Secretariat of the Clean Energy for EU Islands Initiative

This is a public procurement tender to appoint the Secretariat of the Clean Energy for EU Islands Initiative to support implementation of island decarbonisation activities. The estimated contract value is €4,950,000 for an anticipated period of approximately 48 months and the primary submission deadline shown in the procurement metadata is 18 September 2026. The contract covers Secretariat services including programme coordination, technical assistance, capacity building, knowledge exchange and stakeholder engagement to help islands design and implement integrated decarbonisation pathways. Eligible bidders are legal entities or consortia capable of delivering EU-level secretariat, technical and communication services, with submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and full details in the tender dossier.

What is funded

Scope in brief

Provision of the Secretariat function to implement the Clean Energy for EU Islands Initiative, building on previous phases and supporting islands to design and implement integrated decarbonisation pathways with emphasis on electrification and renewable deployment.

Who can apply:Legal entities or consortia capable of delivering EU-level secretariat services for energy projects (policy support, stakeholder coordination, technical guidance and project facilitation) for DG ENER.

1. 1Type: public procurement tender (Call ID EC-ENER/2026/OP/0064).
2. 2Estimated total contract value: €4,950,000.
3. 3Planned duration: 48 months.
4. 4Lead contracting authority: European Commission, DG ENER - Energy.
5. 5Submission method: eSubmission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

This is a restricted procurement process with published tender specifications and draft contract documents available on the portal; consult the procedure documents for eligibility, selection and award criteria Tender details and documents. ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Full tender documentation (invitation, tender specifications, draft contract, annexes and financial offer form) is available at the EU Funding & Tenders Portal opportunity page linked above.

Opportunity summary

The European Commission (DG ENER) has published an open procurement (call identifier EC-ENER/2026/OP/0064) to appoint the Secretariat of the Clean Energy for EU Islands Initiative (the Secretariat). The contract foresees the continued provision of Secretariat services to support the implementation of the Initiative, building on prior phases (including ENER/2022/OP/0012 and the "30 100% renewable islands by 2030" activities). The Secretariat will assist islands to design and implement integrated decarbonisation pathways, with particular emphasis on broad electrification of energy demand and increased deployment of renewable energy solutions.

Estimated contract value and duration:Estimated overall contract amount is €4,950,000 for an anticipated contract period of 48 months. The procurement is for services and is funded under EU programmes (2021-2027 framework). ¹

Key dates:Tender publication: 20 July 2026. Deadline for submission (closing): 18 September 2026 at 15:30:59 (Brussels time). Open tender event (opening): 18 September 2026 at 16:00 (Brussels time). Last date to request additional information: 10 September 2026. There is an earlier technical timestamp also shown: 1 January 2026 13:30:59 (appears as an additional deadline metadata entry).

Who can apply and applicant types

This is a public procurement for provision of Secretariat services run by the European Commission (DG ENER). Eligible applicants are legal entities able to enter into a service contract with the European Commission. Typical eligible applicant types include: private companies and consultancies, consortia and joint ventures, nongovernmental organisations, research organisations and universities, public authorities or agencies, and other organisations established and legally capable of contracting under EU procurement rules. The tender documentation (tender specifications and selection criteria) sets out the detailed legal and financial eligibility, administrative and exclusion checks, and selection requirements.

Funding type and nature of support

Primary financial mechanism:public procurement / service contract (tender). Nature of support: monetary payment under a service contract (fee-based contract for provision of Secretariat services). The estimated overall contract amount provided by the contracting authority is €4,950,000. The opportunity is not a grant, loan or equity instrument; it is a contract for services paid by the Commission.

Consortium and application format

The procurement documents include selection criteria and refer to tenderer qualification requests. The procurement is submitted electronically through the European Commission Funding & Tenders Portal (eSubmission). The tender documentation contains annexes and templates to be completed (financial offer form, declaration on honour, draft contract and contract annexes). The procedure type and documentation indicate that bidders may include single legal entities or consortia/consortium arrangements where relevant; the tender specifications and selection requirements set out any specific rules for joint bids, powers of attorney, lead partner, and responsibilities.

Geographic eligibility and benefitting zones

This is an EU (European Commission) procurement. The contracting authority is the European Commission, Directorate-General for Energy (DG ENER). Bidders must comply with EU public procurement rules and the conditions in the procurement documents; the opportunity is published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and is aimed at entities able to contract with the EU. The documents do not list non-EU eligibility explicitly in the scraped content; therefore prospective bidders should consult the tender specifications for precise nationality/establishment requirements and any rules on participation by entities from third countries.

Target sectors and activities requested

Primary sector:energy — specifically clean energy, renewable energy deployment, electrification and island decarbonisation. The Secretariat role will support policy implementation and practical assistance for islands, covering integrated decarbonisation pathways, energy system planning, stakeholder engagement, capacity building, technical assistance, knowledge management, dissemination, networking and coordination across stakeholders. The procurement CPV codes indicate technical assistance/consultancy services (main CPV 71314300 and related 71314000).

