Upgrading of IT infrastructure for IT systems in Phytosanitary Information System

This opportunity involves a public procurement contract for upgrading the IT infrastructure of Montenegro's Phytosanitary Information System, managed by the Administration for Food Safety, Veterinary, and Phytosanitary Affairs (AFSVPA). The focus is on supplying various hardware including desktop computers, laptops, tablets, printers, scanners, digital microscopes, GPS devices, and barcode readers, essential for enhancing data collection and management efforts.

The contract is framed within the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPARD) program and aims to support Montenegro's preparation as a candidate country. The procurement is structured as an open procedure with a single lot designated as LOT-0001. Eligible applicants are primarily large enterprises or specialized suppliers of IT and laboratory equipment, as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are not prioritized.

The contract duration is set for a maximum of nine months, with a tender submission deadline on September 16, 2025, and a public opening of tenders occurring on September 23, 2025. The award method for the contract will adhere to the lowest price criterion, emphasizing cost-effectiveness for the EU-funded initiative.

There is no stated co-funding requirement, and the financial support will be provided directly through the contract award. The applicant's geographic eligibility is focused on Montenegro and possibly extends to other IPA regions, specifically targeting suppliers capable of fulfilling the hardware needs specified for the Phytosanitary Information System.

While the project is currently in the implementation phase, the estimated budget for the contract remains unspecified, although it is suggested it could range significantly based on the contract's scope. Interested parties must ensure compliance with submission requirements, including having a valid Personal Identification Code (PIC) for participation in the tender. The guidelines for submission indicate non-electronic methods are required, with strict limits on document uploads and sizes.

This procurement contract emphasizes the modernization of technology and processes in Montenegro's agricultural sector, aligning with EU objectives to enhance food safety and inspection efficiency in candidate countries.

This is a call for tenders for the upgrading of IT infrastructure for IT systems in the Phytosanitary Information System in Montenegro. The procedure identifier is EC-ENEST/TGD/2025/EA-LOP/0096. The submission method is non-electronic. The call is open for submission.

The subject of the contract is the upgrading of IT infrastructure for the newly proposed Phytosanitary Information System in Montenegro. It is essential to equip the employees in the Phytosanitary sector of the Administration for Food Safety, Veterinary and Phytosanitary Affairs (AFSVPA), with additional hardware to enable efficient utilization of the new system. This supplementary equipment is pivotal in data collection and management including the operation performed at AFSVPA, as well as for the phytosanitary inspectors for their on-the-spot checks and other work-related activities performed outdoors.

The hardware includes: desktop computers, laptops, tablets, different printers, ADF (Automatic Document Feeder), flatbed scanners, USB Digital Video Microscope, GPS and bar code readers.

The procedure type is an open procedure. The TED publication date is 29/07/2025. The lead contracting authority is the Ministry of Finance of Montenegro Directorate for Finance, Contracting and Implementation of the EU. The main classification (CPV) code is 30200000 - Computer equipment and supplies. The nature of the contract is supplies. The maximum contract duration is 9 months. The award method is lowest price. There is no framework agreement. The place(s) of delivery or performance is 31085459 - Region IPA instrument and 31085117 - Europe apart from EU. The programme(s) are 42921320 - Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance.

Milestones:
TED publication date: 29/07/2025
Date and time of public opening: 23/09/2025 10:00 Europe/Podgorica
Deadline for receipt of tenders: 16/09/2025 14:30 Europe/Podgorica
Contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after: 26/08/2025 05:00 Europe/Podgorica

Two documents are available:
1. ENa5f additional information contract notice enInformation for candidates and tenderers, published on 29/07/2025, Version 1, No translations available.
2. ENTende dossierTender specifications, published on 29/07/2025, Version 1, No translations available.

Submissions must be sent exclusively at the address for submission given in the procurement documents. The submission method is non-electronic.

