Single Framework contract for technical analysis of innovative textile fibres and related services in support of the EU Textile Labelling Regulation

The European Commission DG GROW has published an open tender (EC-GROW/2026/OP/0030) for a single framework contract to provide scientific, technical and regulatory services supporting application of Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011 on textile fibre names. The contract is a services framework with a ceiling of €1,000,000, maximum duration 48 months, and will be awarded on the best price-quality ratio with quality weighted at 70% and price at 30%. Core tasks include evaluation of technical files, in-depth laboratory analyses, coordination of interlaboratory validation trials, technical guidance to applicants and ad hoc support; bidders must demonstrate accredited laboratory capability (EN ISO 17025), specified expert profiles and minimum financial and technical track record. Submission is electronic only via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal with a deadline of 28/09/2026 16:00 Europe/Brussels.

What it funds

A single 48‑month framework service contract to provide scientific, technical and regulatory support to the European Commission for applying Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011 on textile fibre names. Tasks include evaluation of applications for new fibre names, in‑depth laboratory analysis and inter‑laboratory validation, meetings with expert laboratories and preparation of documentation to support possible delegated acts.

Who can apply

Economic operators (sole bidders) or groups (joint tenders). Eligible entities include laboratories, research organisations, consultancies and companies with documented capacity for textile‑fibre testing and inter‑laboratory coordination. Subcontracting is allowed; the fibre‑testing work under Task 1(b) must be performed by identified laboratories. Tenderers must register in the Participant Register (PIC) and submit via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Estimated value:Framework contract ceiling €1,000,000 (maximum overall) for up to 48 months ¹.

1. 1Procedure: Open procedure, single framework agreement (no reopening of competition).
2. 2Award method: Best price‑quality ratio (price 30%, quality 70%).
3. 3Main CPV: 73000000 — research and development services / consultancy.

Practical requirements:electronic submission via the Funding & Tenders Portal using an EU Login account and a Participant Identification Code (PIC). Tender must include technical offer (methodology, team CVs, list of laboratories and equipment) and the completed financial model (Annex 6/7).

Eligibility highlights:Open to entities established in the EU/EEA and in third countries eligible under applicable agreements. Tenderers must demonstrate accreditation (e.g. EN ISO 17025), experience in textile fibre identification/quantification and coordination of inter‑laboratory trials, and provide CVs for key staff (project manager, senior and junior experts).

1. 1Minimum consolidated turnover requirement: average annual turnover over last 3 years > €500,000 (may be demonstrated at consortium level).
2. 2Technical minimums: at least 5 comparable projects for fibre identification/quantification and at least 1 project coordinating inter‑laboratory trials.
3. 3Team: minimum Project Manager, Senior Expert and Junior Expert with specified experience and language skills.

Apply and download procurement documents, templates and the financial model from the Funding & Tenders Portal opportunity page; submit exclusively via eSubmission on the Portal Funding & Tenders Portal ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Full procurement documentation (tender specifications, invitation to tender, draft framework contract, financial offer forms and annexes) and the procedure timetable are published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal opportunity page and in the TED notice (TED ref. 155/2026 561332-2026).

Procurement summary

The European Commission, Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) has published an open call for tenders to award a single framework contract for specialised scientific, technical and regulatory services to support the application and implementation of Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011 on textile fibre names, labelling and marking of the fibre composition of textile products. The framework contract will be used to commission specific contracts as needs arise (single framework contract, without reopening of competition). The contracting authority expects to conclude one framework contract for up to 48 months with an estimated overall ceiling of €1 000 000. All procurement documentation and templates were published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and referenced in the TED notice F&T Portal Tender Details ¹.

Funding Type:This opportunity is a public tender / procurement for services (framework service contract). It is not a grant, loan or prize; it is a service contract awarded by open procedure and evaluated on the best price‑quality ratio.

Lead contracting authority:European Commission, DG GROW - Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (GROW), Unit GROW.F.3 Sustainable Products & Textiles.