Project stage and expected maturity

The contract continues implementation activities and builds on results and methodologies from previous phases; therefore projects and services are expected at an advanced implementation/coordination stage rather than early research. Required maturity: service delivery, policy/programme implementation, demonstrated technical, organisational and stakeholder management capacity (demonstration, implementation, coordination).

Application method and stages

Application type:open public tender published on the Funding & Tenders Portal with mandatory electronic submission via the Portal (eSubmission). Key application stages inferred from the documentation: 1) Pre-bid review of tender specifications and annexes; 2) Submission of electronic tender package before the specified deadline (including technical proposal, financial offer, declaration(s), supporting documentation and annexes); 3) Administrative and selection checks by the contracting authority; 4) Evaluation against award criteria (quality 70 weight, price 30 weight as indicated in procurement metadata); 5) Award decision and contract signature. In practice this describes a single formal submission followed by evaluation (effectively a one-stage submission process with evaluation and award phases).

Award criteria and weighting:The procurement metadata shows awarding criterion weights: quality 70 (parametric weight 70) and price 30 (parametric weight 30). Bidders must consult the tender specifications for detailed scoring breakdowns and sub-criteria.

Co-funding and financial requirements

This is a fee-for-service contract funded by the European Commission. No co-funding from the contractor is required as part of contract payment; contractors must provide the services in return for contract fees. The tender documentation includes a financial offer template (Annex 6 to Tender Specifications) which bidders must complete. Standard procurement rules on financial guarantees, withholding, VAT and taxation apply where relevant and are specified in the draft contract and annexes.

Submission templates and required documents (available in procurement pack)

The procurement package published on 20 July 2026 includes the following mandatory/available documents and templates to be used by bidders: Invitation to tender (cover letter), Tender specifications (Annex I EN Tender Specifications CE4EUI Phase 4), Draft Contract (ANNEX II - Draft Contract - final), Annex III to Draft Contract, Annex IV to Draft Contract, Annex 2 Declaration on honour (tender) template (native .docx), Annex 6 Financial offer form (native .xlsx), Annex 3 to 5 to TS (additional technical/specification annexes), Appendix 2 Security requirements. Bidders must complete and return the Declaration on Honour, the Financial Offer form and any required supporting evidence for selection and exclusion criteria. Tenderers should consult the tender specifications for full lists of required administrative and technical evidence, format rules, page limits, and how to present consortium arrangements.

1. 1Tender specifications (ANNEX I) — contains detailed scope of work, deliverables, performance indicators and administrative rules.
2. 2Draft Contract (ANNEX II) and contract annexes — contains standard contract terms, reporting obligations, data protection and liability clauses.
3. 3Financial offer form (Annex 6) — bidders must submit their cost breakdowns using this template.
4. 4Declaration on Honour (Annex 2) — mandatory standard EU procurement declaration on exclusion and conflict of interest.
5. 5Security requirements (Appendix 2) — describes any security and confidentiality obligations.

Consortium requirement and procurement specifics

Procurement metadata includes tenderer qualification and selection criteria sections. The tender is labelled SME suitable indicator: false (meaning the contract is significant in scale and not limited to SMEs). The procurement allows for contracting under EU public procurement rules, permitting frameworks for joint bids/consortia where specified in the tender specifications. Bidders must check the tender specifications and the specific tenderer qualification request clauses for requirements relating to consortium formation, lead contractor responsibilities, subcontracting rules and required evidence for each member of a consortium.

Benefitting countries and regional focus

The Initiative targets islands across the European Union and supports integrated decarbonisation pathways for EU islands. The contracting authority is EU-level (DG ENER). No specific list of countries is included in the scraped content; however the Initiative's scope is EU islands and EU/EEA jurisdictions participating under the Commission framework. Prospective bidders should consult the tender specifications and the Initiative pages for exact geographic coverage and expected beneficiary islands.

Project outputs and expected deliverables (high-level)

The Secretariat will provide programme and project coordination, technical and policy support to islands, capacity building and training, networking and stakeholder engagement, knowledge capture and dissemination, monitoring and reporting of Initiative activities and results, and preparation of events and communications. The tender specifications define detailed deliverables, milestones, reporting intervals and performance indicators.

Success rates and competition

No explicit success rates are published in the procurement metadata. As a single contract award, only one bidder or consortium will be awarded the contract. Competition and success depend on compliance with selection criteria, the quality of the technical proposal (weight 70) and the competitiveness of the financial offer (weight 30). Historical success rates for similar EU service tenders vary and are not specified here.

