Virtual Human Twins Platform Project Support Office

The European Commission, through DG CNECT, has issued a call for tenders under the reference EC-CNECT/LUX/2025/OP/0005 for the establishment of a Virtual Human Twins Platform Project Support Office (PSO). The primary goal of this procurement is to secure a service contract valued at €480,000, aimed at managing the Advanced Virtual Human Twins Platform and ensuring the quality and strategic oversight of related contracts.

The tender submission deadline is set for July 28, 2025, at 16:00 CET, with a public opening scheduled for July 29, 2025. This is classified as an open procedure, inviting any qualified organization to participate. Although the raw data does not specify the types of eligible applicants, it is inferred that companies and consultancies with expertise in IT services, project management, and quality assurance are the main targets. Entities must be capable of delivering specialized project support services without a consortium requirement, allowing individual applicants.

Geographic eligibility extends to EU member states and potentially EEA countries, as the tender is issued by the European Commission. The project is aimed at providing support for the deployment and management of advanced digital technologies, thus falling within the Information and Communication Technology sector.

Applicants must submit a detailed technical offer, along with a financial proposal, as part of a single-stage application process, where their submissions will be evaluated based on a best price-quality ratio, split between 60% quality and 40% price. There are no co-funding requirements associated with the contract, which is effectively a procurement agreement for established services.

Overall, the PSO's responsibilities include quality assurance for deliverables, providing strategic and technical advice, and ensuring efficient management of the Advanced VHT Platform contractors. The estimated contract duration is up to 42 months. Important points for potential bidders include the necessity of obtaining a Personal Identification Code (PIC) for submission and adherence to specific eSubmission system requirements, which support a variety of file types in a multilingual environment. The PSO initiative forms part of the broader European Virtual Human Twins Initiative, aiming to enhance methodologies in digital project development and testing.

The European Commission, DG CNECT Communications Networks, Content and Technology, has launched a call for tenders EC-CNECT/LUX/2025/OP/0005 for the Virtual Human Twins (VHT) Platform Project Support Office. The TED reference for this tender is 119/2025 410606-2025. The procedure type is an open procedure.

The tender was published on 25/06/2025. The deadline for receipt of tenders is 28/07/2025 at 16:00 Europe/Brussels time. The date and time of the public opening is 29/07/2025 at 10:00 Europe/Brussels. The contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after 17/07/2025 05:00 Europe/Brussels.

The estimated total value of the tender is 480,000 EUR. The maximum contract duration is 42 months. The award method is based on the best price-quality ratio. The nature of the contract is for services. This is not a framework agreement.

The main objective of this call is to establish a Project Support Office (PSO) to support the management of the Advanced VHT Platform framework contract (FWC) and specific contracts. The PSO will provide quality assurance for deliverables and offer strategic and technical advice to the Contracting Authority. The ultimate aim is to ensure the work of the Advanced VHT Platform contractors adheres to the highest quality standards, methodologies, and best practices, meeting all specifications outlined in the Advanced VHT Platform contract. The PSO will also aid in efficiently and effectively managing the Advanced VHT Platform contract and contractors, contributing to the successful execution and delivery of the project and fulfilling the objectives of the European Virtual Human Twins Initiative.

The main classification (CPV) code is 72000000 IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support.

Submissions must be sent exclusively via electronic submission at the address provided.

The following documents are available for download:

1. ENEN-Invitation to tender EC-CNECTLUX2025OP0005 VHT Platform Project Support Office Invitation letter, published on 25/06/2025, Version 1, no translations available.
2. ENEN TENDER SPECIFICATIONS EC-CNECTLUX2025OP0005 VHT Platform Project Support Office Tender specifications, published on 25/06/2025, Version 1, no translations available.
3. ENModel service contract EC-CNECTLUX2025OP0005 VHT Platform Project Support Office Draft contract, published on 25/06/2025, Version 1, no translations available.
4. ENTender Specification Annexes Other invitation to tender document, published on 25/06/2025, Version 1, no translations available.
5. ENAnnex 2 declaration-of-honour-tenders VHT Platform Project Support Office EC-CNECTLUX2025OP0005 Declaration on honour (tender), published on 25/06/2025, Version 1, no translations available.
6. ENAnnex 6 Financial form PSO Financial offer form, published on 25/06/2025, Version 1, no translations available.
7. ENAnnex 7 Template for technical offer Other invitation to tender document, published on 25/06/2025, Version 1, no translations available.
8. ENAnnex 8b EC-CNECTLUX2025OP0005 Other invitation to tender document, published on 25/06/2025, Version 1, no translations available.
9. ENAnnex 9 Declaration on non-CoI VHT PSO Other invitation to tender document, published on 25/06/2025, Version 1, no translations available.

