Study on the application of Risk Based Assessment Tool (RBAT) to alternative fuels technologies

The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has issued a call for tenders identified as EMSA/2025/OP/0022 for a study focusing on the application of the Risk Based Assessment Tool (RBAT) to alternative fuels technologies in the maritime sector. The purpose of the project is to enhance the safety assessment framework and create a repository of reliability data for critical safety components, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from shipping.

The estimated contract value is €650,000, with a maximum duration set at 48 months. This procurement opportunity is categorized as a public procurement contract specifically for services, rather than a grant. The application process is an open call, meaning any eligible entity can submit a proposal electronically, and the submission deadline is October 13, 2025.

Eligible applicants include economic operators such as companies, universities, research institutions, and consulting firms that meet the selection criteria. There is no requirement for a consortium for this project, allowing single applicants to participate. Geographic eligibility is broadly open to entities from EU member states, EEA countries, and potentially other countries depending on the defined procurement rules.

The targeted sector is maritime cleantech, specifically focusing on technologies that mitigate the GHG footprint of shipping. The project involves research and development stages aimed at improving safety assessment methodologies and compiling empirical reliability data.

The application evaluation will emphasize quality over cost, with criteria set at 70% for quality and 30% for price. There is no co-funding requirement indicated in the tender documents, and while specific success rates are not disclosed, participation in EU procurement generally carries varying competition levels.

Interested applicants must register for a Personal Identification Code (PIC) to submit a tender. The contracting authority, EMSA, will not be obliged to respond to inquiries after a specific cutoff date prior to the submission deadline. The project aligns with EU goals for sustainable development in shipping through technological innovation and the establishment of robust safety assessment frameworks.

The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has published a call for tenders, EMSA/2025/OP/0022, for a study on the application of the Risk Based Assessment Tool (RBAT) to alternative fuels technologies. The TED reference for this call is 133/2025 461341-2025. This is an open procedure, and submissions must be electronic.

The project aims to enhance the safety assessment framework using RBAT for sustainable maritime technologies, focusing on solutions that reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint of shipping. It also seeks to create a repository of reliability data for critical safety components within these systems.

The estimated total value of the contract is 650,000 EUR. The TED publication date is 15/07/2025. The lead contracting authority is the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). The main classification (CPV) code is 73112000 Marine research services. The nature of the contract is for services, with a maximum duration of 48 months. The award method will be based on the best price-quality ratio, and it is a framework agreement without reopening of competition.

Key milestones include the TED publication date of 15/07/2025, a public opening date and time of 15/10/2025 at 10:00 Europe/Lisbon, and a deadline for receipt of tenders on 13/10/2025 at 16:00 Europe/Lisbon. The contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after 02/10/2025 at 06:00 Europe/Lisbon.

The following documents are available for download:

ENB.01 Invitation to tender Invitation letter, published on 15/07/2025, Version 1, no translations available.
ENB.02 Tender Specifications Tender specifications, published on 15/07/2025, Version 1, no translations available.
ENFinancial Offer Template OP0022 Financial offer form, published on 15/07/2025, Version 1, no translations available.
ENI.02 Framework Service Contract Draft contract, published on 15/07/2025, Version 1, no translations available.
ENA.01 Tenderer (Candidate) Checklist Other invitation to tender document, published on 15/07/2025, Version 1, no translations available.
ENA.29 EMSA study report template Other invitation to tender document, published on 15/07/2025, Version 1, no translations available.

Submissions must be sent exclusively via electronic submission.

Some frequently asked questions (FAQ) and their answers are available:

