Supply for strengthening institutional and technological capacities to investigate organised and cross-border crime and corruption

This summary outlines a call for tenders by the European Union, specifically designed for strengthening the institutional and technological capabilities of North Macedonia's Customs Administration to combat organized and cross-border crime and corruption. The tender, referenced as EC-ENEST/SKP/2025/EA-OP/0092, was published on August 29, 2025, and is divided into three distinct lots, each targeting specialized equipment and systems necessary for law enforcement and customs operations.

Lot 1 involves supplying an information system and hardware for the establishment of a centralized Customs Control and Investigation Management Platform. This platform aims to enhance data management and operational efficiency, requiring advanced technological infrastructure such as servers, precision air conditioning units, generators, and monitoring software.

Lot 2 pertains to the supply of modern equipment for the Sector for Control and Investigations, which includes non-intrusive inspection devices, drug and substance detectors, and forensic equipment, aimed at enhancing capabilities for field missions and inspections by customs teams.

Lot 3 focuses on supplying specialized vehicles outfitted for law enforcement, including K-9 transport units, vehicles for relocating detainees, and transport vehicles for seized goods.

The procurement operates under an open procedure format where electronic submissions are mandatory, and bidders must submit their tenders by October 31, 2025, for evaluation based on a lowest-price award method. The maximum contract duration for the delivery and implementation is set at 10 months. This initiative represents a strategic investment from the European Union to support North Macedonia's journey toward EU membership by improving its customs and law enforcement infrastructure. Given the complex nature of the requirements, this procurement opportunity primarily targets large enterprises and specialized suppliers with demonstrated expertise in law enforcement technology and support.

This is a call for tenders, reference number EC-ENEST/SKP/2025/EA-OP/0092, published on 29/08/2025. The procedure identifier is EC-ENEST/SKP/2025/EA-OP/0092. The TED reference is 165/2025 566475-2025. It is an open procedure using electronic submission. The lead contracting authority is the European Union, represented by the European Commission on behalf of and for the account of North Macedonia. The main classification (CPV) is 30200000 - Computer equipment and supplies.

The purpose of this supply is strengthening institutional and technological capacities to investigate organized and cross-border crime and corruption. The Customs Administration is a beneficiary under the IPA 2021 AD EU against organised crime, in support of trade.

The call is divided into three lots:

Lot 1: Supply of Information System and Hardware on central location for Customs Control and Investigation Management Platform. This involves the creation of an internal platform to enable the Customs Administration to streamline access to data and information related to customs operations. This platform introduces a new control and investigations management system, supported by advanced technological infrastructure, to improve record management for monitoring, investigations, and the prosecution of cross-border crime cases. The supporting high-performance equipment will allow demanding data processing tasks related to control and investigations and will include, among other, Precision air conditioning units for server room cooling; 3ph monolithic UPS with integrated batteries; Rack(s); Diesel Power Generator Set; Monitoring Software; Servers; Rack UPS; Small UPS; Layer 3 switch. The nature of the contract is supplies. The maximum contract duration is 10 months. The award method is lowest price. Additional classification (CPV) includes 30100000 - Office machinery, equipment and supplies except computers, printers and furniture and 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support. The place of delivery or performance is 20000952 - North Macedonia. The programme is 42921320 - Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance.

Lot 2: Supply of equipment for the Sector for Control and Investigations/Law Enforcement Department. This includes modernizing screening and customs control equipment, including, but not limited to, detectors for drugs, precursors, and controlled substances, UFED (Universal Forensic Extraction Device) devices for forensic purposes, "CELBET-alike equipment," comprising specialized screening and customs control tools for field missions and inspections conducted by the Sector for controls and investigations and the mobile customs teams. This will encompass non-intrusive inspection devices, tools for detecting hidden objects on individuals, sampling and field analysis equipment, handheld search devices, and mobility and security support tools for customs control inspectors and mobile customs teams. The nature of the contract is supplies. The maximum contract duration is 10 months. The award method is lowest price. The main classification (CPV) is 35000000 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment. The place of delivery or performance is 20000952 - North Macedonia. The programme is 42921320 - Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance.

