysis from strategic assessment through development and project development assistance up to readiness for Final Investment Decision (pre-FID and maturation to FID). Target sector: hydrogen economy at ports (energy, maritime transport, logistics, heavy industry, energy infrastructure; cross-cutting topics include financing and policy).

Eligible applicant types

1. 1SMEs, large enterprises (consultancy firms) with relevant track record
2. 2Universities and research institutes
3. 3Nonprofits and think tanks with documented project experience
4. 4Port authorities and public port companies (as sole tenderers or consortium members)
5. 5Consortia and public-private partnerships (groups of legal entities)
6. 6Subcontractors (registered and declared where required)

Success rates, stages and co-funding

Application stages:Single-stage tender submission via eSubmission. Evaluation includes administrative compliance, exclusion and selection checks, and detailed quality and price scoring. Application stages count as one formal submission stage followed by evaluation and award. Success rates: not published by the contracting authority; competitive open procedure with quality thresholds (minimum 50% per quality sub-criterion) — prospective tenderers should expect moderate competition given the public nature, specialist scope and available budget. Co-funding requirement: none specified — this is a procurement (service contract); tenderers submit a priced offer for delivery of services. No additional co-financing contribution from applicants is required beyond the priced contract execution.

Evaluation and award formula (summary)

Award is on best price-quality ratio with 30% weight for price and 70% weight for quality. Quality scored across three main criteria (Project overview 30 points; Methodology 42 points; Organisation & resources 28 points). Minimum quality pass: 50% per sub-criterion and 50% overall. Detailed scoring sub-criteria and minimums are in the Administrative and Technical specifications. The contracting authority may reject abnormally low tenders.

Procurement paperwork and checks

Documents to submit (key elements):eSubmission upload of Technical tender and Financial tender, Declaration on Honour (Annex 2), power of attorney for joint tenders (Annex 3), list and commitment letters for identified subcontractors (Annex 4 and Annex 5.1), commitment letters for relied-on entities (Annex 5.2), supporting evidence for selection criteria when requested. The contracting authority will validate legal existence via the Participant Register (PIC) and may request supporting evidence from EU Validation Services. Original handwritten signatures are acceptable but QES is recommended.

Technical and intellectual property requirements

All background material (pre-existing material) used to produce results must be licensed to the Clean Hydrogen JU on a royalty-free, non-exclusive, irrevocable basis as specified in the Model Direct Service Contract (Article II.13.2). The Union acquires ownership of newly created results under the contract and exclusive rights to exploit them. Tenderers must provide a list of pre-existing rights incorporated in results and, on request, documentary evidence. Final deliverables must comply with Clean Hydrogen JU visual identity and cover page templates to be supplied after award.

Practical submission notes

Submission is electronic via eSubmission (EU Login required). eSubmission accepts attachments up to 50 MB and up to 200 files per submission. PIC code is mandatory for each organisation taking part in the tender. Tenderers must ensure EU Login has two-factor authentication enabled by mid-2026 (the portal documents reference mandatory 2-step verification from 30 June 2026 for EU Login accounts) and that system/browser requirements are met. The contracting authority will not accept submissions by e-mail or post.

How to prepare a competitive bid — recommended focus areas

1. 1Demonstrate consolidated technical experience (3+ relevant projects, each >= €200K) across hydrogen, ports and financing.
2. 2Assemble an expert team with the core profiles listed in Technical Specification T3 and provide CVs showing the required experience and country coverage.
3. 3Provide a detailed workplan and man-hour allocation per task, demonstrating capacity to deliver all tasks and the 6+ PDAs.
4. 4Design pragmatic financial models and case study roadmaps that are bankable and include funding instrument mapping and de-risking measures.
5. 5Propose a realistic stakeholder engagement plan and Advisory Board composition aligned to the Clean Hydrogen JU expectations.
6. 6Prepare draft templates for deliverables and sample outputs to show quality assurance and editorial control.
7. 7Ensure compliance with all administrative requirements, declarations and PICs before submission.