Key administrative and commercial facts

Who should consider applying and eligible applicant types

This tender is targeted at qualified organisations that can deliver laboratory testing, interlaboratory trial coordination, scientific and technical evaluation of textile fibre applications and regulatory support related to Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011. The procurement documents explicitly envisage participation by laboratories and testing networks; the contractor must have in-house capacity to perform fibre testing for Task 1(b) and be able to coordinate collaborative trials across independent laboratories.

1. 1Eligible applicant types (based on tender scope and selection criteria): universities and research institutes with accredited textile laboratories; independent accredited testing laboratories; private testing consortia and specialised R&D centres; large enterprises or SME laboratories with appropriate accreditation (EN ISO 17025 or equivalent); professional consultancies with strong laboratory coordination capability; public research laboratories and national reference institutes.
2. 2Applicants may form joint tenders (consortium) or bid as single economic operators. Subcontracting is permitted but certain tasks (Task 1(b) in-depth fibre testing and collaborative trials) must be carried out by identified laboratories as declared in the offer.
3. 3Individuals (as sole applicants) are not appropriate for the whole contract but individual experts (project manager, senior and junior experts) are required as part of the contractor team.

Consortium, subcontracting and reliance on capacities

The procurement allows:single tenderers or joint tenders (consortia). If submitting as a consortium, the group must appoint a group leader and provide an Agreement/Power of Attorney (Annex 3). Subcontractors whose share is above 5 % or whose capacities are relied upon for selection evidence must be identified in Annex 4 and provide commitment letters (Annex 5.1). Entities on whose capacities the tenderer relies (but which are not subcontractors) must provide Annex 5.2 commitment letters and evidence of resources. Task 1(b) (in‑depth testing and interlaboratory trials) is subject to specific restrictions: the fibre testing and the collaborative trial network will be performed by laboratories identified in the offer and the tenderer must confirm at least 7 laboratories by letter of intent at time of offer (network of at least 10 independent laboratories anticipated).

Geographic and beneficiary scope

Participation is open to economic operators established in EU Member States and in countries eligible under the rules applicable to Union procurement (including countries party to the WTO Government Procurement Agreement and third countries associated to the Single Market Programme as specified in the tender documents). Laboratories from outside the EU/EEA may participate in collaborative trials on a voluntary basis provided they cover their expenses and receive positive opinion from the applicant and the Commission. The place of performance and meetings is largely EU (Brussels for Expert Group meetings) and laboratories across EU/EEA Member States.

Target sectors, technical scope and expected project stage

The contract targets the textiles sector, with a technical focus on analytical chemistry, polymer/ fibre science, materials characterisation, textile testing, microscopy, thermal analysis and physical testing. The contractor must operate at research, development and validation maturity levels: from evaluation of submitted technical files and laboratory method verification through design and execution of interlaboratory validation exercises and production of dossiers underpinning delegated acts to include new fibre names in Annex I of Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011.

Detailed tasks and deliverables (summary)

1. 1Task 1: Provision of scientific and technical services covering evaluation of applications for new textile fibre names (preliminary assessment of technical files, in‑depth technical analysis of proposed fibres including verification and validation of identification and quantification methods, coordination and design of interlaboratory trials, statistical and technical interpretation, preparation of documentation to support potential delegated acts).
2. 2Task 2: Organisation and participation in meetings (network of expert laboratories, Expert Group on Textile Names and Labelling meetings in Brussels, expected two Expert Group meetings per year; provide minutes within 5 working days).
3. 3Task 3: Technical guidance to potential applicants (neutral guidance, technical notes, support in compiling technical files).
4. 4Task 4: Additional ad hoc scientific and technical support to the Commission (method analyses, contributions to delegated acts, participation to standardisation meetings such as CEN/ISO).
5. 5Deliverables: at least an interim report (linked to interim payment up to 50%), a final report per specific contract (linked to balance payment), a detailed Work Plan within 3 weeks after start of any specific contract, all laboratory raw data and consolidated reports, collaborative trial protocols and results templates, statistical analysis, and elements supporting delegated acts when required.

