Provision of Service Gear for Frontex Officers

Frontex (European Border and Coast Guard Agency) is tendering a single-supplier framework supply contract (FRONTEX/2026/OP/0041) for service gear for Standing Corps officers including ballistic vests and plates, helmets, hearing protection, belts, restraints, lighting and related personal equipment. The estimated contract ceiling is €9,300,000 excluding VAT for an initial 24 months renewable once to a maximum of 48 months, with electronic submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and a tender deadline of 16 October 2026 at 16:00 Europe/Warsaw. Mandatory technical compliance, required samples and licensed ballistic test reports (NIJ, VPAM or equivalent) are specified and omission of mandatory unit prices or samples will lead to rejection. Award will be based on the best price-quality ratio with technical quality weighted 60 and price 40.

Quick facts

What it funds

Framework contract for supply of service gear for Frontex Standing Corps officers:tactical vests with soft inserts and hard plates, ballistic helmets, active hearing protection, concealed bullet-proof vests, load-bearing belts, batons, handcuffs, flashlights, hydration packs, multitools and related accessories and optional auxiliary services (recertification, collection/recycling). ¹

Estimated value:Total estimated procedure value approx. €9,300,000 (excluding VAT) for the full FWC period.

1. 1Type of procedure: Open tender to establish a single supplier framework contract (supplies).
2. 2Contract duration: initial 24 months, renewable once for further 24 months (maximum 48 months).
3. 3Award method: best price-quality ratio; delivery DDP; samples and technical evidence requested (see ToR).

Who can apply

Economic operators (natural or legal persons) established in the EU, eligible third countries or with access under relevant agreements. Single tenderers and consortia are accepted; subcontracting and relying on capacities of other entities are permitted but must be declared and justified. Tenderers must not be in exclusion situations and must meet selection criteria on legal, economic/financial and technical capacity.

Key administrative points

1. 1Submission method: electronic via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal (EU Login/eSubmission required).
2. 2Main award deadline (submission): 16/10/2026 16:00 Europe/Warsaw (timestamp in portal).
3. 3Public opening: 19/10/2026 11:00 Europe/Warsaw; contracting authority not bound to reply to questions after 08/10/2026 23:59 Europe/Warsaw.

Mandatory procurement documents (Invitation, Tender specifications, Terms of Reference, Draft FWC, Financial template, Declaration on honour, Technical compliance grid and appendices) are available on the Portal and must be followed exactly when preparing tender and samples. ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Full procurement dossier, submission terms and Q&A are on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal (search call FRONTEX/2026/OP/0041) Frontex call on EU F&T portal.

Opportunity type:Open procedure tender published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Lead contracting authority: European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX). Objective: establish a 24-month Framework Contract (renewable once for a further 24 months; maximum duration 48 months) for the supply of service gear for Frontex Standing Corps Category-1 officers: tactical vests with plate carriers and ballistic plates, ballistic helmets and active hearing protection, concealed bullet-proof vests, load-bearing belts, metallic and flexible handcuffs (and cutters), various batons, flashlights, multitools, hydration packs, protective glasses, stab/cut protective tops and other accessories, plus optional auxiliary services (recertification, collect/recycle/disposal). Estimated total procedure value: €9,300,000 (excluding VAT).

Key administrative and submission facts

Procedure reference:FRONTEX/2026/OP/0041 (TED references 172/2026, 613701-2026). Submission method: electronic only via EU Funding & Tenders Portal e-Submission (EU Login and PIC required). Procedure type: Open procedure, award method: best price-quality ratio (60% technical / 40% price). Contract nature: supplies; Framework Agreement without reopening of competition; maximum contract ceiling €9,300,000. Date(s) published: TED publication 07/09/2026. Deadline for tenders and public opening are managed through the Portal and stated in the call details (deadline for receipt of tenders 16/10/2026 16:00 Europe/Warsaw; public opening 19/10/2026 11:00 Europe/Warsaw as published).

Eligible Applicant Types

Permitted applicant types:legal persons and natural persons established or authorised to participate in EU public procurement. The opportunity explicitly accepts: companies (large enterprises and SMEs), groups/consortia (joint tenders), subcontractors, and entities whose capacities are relied upon (other entities not subcontractors). Public bodies can participate where national rules allow; international organisations may participate where permitted by the eligibility rules set out in the Tender Specifications. Subcontracting is permitted subject to approval; the contracting authority requires subcontractors and other involved entities to meet exclusion criteria and to provide declarations on honour and commitment letters where required.

Funding Type

This is a public procurement award (tender) using a Framework Contract mechanism. The financial instrument is a supply contract resulting in payments for delivered supplies and services (i.e., contractual payments — not grants, loans or equity).

