C3S2_523 An LLM-based data search and discovery service for the Climate Data Store

ECMWF, as the Entrusted Entity for the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), invites tenders to develop an advanced LLM-based search and discovery service, to enhance user access to climate and environmental data from the C3S Climate Data Store (CDS). The service will enable natural language querying, intelligent data summarisation, and …

CPV: 73000000 Serviços de investigação e desenvolvimento e serviços de consultoria conexos, 72000000 Serviços de TI: consultoria, desenvolvimento de software, Internet e apoio
Prazo:
14 de Outubro de 2025 às 16:00
Tipo de prazo:
Submissão da oferta
Local de execução:
C3S2_523 An LLM-based data search and discovery service for the Climate Data Store
Local de premiação:
European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)
Número do prémio:
C3S2_523

1. Buyer

1.1 Buyer

Official name : European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)
Legal type of the buyer : International organisation
Activity of the contracting authority : Environmental protection

2. Procedure

2.1 Procedure

Title : C3S2_523 An LLM-based data search and discovery service for the Climate Data Store
Description : ECMWF, as the Entrusted Entity for the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), invites tenders to develop an advanced LLM-based search and discovery service, to enhance user access to climate and environmental data from the C3S Climate Data Store (CDS). The service will enable natural language querying, intelligent data summarisation, and personalised recommendations to support a broader and more diverse user base, including non-experts. It will integrate with existing systems like the CDS Virtual Assistant (“Knowledge Duck”) and explore the use of generative AI for automated quality assessments of datasets.
Procedure identifier : e0110d97-7a8f-41d3-8620-8f362e56bfe5
Internal identifier : C3S2_523
Type of procedure : Open
The procedure is accelerated : no

2.1.1 Purpose

Main nature of the contract : Services
Main classification ( cpv ): 73000000 Research and development services and related consultancy services
Additional classification ( cpv ): 72000000 IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

2.1.2 Place of performance

Anywhere in the European Economic Area
Additional information : Service shall be performed on Contractor's premises, located either in a European Union Member State or in a Copernicus Participating State.

2.1.4 General information

Additional information : Procedure to be applied: The procurement will be conducted in accordance with ECMWF's procedures as set out in Invitation to Tender documents, which are available on ECMWF's eProcurement Portal ( https://procurement.ecmwf.int/) and no other procedures will apply. In submitting this notice ECMWF does not waive the privileges and immunities granted to it by virtue of its status as an intergovernmental organisation or submit itself to any jurisdiction. Tenders must be submitted using ECMWF's eProcurement Portal. Hard copy (paper) submissions will not be accepted. Due to the need to include performance and compliance obligations in the contract, ECMWF will contract only with a single legal person or entity which is competent to undertake and commit to these obligations. ECMWF recognises that some bids will involve a number of organisations which may wish to work together to deliver the contract requirements. In such cases, these organisations must identify a lead contractor who will sign the contract with ECMWF and who will be responsible for putting in place legal arrangements to ensure that it can guarantee that all other organisations will also meet the contract obligations. ECMWF will not enter into multiple contracts with individual members of consortia or groups of service providers. Eligibility: Refer to Section 3.2 of Volume I of the ITT documents.
Legal basis :
Other

5. Lot

5.1 Lot technical ID : LOT-0001

Title : C3S2_523 An LLM-based data search and discovery service for the Climate Data Store
Description : The main objective of this contract is the development of an LLM-based service to enable users search and discover suitable dataset in the context of their application. The service includes a tool, a web interface and other activities. The proposed solution is expected to function as a user-facing service, that shall a) operate with full availability and accessibility via the CDS, b) provide a natural language interface, c) come with user support and comprehensive documentation, d) offers regular maintenance mechanisms, and e) includes capabilities for monitoring and logging of user querying for continuous service improvement. ECMWF intends to award a single Framework Agreement for a period of maximum 30 months, which shall be implemented via a single Service Contract expected to commence in Q1 2026.
Internal identifier : C3S2_523

5.1.1 Purpose

Main nature of the contract : Services
Main classification ( cpv ): 73000000 Research and development services and related consultancy services
Additional classification ( cpv ): 72000000 IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

5.1.2 Place of performance

Anywhere in the European Economic Area
Additional information : Service shall be performed on Contractor's premises, located either in a European Union Member State or in a Copernicus Participating State.

