Support implementation of the EU acquis in the rail sector through establishment and capacity building of the required rail authorities and systems

The European Commission has issued a call for tenders aimed at supporting the implementation of EU standards in the Albanian railway sector. This call, identified as EC-ENEST/TIA/2025/EA-RP/0081, falls under a restricted procedure and requires non-electronic submissions. The estimated value of the contract is 700,000 EUR, with a maximum duration of 15 months. The primary goal is to align Albanian railway policies and legislation with EU acquis and build the administrative capacity of newly established railway authorities and companies.

Key activities include drafting a legal framework for the railway sector in line with EU requirements and enhancing the institutional capacities of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy (MIE) and other relevant authorities. The nature of the procurement is for services, specifically classified under CPV code 63711000 for support services for railway transport.

Albania is the sole country indicated for project performance, and while the call is open for submissions, international entities may participate provided they can deliver services in Albania. A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for participation, which can be required whether applying as a sole candidate or as part of a consortium. The application deadline for requests to participate is August 6, 2025, at 16:30 local time.

The award of the contract will be based on the best price-quality ratio, and a structured submission process will take place, which includes a request to participate followed by a full proposal for shortlisted candidates. The services sought aim to substantially improve Albania's railway infrastructure and regulatory frameworks, facilitating the country's EU pre-accession efforts. There are no specified co-funding requirements or success rates mentioned in the materials provided.

The European Commission Directorate-General for Research and Innovation has published a call for tenders to support the implementation of the EU acquis in the Albanian rail sector. The procedure identifier is EC-ENEST/TIA/2025/EA-RP/0081. The TED reference is 125/2025 431669-2025. This is a restricted procedure, and submissions must be non-electronic. The call is currently open for submission.

The primary objective of this contract is to provide support to the Albanian railway sector, aligning its policies and legislation with the EU acquis. It also aims to build the administrative capacity of newly established railway authorities, bodies, and companies, enabling them to effectively implement sector policies and adopted legislation. The support will focus on the following areas:

1. Prioritizing and drafting the railway legal framework in line with the EU acquis.
2. Improving and strengthening the institutional capacities of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy (MIE) and other Albanian Railway Authorities through capacity building activities, with a special focus on the approximation and implementation of the EU acquis.

The estimated total value of the contract is 700,000 EUR. The lead contracting authority is the Government of Albania. The main classification (CPV) code is 63711000, which refers to support services for railway transport. The nature of the contract is for services, and the maximum contract duration is 15 months. The award method will be based on the best price-quality ratio. No framework agreement is specified. The place of delivery or performance is Albania, specifically designated by the code 20000825. The program associated with this call is the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance, identified by the code 42921320.

The TED publication date for this call is 03/07/2025. The deadline for receipt of requests to participate is 06/08/2025 at 16:30 Europe/Tirane.

Submissions must be sent exclusively to the address for submission provided in the procurement documents, as the submission method is non-electronic.

One document is available for download: Additional information about the Contract Notice Invitation to submit a request to participate, published on 03/07/2025, Version 1. No translations are available.

There are no public Q&A items available at this time.

A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory to participate in this call for tenders, whether as a sole candidate/tenderer or as part of a group (consortium).

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This call for tenders focuses on providing essential support to Albania in aligning its railway sector with EU standards and regulations. This involves drafting legal frameworks, building institutional capacity within the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy and other relevant authorities, and ensuring effective implementation of sector policies. The overall goal is to facilitate Albania's pre-accession process by strengthening its railway infrastructure and regulatory environment in accordance with EU requirements. The funding available is 700,000 EUR and the project duration is 15 months.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated, but based on the nature of the tender, it is likely that eligible applicants include companies, organizations, or consortia with expertise in railway transport, legal framework drafting, and capacity building, particularly in relation to EU Acquis implementation. Given that the lead contracting authority is the Government of Albania, it is possible that international organizations and companies are eligible, but local expertise or partnerships may be favored.

Funding Type: The funding type is procurement, specifically a service contract. The call is for tenders, indicating that the contracting authority is seeking to procure services from an external provider.

Consortium Requirement: The requirement for a consortium is not explicitly stated. However, given the scope of the contract, which includes legal framework drafting and capacity building, it is possible that a consortium with diverse expertise may be advantageous, if not required. The text mentions that a Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory to participate in a call for tenders as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium).

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The primary geographic eligibility is focused on Albania, as the project aims to support the Albanian railway sector. However, the call is open for submission, suggesting that entities from other countries may be eligible to apply, provided they can deliver the services in Albania. The Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) is mentioned, which typically involves entities from the EU and candidate countries.

Target Sector: The target sector is railway transport, specifically focusing on aligning the Albanian railway sector with the EU Acquis. This includes legal framework drafting, institutional capacity building, and implementation of EU policies and legislation in the railway sector.

Mentioned Countries: Albania is explicitly mentioned as the place of delivery or performance.

Project Stage: The project stage is implementation and capacity building. The tender aims to support the implementation of the EU Acquis in the Albanian railway sector and build the capacity of the relevant authorities and bodies. This suggests that the project is beyond the research or development phase and is focused on practical implementation and operationalization.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the contract is 700,000 EUR.

Application Type: The application type is an open call for tenders, with a restricted procedure. The submission method is non-electronic.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for services rendered. This is a service contract where the selected entity will be paid for providing support in drafting legal frameworks and building administrative capacity.

Application Stages: The procedure type is a restricted procedure, implying at least two stages: a request to participate and a full proposal submission for those who are shortlisted.

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

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

Summary:

This opportunity is a call for tenders issued by the Government of Albania, with the aim of supporting the implementation of the EU Acquis in the Albanian railway sector. The project seeks to enhance Albania's railway policies and legislation to align with EU standards, and to build the administrative capacity of Albanian railway authorities and companies. The contract, valued at an estimated 700,000 EUR, involves drafting the railway legal framework and strengthening the institutional capacities of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy (MIE) and other Albanian Railway Authorities. The maximum contract duration is 15 months. The procedure is a restricted procedure, and submissions must be made non-electronically. The deadline for receipt of requests to participate is August 6, 2025, at 16:30 Europe/Tirane time. The tender is open for submission, and the award method will be based on the best price-quality ratio. A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory to participate. The selected entity will be responsible for providing services related to legal framework drafting and capacity building to support the Albanian railway sector's alignment with EU standards.