Consortium Requirement

The Framework Contract will be concluded with a single contractor. Joint tenders (consortia) are allowed: groups must appoint a group leader, provide a power of attorney, and accept joint and several liability for contract performance. Tenderers may rely on subcontractors and on other entities’ capacities; any such arrangements must be fully disclosed and supporting commitment letters and declarations provided. In summary: single contractor award, but consortium submissions are permitted; subcontracting and relying on other entities are expressly regulated.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility)

Primary geographic eligibility:entities established in Member States of the European Union and entities from third countries with procurement access under relevant agreements. The call explicitly references access for EEA countries and specified third countries under EU agreements: EEA (Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein), Stabilisation and Association Agreement beneficiaries (North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo), and Association Agreement beneficiaries (Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine) under conditions stated in the Tender Specifications. Delivery and contractual performance must meet secure supply chain requirements (OEM/ODM and subcontractors for certain ballistic items preferred/required to have registered seat in EU or Schengen Associated Countries) for specific ballistic items.

Target Sector

This procurement targets the security/defence and law-enforcement equipment sector, covering personal protective equipment, ballistic protection, tactical equipment and related accessories for border and coast guard operations. Thematic sectors: security/cybersecurity (operational equipment), defence-related equipment, protective equipment, manufacturing of specialized protective textiles and ballistic components, and logistics/after-sales services (recertification and recycling/disposal).

Mentioned Countries

Countries and regions explicitly mentioned in the procurement documents and call text:Poland (Frontex HQ and delivery hub), EU (all Member States), EEA states (Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein), candidate and Stabilisation and Association Agreement beneficiaries (North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo), Association Agreement beneficiaries (Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine), neighbouring countries including Türkiye, Morocco. The delivery/operations area includes the EU external borders and Schengen area; equipment use may extend to neighbouring non-EU countries during operations.

Project Stage

Stage of activity:procurement for operational deployment and sustainment (manufacturing / production-ready supplies and immediate delivery capability). Required maturity: commercial, manufactured products (COTS or equivalent) with certification evidence for ballistic items (NIJ or equivalent test reports), and vendors able to provide production, logistics, warranty and optional auxiliary services (recertification, disposal).

Funding Amount:Estimated total procedure value €9,300,000 (maximum overall contract ceiling excluding VAT); quantities listed as indicative in Annex IV and Annex X product descriptions.

Application Type

Application method:open call via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Submission modality: electronic e-Submission only. Tenderers must hold an EU Login account, register their organisation and use a Participant Identification Code (PIC). No paper or email tenders accepted. Questions during the submission phase are allowed via the Portal Questions & Answers tool; deadlines for questions are published in the tender metadata.

Nature of Support

Successful contractor(s) will receive contractual payments under a Framework Supply Contract for supplies and optional services. Support is monetary via procurement payments in Euros, net of VAT (Frontex is generally VAT-exempt); beneficiaries receive supplies, warranties, and possible ancillary services (recertification, recycling/disposal) under the contract.

Application Stages

Number of stages in the award process:single-stage open procedure for tender submission. Practically applicants pass through: 1) administrative and exclusion screening; 2) selection (legal, financial, technical capacity checks); 3) technical compliance check and scoring (samples, datasheets, Annex VIII technical compliance grid, video samples for some items); 4) financial evaluation and combined final scoring (technical 60% / price 40%); 5) award and contract signature. Many procedural checkpoints occur but submission is single-stage; therefore classification: 3 to 4 internal evaluation stages after submission.

Success Rates

No published success rate is provided. This is a competitive open procurement with one Framework Contract to be awarded; number of invited or expected tenders is not specified. Success probability depends on meeting mandatory technical requirements, documented OEM/ODM compliance, sample evaluation, competitive pricing and fulfilment of exclusion/selection criteria.

Co-funding Requirement

No co-funding from the applicant is required. This is a procurement contract:Frontex pays for ordered supplies. Tenderers must propose unit net prices (EUR, excluding VAT), all-inclusive for supplies and stated transport costs per destination; failure to provide prices for mandatory items will result in rejection.

Application templates, attachments and required documents

The procurement dossier includes a complete set of templates and annexes that must be used where requested. Key documents published in the Portal: Invitation to tender; Annex I Tender Specifications; Annex II Terms of Reference (detailed ToR and appendices for each item P1–P18); Annex III Draft Framework Supply Contract (including Order Form template and contractual clauses); Annex IV Financial offer template (price grid to be completed in yellow cells); Annex V Declaration on honour (exclusion criteria) for all involved entities; Annex VI Tender Submission Form; Annex VII Power of Attorney / Commitment letters for consortium, subcontractors, and entities whose capacities are relied upon; Annex VIII Technical compliance grid (mandatory for technical offer); Annex IX Declaration of Confidentiality; Annex X Product Description template; Annex XI Commitment on Fundamental Rights; and additional appendices (product-specific technical appendices for vests, helmets, ballistic standards, NIJ guidance).

