Test Vector Generators’ (TVG) corrective and evolutive maintenance

EUSPA is procuring a single framework contract for corrective and evolutive maintenance of Public Regulated Service Test Vector Generators (TVG) used to generate PRS test vectors for validating PRS user segment equipment. The indicative ceiling is €600,000 and the framework runs for an initial 12 months renewable up to a maximum of 48 months. Requests to participate must be submitted electronically by 23 September 2026 at 23:59 Europe/Prague and the award will be based on the best price-quality ratio with quality weighted 70% and price 30%. The procedure is security sensitive and requires entities handling classified or proprietary PRS information to be established in an EU Member State and to meet facility and personnel security clearance and PRS authorisation requirements.

What it funds

Scope

Framework contract for corrective and evolutive maintenance, spare parts and technical support for the Public Regulated Service (PRS) Test Vector Generators (TVG) used to produce PRS test vectors for Galileo PRS user equipment. Works cover defect resolution, updates driven by the Galileo programme, on‑site and remote activities for at least three TVG units.

Estimated value and duration:Indicative maximum total value €600,000 for the whole framework (ceiling). Framework initial duration 12 months, renewable up to 3 times (maximum 48 months) ¹.

Who can apply

Economic operators established in EU Member States with executive management in the EU and not subject to third‑country control. Candidates must satisfy security, facility and personnel clearance requirements for handling EU classified and PRS information and may bid alone or as a consortium; subcontracting allowed subject to Agency approval.

How to apply & procedure

Competitive procedure with negotiation. Electronic submissions via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal are required (EU Login account). Phase I is request to participate; shortlisted bidders will be invited to Phase II (initial tenders) and possibly Phase III (BAFO).

Key deadlines:Deadline for requests to participate: 23 September 2026 23:59 (Europe/Prague). Other timeline milestones (Phase II/III and award) are indicated in the tender specifications ¹.

1. 1Procedure ID: EUSPA/PRG/2026/CPN/0014 (TED ref 161/2026, CN reference available on the F&T Portal)
2. 2Submission method: electronic (EU Login + eSubmission)
3. 3Award: Best price-quality ratio (quality weighted 70% / price 30% in final ranking)
4. 4Place of performance: Contractor premises in EU Member State; occasional on‑site visits to TVG units (currently in Italy and France)

Tender documents released on 21 August 2026 include Invitation to Participate, Tender Specifications (Annex I), Draft Framework Contract (Annex II) and multiple security and administrative annexes; a reinforced Non‑Disclosure Undertaking (RNDU) is mandatory at Phase I to access classified or proprietary materials in later phases ¹.

Eligibility & mandatory requirements (high level)

Applicants must demonstrate legal, economic and financial capacity (minimum yearly turnover requirement), technical experience in classified PRS testing/maintenance and compliance with security conditions (Local Security Officer, Facility Security Clearance, Personal Security Clearances, capability to account for EU COMSEC items and required PRS SAB authorisations). Detailed evidence templates are in the annexes.

Where to get the full documents

All procurement documents are on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal tender page. The procedure reference and direct portal link are provided in the official notice EUSPA TVG tender. See Tender Specifications (Annex I) and Draft Framework Contract (Annex II) for full requirements and templates.

Footnotes

1. 1Procurement documents (Invitation to Participate, Tender Specifications, Draft Framework Contract and security annexes) were published on 21/08/2026 on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal; timeline and detailed security and submission instructions are contained therein.

Basic opportunity data

Opportunity title:Test Vector Generators’ (TVG) corrective and evolutive maintenance. Reference / Procedure identifier: EUSPA/PRG/2026/CPN/0014. TED reference: 161/2026 578824-2026. Lead contracting authority: European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA). Main CPV: 72267000 - Software maintenance and repair services. Nature of contract: services; form: framework agreement without reopening of competition. Procedure type: competitive procedure with negotiation. Submission method: electronic via EU Funding & Tenders Portal (EU Login required). Portal link and original notice available: Tender details ¹.

