Supply of primers, probes, reagents and consumables for PCR and DNA/RNA analysis

This open public procurement by the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) seeks suppliers for primers, probes, molecular biology reagents, enzymes and consumables for DNA/RNA analysis and GMO detection (reference EC-JRC/IPR/2026/OP/2515). The opportunity is structured as a framework supply contract with three lots and an estimated total value of €700,000 (Lot €1 585,000; Lot €2 100,000; Lot €3 15,000). Submission is electronic via the Funding & Tenders Portal and the closing date is 27 August 2026 at 16:00:59 (Europe/Rome). Evaluation follows standard procurement rules with mandatory technical compliance and price as the stated award criterion.

Tender at a glance

What is funded

Framework supply contracts for primers, probes, molecular biology reagents, enzymes, chemicals and laboratory consumables used for DNA/RNA analysis and GMO detection.

Who can apply:Suppliers of laboratory reagents and consumables that meet the procurement selection and technical specifications in the tender documents (open competitive procurement via the Funding & Tenders Portal). Contracting authority: European Commission, DG JRC - Joint Research Centre ¹.

Estimated value and contract format:Estimated total procedure value €700,000 across three lots; awarded as framework supply contracts (initial 24 months, one renewal possible). ¹

1. 1Lot 1: Supply of reagents, consumables and probes for DNA/RNA analysis — estimated €585,000
2. 2Lot 2: Supply of primers and probes for PCR analysis — estimated €100,000
3. 3Lot 3: Supply of PCR reagents and enzymes for DNA/RNA analysis — estimated €15,000

Key deadlines:Tender submission deadline: 27 August 2026, 16:00:59 (Europe/Rome). Additional info request cutoff: 19 August 2026. (An earlier timestamp 1 January 2026 appears in metadata but the official closing date is 27 August 2026.)

Submission method:e-submission via the Funding & Tenders Portal. See full procurement documents and invitation to tender for technical and administrative requirements.

Tender webpage:Tender details

Footnotes

1. 1Official procurement documents including the Invitation to Tender and technical specifications are published on the Funding & Tenders Portal (see Tender details link).

Opportunity summary

This is an open procurement (tender) issued by the European Commission, DG JRC - Joint Research Centre for the supply of primers, probes, molecular biology reagents, chemicals and consumables normally used in methods to analyse DNA and RNA and/or to detect genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The procedure is organised as a framework supply contract with three separate lots covering: reagents, consumables and probes for DNA/RNA analysis (Lot 1), primers and probes for PCR analysis (Lot 2) and PCR reagents and enzymes for DNA/RNA analysis (Lot 3). The estimated overall procedure value is €700,000. Deadlines: initial indicated deadline 2026-01-01T14:00:59.000Z (metadata) and the published closing date 2026-08-27T16:00:59Z. The open tender event (likely opening) is scheduled for 2026-08-28 at 14:00 (Europe/Rome timezone).

Call identifier:EC-JRC/IPR/2026/OP/2515

Lead contracting authority:European Commission, DG JRC - Joint Research Centre JRC homepage

Procurement type and nature:Supplies procurement under a framework agreement (framework supply contract). The contracting system type includes framework-agreement (fa-wo-rc) and the tender is executed as supplies. Electronic submission via the Funding and Tenders Portal is required (ESUBMISSION).

Scope, lots and estimated values

The procurement covers products designed for laboratory use and compatibility with validated methods and equipment. The procedure is divided into three lots with separate descriptions and estimated values.

1. 1Lot 1: Supply of reagents, consumables and probes for DNA/RNA analysis. Estimated value: €585,000. Planned contract period: 48 months. Framework contract initial duration 24 months, renewable once.
2. 2Lot 2: Supply of primers and probes for PCR analysis. Estimated value: €100,000. Planned contract period: 48 months. Framework contract initial duration 24 months, renewable once.
3. 3Lot 3: Supply of PCR reagents and enzymes for DNA/RNA analysis. Estimated value: €15,000. Planned contract period: 48 months. Framework contract initial duration 24 months, renewable once.