1. 1Mandatory submission documents: Annex VI Tender Submission Form (signed), Annex IV Financial offer (completed), Annex V Declaration on honour (signed) and technical offer (Annex VIII technical compliance grid filled and signed).
2. 2Samples and media: physical samples required for items P5–P17 (delivered by courier to Frontex HQ) and optional P18 if offered. Items P1–P4 require high-resolution video demonstrations (MP4, Full HD, max 6 minutes per product) and detailed datasheets; failure to provide required samples/videos results in rejection.
3. 3Technical evidence: certificates and licensed test reports proving compliance with NIJ, VPAM or equivalent ballistic standards where requested (mandatory for ballistic plates, soft panels, helmets and concealed vests).
4. 4Corporate and selection evidence: legal registration (company register extract), last three years’ accounts or bank statements, turnover declaration, references for at least two similar contracts in the last three years, insurance evidence if required.
5. 5Consortium and subcontracting documents: Annex VII Power of Attorney (group leader), commitment letters from subcontractors and entities relied upon, and Declaration on Honour for each involved entity.

Technical and operational compliance highlights (must be reproduced in full by bidders)

Key technical and procurement requirements extracted from the Terms of Reference and Appendices (summary of mandatory points that can lead to rejection if not met): mandatory compliance with ballistic standards for protective panels and plates (NIJ 0101.07 or equivalent; VPAM accepted as equivalent if supported by accredited accredited test reports), hard plates meeting NIJ RF2 or equivalent with laboratory test certificates delivered by licensed testing facilities (self-declarations not accepted), soft ballistic inserts compliant with NIJ HG2 or equivalent, helmet certification (NIJ HG2 or equivalent and licensed test certificates), active hearing protection meeting SNR and operational modes, MOLLE/PALS compatibility across vest/load-bearing belt/holsters, weight limits and sizing ranges, labeling and traceability (serial numbers), warranty minimums (two years for vest; optional extended warranties awarding points), packaging and REACH/packaging waste compliance, secure supply chain requirements (OEM/ODM registered seat and subcontractors for critical ballistic items in EU or Schengen Associated Countries), sample/video evidence provisions and strict sample submission rules and timelines. Tenderers must use Annex VIII to demonstrate compliance and provide all certificates and test reports requested in the Appendices.

Evaluation methodology and award scoring

Frontex will evaluate submissions in the following sequence:administrative checks and exclusion screening; selection checks (legal, financial and technical capacity); technical compliance check against mandatory ToR clauses; technical scoring (quality of technical offer and delivery lead time) and financial scoring. Technical score maximum = 100 points (quality of technical offer across defined appendices plus delivery lead-time component). Financial score derived from lowest-price formula (lowest total price receives 100). Final score weighting: 60% technical / 40% financial. Tenders failing mandatory technical compliance are rejected. The tender must include all mandatory technical proofs (test certificates from licensed laboratories for ballistic items, NIJ/VPAM equivalence evidence where claimed).

Logistics, delivery and contract management

Delivery Incoterm DDP (Incoterms 2020) to indicated destinations. Tenderers must propose transport costs per location consistent with standard courier rates; Frontex may challenge excessive transport pricing and request justification or adjustments. Delivery lead-time scoring is an award criterion; late delivery liquidated damages and price reduction mechanisms apply per the draft Framework Contract. Contract management provisions require a named Contract Manager and deputy, English language minimum B2 for staff managing the contract, dedicated communication channels (email, Teams), and compliance with data protection and confidentiality clauses. Warranty and after-sales obligations (including recertification service or spare parts if offered) are contractually binding.

Templates and where to find them:All procurement templates (Annexes I to XI, Annex VIII technical compliance grid, Annex IV financial offer, Annex VI tender submission form, Annex V declaration on honour, Annex VII PoA and commitment letters, Annex X product description) are published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and must be used and returned exactly as provided. See the published documents list in the call and the document library in the Portal.