Deadlines:Phase I deadline (request to participate): 23 September 2026 23:59 Europe/Prague. TED publication date: 21 August 2026. Two stage / procurement milestones and indicative timeline: Invitation/Phase I documents published 21 August 2026; clarification deadlines and Q&A windows in September 2026; Phase II invitations expected in November 2026; Initial Tenders / negotiations December 2026–February 2027; BAFO April 2027; award and kick-off May–June 2027. The portal shows the two important submission deadlines as 1 January 2026 21:59:59Z and 23 September 2026 23:59:59+00:00 in metadata, but official published timetable and legal deadlines in the Tender Specifications indicate the relevant Phase I RtP deadline 23/09/2026 23:59 local Prague time.

Estimated total value:€600,000 maximum total value (indicative ceiling for all purchases under the framework contract for its full duration).

What the tender is for

Purpose:to conclude a single Framework Contract (FWC) to cover corrective maintenance and evolutive maintenance of the Public Regulated Service (PRS) Test Vector Generators (TVG) owned by EUSPA. TVG units are hardware and software tools that generate PRS Test Vectors for the User Segment (US) to validate PRS receivers and PRS security modules. EUSPA currently owns three TVG units (two deployed in Italy, one in France). Scope under the FWC includes unplanned corrective interventions, troubleshooting, repairs, spare parts provisioning, and evolutive maintenance driven by the Galileo Programme needs (software/firmware updates, feature changes, security/COMSEC related updates). The FWC establishes fixed unit prices for service categories and allows issuance of Specific Contracts (SCs) for particular tasks; pricing model is Fixed Unit Price (FUP) per the FWC and Specific Contracts.

Contract structure and duration

Framework duration:initial 12 months, renewable up to three times for a maximum total of 48 months. The single FWC will be concluded with one Contractor. Specific Contracts will be issued under the FWC for corrective, evolutive or combined tasks. Implementation modes: Planned Deliverable Mode (predefined Deliverables, schedule and price) and Deliverable on Demand Mode (Agency issues Deliverable(s) Requests; Contractor provides Technical Data Packages, quotations; Agency authorises implementation).

Evaluation and award

Award method:best price-quality ratio. Evaluation is multi-stage: Phase I selection (exclusion, rejection, participation/access and selection criteria), Phase II Initial Tenders and negotiations (qualitative award criteria, simulation exercise), possible Phase III BAFO and final ranking. Weighting: quality 70% and price 30% in final tender scoring. There are minimum quality thresholds per criterion; failing thresholds leads to rejection. Financial evaluation uses a simulation scenario provided in Phase II applied to Tenderers’ FUPs to compute Total Price for Evaluation Purposes; the least expensive receives maximum financial score and others are scaled accordingly.

Estimated contract value and ceiling details:Indicative maximum total value €600,000 for the whole FWC duration; additional exceptional negotiated services within three years up to 50% of initial value (i.e. up to an extra €300,000) may be procured in certain cases per the FWC.

Eligible applicants and participation model

Who may apply:economic operators (companies, SMEs, large enterprises), consortia (joint bids) and subcontractor arrangements. Subcontracting is permitted but the prime Contractor remains fully liable. Participation conditions include strict security and establishment requirements for entities involved in security-sensitive activities.

1. 1Eligible applicant types: companies (SMEs and large enterprises), research organisations where applicable, consortia and joint ventures. Subcontractors permitted.
2. 2Consortium requirement: single contractor will be awarded the FWC; applicants may submit sole bids or joint bids. Joint bids require a Power of Attorney and joint and several liability; the FWC will be concluded with one Contractor only.
3. 3Geographic eligibility: entities established in a Member State of the European Union are required for any participant handling EU classified information or PRS proprietary information; participation is open to EU Member States primarily and conditions for third country suppliers (e.g. security-relevant COTS) are strict and may require waivers and national competent authority assessments.

Security, classification and PRS-specific requirements

This procurement has significant security requirements. Some documentation and TVG technical baseline are classified (RESTREINT UE / EU RESTRICTED and higher). Access to EU Classified Information (EUCI) and PRS Proprietary Information in Phase II/III requires submission of a Reinforced Non-Disclosure Undertaking (RNDU) during Phase I. Contractors and core team members involved in security-sensitive activities must satisfy cumulative conditions: legal establishment in an EU Member State with executive management in that Member State; commitment to carry out activities in one or more Member States; not being subject to control by a third country or third-country entity. Facility Security Clearances, Personal Security Clearances, CIS accreditation, PRS SAB authorisations, capacity to handle EU COMSEC items and appointment of Local Security Officer(s) are required depending on roles and tasks. Detailed SAL and PIMP templates are provided in the Annexes.

