Technical assistance to improve strategic framework in nature protection sector and further implementation of Natura 2000 in the Republic of Serbia

The opportunity presented is a call for tenders aimed at providing technical assistance to enhance the strategic framework for nature protection and the implementation of the Natura 2000 network in Serbia. The procedure identifier for this tender is EC-ENEST/BEG/2025/EA-RP/0059, and the estimated total value of the contract is €3,500,000. The contract duration is set for 36 months, and submissions must be made electronically as part of an open call.

Eligible applicants include large enterprises, consultancies, and other qualified economic operators capable of delivering the required services, while small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are specifically marked as unsuitable. Applicants can participate either as a sole entity or as part of a consortium. The primary geographical focus of the tender is Serbia, which is an IPA (Instrument for Pre-Accession) country.

The target sector is environmental planning and nature protection, specifically focusing on biodiversity conservation and the implementation of Natura 2000. The contract encourages strengthening regulatory frameworks and improving local capacities for nature protection legislation.

This procurement contract is not categorized as a grant but rather a service contract, implying that beneficiaries will receive monetary compensation for services rendered. The nature of support is focused on continuous technical assistance to improve existing frameworks and management practices within the Natura 2000 network, including capacity building for local authorities and public awareness initiatives.

The application process consists of a restricted procedure, which typically involves at least two stages: an initial selection phase to solicit requests to participate, followed by a full proposal submission for shortlisted candidates. The deadline for receipt of requests to participate is July 7, 2025.

The award method will be based on the best price-quality ratio. Candidates must have a Personal Identification Code (PIC) to participate, and the submission process does not require co-funding. The project aligns with the Pre-Accession Countries/New Member States Programme and emphasizes adherence to EU standards for environmental protection.

The eSubmission system utilized for this tender supports multiple languages and employs encryption for submitted documents, ensuring confidentiality and integrity throughout the process. Interested parties are required to follow specific technical guidelines for submissions, such as limitations on file sizes and types.

In summary, this tender represents a significant opportunity for experienced organizations in environmental services to contribute to critical nature protection efforts in Serbia, backed by a substantial EU budget aimed at enhancing biodiversity and sustainability practices.

The opportunity is a call for tenders for technical assistance to improve the strategic framework in the nature protection sector and further implementation of Natura 2000 in the Republic of Serbia. The procedure identifier is EC-ENEST/BEG/2025/EA-RP/0059. The submission method is electronic and the call is open for submission.

The purpose of this contract is:
(i) to provide continuous support to the establishment, implementation and management of the Natura 2000 network,
(ii) to strengthen the regulatory, strategic and investment planning framework for nature protection and biodiversity conservation,
(iii) to improve capacities of local authorities and other relevant bodies for implementation of nature protection legislation and international conventions, and
(iv) to facilitate consultation process and increase public awareness on nature conservation.

The procedure type is a restricted procedure. The estimated total value is 3,500,000 EUR. The TED publication date is 05/06/2025. The lead contracting authority is the European Union, represented by the European Commission on behalf of and for the account of Serbia. The main classification (CPV) is 90712000 Environmental planning. The nature of the contract is for services. The maximum contract duration is 36 months. The award method is best price-quality ratio. It is not a framework agreement.

The place(s) of delivery or performance are:
20001057 Serbia
31085459 Region IPA instrument
31085117 Europe apart from EU

The programme(s) is/are:
42921266 PreAccession Countries / New Member States

The milestones are:
TED publication date: 05/06/2025
Deadline for receipt of requests to participate: 07/07/2025 16:00 Europe/Belgrade

There is one document available: ENa5f additional information contract notice en relaunchInvitation to submit a request to participate, published on 05/06/2025, Version 1, with no translations available.

Submissions must be sent exclusively at the address for submission given below, using the electronic submission method.

There are FAQs available:
How to proceed if the system is slow or doesn’t work while uploading/downloading documents? The recommendation is to use the latest versions of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, clear the cache and cookies on the Internet browser. Published on 13/02/2025 20:52
Which Internet browsers does eSubmission support? The recommendation is to use the latest versions of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. For the most up-to-date technical recommendations, click on the link System Requirements. You can access this link. Published on 13/02/2025 20:52
Is it possible to view the details of the submission after the deadline? The content of the submission is not accessible after submitting the tender as the system encrypts all attachments upon upload. Thus, the system will not allow decryption after the upload. Published on 13/02/2025 20:50
Where can I find my submissions in Manage My Area, in the Funding & Tenders portal? Depending on the type or step of procedure, you can find the submissions in one of these sections: In ‘My Submission(s)’: tenders in response to open calls for tenders, requests to. Published on 17/10/2024 20:40
Which size should attachments have? For attaching files to your tender submission, eSubmission accepts files that are less than 50 MB in size. Any larger sizes will not be accepted by the system. For the latest information. Published on 17/10/2024 20:36
How should I name attachments in eSubmision? In eSubmission, you must name the attachments for your tender draft following the System Requirements. With regards to all attachment names, please see the following conditions: The. Published on 03/10/2024 16:39
Can I submit a video in eSbmission? Which formats are supported? You can 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 having selected an organisation. Go to F&T Portal, “My Invitations”. Click on “Select Organisation” from the “Action”. Published on 03/10/2024 16:37
Do I need to validate my PIC in order to submit a tender in eSubmission? The 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). For subcontractors PIC i. 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? When uploading a file in eSubmission, you must first make sure it follows the technical requirements of the system, which are as shown below. A) For procurement procedures: B) For req. Published on 03/10/2024 16:36
How many attachments can I upload per submission? The maximum number of documents the system will allow you to upload per tender is 200 files. You are able to check the eSubmission System Requirements in the documentation by clicking. Published on 03/10/2024 16:35
Why do tenderers need a PIC? It is mandatory to register for a PIC if you intend to submit a tender or a request to participate. Only one PIC per organisation must be used. Therefore, if your organisation already. 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. If your organisation is a bigger. Published on 23/04/2024 16:07
What is the validity period of a PIC? A PIC is unique and its validity is not limited in time. Published on 22/04/2024 22:55
How many languages does the system support? The system is multilingual and 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 you want to make. The allowed file types are specified within the system requirements linked to the procedure in question. M. Published on 21/02/2024 23:55
Can I view and edit my draft submission? Until the deadline for the submission has been reached, submissions in the 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. This is not blocking for you: you can submit. 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 sent when the time limit of receipt defined for the call for tenders has been reached. Until then, you had the possibility of withdrawing. Published on 03/08/2021 22:05

