Supply of an innert glovebox chain for the JRC Karlsruhe

The European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) Karlsruhe has issued an open procurement (EC-JRC/KRU/2026/OP/2971) for the supply, installation, testing and commissioning of an inert glovebox chain for radionuclide handling with an estimated value of €650,000. Tenders must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal by 5 October 2026 at 16:00 Europe/Berlin; award will be by lowest price to a compliant bidder and the contract may run up to 32 months including a 24-month warranty. Bidders must meet strict technical, safety and regulatory requirements including compliance with German nuclear installation rules, prescribed ISO/DIN standards, factory and site acceptance testing (ISO 10648-2 leak tests and <1 ppm O2/moisture performance) and demonstrate relevant experience, financial capacity and insurance coverage.

Opportunity type: Tender

Key facts

The Joint Research Centre (JRC) Karlsruhe (European Commission) invites electronic tenders to supply, install, test and commission an inert glovebox chain (four interconnected gloveboxes, three inert Ar atmosphere, one air) designed for handling alpha-emitting radionuclides under negative pressure and complying with German nuclear regulatory and technical requirements.

What it funds:Procurement of laboratory supplies and associated on-site installation, factory and site acceptance testing, documentation and training for a class‑1 leak‑tight inert glovebox workstation with gas purification, HEPA filtration, safety interlocks and specified materials/certificates ¹.

1. 1Who can apply: commercial suppliers of laboratory glovebox systems, manufacturers or authorised integrators able to meet nuclear installation standards and selection criteria (legal, financial and technical capacity as per tender documents).
2. 2Estimated contract value: €650 000 (estimated total value).
3. 3Contract duration: supply and installation within 8 months of contract signature; warranty/contract liability period 24 months; maximum contract duration 32 months.

Award is by open procedure; award criterion is lowest price subject to administrative, exclusion and selection checks (financial, technical experience and quality management). Electronic submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal is mandatory ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Procurement documents, ITT, technical specifications and draft contract available from the Funding & Tenders Portal F&T Portal.

Basic procurement facts

Procedure reference EC-JRC/KRU/2026/OP/2971. Tender type:Open procedure (call for tenders / procurement). Contracting authority: European Commission, DG JRC — Joint Research Centre (JRC), Directorate G Nuclear Safety and Security, JRC Karlsruhe, Germany. Nature of contract: supplies. Main CPV: 38000000 Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses). Additional CPV: 35113200 Nuclear, biological, chemical and radiological protection equipment; 42000000 Industrial machinery. Estimated total value: €650 000. Maximum contract duration: 32 months (supply, installation and 24-month warranty). Submission method: electronic via EU Funding & Tenders Portal eSubmission. Deadlines: deadline for receipt of tenders 05/10/2026 16:00 Europe/Berlin; public opening 06/10/2026 10:00 Europe/Berlin. Tender documents published on the F&T Portal (Invitation letter, Administrative Annex, Declaration on Honour template, Technical Specifications, Draft Contract).

What the contracting authority wants

Subject:supply, delivery, installation, factory acceptance, site acceptance, on-site training, documentation and a two-year warranty for a chain of four connected gloveboxes (three inert argon gloveboxes and one air glovebox) plus associated gas purification, monitoring, pumping and ancillary equipment to be installed at JRC Karlsruhe (Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany). The glovebox chain is for handling radionuclides (actinide-containing organometallic synthesis) under under-pressure and highest-purity inert atmosphere. Equipment must comply with German nuclear installation legal and technical requirements and the technical standards listed in the Technical Specifications (DIN, EN, ISO references).

