Supply of natural gas

Open tender by the European Commission DG JRC (EC-JRC/GEE/2026/OP/1660, TED ref 84/2026 300028-2026) for continuous supply of natural gas to JRC-Geel (Retieseweg 111, 2440 Geel, EAN 541448860005110548) to heat four buildings, estimated total value €500,000 and planned start of supply 29 August 2026. Maximum contract duration is 48 months (initial 12 months plus up to three automatic 12-month renewals) and submission must be made electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal eSubmission by 5 June 2026 at 16:00 Brussels time. Tenderers must be authorised to supply gas in Flanders (VREG), demonstrate minimum average turnover of €250,000 and technical experience including renewable natural gas capability, as JRC may request conversion to RNG supported by Guarantees of Origin. Award is by best price-quality ratio with price weighted 80 points and quality 20 points (including RNG certification and rapid delivery capability); monthly invoicing applies with payment within 30 days.

What is being procured

Summary

Open public tender for the continuous supply of natural gas to JRC Geel, Belgium, with an option to switch to renewable natural gas (RNG) on request during contract performance.

Estimated value and duration:Estimated total value €500,000. Contract maximum duration 48 months (initial 12 months plus up to three 12‑month renewals). Supply start indicated as 29/08/2026.

Key dates:Deadline for receipt of tenders 05/06/2026 16:00 Europe/Brussels. Public opening 09/06/2026 10:00 Europe/Brussels. Deadline for questions 28/05/2026 23:59 Europe/Brussels.

Who can apply

Any economic operator may submit a tender (sole tenderer or joint tender). Tenderers must be registered in the Participant Register (PIC) and comply with exclusion and selection rules. For RNG supply the tenderer must be authorised to supply gas on the Belgian (Flanders) market and able to provide Guarantees of Origin/RGGO as required by Directive (EU) 2018/2001; registration with Fluxys Belgium and VREG authorisation is specified in the tender documents.

How the award is decided

Award by best price-quality ratio. Weighting:Price 80 points, Quality 20 points (quality includes ability to provide RNG certification and short delivery lead time for RNG).

1. 1Submission method: electronic via eSubmission; EU Login required
2. 2Documents required: administrative dossier, technical tender, financial offer (Annex 6), Declaration on Honour, evidence of selection criteria (financial, technical) and any commitment letters for subcontractors or entities relied upon
3. 3Minimum selection highlights: average turnover threshold €250,000 (last 2 years) and demonstrable supply experience in (renewable) natural gas

Technical specifics and full tender documents (technical specifications, draft contract, financial offer form and annexes) are published on the Funding & Tenders Portal; tenderers must follow the instructions and templates in the procurement documents and comply with RNG certification rules in the technical specifications F&T Portal tender page. ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Portal contains all procurement documents, submission link (eSubmission), Q&A and invitation letter. Use EU Login and check Annex 1 (list of required documents) and Annex 6 (financial offer form).

Basic facts and procurement overview

Procuring authority:European Commission, DG JRC - Joint Research Centre (JRC), JRC.R Operations and Support Management, JRC Geel (Belgium). TED reference: 84/2026 300028-2026. Procedure type: open procedure. Submission method: electronic via eSubmission (EU Funding & Tenders Portal). Main CPV: 09123000 Natural gas. Nature of contract: supplies. Award method: best price-quality ratio. Maximum contract duration: 48 months (initial 12 months with up to three automatic 12-month renewals). Estimated total value: €500,000 (exclusive of VAT). Start of delivery: planned 29/08/2026. Public opening: 09/06/2026 10:00 Europe/Brussels. Deadline for receipt of tenders: 05/06/2026 16:00 Europe/Brussels. Contracting authority contact: jrc-geel-procurement@ec.europa.eu.

Scope and subject

Subject:continuous supply of natural gas to JRC-Geel to heat buildings on the JRC-Geel premises. The specification allows supply of conventional natural gas and the option to switch to renewable natural gas (RNG/biomethane) during contract performance on request by JRC-Geel (request not foreseen within first 6 months; switch to be fulfilled within a short period typically 3–6 months or sooner if stated in tender). RNG deliveries must be accompanied by renewable gas certificates (Proof of Sustainability and Guarantee of Origin / Renewable Gas Guarantees of Origin - RGGOs) in line with Directive (EU) 2018/2001. The supply point EAN: 541448860005110548 (Retieseweg 111, 2440 Geel, Belgium). Installed heating power cited: 2 530 kW; pressure 300 mbar; estimated annual consumption used in the financial model: 1 400 MWh/year (tender documents).

