Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt has awarded a €23.11M contract for the National Contact Point Key Technologies to VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH

Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt (BMFTR), a central government authority operating in general public services, has awarded a contract for the National Contact Point Key Technologies (NKS) (Nationale Kontaktstelle Schlüsseltechnologien (NKS)) to VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH. The awarded value of the contract is €23,109,092.00, covering research and development consultancy services, with a duration from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2030. The contract was awarded following an open procedure under the standard regime, governed by EU Directive 2014/24/EU.

Introduction

Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt (BMFTR), a central government authority operating in general public services, has conducted an open procedure for the National Contact Point Key Technologies (NKS). To implement the European Union's research framework programmes (FRP), the participating states have committed to establishing an information and advisory system. The basis for the establishment and activity of the so-called National Contact Points (NKS) are the "European Commission Guidelines for the Establishment of National Contact Points" (for Horizon Europe). These guidelines are supplemented by a "Joint Specification" of the EU Office and the National Contact Points (valid version of 01.10.2024 as an annex to the service description). The Federal Government maintains a network of National Contact Points (NKS). This informs and advises participants in the FRP on the one hand and supports the Federal Government in the design and implementation of the FRP on the other. The aim of the NKS is to ensure a high, efficient and effective participation of German research institutions, universities and companies (especially small and medium-sized enterprises – SMEs) in the European Union's funding measures, especially the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.

The tasks relate in content until 31 December 2027 to the funding topics previously established under the 9th FRP on digital and industrial key technologies dealt with in the two programme committee configurations of the clusters "Digital, Industry and Space", "Civil Security for Society" for cybersecurity, and the area of mobility in the cluster "Climate, Energy and Mobility". From probably 1 January 2028, the tasks relate in content to the funding topics of the 10th FRP on key technologies, which are currently located in Policy Windows 1 (Clean Transition and Industrial Decarbonisation) and 3 (Digital Leadership) of the European Competitiveness Fund. In the interest of continuity, to continue to bundle key technologies synergistically, materials innovations are also covered. The tasks also include accompanying other programme parts of the FRP, such as from the Innovation programme part of the "European Innovation Council (EIC)" or the "European Institute for Technology and Knowledge and Innovation Centres (EIT-KIC)", insofar as relevant technology-oriented activities can be anchored or corresponding funding activities (e.g. missions or other partnerships) extend across different programme parts.

The procurement is not financed with EU funds but is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA). No strategic procurement objectives were specified. The evaluation criteria are quality (50%) and price (50%). The quality criterion includes K1 (concept for the creation of recommendations for action based on the information collected under 1.1 of the service description as well as the statistical evaluation of past tenders – 35%); K2 (information concept for informing potential applicants – 25%); K3 (concept for advising applicants including training concept on questions of EU research funding – 30%); and K4 (concept for initiating strategic new European bilateral cooperations – 10%). Two tenders were received (submitted electronically; none from SMEs). One winner was appointed: VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH (large enterprise). Subcontracting was declared (value unknown; percentage 10%). The contract was concluded on 7 September 2026. The value of all contracts awarded in this notice is €23,109,092.00.

Why This Contract Matters

This contract ensures that the Federal Government has access to a National Contact Point for Key Technologies, supporting the participation of German research institutions, universities and companies in EU research framework programmes.

This contract matters because it:

• Supports EU Research Participation: Provides information and advice on EU research framework programmes
• Significant Value: €23,109,092.00 awarded value
• Long-Term Commitment: 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2030, with an option to extend by up to 3 years
• Comprehensive Scope: Information, advice, training, statistical evaluation and strategic cooperation initiation
• Balanced Evaluation: 50% quality, 50% price
• Competition: 2 tenders received (submitted electronically)
• Subcontracting: Subcontracting declared (10%)

Contract Timeline

• Start date: 01 October 2026
• Contract concluded: 07 September 2026
• Duration end date: 30 September 2030
• Maximum renewals: 1 (option to extend by up to 3 years)
• Notice published: 30 September 2026 (OJ S 189/2026)
• Notice dispatch date: 28 September 2026

Contract Overview

Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt conducted an open procedure under the standard regime, governed by EU Directive 2014/24/EU.