Categorisation answers (structured)

1. 1Eligible Applicant Types: startups (if capable), SMEs, large enterprises (consultancies), universities and research institutes, non-profits and think tanks, port authorities and public bodies, consortia/joint tenders and public-private partnerships, subcontractors and entities on whose capacities tenderers rely.
2. 2Funding Type: procurement / service contract (direct contract) funded by Clean Hydrogen JU (EU procurement).
3. 3Consortium Requirement: single applicant or consortium allowed; consortium (joint tender) possible and common; not mandatory to form a consortium.
4. 4Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): EU / EEA and third countries associated to Horizon Europe per the Participant Register rules; principally European coverage for project work and case studies.
5. 5Target Sector: hydrogen economy in ports — energy, maritime transport, port infrastructure, industrial clusters, hydrogen carriers (ammonia, methanol), Power-to-X and SAF production, financing and policy interfaces.
6. 6Mentioned Countries: Belgium (contracting authority location: Brussels), references to EU Member States (examples in text: Netherlands, France, Germany, Denmark, Spain, etc.); primary geographic focus: Europe / European ports and corridors; specific example ports cited in technical background include Rotterdam, Marseille-Fos, Le Havre, Bilbao, Wilhelmshaven, Hamburg, Antwerp, Esbjerg, Aabenraa, Algeciras, Copenhagen (examples from background).
7. 7Project Stage: research/analysis, development, validation and project development assistance up to Final Investment Decision (pre-FID to maturation to FID).
8. 8Funding Amount: estimated total contract value €500,000 (exclusive of VAT).
9. 9Application Type: open call for tenders, single-stage electronic submission via eSubmission (EU Login required).
10. 10Nature of Support: monetary (fee-based service contract) — beneficiaries (contractor) will receive payments for services rendered; deliverables are contractual outputs. No grant/co-funding required from applicants.
11. 11Application Stages: effectively 1 main submission stage (electronic tender) followed by evaluation (administrative, exclusion/selection checks, quality and price scoring) — overall 1 formal procedural submission stage; evaluation and award steps internal to the authority (so 2 phases: submission then evaluation/award).
12. 12Success Rates: not provided by the authority; depend on competition and quality threshold (minimum 50% per quality sub-criterion), likely moderate competition for a specialised €500K contract.
13. 13Co-funding Requirement: no co-funding requested; contractor prices the service (no requirement to contribute cash).

Templates:Procurement documents include mandatory models: Declaration on Honour (Annex 2), Agreement/Power of Attorney for joint tenders (Annex 3), List of identified subcontractors (Annex 4), Commitment letters by identified subcontractors (Annex 5.1) and by entities on whose capacities the tenderer relies (Annex 5.2). Tenderers must follow the administrative annex 1 checklist to upload each required document via eSubmission in the specified attachment fields. The technical tender must include a detailed methodology, project management plan with man-hour breakdown, CVs, project references and a quality control system. The final publishable study must use the Clean Hydrogen JU cover page template provided after award.

Where to find the full procurement package:All procurement documents, templates and the draft contract are available on the Funding & Tenders Portal tender page for CLEANH2/2026/OP/0002. Subscribe to the tender on the portal to receive updates and Q&A; submit tenders only through eSubmission using your EU Login account Funding & Tenders Portal tender page. ¹

Concluding summary — what this opportunity is about and how to explain it

This is a competitive public procurement (service contract) launched by the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking to commission a strategic study and project development assistance programme titled Ports Powering the Hydrogen Economy. The contractor will deliver a multi-task study across finance, international cooperation, policy interface and hands-on project development assistance for a minimum of six ports. The goal is to accelerate integration of hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives in European port ecosystems by producing investment-ready project roadmaps, identifying financing/pricing/de-risking mechanisms, proposing governance and policy recommendations, and supporting the Global Ports Coalition and green shipping corridors. The contract is for a maximum of 24 months, with estimated budget €500,000 (excl. VAT). Submissions are electronic via eSubmission (EU Login required); tenderers must meet the selection criteria and pass quality thresholds. The award is on best price-quality ratio (30% price / 70% quality). All procurement templates, the draft contract and technical specifications are available on the Funding & Tenders Portal; tenderers must use the provided Annex templates and follow administrative checklists precisely. Successful bidders will transfer or license to the Clean Hydrogen JU background material as required and deliver publishable outputs under the JU visual identity. Overall, the opportunity suits consortia or single organisations with a proven combination of hydrogen technical expertise, port/transport experience, financing and investment advisory capacity, policy engagement ability, and skilled project management to deliver high-quality strategic reports and on-the-ground project development assistance across a diverse set of European ports.