Key technical requirements (summary)

1. 1Four connected gloveboxes in a chain: GB1 (Ar), GB2 (Ar), GB3 (Ar, water trap provision) and GB4 (air). Chain connected by two antechambers on each side (Ø 150 mm and Ø 400 mm nominal), with ability to isolate antechambers by welding sacks and rejoin later.
2. 2Inert gloveboxes operated under negative pressure (approx. -2.5 mbar), with connection of exhaust to JRC glovebox exhaust vent system using JACOMEX valves.
3. 3Leak tightness to ISO 10648-2 class 1 (<0.05 vol.% residual ingress at ±10 mbar to ambient), validated at factory and on-site; ability to maintain <1 ppm O2 and moisture for 72 hours in assembled workstation during factory test.
4. 4Construction materials: stainless steel grade 1.4404 (316L) structural frame, appropriate panels and glazing (Plexiglas GS 233 or polycarbonate), seals (natural rubber or styrene-butadiene rubber, Shore A 40–50). TIG welding, specified filler metals and welder qualifications as per DIN/ISO standards.
5. 5Gas purification unit: single-reactor regenerative system with copper catalyst and molecular sieves to achieve <1 ppm O2 and moisture; automatic regeneration with 5% H2 in Ar; solvent absorber with 13X molecular sieves and activated charcoal (nominal >8 kg load).
6. 6Sensors and controls: high-precision electrochemical O2 sensor (0–10 ppm range with tolerance for higher excursions), moisture sensor (ideally 0.01–100 ppm range), VOC monitoring (PID or solid-state), all integrated into PLC and HMI with adjustable alarm thresholds.
7. 7Safety devices: under-pressure safety valve, oil bubble valve with HEPA H13 protection, two pressure switches for over- and under-pressure alarm, HEPA filtration on in/out lines.
8. 8Auxiliary features: water-cooled heat exchanger for thermal control (1 kW nominal), 40 L freezer integrated, under-bench solvent bottle storage for anhydrous solvents, provision for liquid nitrogen-cooled trap (cylindrical extension ~Ø 7 cm, length ~35 cm) in GB2 and GB3, glove rings of 186 mm diameter, two rows of gloves (top and bottom) with specified counts per GB.
9. 9Documentation and certification: full technical documentation, material and welding certificates, conformity to listed DIN/EN/ISO standards, FRM0085/S3 acceptance report; CE marking and applicable EU legislative compliance.
10. 10Training and acceptance: factory acceptance tests at manufacturer; provisional site acceptance after installation and initial testing at JRC; final technical acceptance after successful operation for up to two months post-installation. Minimum warranty: 24 months post final acceptance, including corrective maintenance response times (telephone/email support, onsite within 3 working days if issue unresolved in 2 working days).

Who can apply and how

Eligible applicant types:Any legal entity (company, manufacturer, supplier) or a group of economic operators (joint tender) established in countries covered by the EU Treaties and in third countries with procurement access (GPA signatories and third countries associated to Euratom programme). Typical eligible applicant types include manufacturers and system integrators of laboratory gloveboxes, SMEs and large enterprises, specialised engineering firms, research institutes acting as suppliers, and authorised distributors. Subcontracting is permitted but identified subcontractors above 20 % share or relied-on entities must be declared in the tender and provide commitment letters. Tenderers must register in the Participant Register and use a PIC to submit via eSubmission.

Funding type / Financial mechanism:This is a procurement contract (supply contract) awarded by the European Commission (JRC). The primary financial mechanism is a supplies contract awarded following lowest price award criterion.

Consortium requirement:Consortiums (joint tenders) are allowed but not mandatory. A single supplier may bid alone. If a joint tender is submitted, members must appoint a group leader and sign the model Agreement/Power of Attorney (Annex 3). All group members have joint and several liability for contract performance.

Geographic (beneficiary) scope:Open to economic operators established in EU Member States plus states covered by the EU Treaties, WTO GPA parties and third countries associated to the Euratom Research and Training Programme. The supply and installation location is JRC Karlsruhe, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany; bidders must be able to deliver and comply with German nuclear installation regulatory requirements.

Target sectors / technologies:Nuclear safety and security laboratories, radiochemistry, actinide/alpha radiochemistry infrastructure, laboratory containment systems, inert atmosphere technologies, gas purification and handling, HEPA filtration, industrial stainless-steel fabrication, welding to DIN/ISO standards, laboratory instrumentation and control systems, cryogenics (LN2 traps), safety and regulatory compliance for nuclear facilities.

Mentioned country(ies):Germany (contracting authority location and place of performance). Bidders in EU and eligible third countries (see geographic scope) may apply.