Eligibility and participation

Eligible applicants:Any natural or legal person with access to procurement under the EU Treaties and applicable international procurement agreements (GPA). Participation open to sole tenderers and joint tenders (groups). Subcontracting allowed; identified subcontractors must be declared in Annex 4 and provide commitment letters (Annex 5.1). Entities whose capacities are relied upon (not subcontractors) must provide commitment letter (Annex 5.2). All participants must be registered in the Participant Register and use PIC for eSubmission ¹.

Key selection and administrative requirements

Legal and regulatory capacity:Tenderer must be authorised to supply natural gas on the Belgian market (Flanders) and authorised by VREG. Proof of enrolment in a relevant trade/professional register and any national licences must be provided as required.

Economic and financial capacity (criterion F1):Minimum: average yearly turnover of the last two financial years above €250,000. Consolidated assessment across involved entities applies. Evidence: profit & loss and balance sheets for the last two years or appropriate bank statements; must be provided with the tender.

Technical and professional capacity (criterion T1):Minimum: experience in supply of (renewable) natural gas. Minimum 4 similar projects in last three years (2 for natural gas and 2 for RNG), each with minimum yearly value €125,000. Consolidated assessment applies. Evidence: list of projects with dates, scope, role and invoiced amounts; provide with tender.

Exclusion and integrity:Tenderers must submit Declaration on Honour (Annex 2) confirming absence of exclusion grounds (per Article 138 Financial Regulation). Contracting authority may request documentary proof and will consult EDES. Entities subject to EU restrictive measures cannot participate.

Award criteria and evaluation

Award formula:best price-quality ratio. Total score 100 points split into Price 80 points and Quality 20 points. Price evaluation uses unit price per MWh (computed in Financial Offer form): Bi = 0.80 × (Pmin / Pi) where Pi is bidder price in EUR/MWh and Pmin lowest price. Quality (20 points) split into: demonstration of ability to provide green certification for RNG (10 points) and capacity to deliver RNG within a short period (0–3 months) (10 points). If tie, quality marks decide; within quality tie, provision of green certificates then RNG delivery time decide.

Financial model, invoicing and price components

Tenderers must submit the Financial Offer Form (Annex 6). Pricing model:unit price per MWh = a + TTF103. The bidder provides the fixed component a (EUR/MWh) for natural gas and for RNG. The TTF103 element (index) is added. The contracting authority clarified that only the 'a' value(s) are required in the form for evaluation; other regulated items (distribution costs, regulated charges, taxes) are invoiced separately and are not part of the evaluated price. Distribution costs and regulated charges are not included in the evaluated price and must be invoiced separately in accordance with the contract; annual distribution costs per MWh reference provided in the financial model (example €1.3886/MWh) and must be applied transparently in invoicing. The unit price per MWh calculated in the Financial Offer Form is used in the awarding phase.

RNG (renewable natural gas) specific requirements

RNG option:JRC-Geel may request conversion of supply to RNG during contract performance. Request will not be made in first 6 months. Conversion must be achievable within a short period (3–6 months) or earlier if confirmed in tender. RNG deliveries must be supported by Proof of Sustainability and Guarantees of Origin (Renewable Gas Guarantees of Origin - RGGOs) and be compliant with Directive (EU) 2018/2001. Tenderer must be registered with Fluxys Belgium (production registrar for gas from renewable energy sources) and able to receive RGGOs via Vlaamse Nutsregulator (VREG). Evidence: registration and documentary proof of ability to provide GOs/RGGOs must be provided; ability to deliver RNG within 0–3 months is part of quality scoring.

Submission, templates and required documents

All submissions must be sent electronically via eSubmission (EU Login required). Tenders must be complete at time of submission; late or non-electronic submissions are disregarded. The procurement documents, templates and annexes are published on the Funding & Tenders Portal and must be used when completing the tender ¹.