Footnotes

1. 1Tender dossier and download area on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal: ec.europa.eu

Funding Opportunity Overview

This is a service contract tender issued by the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (CLEANH2) to procure consulting services supporting European ports in developing hydrogen and hydrogen-derivative infrastructure strategies. The contract aims to strengthen ports as key enablers of the clean energy transition by providing strategic financial support, fostering international cooperation, aligning policy frameworks, and delivering project development assistance to selected ports.

Opportunity Details

Procedure Reference:CLEANH2/2026/OP/0002

Contracting Authority:Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, White Atrium building, Avenue de la Toison d'Or 56-60, B-1060 Brussels, Belgium

Contract Type:Direct Service Contract

Estimated Total Value:€500,000

Maximum Contract Duration:24 months from contract signature

Submission Deadline:27 May 2026, 16:00 Brussels time (CEST)

Tender Opening:28 May 2026, 10:00 Europe/Brussels

Publication Date:20 April 2026

Submission Method:Electronic submission only via eSubmission system on EU Funding and Tenders Portal

Scope and Objectives

The study aims to strengthen the role of European ports as key enablers of the clean energy transition, focusing on hydrogen, hydrogen-derivative and hydrogen-based fuels. It will support port financing and investment strategies, enhance the policy and institutional interface, foster international port-to-port cooperation, and provide project development assistance to a minimum of six specific ports.

Main Tasks and Deliverables

Task 1: Support Port Financing and Investment Strategies (Months 0-8)

Assess investment needs, financial bottlenecks, and enabling mechanisms for European ports to implement large-scale decarbonisation projects. Services include investment mapping and needs assessment, bottleneck and risk analysis, funding framework review, development of innovative financial models, strategic guidance and recommendations, and identification of good practices related to planning and advanced investments for hydrogen in ports.

Task 2: Port-to-Port Cooperation and Engagement with Stakeholders (Months 0-24)

Foster and strengthen international port-to-port cooperation to accelerate hydrogen and clean energy value chain deployment. Services include mapping cooperation frameworks, strengthening European ports in the Global Ports Coalition under the Clean Energy Ministerial Hydrogen Initiative, best practice exchange and capacity building, development of hydrogen and green shipping corridors, standardisation and regulatory alignment, and knowledge transfer and replication models.

Task 3: Policy Interface and Institutional Engagement (Months 6-24)

Ensure effective alignment between port-level hydrogen initiatives and evolving European and international policy frameworks. Services include policy monitoring and strategic input, institutional liaison and coordination, governance and stakeholder engagement, regulatory coherence and standardisation support, and dissemination and policy feedback.

Task 4: Project Development Assistance - Minimum 6 Case Studies (Months 6-24)

Provide consulting services offering technical, financial and legal expertise to port authorities. Select a diversified group of minimum six case studies for both fluvial and coastal ports. Develop concepts to the point of implementation, including detailed descriptions of hydrogen applications, environmental and economic benefits, work plans, detailed budgets, identification of revenue streams, and financing plans. Deliver holistic assessments identifying main weaknesses and most promising development avenues, resulting in roadmaps for final investment decision.

