Technical Assistance Team for the Safe Seas Africa and Red Sea/Horn of Africa Programme II

This tender seeks a Technical Assistance Team to provide implementation, coordination, monitoring and strategic oversight for two EU-funded regional maritime security programmes (Safe Seas Africa and Red Sea/Horn of Africa). Contracting authority: European Commission DG INTPA; estimated value €3,000,000 for a 48-month contract starting 30 June 2026 with submission deadline 05 August 2026 14:00:59 UTC. Geographic focus covers the Western Indian Ocean and Red Sea/Horn of Africa (including Kenya and Mauritius) and the services must strengthen national and regional ownership, coordination with regional centres (RMIFC/RCOC) and results-based monitoring. Eligible economic operators established in the EU/EEA or in third countries with access to EU procurement may apply via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal; award criteria weight quality 80% and price 20%.

Opportunity type and purpose

Summary

Procurement (tender) to provide a Technical Assistance Team to support implementation, coordination, monitoring, strategic advice, knowledge management and reporting for two EU-funded regional maritime security programmes covering the Western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea/Horn of Africa. Services include planning support, partner coordination, results-based monitoring, communication and support to evaluations and visibility.

Who can apply:Legal entities (contractors or consortia) able to deliver long-term technical assistance and advisory services in international maritime security programme management; submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal is required ¹.

1. 1Scope: programme-level supervision, joint planning, stakeholder engagement, information sharing with RMIFC and RCOC, results-based monitoring and EU policy alignment
2. 2Services: short-term experts, advisory support, preparation of operational documents, knowledge capitalisation and visibility
3. 3Geography: Sub-Saharan Africa focus with beneficiaries including Kenya and Mauritius and regional partners

Lead contracting authority:European Commission, DG INTPA. Tender documents (request to participate, additional information) published on the portal; follow eSubmission rules on the Funding & Tenders Portal Tender details. ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Access the full procurement dossier and submission instructions on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal: ec.europa.eu

Basic facts and administrative data

Opportunity Title:Technical Assistance Team for the Safe Seas Africa and Red Sea/Horn of Africa Programme. Contracting authority: European Commission, Directorate-General for International Partnerships (INTPA). Call identifier: EC-INTPA/MRU/2026/EA-RP/0045. Procurement type: services (CPV 73220000). Estimated overall contract value: €3,000,000. Planned duration: 48 months. Publication date: 2026-06-30. Tender submission method: mandatory electronic submission via Funding & Tenders Portal (eSubmission). Deadlines: two key deadlines were published — 2026-01-01T10:00:59.000Z (earlier internal date recorded) and the formal submission deadline 2026-08-05T14:00:59+00:00 (two-stage procedure final deadline). Start date indicated: 2026-06-30. Geographic focus of implementation: Sub-Saharan Africa, specifically covering the Western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea/Horn of Africa regions; benefitting countries explicitly listed include Kenya and Mauritius.

Source and where to apply:Apply and consult full procurement documents on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal: Tender details ¹.

Purpose, objectives and expected outputs (detailed)

Purpose:The contract will provide technical assistance to implement, coordinate, monitor and provide strategic support for two EU-funded regional maritime security programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa: a programme covering the Western Indian Ocean and a programme covering the Red Sea and Horn of Africa. The technical assistance must ensure effective, coherent and visible delivery of programme activities, reinforce coordination among implementing partners and stakeholders, and contribute to the sustainability of the regional maritime security architecture.

1. 1Core programme-level objectives to be covered by the Technical Assistance Team: 1) Ensure effective coordination, supervision and coherence of actions at programme level, including complementarity and synergies among implementing partners. 2) Strengthen effective ownership of programme activities at country and regional level. 3) Strengthen coordination and cooperation between regional and national partners and the Regional Coordination Operations Centre (RCOC) and Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre (RMIFC). 4) Ensure effective results-based management and reporting at programme level. 5) Ensure coherence and coordination with other EU initiatives and policies.

