Support to detection of EU plant pests: trapping (LOT 1), eDNA (LOT 2) and remote sensing imagery (LOT 3)

This opportunity involves a call for tenders from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) titled "Support to detection of EU plant pests: trapping (LOT 1), eDNA (LOT 2), and remote sensing imagery (LOT 3)." The total estimated value of the procurement is 1,600,000 EUR, divided into three distinct lots. Lot 1 focuses on trapping methods for insect pest detection, with an estimated value of 750,000 EUR. Lot 2 involves eDNA analyses for early pest detection and surveillance, estimated at 500,000 EUR. Lot 3 utilizes remote sensing technologies to identify host plants and support pest detection, valued at 350,000 EUR.

The procurement aims to aid EU Member States in surveying Union Quarantine pests and other pest categories requiring emergency measures. The nature of the contract is a service, with a maximum duration of 48 months. The award will be based on the best price-quality ratio, and the procedure is classified as a framework agreement without reopening the competition.

Key dates include the publication date on October 16, 2025, with a submission deadline set for February 26, 2026, at 14:30. The public opening of tenders is scheduled for March 2, 2026. Questions regarding the tender must be submitted by February 18, 2026. Submission is electronic, and applicants must hold a Personal Identification Code (PIC) to participate.

Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to, research institutes, universities, and specialized private companies with expertise relevant to entomology, molecular biology, and remote sensing technologies. The opportunity does not explicitly exclude SMEs but suggests that the technical complexity may favor larger entities. Both individual organizations and consortia may apply, enabling smaller players to collaborate on delivering comprehensive services.

The procurement emphasizes strengthening plant pest surveillance capabilities across EU territories, supporting efforts to enhance food security and protect biodiversity. Successful contractors will receive monetary payments for services rendered, structured under the terms of the framework contract. This procurement does not involve co-funding, as it is fully funded by EFSA, reflecting a traditional buyer-supplier relationship.

Overall, the initiative represents a strategic effort to modernize pest detection methods and improve monitoring systems crucial for maintaining agricultural health and environmental integrity within the EU.

This is a call for tenders with procedure identifier EFSA/2025/OP/0026, published on 16/10/2025 by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The call is titled "Support to detection of EU plant pests: trapping (LOT 1), eDNA (LOT 2) and remote sensing imagery (LOT 3)". The estimated total value of the tender is 1,600,000 EUR. The submission method is electronic and the call is currently open for submission.

The tender is divided into three lots:

Lot 1: Trapping methods for the detection of insects pests. The estimated value for this lot is 750,000 EUR.
Lot 2: eDNA analyses to support the early detection and surveillance of pests. The estimated value for this lot is 500,000 EUR.
Lot 3: Remote sensing technologies for the identification of target population (host plants) for pest surveys and for supporting the detection of pests. The estimated value for this lot is 350,000 EUR.

The description for all lots is supporting the EU MSs with the surveys of Union Quarantine pests, Protected Zone pests, and pests for which emergency measures are in place. The nature of the contract for all lots is services, and the maximum contract duration is 48 months. The award method is best price-quality ratio. The framework agreement is a framework agreement, without reopening of competition. The main classification (CPV) code for all lots is 73000000.

Key milestones include:

TED publication date: 16/10/2025
Date and time of public opening: 02/03/2026 14:30 Europe/Rome
Deadline for receipt of tenders: 26/02/2026 14:30 Europe/Rome
Contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after: 18/02/2026 07:00 Europe/Rome

The following documents are available for download:

Invitation to tender OCInvitation letter (Published on 16/10/2025, All lots, Version 1, No translations available)
Tender specifications (Published on 16/10/2025, All lots, Version 1, No translations available)
Financial offer Lot 3 (Financial offer form, Published on 16/10/2025, Lot 3, Version 1, No translations available)
Financial Offer Lot 2 (Financial offer form, Published on 16/10/2025, Lot 2, Version 1, No translations available)
Financial offer Lot 1 (Financial offer form, Published on 16/10/2025, Lot 1, Version 1, No translations available)
Draft Contract Lot 2 (Draft contract, Published on 16/10/2025, Lot 2, Version 1, No translations available)
Draft Contract Lot 3 (Draft contract, Published on 16/10/2025, Lot 3, Version 1, No translations available)
Draft contract Lot 1 (Draft contract, Published on 16/10/2025, Lot 1, Version 1, No translations available)

Submissions must be sent exclusively at the address for submission given. The submission method is electronic.

