Pre-information notice for a low value contract – Purchase of equipment for defining the composition of alloy of counterfeit euro coins

The Commission has the obligation through its European Technical and Scientific Centre (ETSC) to implement Council Regulation (EC) No 1338/2001 and Regulation (EU) No 1210/2010. More specifically unit ECFIN/DDG1/C5/ETSC from Directorate General for Economic and Financial Affairs (DG ECFIN) performs its tasks referred to in Commission Decision (EU) 2017/1507 amending Decision 2005/37/EC establishing the ETSC and providing for coordination of technical actions to protect euro coins against counterfeiting. In particular, the ETSC performs technical analysis of counterfeit euro coins using the equipment available in Brussels.

The CNACs (Coin Analysis Centres) of the Member States request the above mentioned analysis by the ETSC including the return of the analysed samples because of the on-going police/judicial investigation/procedures. These procedures require that the samples after analysis are not damaged. Therefore, a non-destructive analysis should be carried out.

DG ECFIN  aims to purchase equipment to be used by the ETSC for defining the composition of the alloy of counterfeit euro coins (X-RAY fluorescence measuring instrument), which is an important part of the technical analysis of counterfeit euro coins. In addition to this, such an instrument will allow further research on the material used for the production of counterfeit euro coins and as such, will provide important information for streamlining the technical specifications for the detection test in line with Articles 4 and 7 of Regulation (EU) No 1210/2010.

The equipment will be used in Brussels by the staff of the European Technical and Scientific Centre.

DG ECFIN intends to invite potential candidates and send them the tender specifications with full details in October 2018. If you would like to be considered for this contract and to be included in the invitation list, please send your contact details to the following e-mail address: ECFIN-ETSCec [dot] europa [dot] eu (ECFIN-ETSC[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu) by Tuesday 23 October 2018 (midnight CET) clearly mentioning in the subject line of your e-mail "Call for tenders ref. 2018 ECFIN 010/C5".

The mailbox ECFIN-ETSCec [dot] europa [dot] eu (ECFIN-ETSC[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu) is reserved for requests to be included in the invitation list. Such requests sent to other mailboxes or to Commission staff cannot be accepted. Any request for information must be made in writing only to the e-mail address above (in the interest of equal treatment please do not telephone). However, candidates are reminded that at this stage no details on the tender specifications can be communicated.

This invitation/notice is in no way binding on the European Commission. The Commission's contractual obligation commences only upon signature of the contract with the successful candidate. Up to the point of signature, DG ECFIN may either abandon the procurement or cancel the award procedure, without the candidates being entitled to claim any compensation. Candidates will be notified.