1. 1Annex 1: List of documents to be submitted with the tender or during the procedure (identifies which entities must upload which documents and where in eSubmission).
2. 2Annex 2: Declaration on Honour on exclusion and selection criteria (mandatory).
3. 3Annex 3: Agreement / Power of attorney (joint tender model).
4. 4Annex 4: List of identified subcontractors (model).
5. 5Annex 5.1: Commitment letter by identified subcontractor (model).
6. 6Annex 5.2: Commitment letter by entity on whose capacities is being relied (model).
7. 7Annex 6: Financial tender form (spreadsheet financial model; unit price formula, consumption assumptions, calculation of maximum contract value).
8. 8Draft Supply Contract: includes Special and General Conditions (price revision, payment terms, invoicing, guarantees, checks and audits, confidentiality, data protection).
9. 9Tender Specifications Part 2: Technical specifications including EAN, pressure, installed power, historical consumption appendix and RNG requirements.

Submission steps and timeline

Key dates:TED publication date 30/04/2026. Deadline for questions: 28/05/2026 23:59 Europe/Brussels. Deadline for receipt of tenders: 05/06/2026 16:00 Europe/Brussels. Public opening: 09/06/2026 10:00 Europe/Brussels. Proposed contract start/delivery: 29/08/2026. Tenderers should subscribe to the call on the Funding & Tenders Portal to receive updates and Q&A publications.

Application method, format and signature

Application type:open call submitted electronically via eSubmission (EU Login, PIC mandatory). Language: any official EU language; procurement documents published in English (English version is sole authentic text). Electronic signature: qualified electronic signature (QES) recommended for signed declarations and powers of attorney; handwritten signatures accepted but originals must be retained for five years and may be requested. File format and size constraints per eSubmission System Requirements (attachments <50 MB per file, up to 200 files per submission).

Consortium requirement and subcontracting

Consortium requirement:single tenderer or consortium allowed. If joint tender, group members must appoint a group leader and provide Power of Attorney (Annex 3) and are jointly and severally liable. Subcontractors: permitted; subcontractors whose share > 20% of contract or on whose capacity tenderer relies must be identified in Annex 4 and provide commitment letters (Annex 5.1). Entities on whose capacity tenderer relies but which are not subcontractors must provide Annex 5.2 commitment letters and supporting evidence.

Funding type, nature of support and financial modalities

Funding type:procurement contract (supply contract) not a grant. Nature of support: monetary payments (invoiced supplies). Electronic ordering and electronic payment will be used. VAT: EU institutions are generally VAT exempt; invoicing and VAT rules detailed in draft contract (special conditions I.5.7 and II.18). Price revision: indexation parameter TTF103; prices fixed for first year and subject to revision on anniversary per formula in contract (Pr = 0.8 × Po × (Ir / Io) + 0.2 × Po).

Application stages, success rates and co-funding

Application stages:single-stage tendering (submission, opening, evaluation, award). Number of formal stages: 1 (single submission) for candidates, followed by evaluation and award process (administrative checks, exclusion/selection checks, technical/financial evaluation). Success rates: not published; estimated success rate depends on number of bids received and competitiveness—no official success probability provided. Co-funding: not applicable; this is a procurement for supply and no co-funding requirement is stated.

Templates and application structure guidance

Tenderers must use the templates and models included in the procurement documents. Key templates and required content items (as presented in Annex 1 and the Administrative Specifications):

1. 1Declaration on Honour (Annex 2) signed by authorised representative(s).
2. 2Power of Attorney / Agreement (Annex 3) where joint tender applies (signed by all group members).
3. 3List of identified subcontractors and proportion of subcontracting (Annex 4) with commitment letters (Annex 5.1) from each identified subcontractor.
4. 4Commitment letter by entity on whose capacities are relied (Annex 5.2) when applicable.
5. 5Financial Offer Form (Annex 6) populated: provide 'a' value(s) (€/MWh) for natural gas and RNG; the spreadsheet calculates unit price with TTF103 and uses estimated consumption (1 400 MWh/year) to calculate maximum contract value per procurement model.
6. 6Technical tender: narrative demonstrating compliance with Technical Specifications Part 2, RNG capability (registration with Fluxys Belgium, ability to provide RGGOs), delivery times and operational arrangements (transport charterer/balance responsibilities), data reporting and account manager provision.
7. 7Evidence of legal existence, licences, financial statements, technical references and any required certificates (as indicated in Annex 1); some documents may be requested upon award or during validation.