Key Deliverables

• Inception Report (Month 2)
• Report 1: Financial Readiness and Investment Pathways with slide deck (Month 8)
• Report 2: International Cooperation and Green Corridors with slide deck (Month 12)
• Report 3: Policy and Governance Framework (Month 24)
• Report 4: Case Studies (Month 24)
• Final Study with slide deck and Executive Summary in English and French (Month 24)
• Collected data pack with all background information, data, projections and tools in editable formats

Eligibility and Who Can Apply

This is an open procedure. Any interested economic operator may submit a tender. Tenderers can be natural or legal persons, sole tenderers or groups of economic operators (joint tenders). Subcontracting is permitted. All tenderers must be registered in the European Commission's Participant Register and obtain a Participant Identification Code (PIC).

Access to Procurement

Participation is open on equal terms to all natural and legal persons coming within the scope of the EU Treaties, as well as to international organisations. It is also open to natural and legal persons established in third countries provided they have a special agreement with the European Union in the field of public procurement. Participation is also open on equal terms to natural and legal persons established in third countries eligible for funding under the Horizon Europe Framework Programme.

Restrictive Measures

Tenderers must ensure that no involved entities nor any subcontractors are subject to EU restrictive measures adopted under Article 29 of the Treaty on the European Union or Article 215 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, consisting of a prohibition to make available or transfer funds or economic resources or to provide financing or financial assistance, or of an asset freeze.

Selection Criteria

Economic and Financial Capacity (Criterion F1)

Minimum level:Average yearly turnover of the last two financial years above €300,000. Basis for assessment: Consolidated assessment of combined capacities of all involved entities. Evidence required: Copy of profit and loss accounts and balance sheets for the last two years for which accounts have been closed, or appropriate statements from banks. The most recent year must have been closed within the last 18 months.

Technical Capacity (Criterion T1)

The tenderer must prove experience in the field of hydrogen sector, port ecosystems, financing and investments, project development assistance related to energy and hydrogen technologies, European and international policy frameworks, and managing large groups of international stakeholders. Minimum level: At least 3 similar projects completed in the last five years preceding the deadline for submission of tenders with a minimum value for each of €200,000. Evidence: List of projects meeting the minimum level of capacity including details of start and end date, total project amount and scope, role and amount invoiced. The contracting authority may request statements issued by clients and take contact with them.

Language Capacity (Criterion T2)

The tenderer must prove capacity to work in 2 EU official languages including at least English (C2 level in the Common European Framework for Reference for Languages) and experience in drafting and delivering excellent quality reports in English. Minimum level: At least two projects successfully completed in the last 3 years must show they have been delivered in English, and that the contractor had to employ in its work two EU official languages, including English. Evidence: List of projects (minimum two) meeting the minimum level of capacity. The contracting authority may request one document of at least 10 pages (report, study, etc.) in this language that it has drafted and published or delivered to a client in the last two years.

Professional Capacity (Criterion T3)

The team delivering the service should include, as a minimum, 3 members covering the following profiles: Project Manager with at least 5 years experience in project management, including overseeing project delivery, quality control of delivered service, client orientation and conflict resolution experience in projects of similar size (at least €300,000) and coverage (at least 3 countries covered), with experience in management of team of at least 5 people. Experts in hydrogen technologies and infrastructures, maritime and heavy duty transportation, heavy industries, policy for hydrogen technologies and safety, data gathering and statistical analysis, market assessment and business planning, working with project promoters (public and private), financing and investments, management of 20+ stakeholders coalition, and international scientific and business cooperation and diplomacy, each with at least 3 years professional experience in their respective field. Evidence: CVs of team members assigned to each task, with each CV indicating the intended field for which it is submitted.

Award Criteria and Evaluation

Tenders will be evaluated on the basis of best price-quality ratio. The evaluation is weighted as follows: Price 30 percent, Quality 70 percent.

