Support to the implementation of Circular Economy Strategy and Action Plan for Ukraine

The European Commission is offering a service contract worth €2.8 million to support the implementation of Ukraine's Circular Economy Strategy and Action Plan. This contract, structured as a restricted procedure, will assist Ukraine in aligning its legislation with EU standards, developing market-based solutions for circular economy practices, raising awareness, and fostering innovation. The eligibility is primarily focused on high-level expertise in environmental services, legislative drafting, institutional capacity building, and IT support, likely open to a wide range of organizations including consulting firms, research institutes, universities, and consortia.

The project is set to last for 32 months and has four strategic objectives:harmonizing Ukrainian waste and circular economy legislation with EU standards, creating market-based approaches for circular business models, promoting public awareness, and encouraging innovative solutions within the circular economy. The main beneficiary will be Ukraine's Ministry for Economy, Environment and Agriculture.

Submissions must be made electronically via the Funding and Tenders Portal, with a deadline for requests to participate set for March 16, 2026. Following this, shortlisted participants will submit detailed tenders. Evaluation will prioritize quality (80%) over price (20%). The entire project is EU-funded, requiring no co-financing from bidders.

Applicants will need a Participant Identification Code (PIC) to participate, which is necessary regardless of whether applying individually or as part of a consortium. This initiative is part of the EU's broader external assistance to support democratic and economic reforms in the region. Further technical guidelines and requirements for submissions, including file types and encryption protocols, are provided within the eSubmission system to ensure confidentiality and integrity in the procurement process.

The European Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, is offering a call for tenders, EC-ENEST/IEV/2026/EA-RP/0003, to support the implementation of the Circular Economy Strategy and Action Plan for Ukraine. The TED reference is 14/2026 43132-2026. The submission method is electronic and the call is currently open for submission.

The service contract aims to assist in implementing specific measures of the draft Circular Economy Strategy and Action Plan, which is expected to be adopted by the Government of Ukraine in 2026. The project is structured around four strategic objectives:

1. Harmonization of legislation with EU circular economy law, including regulations on specific waste streams and value chains and formal performance reporting. This may also require an update of the Circular Economy Strategy and Action Plan.

2. Market-based solutions for circular economy development.

3. Raising awareness of circular economy.

4. Innovative approaches in circular economy.

The project will be implemented through high-level expertise, legislative drafting, and institutional capacity building. IT support, including the development of technical specifications and IT platforms, may also be required. The Ministry for Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine will be the main beneficiary, with close cooperation with other stakeholders.

This is a restricted procedure. The estimated total value is €2,800,000. The TED publication date is 21/01/2026. The lead contracting authority is the European Commission, ENEST Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood. The main classification (CPV) code is 90700000 Environmental services. The nature of the contract is for services, with a maximum contract duration of 32 months. The award method is based on the best price-quality ratio. No framework agreement is mentioned. The place of delivery or performance is Ukraine, specifically identified by the code 20001031. The relevant programs are identified by the codes 42921254 Neighbourhood and 42921254 Neighbourhood.

The deadline for receipt of requests to participate is 16/03/2026 at 16:00 Europe/Kiev time.

Three documents are available for download:EN1 CLARIFICATIONS QA Invitation to submit a candidature, published on 29/01/2026, Version 1, with no translations available; ENa5f additional information contract notice CE TCF2024en Invitation to submit a request to participate, published on 21/01/2026, Version 1, with no translations available; and ENb3 req part form 2026-0003 Invitation to submit a request to participate, published on 21/01/2026, Version 1, with no translations available.

Submissions must be sent exclusively via electronic means to the address for submission provided.

A questions and answers section is available, requiring users to log in to create questions. There are currently no public Q&A items.

A list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) is provided, addressing technical aspects of the eSubmission system:

How to proceed if the system is slow or doesn’t work while uploading/downloading documents:Use the latest versions of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. If issues persist, clear the cache and cookies. Published on 13/02/2025 20:52.

Which Internet browsers does eSubmission support:Use the latest versions of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Refer to the System Requirements link for up-to-date technical recommendations. Published on 13/02/2025 20:52.

Is it possible to view the details of the submission after the deadline:No, the content of the submission is not accessible after submitting the tender because the system encrypts all attachments upon upload. Decryption is not allowed after the deadline. Published on 13/02/2025 20:50.

Where can I find my submissions in Manage My Area, in the Funding & Tenders portal:Submissions can be found in ‘My Submission(s)’ for open calls for tenders and requests to participate. Published on 17/10/2024 20:40.

Which size should attachments have:eSubmission accepts files less than 50 MB in size. Larger files will not be accepted. Published on 17/10/2024 20:36.

How should I name attachments in eSubmission:Follow the System Requirements for attachment names. Published on 03/10/2024 16:39.

Can I submit a video in eSubmission? Which formats are supported:Check the System Requirements of eSubmission. Published on 03/10/2024 16:37.

I received an invitation from the F&T Portal but cannot view the procurement documents:Invited candidates can only see the procurement documents after selecting an organisation in the F&T Portal, “My Invitations”. Published on 03/10/2024 16:37.

Do I need to validate my PIC in order to submit a tender in eSubmission:A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for participation as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium). Published on 03/10/2024 16:36.