Naming and upload:follow the eSubmission instructions in Annex 1 for where to upload each document (Identification of participant -> Attachments for legal/evidence documents; Tender Data -> Technical Tender/Financial Tender for the two main envelopes). Failure to upload mandatory documents in the correct eSubmission fields can lead to rejection.

Risk allocation, guarantees and audits

Contract contains detailed clauses on liability, checks and audits, fraud prevention and data protection. No performance guarantee or retention money required by default for this contract (special conditions I.5.5–I.5.6). Contracting authority may carry out checks and audits and has rights under EDES, OLAF, Court of Auditors and EPPO provisions. Contract includes provisions for price revision and remedies for non-conformity, substitution of contractor and recovery.

Geographic eligibility and procurement coverage

Beneficiary scope:procurement is performed by the European Commission (an EU institution). Participation is open to economic operators established in the EU, contracting parties to the GPA and where applicable other countries with procurement agreements with the EU. The performance place is Geel, Belgium (EAN provided).

Target sector and project stage

Target sector:energy supply (gaseous fuels), specifically natural gas and renewable natural gas (RNG/biomethane). Project stage: operation/continuous supply – procurement for operational supply and energy contracting rather than R&D.

Success factors and recommended bidder approach

To maximise award chances bidders should:(1) submit a complete administrative tender with Annex 2 Declaration on Honour and all required evidence; (2) provide the Financial Offer Form with clear 'a' values for natural gas and RNG; (3) demonstrate VREG authorisation and Fluxys registration to show ability to provide RNG and RGGOs; (4) document technical capacity and references (at least 4 projects as per T1 minimum levels); (5) explain RNG delivery lead times and provide documentary proof regarding availability of RGGOs and supply chains; (6) ensure compliance with eSubmission naming, file size and signing requirements and submit early to avoid technical issues; (7) monitor Q&A and published document updates on the Funding & Tenders Portal.

Mentioned countries and locations

Explicitly mentioned country:Belgium (place of performance Geel, Retieseweg 111, EAN provided). The procurement is managed by an EU institution and open to qualifying economic operators per international procurement rules (GPA).

Categorisation answers (concise)

1. 1Eligible Applicant Types: companies (utilities, energy suppliers), SMEs and large enterprises, groups/consortia, subcontractors, registered suppliers authorised to operate in Flanders (VREG-authorised). Universities or research institutes only if they are economic operators with capacity to act as gas suppliers (unlikely). NGOs or individuals: only if they are economic operators with legal capacity; typical bidders will be gas suppliers/shippers and energy traders.
2. 2Funding Type: procurement (supply contract) — not a grant, monetary payments via invoices.
3. 3Consortium Requirement: other than single tenderer option, consortium/joint tender allowed (single or group). Not mandatory to form a consortium; either single or consortium allowed.
4. 4Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): open to economic operators covered by the EU Treaties and Government Procurement Agreement signatories; performance location Belgium (Geel).
5. 5Target Sector: energy — natural gas supply and renewable gas (RNG/biomethane).
6. 6Mentioned Countries: Belgium (explicit). Contracting authority is EU JRC (EU institution).
7. 7Project Stage: operational continuous supply / service delivery (operation and commercial supply).
8. 8Funding Amount: estimated total value €500,000 (over maximum contract duration; financial model shows estimated yearly consumption 1,400 MWh and calculations in Annex 6 to derive maximum contract value).
9. 9Application Type: open call via eSubmission (electronic submission required).
10. 10Nature of Support: monetary payments (contract for supplies with invoices).
11. 11Application Stages: single-stage submission with administrative checks, exclusion/selection checks, technical/financial evaluation and award (effectively 1 submission stage then evaluation — counted as 1 formal submission stage but evaluation has multiple checkpoints).
12. 12Success Rates: not provided in documents; depends on number of bidders and competitiveness (no official historic success rate given).
13. 13Co-funding Requirement: none; bidders do not provide co-funding.