Estimated overall procedure value:€700,000 (currency EUR) as published in the procurement metadata.

Products and technical scope

The technical specifications require supply of primers, probes, molecular biology reagents, enzymes, chemicals and consumables normally used in methods to analyse DNA and RNA and/or detect GMOs. Products are expected to: meet stringent quality and performance standards; be compatible with specific laboratory equipment and validated protocols; provide reliability, accuracy and reproducibility in laboratory analytical workflows and research activities. Tenderers must consult the Annex I Technical specifications document for full lists, detailed product requirements, packaging, labelling, shelf-life, cold-chain and transport obligations and acceptance criteria. The procurement documents include specific contract/order form templates and acceptance forms that define technical compliance and delivery verification procedures ¹.

Main CPV codes:24000000 (Chemical products), 33000000 (Medical equipment and pharmaceutical products), and 33696500 (Laboratory reagents).

Eligibility, applicant types and geographic scope

This is a public procurement aimed at economic operators able to supply the listed laboratory products. The procurement documentation and tender specifications define the formal selection and exclusion criteria. Typical eligible applicant types are: manufacturers and distributors of laboratory reagents and consumables, authorised representatives, wholesalers, suppliers, large enterprises, SMEs, and legally constituted economic operators. Research institutes or universities acting as commercial suppliers or through a legal trading entity could be eligible where they meet selection criteria. Public-private consortia or joint ventures may participate if permitted by procurement rules and if they meet the selection criteria set out in the tender documents.

Geographic eligibility is governed by EU procurement rules. Bidders from EU Member States and EEA are generally eligible; bidders from certain third countries may also be allowed subject to reciprocity and the conditions specified in the procurement documents. Tenderers must consult the tender documents for exact territorial and legal eligibility conditions and any requirements for customs introduction procedures to JRC sites (for example, Ispra) ¹.

Selection, award criteria and contract conditions

Selection and exclusion criteria follow the standard procurement selection model and reference specific tenderer requirements that are detailed in the procurement documents (administrative tender specifications Annex I). Bidders must supply supporting evidence for legal status, financial and economic capacity, technical and professional capacity, and any required certifications or accreditations requested in the documents. Specific selection criteria sources are referenced in the tendering terms; bidders should consult the procurement documents for the precise format and evidence required.

Award criterion:Price is the stated awarding criterion. The procurement documents indicate that price constitutes 100% of the award evaluation in the published metadata; however bidders must consult the procurement documents and technical specifications as quality, technical compliance and conformity with specifications will be mandatory for admissibility.

The contract is issued as a framework supply contract with specific contract/order forms for call-offs. The draft framework contract and related clauses (including safety contractual clauses and procedure to introduce goods through customs at JRC Ispra) are provided in the procurement documents. Delivery, acceptance, invoicing and payment terms are set out in the draft contract annexes; post-award processes include electronic ordering and electronic payment.

Submission, timelines and procedural details

1. 1Submission method: Electronic submission (ESUBMISSION) through the Funding & Tenders Portal (eForms extension). Access tool name: Funding and Tenders Portal.
2. 2Tender submission deadline (closing date): 2026-08-27T16:00:59Z (Europe/Rome timezone appears as 16:00:59+02:00 end date).
3. 3Open tender event (public opening/meeting): 2026-08-28 at 14:00 (Europe/Rome).
4. 4Requests for additional information must be sent within the additional information request period that closes on 2026-08-19 (check exact end time in the portal).
5. 5Tender validity period: 6 months from submission (tender validity period indicated as 6 months).
6. 6Tender documentation publication date: 2026-07-17 (Invitation to tender and annexes published).

Bidders must consult and download the full procurement pack available on the tender portal entry for call EC-JRC/IPR/2026/OP/2515. The invitation to tender and all annexes (administrative and technical tender specifications, financial offer form, declaration on honour, draft contract(s), acceptance and order form templates, safety clauses, customs procedures for JRC Ispra, etc.) are provided as separate documents ¹.