I have an issue uploading a file in eSubmission and it’s giving me an error. What do I do:Ensure the file follows the technical requirements of the system. Published on 03/10/2024 16:36.

How many attachments can I upload per submission:The system allows a maximum of 200 files per tender. Check the eSubmission System Requirements for documentation. Published on 03/10/2024 16:35.

Why do tenderers need a PIC:It is mandatory to register for a PIC to submit a tender or a request to participate. Only one PIC per organisation must be used. Published on 23/04/2024 17:14.

How do I register my organisation and get a Participant Identification Code (PIC):First, check if the organisation is already registered using the Search PIC tool under 'How to Participate' > Participant Register. Published on 23/04/2024 16:07.

How many languages does the system support:The system supports all 24 official EU languages. Published on 01/04/2024 19:56.

Which is the character set encoding in the system:The character set encoding is UTF-8. Published on 22/02/2024 23:58.

Does the system use encryption to ensure the integrity and the confidentiality of the information: Yes, the system encrypts all uploaded documents, using an asymmetric key as an encryption mechanism. Published on 22/02/2024 23:57.

Which file types does the system support:The supported file types depend on the type of submission. The allowed file types are specified within the system requirements linked to the procedure in question. Published on 21/02/2024 23:55.

Can I view and edit my draft submission:Until the submission deadline, submissions in draft status can be edited, viewed, and deleted. Published on 24/03/2023 21:32.

In the submission report, under the name of our entity, "Legal form:UNKNOWN" is displayed while in the system, our legal form was correctly displayed. Is this a problem for the submission: No, it is just a display issue and is not blocking for submission. Published on 03/08/2021 22:07.

I sent my submission on time and a few days later, I received an automatic email informing me that the deadline for the reception of submissions had been reached. Does this mean that my submission was not correctly sent: No, this is an auto-generated notification. Until the deadline, you had the possibility of withdrawing. Published on 03/08/2021 22:05.

In summary, this call for tenders seeks a service provider to support Ukraine in implementing its Circular Economy Strategy and Action Plan. The project focuses on harmonizing legislation with EU law, developing market-based solutions, raising awareness, and fostering innovative approaches to circular economy. The selected provider will need to demonstrate expertise in environmental services, legislative drafting, institutional capacity building, and potentially IT support. The project has a budget of €2.8 million and a duration of 32 months. Interested parties must submit their requests to participate electronically by 16/03/2026. The European Commission emphasizes the use of its eSubmission system, providing detailed technical guidelines and support for applicants. A key requirement is the possession of a Participant Identification Code (PIC) for all tenderers.

Eligible Applicant Types:The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated, but given the nature of the call for tenders, it is likely that eligible applicants include organizations with expertise in environmental services, legislative drafting, institutional capacity building, and IT support. This could include consulting firms, research institutes, universities, and other entities with relevant experience. The call mentions the need for high-level expertise, suggesting that applicants should have a proven track record in the relevant fields.

Funding Type:The funding type is a service contract.

Consortium Requirement:The consortium requirement is not explicitly stated, but the description mentions "a member of a group (consortium)" when referring to the Personal Identification Code (PIC), suggesting that consortia are eligible to apply. It is possible that single applicants are also eligible.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):The geographic eligibility is not explicitly stated, but the project focuses on supporting Ukraine. Given that the call is managed by the European Commission, ENEST - Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood, it is likely that applicants from EU member states, EU candidate countries, and countries within the Eastern Neighbourhood region are eligible.

Target Sector:The target sector is environmental services, specifically related to the circular economy. This includes harmonization of legislation with EU circular economy law, market-based solutions for circular economy development, raising awareness of circular economy, and innovative approaches in circular economy. IT support for technical specifications and IT platforms is also included.

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

Project Stage:The project stage is implementation. The service contract will assist the implementation of specific measures of the draft Circular Economy Strategy and Action Plan for Ukraine.

Funding Amount:The estimated total value of the contract is €2,800,000.

Application Type:The application type is a call for tenders, specifically a restricted procedure.

Nature of Support:Beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for services rendered.

Application Stages:The procedure type is "Restricted procedure" which usually involves two stages: a request to participate and a full proposal submission for those who are shortlisted. Therefore, there are likely 2 stages.

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 is a call for tenders from the European Commission, ENEST - Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood, for a service contract to support the implementation of the Circular Economy Strategy and Action Plan for Ukraine. The project aims to assist Ukraine in aligning its legislation with EU circular economy law, developing market-based solutions, raising awareness, and implementing innovative approaches in the circular economy. The project will involve high-level expertise, legislative drafting, institutional capacity building, and potentially IT support. The main beneficiary is the Ministry for Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine. The estimated total value of the contract is €2,800,000, and the maximum contract duration is 32 months. The procedure type is a restricted procedure, and submissions must be sent electronically. The deadline for receipt of requests to participate is 16/03/2026 16:00 Europe/Kiev. Organizations with expertise in environmental services, legislative drafting, institutional capacity building, and IT support are encouraged to apply. A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory to participate in this call for tenders as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium). The system supports all 24 official EU languages and accepts files that are less than 50 MB in size, with a maximum of 200 files per tender. The system encrypts all uploaded documents, using an asymmetric key as an encryption mechanism.