How to apply — practical checklist

1. 1Register organisation in Participant Register and obtain PIC; ensure EU Login and two-factor authentication available before submission.
2. 2Subscribe to the call on the Funding & Tenders Portal and download all procurement documents, templates and the Financial Offer Form (Annex 6).
3. 3Complete Annex 2 Declaration on Honour and gather required evidence (legal capacity, VREG authorisation for Belgium/Flanders, financial statements for last two years, technical references per T1).
4. 4Populate Financial Offer Form with 'a' value(s) (€/MWh) for natural gas and for RNG and ensure unit price calculations align with TTF103 index as specified.
5. 5If relying on subcontractors or other entities, complete Annex 4 and obtain commitment letters (Annex 5.1 or 5.2).
6. 6Prepare technical tender describing delivery model, charterer/balance arrangements, RNG capability (Fluxys registration, RGGOs), account management and reporting and compliance with Technical Specifications Part 2.
7. 7Assemble all documents in eSubmission respecting file names, size (<50 MB per file) and required upload fields (Identification of participant attachments, Technical Tender under Tender Data, Financial Tender under Tender Data).
8. 8Sign required documents with QES where possible or hand-signed originals retained as required; submit tender via eSubmission well before the deadline.
9. 9Monitor public Q&A and any corrigenda on the Portal until deadline.

Final summary

What is this opportunity about and how to explain it? JRC-Geel is procuring the continuous supply of natural gas for heating several buildings on its Geel site in Belgium. The tender is a standard open public procurement managed by the JRC (European Commission) and uses the EU Funding & Tenders Portal eSubmission system. The contract combines price and quality: bidders submit a unit price formula (fixed a component plus an index element TTF103) and demonstrate quality, notably the ability to provide RNG and the associated Guarantees of Origin. The procurement values supplier capability to convert supply to renewable natural gas during the contract if requested by JRC-Geel, and bidders must document VREG authorisation, registration with Fluxys Belgium for RNG RGGOs and relevant operational and financial capacity. Tenderers must follow the provided templates and annexes (Declaration on Honour, Financial Offer Form, list of subcontractors, commitment letters, power of attorney for groups, technical tender) and submit all material electronically by the deadline. Award will be made on the best price-quality ratio with strong emphasis on price (80%) and RNG provision / delivery lead time (20%). Interested suppliers should prepare the administrative, financial and technical evidence, use the Annex templates, register early in the Participant Register, and submit via eSubmission before 05/06/2026 16:00 Europe/Brussels.

Footnotes

1. 1Official procurement documents, templates and submission portal are available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal: ec.europa.eu

Opportunity Overview

The European Commission's Directorate-General Joint Research Centre (DG JRC) is issuing a call for tenders for the continuous supply of natural gas to its research facility in Geel, Belgium. The contract covers the heating of four buildings on the JRC-Geel premises and includes the option to supply renewable natural gas (RNG) depending on market conditions and pricing. This is an open procedure tender accessible to qualified economic operators across the European Union and eligible third countries.

Key Tender Details

Procedure Identifier:EC-JRC/GEE/2026/OP/1660

TED Reference:84/2026 300028-2026

Estimated Total Contract Value:€500,000

Maximum Contract Duration:48 months with automatic renewal provisions. The initial performance period is 12 months, with three automatic 12-month renewals unless either party provides formal notification to the contrary at least three months before the end of the ongoing duration.

Procedure Type:Open procedure with electronic submission required

Award Method:Best price-quality ratio

Critical Deadlines ¹

Who Can Apply

This tender is open to all natural and legal persons, including economic operators from EU Member States, countries party to the World Trade Organisation Agreement on Government Procurement, and countries with special agreements with the European Union in the field of public procurement. Participation is also open to international organisations. All tenderers must have access to procurement as defined in EU regulations and must not be subject to EU restrictive measures.

Specific Eligibility Requirements

Tenderers must be authorised to supply natural gas on the Belgian market in Flanders and must be registered with the VREG (Flemish Regulator of the Electricity and Gas Market). Proof of enrolment in a relevant trade or professional register is required to demonstrate legal and regulatory capacity to pursue the professional activity of natural gas supply.