Project maturity / expected stage:Procurement targets mature, production-ready equipment and system integration. Expected project stage: development/manufacturing, delivery, installation, validation and demonstration, followed by operational use and warranty.

Funding amount / budget:Estimated total procedure value: €650 000 (EUR six hundred fifty thousand). This is the contracting authority's estimate and the maximum allocated budget for the procedure.

Application type / submission method:Open call via EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Tenders must be submitted electronically via eSubmission (EU Login account and PIC required). Deadlines and Q&A managed on the Portal. On-site, non-mandatory site visit is scheduled (16/09/2026) — attendees must submit ID and passport data in advance for security clearance.

Nature of support:This opportunity provides a contract for supplies (monetary payment from the contracting authority to the selected supplier against delivery and acceptance). No grant or subsidy — commercial contract for purchase and installation of equipment.

Application stages:Single-stage open tender submission: 1) submission by deadline; 2) public opening; 3) administrative, exclusion and selection checks; 4) technical evaluation for compliance with minimum requirements; 5) award based on lowest price among compliant tenders. The contracting authority may request additional evidence from the presumed winner before award.

Success rates:Not published. As an open procurement with a single award and lowest price method, success rates depend on number of bidders and compliance; no historical success-rate statistics are provided in the tender documents.

Co-funding requirement:No co-funding required from the contractor; the contracting authority will pay the agreed contract price under the procurement contract. Contractors must bear costs associated with bid preparation and any required securities/guarantees where applicable.

Eligibility and selection checklist (practical)

1. 1Register organisation in Participant Register to obtain PIC and ensure legal form and SME status are correct.
2. 2Prepare and sign Declaration on Honour (Annex 2) for exclusion and selection criteria (each involved entity as specified).
3. 3If joint tender: prepare Agreement/Power of Attorney (Annex 3) appointing group leader.
4. 4If relying on subcontractors or other entities: complete Annex 4 (identified subcontractors) and provide Annex 5.1 or 5.2 commitment letters as applicable for any subcontractor on whose capacities you rely or identified subcontractors >20% share.
5. 5Prepare technical tender dossier to demonstrate compliance with Technical Specifications Part 2: factory acceptance tests, material and welding certificates, QA (ISO 9001 or equivalent), prior project references (at least two equivalent projects in last five years, at least one in a radioactive environment), and operator training plan.
6. 6Prepare financial tender and state total net amount in eSubmission field 'Total amount'. Quoted prices must be in euro and exclusive of VAT (EU institutions exempt).
7. 7Ensure documentary evidence for selection criteria (turnover, insurance, profit & loss accounts, professional liability insurance €1 000 000) are available to provide upon request (may not be required with initial submission but will be requested from presumed awardee).
8. 8Plan for site visit attendance logistics and preparatory paperwork for security clearance (submit names, DOB, nationality, ID/passport numbers at least two working days before site visit).

Application templates and documents provided by contracting authority

The Portal publishes the procurement package and templates that tenderers must use or adapt where specified. The published package (all English) includes the Invitation to Tender/ITT, Administrative Annex (tender specifications part 1), Declaration on Honour (Annex 2), Technical Specifications (part 2), Draft Contract and Annex templates (Agreement/Power of Attorney, List of Identified Subcontractors, Commitment Letters). Tenderers must provide the documents listed in Annex 1 of the Administrative Annex when submitting in eSubmission. The contracting authority strongly recommends signing documents with a qualified electronic signature (QES) but accepts handwritten signatures where necessary.

Selection and evaluation specifics

Award method:lowest price among tenders that are compliant with minimum requirements and by tenderers not excluded and fulfilling selection criteria. Selection checks include legal/regulatory capacity (licenses to work in controlled areas under German radiation protection law where applicable), financial capacity (average yearly turnover over last two financial years above €1 300 000 consolidated where applicable), professional liability insurance (min. €1 000 000 per event), technical capacity (at least two equivalent projects in last five years, one in a radioactive environment), and quality management system (ISO 9001 or equivalent). The contracting authority may request supporting evidence from the presumed successful tenderer before award. The contracting authority reserves the right to correct clerical errors and request clarifications that do not materially change the tender.