Detailed expected outputs (as listed in the procurement notice):

1. 11.1 Supervision of implementation of activities and coordination between different implementing partners at programme level.
2. 21.2 Strengthened joint planning and information sharing practices supporting coherent implementation across the two programmes.
3. 31.3 Strengthened coherence, complementarity and strategic alignment between the two programmes and implementing partners.
4. 42.1 Engagement of national and regional stakeholders in planning, implementation and follow-up ensured at programme level.
5. 52.2 A mechanism to ensure follow-up, accountability and sustained engagement in programme implementation is established.
6. 63.1 Strengthened information sharing between national actors and the RMIFC and RCOC.
7. 73.2 Improved sustainable partnerships and mutual trust between national and regional stakeholders and the two centres.
8. 84.1 A comprehensive results-based monitoring system is established and applied at programme level.
9. 94.2 Timely, accurate and comprehensive reporting by implementing partners is ensured at programme level.
10. 104.3 Programmes are adjusted and steered on a need-to basis informed by evidence and analytical insights.
11. 115.1 Systematic alignment of activities with relevant EU policies, strategies and initiatives.
12. 125.2 Identification and operationalisation of synergies and complementarities between different EU interventions.
13. 135.3 Structured information sharing and communication with EU institutions and stakeholders is ensured.

Key tasks and deliverables

Core tasks for the contractor include support to planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting, communication, knowledge management and coordination with implementing partners, donors, regional organisations, national authorities and relevant international actors. Specific responsibilities include preparing agendas, discussion papers, progress reports, terms of reference, technical specifications and other operational documentation; providing ad hoc advisory services and short-term expertise; ensuring capitalisation and sharing of knowledge, technical observations and lessons learnt via the designated knowledge sharing platform; supporting programme audit, evaluation and visibility requirements; and contributing to the preparation and functioning of technical and steering coordination mechanisms.

Who can apply and eligibility

The procurement notice addresses suppliers of services and is published by the European Commission (INTPA). The procurement documents include an Invitation to submit a Request to Participate and a Request to Participate form (document: Request to participate form_V1.docx) and additional information documents. The notice does not limit applicants to a single legal form in the summary; typical eligible applicant types for this kind of EU international cooperation contract include: international consultancies, large companies, SMEs, NGOs, research institutes, universities, non-profit organisations, and consortia or joint ventures combining several of the above. Public authorities may participate only where allowed by the procurement rules and if they satisfy selection criteria. Applicants must meet the selection and exclusion criteria set out in the procurement documents and provide the requested documentation through the eSubmission process.

Eligible Applicant Types (detailed):Expected eligible applicant types: international consultancies and service providers, large enterprises, SMEs, NGOs and civil society organisations, universities and research institutes, think tanks, non-profit organisations, public-private partnerships where legally permitted, and consortia or joint bids combining several entities. The procurement documentation should be consulted for exact legal and financial eligibility and for any specific exclusions or mandatory documents.

Procedure, consortium and application format

Procedure type:open procurement via the Funding & Tenders Portal with electronic submission (ESUBMISSION). The procurement listing indicates a two-stage process and provides a Request to Participate form as part of the Invitation to submit a request to participate. The submission method is required to be electronic via the Portal and applicants must follow the instructions in the portal documents. The contracting notice provides supporting documents including the Request to Participate form and an Additional information contract notice PDF.

1. 1Consortium requirement: The tender documents typically allow either a single economic operator or a consortium/joint venture. For large, multi-disciplinary assignments such as this, formation of a consortium or subcontracting arrangement is common and permitted; precise rules on lead partner, joint liability and the composition of the consortium must be confirmed in the procurement specifications.
2. 2Application type and submission: open call for tenders through Funding & Tenders Portal; mandatory eSubmission.
3. 3Templates and supporting documents provided: Request to participate form (Request to participate form_V1.docx) and Additional information contract notice (PDF), both published on 2026-06-30. Applicants must complete the Request to Participate form and provide supporting documentation as indicated.

Selection, award criteria and co-funding

Selection and award:The tender summary shows the award will be based on quality and price. The awarding criteria weightings published in the procurement metadata indicate quality at 80 and price at 20. Applicants must therefore present a strong technical and organisational proposal addressing the objectives and outputs and competitive pricing. Selection and exclusion criteria and documentary evidence requirements will be contained in the procurement documents.