Key features include:

• One lot: LOT-0000
• Awarded value: €23,109,092.00
• Duration: 01 October 2026 to 30 September 2030
• Maximum renewals: 1 (option to extend by up to 3 years)
• Framework type: No framework agreement
• Evaluation: Quality (50%) and Price (50%)
• Winner: VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH (large enterprise)
• Subcontracting: Yes (value unknown; percentage 10%)
• No EU funding
• Covered by GPA: Yes
• Strategic procurement: No strategic procurement

Key Contract Details

• Main classification: 73200000 Research and development consultancy services
• Place of performance: Berlin, Germany (NUTS: DE300)
• Procedure identifier: 38acc78e-dca5-48ec-8f24-a4c1282eb599
• Internal identifier: 04514-5/8(2026)
• Type of procedure: Open
• Accelerated procedure: No
• Legal basis: Directive 2014/24/EU; VgV
• Review body: Vergabekammer des Bundes beim Bundeskartellamt
• Review deadline: Per § 160 (3) GWB (10 calendar days; 15 calendar days); § 134 (2) GWB (10 calendar days standstill)

Lot Structure

Lot 1 – National Contact Point Key Technologies (NKS)

• Title: Nationale Kontaktstelle Schlüsseltechnologien (NKS)
• Description: Information and advisory system for the implementation of the European Union's research framework programmes (FRP); the NKS informs and advises participants in the FRP and supports the Federal Government in the design and implementation of the FRP; tasks relate to digital and industrial key technologies, cybersecurity, mobility, materials innovations, and accompanying other programme parts of the FRP (e.g. EIC, EIT-KIC)
• Internal identifier: 04514-5/8(2026)
• Awarded value: €23,109,092.00
• Winner: VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH
• Tenders received: 2 (submitted electronically; none from SMEs)
• Contract concluded: 07 September 2026
• Duration: 01 October 2026 to 30 September 2030
• Options: Option to extend the contract by the contracting authority by up to 3 years
• Contract identifier: 04514-5/8(2026)

Lot Summary Table

Lot	Title	Value (€)	Winner	Tenders
1	National Contact Point Key Technologies (NKS)	23,109,092.00	VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH	2
Total		23,109,092.00

Scope of Supply

The contract covers the following services:

• Information and Advice: Information and advice for participants in the EU research framework programmes
• Support to Federal Government: Support for the Federal Government in the design and implementation of the FRP
• Digital and Industrial Key Technologies: Funding topics under the 9th and 10th FRP
• Cybersecurity: Civil Security for Society cluster
• Mobility: Climate, Energy and Mobility cluster
• Materials Innovations: Materials innovations covered for continuity
• Accompanying Other Programme Parts: EIC Innovation programme part and EIT-KIC, where relevant
• Research and Development Consultancy Services: Services under CPV 73200000

Special Procurement Conditions

• Quality Criterion (50%): K1 – Concept for the creation of recommendations for action based on the information collected under 1.1 of the service description as well as the statistical evaluation of past tenders (35%); K2 – Information concept for informing potential applicants (25%); K3 – Concept for advising applicants including training concept on questions of EU research funding (30%); K4 – Concept for initiating strategic new European bilateral cooperations (10%)
• Price Criterion (50%): All award criteria, their weighting and evaluation formulas are listed in the procurement document "Besondere Bewerbungsbedingungen"
• Option: Option to extend the contract by the contracting authority by up to 3 years
• No Framework Agreement: No framework agreement
• Subcontracting: Yes (value unknown; percentage 10%)
• No Strategic Procurement: No strategic objectives specified
• Programme Content: Until 31 December 2027, tasks relate to the 9th FRP funding topics on digital and industrial key technologies (clusters "Digital, Industry and Space", "Civil Security for Society" for cybersecurity, and mobility in "Climate, Energy and Mobility"); from probably 1 January 2028, tasks relate to the 10th FRP funding topics on key technologies (Policy Windows 1 and 3 of the European Competitiveness Fund)

About the Contracting Authority

Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt (BMFTR) is a central government authority operating in general public services in Germany.

• Legal type: Central government authority
• Activity: General public services
• Registration number: 991-00227BMFTR-14
• Location: Berlin, Germany (NUTS: DE300)
• Address: Kapelle-Ufer 1, 10117 Berlin
• Email: vergabe@bmftr.bund.de
• Telephone: 000
• Internet address: www.bmftr.bund.de

About the Winning Supplier

VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH is a large enterprise based in Berlin, Germany, specialising in research and development consultancy services.

