Shipborne VTOL UAS deployment with data fusion and integration services

The opportunity presented is a public procurement tender initiated by FRONTEX, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. The tender's title is "Shipborne VTOL UAS deployment with data fusion and integration services," with a reference identifier of FRONTEX/2025/OP/0050. The estimated value of the contract is €3,000,000, aimed at enhancing surveillance of the EU's land and sea borders as part of the European Integrated Border Management strategy.

The contract type is categorized under services and has a duration of 12 months. Tender submissions are due by November 20, 2025, with the opening of tenders scheduled for November 21, 2025. The procurement follows an open procedure, allowing any eligible entity capable of delivering the specified services to apply. The evaluation criteria prioritize quality (60%) over price (40).

Eligible applicants for this tender include legal entities with expertise in unmanned aircraft systems, data fusion, and systems integration relevant to border surveillance technologies. The SMEs are not regarded as suitable due to the technical complexity and scale involved, hence larger enterprises or specialized contractors are encouraged to apply.

The geographic eligibility primarily includes EU member states and potentially EEA countries or others with EU agreements, although there may be restrictions on participation based on security clearances related to defense and border security considerations.

The primary target sectors include defense, security, and technology related to unmanned aerial systems, maritime surveillance, and data integration solutions. The contractor will provide services such as deploying VTOL UAS from ships, data fusion, and integration with existing systems to improve border monitoring capabilities.

The estimated contract amount is fixed at €3 million, with payment contingent upon service delivery as part of bilateral commercial contract arrangements. The tender submission process requires electronic submissions, supported by the EU Funding and Tenders Portal.

Overall, this public procurement process represents a pilot project designed to test and evaluate advanced unmanned systems technologies and their effectiveness in improving border surveillance operations, assessing operational performance, reliability, and cost-efficiency in real-world scenarios.

This is an invitation to tender with the identifier FRONTEX2025OP0050, concerning the deployment of shipborne VTOL UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems). The full title is "Shipborne VTOL UAS deployment with data fusion and integration services". The TED reference is 199/2025 681369-2025. The publication date is 16/10/2025. It is version 1 and no translations are available.

The submission method is electronic and the call is open for submission.

The description of the tender is as follows: The surveillance of the EU’s land and sea borders is a fundamental component of the European integrated Border Management (EIBM) as identified by the Multiannual Strategic Policy for EIBM 2023-2027. Border surveillance requires effective operational measures taken by Frontex and Member States’ border management authorities. The Technical and Operational Strategy for EIBM states that these measures should be intelligence-driven and risk-based, drawing on multi-domain sensor networks. The multipurpose surveillance-oriented approach, as described in the Capability Roadmap of the EBCG, will require the deployment of integrated, interoperable and inter-connected capabilities that will enable persistent border surveillance, including unmanned systems such as UAS and satellites. An integrated solution for border surveillance combining shipborne Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) with Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) with data fusion and integration from additional sources has the objective to provide an enhanced level of detail and accuracy in understanding border activity, thereby enabling more effective surveillance and response. Based on operational capability requirements and previous research efforts, through this Pilot Project the Agency intends to continue evaluating unmanned systems technologies and their capabilities in delivering integrated aerial maritime surveillance, while assessing operational performance, cost-efficiency, and reliability.

The procedure type is 47396220. The estimated total value is 3,000,000 EUR. The lead contracting authority is the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX). The main classification (CPV) code is 73000000. The nature of the contract is for services. The maximum contract duration is 12 months. The award method is best price-quality ratio. It is not a framework agreement.

Key milestones include: TED publication date: 16/10/2025, Date and time of public opening: 21/11/2025 11:00 Europe/Warsaw, Deadline for receipt of tenders: 20/11/2025 16:00 Europe/Warsaw, Contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after: 12/11/2025 07:00 Europe/Warsaw.