Selection and evaluation criteria

The procurement applies mandatory exclusion checks and selection criteria (legal, financial and technical/professional). Key selection minima include an average annual turnover above €500 000 for the last three years (consolidated assessment), proven technical capacity in textile fibre testing (at least 5 similar projects; EN ISO 17025 accreditation for textile fibre identification/quantification), experience coordinating interlaboratory (collaborative) trials (at least one project with laboratories in at least two Member States), the availability of a qualified project team (Project Manager with minimum 7 years experience; Senior Expert with MSc/PhD + 5 years relevant experience; Junior Expert with BSc/MSc + 2 years), and necessary laboratory infrastructure and instrumentation to perform methods from Annex VIII of Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011 and EN/ISO 1833-series. Tenderers must include CVs and project references with the tender.

Award criteria and scoring

Tenders are evaluated on the best price‑quality ratio. Weighting:Price 30% / Quality 70%. Quality is assessed across three sub-criteria: soundness, relevance and completeness of the work plan and added value (max 30 points), robustness of the scientific & technical methodology including interlaboratory design and statistics (max 40 points), and project management and governance, risk identification and mitigation, and laboratory engagement (max 30 points). Tenders scoring less than 70 % overall or less than 50 % on any single quality criterion will be excluded from ranking.

Financial offer and pricing model

Tenderers must submit a single financial offer for the entire 4-year implementation of the framework contract within the maximum framework value of €1 000 000 using the Financial Offer forms (Annex 6) and the List of Prices (Annex 7). The financial model is structured by tasks and unit prices per staff category (project manager, senior expert, junior expert and other staff), by meeting attendance units (fixed quantities: network laboratories meetings 40 person attendances; Expert Group meetings 24 attendances for own staff over the 4 years) and other costs categories to be specified. Annex 7 sets maximum unit prices for staff categories and meeting costs that tenderers must use.

Funding amount / contract ceiling:Estimated total procedure value (framework contract ceiling): €1 000 000 for up to 48 months.

Application process and templates

Submission is electronic only through eSubmission via the Funding & Tenders Portal. The tender package includes mandatory templates and annexes: Invitation to tender, Tender specifications and Annexes (Annex 1 list of documents to submit; Annex 2 declaration on honour on exclusion and selection criteria), Agreement/Power of Attorney (Annex 3) for consortia, List of identified subcontractors (Annex 4), Commitment letters from subcontractors (Annex 5.1) or entities whose capacities are relied upon (Annex 5.2), Financial tender form (Annex 6) and List of Prices (Annex 7), Draft framework contract and draft annexes (security requirements, IPR statements and templates). All templates must be completed exactly as required and uploaded in the designated eSubmission sections.

Important administrative instructions:tenders must be submitted in one of the official EU languages; EU Login and Participant Register PIC is required; maximum attachment size per file is 50 MB and up to 200 files can be uploaded; eSubmission encrypts attachments and draft submissions can be edited up to the deadline. The contracting authority will not respond to questions submitted less than six working days before the tender deadline and is not bound to respond to questions after the date indicated in the contract notice.

Application stages, evaluation timeline and decision

1. 1Stage 1: Administrative and exclusion/selection checks (Declarations on Honour and initial evidence).
2. 2Stage 2: Technical and financial evaluation (quality scoring against award criteria and price evaluation).
3. 3Stage 3: Request for further evidence (if required) and final verification prior to contract award (including EDES checks and possible validation by EU Validation Services).
4. 4Stage 4: Contract signature and implementation of framework contract and subsequent specific contracts.

The contracting authority will publish the result of the procurement procedure and notify tenderers via email to the contact indicated in eSubmission. The public opening of tenders is scheduled and the contracting authority permits up to two representatives per tender to attend the virtual opening (request to attend must be emailed in advance as specified in the invitation).