There are FAQs available:
How to proceed if the system is slow or doesn’t work while uploading/downloading documents? Please make sure you use the latest versions of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. If the issue persists, try the following steps: 1. Clear the cache and cookies on the Internet brows...Published on 13/02/2025 20:52
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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
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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
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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 tender opportunity focuses on upgrading the IT infrastructure for Montenegro's Phytosanitary Information System. The goal is to equip the Administration for Food Safety, Veterinary and Phytosanitary Affairs (AFSVPA) with modern hardware like computers, laptops, printers, scanners, and specialized equipment like digital microscopes and barcode readers. This upgrade aims to improve data collection, management, and the efficiency of phytosanitary inspections. The tender is an open procedure, meaning any eligible company can apply, but submissions must be done in a non-electronic format, following the instructions in the tender documents. The contract will be awarded based on the lowest price, and the project is expected to last for nine months. Interested parties should pay close attention to the deadlines for submitting questions and the tender itself, and ensure they have a valid Participant Identification Code (PIC).

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, given that this is a call for tenders for the upgrading of IT infrastructure, it is likely that eligible applicants would include companies, firms, or other economic operators capable of supplying computer equipment and related services. This could include SMEs, large enterprises, and potentially specialized IT service providers.

Funding Type: This is a procurement opportunity, specifically a call for tenders. The nature of the contract is for supplies.

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. However, the FAQ section mentions that a 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). This suggests that both single applicants and consortia are eligible.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The place of delivery or performance is indicated as "Region IPA instrument" and "Europe apart from EU". The specific region is Montenegro. This suggests that the geographic eligibility is focused on Montenegro, with potential eligibility extending to other countries within the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) region and potentially other European countries outside the EU.

Target Sector: The target sector is ICT (Information and Communication Technology) and agriculture/food, specifically related to phytosanitary (plant health) information systems. The tender focuses on upgrading IT infrastructure for a Phytosanitary Information System, indicating a convergence of technology and agricultural sectors.

Mentioned Countries: Montenegro is explicitly mentioned as the country where the IT infrastructure upgrade will take place.

Project Stage: The project is at the implementation stage, requiring the supply and installation of IT infrastructure to support a newly proposed Phytosanitary Information System. This suggests a move from the planning or development phase to the deployment and operational phase.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value is not specified in the provided text. The text only mentions "Estimated total value-" without providing a specific amount.

Application Type: The application type is an open call for tenders.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries (the Administration for Food Safety, Veterinary and Phytosanitary Affairs (AFSVPA) in Montenegro) will receive non-monetary support in the form of upgraded IT infrastructure and equipment. The successful tenderer will receive money in exchange for the supplies.

Application Stages: The number of application stages is not explicitly detailed, but it can be inferred that there are at least two stages: submission of the tender and potential selection/award. The FAQ section also suggests that there may be a stage involving registration and obtaining a PIC.

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

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

This opportunity is a call for tenders issued by the Ministry of Finance of Montenegro, Directorate for Finance, Contracting and Implementation of the EU, for the upgrading of IT infrastructure for the newly proposed Phytosanitary Information System in Montenegro. The project aims to equip the employees in the Phytosanitary sector of the Administration for Food Safety, Veterinary and Phytosanitary Affairs (AFSVPA) with essential hardware to enable efficient utilization of the new system. The required hardware includes desktop computers, laptops, tablets, printers, ADF (Automatic Document Feeder), flatbed scanners, USB Digital Video Microscope, GPS, and bar code readers. The procedure type is an open procedure, and the submission method is non-electronic. The maximum contract duration is 9 months. The award method will be based on the lowest price. The deadline for receipt of tenders is 16/09/2025, and the date and time of public opening is 23/09/2025. The contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after 26/08/2025. Interested tenderers must consult the procurement documents for the address for submission and other relevant details. A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for participation. The system supports all 24 official EU languages and uses encryption to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of information. The maximum number of documents that can be uploaded per tender is 200, and the maximum file size for attachments is 50 MB.