Provision of assistance in the field of economic efficiency benchmarking and cost comparisons for transmission system operators for the European Union...

The European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) has issued tender ACER/2026/OP/0020 for services to provide economic efficiency benchmarking and cost comparisons for transmission system operators. The opportunity is a framework service contract with an estimated value of €1,000,000, an initial duration of 12 months renewable up to three times (up to 48 months), and award criteria weighted 60% quality and 40% price. Eligible organisations are those established in the EU/EEA and specified partner countries per the tender documents, and submissions must be made via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal by 15 September 2026 at 16:00:59 (Europe/Ljubljana).

Tender at a glance

Essential facts

Call for tenders issued by the European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) to provide assistance on economic efficiency benchmarking and cost comparisons for transmission system operators (TSOs).

Estimated contract value:Approximately €1,000,000 for the framework contract (estimated overall amount) ¹.

1. 1What it funds: expert services to develop, run and report economic efficiency benchmarking and cost-comparison analyses for TSOs across the EU.
2. 2Who can apply: service providers (consultancies, research organisations, expert teams) and consortia able to deliver technical benchmarking and economic analysis; subcontracting is allowed and identification forms are provided in the procurement documents.
3. 3Contract type and duration: framework service contract; initial period 12 months, renewable up to three times (total planned period 48 months).
4. 4Procedure and submission: open tender with mandatory e-submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal; invitation and full tender specifications published.
5. 5Key dates: tender submission deadline 15 September 2026 at 16:00:59 (portal local time); open tender event on 16 September 2026.

Tender documents (invitation, technical specifications, financial offer form, draft contract and annexes) were published on 28 July 2026; consult those documents for detailed eligibility, award criteria (quality 60%, price 40%) and submission requirements ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Full procurement documents, templates and the draft framework service contract are available on the Funding & Tenders Portal tender page: ec.europa.eu

Opportunity snapshot

This is an open procurement tender launched by the European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) to procure services providing assistance in economic efficiency benchmarking and cost comparisons for transmission system operators. The procurement is managed through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal under call identifier ACER/2026/OP/0020. The contract is a framework services contract for a planned period of 48 months, with an initial framework duration of 12 months renewable up to 3 times as set out in the draft contract.

Lead contracting authority:European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) ACER.

Main CPV code:79400000 (Services related to finance and accounting).

Publication and key dates:Publication date on the Portal: 2026-07-28. Submission deadline (closing date): 15 September 2026, 16:00:59 (Europe/Ljubljana timezone). An open tender event is scheduled for 16 September 2026 at 10:00:00 (local time). An additional information request period ends on 7 September 2026. The tender documents indicate a consider-changed-until date of 11 August 2026 for several annexes. ¹

Estimated contract value and duration:Estimated overall contract amount: €1,000,000. Planned contract execution period: 48 months. The draft framework contract states an initial 12-month period, renewable up to three times (total possible 48 months).

Scope and required services

Objective:Provide assistance in the field of economic efficiency benchmarking and cost comparisons for transmission system operators in the European Union. The services will support ACER in analysing, benchmarking and comparing costs and efficiency across transmission system operators, supplying technical expertise, data analysis, methodological support and reporting outputs required by ACER and EU regulatory workstreams.

Type of contract and procurement nature:The procurement is for services and will be awarded as a framework agreement (framework service contract) managed through the Funding & Tenders Portal eSubmission system. The contracting system type indicates framework agreement usage with no DPS involvement for this tender.

Awarding and evaluation

Award criteria and weighting:The award criteria comprise quality and price. Quality is weighted at 60 and price at 40. Tenderers must consult the procurement documents for the detailed sub-criteria and scoring rules.

Tender validity:Tender validity period is 6 months from tender submission (as indicated in the tendering terms).

Eligibility, consortium and participation details

Eligible applicant types:The procurement documentation and annexes provide identification and declaration templates for natural persons, private law bodies and public law bodies, and include forms for subcontractors and power of attorney. Based on the documentation supplied, eligible applicant types include: large enterprises, SMEs (though the SME suitability indicator is set to false), consultancies, universities and research institutes, nonprofit organisations, independent experts, and public bodies capable of providing the services. The tender documentation includes forms for identifying natural persons, private-law bodies and public-law bodies, indicating these entity types may participate.