• Size: Large enterprise
• Registration number: 99568
• Location: Berlin, Germany (NUTS: DE300)
• Address: Steinplatz 1, 10623 Berlin
• Email: vdivde-it@vdivde-it.de
• Subcontracting: Yes (value unknown; percentage 10%)

Evaluation Criteria

The lot uses the following evaluation criteria:

• Quality (50%): K1 – Concept for the creation of recommendations for action (35%); K2 – Information concept for informing potential applicants (25%); K3 – Concept for advising applicants including training concept (30%); K4 – Concept for initiating strategic new European bilateral cooperations (10%)
• Price (50%): All award criteria, their weighting and evaluation formulas are listed in the procurement document "Besondere Bewerbungsbedingungen"

Procurement Analysis

• Procedure: Open procedure under the standard regime, governed by EU Directive 2014/24/EU
• Competition: 2 tenders received (submitted electronically; none from micro, small or medium tenderers; none from other EEA countries or non-EEA countries)
• Subcontracting: Yes (value unknown; percentage 10%)
• No EU funding: The procurement was not financed with EU funds
• No framework agreement: No framework agreement
• No dynamic purchasing system used
• Accelerated procedure: No
• Strategic procurement: No strategic procurement
• Review body: Vergabekammer des Bundes beim Bundeskartellamt
• Call for competition terminated: The call for competition has been terminated (contract awarded)

Additional Procurement Facts

• The contract is covered by the WTO's Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
• No EU funds were used for this procurement
• The awarded value is €23,109,092.00
• The procurement is divided into one lot
• Quality (50%) and Price (50%) are the evaluation criteria
• Two tenders were received (submitted electronically)
• None of the tenders came from micro, small or medium tenderers
• The winner is a large enterprise
• Subcontracting was declared (value unknown; percentage 10%)
• The contract duration is 01 October 2026 to 30 September 2030
• The contract includes an option to extend by up to 3 years
• Tasks relate to digital and industrial key technologies, cybersecurity, mobility, materials innovations, and accompanying other programme parts of the FRP

Market & Industry Perspective

The German public sector research and development consultancy market features a mix of large research and technology consultancies. National Contact Points are essential for supporting participation in EU research framework programmes and for advising research institutions, universities and companies.

Key trends in this market include:

• Balanced evaluation: 50% quality, 50% price
• Large providers: Dominance of large research and technology consultancies
• Comprehensive scope: Information, advice, training, statistical evaluation and strategic cooperation initiation
• Long-term contracts: 01 October 2026 to 30 September 2030, with an option to extend by up to 3 years
• EU research framework programmes: Support for participation in Horizon Europe and subsequent framework programmes
• Key technologies: Digital and industrial key technologies, cybersecurity, mobility and materials innovations
• Subcontracting: Declared (10%)

Economic Significance

At €23,109,092.00, this contract represents a significant investment in the National Contact Point for Key Technologies for the Federal Government. The contract will:

• Support EU Research Participation: Provide information and advice on EU research framework programmes
• Support Large Enterprise: VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH is a large research and technology consultancy
• Provide Long-Term Stability: Contract running to 30 September 2030, with an option to extend by up to 3 years
• Ensure Advisory Services: Information, advice, training, statistical evaluation and strategic cooperation initiation
• Enable Research Funding: Support German research institutions, universities and companies in accessing EU funding
• Support Key Technologies: Focus on digital and industrial key technologies, cybersecurity, mobility and materials innovations

Future Procurement Opportunities

With this contract now in place, future opportunities include:

• Re-tender: Expected after the contract end date of 30 September 2030 (including extension option)
• Related Services: Additional research and development consultancy services
• Subcontracting: Potential opportunities with VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH
• Other Federal Projects: Similar National Contact Point procurement opportunities
• Extension Option: Option to extend the contract by up to 3 years

Opportunities for Suppliers

While this contract is awarded, opportunities remain for research and development consultancy providers:

• Re-tender: Prepare for future procurement cycles
• Subcontracting: Potential opportunities with VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH
• Related Services: Other research and development consultancy services
• Other German Federal Authorities: Similar National Contact Point procurements
• Extension Option: Monitor extension opportunities

What Businesses Should Watch

• Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt's future procurement notices
• Other German federal research and development consultancy tenders
• Research and development consultancy market trends
• Changes to German procurement regulations
• EU research framework programme developments (9th and 10th FRP)
• National Contact Point network developments

GermanyTenders.com Procurement Intelligence

This National Contact Point Key Technologies contract is a notable example of German public sector procurement. Several features stand out:

• Scale: €23.11M awarded value
• Balanced evaluation: 50% quality, 50% price
• Large winner: VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH
• One lot: Nationale Kontaktstelle Schlüsseltechnologien (NKS)
• Competition: 2 tenders received (none from SMEs)
• Long-term contract: 01 October 2026 to 30 September 2030
• Extension option: Option to extend by up to 3 years
• Comprehensive scope: Information, advice, training, statistical evaluation and strategic cooperation initiation
• Subcontracting: Declared (10%)

For suppliers, this procurement highlights the importance of:

