Tender

Participating in the SHIELD PCP Tender

The SHIELD PCP invites technology suppliers and solution providers to participate in tender and collaborate with public procurers and end-users in developing new tools that enhance the protection of public spaces.

Participation offers the opportunity to co-create solutions that will be tested in real-world operational environments and aligned with the needs of security practitioners across Europe.

Benefits for Public Buyers

Improved quality and efficiency of public security services.

Interoperability ensured from the beginning, reducing the risk of vendor lock-in.

Better quality products at more competitive costs.

Reduced risk during future Public Procurement of Innovative Solutions (PPI).

License-free use of solutions for procurers.

Right to request third-party licensing for broader deployment.

Process Overview

The PCP process is organised in a sequence of open and transparent steps, allowing suppliers to build partnerships, understand requirements, and submit proposals.

1. Find Your Partner

To support the creation of potential PCP consortia, the matchmaking form enables technology providers to present their capabilities and connect with others interested in co-developing solutions.

By sharing your organisation’s expertise, you can explore synergies and identify suitable partners for forming a PCP consortium.

Open the matchmaking form

2. Open Market Consultations (OMC)

Read the Open Market Consultation Report under this link.

The SHIELD PCP holded Open Market Consultations activities, announced two months in advance in the Official Journal of the European Union via a Prior Information Notice (PIN).

The OMC activities were instrumental in helping to:

Verify results of prior art analysis

Gather insights from suppliers on emerging and relevant technologies

Clarify operational needs and IPR considerations

Support two-way dialogue between procurers and industry

Activities included:

Hybrid Central Event in Paris (25–26 February 2026). Check the recording and presentations under this link.

Online webinars (in English and buyers’ languages) – recordings and presentations available here.

Request for Information (RFI) via EU Survey available under
this link.

Q&A document published under this link.

OMC actions were promoted widely through project channels and European networks.

Prior Information Notice (PIN): Open here

Check the OMC Document for more details

3. Call for Tender

Publication: May 2026

Reception of bids: June–August 2026

The Call for Tender will outline requirements, pilot sites, and evaluation criteria.

Evaluation will consider:

1. Technical Innovation and Feasibility

Innovation potential
Technical robustness and interoperability
Compliance with functional and technical specifications

2. Cost and Value for Money

Cost-effectiveness and sustainability

3. Operational Impact and Scalability

Integration with existing workflows
Adaptability to diverse contexts and larger environments

4. Social and Ethical Impact

Privacy, safety, public acceptance, human impact

A sufficient period will be provided to prepare and submit proposals.

4. Tender Awards

Announcement: October 2026

Bids will undergo:

Administrative eligibility checks

Assessment against exclusion, selection, and pass/fail criteria

Scoring of technical and financial criteria

Suppliers selected for Phase 1 will be invited to proceed.

PCP Development Phases

Phase 1
Solution Design

Duration: ~3 months (November 2026 – January 2027)

At least five R&D providers deliver a detailed solution design and technical architecture, addressing operational needs such as real-time monitoring and coordination.

No prototype is required at this stage; this phase focuses on conceptual and technical feasibility.

Phase 2
Prototype Development and Testing

Duration: ~9 months (April 2027 – February 2028)

At least three prototypes will be developed and tested in controlled environments:

Laboratory Acceptance Test (LAT)

Factory Acceptance Test (FAT), supervised by the consortium

This phase ensures that prototypes meet functional requirements and are ready for real-world trials.

Phase 3
Operational Testing in Real Environments

Duration: ~6 months (April 2028 – September 2028)

Pilot sites:

Football stadium, Žilina, Slovakia

Football stadium, Madrid, Spain

Gare du Nord train station, Paris, France

At the end of Phase 3, procurers receive:

Source code and necessary software

Hardware supporting integration

Validated prototypes ready for further scaling

All dates provided are indicative and may be adjusted following consultations with suppliers during the OMC (Open Market Consultation).