Consortium requirement:The procurement allows for participation of tenderers and permits the identification of subcontractors and commitment letters by subcontractors (Annex I F and Annex I G). This indicates that a single economic operator may submit a tender, and collaborative submissions or consortium-like structures including subcontractors are feasible. The procurement documents should be consulted for rules on consortiums, joint bids and lead partner responsibilities.

Geographic eligibility and beneficiary scope:The contract is published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and managed by an EU agency (ACER). The procurement is governed by EU procurement rules for agency procurement; therefore, economic operators from EU Member States are eligible. The portal and ACER generally allow participation by entities established in the EU and potentially in EEA or third countries when permitted under the specific procurement rules; tenderers must verify national eligibility conditions and applicable procurement rules in the tender documents.

SME suitability and subcontracting:The procurement metadata indicates the 'smeSuitableIndicator' is false. Subcontractor identification and commitment letter templates are provided, and tenderers must list identified subcontractors where applicable.

Application, submission and process

Application type and submission method:Open tender via the Funding & Tenders Portal. Submission method: mandatory eSubmission through the Funding & Tenders Portal (access tool: Funding and Tenders Portal). The submission deadline is final on 15 September 2026 at 16:00:59 (Europe/Ljubljana).

Application stages and process overview:The procurement process includes at least the following stages: 1) publication of invitation to tender and procurement documents; 2) submission of complete electronic tenders by the deadline; 3) possible clarification phase (additional information request period ends 7 September 2026); 4) opening of tenders and evaluation by ACER; 5) award decision and contracting. The portal lists an open tender event date (16 September 2026). In practice this represents a mostly single-phase submission with evaluation and award stages thereafter (counted as 2 major phases: submission and evaluation/award).

Templates and required annexes:The procurement package includes multiple mandatory annex templates and documents. Key documents provided in the call package include:

1. 1Annex I - Tender specifications (technical specifications) (Annex I_Tender specifications_V1.pdf)
2. 2Invitation to tender ACER-2026-OP-0020 eSub (Invitation to tender ACER-2026-OP-0020_eSub_V1.pdf)
3. 3Annex I A - Checklist for tenderers eSub
4. 4Annex I B - Identification of the tenderer
5. 5Annex I C - Declaration on honour (tender)
6. 6Annex I D a - Identification Form natural person
7. 7Annex I D b - Identification Form private law body
8. 8Annex I D c - Identification Form public law body
9. 9Annex I E - Power of attorney
10. 10Annex I F - List of identified subcontractors
11. 11Annex I G - Commitment letter by the subcontractor
12. 12Annex II - Financial offer form (Annex II_Financial offer_V1.docx)
13. 13Annex III - Draft Framework service contract (Annex III_Draft Framework service contract_V1.pdf)

Ensure to use and complete the provided identification and declaration templates, financial offer form and the draft framework contract requirements. The procurement documents include explicit checklists and identification forms to authenticate the legal status and capacity of tenderers and any subcontractors.

Selection, evaluation and contractual details

Planned contract type:Framework service contract. The draft framework contract is included in Annex III and must be reviewed carefully: it details the contractual model, renewal terms (initial 12 months, renewable three times) and likely standard EU agency contract clauses. Tenderers should verify liability, deliverable, reporting and invoicing arrangements in the draft contract.

Awarding criteria detail:The top-level award criterion split is 60% quality and 40% price. Tenderers must consult the Procurement documents for the breakdown of quality sub-criteria (methodology, team, track record, data handling and security, proposed workplan, deliverables, timelines etc.).

Estimated contract value and budget handling:The overall estimated value is €1,000,000. The financial offer should be submitted using Annex II Financial offer form. The procurement metadata indicates electronic order and electronic payment usage will be used in the post-award process.