Key security deliverables and forms:Mandatory documentation in Phase I includes: Reinforced Non-Disclosure Undertaking (Annex I.G), Declaration of Ownership and Control (Annex I.H Part 2), PIMP template (Annex I.J), Facility/Personal Security and COMSEC evidence, PRS SAB authorisations or proof of initiation of their process, and financial/selection evidence (Annex I.E). Security Aspects Letter (SAL) and Draft Framework Contract include further obligations and classification guidance.

Selection, minimum and exclusion criteria

Phase I is the request to participate stage:evaluation covers exclusion criteria (grounds to reject such as criminal or tax issues), rejection criteria, selection criteria (legal & regulatory capacity, financial stability and minimum turnover, technical/professional capacity and relevant experience), and access to procurement conditions. Minimum required yearly turnover: €300,000 over the last three years (cumulative across core team if relying on others). Technical experience requirements include projects handling PRS Test Vectors in classified environments, experience managing national security certification processes and maintenance of classified software/hardware solutions.

• Exclusion criteria: as per Article 138(1) of the Financial Regulation and Declaration of Honour.
• Selection criteria: legal registration, LSO appointment, Facility Security Clearance (FSC) and Personal Security Clearance (PSC) at required levels where applicable, PRS SAB categories coverage, financial templates and audited annual accounts for last three years, minimum turnover.
• Technical criteria: references demonstrating at least two relevant projects on PRS Test Vector handling, at least one project for national security certification experience, and one project for maintenance in classified environments (last 5 years, with at least 20% of task execution by the tenderer).

Award criteria and scoring

Qualitative award criteria total maximum 100 points (Q1–Q5). Key qualitative areas:quality of maintenance approach and organisation (Q1, 40 points max), compliance with security, technical and SLA requirements (Q2, 30 points max), compliance to contractual baseline and quality of justifications for partial compliance (Q3, 15 points max), quality and maturity of supply chain plan and SME/start-up participation plan (Q4, 10 points max), PRS Information Management Plan completeness (Q5, 5 points max). Minimum scores apply at various stages. Financial evaluation uses the provided simulation scenario to calculate a Total Price for Evaluation Purposes. Final ranking formula: SCORE = 70% Qualitative + 30% Financial.

Application and submission

Submission method:electronic via EU Funding & Tenders Portal eSubmission. EU Login account is required. Phase I submission is a Request to Participate (RtP) including administrative and technical files and the Reinforced NDU. Exact submission folders, forms and templates are provided in Annexes. Candidates must register their organisation in the Participant Register and provide PIC. Attachments must follow eSubmission system requirements (each file < 50 MB, up to 200 files per submission).

Required Phase I package (high level):Cover letter and Declaration of Honour (Annex I.B); Annex I.A Identification Sheets for each participating legal entity; Annex I.H Part 2 Declaration of Ownership and Control; Annex I.E Financial Statements and audited accounts for the last three years; Annex I.D.1/ I.D.2 Letters of Intent from subcontractors or non-subcontractor partners; RNDU (Annex I.G); LSO appointment evidence; FSC/PSC/Crypto/CIS evidence as applicable; PIMP template (Annex I.J) and other administrative annexes shown in the Tender Specifications.

Application stages and process

Number of application stages:three phased procurement (Phase I: Request to Participate/selection; Phase II: Initial Tenders and negotiations; Phase III: Best and Final Offer and award). Phase I submission and evaluation selects a shortlist to invite to Phase II. In Phase II, the Agency provides classified technical baseline and Simulation Exercise to shortlisted candidates; initial tenders are submitted and negotiations carried out. Phase III may be used to submit BAFOs and final award. Standstill applies after award notification before contract signature.

Success rates and competitive context

No explicit historical success rates are published. The procedure is competitive with negotiation and includes a pre-selection stage; only candidates passing Phase I can proceed to Phase II. There is an incumbent supplier (Airbus Defence & Space GmbH and Fraunhofer joint bid) and the tender includes measures to ensure fair competition. Given the specialized and security-sensitive nature, expect a limited number of qualified bidders.