A public Q&A section is available.

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In summary, this is a call for tenders from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to support EU Member States in surveying Union Quarantine pests, Protected Zone pests, and pests for which emergency measures are in place. The tender is divided into three lots: trapping methods for insect pests, eDNA analyses for pest detection, and remote sensing technologies for identifying host plants and detecting pests. The total estimated value is 1.6 million EUR, and the deadline for submissions is February 26, 2026. The call aims to enhance the detection and surveillance of plant pests across the EU, utilizing various scientific and technological approaches. Interested parties can submit tenders electronically for one or more of the lots, adhering to the specified requirements and deadlines.

Eligible Applicant Types: The opportunity details do not explicitly specify eligible applicant types. However, given the nature of the tender (services related to plant pest detection), it can be inferred that eligible applicants could include research institutes, universities, private companies (including SMEs and large enterprises) with expertise in entomology, molecular biology, remote sensing, and related fields. Government agencies involved in plant health and pest surveillance could also be eligible.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is procurement, specifically a service contract. The call is for tenders, indicating that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is seeking to procure services.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity details do not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. It is possible that both single applicants and consortia are eligible, but this should be confirmed in the tender specifications.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The opportunity aims to support EU Member States (MSs) with surveys of plant pests. Therefore, it is highly likely that the geographic eligibility is primarily focused on entities located within the EU. However, the specific eligibility criteria should be checked in the official call documents.

Target Sector: The program targets the agriculture/food sector, specifically focusing on plant health and pest management. It also involves elements of environmental monitoring and potentially remote sensing/ICT.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity explicitly mentions the EU Member States (MSs) as the beneficiaries of the services to be procured.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on implementation and service provision. The tender seeks to procure services to support existing surveillance and detection efforts for plant pests. This suggests a need for established methodologies and technologies rather than early-stage research or development.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the tender is 1,600,000 EUR. The estimated values for each lot are: Lot 1: 750,000 EUR, Lot 2: 500,000 EUR, and Lot 3: 350,000 EUR. These values provide a rough indication of the scale of funding available for each service contract.

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

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive non-monetary services. The EU MSs will benefit from the services provided by the contracted entities. The contracted entities will receive money in exchange for their services.

Application Stages: The number of stages is not explicitly mentioned, but a typical tender process involves at least two stages: submission of a tender and evaluation of tenders. Depending on the complexity of the tender, there may be additional stages such as clarification requests or contract negotiation.

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

Co-funding Requirement: The co-funding requirement is not mentioned in the provided text.

Summary:

This opportunity is a call for tenders issued by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to support EU Member States in the detection and surveillance of plant pests. The tender is divided into three lots: Lot 1 focuses on trapping methods for insect pest detection, Lot 2 involves eDNA analyses for early pest detection and surveillance, and Lot 3 utilizes remote sensing technologies to identify host plants and support pest detection. The estimated total value of the tender is 1,600,000 EUR, with individual lot values ranging from 350,000 EUR to 750,000 EUR. The contracts awarded will be service contracts with a maximum duration of 48 months. The submission method is electronic, and the deadline for receipt of tenders is February 26, 2026. The opportunity targets entities with expertise in entomology, molecular biology, remote sensing, or related fields, and the services procured will directly benefit EU Member States in their efforts to manage plant health and prevent the spread of harmful pests. Tenderers need a PIC, Personal Identification Code, to participate. The system supports 24 official EU languages. The maximum number of documents allowed per tender is 200 files. The eSubmission system accepts files that are less than 50 MB in size.