Administrative, legal and practical considerations

Submission language:English is used across the procurement documents and annexes. Tenderers should ensure all documentation is submitted in accordance with the instructions in the Invitation to Tender and the Checklist for tenderers.

Tender validity and contracting timeline:Tender validity period stated is six months. The procurement timeline indicates the open tender event occurs immediately after the closing date; evaluation and award follow. The draft framework contract sets out the performance start and renewal conditions.

Appeals:Appeal terms are referenced in the tendering terms; the procurement metadata lists an appeal receiver party (ORG-0002). Tenderers should refer to the Invitation to Tender for detailed remedies and appeals procedures.

Risk, co-funding and success rate

Co-funding requirement:This is a procurement tender for a paid contract; no co-funding from the tenderer is requested by ACER in the procurement metadata. The agency will pay the selected contractor according to the contract terms (financial offer and negotiated rates).

Success rates:No success-rate statistics are provided in the tender notice. As a competitive EU agency procurement with an estimated value of €1,000,000 and open eSubmission, success depends on competitiveness of quality and price; historical success rates are not provided and will vary by number and quality of bids received.

Practical checklist for applicants

1. 1Download and read Annex I Tender specifications and the Invitation to tender in full.
2. 2Complete Identification forms applicable to your legal form (Annex I D a/b/c).
3. 3Complete Declaration on honour (Annex I C).
4. 4Prepare and complete the Financial offer using Annex II Financial offer form.
5. 5If applicable, prepare List of identified subcontractors (Annex I F) and Commitment letters from subcontractors (Annex I G).
6. 6Ensure power of attorney (Annex I E) is provided if signing authority is delegated.
7. 7Use the Checklist for tenderers (Annex I A) to verify all documents and declarations are included.
8. 8Submit electronically through the Funding & Tenders Portal by 15 September 2026, 16:00:59 (Europe/Ljubljana).
9. 9Keep tender validity period of 6 months in mind and ensure staff and resources proposed are available for the contract start if awarded.

Technical and subject-matter expectations (as inferred from the tender title and documents)

Required expertise likely includes economics and regulatory analysis, benchmarking methodologies, cost accounting and cost modelling for transmission system operators, data collection and handling from TSOs, statistical and econometric analysis, comparative efficiency measurement techniques (for example DEA, SFA or other benchmarking approaches), familiarity with EU electricity and gas transmission regulatory frameworks, experience producing policy-oriented reports and stakeholder-facing deliverables, and strong project management capabilities to deliver multiple outputs under a framework agreement.

Tenderers should be prepared to demonstrate:professional qualifications of key staff, relevant past experience and track record of similar benchmarking and cost-comparison studies for transmission system operators or energy infrastructure providers, proposed methodology and quality assurance arrangements, data protection and confidentiality measures, and a clear workplan with deliverables and timelines aligned to ACER’s requirements.

Mentioned countries and geographic notes

Explicitly mentioned country/region:European Union. The contracting authority is an EU Agency (ACER). The procurement is published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, implying applicability to entities eligible under EU procurement rules (EU Member States and those jurisdictions allowed under the procurement terms).

Templates and application form structure (how to prepare your submission)

The procurement package includes standard EU Agency tender templates that must be completed and uploaded via eSubmission. The primary templates and their intended use are:

1. 1Annex I Tender specifications: technical requirements, scope of work, deliverables and expected expertise. Follow this to structure the technical offer and methodology.
2. 2Annex I A Checklist for tenderers eSub: use to verify completeness of submission.
3. 3Annex I B Identification of the tenderer: provides fields for company name, registration details, contact person and legal status.
4. 4Annex I C Declaration on honour: legal declarations on exclusion and eligibility grounds.
5. 5Annex I D (a/b/c) Identification Form(s): templates for natural persons, private-law bodies and public-law bodies to declare identity and establishment.
6. 6Annex I E Power of attorney: if signatory is different from official legal representative.
7. 7Annex I F List of identified subcontractors: list subcontractors and indicate roles and percentage of work.
8. 8Annex I G Commitment letter by the subcontractor: signed commitment from subcontractors confirming their availability to perform assigned tasks.
9. 9Annex II Financial offer form: the required format for pricing, rates and totals. Complete exactly as provided.
10. 10Annex III Draft Framework service contract: review and confirm acceptance or highlight deviations if permitted by the tender rules.