Application documents and templates provided

The procurement publication includes required forms and templates. Bidders must use the provided templates and comply with their structure and content requirements. Key documents published with the tender include:

1. 101 Invitation to tender (PDF) — main procurement notice and instructions.
2. 202 Annex I Tender specifications 1 - Administrative (PDF) — administrative selection/exclusion criteria, submission instructions, required evidence.
3. 305 Annex I Tender specifications 2 - Technical (PDF) — detailed technical product specifications, quality and compliance requirements, delivery, packaging and labelling requirements, acceptance criteria.
4. 403 Declaration on honour (NATIVE .docx) — to be completed by tenderer for exclusion and eligibility declarations.
5. 504 Annex I_1_6_Lots-1,2,3_Financial_offer_form (NATIVE .xlsx) — financial offer template for pricing each lot and line items.
6. 606 Annex II a Framework supply contract draft (PDF) and €06 BPart III Clauses subject to specific approval (PDF) — draft contract and special clauses.
7. 707 Annex IIIa Specific contract / Order form template (PDF) — template for individual orders under the framework.
8. 808 Annex IIIb Acceptance form template (PDF) — acceptance certificate for delivered goods.
9. 909 Annex IV Procedure to introduce goods through the customs at JRC (Ispra) (PDF) — customs clearance procedure for shipments to JRC Ispra.
10. 1010 Annex V Safety contractual clauses (PDF) — safety and contractual obligations related to supplied goods.

Application structure and recommended submission content

Tenderers should prepare a structured submission following the administrative and technical annex instructions and using the provided templates. The main components typically required are:

1. 1Administrative package: fully completed Declaration on Honour; company registration and legal status documents; proof of financial capacity if requested; evidence of relevant licences, certificates and accreditations; contact details and legal representative information.
2. 2Technical offer: statement of conformity with technical specifications (Annex I Technical); detailed product catalogue and specifications for each offered item including catalogue/reference numbers, certificates of analysis, batch information policies, shelf-life, storage and transport conditions, quality management certificates (for example ISO where requested), samples or sample availability if applicable, and any deviations/exceptions clearly identified and justified.
3. 3Financial offer: completed financial offer form (Annex I_1_6 Lots 1,2,3 Financial_offer_form.xlsx) with prices per lot and per item line, currency, unit prices, delivery/incoterms and any applicable taxes or duties clearly stated.
4. 4Commercial and contractual information: acceptance of draft contract clauses or identification of conditions subject to approval, proposed delivery timelines, logistic and customs handling proposals (especially for JRC Ispra shipments) and any subcontracting arrangements.
5. 5Compliance and safety: evidence of compliance with chemical safety regulations (e.g., REACH where applicable), safety data sheets (SDS) for chemicals, and confirmation of adherence to safety contractual clauses provided in Annex V.

Selection process, stages and success considerations

The tender uses a standard offer submission and evaluation process. Bidders submit a single-stage tender (one formal submission) by the eSubmission deadline. After the closing date, tenders are evaluated for eligibility, exclusion, selection criteria and conformity to technical specifications; compliant offers are then ranked on price according to the award criterion. The evaluation includes administrative checks and technical compliance checks prior to price evaluation. The process therefore effectively involves: 1) submission, 2) compliance and selection evaluation, 3) award decision and framework contract signature, and 4) subsequent call-offs/orders under the framework (post-award).

Number of application stages:1 main submission stage followed by award evaluation and contracting steps (functional sequence of 2 to 3 procedural steps).

Success rates:The procurement notice does not publish historical success rates. Success probability depends on number of bids, compliance with technical specifications and price competitiveness. No explicit quotas or multiple-award indications are provided in the summary; bidders should assume competitive open tendering.

