Preparing for pre-commercial procurement (PCP) for end-user services based on environmental observation in the area of climate change adaptation and mitigation

Topic description

ExpectedOutcome:

The successful proposal will support the preparation, facilitation and pavement of the way for pre-commercial procurement in the area of climate change adaptation and mitigation to enable up-scaling and wide use of end-user services to respond to common needs in this area. The successful proposal will be contributing to the European Green Deal objectives by further deploying and exploiting the use of environmental observations^[1].

In order to do so the project is expected to contribute to all of the following outcomes:

• Creation of a critical mass of procurers of solutions and services in the area of climate change adaption and mitigation, which will undertake joint, cross-border or coordinated procurements;
• Description of the common needs of the public procurers for end-user services in the area of climate change adaption and mitigation;
• Reduced fragmentation of public sector demand via creation of a network(s) of public procurers capable of collectively implementing PCPs and/or public procurement of innovative solutions (PPIs);
• Increased awareness in the network of procurers of relevant standards, certification and GEO data sharing principles;
• Leverage of additional investment in research and innovation in the domain of environmental observation and the Copernicus Climate Change Service;
• Increased awareness and successful use of public procurement to boost innovation and increased exchange of experience in procurement practices and strategies (organising trainings and other information exchange tools) in the specific area of climate services.

The project is expected to prepare a pre-commercial procurement due to be part of the Cluster 6 work programme for 2023 in the domain of climate change services using the information and data from the Copernicus programme, GEO initiatives, other relevant initiatives such as EMODnet, European Commission Knowledge Centre on Earth Observation hosted at JRC, European research infrastructures and the broad range of environmental information.

The action should deliver all the necessary elements in preparation of the PCP as described in Annex H of the general annexes to this work programme.

Proposals should lead to the establishment of a critical mass of public and/or private procurers in the area of climate change adaptation and mitigation, to overcome the fragmentation of demand for solutions and services and to lead to a more rapid market uptake of such solutions and their early deployment. Demonstrated engagement from participants for a further Europe-wide take-up and rollout of results during and following the proposal are expected. Proposals should implement an open market consultation to gain insights into state-of-the-art technologies and ongoing developments, including prototypes and demonstration services coming out of relevant Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, ESA and national projects. This could include new approaches for market consultations with suppliers, paying special attention to SME suppliers.

Proposals should engage public and/or private procurers from each country participating (at national, regional or local level) that have responsibilities and budget control in the relevant area(s).

The network(s) of public and/or private procurers created should investigate the feasibility of, test and prepare the launch of joint or coordinated procurements (PCP), which would ultimately develop innovative, fully tested, fit-for-purpose and cost-effective end-user services in the area of climate change adaptation and mitigation. These solutions should be based on a complete set of common needs and specifications. Finally, to facilitate future replication, a set of well-documented practices should be made available.

Preparation activities for the joint or coordinated PCP will be supported, but not the costs of the procurement resulting from any PCP procedures.

Project duration should be 24 months.

EOSC and FAIR data
Innovation Procurement
Ocean sustainability and blue economy

[1]The capacity to observe the environment, including space-based, in-situ-based (air, sea, land) observation, and citizen observations