Suggested structure of the technical proposal to align with award criteria (quality heavy):

1. 1Executive summary (1 page): succinctly state understanding of scope and high-level approach.
2. 2Methodology (detailed): benchmarking approach, data sources, statistical/econometric methods, validation, sensitivity checks, limitations and risk mitigation.
3. 3Work plan and timeline: deliverables, milestones and resource allocation over the framework and expected call-offs.
4. 4Team and CVs: key experts, roles, relevant experience, percentage allocation and contact details.
5. 5Past experience and references: 2–4 relevant projects with outcomes, client contact where available.
6. 6Data management and confidentiality: how you will collect, store and process TSO data securely and comply with applicable rules.
7. 7Quality assurance and governance: peer review, QA steps and deliverable acceptance processes.
8. 8Subcontracting plan: list subcontractors with roles and provide commitment letters.
9. 9Risk assessment and mitigation.
10. 10Appendices: completed identification, declarations and any required legal documents.

Co-funding, payments and contract finances

This is a procurement contract; ACER will pay the contractor under the contractual terms. No front-end co-funding from tenderers is required. Payment modalities and invoicing procedures will be set out in the draft framework contract and subsequent call-off contracts. Electronic ordering and electronic payment are indicated as post-award processes.

Final summary

This tender invites expert service providers to deliver economic efficiency benchmarking and cost comparison services for transmission system operators on behalf of ACER. It is a competitive open procurement with an estimated budget of €1,000,000, to be executed under a framework service contract (initial 12 months, renewable up to three times, planned total 48 months). Submissions are made electronically through the Funding & Tenders Portal; award will be based on quality (60%) and price (40%). Tenderers must use the provided annex templates (identification, declarations, financial offer, subcontractor forms and draft contract) and follow the checklist. The procurement requires strong subject-matter expertise in regulatory economics and benchmarking, robust data handling, and a clear quality-focused methodology. Interested bidders should download and study all annexes, prepare the technical and financial proposals aligned to the award criteria, ensure completeness using Annex I A checklist, and submit via eSubmission by 15 September 2026, 16:00:59 (Europe/Ljubljana). ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Tender documentation and all annexes are available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal tender details page: ec.europa.eu

This is an ACER services tender for specialist assistance in economic efficiency benchmarking and cost comparisons for transmission system operators. The available listings show an estimated value of €1,000,000, a deadline of 15 September 2026 at 16:00:59 UTC, and a framework contract structure rather than a grant. [1][2]

Key facts

What the contract is for

The contract is for analytical and advisory support to ACER in the area of transmission system operator benchmarking, including cost comparisons and economic efficiency assessment. Earlier CEER and related benchmarking projects in this field focused on data templates, data validation, modelling, outlier analysis, ordinary least squares average cost analysis, data envelopment analysis, reporting, and stakeholder processes, which indicates the likely technical depth of the assignment. [3][4][5]

Who can apply

The listing describes eligibility as open to organisations rather than individuals, and says eligible applicants are economic operators established in the EU Member States, the EEA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, and the Stabilisation and Association Agreement countries North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo. It also flags the tender as suitable for SMEs. [1]

What applicants should expect

This is a procurement opportunity, so the main commercial question is not a funding rate but whether the bidder can deliver the required services at the proposed price under the framework contract terms. The evaluation balance is weighted toward technical quality, so bidders should expect their methodology, relevant experience, team composition, data handling approach, and understanding of regulatory benchmarking to matter more than price alone. [2][3][4][5]

Practical bidder profile

• Energy consultancies with experience in transmission system operator regulation and benchmarking [3][4][5]
• Economic and statistical advisory firms capable of cost modelling and comparative analysis [3][4][5]
• Data analytics specialists with strong skills in validation, efficiency estimation and reporting [3][5]
• Consortia that combine sector expertise, quantitative methods and regulatory drafting capacity [3][4][5]