Financial and contractual conditions

Contractual model:framework supply contract with specific contracts/order forms for individual call-offs. Initial framework duration 24 months with one renewal possible (total potential 48 months as indicated under planned period). Payment and ordering are electronic. The financial offer template is provided in XLSX format and must be used for pricing. Estimated overall contract amount for the procedure is €700,000. No co-funding from bidders is required because this is a public procurement: successful suppliers will be paid for goods delivered according to contract terms. Any taxes, duties, customs clearance responsibilities and incoterms must be addressed in the tender and comply with the Annex IV customs procedure for JRC Ispra deliveries.

Consortium and subcontracting

The procurement documents reference standard procurement selection requirements and do not explicitly prohibit consortium or joint bids. Where joint bids or consortia are used, the lead tenderer and legal relationships (joint and several liability, power of attorney, capacity evidence) must comply with the administrative tender specifications and be demonstrated in the submission. Subcontracting arrangements must be declared and any critical subcontracted elements may require evidence of subcontractor capacity. Tenderers should consult the administrative annex for specific rules on consortia and subcontracting.

Co-funding and financial contribution requirements

Co-funding requirement:none. This is a procurement for the purchase of supplies: bidders submit priced offers and, if awarded, receive payment for delivered goods under the terms of the contract. There is no requirement for tenderers to co-finance the contract.

Important documents and where to access them

All procurement documents, templates and annexes are published on the Funding & Tenders Portal tender page for call EC-JRC/IPR/2026/OP/2515. Key published documents include Invitation to tender, Administrative and Technical Tender Specifications (Annex I parts 1 and 2), Financial offer form (xlsx), Declaration on honour (docx), Draft framework contract and contract annexes, Order and Acceptance form templates, Safety contractual clauses and Customs procedure for JRC Ispra. See the invitation to tender and annexes for full content and mandatory forms Invitation to tender and annexes ¹.

Key recommendations to bidders

1. 1Download and read all procurement documents (administrative and technical annexes) and use the provided standard templates for financial offers and declarations.
2. 2Ensure full technical compliance with Annex I Technical specifications; supply certificates, SDS and quality evidence as requested.
3. 3Follow the required structure for the financial offer file and ensure prices are complete, coherent and include any requested breakdowns; observe currency and tax rules.
4. 4Allow time to prepare eSubmission on the Funding & Tenders Portal and to request clarifications before the additional information deadline (last date to request clarifications: 2026-08-19).
5. 5Confirm whether the bidder is allowed to deliver to JRC locations and follow the customs introduction procedure for shipments to JRC Ispra when applicable.
6. 6Be prepared to accept the draft contract clauses or clearly indicate and justify any reservations in accordance with the rules of the procurement documents.

Categorisation and structured extraction

Eligible Applicant Types:Manufacturers of laboratory reagents and consumables; distributors, wholesalers and suppliers of molecular biology reagents and PCR materials; authorised representatives; SMEs and large enterprises acting as economic operators; public-private partnerships or consortia where allowed by procurement rules; research institutions or universities acting as suppliers through a legal trading entity. Exact eligibility depends on the selection criteria in the administrative tender specifications.

Funding Type:Procurement contract (tender) for supplies. This is not a grant, loan or equity instrument. Successful bidders enter a commercial framework contract and supply goods for payment.

Consortium Requirement:Single tenderer submissions are permitted; consortia/joint bids and subcontracting are typically allowed if they comply with the procurement documents. The tender documentation must be consulted for precise rules on joint bids, joint and several liability and required declarations.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Primarily EU Member States and EEA where EU procurement rules apply; bids from third countries may be accepted under conditions of reciprocity and as specified in the procurement documents. Check the administrative annex for explicit territorial eligibility and any restrictions.

Target Sector:Life sciences, molecular biology, laboratory supplies, diagnostics, PCR and GMO detection, research infrastructures and laboratory services.

Mentioned Countries:No specific contracting countries are named in the document text beyond reference to JRC locations (for example JRC Ispra, Italy). The lead authority is the European Commission (Joint Research Centre) headquartered in EU locations. Geographic region: EU/EEA implied.