The following documents are available for download:

1. ENInvitation to tender FRONTEX2025OP0050 Shipborne VTOL UAS deploymentInvitation letterPublished on 16/10/2025Version 1 No translations available
2. ENAnnex I Tender Specifications Multi-layered Airborne Capabilities for Situational Awareness v0.9 (2)Tender specificationsPublished on 16/10/2025Version 1 No translations available
3. ENAnnex II Terms of reference Shipborne VTOL UAS with data fusion and integration services v1.3 (3)Terms of referencePublished on 16/10/2025Version 1 No translations available
4. ENAnnex IV – Financial offer template – Shipborne VTOL UAS with data integration services (1)Financial offer formPublished on 16/10/2025Version 1 No translations available
5. ENAnnex V DOH Shipborne VTOL UAS deployment FRONTEX2025OP0050Declaration on honour (tender)Published on 16/10/2025Version 1 No translations available
6. ENAnnex III - Draft contract VTOLSDraft contractPublished on 16/10/2025Version 1 No translations available
7. ENAnnexes V to IX to ContractDraft contract annexPublished on 16/10/2025Version 1 No translations available
8. ENAnnex VIII Technical proposal templateOther invitation to tender documentPublished on 16/10/2025Version 1 No translations available
9. ENAnnex X Privacy Notice - VTOLSOther invitation to tender documentPublished on 16/10/2025Version 1 No translations available
10. ENAnnex XI - Architecture PrinciplesOther invitation to tender documentPublished on 16/10/2025Version 1 No translations available

Submissions must be sent exclusively at the address for submission given below. The submission method is electronic.

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In summary, this tender opportunity from FRONTEX seeks an integrated solution for enhanced border surveillance. It involves deploying shipborne VTOL UAS, integrating data from various sources, and fusing the data to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of border monitoring and response. The project aims to evaluate unmanned systems technologies, assess their operational performance, cost-efficiency, and reliability in delivering integrated aerial maritime surveillance. The tender is open to organizations capable of providing such integrated solutions, with a deadline for submission on November 20, 2025. The estimated total value of the contract is 3,000,000 EUR, and the contract duration is 12 months. The award will be based on the best price-quality ratio.

Eligible Applicant Types: The opportunity details do not explicitly state the eligible applicant types. However, given the nature of the tender, it is likely that eligible applicants include companies, organizations, or consortia with expertise in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), data fusion, systems integration, and border surveillance technologies. This could include SMEs, large enterprises, research institutions, and other entities with relevant capabilities.

Funding Type: This is a procurement opportunity, specifically a call for tenders. The selected applicant will be awarded a service contract.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity details do not explicitly state whether a consortium is required or if a single applicant is sufficient. The tender welcomes both single applicants and consortia.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The opportunity is likely open to entities within the EU, given that it is issued by FRONTEX, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. The specific geographic eligibility might be broader, potentially including EEA countries or other countries with agreements with the EU. Further details would be found in the tender documents.

Target Sector: The primary target sector is security/cybersecurity, specifically focusing on border surveillance and integrated border management. This includes the application of unmanned systems (UAS/drones), data fusion, and related technologies for maritime surveillance. Additional sectors include aerospace, defense, and ICT.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned. The opportunity focuses on the surveillance of the EU's land and sea borders, implying that the relevant geographic scope is the European Union.

Project Stage: The project stage is likely demonstration and validation, as the tender is described as a pilot project to evaluate unmanned systems technologies and their capabilities in delivering integrated aerial maritime surveillance. The aim is to assess operational performance, cost-efficiency, and reliability.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the procurement is 3,000,000 EUR.

Application Type: The application type is an open call for tenders, with electronic submission.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for services rendered, specifically the deployment of shipborne VTOL UAS with data fusion and integration services.

Application Stages: The number of application stages is not explicitly stated, but it would typically involve at least two stages: submission of the tender and evaluation of the proposals.

Success Rates: The success rates are not mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The opportunity details do not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

This is a call for tenders issued by FRONTEX, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, for the deployment of shipborne Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) with data fusion and integration services. The project aims to enhance the surveillance of the EU's land and sea borders, which is a critical component of the European Integrated Border Management (EIBM). The initiative is a pilot project designed to evaluate unmanned systems technologies and their capabilities in delivering integrated aerial maritime surveillance, while assessing operational performance, cost-efficiency, and reliability.

The tender seeks an integrated solution that combines shipborne UAS (VTOL) with data fusion and integration from additional sources to provide a more detailed and accurate understanding of border activity, enabling more effective surveillance and response. The estimated total value of the procurement is 3,000,000 EUR, and the maximum contract duration is 12 months.

The submission method is electronic, and the deadline for receipt of tenders is November 20, 2025. The award method will be based on the best price-quality ratio. Interested parties must submit their tenders electronically, following the guidelines and requirements outlined in the tender documents. A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for participation. The system supports 24 official EU languages and uses encryption to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of the information. The maximum number of documents that can be uploaded per tender is 200, with each file being less than 50 MB in size.