Supply for strengthening the capacities of the Customs Administration to investigate organised and cross-border crime and corruption

The tender opportunity is a procurement contract published by the European Union under the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPARD) program, aimed at enhancing the capabilities of North Macedonia's Customs Administration to combat organized crime and corruption. The project involves two lots: Lot 1 focuses on supplying an Information System and supporting hardware for a Customs Controls & Investigation Management Platform; Lot 2 includes equipment for the Sector for Control and Investigations, such as screening and customs control tools, specialized vehicles, and other operational support equipment.

Eligible applicants are primarily companies capable of providing sophisticated IT systems and hardware, indicated by the `smeSuitableIndicator: false`, which suggests a focus on larger suppliers. The funding type is a procurement contract, distinct from grants, entailing payment for delivered goods and services. There is no explicit requirement for a consortium; single applicants are likely sufficient since each lot is treated separately.

The geographic scope of the program includes only North Macedonia, making it a targeted effort to bolster local customs capabilities. The target sectors encompass IT, security, and law enforcement, with relevant CPV codes covering computer supplies, office machinery, motor vehicles, and IT services. Although specific funding amounts are not detailed, the procurement is structured around the delivery of substantial technical solutions, and the nature of support involves monetary transactions for the provided goods and services.

The application process is open, requiring electronic submissions. It is anticipated to follow a single-stage evaluation process that assesses applicants’ suitability, economic standing, and professional ability. There are no co-funding requirements, and the lowest price is indicated as the award criterion.

The estimated contract durations are 240 days for Lot 1 and 180 days for Lot 2. The deadline for tender submissions is July 11, 2025, with additional public opening dates outlined for July 14, 2025. Interested parties are advised to download available documents and review FAQs related to the electronic submission system to ensure compliance and successful application. The overarching goal of the tender is to modernize the Customs Administration’s infrastructure to enhance its investigative capabilities against cross-border crime.

This is a call for tenders, reference number EC-ENEST/SKP/2025/EA-OP/0041, published on 08/05/2025. The TED reference is 89/2025 296749-2025. It is an open procedure using electronic submission. The call aims to enhance the capacities of the Customs Administration’s Sector for Control and Investigations to fight cross border crime and corruption. This will be achieved by procuring and customizing an internal platform as a software solution, supported by robust equipment designed for heavy-duty operations related to processing data from controls and investigation procedures. Furthermore, a wide content of screening and customs control equipment will consist of pieces for conducting the field missions and inspections of the Sector for controls and investigations. In that regard the non-intrusive inspection devices; indication of hidden objects on humans; sampling and field analyses of samples; handheld search; and equipment to support mobility and security of the customs control inspectors and mobile customs teams, as well as special vehicles will be procured for the Customs Administration. 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) code is 30200000 - Computer equipment and supplies.

The call is divided into two lots:

Lot 1: Supply of Information System and Hardware on central location for Customs Controls & Investigation Management Platform. The creation of an internal platform will enable the Customs Administration to streamline access to data and information related to customs operations. This platform introduces a new Law Enforcement 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 controls and investigations and will include among other Precision air conditioning units for server room cooling; 3ph monolithic UPS with integrated batteries; parallel ready; Rack(s); Diesel Power Generator Set; Monitoring Software; Servers; Rack UPS; Small UPS; Layer 3 switch, etc. The nature of the contract is supplies. The maximum contract duration is 240 days. The award method is lowest price.

Lot 2: Supply of the equipment for the Sector for Control and Investigations/Law Enforcement Department of the Customs Administration. Modernizing screening and customs control equipment, including but not limited to detectors for drugs, precursors, and controlled substances, as well as UFED (Universal Forensic Extraction Device) devices for forensic purposes. Lot 2 will include also "CELBET-alike equipment," comprising specialized screening and customs control tools for field missions and inspections conducted by the Sector for Controls and Investigations of the Customs Administration and 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. Finally, 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 the 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 180 days. The award method is lowest price.

Additional CPV classifications include 30100000 - Office machinery, equipment and supplies except computers, printers and furniture, 34100000 - Motor vehicles, 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support, and 35200000 - Police equipment. The place of delivery or performance is North Macedonia (20000952). The programme is the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (42921320).

Important milestones include:

TED publication date: 08/05/2025
Date and time of public opening: 14/07/2025 10:00 Europe/Skopje
Deadline for receipt of tenders: 11/07/2025 14:00 Europe/Skopje
Contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after: 20/06/2025 05:00 Europe/Skopje

Selection criteria include:

Suitability to pursue the professional activity - Please consult the procurement documents.
Economic and financial standing - Please consult the procurement documents.
Technical and professional ability - Please consult the procurement documents.

The following documents are available for download:

ENC4a Invitation Letter (Invitation letter, published 08/05/2025, All lots, Version 1, No translations available)
ENadditional information to Contract Notice 0041 (Information for candidates and tenderers, published 08/05/2025, All lots, Version 1, No translations available)
ENC4b Instruction to tenderers (Information for candidates and tenderers, published 08/05/2025, All lots, Version 1, No translations available)
ENAnnex 1-Commercial Warranty (Technical specifications, published 08/05/2025, All lots, Version 1, No translations available)
ENc4f annex ii techspec iii techoffer en LOT1 (Technical specifications, published 08/05/2025, All lots, Version 1, No translations available)
ENc4f annex ii techspec iii techoffer en LOT2 (Technical specifications, published 08/05/2025, All lots, Version 1, No translations available)
ENC4g annex IV Fin Offer (Financial offer form, published 08/05/2025, All lots, Version 1, No translations available)
ENc4c mainconditions en draft (1) (Draft contract, published 08/05/2025, All lots, Version 1, No translations available)
ENC4d Special Conditions (Draft contract: special conditions, published 08/05/2025, All lots, Version 1, No translations available)
ENc4e annex i gc en (Draft contract: general conditions, published 08/05/2025, All lots, Version 1, No translations available)

Submissions must be sent exclusively at the address for submission given below, using the electronic submission method.