Funding type and contractual terms

Funding type:procurement / service contract via framework agreement. Beneficiaries receive monetary payments for services based on agreed prices and unit rates. Contract award: single Contractor for the FWC; multiple Specific Contracts may be ordered under it. Price model: Fixed Unit Prices for categories of services, supplemented by quotations for Deliverable on Demand scenarios. Payments include possible pre-financing under specific contracts, subject to a first-demand guarantee template (Annex X).

Co-funding and subcontracting

Co-funding requirement:not applicable in grant sense. This is a procurement: Agency pays the Contractor under the FWC and Specific Contracts. Contractor may propose subcontracting; the Draft FWC and Tender Specifications set minimum supply chain objectives: the Contractor shall achieve a minimum 10% share of subcontracting awarded in competitive tendering outside the Undertaking during contract execution, with a plan to maximise SME and start-up participation across the Union. Any derogation must be justified and will be evaluated under award criteria. Competitive subcontracting must respect fair competition principles and EUSPA may reject proposed subcontractors if they fail selection or security conditions.

Templates and application form structure

Phase I application forms and templates are provided as annexes and must be used exactly:Annex I.A Identification Sheet; Annex I.B Declaration of Honour; Annex I.C Power of Attorney (for joint bids); Annex I.D.1 Sub-contractor Letter of Intent and Annex I.D.2 Non-subcontractor Letter of Intent; Annex I.E Financial Statements template (Excel macro-enabled); Annex I.G Non-Disclosure Undertaking (reinforced) including Declaration on CIS Accreditation; Annex I.H Parts 1–3 criteria and Annex I.H Part 2 Excel Declaration of Ownership and Control; Annex I.J Project PRS Information Management Plan (PIMP) template; Annex I.K SPIDER Networks Letter of Commitment sample; Annex I.L Crypto Custodian Contact Form; Annex I.M CPA Template on SAB authorisations; Annex I.N Security Aspects Letter; Annex I.O AI Risk Classification Form; Annex I.P Statistical Reporting template. Draft Framework Contract and Draft Specific Contract templates are supplied (Annex II and Annex VIII).

1. 1Phase I: Request to Participate — Administrative File (Envelope I) and Technical File (Envelope II) per Section 14.7.1 of the Tender Specifications; include signed RNDU and security evidence.
2. 2Phase II: Initial Tender — Agency provides classified baselines, Framework Contract SOW, Simulation Exercise, SLA and Security Classification Guide. Tenderers submit technical, financial and simulation-based offers; negotiations follow.
3. 3Phase III: Best and Final Offer — Agency may request BAFO. Award decision and standstill announcement. Contract signature follows award.

Key compliance and operational obligations

Major contractor obligations include compliance with security rules (PSI), safeguarding EUCI and PRS Information, maintaining FSC/PSC and CIS accreditation where required, ensuring capacity to account for EU COMSEC items and crypto authorisations, delivering on KPIs and SLAs, providing monthly/quarterly reporting as required, respecting IP rules and ownership provisions in the Draft Framework Contract, and ensuring competition-based subcontracting and SME participation targets are met. Contractor is fully liable for its subcontractors' performance and must avoid conflicts of interest.

Target sector and technology

Target sector:space / GNSS systems, specifically Galileo Public Regulated Service (PRS). Technical domains: GNSS testing equipment and infrastructure, secure communications and COMSEC, PRS-specific cryptographic handling, software maintenance and hardware repair for TVG units, test vector generation, classified information handling, systems integration and certification, supply chain management for security-relevant COTS, and system-level simulation/exercise execution.

Project stage and maturity required

Expected maturity:operating/maintenance stage for existing TVG hardware and software; activities include corrective maintenance (fault resolution, spare parts replacement) and evolutive maintenance (implementing updates driven by Galileo Programme evolutions). Tenderers must demonstrate proven operational experience and experience maintaining classified operational test and simulation systems. TRL context: post-deployment operational sustainment and evolution, not R&D basic research.