Lot 3: Supply of vehicles. This includes specialised vehicles equipped with built-in LED flashers (hidden blue lights) and integrated sound signalling (police siren); specialized vehicles for the transport and mobility of K-9 teams; vehicles designed for relocation of detained individuals; special transport vehicles for seized goods, including but not limited to drugs, weapons, gold, and money. The nature of the contract is supplies. The maximum contract duration is 10 months. The award method is lowest price. The main classification (CPV) is 34100000 - Motor vehicles. Additional classification (CPV) is 34144000 - Special-purpose motor vehicles. The place of delivery or performance is 20000952 - North Macedonia. The programme is 42921320 - Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance.

The TED publication date is 29/08/2025. The date and time of public opening is 03/11/2025 10:00 Europe/Skopje. The deadline for receipt of tenders is 31/10/2025 14:00 Europe/Skopje. The contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after 10/10/2025 06:00 Europe/Skopje.

The available documents include:
ENC4a Invitation Letter 0092, Invitation letter, published on 29/08/2025, for all lots, Version 1, no translations available.
ENadditional information to Contract Notice 0092, Information for candidates and tenderers, published on 29/08/2025, for all lots, Version 1, no translations available.
ENC4b Instruction to tenderers 0092, Tender specifications, published on 29/08/2025, for all lots, Version 1, no translations available.
ENAnnex 1-Commercial Warranty, Technical specifications, published on 29/08/2025, for all lots, Version 1, no translations available.
ENc4f annex ii techspec iii techoffer en LOT2 0092, Technical specifications, published on 29/08/2025, for Lot 2, Version 1, no translations available.
ENc4f annex ii techspec iii techoffer en LOT3 0092, Technical specifications, published on 29/08/2025, for Lot 3, Version 1, no translations available.
ENc4f annex ii techspec iii techoffer en LOT1 0092, Technical specifications, published on 29/08/2025, for Lot 1, Version 1, no translations available.
ENC4g annex IV Fin Offer 0092, Financial offer form, published on 29/08/2025, for all lots, Version 1, no translations available.
ENa14a declaration honour procurement en, Declaration on honour (tender), published on 29/08/2025, for all lots, Version 1, no translations available.
ENc4c mainconditions 0092, Draft contract, published on 29/08/2025, for all lots, Version 1, no translations available.

Submissions must be sent exclusively via electronic submission at the address provided.

Some frequently asked questions (FAQ) are also 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. Published on 13/02/2025 21:52
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 21:52
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 21:50
Where can I find my submissions in Manage My Area, in the Funding & Tenders portal? In ‘My Submission(s)’: tenders in response to open calls for tenders, requests to participate. Published on 17/10/2024 21:40
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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”. Published on 03/10/2024 17:37
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 17:36
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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 17:35
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How many languages does the system support? The system is multilingual and supports all 24 official EU languages. Published on 01/04/2024 20:56
Which is the character set encoding in the system? The character set encoding is UTF-8. Published on 23/02/2024 00:58
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 23/02/2024 00:57
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 22/02/2024 00:55
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 22:32
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 23:07
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 23:05

In summary, this tender opportunity aims to bolster the capabilities of the Customs Administration of North Macedonia in combating organized and cross-border crime and corruption. It is funded under the IPA 2021 AD EU program. The tender is divided into three distinct lots, each focusing on a different aspect of strengthening the Customs Administration's operational capacity. Lot 1 concerns the supply of an information system and associated hardware to create a centralized platform for customs controls and investigations. Lot 2 focuses on providing modern screening and control equipment, including detectors and forensic devices, as well as specialized tools for field missions. Lot 3 involves the supply of specialized vehicles for various purposes, such as transporting K-9 teams, relocating detainees, and securing seized goods. The tender is an open procedure, meaning any eligible entity can submit a bid, and the award will be based on the lowest price. The deadline for submitting tenders is October 31, 2025. Interested parties should carefully review the tender documents and FAQs to ensure compliance with all requirements and technical specifications.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated, but based on the nature of the tender, it is likely open to companies, firms, and other organizations capable of supplying the specified goods and services. This would include suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and system integrators.