Important compliance and security notes:The installation must meet all German regulatory requirements for nuclear installations and JRC Karlsruhe site rules. Staff entering controlled / contamination zones must meet German radiation protection requirements (e.g., category A professionally exposed person) and pass national background reliability checks; the JRC requires visitor details in advance for site access. Non-compliance with legal/security requirements can lead to rejection or termination. Evidence of welding qualifications, material certificates, leak-test reports and FRM0085/S3 acceptance report must be provided as part of factory and site acceptance processes, and final acceptance precedes warranty start date.

Practical timeline and key dates

1. 1Tender documents published: 24/08/2026 (F&T Portal); invitation letter and all annexes available on the Portal.
2. 2Deadline to submit requests for additional information / questions: 25/09/2026 23:59 Europe/Berlin (contracting authority not bound to reply to questions submitted after this date).
3. 3Optional on-site visit: 16/09/2026 09:00 (registration in advance required).
4. 4Deadline for receipt of tenders (electronic): 05/10/2026 16:00 Europe/Berlin.
5. 5Public opening of tenders: 06/10/2026 10:00 Europe/Berlin.
6. 6Expected contract signature and start of delivery phase: to be confirmed after evaluation and award; supply and installation within 8 months after contract signature; final acceptance and 24-month warranty thereafter.

Risks, commercial and contractual notes

Awarded contract will be a direct contract (fixed contractual terms at outset). Tenderers must accept the draft contract provisions including payment schedule (80% after factory acceptance, 20% after final technical acceptance), liability provisions, checks and audits regime including OLAF and EPPO investigations, and data protection obligations. The contracting authority may offset outstanding debts owed by selected contractors to the Union against contract payments. Tenderers bear all costs of tender preparation and attendance to opening; no compensation will be made for tender preparation costs. The contracting authority reserves the right to cancel the procurement before contract signature without compensation to tenderers.

Footnote and source:Full procurement package, technical specifications and draft contract are available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal; tenderers must use the Portal and eSubmission for questions, subscription and submission F&T Portal opportunity page. For additional procedural guidance consult the Invitation to Tender and Administrative Annex on the Portal Invitation to Tender (ITT) ¹

Comprehensive summary

This is a public procurement (open procedure) by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) to purchase and install a high-specification chain of four gloveboxes for JRC Karlsruhe to enable the synthesis and handling of actinide-containing organometallic compounds under the highest-purity inert atmosphere and in compliance with German nuclear installation legislation. The contract is a supplies contract with an estimated budget of €650 000 and a maximum duration of 32 months covering supply, installation, acceptance testing and a 24-month warranty. Bidders must submit tenders electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal eSubmission system and follow the administrative and technical requirements in the published procurement documents. Award will be made on lowest price among compliant tenders. Bidders should plan for strict regulatory compliance, factory and site acceptance testing (including ISO 10648-2 leak tests and <1 ppm O2/moisture performance), welding and material certifications, QA systems, and readiness to support JRC security and radiation protection vetting for personnel who will enter controlled areas. The procurement documents provide required templates and a detailed technical specification; tenderers must be registered in the Participant Register and follow Annex 1 submission checklist. This opportunity is best suited to experienced manufacturers and system integrators of inert gloveboxes and laboratory containment systems with proven experience in radioactive environments and applicable quality, welding and safety certifications.

Footnotes

1. 1Primary source: EU Funding & Tenders Portal call for tenders EC-JRC/KRU/2026/OP/2971 - Supply of an inert glovebox chain for the JRC Karlsruhe. Documents published 24/08/2026: 01 - ITT (Invitation letter); 02 - Admin Annex (tender specifications administrative part); 03 - DoH (Declaration on Honour template); 04 - TS (Technical specifications); 05 - Draft contract. Full package available on the Portal opportunity page.

This is an EU open procedure procurement for a supplies contract at JRC Karlsruhe, focused on the delivery of an inert glovebox chain for radionuclide handling under under-pressure conditions. The notice shows an estimated value of €650000 and a submission deadline of 5 October 2026 at 16:00 Europe/Berlin.[3]

Core opportunity summary

The European Commission, DG JRC Joint Research Centre is seeking a contractor to supply an inert glovebox chain for use at its Karlsruhe site. The glove boxes are intended for the synthesis of actinide containing organometallic compounds requiring very high purity atmospheric conditions, and the installation must comply with all relevant legal and technical requirements for nuclear installations in Germany.