Nature of support, co‑funding and financial conditions

This is a paid service contract:beneficiaries (the contractor) will receive monetary payments for services rendered according to contract terms (interim payment up to 50% and balance after final deliverables). There is no grant co‑funding model; the contractor bears costs for compliance with security and screening requirements, and for any subcontractors' fees except where otherwise specified in specific contracts. No co‑funding from tenderers is required as a condition of award beyond the provision of services at the agreed price. VAT rules: the Commission is usually exempt from VAT; invoices must follow the VAT instructions and where necessary the contract includes annexes splitting VAT‑taxable parts if local VAT applies.

Project maturity/stage expected from applicants

The contracting authority expects applicants to demonstrate operational laboratory testing and interlaboratory trial expertise (TRL maturity around validation/demonstration for analytical methods), established quality systems (EN ISO 17025 accreditation), and prior experience in regulatory testing, method validation, and statistical analysis of interlaboratory results. Applicants must be ready to perform immediate laboratory testing and to coordinate trials and meetings across the EU.

Application type, timeline, and deadlines

Tenderers must subscribe to the call on the Portal to receive updates and new documents. The submission receipt provided by eSubmission constitutes proof of timely submission.

Templates and application structure (how to organise your submission)

Follow Annex 1:the Portal eSubmission interface separates (1) identification and declarations, (2) technical tender, and (3) financial tender. Mandatory attachments and order of uploading are specified in Annex 1. Key templates to complete and upload in the designated sections: Declaration on Honour (Annex 2) signed by each involved entity required; Agreement/Power of Attorney for consortia (Annex 3) signed by all group members; List of identified subcontractors (Annex 4) and commitment letters (Annex 5.1/5.2) where applicable; Financial tender form (Annex 6) and List of prices (Annex 7) for pricing; Draft framework contract annexes (security, IPR declarations, draft contract) are provided for review and acceptance. The technical tender must include: organisational profile, evidence for selection criteria (project references, accreditations), detailed methodology for the tasks, work plan and schedule, CVs for named personnel, list of laboratories and equipment, and a quality assurance approach. The financial tender must use the provided financial model and fixed quantities (notably the fixed meeting attendance units).

Success rates, application stages and co-funding

The tender documentation does not publish explicit success rate statistics. This is a single-contractor framework procurement; success depends on passing administrative, exclusion and selection checks and ranking highest on the best price-quality ratio. Application stages are the administrative/exclusion check, selection verification, technical/quality evaluation, price scoring and final ranking leading to award. No co‑funding requirement is specified; the contracting authority pays for services in accordance with the signed framework contract and specific contracts.

Risk areas and mandatory legal / contractual obligations

1. 1Security obligations: contractors and personnel must comply with Commission security rules and Appendix 1 security requirements (screening, possible security advice by Belgian authority, Ethics Reminder for service providers). Screening fees and background checks are contractor costs.
2. 2Intellectual property: the FWC model assigns ownership of results to the Union and requires declaration and licensing of pre-existing rights (Annex II Ct Annex 3 templates). Tenderers must provide declarations and evidence of rights on deliverables when requested.
3. 3Conflicts of interest and professional conflicting interests must be declared; tenderers must avoid or mitigate these situations.
4. 4Data protection: processing of personal data must comply with Regulation (EU) 2018/1725; contractor must act as a processor when applicable and comply with localisation and security constraints.

Where to apply and obtain documents:The full tender dossier and templates are available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal opportunity page. The official procedure requires registration, PIC and submission through eSubmission Funding & Tenders Portal Tender Page ¹.

General summary:What is this opportunity about and how to explain it?

This opportunity is an EU public procurement (open tender) seeking a single supplier (contractor) to enter a four‑year framework service contract to provide scientific, technical, laboratory and regulatory support to DG GROW for the application of the EU Textile Labelling Regulation (Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011). The contractor will evaluate applications for new textile fibre names, perform or coordi nate in‑depth laboratory analyses and interlaboratory validation trials, prepare technical dossiers to support possible delegated acts, provide technical guidance to applicants, organise and attend expert network meetings (Brussels), and deliver ad hoc advice on analytical methods and implementation. Applicants must demonstrate accredited laboratory capability (EN ISO 17025), experience in textile fibre identification and quantification methods (Annex VIII of Regulation 1007/2011, EN/ISO 1833-series), interlaboratory trial coordination, a qualified project team, and the ability to manage confidential information and security screening requirements. Tenders are evaluated on quality (70 %) and price (30 %). Interested organisations should register in the Participant Register, obtain a PIC, review the tender annexes, complete the technical and financial templates, and submit the full electronic tender through eSubmission before the stated deadline.