Funding Type: This is a procurement opportunity, specifically a call for tenders. The financial mechanism is a service contract where the selected tenderer(s) will be contracted to supply goods.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. Both single applicants and consortia are typically eligible for such tenders, but the specific requirements would be detailed in the tender documents.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The lead contracting authority is the European Union, represented by the European Commission on behalf of and for the account of North Macedonia. The place of delivery or performance is North Macedonia. This suggests that while the contracting authority is the EU, the direct beneficiary is North Macedonia, and the tender is likely open to entities that can supply goods and services to North Macedonia. The geographic eligibility of the applicants is not explicitly stated but is likely open to entities within the EU and potentially other countries, provided they can fulfill the contractual obligations in North Macedonia.

Target Sector: This program targets several sectors, including:
 ICT (Information and Communication Technology): Supply of information systems and hardware.
 Security/Cybersecurity: Strengthening capacities to investigate organized crime and corruption.
 Advanced Machines/Processes: Modernizing screening and customs control equipment.
 Transport: Supply of specialized vehicles.
 Defense: Relates to law enforcement and security.

Mentioned Countries: North Macedonia, European Union.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on procurement and supply. The required systems, equipment, and vehicles are to be supplied and implemented, indicating a stage of deployment and operationalization rather than research or development.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value is not explicitly stated in the provided text.

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

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive non-monetary services in the form of supplied goods, including IT systems, hardware, screening equipment, and specialized vehicles.

Application Stages: The number of application stages is not explicitly detailed, but it would typically involve at least two stages: submission of the tender and evaluation of the tender. There may be further stages depending on the complexity of the procurement process.

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

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

Summary:
This opportunity is a call for tenders issued by the European Union, represented by the European Commission, on behalf of and for the account of North Macedonia. The tender, identified by procedure identifier EC-ENEST/SKP/2025/EA-OP/0092, aims to strengthen the institutional and technological capacities of the Customs Administration of North Macedonia to investigate organized and cross-border crime and corruption.

The tender is divided into three lots:
Lot 1: Supply of Information System and Hardware on central location for Customs Control and Investigation Management Platform. This involves creating an internal platform to streamline access to data and information related to customs operations, supported by advanced technological infrastructure. The equipment includes precision air conditioning units, UPS, racks, diesel power generator sets, monitoring software, servers, and switches.
Lot 2: Supply of equipment for the Sector for Control and Investigations/Law Enforcement Department. This includes modernizing screening and customs control equipment such as detectors for drugs, precursors, and controlled substances, UFED devices for forensic purposes, and CELBET-alike equipment for field missions.
Lot 3: Supply of specialized vehicles equipped with LED flashers and sound signalling, vehicles for K-9 teams, vehicles for relocating detained individuals, and special transport vehicles for seized goods.

The procedure type is an open procedure, and submissions must be made electronically. The TED publication date is 29/08/2025, and the deadline for receipt of tenders is 31/10/2025. The maximum contract duration is 10 months, and the award method is based on the lowest price.

To participate, tenderers must register for a Participant Identification Code (PIC). The system supports 24 official EU languages and uses UTF-8 character set encoding. The system encrypts all uploaded documents to ensure integrity and confidentiality. The maximum size for attachments is 50 MB, and the number of documents allowed per tender is 200.

This tender represents a significant investment in enhancing the capabilities of North Macedonia's Customs Administration to combat organized crime and corruption through the provision of advanced technological and logistical resources.