Co-funding requirement:No co-funding from applicants is indicated in the procurement summary; this is a procurement of services by the European Commission and the contract will be financed from EU funds. Applicants should verify if any specific financial contributions or cost-sharing conditions are required in the tender dossier, but typically service contracts of this nature do not require beneficiary co-funding.

Financial and administrative details

Estimated overall contract amount:€3,000,000 (three million euros). Contract duration: 48 months. Currency of procedure: EUR. The procurement is classified under EU-funded programmes for Sub-Saharan Africa (RELEX/INTPA). The procurement is flagged as not SME-suitable (smeSuitableIndicator: false). Electronic payment and orders are supported post-award.

Geographic and thematic scope

The contract supports EU-funded regional maritime security programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa. Regionally it covers the Western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea/Horn of Africa. Explicitly mentioned benefitting countries include Kenya and Mauritius; the wider geographic zone is Sub-Saharan Africa with regional coordination involving the RMIFC and RCOC and national stakeholders in multiple partner countries.

1. 1Target sectors and themes: maritime security, regional cooperation, security-sector reform support, information sharing and fusion centres, capacity building of national and regional maritime institutions, results-based management and monitoring, knowledge management, donor coordination and policy alignment with EU external action instruments.

Project maturity and expected contractor profile

Expected project stage and maturity:implementation, coordination and programme management of ongoing regional programmes — the assignment requires experienced operational delivery capacity (programme management, results-based monitoring and evaluation, maritime/security policy expertise, stakeholder engagement at national and regional levels). Contractors should be able to provide senior experts, short-term specialists and team-based technical assistance across governance, coordination, M&E, communications and operational support functions.

Application stages, success rate and assessment

Application stages:The notice indicates a two-stage procurement process (Request to Participate followed by full tender submission). Stage 1: submission of Request to Participate and pre-selection evidence as required. Stage 2: invitation to tender and submission of the full technical and financial offer (if the procurement follows a typical two-stage approach). The procurement documents and portal will detail exact staging and timelines. Success rates: not published; EU service tenders of this scale typically receive a limited number of qualified bids (success rates vary widely depending on competition and consortia formed), therefore no definitive success-rate percentage is provided in the notice.

Templates and application structure

The portal provides an Invitation to submit a Request to Participate and a Request to Participate form (Request to participate form_V1.docx). Applicants must use the provided Request to Participate template for the initial stage. The full tender stage will have templates and required formats (technical proposal, financial offer, CVs of proposed experts, legal and financial capacity evidence). Key documents to prepare: completed Request to Participate form; statement of technical capacity and track record in maritime security and regional programmes; proposed organisational structure and team; CVs of key experts; methodology for achieving the five programme objectives; monitoring and evaluation approach; knowledge management and communication plan; financial offer and breakdown; proof of legal status and financial standing; certificates needed for exclusion/selection criteria. Exact structure and required annexes are in the procurement dossier and must be strictly followed.

Risk, compliance and other contract conditions

The procurement summary references standard EU procurement selection and exclusion requirements and indicates that applicants must consult procurement documents for full details. The contract will require compliance with EU visibility rules, reporting requirements, audit and evaluation support, and potential sub-contracting rules. The notice flags that the procedure is not SME-specific and that award criteria emphasize quality (80) over price (20).

How to prepare a competitive bid

To be competitive applicants should:clearly demonstrate multi-disciplinary team capacity and previous experience managing large regional maritime security or security-sector programmes; propose a robust methodology for results-based management and evidence-based steering; show proven experience in stakeholder engagement at national and regional levels, including with regional centres such as RMIFC and RCOC; present a detailed workplan, staffing schedule and cost breakdown compatible with a four-year programme; include examples of knowledge management and lessons-learnt systems and digital platforms; explain approaches to ensuring sustainability, national ownership and coordination with other EU initiatives. Because quality carries 80 of the weight, technical excellence, methodology, expert profiles and past performance must be prioritised in the submission.

Applicants must carefully consult and follow all instructions in the official tender documents published on the Funding & Tenders Portal. Templates (Request to Participate) and an Additional information document were published with the contract notice and should be completed and uploaded via eSubmission by the deadline.