Selection Criteria and Minimum Capacity Requirements

Economic and Financial Capacity (Criterion F1)

Tenderers must demonstrate average yearly turnover of at least €250,000 over the last two financial years. Evidence must include copies of profit and loss accounts and balance sheets for the last two years for which accounts have been closed, or appropriate statements from banks. The most recent year must have been closed within the last 18 months. This criterion applies to the tenderer as a whole, allowing for consolidated assessment of combined capacities of all involved entities.

Technical and Professional Capacity (Criterion T1)

Tenderers must prove experience in the field of supply of renewable natural gas. The minimum requirement is at least four similar projects completed in the last three years preceding the tender deadline, with a minimum yearly value of €125,000 for each project. At least two projects must be for natural gas supply and at least two for renewable natural gas supply. Evidence must include a detailed list of projects with start and end dates, total project amounts, scope, role, and amount invoiced. For ongoing projects, only the portion completed during the reference period will be considered.

Submission Requirements and Process

All tenders must be submitted exclusively through the electronic submission system (eSubmission) available on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal. Tenders submitted by any other means, including email or postal mail, will be rejected. Tenderers must register in the Participant Register and obtain a Participant Identification Code (PIC) before submission. Each member of a joint tender group must have a valid PIC.

Required Documents

• Declaration on Honour on exclusion and selection criteria (signed by authorised representative)
• Evidence of authorisation to sign documents
• For joint tenders: Agreement/Power of attorney signed by all group members
• List of identified subcontractors (if applicable)
• Commitment letters from subcontractors or entities on whose capacity the tenderer relies
• Technical tender addressing compliance with technical specifications and award criteria
• Financial tender using the provided Financial Offer Form
• Evidence of legal and regulatory capacity (proof of VREG authorisation)
• Evidence of economic and financial capacity (financial statements)
• Evidence of technical and professional capacity (project references)

All documents must be submitted in one of the official EU languages. Signatures must be either hand-written or, preferably, qualified electronic signatures (QES) as defined in Regulation (EU) No 910/2014. The contracting authority strongly encourages the use of QES to reduce administrative burden.

Technical Specifications and Delivery Requirements

The supply point is located at JRC-Geel, Retieseweg 111, 2440 Geel, Belgium, with EAN number 541448860005110548. The installed power for heating purposes is 2530 kW at a pressure of 300 mbar. Gas delivery will commence on 29 August 2026. The supplier must comply with the Technical Regulations for Natural Gas Distribution as published by the VREG and must be registered with Fluxys Belgium as the production registrar for gas from renewable energy sources.

Renewable Natural Gas Requirements

JRC-Geel reserves the right to request a change from conventional natural gas to renewable natural gas depending on prices and energy market evolution. Such requests will not be made within the first six months of the contract. When requested, the contractor must be capable of fulfilling the change within a short period of three to six months. The contractor must provide green certification for RNG in accordance with the EU Renewable Energy Directive (Directive (EU) 2018/2001), including Proof of Sustainability and Guarantee of Origin. Renewable Gas Guarantees of Origin (RGGOs) must be provided as the certificate.

Consumption Data

Historical consumption data for the last three years is provided in the tender specifications. The estimated yearly consumption is approximately 1400 MWh. Tenderers should review this data to prepare accurate financial offers.

Pricing and Financial Terms

The unit price per MWh is calculated using the formula:Unit price per MWh = a + TTF103, where 'a' is the fixed component of the offered price per MWh that remains constant throughout the contract duration, and TTF103 is the price index based on the arithmetic mean of daily prices of natural gas on European Spot Gas Markets as published by ICIS-Heren Energy Ltd.

Price Components Included

• Provision of necessary capacity and energy delivery, including back-up and flexibility
• Purchase costs for gas without contractual volume limits
• All costs associated with gas transport within the transmission network (balance, access, etc.)
• Costs for provision of a contact person (account manager) covering coordination with transport and distribution managers
• All administrative costs
• Delivery or provision of monthly data and annual profiles on electronic medium or via Internet
• Green premium fees for RNG
• Certificates

Price Components Excluded

• Distribution costs (regulated by the Transmission System Operator and approved by CREG)
• Contributions and charges (taxes and fees set by Federal, Flemish, provincial and/or municipal authorities based on energy consumption)

All prices must be quoted in euros, free of all duties, taxes and other charges including VAT. The European Union is exempt from VAT under Articles 3 and 4 of the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the European Union. Tenderers from countries outside the euro zone must quote prices in euro, and the quoted price may not be revised in line with exchange rate movements.