Project Stage:Commercial supply and delivery; this opportunity is for procurement and operational supply (commercial readiness and production). Stage: commercial supply / operational delivery (no research funding).

Funding Amount:Estimated overall procedure value: €700,000. Lot-level estimates: Lot €1 585,000; Lot €2 100,000; Lot €3 15,000.

Application Type:Open call / public tender. Submission method: electronic (ESUBMISSION) via the Funding & Tenders Portal eForms.

Nature of Support:Monetary contract payments for supplies delivered under the framework contract. Bidders receive commercial payments upon delivery and acceptance as per contract terms.

Application Stages:One formal submission stage (electronic tender) followed by evaluation and award. Procedurally: submission -> compliance and selection evaluation -> award and signature of framework contract -> call-offs/orders.

Success Rates:Not published. Success depends on compliance with submission requirements, technical conformity and competitive pricing. No historical success rate provided in the notice.

Co-funding Requirement:No co-funding required. This is a procurement for supply of goods; the contractor is paid for delivered items according to the contract.

Templates and application form structure

The procurement provides a set of mandatory templates that must be used by tenderers. Use of these templates and exact structure is mandatory where specified. The main templates and their intended use are summarised below. Tenderers should not alter the templates except where explicitly allowed in the instruction notes within each template file.

1. 1Declaration on Honour (03_Declaration_on_honour...docx): Mandatory declaration covering exclusion grounds and confirmation of information accuracy. Complete, sign and include in the administrative package.
2. 2Financial offer form (04_Annex_I_1_6_Lots-1,2,3_Financial_offer_form...xlsx): Mandatory pricing template. Fill unit prices, quantities where requested, total amounts per lot and overall totals. Ensure currency and VAT/incoterm fields are completed as instructed.
3. 3Technical offer documentation: produce a technical statement of conformity referencing the technical specifications in Annex I part 2 (05_Annex_I_Tender_specifications_2-Technical...pdf). Provide product datasheets, certificates of analysis, SDS, quality certificates and any evidence requested in the technical specifications.
4. 4Framework contract acceptance or comments (06_Annex_II_a_Framework_supply_contract_draft...pdf and 06_Annex_II_b_Part III Clauses...pdf): Indicate acceptance of draft contract clauses or clearly identify clauses subject to specific approval per the template instructions.
5. 5Order form and acceptance templates (07 and 08 PDFs): These are post-award forms; tenderers should familiarise themselves with how orders will be placed and how acceptance will be certified.
6. 6Customs procedure document (09 Annex IV): If delivering to JRC Ispra, ensure you comply with the customs introduction procedure and include any required shipping and customs documentation in your logistics plan.

Follow the administrative tender specifications for file naming, required annexes and the eSubmission packaging structure. Failure to use mandatory templates or to provide required supporting evidence may render an offer non-compliant and be excluded from evaluation.

Summary and explanation

This procurement is a direct purchase framework process run by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre to secure laboratory consumables and reagents required for DNA/RNA analysis and GMO detection. It is structured in three lots to cover a broad set of reagents, primers/probes and PCR enzymes. The opportunity is a public tender with electronic submission via the Funding & Tenders Portal, and bidders must use the provided templates (administrative forms, financial offer spreadsheet, declaration on honour and accept the draft framework contract) and comply with the detailed technical specifications. Evaluation is based on price as the award criterion, but mandatory technical compliance and administrative selection criteria must be met. The framework is intended to last 24 months with an option to renew once; individual orders will be placed under the framework using the provided order/acceptance templates. Interested suppliers should download the full procurement dossier, prepare administrative, technical and financial documentation according to the templates, address customs and safety clauses where applicable (especially when delivering to JRC Ispra), and submit electronically before the 2026-08-27 16:00:59 deadline. Further clarifications must be requested before the stated additional information deadline (2026-08-19). The procurement pack and templates are available on the portal and include the Invitation to Tender and all annexes ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1All official procurement documents including the Invitation to Tender, administrative and technical specifications, financial offer form, declaration on honour, draft contract and annexes are published on the Funding & Tenders Portal for call EC-JRC/IPR/2026/OP/2515: ec.europa.eu. Tenderers must consult these documents for full terms, exact requirements and any updates.