How to proceed if the system is slow or doesn’t work while uploading/downloading documents? Use the latest versions of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. If the issue persists, clear the cache and cookies on the Internet browser. Published on 13/02/2025 20:52.
Which Internet browsers does eSubmission support? Use the latest versions of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. For the most up-to-date technical recommendations, click on the link System Requirements. Published on 13/02/2025 20:52.
Is it possible to view the details of the submission after the deadline? No, the content of the submission is not accessible after submitting the tender as the system encrypts all attachments upon upload. Published on 13/02/2025 20:50.
Where can I find my submissions in Manage My Area, in the Funding & Tenders portal? Submissions can be found in ‘My Submission(s)’: tenders in response to open calls for tenders, requests to participate. Published on 17/10/2024 20:40.
Which size should attachments have? eSubmission accepts files that are less than 50 MB in size. Published on 17/10/2024 20:36.
How should I name attachments in eSubmission? Follow the System Requirements. See the following conditions: The attachment name must use a maximum of 50 characters. Only use Latin alphanumeric characters, numbers, underscore, and dots. Published on 03/10/2024 16:39.
Can I submit a video in eSubmission? Which formats are supported? Check the System Requirements of eSubmission. Published on 03/10/2024 16:37.
I received an invitation from the F&T Portal but cannot view the procurement documents. Invited candidates can only see the procurement documents after having selected an organisation. Go to F&T Portal, “My Invitations”. Click on “Select Organisation” from the “Action” column. Published on 03/10/2024 16:37.
Do I need to validate my PIC in order to submit a tender in eSubmission? The Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory to participate in a call for tenders as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium). Published on 03/10/2024 16:36.
I have an issue uploading a file in eSubmission and it’s giving me an error. What do I do? Make sure it follows the technical requirements of the system. Published on 03/10/2024 16:36.
How many attachments can I upload per submission? The maximum number of documents the system will allow you to upload per tender is 200 files. Published on 03/10/2024 16:35.
Why do tenderers need a PIC? It is mandatory to register for a PIC if you intend to submit a tender or a request to participate. Only one PIC per organisation must be used. Published on 23/04/2024 17:14.
How do I register my organisation and get a Participant Identification Code (PIC)? First, check if the organisation is already registered using the Search PIC tool under 'How to Participate' > Participant Register. Published on 23/04/2024 16:07.
What is the validity period of a PIC? A PIC is unique and its validity is not limited in time. Published on 22/04/2024 22:55.
How many languages does the system support? The system is multilingual and supports all 24 official EU languages. Published on 01/04/2024 19:56.
Which is the character set encoding in the system? The character set encoding is UTF-8. Published on 22/02/2024 23:58.
Does the system use encryption to ensure the integrity and the confidentiality of the information? Yes, the system encrypts all uploaded documents, using an asymmetric key as an encryption mechanism. Published on 22/02/2024 23:57.
Which file types does the system support? The supported file types depend on the type of submission you want to make. The allowed file types are specified within the system requirements linked to the procedure in question. Published on 21/02/2024 23:55.
Can I view and edit my draft submission? Until the deadline for the submission has been reached, submissions in the draft status can be edited, viewed and deleted. Published on 24/03/2023 21:32.
In the submission report, under the name of our entity, "Legal form: UNKNOWN" is displayed while in the system, our legal form was correctly displayed. Is this a problem for the submission? No, it is just a display issue. This is not blocking for you: you can submit. Published on 03/08/2021 22:07.
I sent my submission on time and a few days later, I received an automatic email informing me that the deadline for the reception of submissions had been reached. Does this mean that my submission was not correctly sent? No, this is an auto-generated notification sent when the time limit of receipt defined for the call for tenders has been reached. Until then, you had the possibility of withdrawing. Published on 03/08/2021 22:05.

In summary, this tender opportunity is for a study to improve the safety assessment of sustainable maritime technologies using the Risk Based Assessment Tool (RBAT). The goal is to enhance safety and create a data repository for critical components, contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from shipping. The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) is seeking qualified organizations to conduct this study, which has an estimated budget of 650,000 EUR and a duration of 48 months. Interested parties must submit their tenders electronically by October 13, 2025, following the guidelines and requirements outlined in the tender documents. A key requirement for participation is having a valid Personal Identification Code (PIC). The project aims to support the development and adoption of alternative fuel technologies in the maritime sector by providing a robust safety assessment framework.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, given that this is a call for tenders for a study, eligible applicants could include research institutes, universities, consulting firms, and other organizations with expertise in maritime technologies, safety assessment, and data analysis. The tenderer candidate checklist document (ENA.01) would likely provide more specific details on eligibility criteria.

Funding Type: This is a procurement opportunity, specifically a call for tenders. The funding type is a service contract.

Consortium Requirement: The text mentions that a Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory to participate in a call for tenders as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium). This suggests that both single applicants and consortia are eligible to apply.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is not explicitly mentioned. Given that this is an EU funding opportunity from the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), it is highly likely that the eligibility extends to entities within the EU and potentially the EEA, and possibly other countries depending on the specific requirements outlined in the tender specifications.

Target Sector: The target sector is sustainable maritime technologies, specifically solutions designed to mitigate the greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint of shipping. This includes marine research services, safety assessment, alternative fuels technologies, and data collection on critical safety components.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned. The relevant region is the EU, given the contracting authority is the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA).

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on enhancing the safety assessment framework and creating a repository of reliability data. This suggests a development and validation stage, aiming to improve existing methodologies and gather empirical data.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the contract is 650,000 EUR.

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

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for services rendered under a service contract.

Application Stages: The number of application stages is not explicitly stated, but it involves at least one stage of submitting a tender. The tender will be evaluated based on the best price-quality ratio.

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

Co-funding Requirement: The co-funding requirement is not explicitly mentioned.

Summary:

This is a call for tenders issued by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) for a study on the application of the Risk Based Assessment Tool (RBAT) to alternative fuels technologies in the maritime sector. The project aims to enhance the safety assessment framework for sustainable maritime technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions from shipping. The study also intends to create a reliability data repository for critical safety components within these systems. The procedure is an open call for tenders, meaning any eligible organization can submit a proposal. The estimated total value of the contract is 650,000 EUR, and the maximum contract duration is 48 months. Submissions must be electronic, and the deadline for receipt of tenders is October 13, 2025. The award method is based on the best price-quality ratio. Tenderers must register for a Personal Identification Code (PIC) to participate, and both single applicants and consortia are eligible. The successful tenderer will be required to deliver services related to marine research, safety assessment, and data analysis in the field of sustainable maritime technologies. The tender documents include an invitation letter, tender specifications, a financial offer template, a draft framework service contract, a tenderer checklist, and an EMSA study report template.