Payment Terms

Monthly interim payments are made based on actual gas consumption of the preceding month. The contracting authority must approve submitted documents and pay within 30 days from receipt of the invoice. Pre-financing and performance guarantees are not applicable to this contract. Invoices should be submitted electronically via the F&T Portal or Peppol network, including the department code 'JRC.GEEL' in the buyer reference field. Alternatively, invoices may be sent to JRC-GEE-INVOICES@ec.europa.eu.

Award Criteria and Evaluation

Tenders will be evaluated and ranked according to the best price-quality ratio. The evaluation is based on two main criteria with specific weightings.

Price Criterion (80 points)

The price evaluation uses the formula:Bi = 0.80 × (Pmin / Pi), where Bi is the bidder's points, Pi is the price offered by bidder i in EUR/MWh, and Pmin is the lowest price offered by all bidders. The total price must cover all requirements set out in the tender specifications.

Quality Criterion (20 points)

Quality is evaluated based on two sub-criteria, each worth 10 points. The first sub-criterion awards 10 points if the tenderer can provide green certification for RNG. The second sub-criterion awards 10 points if the tenderer is capable of delivering RNG within a short period of zero to three months from the request date.

In case of a tie in the overall score, the tender with the highest quality marks will be ranked first. If a further tie exists, the tender with the highest marks for green certification provision will be ranked first, followed by the tender with the highest marks for RNG delivery capability.

Exclusion and Selection Criteria

All tenderers must submit a Declaration on Honour confirming they are not in any exclusion situation as listed in Article 138(1) of the Financial Regulation. The contracting authority will verify non-exclusion through the European Union's Early Detection and Exclusion System (EDES) and may request supporting evidence from the presumed successful tenderer before the award decision. Tenderers found to be in an exclusion situation will be rejected.

Involved entities must not be subject to professional conflicting interests that may negatively affect contract performance. The contracting authority may conclude that a tenderer or involved entity does not possess the required professional capacity if such conflicting interests are established.

Tender Submission and Contact Information

Tenders must be submitted via the eSubmission application on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal at [[ec.europa.eu. Tenderers are advised to submit well in advance of the deadline to ensure timely receipt. The submission receipt provided by eSubmission with the official date and time of receipt constitutes proof of compliance with the submission deadline.

Contact Details for Administrative Issues

For administrative matters, contact jrc-geel-procurement@ec.europa.eu. For technical issues, contact the technical email address provided in the contract. For data protection questions, contact jrc-gee-data-protection@ec.europa.eu. The contracting authority's postal address is European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Retieseweg 111, 2440 Geel, Belgium.

Questions and Clarifications

Requests for additional information must be submitted in writing through the F&T Portal by clicking 'Create a question' in the Questions and Answers section. The contracting authority is not bound to reply to requests for additional information received less than six working days before the tender submission deadline. All additional information will be published on the F&T Portal, and it is the economic operator's responsibility to check for updates and modifications during the submission period.

Joint Tenders and Subcontracting

Economic operators may submit tenders either as sole tenderers or as joint tenders (groups of economic operators). In joint tenders, all group members assume joint and several liability towards the contracting authority for contract performance. One group member must be appointed as the group leader to serve as the single point of contact. All group members must sign an Agreement/Power of Attorney authorising the group leader to act on their behalf.

Subcontracting is permitted. Identified subcontractors (those on whose capacity the tenderer relies to meet selection criteria or those with an individual share above 20 percent of the contract) must provide commitment letters and meet the same exclusion and access to procurement requirements as the main tenderer. Changes to identified subcontractors after tender submission require prior written approval from the contracting authority.

Contract Terms and Conditions

The contract is governed by Community and Union law, complemented where necessary by Belgian law. The application of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sales of Goods (CISG) is excluded. The courts of Turnhout have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute regarding the validity, interpretation, performance or termination of the contract.

The contractor must comply with all applicable environmental, social and labour law obligations established by Union law, national law, collective agreements, and international environmental, social and labour conventions. The contractor must also comply with data protection obligations under Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and Regulation (EU) 2018/1725.