Some frequently asked questions (FAQ) are provided regarding the eSubmission system:

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.
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.
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.
Where can I find my submissions in Manage My Area, in the Funding & Tenders portal? Depending on the type or step of procedure, you can find the submissions in one of these sections: In ‘My Submission(s)’: tenders in response to open calls for tenders, requests to participate.
Which size should attachments have? eSubmission accepts files that are less than 50 MB in size.
How should I name attachments in eSubmision? Follow the System Requirements.
Can I submit a video in eSbmission? Which formats are supported? Check the System Requirements of eSubmission.
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.
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.
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.
How many attachments can I upload per submission? The maximum number of documents is 200 files.
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.
How do I register my organisation and get a Participant Identification Code (PIC)? Check if the organisation is already registered using the Search PIC tool under 'How to Participate' > Participant Register.
What is the validity period of a PIC? A PIC is unique and its validity is not limited in time.
How many languages does the system support? The system is multilingual and supports all 24 official EU languages.
Which is the character set encoding in the system? The character set encoding is UTF-8.
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.
Which file types does the system support? The supported file types depend on the type of submission you want to make.
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.
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.
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.

In summary, this EU call for tenders aims to bolster the capabilities of North Macedonia's Customs Administration in combating organized and cross-border crime and corruption. The project is structured around two lots: the first focuses on establishing a centralized information system and providing the necessary hardware, including servers, cooling systems, and power generators. The second lot involves supplying a range of equipment for field operations, such as drug detectors, forensic devices, non-intrusive inspection tools, specialized vehicles, and K-9 transport units. The tendering process is electronic, and interested parties must submit their proposals by the specified deadline. The lowest price will be the award criteria. Several documents are available to guide applicants, and a list of frequently asked questions addresses technical aspects of the eSubmission system. The overall goal is to modernize and enhance the Customs Administration's ability to investigate and prevent cross-border criminal activities.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, based on the nature of the procurement, it can be inferred that eligible applicants are likely to be companies, firms, or other economic operators capable of supplying the goods and services described in the tender. This could include SMEs, large enterprises, and specialized suppliers. The selection criteria mention "Suitability to pursue the professional activity," which suggests that applicants must be legally and professionally capable of fulfilling the contract requirements.

Funding Type: The funding type is procurement. This is a call for tenders, where the contracting authority (European Commission) is seeking to purchase goods and services.

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required or if a single applicant is sufficient. The FAQ mentions that a Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory to participate as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium), suggesting that both single applicants and consortia are eligible.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is not explicitly defined, but the project is for the benefit of North Macedonia. The call is published by the European Union, represented by the European Commission on behalf of and for the account of North Macedonia. Therefore, it is likely that the tender is open to companies registered in the EU, North Macedonia, and potentially other countries eligible under the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA).

Target Sector: The target sectors include: Computer equipment and supplies, Office machinery, equipment and supplies except computers, printers and furniture, Motor vehicles, IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support, Police equipment. More broadly, the tender targets the sectors of customs administration, law enforcement, IT, and security.

Mentioned Countries: North Macedonia.

Project Stage: The project stage is procurement of already developed solutions and equipment. The tender specifies the supply and customization of an internal platform, procurement of screening and control equipment, and specialized vehicles. This suggests that the solutions are at the stage of commercialization and deployment.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value is not specified in the provided text. The text only mentions "Estimated value -" without providing a specific amount.

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

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries (the Customs Administration of North Macedonia) will receive non-monetary support in the form of goods and services, specifically the procurement and customization of an internal platform, screening and control equipment, and specialized vehicles.

Application Stages: The number of application stages is not explicitly stated, but it can be inferred that there are multiple stages, including submission of the tender, evaluation of the tender, and contract award. The selection criteria include suitability to pursue the professional activity, economic and financial standing, and technical and professional ability, suggesting a multi-stage evaluation process.

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

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

This is an open call for tenders issued by the European Union, represented by the European Commission, on behalf of North Macedonia. The purpose of the tender is to enhance the capacities of the Customs Administration of North Macedonia to investigate organized and cross-border crime and corruption. The tender is divided into two lots. Lot 1 focuses on the supply of an Information System and Hardware for a Customs Controls & Investigation Management Platform, including the creation of an internal platform and the provision of supporting high-performance equipment. Lot 2 focuses on the supply of equipment for the Sector for Control and Investigations/Law Enforcement Department of the Customs Administration, including modernizing screening and customs control equipment, specialized vehicles, and other tools for field missions and inspections. The procedure type is an open procedure, and submissions must be made electronically. The deadline for receipt of tenders is July 11, 2025. The contract aims to modernize the Customs Administration with advanced IT infrastructure, screening equipment, and specialized vehicles to combat cross-border crime and corruption. Tenderers must demonstrate their suitability to pursue the professional activity, their economic and financial standing, and their technical and professional ability. The award method is the lowest price. The maximum contract duration is 240 days for Lot 1 and 180 days for Lot 2.