FAQ regarding eSubmission:

1. How to proceed if the system is slow or doesn’t work while uploading/downloading documents? Use the latest versions of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. If the issue persists, clear the cache and cookies.
2. Which Internet browsers does eSubmission support? Use the latest versions of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. For the most up-to-date technical recommendations, click on the link System Requirements.
3. Is it possible to view the details of the submission after the deadline? No, the content of the submission is not accessible after submitting the tender as the system encrypts all attachments upon upload.
4. Where can I find my submissions in Manage My Area, in the Funding & Tenders portal? Submissions can be found in ‘My Submission(s)’: tenders in response to open calls for tenders, requests to participate.
5. Which size should attachments have? eSubmission accepts files that are less than 50 MB in size.
6. How should I name attachments in eSubmission? Follow the System Requirements.
7. Can I submit a video in eSubmission? Which formats are supported? Check the System Requirements of eSubmission.
8. 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”.
9. 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).
10. I have an issue uploading a file in eSubmission and it’s giving me an error. What do I do? Make sure it follows the technical requirements of the system.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. What is the validity period of a PIC? A PIC is unique and its validity is not limited in time.
15. How many languages does the system support? The system is multilingual and supports all 24 official EU languages.
16. Which is the character set encoding in the system? The character set encoding is UTF-8.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. 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.
20. 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.
21. 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.

In summary, this tender is an invitation from the European Commission for companies to bid on a project to establish a Project Support Office (PSO) for the Virtual Human Twins (VHT) Platform. The VHT Platform aims to develop a distributed platform for creating, testing, and integrating virtual human twin models. The PSO will be responsible for providing quality assurance, strategic advice, and technical support to the Commission in managing the contractors working on the VHT Platform. The contract is valued at 480,000 EUR and has a duration of 42 months. The tender process is an open procedure, meaning any eligible company can submit a bid electronically by the deadline of July 28, 2025. The selection will be based on the best price-quality ratio. The successful bidder will play a crucial role in ensuring the VHT Platform project meets its objectives and adheres to high standards, ultimately contributing to the European Virtual Human Twins Initiative.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, given the nature of the tender for a Project Support Office (PSO) to manage a framework contract, it is likely that eligible applicants would include companies, consultancies, or organizations with expertise in IT services, project management, and quality assurance. This could encompass SMEs, large enterprises, and potentially research institutes or public-private partnerships with relevant experience.

Funding Type: The funding type is procurement, specifically a service contract. The European Commission is procuring the services of a Project Support Office (PSO).

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 geographic eligibility is not explicitly stated. Given that it is an EU funding opportunity under the Digital Europe Work Programme, it is highly likely that the beneficiary scope includes EU member states and potentially other countries associated with the Digital Europe Programme.

Target Sector: The target sector is primarily IT services, consulting, software development, and support, as indicated by the Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV) code 72000000. More specifically, the tender focuses on the development, testing, and integration of Virtual Human Twin (VHT) models, placing it within the broader context of digital health, advanced computing, and simulation technologies.

Mentioned Countries: Luxembourg is mentioned in the procedure identifier (EC-CNECT/LUX/2025/OP/0005), but this likely refers to the location of the contracting authority or the project management office, rather than the geographic eligibility of the applicants. The European Union is implicitly mentioned through the reference to the Digital Europe Work Programme and the European Virtual Human Twins Initiative.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on the management and support of an existing or soon-to-be-established platform for advanced VHT integration and validation models. Therefore, the relevant stage is the operational phase, requiring project management, quality assurance, and strategic/technical advisory services.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the contract is 480,000 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 non-monetary services. The selected tenderer will be awarded a service contract to provide project support office (PSO) services.

Application Stages: The number of application stages is not explicitly mentioned, but it is implied that there is at least one stage involving the submission of a tender, followed by an evaluation process based on the best price-quality ratio.

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

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

Summary:

This is a call for tenders issued by the European Commission, DG CNECT, for the procurement of a Project Support Office (PSO) to assist in managing the Advanced Virtual Human Twins (VHT) Platform. The VHT Platform aims to develop a distributed environment for creating, testing, and integrating VHT models, funded under the Digital Europe Work Programme. The selected PSO will provide quality assurance, strategic advice, and technical support to the Contracting Authority, ensuring that the work of the VHT Platform contractors meets the highest standards and aligns with the objectives of the European Virtual Human Twins Initiative. The procedure is an open call, with electronic submissions required by July 28, 2025. The estimated total value of the contract is 480,000 EUR, and the maximum contract duration is 42 months. Tenderers must submit a declaration of honour and a financial offer, along with a technical offer demonstrating their ability to meet the tender specifications. The award will be based on the best price-quality ratio. A Participant Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for all tenderers, whether applying as a single entity or as part of a consortium. The eSubmission system supports various file types and has specific requirements for attachment naming and file sizes (maximum 50 MB per file, up to 200 files per submission). The system is multilingual, supporting all 24 official EU languages, and uses encryption to ensure the confidentiality of submitted documents.