Practical risks, compliance and recommendations for bidders

1. 1Strict mandatory technical compliance for ballistic items: provide licensed laboratory test reports and certificates (NIJ or equivalent) and demonstrate OEM/ODM seat compliance for P1 to P4 where stated.
2. 2Samples and video evidence are mandatory and failure to provide required samples or videos for specific items will lead to rejection; follow file format and delivery instructions precisely.
3. 3All mandatory unit prices must be filled in the Annex IV financial template (yellow cells). Missing unit prices for mandatory items result in tender rejection.
4. 4Secure supply chain expectations: for core ballistic items Frontex requires OEM/ODM and critical subcontractors to have registered seat in EU or Schengen Associated Countries; ensure supplier disclosures and commitment letters are provided.
5. 5Ensure declarations on honour and supporting documentary evidence are ready; Frontex may request documentary evidence at short notice and may exclude bidders failing to provide it.
6. 6Carefully follow e-Submission technical requirements and submit well before the deadline to avoid system issues; retain submission receipts and sample shipment proof.
7. 7Pay attention to award criteria: optional services (recertification, recycling) and delivery lead times carry additional points and can improve competitiveness.

Apply via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal e-Submission:ec.europa.eu

General summary

What this opportunity is about and how to explain it:Frontex is procuring a comprehensive catalogue of personal service gear for frontline Standing Corps Category-1 officers across the EU external border operations. The procurement is a single-supplier Framework Contract (24 months, renewable once) with an estimated value of €9.3 million that covers ballistic protective equipment (vests, plates, helmets), tactical load-bearing gear, non-lethal control equipment (batons, handcuffs, flexible restraints and cutters), optics and lights (protective glasses, flashlights, multitools), hydration packs and optional hand-free auxiliary lights. Bidders must meet strict technical, certification and secure supply chain requirements, submit product samples (many items), provide licensed ballistic test reports or equivalent, complete technical and financial templates, and submit electronically via the EU Portal. Award is based on best price-quality ratio (technical 60%, price 40%). This is a procurement, not a grant; successful bidders will be contractors supplying goods and performing any optional auxiliary services under contract terms, with warranties, delivery lead times, and quality control obligations specified in the draft Framework Contract and Terms of Reference.

This is a single lot open procedure for a framework supply contract under FRONTEX/2026/OP/0041. The contract covers service gear for Frontex officers, including ballistic protection, helmets, hearing protection, belts, restraints, lighting and related personal equipment, with an estimated total value of €9,300,000 and a maximum duration of 48 months.[1][2]

Procurement summary

What the contract is about

Frontex says the contract is intended to equip Standing Corps officers with high quality personal equipment that supports safe performance of duties across borders, airports, sea operations, in-flight activities and green borders. The procurement is for the mandatory items listed in the technical annexes and is not a loose catalogue purchase.[1][2]

• Tactical vest with plate carrier function and ballistic protection[1][2]
• Concealed anti stab and bullet proof vest with removable plates[1][2]
• Ballistic helmet and active hearing protection[1][2]
• Load-bearing belt, metallic handcuffs, hydration pack, protective glasses and multitool[1]
• Flashlight, flexible handcuffs, stab protective tops and batons with accessories[1]

Who can apply

The portal does not indicate an SME reservation, and the opportunity is not split into lots, so applicants need to be able to supply the full mandatory scope as a single tenderer or through a joint tender arrangement. The tender forms also contemplate subcontracting and reliance on other entities, with joint and several liability for consortium members and commitment letters where applicable.[1]

Eligibility conditions:Tenderers must complete the declaration on honour covering standard EU exclusion grounds, conflict of interest, restrictive measures, absence of debt to the Union, and independent preparation of the offer; supporting evidence may be requested later.[1]

Technical requirements and clarifications

• No specific ballistic plate dimensions are mandated, although the plates must meet the technical requirements in the terms of reference.[1]
• The contracting authority accepts VPAM tested soft ballistic panels and hard ballistic plates, and NIJ compliant or equivalent test reports from a licensed testing facility are accepted as equivalent evidence.[1]
• The framework contract is not divided into lots and the tenderer must offer all mandatory equipment listed in Annex II, Point 3.5.[1]
• The protective glasses are expected to be ballistic spectacles with an incurve frame designed to protect the eyes from front and lateral projection.[1]
• For the tactical vest, some textile cover requirements are optional and apply to the main fabric.[1]

Commercial and submission points

Prices must be quoted in euro, net of VAT, all inclusive, and the financial offer template says missing a unit price for mandatory items marked with M will lead to rejection. The offer is valid for 6 months from the final submission date.[1]

• The tender dossier includes an invitation letter, tender specifications, terms of reference, draft framework supply contract, financial offer template, declaration on honour, tender submission form, power of attorney template, technical compliance grid and other annexes.[1]
• The procurement notice was corrected on 21 September 2026 and the revised tender deadline is 16 October 2026 at 16:00 Europe Warsaw.[3]

Bottom line:This is a competitively priced, technically demanding EU procurement for a single supplier of operational service gear, with a strong focus on ballistic and personal protection standards, complete scope coverage and strict compliance documentation.[1][2]