In summary, this EU call for tenders seeks technical assistance to bolster nature protection and the implementation of the Natura 2000 network in Serbia. The project aims to improve the strategic and regulatory framework, enhance the capabilities of local authorities, and raise public awareness regarding nature conservation. The EU, represented by the European Commission, is offering a contract worth 3.5 million EUR for a duration of 36 months. The tendering process is restricted, meaning that only pre-selected candidates will be invited to submit full proposals. Interested parties must submit their requests to participate electronically by July 7, 2025. The selection will be based on the best price-quality ratio. The project falls under the Pre-Accession Countries / New Member States Programme and is intended to support Serbia's environmental planning and alignment with EU nature protection standards. The eSubmission system supports all 24 official EU languages and uses UTF-8 character set encoding. The system encrypts all uploaded documents to ensure integrity and confidentiality.

Eligible Applicant Types: The provided text does not explicitly list eligible applicant types. However, given the nature of the call for tenders and the requirement for a Personal Identification Code (PIC), it can be inferred that eligible applicants are likely organizations such as companies, research institutions, NGOs, and other legal entities capable of providing technical assistance. The mention of "sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium)" suggests that both single entities and consortia are eligible.

Funding Type: The funding type is procurement, specifically a service contract. The call is for "Technical assistance to improve strategic framework in nature protection sector and further implementation of Natura 2000 in the Republic of Serbia." The "Nature of the contract" is explicitly stated as "services."

Consortium Requirement: Both single applicants and consortia are eligible, as indicated by the statement: "The 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 place of performance is Serbia. The call also mentions "Region IPA instrument" and "Europe apart from EU," suggesting that entities from these regions may be eligible to participate, potentially as part of a consortium or as subcontractors. The lead contracting authority is the European Union, represented by the European Commission on behalf of and for the account of Serbia.

Target Sector: The target sector is environmental planning and nature protection, specifically related to the implementation of the Natura 2000 network. The main classification (CPV) code is 90712000, which corresponds to environmental planning. The description emphasizes technical assistance for nature protection, biodiversity conservation, and improving capacities for implementing nature protection legislation.

Mentioned Countries: Serbia is explicitly mentioned as the country where the services will be delivered and for whose benefit the technical assistance is intended.

Project Stage: The project stage is implementation and management, focusing on providing technical assistance to improve existing frameworks and implement the Natura 2000 network. The call aims to strengthen regulatory and strategic planning, improve local capacities, and facilitate public awareness, indicating a move beyond the initial research or development phases.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the contract is 3,500,000 EUR.

Application Type: The application type is a call for tenders, specifically a "Restricted procedure." The submission method is electronic, and the call is "Open For Submission."

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive non-monetary services in the form of technical assistance. The contract is for services, not a grant or subsidy.

Application Stages: The procedure type is "Restricted procedure," which typically involves at least two stages: a request to participate (selection phase) and a full proposal submission (award phase) for those who are selected in the first stage. Therefore, there are at least 2 stages.

Success Rates: The provided text does not contain information about success rates.

Co-funding Requirement: The provided text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

This is a call for tenders for a service contract, with the procedure identifier EC-ENEST/BEG/2025/EA-RP/0059, published on June 5, 2025. The European Commission, acting on behalf of Serbia, seeks technical assistance to improve the strategic framework in the nature protection sector and further implement the Natura 2000 network in Serbia. The estimated total value of the contract is 3,500,000 EUR, and the maximum contract duration is 36 months. The procedure type is a restricted procedure, meaning that there will be an initial selection phase based on requests to participate, followed by a full proposal submission from the shortlisted candidates. The deadline for receipt of requests to participate is July 7, 2025, at 16:00 Europe/Belgrade time. Submissions must be sent electronically. The purpose of the contract is to provide continuous support to the establishment, implementation, and management of the Natura 2000 network, strengthen the regulatory and investment planning framework for nature protection, improve capacities of local authorities, and increase public awareness on nature conservation. The award method will be based on the best price-quality ratio. A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for participation, whether as a single tenderer or as part of a consortium. The place of delivery or performance is Serbia, with potential involvement from entities in the Region IPA instrument and Europe apart from the EU. The call is relevant to organizations with expertise in environmental planning, nature protection, and biodiversity conservation. The eSubmission system supports multiple languages and encrypts uploaded documents. The maximum size for attachments is 50 MB, and up to 200 files can be uploaded per tender.