THETIS Enhancement and Maintenance

The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has issued a call for tenders under the reference EMSA/2025/OP/0023 for the maintenance and enhancement of several key maritime IT systems. This opportunity is not a grant, but rather a procurement contract with an estimated total value of 13.3 million EUR. The tender is structured into four distinct lots, each focusing on specific system enhancements and maintenance.

The lots are:

1. **Lot 1: Reporting Tools**
 - Estimated value: 2.1 million EUR
 - Focus: Systems that aid EU Member States in meeting their maritime reporting obligations, including systems like DONA and the Ship Source Pollution Whistleblower Channel.

2. **Lot 2: MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification)**
 - Estimated value: 3.2 million EUR
 - Focus: Systems that support environmental regulatory implementation, including MRV, ETS (Emissions Trading System), and FuelEU.

3. **Lot 3: THETIS**
 - Estimated value: 4.1 million EUR
 - Focus: Port State Control systems, specifically those under the THETIS framework, including various modules for inspections and compliance.

4. **Lot 4: E-Certification Platforms**
 - Estimated value: 3.9 million EUR
 - Focus: Platforms that support e-certification for seafarers and other digital solutions stemming from European maritime regulations.

The maximum contract duration is set for 48 months. The submissions will be evaluated based on the best price-quality ratio and will follow an open call procedure, requiring electronic submission of tenders. The deadline for tender receipt is October 6, 2025, with public opening set for October 8, 2025.

Eligible applicants are expected to be companies with expertise in software development and maritime-related IT services. The scope of work includes ongoing maintenance and the enhancement of existing systems as well as the development of new functionalities to align with evolving EU maritime legislation.

This procurement presents a significant opportunity for established IT service providers in the maritime sector to engage with a key EU agency and contribute to the enhancement of critical infrastructure that supports maritime safety and environmental compliance across Europe. Interested parties should familiarize themselves with the tender documents available online to ensure compliance with submission requirements and to fully understand the project's scope.

The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has published a call for tenders, EMSA/2025/OP/0023, for the maintenance and enhancement of several maritime systems. The tender is an open procedure with electronic submission. The TED reference is 160/2025 550862-2025. The estimated total value of the framework contract is 13,300,000 EUR. The TED publication date is 22/08/2025.

The objective is to establish a framework contract with a contractor for the maintenance and enhancement of the systems THETIS, THETIS-EU, THETIS-MED, MRV, DONA, RO DB, the EU Certification Platform, and all their subsidiary components. The contract will also cover the development of functionalities to support the relevant communities in fulfilling their obligations under European Union and international maritime legislation, the Paris MoU and Mediterranean MoU on Port State Control, as well as any future legislation, regimes, or maritime digital services falling within the remit of the Agency. The systems must be capable of handling various data simultaneously while ensuring the necessary separation of information.

The call for tenders is divided into four lots:

Lot 1: Reporting tools
Description: It covers systems supporting EU Member States in fulfilling their maritime reporting obligations and subsequent report analysis, which includes DONA, DONA for Flag State Directive, Recognised Organisations (RO) DB, Ship Source Pollution (SSP) Whistleblower Channel (including Mobile App) and Public Overview.
Nature of the contract: Services
Maximum contract duration: 48 months
Award method: Best price-quality ratio
Estimated value: 2,100,000 EUR
Framework agreement: Framework agreement, without reopening of competition
Main classification (CPV): 72262000 - Software development services
Additional classification (CPV): 72267000 - Software maintenance and repair services, 72230000 - Custom software development services

Lot 2: MRV
Description: It covers systems supporting environmental regulatory implementation and includes: MRV, ETS and FuelEU.
Nature of the contract: Services
Maximum contract duration: 48 months
Award method: Best price-quality ratio
Estimated value: 3,200,000 EUR
Framework agreement: Framework agreement, without reopening of competition
Main classification (CPV): 72262000 - Software development services
Additional classification (CPV): 72230000 - Custom software development services, 72267000 - Software maintenance and repair services

Lot 3: THETIS
Description: It covers systems supporting Port State Control and inspection regimes under THETIS and its various modules: THETIS, THETIS MED, THETIS EU, THETIS eCertificates and a new THETIS Flag State inspection module.
Nature of the contract: Services
Maximum contract duration: 48 months
Award method: Best price-quality ratio
Estimated value: 4,100,000 EUR
Framework agreement: Framework agreement, without reopening of competition
Main classification (CPV): 72262000 - Software development services
Additional classification (CPV): 72230000 - Custom software development services, 72267000 - Software maintenance and repair services

Lot 4: E-Certification Platforms
Description: It covers systems supporting Seafarers’ e-certification platform, and the Flag State Digital Solutions stemming from the revision of the flag State Directive.
Nature of the contract: Services
Maximum contract duration: 48 months
Award method: Best price-quality ratio
Estimated value: 3,900,000 EUR
Framework agreement: Framework agreement, without reopening of competition
Main classification (CPV): 72262000 - Software development services
Additional classification (CPV): 72230000 - Custom software development services, 72267000 - Software maintenance and repair services