Footnotes

1. 1Tender documentation and downloadable annexes (Invitation to tender, Tender specifications, Financial offer forms, Draft FWC and security/IPR annexes) are published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal tender page: ec.europa.eu

This opportunity is a public procurement tender by the European Commission, DG GROW, for a single framework contract covering technical analysis of innovative textile fibres and related services in support of the EU Textile Labelling Regulation. It is a services contract, not a grant, so there is no funding rate or co-financing percentage; payment will be made under the framework contract and subsequent specific contracts issued as needs arise.¹

What the contract is about

The contract supports the Commission in applying Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011 on textile fibre names and the labelling and marking of fibre composition in textile products. The work focuses on scientific, technical, and regulatory support for applications for new textile fibre names, including technical file review, in depth testing, method validation, interlaboratory trials, and the preparation of scientific documentation that could support a future delegated act to update Annex I of the Regulation.

The tender documents show four core task areas. First, the contractor must assess technical files for proposed new fibres and provide reasoned scientific recommendations. Second, it must perform in depth laboratory analysis and coordinate collaborative trials with a network of expert laboratories to validate identification and quantification methods. Third, it must provide technical guidance to potential applicants on how to prepare compliant applications. Fourth, it may provide broader ad hoc scientific and technical support to the Commission on the implementation of the Regulation.

Who can apply

The procedure is open to any natural or legal person that has access to EU procurement under the applicable rules, including economic operators established in the EU and, where conditions are met, operators from third countries covered by a procurement agreement or otherwise eligible under the relevant EU rules. Tenderers, subcontractors, and entities whose capacity is relied upon must not be subject to EU restrictive measures or other exclusion grounds that would prevent participation.

• Tenderers may apply alone or as a joint tender with other economic operators.
• Subcontracting is allowed, but some parts of the work are restricted by the tender specifications.
• The tenderer must be registered in the Participant Register and have a valid PIC.
• An EU Login account is required for electronic submission and portal access.
• The tender may be submitted in any official EU language, but the procurement documents are published in English.

Selection requirements and capacity criteria

The staffing profile is demanding. The Project Manager needs at least 7 years of project coordination experience in textiles, market surveillance, Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011, or European standardisation, with English at C1 level. The Senior Expert needs advanced qualifications in chemistry, polymer science, materials science, or a similar field, plus at least 5 years of relevant experience and strong drafting skills. The Junior Expert needs relevant academic qualifications, at least 2 years of experience, and capability in statistical evaluation of test results, also with English at C1 level.

The technical capacity requirements also make clear that the bidder must have access to laboratory instrumentation and equipment to carry out fibre identification and quantification testing, including FT IR, DSC, solubility testing, microscopy, mechanical testing, flammability testing, moisture regain analysis, and methods to estimate agreed allowance. This makes the opportunity especially suitable for accredited testing laboratories, specialised research organisations, or consortia combining laboratory capability with regulatory and project management expertise.

Scope of work and operational conditions

• Task 1 covers preliminary scientific and technical assessment of applicant technical files, followed by in depth technical analysis of proposed fibres and validation of analytical methods.
• Task 1 also includes the organisation and coordination of interlaboratory collaborative trials with at least 10 independent laboratories from different EU Member States or EEA countries.
• At least 7 laboratories must already be confirmed by letter of intent when the offer is submitted.
• The validation is considered successful when at least 7 valid results are available for each parameter.
• At least 3 test replicates must be conducted.
• Task 2 covers meetings in Brussels with the Commission, expert laboratories, and the Expert Group on Textile Names and Labelling, including travel costs for the contractor’s staff and the experts from the network laboratories.
• Task 3 covers technical guidance to potential applicants on how to satisfy Annex II requirements and compile the technical file.
• Task 4 covers additional scientific and technical support, such as advice, method assessment, guideline development, and participation in stakeholder discussions.