Quality Evaluation (70 percent)

• Q1. Project Overview (30 points, minimum score 50 percent): Understanding of general objective and specific tasks, identification of main issues and success factors, clarity and relevance of proposed approaches, added value and unexpected meaningful elements, capacity to coordinate and manage coalition of key stakeholders
• Q2. Quality of Proposed Methodology (42 points, minimum score 50 percent): Organisation, management and governance; scope, timeline, milestones and deliverables; methodology to achieve all objectives and tasks including case study analyses; identification and mitigation of potential risks; quality control system tailored to services
• Q3. Organisation of Work and Resources (28 points, minimum score 50 percent): Distribution of roles and responsibilities of proposed team and different economic operators; global allocation of time and resources to project and each task; adequacy of allocation for the work; detailed project management plan with breakdown of expected man-hours for each team member on each task

Tenders must score minimum 50 percent for each criterion and sub-criterion, and minimum 50 percent in total. Tenders that do not reach the minimum quality levels will be rejected and will not be ranked.

Payment Terms and Conditions

Payment Structure:First interim payment: 10 percent upon delivery of Inception Report (Month 2). Second interim payment: 40 percent upon delivery of final Report 1 (Month 8). Payment of balance: 50 percent upon final delivery and approval of all deliverables (Month 24).

Payment Timeline:The contracting authority must approve submitted documents or deliverables and pay within 60 days from receipt of the invoice. The contracting authority may suspend the time limit for payment if the tender is not compliant with the contract, if the contractor has not produced appropriate documents or deliverables, or if there are observations on the documents or deliverables submitted.

Currency and VAT:Payments are made in euros. The contracting authority is exempt from all taxes and duties, including VAT, in accordance with Articles 3 and 4 of Protocol 7 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Invoices must be quoted free of all duties, taxes and other charges, including VAT.

Submission Requirements

Tenders must be submitted exclusively via the electronic submission system (eSubmission) available on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal. Tenders submitted in any other way will be disregarded. All economic operators must register in the European Commission's Participant Register and obtain a Participant Identification Code (PIC) before submission.

Required Documents

• Declaration on Honour on exclusion and selection criteria (signed by authorised representative)
• Evidence that the person signing documents is an authorised representative
• Agreement/Power of attorney (for joint tenders)
• List of identified subcontractors (if applicable)
• Commitment letters from identified subcontractors and entities on whose capacity the tenderer relies
• Technical tender providing all information needed to assess compliance with technical specifications and award criteria
• Financial tender with complete breakdown of price, expressed in euros, free of all duties, taxes and other charges including VAT

Signature Requirements

Documents must be signed with either a hand-written signature or preferably a qualified electronic signature (QES) as defined in Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 on electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the internal market (eIDAS Regulation). Tenderers are strongly encouraged to sign with a QES. Hand-written signatures lead to additional administrative burden for both tenderer and contracting authority.

Important Conditions and Restrictions

Exclusion Criteria:Tenderers found to be in an exclusion situation will be rejected. Exclusion situations include bankruptcy or insolvency, breach of obligations relating to payment of taxes or social security contributions, grave professional misconduct, fraud, corruption, criminal offences, significant deficiencies in complying with main obligations in implementation of a legal commitment financed by the Union budget, irregularities, creation of an entity to circumvent legal obligations, and intentional resistance to investigations or audits.

Conflict of Interest:The contractor must take all necessary measures to prevent any situation of conflict of interest or professional conflicting interest. The contractor must notify the contracting authority in writing as soon as possible of any situation that could constitute a conflict of interest or professional conflicting interest during the performance of the contract and must immediately take action to rectify the situation.

Intellectual Property Rights:The Union acquires irrevocably worldwide ownership of the results and of all intellectual property rights on the newly created materials produced specifically for the Union under the contract. All background material, including any information, data, projections and tools used for creating any of the results, is licensed to the Clean Hydrogen JU on a royalty-free, non-exclusive and irrevocable basis.

Confidentiality:The contracting authority and the contractor must treat with confidentiality any information or documents disclosed in writing or orally, relating to the performance of the contract. Each party must not use confidential information for any purpose other than to perform its obligations under the contract without the prior written agreement of the other party.

Termination:Either party may terminate the contract for convenience by sending formal notification to the other party with three months written notice. If the contract is terminated for convenience, neither party is entitled to compensation, and the contractor is entitled to payment only for the services provided before termination takes effect.