Opportunity Overview

This is an **open procedure tender** issued by the **European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC)** for the supply of primers, probes, molecular biology reagents, chemicals, and consumables used in **DNA/RNA analysis** and **GMO detection** via PCR methods [[2]][[15]].

Reference Number:EC-JRC/IPR/2024/OP/1555 [[2]].

Primary URL:EU Tender Portal.

Key Deadlines

Note:The current date is July 18, 2026. The initial deadline has passed; however, a **secondary deadline on August 27, 2026** remains open, suggesting a possible extension, phased delivery, or supplementary submission window [[2]].

Scope of Supply

The contract covers the **production and delivery** of materials essential for **real-time PCR (qPCR)** and GMO detection in food and feed, including [[2]][[15]]:

• Primers and dually labeled probes (oligonucleotides) for qPCR assays
• Pre-spotted plates (PSP) containing dried oligonucleotides for GMO detection
• Molecular biology reagents and chemicals for DNA/RNA extraction and amplification
• Consumables normally used in PCR-based GMO analysis methods

These supplies support the JRC’s role in **validating and controlling GMO detection methods** under EU Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 [[18]][[20]].

Who Can Apply (Eligibility)

Eligible applicants are **legal entities** capable of producing and delivering high-quality molecular biology reagents and consumables, including [[2]]:

1. 1Biotechnology and molecular diagnostics companies
2. 2Reagent and consumable manufacturers with ISO-certified production facilities
3. 3Research organizations with proven capability in oligonucleotide synthesis and qPCR assay development
4. 4Consortiums (if permitted under the tender specifications)

Applicants must demonstrate **technical competence**, **quality assurance systems**, and ability to meet **EU GMO detection standards** [[18]][[20]].

Technical and Quality Requirements

Key Specifications:Reagents must be **validated for qPCR**, with primers spanning exon-exon junctions for RNA targets and probes optimized for sensitivity [[2]][[16]].

1. 1Primers: 15–30 bases, GC content 40–60%, GC clamp at 3' end, no palindromes or primer-dimers [[9]]
2. 2Probe concentrations: typically 50–300 nM for hydrolysis probes; optimal at 250 nM [[11]][[16]]
3. 3Primer concentrations: 50–900 nM tested; optimal often 500 nM [[11]][[16]]
4. 4Product validity: minimum **6 months from delivery date** [[3]]
5. 5Specificity: methods must unambiguously identify GMO events and quantify around the 0.9% labeling threshold [[20]][[21]]

Suppliers must comply with **EU GMO legislation**, including event-specific detection and quantification requirements [[19]][[21]].

Funding and Contract Details

This is a **public procurement contract**, not a research grant; the EU pays the contractor directly for supplied goods [[2]].

Application Process

Tenders must be submitted **electronically** via the **Funders & Tenders Portal** [[8]]. Paper submissions are not accepted.

1. 1Access tender documents at the primary URL EU Tender Portal
2. 2Download Annex I (Technical Specifications) and Part 2 (Detailed qPCR requirements) [[2]]
3. 3Prepare technical and financial proposals with lot-validation protocols [[10]]
4. 4Submit before the August 27, 2026 deadline

For clarification, contact the JRC procurement team via the portal’s inquiry function [[2]].

Strategic Importance

This tender supports the EU’s **food safety and traceability framework**, ensuring reliable detection of GMOs in food and feed to enforce the **0.9% labeling threshold** [[21]][[15]]. The JRC uses these reagents to validate methods for both **authorized and unauthorized GMOs** [[15]].

Applicants should align their proposals with **EURL GMFF validation criteria** and demonstrate experience in **GMO-certified reference material (CRM) testing** [[18]].

Footnotes

1. 1Technical specifications and full tender documents are available in the official PDF: Tender Specs Part 2.