The work is expected to be carried out partly at the contractor’s premises and partly at locations specified by the Commission, including meetings in Brussels. The framework contract is implemented through specific contracts, and the first work plan for each specific contract must be delivered no later than 3 weeks after the start of that specific contract. The Commission expects at least one interim report and one final report for each specific contract, with payment linked to delivery milestones.

Commercial and contractual terms applicants should note

• This is a single framework contract with one contractor, not a multi supplier framework.
• The framework contract ceiling is €1000000 and the exact quantity of services is not guaranteed.
• Specific contracts will be issued only if and when the Commission has a need.
• Within 3 years after signature, the Commission may use a negotiated procedure for repeat services up to 50 percent of the initial framework ceiling, subject to satisfactory performance and available funds.
• The framework contract can last up to 48 months, and specific contracts signed before expiry may continue up to 6 months after the framework contract ends.
• Variants are not allowed.
• No more than one tender per tenderer is permitted in this procedure.
• The tenderer must bear all costs of preparing and submitting the tender, including attendance at the opening session.

For the financial offer, tenderers must price the full 4 year implementation period using the maximum prices and quantities set out in the tender documents. The documents also indicate fixed numbers of experts for certain meetings and state that all associated fees and expenses for meeting attendance must be included in the offer. In practical terms, the bidder should expect to submit a fully costed service model rather than a simple hourly rate quotation.

Submission process and deadlines

1. 1Submit electronically through the Funding and Tenders Portal eSubmission system only.
2. 2Ensure the organisation has a valid PIC and that the contact person email address is correct and monitored regularly.
3. 3Check the procurement documents carefully and use the required declaration on honour, financial offer forms, and annexes.
4. 4Questions must be submitted by 22/09/2026 23:59 Europe/Brussels, because the contracting authority is not bound to reply after that point.
5. 5The final tender deadline is 28/09/2026 16:00 Europe/Brussels.
6. 6The public opening will take place on 29/09/2026 10:00 Europe/Brussels.
7. 7Tender validity is 6 months.

The invitation letter states that the procurement documents include the contract notice, invitation letter, draft contract, and tender specifications with annexes. It also states that electronic submission is mandatory and that tenders submitted by email or post will be disregarded. The portal also requires tenderers to comply with technical rules such as file size limits and supported file types.

Assessment and award

The award criterion is the best price-quality ratio, with quality weighted at 70 percent and price at 30 percent. The contracting authority may reject tenders that fail exclusion checks, access to procurement checks, selection criteria, or compliance checks. It may also verify whether involved entities or subcontractors face restrictive measures or professional conflicting interests that could affect performance.

Practical implications for applicants

• A strong bid will need a fully accredited laboratory capability, not only consultancy expertise.
• The project team must combine regulatory knowledge, textile fibre analysis, and practical project coordination.
• The collaborative trial requirement means the bidder should already have access to a credible network of independent laboratories.
• The financial offer should be built around the specific task structure and the maximum price schedule in the annexes.
• Applicants should be prepared for confidentiality obligations, as the contract covers sensitive applicant technical files and experimental data.
• The tender is more suited to established research laboratories, technical institutes, or specialist consortia than to generalist consultancies.

Overall, this is a specialised technical procurement with high scientific content, moderate total value, and a strong emphasis on accredited testing, method validation, and coordination of expert laboratories. Applicants that can demonstrate prior work on textile fibre identification, quantitative mixture analysis, and collaborative trials will be best positioned to compete.¹

Footnotes

1. 1Official opportunity page on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal for EC-GROW/2026/OP/0030. The tender notice, specifications, and annexes are published there.