Liability:The contractor is liable for any loss or damage caused to the contracting authority during or as a consequence of performance of the contract, resulting from a breach attributable to the contractor, only up to an amount not exceeding three times the total amount of the contract. However, if the damage or loss is caused by gross negligence or wilful misconduct of the contractor, a related person, its personnel or its subcontractors, or if an injury has been caused to the life or physical integrity of a person, or in the case of an action brought against the contracting authority by a third party for breach of its intellectual property rights, the contractor is liable for the whole amount of the damage or loss.

Applicable Law and Dispute Resolution

The contract is governed by Union law, complemented, where necessary, by the law of Belgium. The application of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sales of Goods (CISG) is excluded. The courts of Brussels, Belgium shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute regarding the validity, interpretation, performance or termination of the contract.

Contact Information

Contracting Authority Contact:Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, CLEANH2.ED.OP - Unit Operations and Communications, Email: info.procurement@clean-hydrogen.europa.eu

Submission Portal:EU Funding and Tenders Portal: [[ec.europa.eu

Questions and Clarifications:Requests for additional information must be made in writing only through the F&T Portal by clicking Create a question in the Questions and answers section. The contracting authority is not bound to reply to requests for additional information received less than six working days before the time-limit for receipt of tenders.

Key Dates and Timeline

1. 1Publication date: 20 April 2026
2. 2Deadline for questions: 11 May 2026, 23:59 Brussels time
3. 3Deadline for submission of tenders: 27 May 2026, 16:00 Brussels time
4. 4Tender opening: 28 May 2026, 10:00 Europe/Brussels
5. 5Kick-off meeting: Within 2 weeks after contract signature
6. 6Inception Report delivery: Month 2 after contract signature
7. 7Meeting 1 (Advisory Board approval): Month 3
8. 8Meeting 2 (Draft Report 1 delivery): Month 6
9. 9Meeting 3 (Final Report 1, initial findings Task 2, case study selection): Month 8
10. 10Meeting 4 (Final Report 2, preliminary findings Task 3): Month 12
11. 11Meeting 5 (Draft Reports 3 and 4): Month 18
12. 12Final meeting (Final Reports 3 and 4, Final Study): Month 24

Strategic Context

This procurement is aligned with the European Commission's EU Ports Strategy and Industrial Maritime Strategy adopted on 4 March 2026, which set out a comprehensive framework to strengthen the competitiveness, resilience, security and sustainability of Europe's ports. The study supports the European Green Deal, the Fit for 55 package, the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), and REPowerEU objectives. It builds on previous flagship studies including the Clean Hydrogen JU's Study on Hydrogen in Ports and Industrial Coastal Areas (2021-2023) and the European Commission's Greening of European Sea Ports (2024).

The initiative recognises that ports stand at the heart of Europe's energy, goods, passenger, and industrial flows. As multi-modal hubs often located in densely populated areas, they face intensifying political and societal pressures linked to urbanisation and environmental impacts. According to the 2024 ESPO Environmental Report, almost all European ports (98 percent) have adopted environmental policies with measurable objectives and monitoring systems, with climate change ranked as their top environmental priority. The 2024 ESPO Port Investment Study estimates that European port authorities require €20 billion over the next decade (to 2034) for sustainability and energy transition investments alone. The ESPO Environmental Report 2025 indicates that 43 percent of ports are already developing hydrogen-related infrastructure.

Key bottlenecks persist in port hydrogen development, including insufficient long-term policy signals and regulatory clarity, weak demand creation and limited port-industry integration within industrial clusters, investment risk and lack of financial de-risking mechanisms or incentives, complex and lengthy permitting and administrative procedures, and absence of a coherent international framework for maritime hydrogen and hydrogen-derivative fuels. This procurement seeks to address these challenges through comprehensive strategic support, international cooperation, policy alignment, and targeted project development assistance.

Footnotes

1. 1The Clean Hydrogen Partnership is implementing this procurement on behalf of the European Commission to support the transition of European ports to hydrogen-based energy systems as part of the broader European Green Deal and energy security objectives.