5.1.3 Estimated duration

Start date : 01/03/2026
Duration : 30 Month

5.1.6 General information

Reserved participation : Participation is not reserved.
The names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to perform the contract must be given : Tender requirement
Procurement Project fully or partially financed with EU Funds.
Information about European Union funds
EU funds programme : European Earth Observation Programme (Copernicus) (2014/2020)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) : no
This procurement is also suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) : yes

5.1.10 Award criteria

Criterion :
Type : Quality
Description : Legal and Financial
Category of award threshold criterion : Weight (percentage, exact)
Award criterion number : 5
Criterion :
Type : Quality
Description : Track Record
Category of award threshold criterion : Weight (percentage, exact)
Award criterion number : 15
Criterion :
Type : Quality
Description : Quality of Resources Deployed
Category of award threshold criterion : Weight (percentage, exact)
Award criterion number : 15
Criterion :
Type : Quality
Description : Technical Solution Proposed
Category of award threshold criterion : Weight (percentage, exact)
Award criterion number : 30
Criterion :
Type : Quality
Description : Management and Implementation
Category of award threshold criterion : Weight (percentage, exact)
Award criterion number : 20
Criterion :
Type : Price
Description : Price
Category of award threshold criterion : Weight (percentage, exact)
Award criterion number : 15

5.1.11 Procurement documents

Access to certain procurement documents is restricted
Justification for restricting access to certain procurement documents : Tools, devices, or file formats not generally available
Deadline for requesting additional information : 29/09/2025 23:59 +02:00
Information about restricted documents is available at : https://www.ecmwf.int/en/about/suppliers
Ad hoc communication channel :
Name : Please refer to Volume I of the ITT documents for a complete description of the communication and tender submission procedure. Tenderers must register their organisation on the ECMWF's eProcurement Portal to be able to access the ITT documents and to be able to submit a response to the ITT. Registration is free and the process is managed by the portal provider.

5.1.12 Terms of procurement

Terms of submission :
Electronic submission : Required
Address for submission : https://procurement.ecmwf.int/
Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted : English
Electronic catalogue : Allowed
Variants : Not allowed
Deadline for receipt of tenders : 14/10/2025 16:00 +02:00
Deadline until which the tender must remain valid : 9 Month
Terms of contract :
The execution of the contract must be performed within the framework of sheltered employment programmes : No
Electronic invoicing : Allowed
Electronic ordering will be used : yes
Electronic payment will be used : yes
Financial arrangement : Please refer to Volume V of the ITT documents.

5.1.15 Techniques

Framework agreement :
Framework agreement, without reopening of competition
Maximum number of participants : 1
Information about the dynamic purchasing system :
No dynamic purchase system

5.1.16 Further information, mediation and review

Review organisation : European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)
Information about review deadlines : Please refer to ECMWF's Procurement Debriefing and Review Procedure published at the ECMWF Suppliers webpage ( https://www.ecmwf.int/en/about/suppliers).
Organisation providing additional information about the procurement procedure : European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)
Organisation providing offline access to the procurement documents : European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)
Organisation providing more information on the review procedures : European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)
Organisation receiving requests to participate : European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)
Organisation processing tenders : European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)

8. Organisations

8.1 ORG-0001

Official name : European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)
Registration number : fiscal code no. 91148050684
Postal address : Robert-Schuman-Platz 3
Town : Bonn
Postcode : 53175
Country subdivision (NUTS) : Bonn, Kreisfreie Stadt ( DEA22 )
Country : Germany
Contact point : Procurement at ECMWF
Telephone : +44 118 949 9000
Internet address : https://www.ecmwf.int/
Information exchange endpoint (URL) : https://procurement.ecmwf.int/
Roles of this organisation :
Buyer
Organisation providing additional information about the procurement procedure
Organisation providing offline access to the procurement documents
Organisation receiving requests to participate
Organisation processing tenders

8.1 ORG-0002

Official name : European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)
Registration number : not applicable
Postal address : Shinfield Park
Town : Reading
Postcode : RG2 9AX
Country : United Kingdom
Contact point : Procurement at ECMWF
Telephone : +44 118 949 9000
Fax : +44 118 986 9450
Internet address : https://www.ecmwf.int/
Information exchange endpoint (URL) : https://procurement.ecmwf.int/
Roles of this organisation :
Review organisation
Organisation providing more information on the review procedures

8.1 ORG-0000

Official name : Publications Office of the European Union
Registration number : PUBL
Town : Luxembourg
Postcode : 2417
Country subdivision (NUTS) : Luxembourg ( LU000 )
Country : Luxembourg
Telephone : +352 29291
Internet address : https://op.europa.eu
Roles of this organisation :
TED eSender

Notice information

Notice identifier/version : a3e5e878-b5f0-4181-a75b-8cf39799e0fe - 01
Form type : Competition
Notice type : Contract or concession notice – standard regime
Notice dispatch date : 05/08/2025 18:17 +00:00
Languages in which this notice is officially available : English
Notice publication number : 00517402-2025
OJ S issue number : 150/2025
Publication date : 07/08/2025