What the contract is about

The procurement concerns a specialized glovebox system for handling radionuclides in a controlled environment. The technical scope indicates a high security and high compliance setting, because the installation must align with German nuclear installation rules and the operational needs of the JRC Karlsruhe nuclear science and innovation activities.

The notice does not divide the procurement into lots and does not allow variants. Bidders must therefore submit a fully compliant offer for the requested solution rather than an alternative technical design.

Who can apply

Any interested economic operator may submit a tender, including natural or legal persons established in EU Member States, international organisations, and eligible third country operators under the relevant procurement access rules. The notice is also open to operators from countries covered by the WTO Government Procurement Agreement and, because the contract supports the Euratom Research and Training Programme 2026 to 2027, to additional eligible third countries under that programme framework.

• Tenderers may bid alone as a sole tenderer or together as a joint tender.
• Subcontracting is allowed, but not in a way that circumvents procurement access rules.
• All involved entities and subcontractors must be free from EU restrictive measures that would prohibit the provision of funds or economic resources.
• Tenderers must be able to show the country of establishment and supporting evidence normally acceptable under the law of that country.
• The notice indicates that the procurement is not SME suitable, so small firms may need to participate through partnerships or as specialist subcontractors if they cannot meet the full requirements alone.

Selection requirements and eligibility conditions

The financial capacity, technical capacity and some legal evidence do not necessarily need to be submitted with the tender, but the contracting authority may request them during the procedure, especially from the presumed successful tenderer. The tenderer must also declare that neither it nor its involved entities have professional conflicting interests that could affect contract performance.

Award and evaluation

Award is based entirely on price, with a weighting of 100 percent. The tender ranked first in ascending order of total evaluated price will be awarded the contract, provided it is compliant, meets all minimum requirements, satisfies the selection criteria, and is not subject to exclusion or restrictive measures.

This is not a framework agreement. The award is for a direct contract concluded after the open procedure, and the contract can run for a maximum of 32 months.

Submission and timetable

1. 1Submit only through the electronic submission system using an EU Login account.
2. 2Use one of the official EU languages for the tender.
3. 3Do not wait until the last day, because the system is electronic only and late submissions are rejected.
4. 4Questions submitted after 25 September 2026 23:59 Europe/Berlin may not be answered.
5. 5The public opening is scheduled for 6 October 2026 at 10:00 Europe/Berlin.
6. 6A non mandatory site visit is planned for 16 September 2026 at 09:00 at JRC Karlsruhe, and attendance details must be sent at least two working days in advance.

Documents and practical submission requirements

• Declaration on honour on exclusion and selection criteria
• Technical tender with manufacturer details, type, technical properties, drawings and full compliance information
• Financial tender with the complete price breakdown, quoted in euro and net of VAT and other charges
• List of identified subcontractors, if applicable
• Agreement or power of attorney for joint tenders, if applicable
• Commitment letters from identified subcontractors or entities whose capacities are relied upon, if applicable
• Proof that signatories are authorised to sign the documents

Conditions that matter to bidders

• Tenderers must bid independently and autonomously.
• No entity may participate simultaneously as a sole tenderer and as a member of another group in the same procedure.
• Joint tender members are jointly and severally liable.
• Subcontractors can be used, but identified subcontractors with significant shares or capacity reliance must be declared.
• The contractor may be required to comply with security requirements, fraud prevention obligations, environmental expectations and equal opportunity principles during execution.
• All costs for preparing the bid and attending the opening are borne by tenderers and are not reimbursed.

Overall assessment of the opportunity

This opportunity is a specialized procurement for suppliers with demonstrable experience in radioactive or nuclear environments, strong technical and quality management capability, and the legal authorisations needed to work in controlled areas in Germany. It is likely to be most attractive to established industrial suppliers, nuclear engineering contractors, or consortiums combining specialist equipment supply, installation competence and regulatory experience.