Mentioned countries and regions:Countries explicitly mentioned in the procurement metadata: Kenya; Mauritius. Regions specified: Sub-Saharan Africa, Western Indian Ocean, Red Sea/Horn of Africa, and regional centres RMIFC and RCOC.

Concluding summary

This is an EU procurement for a Technical Assistance Team to support two regional maritime security programmes funded by the EU in Sub-Saharan Africa (Western Indian Ocean and Red Sea/Horn of Africa). The contract is a multi-year service contract worth an estimated €3,000,000 over 48 months, managed by the European Commission Directorate-General for International Partnerships (INTPA). The contractor must deliver programme-level coordination, strengthen national and regional ownership, improve information sharing with regional fusion and coordination centres (RMIFC and RCOC), establish and apply comprehensive results-based monitoring and reporting, align activities with EU policies and operationalise synergies with other EU interventions. Applicants must submit electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal using the provided Request to Participate template and follow the two-stage procedure. Quality is the dominant award criterion (80) and applicants should prioritise technical quality, experienced teams and demonstrated regional maritime/security programme management capacity. For full legal, submission and evaluation details, applicants must consult the tender dossier and templates on the Funding & Tenders Portal Tender details ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Tender and procurement documents are available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal: ec.europa.eu. Request to participate form and Additional information contract notice were published on 2026-06-30.

Opportunity Overview

This tender seeks a Technical Assistance Team (TAT) to support the implementation, coordination, monitoring, and strategic oversight of two EU-funded regional maritime security programmes covering the Western Indian Ocean (Safe Seas Africa) and the Red Sea/Horn of Africa ¹. The contract aims to reinforce coherence among implementing partners, strengthen national and regional ownership, and ensure the sustainability of the regional maritime security architecture ².

Key Contract Details

Who Should Apply

Eligible applicants are economic operators (natural or legal persons) established in the EU/EEA or in third countries with access to EU procurement procedures, possessing strong expertise in maritime security, technical assistance, programme management, and regional coordination ³. Ideal candidates include international NGOs, specialized consultancy firms, or research institutions with prior experience in EU-funded maritime projects (e.g., MASE, Safe Seas Africa, PASSMAR) ⁴.

Required Expertise:Applicants must demonstrate capability in planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting, knowledge management, and coordination with donors, regional organisations (e.g., IGAD, IOC), national authorities, and international actors like INTERPOL, IMO, and UNODC ⁵.

Core Objectives & Expected Outputs

1. 1Ensure effective coordination, supervision, and coherence of actions across both programmes, including synergies among partners.
2. 2Strengthen national and regional ownership of programme activities.
3. 3Enhance coordination between national partners and the Regional Coordination Operations Centre (RCOC) and Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre (RMIFC).
4. 4Establish a comprehensive results-based monitoring system and ensure timely, accurate reporting.
5. 5Align programme activities with relevant EU policies, strategies, and initiatives (e.g., Global Gateway, EU Maritime Security Strategy).

Award Criteria

The contract will be awarded based on a two-stage evaluation:80% weight on quality (technical proposal, methodology, team expertise) and 20% weight on price (financial offer) ⁶. Quality assessment will focus on the contractor's ability to deliver the five core objectives and produce the specified outputs effectively.

Application Process

Interested parties must submit a request to participate via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal before the deadline. The process includes submitting a 'Request to participate form' and 'Additional information contract notice' as per the procurement documents ⁷. Electronic submission is mandatory, and all communications must be conducted through the portal ⁸.

Official Portal Link:Apply here: EU Tender Details

Footnotes

1. 1Official tender description: EU Funding & Tenders Portal
2. 2Background on Safe Seas Africa programme: EEAS Mauritius
3. 3EU Public Procurement rules for third countries: Living in EU
4. 4Examples of similar technical assistance projects: DAI PASSMAR
5. 5Regional partners involved: INTERPOL, IMO, UNODC, IGAD: YouTube - Red Sea Maritime Security
6. 6Award criteria weights (80% quality, 20% price): Scraped Context - Awarding Terms
7. 7Required documents: Request to participate form and Additional information: Scraped Context - Cft Documents
8. 8Electronic submission method: EU Funding & Tenders Portal Submission Method