Termination and Renewal

The contract enters into force on 29 August 2026 if both parties have signed it. The initial performance period is 12 months, with three automatic 12-month renewals unless either party provides formal notification to the contrary at least three months before the end of the ongoing duration. The maximum total contract duration is 48 months. Either party may terminate the contract for convenience, and the contract may be terminated for breach of obligations or other grounds specified in the general conditions.

Important Procedural Notes

Submission of a tender implies acceptance of all terms and conditions set out in the procurement documents. Tenderers waive their own general or specific terms and conditions. The submitted tender is binding on the tenderer to whom the contract is awarded for the duration of the contract. No more than one tender can be considered per tenderer. If the same tenderer submits more than one tender, neither of which has been withdrawn before the deadline, only the latest tender will be considered.

All costs incurred for the preparation and submission of tenders as well as for attending the opening session are borne by the tenderers and will not be reimbursed. The contracting authority is not bound by this invitation to tender and may cancel the procurement procedure without tenderers being entitled to claim any compensation. Any such decision must be substantiated and tenderers notified.

Tenders will be opened in a virtual opening session on 9 June 2026 at 10:00 Brussels time. A maximum of two representatives per tender may attend. Tenderers wishing to attend must request access by sending an email to jrc-geel-procurement@ec.europa.eu as soon as possible and not later than three hours before the scheduled start, including the full names and email addresses of representatives, the name of the represented tenderer, and the submission receipt from eSubmission.

Data Protection and Confidentiality

Personal data processing is governed by Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies. The European Commission acts as the data controller. Tenderers' personal data may be registered in the Early Detection and Exclusion System (EDES) if the tenderer is in one of the situations mentioned in Article 138 of the Financial Regulation. Detailed information on data protection is available in the privacy statement at [[ec.europa.eu.

Once the contracting authority has opened a tender, it becomes its property and shall be treated confidentially. However, the contracting authority may disclose information to its staff, other Union institutions, and entities working for or cooperating with it, provided they are bound by confidentiality obligations. After the award decision, the contracting authority will inform non-rejected tenderers who request it in writing of the name of the successful tenderer, the characteristics and relative advantages of the successful tender, and its total financial offer amount, subject to withholding of confidential information that would prejudice legitimate commercial interests.

Regulatory Context and EU Energy Policy

This procurement is aligned with the EU's REPowerEU Plan and the broader objective to diversify Europe's gas supplies away from Russian sources and strengthen energy security. The emphasis on renewable natural gas supply reflects the EU's commitment to the energy transition and compliance with the EU Renewable Energy Directive (Directive (EU) 2018/2001). The tender also reflects recent EU regulations phasing out Russian gas imports, with short-term LNG contracts banned from 25 April 2026, short-term pipeline gas contracts banned from 17 June 2026, and long-term LNG contracts banned from 1 January 2027 ².

Key Considerations for Applicants

• Ensure VREG authorisation to supply natural gas in Flanders before submitting a tender
• Prepare comprehensive financial documentation covering the last two years of accounts
• Compile detailed project references demonstrating at least four similar projects with minimum €125,000 yearly value each
• Develop a clear technical proposal addressing the option to supply renewable natural gas within three to six months of request
• Obtain green certification capability for RNG supply to maximise quality score
• Register in the Participant Register and obtain a PIC well in advance of the submission deadline
• Use qualified electronic signatures for all required documents to streamline the process
• Submit tenders well before the 5 June 2026 deadline to avoid technical issues
• Carefully review all tender specifications and draft contract terms before submission
• Prepare for potential questions from the contracting authority during evaluation
• Consider joint tender arrangements if individual capacity is insufficient, ensuring clear role definition and power of attorney documentation

Footnotes

1. 1All times are in Brussels time (Central European Time). Tenderers should verify their local time zone conversion to ensure timely submission. The deadline for receipt of tenders is firm and no extensions are granted for late submissions.
2. 2The EU has established a legal timetable to phase out natural gas imports from Russia through Regulation (EU) 2026/261 (REPowerEU gas regulation), published in the EU Official Journal on 30 April 2026. This procurement reflects the EU's commitment to energy independence and diversification of supply sources, with preference for renewable and alternative energy sources.