Mentioned countries and places of performance

EUSPA owns three TVG units:two currently deployed in Italy and one in France. Place of primary performance: Contractor premises located within an EU Member State; occasional site visits where TVG units are installed (Italy, France). Access to classified information requires establishment in an EU Member State and executive management located in that Member State for security-sensitive participants.

How to apply and practical tips

1. 1Register organisation in the Participant Register and obtain PIC before submission.
2. 2Create EU Login account and subscribe to the call on the Funding & Tenders Portal to receive updates.
3. 3Download all annex templates listed in the Invitation to Participate and Tender Specifications and fill them exactly as requested (Annex I.A to I.P, Annex II draft FWC, Annexes for security and PIMP).
4. 4Prepare and sign the Reinforced Non-Disclosure Undertaking (Annex I.G) and collect security evidences early (LSO, FSC/PSC, CIS accreditation, PRS SAB authorisations where applicable).
5. 5Complete Annex I.H Part 2 Declaration of Ownership and Control (macro-enabled Excel) and supporting documents to demonstrate absence of third-country control, if handling security-sensitive activities.
6. 6Assemble Phase I Administrative File (Envelope I) and Technical File (Envelope II) according to Section 14 requirements. Check eSubmission technical rules (file size limits, supported browsers).
7. 7If relying on other entities for selection criteria, provide Annex I.D.1 Subcontractor Letter of Intent or Annex I.D.2 Non-Subcontractor Letter of Intent with evidence of resources promised.
8. 8Submit electronically by the stated deadline using eSubmission and retain submission receipt.
9. 9If admitted to Phase II, be prepared to sign additional NDUs for classified material access, to receive classified PRS TVG documentation, and to run the Simulation Exercise under security rules.

Risks, special considerations and constraints

Key risks and constraints:high security classification requires FSC/PSC/CIS and PRS SAB authorisations for some tasks, limiting eligible participants; strong supply chain and subcontracting obligations; requirement to allocate and evidence SME/start-up participation; incumbent supplier presence may influence access to source code or operational knowledge (source code may be disclosed post-award under strict licensing/IP provisions); procurement involves simulation exercises and operational performance obligations that tie to Galileo Programme evolution; compliance with AI Act and other EU regulations must be demonstrated if AI is used.

Summary: What is this opportunity about and how to explain it

This is an EUSPA procurement to establish a framework services agreement (Framework Contract) for corrective and evolutive maintenance of PRS Test Vector Generators (TVG) used to generate test vectors for PRS receiver and PRS security module validation. The FWC will last up to four years (initial 12 months plus up to three renewals) with an indicative ceiling of €600,000. The procedure is a competitive procedure with negotiation executed in three phases: Phase I selection (requests to participate), Phase II initial tenders and negotiations (invited candidates only, access to classified material after RNDU), and Phase III BAFO and award. Applicants must meet strict security, establishment and technical experience criteria; they must provide detailed administrative, financial and technical evidence in Phase I using supplied templates. The successful Contractor will be responsible for corrective maintenance, repairs, spare parts provisioning and evolutive updates of TVG hardware and software, comply with strict security and PRS handling rules, achieve supply chain and SME participation targets, and be evaluated on a 70/30 quality-price basis following a simulation exercise and technical assessment. Interested bidders should register on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, download and complete all annex templates precisely, secure necessary security clearances early, and prepare to participate in a multi-stage, negotiation-based procurement with classified information handling obligations. For full procurement documents and templates consult the call on the Funding & Tenders Portal Tender details ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Full tender documentation, annex templates and the draft framework contract are published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal at the opportunity page and in the call annexes. See the official call entry for downloads and the eSubmission link: ec.europa.eu

This is an EUSPA procurement for a single framework contract to maintain the Public Regulated Service Test Vector Generators, covering both corrective and evolutive maintenance of the hardware and software used to generate PRS test vectors for validating PRS user segment equipment. The notice was published on 21 August 2026 and is open for electronic submission, with the request to participate deadline set for 23 September 2026 at 23:59 Europe/Prague.[1]