Key Milestones:
TED publication date: 22/08/2025
Date and time of public opening: 08/10/2025 10:00 Europe/Lisbon
Deadline for receipt of tenders: 06/10/2025 16:00 Europe/Lisbon
Contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after: 26/09/2025 07:00 Europe/Lisbon

The following documents are available for download:
Tender Specifications
Working Procedures and Service Requirements
Project Delivery
Lot 4 E-Certification Platform Documentation
Lot 3 THETIS Documentation
Lot 2 MRV Documentation
Lot 1 Reporting tools Documentation
Invitation to tender (request for offer)
Framework contract (IT)
I.56 FWC (IT) General terms and conditions Appendix D

Submissions must be sent exclusively via electronic submission.

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In summary, this is a call for tenders by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) to find a contractor for the maintenance, enhancement, and development of several key IT systems used in the maritime sector. These systems include THETIS, MRV, DONA, and the EU Certification Platform, among others. The goal is to ensure these systems can effectively support EU member states and other relevant communities in meeting their obligations under maritime law and regulations. The tender is divided into four lots, each focusing on a specific set of systems. Lot 1 concerns reporting tools, Lot 2 focuses on systems related to environmental regulations, Lot 3 covers systems for port state control, and Lot 4 deals with e-certification platforms. The total estimated value of the contract is significant, and the contract duration is set for 48 months. Companies with expertise in software development, maintenance, and custom software solutions in the maritime domain should consider this opportunity. The deadline for submitting tenders is October 6, 2025.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated, but based on the nature of the tender, it is expected that eligible applicants would be companies, including SMEs and large enterprises, with expertise in software development, IT services, and maritime-related technologies. Research institutes or public-private partnerships with relevant expertise could also be eligible.

Funding Type: The funding type is procurement, specifically a framework service contract. The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) is seeking a contractor to provide services for the maintenance and enhancement of its IT systems.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. However, given the scope and complexity of the project, both single applicants and consortia could be considered.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is not explicitly stated, but since it is an EU tender, it is highly likely that applicants from the EU and potentially EEA countries are eligible. The tender documents should be consulted for definitive eligibility criteria.

Target Sector: The target sector is primarily ICT (Information and Communication Technology), with a strong focus on the maritime sector. Specific areas include software development, IT services, maritime digital services, and systems related to maritime safety, environmental regulations, and port state control.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the opportunity is related to European Union and international maritime legislation, implying that EU member states are the primary beneficiaries. The Mediterranean region is also mentioned in relation to the Mediterranean MoU on Port State Control.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on maintenance and enhancement of existing systems, as well as the development of new functionalities. This suggests a focus on development, validation, and potentially some level of commercialization or deployment.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the framework contract is 13,300,000 EUR. The estimated values for individual lots are: Lot 1: 2,100,000 EUR, Lot 2: 3,200,000 EUR, Lot 3: 4,100,000 EUR, and Lot 4: 3,900,000 EUR.

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

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for services rendered under the framework contract. The support is financial compensation for the provision of IT services, software development, and maintenance.

Application Stages: The number of application stages is not explicitly stated, but it is likely to involve at least two stages: submission of the tender and evaluation of the tender. There may be additional stages such as contract negotiation and award.

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

Co-funding Requirement: The co-funding requirement is not explicitly stated.

Summary:

This opportunity is a call for tenders issued by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) to establish a framework contract for the maintenance and enhancement of several key IT systems related to maritime safety, environmental regulations, and port state control. The systems include THETIS, THETIS-EU, THETIS-MED, MRV, DONA, RO DB, the EU Certification Platform, and their subsidiary components. The contract also involves developing new functionalities to support EU member states in fulfilling their obligations under European and international maritime law.

The tender is divided into four lots:

Lot 1: Reporting tools, covering systems supporting EU member states in fulfilling their maritime reporting obligations. This includes DONA, DONA for Flag State Directive, Recognised Organisations (RO) DB, Ship Source Pollution (SSP) Whistleblower Channel (including Mobile App) and Public Overview.

Lot 2: MRV, covering systems supporting environmental regulatory implementation, including MRV, ETS, and FuelEU.

Lot 3: THETIS, covering systems supporting Port State Control and inspection regimes under THETIS and its various modules, including THETIS, THETIS MED, THETIS EU, THETIS eCertificates and a new THETIS Flag State inspection module.

Lot 4: E-Certification Platforms, covering systems supporting Seafarers’ e-certification platform and the Flag State Digital Solutions stemming from the revision of the flag State Directive.

The estimated total value of the contract is 13.3 million EUR, with individual lots ranging from 2.1 million EUR to 4.1 million EUR. The maximum contract duration is 48 months. The award method is based on the best price-quality ratio. Submissions must be electronic, and the deadline for receipt of tenders is October 6, 2025. The lead contracting authority is the European Maritime Safety Agency. This tender represents a significant opportunity for companies with expertise in software development and IT services within the maritime sector to secure a long-term framework contract with a key EU agency.