Co-funding and subcontracting

The procurement is for a Commission-funded service contract; there is no co-funding requirement indicated. Subcontracting provisions and any limits or approval requirements will be set out in the draft contract and tender specifications; bidders intending to subcontract must declare subcontractors and meet the requirements in the procurement documentation.

How to prepare a compliant tender

Carefully read the Tender Specifications (ANNEX I) and all contract annexes. Use the provided Annex 6 Financial Offer template for prices and Annex 2 Declaration on Honour for exclusion criteria. Ensure administrative documents proving legal status, financial capability, capacity and relevant experience are included as specified. Address award criteria comprehensively, with emphasis on quality elements requested in the tender (technical approach, team, work plan, risk management, past performance). Follow eSubmission guidance to upload required files before the deadline and note time zone (Brussels).

• Download full procurement pack from the Funding & Tenders Portal call page.
• Complete Annex 6 Financial offer form and Annex 2 Declaration on Honour.
• Prepare technical proposal responding to award criteria (quality weighted 70).
• Assemble administrative and selection evidence per tender specs.
• Submit electronically via the Portal before closing time; keep confirmation of submission.

For clarifications and additional information, use the Funding & Tenders Portal and observe the additional information request cut-off date. An open tender event (opening) will occur on the closing date and time indicated in the procurement metadata.

Mentioned countries and regions

The scraped content explicitly refers to the European Union and EU-level activity. No individual Member States are named in the raw content provided. The Initiative targets EU islands and is managed by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Energy.

Assessment summary and recommendation

This tender is a strategic EU-level service contract to run the Secretariat for the Clean Energy for EU Islands Initiative, worth an estimated €4.95 million over 4 years. It requires strong technical and organisational capacity in clean energy policy support, project management, stakeholder engagement and communication. Bidders should be capable of delivering programme coordination and technical assistance to EU islands, demonstrate previous relevant experience and provide a high-quality technical proposal (quality scores are the dominant component). Bids must be submitted electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal by 18 September 2026. Interested parties should download and study all annexes and templates (financial offer, declaration on honour, draft contract and annexes, security requirements) and comply with all administrative and selection criteria.

Footnotes

1. 1Procurement documentation and full tender dossier are available on the Funding & Tenders Portal at the tender details page: Tender details EC-ENER/2026/OP/0064.

This is a public procurement tender for the continued operation of the Clean Energy for EU Islands Secretariat, the Commission-backed platform that supports islands in planning and delivering clean energy transition pathways.[1][4]

What the opportunity is about

The tender seeks a contractor to continue the Secretariat function for the Clean Energy for EU Islands Initiative, building on the methods and results developed in earlier phases such as the 30 renewable islands for 2030 workstream and the Explore, Shape, Act support approach.[1][9][14]

The initiative's purpose is to help islands reduce dependence on imported energy by accelerating renewable generation, electrification, storage, and other integrated clean energy solutions, while also sharing best practice and regulatory knowledge across island communities.[3][4][9][12][13][21]

Official Commission material says the initiative supports more than a central platform for knowledge exchange, because it also provides demand-driven technical assistance and facilitates cooperation between the Commission, Member States, and islands in advancing the transition.[4][8][13]

Who can apply

The retrieved snippets do not publish the formal eligibility rules, but because this is a procurement tender for a Secretariat function, the likely bidders are economic operators or consortia able to deliver project management, technical assistance, stakeholder engagement, communications, and related expert services for an EU-level programme.[1][10][11]

The earlier secretariat was operated by a multi-country consortium, which suggests that partnerships or consortia may be advantageous, but the current tender documents should be checked for the exact participation rules and selection criteria.[10][11]

Funding, contract value, and duration

No grant co-financing rate is indicated in the available sources because this is a service procurement rather than a grant call; payment and pricing terms should be taken from the tender dossier.[1][2]

The current contract length is not visible in the retrieved snippets; the previous phase of the Secretariat was funded at about €5 million and ran from February 2023 to February 2027, which provides useful context for the scale and continuity of the work.[10]

Key requirements and delivery expectations

• Build on the methodologies and outputs of the previous Secretariat phases.[1][14]
• Support islands in designing integrated decarbonisation pathways with emphasis on broad electrification and renewable energy deployment.[1]
• Provide technical assistance such as strategic planning, grid integration studies, regulatory analysis, and support for bankable projects.[21]
• Maintain a platform for exchange of best practice, networking, and capacity building across European islands.[3][13][17]
• Work with island stakeholders and public or community-led actors to translate policy goals into practical implementation.[14][18][21]

Deadline and timing

The strongest deadline signal in the retrieved material is 18 September 2026, and this should be treated as the operative submission date unless the official tender page states otherwise.[1][2][FN:1]

Footnotes

1. 1The supplied metadata includes an additional deadline of 1 January 2026, but the retrieved sources consistently point to 18 September 2026. Use the official portal notice to confirm the exact cutoff time and any stage-specific submission rules.