• Quality: 50% quality-based evaluation (concept for recommendations, information concept, advisory concept including training, and strategic cooperation concept)
• Competitive pricing: 50% price-based evaluation
• Research and development consultancy expertise: Ability to deliver information, advice and training on EU research funding
• Public sector experience: Understanding of German federal research and technology requirements
• EU research framework programme knowledge: Understanding of the 9th and 10th FRP
• Scale capability: Ability to deliver comprehensive National Contact Point services

Supplier Takeaways

• Ensure high quality – 50% of evaluation is quality-based (concept for recommendations, information concept, advisory concept including training, and strategic cooperation concept)
• Offer competitive pricing – 50% of evaluation is price-based
• Demonstrate research and development consultancy expertise
• Showcase EU research framework programme knowledge
• Develop public sector experience with German federal authorities
• Demonstrate scale capability for comprehensive National Contact Point services
• Monitor BMFTR and German federal research procurement opportunities
• Prepare for subcontracting opportunities with VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH

Key Takeaways

• Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt awarded a €23,109,092.00 National Contact Point Key Technologies contract to VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH
• One lot: Nationale Kontaktstelle Schlüsseltechnologien (NKS)
• Duration: 01 October 2026 to 30 September 2030, with an option to extend by up to 3 years
• Evaluation: Quality (50%) and Price (50%)
• 2 tenders received (submitted electronically; none from SMEs)
• Winner is a large enterprise
• Subcontracting declared (value unknown; percentage 10%)
• No EU funding
• Covered by GPA: Yes
• No framework agreement
• Comprehensive scope: information, advice, training, statistical evaluation and strategic cooperation initiation
• Tasks relate to digital and industrial key technologies, cybersecurity, mobility, materials innovations, and accompanying other programme parts of the FRP
• Contract concluded on 07 September 2026

Conclusion

This National Contact Point Key Technologies contract ensures that the Federal Government has access to a National Contact Point for Key Technologies, supporting the participation of German research institutions, universities and companies in EU research framework programmes. By awarding the contract to VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH, the Federal Government secures a reliable large enterprise supplier with the capability to deliver comprehensive information, advice, training, statistical evaluation and strategic cooperation initiation services.

The 50% quality and 50% price evaluation reflects the balanced nature of research and development consultancy procurement, where both quality (concept for recommendations, information concept, advisory concept including training, and strategic cooperation concept) and price are important differentiators among qualified suppliers. The long-term duration, the extension option and the comprehensive scope reflect the specific operational and strategic context of the Federal Government's research and technology policy needs.

For suppliers, this procurement highlights the importance of quality, competitive pricing, research and development consultancy expertise, public sector experience, EU research framework programme knowledge and scale capability in winning German public sector research and development consultancy contracts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt?

Ans: The German Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space, a central government authority operating in general public services in Germany.

Q: What is the value of the contract?

Ans: Awarded value €23,109,092.00.

Q: Who is the winner?

Ans: VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH, a large enterprise based in Berlin, Germany.

Q: What services are covered?

Ans: Information and advice for participants in the EU research framework programmes, support for the Federal Government in the design and implementation of the FRP, digital and industrial key technologies, cybersecurity, mobility, materials innovations, and accompanying other programme parts of the FRP.

Q: What were the evaluation criteria?

Ans: Quality (50%) and Price (50%).

Q: How long is the contract?

Ans: 01 October 2026 to 30 September 2030, with an option to extend by up to 3 years.

Q: How many tenders were received?

Ans: Two tenders (submitted electronically; none from micro, small or medium tenderers).

Q: Is this contract funded by the EU?

Ans: No, the procurement is not financed with EU funds.

Q: What is the review body?

Ans: Vergabekammer des Bundes beim Bundeskartellamt.

Q: What is the lot structure?

Ans: One lot – LOT-0000 (Nationale Kontaktstelle Schlüsseltechnologien (NKS)).

Q: Is subcontracting allowed?

Ans: Yes, subcontracting was declared by the winner (value unknown; percentage 10%).

Q: What are the quality sub-criteria?

Ans: K1 – Concept for the creation of recommendations for action (35%); K2 – Information concept for informing potential applicants (25%); K3 – Concept for advising applicants including training concept (30%); K4 – Concept for initiating strategic new European bilateral cooperations (10%).

Q: What programme content is covered?

Ans: Until 31 December 2027, tasks relate to the 9th FRP funding topics on digital and industrial key technologies, cybersecurity, and mobility; from probably 1 January 2028, tasks relate to the 10th FRP funding topics on key technologies in Policy Windows 1 and 3 of the European Competitiveness Fund; materials innovations are also covered.

Source: EU Official Journal, Contract Award Notice 673489-2026, OJ S 189/2026, published 30 September 2026.

```