Key opportunity facts

What the procurement is about

The contract concerns maintenance of the PRS Test Vector Generators, which are tools combining hardware and software to generate PRS test vectors for the user segment so that PRS user segment equipment such as PRS receivers and PRS security modules can be validated. EUSPA states that three TVG units have been procured, with two deployed in Italy and one in France, and that maintenance covers both corrective maintenance to resolve defects and evolutive maintenance to implement updates driven by Galileo Programme needs.[1]

The framework contract is intended to cover the full maintenance lifecycle through specific contracts awarded under the framework, with fixed unit prices used for the different service categories and for any spare parts or effort that may be required.[1]

Who can apply

Any economic operator may submit a request to participate either alone or as part of a group, and subcontracting is permitted. The tender documents allow reliance on subcontractors or other entities for selection criteria, but each tenderer must submit only one request to participate in the relevant role, and independent and autonomous bidding is required to avoid collusion or cross subcontracting conflicts.[1]

For the security sensitive parts of the procedure, the documents state that only entities established in a Member State of the European Union are eligible to receive EU classified information and proprietary information. The prime candidate or group coordinator must submit the reinforced non disclosure undertaking together with the request to participate, and EU Login access is needed for electronic submission and for managing the tendering process.[1]

Main eligibility, selection and compliance requirements

1. 1Candidates must satisfy exclusion and rejection rules, access to procurement conditions, selection criteria and minimum requirements set out in the tender specifications and annexes.[1]
2. 2The tender documents refer to legal and regulatory capacity, economic and financial capacity, and technical and professional capacity requirements, including stable financial position, minimum yearly turnover and relevant experience.[1]
3. 3Security related requirements include the appointment of a local security officer, facility security clearance, personal security clearance, and the capacity to account for and handle EU COMSEC items.[1]
4. 4The documents also refer to PRS SAB authorisation, ownership and control declarations, confidentiality undertakings, and security accreditation evidence where applicable.[1]
5. 5Tenderers must comply with EU restrictive measures, AI related obligations, data protection rules and the applicable security framework throughout the contract.[1]

Contract and performance conditions

EUSPA intends to award a single framework contract to one contractor, with specific contracts issued as needed during the framework period. The place of performance is primarily the contractor’s premises, which must be located in a Member State of the EU, with occasional site visits to the locations where the TVG units are installed in Italy and France.[1]

The working language of the contract is English. The tender documents also state that source code for the TVG tool may be made available to the successful tenderer upon request under the applicable intellectual property and licensing conditions in the draft framework contract.[1]

The documents indicate that the contractor must obtain and maintain any required consents, including facility security clearance and communications security authorisations, and that the contract contains provisions on key performance indicators, liquidated damages, liability caps, background intellectual property and foreground intellectual property rights.[1]

Subcontracting, SMEs and supply chain expectations

The procurement places strong emphasis on open market participation and supply chain diversification. EUSPA states that the contractor must achieve at least 10 percent subcontracting awarded through competitive tendering outside the undertaking, unless a derogation is justified, and that the quality of the subcontracting plan for start ups, new entrants and SMEs will be assessed under the qualitative award criteria.[1]

If artificial intelligence tools or general purpose AI models are used for delivery of the services, the tenderer must identify the tool, define its intended use, classify the role and provide a risk assessment aligned with the AI Act and data protection rules.[1]

Timeline and next steps

1. 1TED and portal publication date: 21 August 2026.[1]
2. 2Deadline for clarification questions in Phase I: 15 September 2026 at 17:00 Prague time.[1]
3. 3Publication of clarifications: 17 September 2026 at 17:00 Prague time.[1]
4. 4Deadline for requests to participate: 23 September 2026 at 23:59 Prague time.[1]
5. 5Expected Phase II invitations: November 2026.[1]
6. 6Expected initial tenders and negotiations: December 2026 to February 2027.[1]
7. 7Expected BAFO stage: March to April 2027.[1]
8. 8Expected award and signature: May 2027, with kick off in June 2027.[1]

Overall assessment for applicants

This is a niche, security sensitive technical maintenance opportunity rather than a general IT services call. Applicants are most likely to succeed if they can demonstrate strong PRS or equivalent secure systems maintenance capability, the ability to operate under EU security and confidentiality constraints, a credible subcontracting and SME participation plan, and a pricing model that can support fixed unit prices over a four year maximum framework period.[1]