FAQs

What kind of signature is required for the documents? Digital signature for the electronic submission and hand signature for the cover letter that must be sent by post?

No signature is required for the documents submitted on the Innovation Procurement Platform. For the cover letter that must be sent by post, the hand signature is accepted. Detailed information will be included in the Tender Documents once published for the subsequent Pre-Commercial (PCP) procurement.

Can only SMEs apply and participate in this programme/call?

The ACTIVE PCP Open Market Consultation process is open to all types of operators (companies including start-ups, SMEs, large industry, etc.) regardless of their size or governance structure. However, please note that only entities eligible for Horizon Europe PCP actions (i.e. established in EU Member States and/or Horizon Europe Associated Countries and committing to perform the R&D services within those countries) will be eligible to participate in the subsequent Pre-Commercial (PCP) procurement.

I would like to ask one question regarding the call, as I have not been able to find this information anywhere: how many garments are we expected to prepare by the end of the call? Or is there a specific number required for each phase?

Detailed information on the required number of garments will be available as part of the ACTIVE PCP Tender Documents once finalized and officially published

We would appreciate clarification on the funding structure: would the subsidy be granted directly to us, or channelled through your organization? In other words, are we dealing with a standard tender process or a subsidized project framework? In this context, could you please confirm whether our role would be that of a subcontractor or a directly funded beneficiary?

The upcoming Pre-Commercial (PCP) procurement will be implemented through a Call for Tenders to award procurement contracts; the selected tenderers, based on best value for money criteria set, will be awarded a contract to provide the R&D services procured. Detailed information will be available as part of the ACTIVE PCP Tender Documentation once finalised and officially published.

Should the funding be granted directly, would it be expected for us to participate independently, or would it be necessary to establish a consortium of collaborating companies in advance?

Please see A4. Entities eligible for Horizon Europe PCP actions (i.e. established in EU Member States and/or Horizon Europe Associated Countries and committing to perform the R&D services within those countries) will be eligible to participate solely or jointly in the subsequent Pre-Commercial (PCP) procurement.

We would like to inquire whether the recording of the session will be made available to participants, in order to review it and be sure we do not miss any important point.

Yes, the recording will be made available on the activepcp.eu website under the Open Market Consultation section, along with the presentations in local languages, as well as in English.

Can a research institute or university participate as part of a consortium?

Yes. Research institutes and universities (or other R&D organisations) may participate as part of a consortium, where permitted under the Call for Tenders. In PCP procedures, it is common for R&D organisations to team up with companies (including manufacturers and technology providers) to jointly deliver the required R&D services. The specific eligibility conditions and consortium requirements will be defined in the Tender Documents once published for the subsequent Pre-Commercial (PCP) procurement.

How detailed will the requirements be? Will they be very open or very specific?

The Call for Tenders will include a structured requirements framework, expected to cover a list of requirements across different areas (approximately 100 requirements). The aim is to provide clear guidance on operational needs and performance expectations, while still leaving room for innovation and alternative technical approaches. The final requirements set and their level of detail will be specified in the Tender Documents, once published for the subsequent Pre-Commercial (PCP) procurement.

What role does sustainability play in the award decision?

Sustainability considerations may form part of the evaluation, depending on the procurement strategy and the final tender design. The Call for Tenders will clearly describe the award criteria and the weighting applied to each criterion, so that all tenderers are informed in advance how proposals will be assessed. Any sustainability-related requirements and evaluation aspects will be reflected transparently in the Tender Documents once published for the subsequent Pre-Commercial (PCP) procurement.

You referred to heat stress and also mentioned operational scenarios lasting up to five hours. In this context, is there a requirement to anticipate heat stress in advance, taking into account the expected physical activity of the first responder? In other words, beyond real-time monitoring, would there be an © 2026 ACTIVE PCP interest in incorporating predictive capabilities, for example, using physiological data collected through sensors to assess whether, while a responder may currently be fit for duty, their condition could deteriorate after a certain period of continued activity (e.g. within the next hour)? Would such forward- looking modelling of thermophysiological behaviour be relevant, particularly given the duration of operations you described?

This type of predictive functionality is indeed considered highly relevant and is a feature that is already being taken into account. It is closely linked to the broader objective of enhancing situational awareness during operations. In particular, in conditions involving high environmental temperatures or fire exposure, operational capacity can be significantly constrained, and the ability to anticipate physiological stress over time is of clear importance. From an operational perspective, forecasting thermophysiological responses would enable a more effective assessment of first responders’ capability to sustain activity over extended periods. In this regard, the thermal regulation performance of protective equipment, especially the fabrics used, represents a critical factor.

At the same time, it is recognised that such predictive capabilities must be assessed in light of current technological feasibility. Ongoing discussions with stakeholders, including fire service representatives, are aimed at identifying realistic thresholds based on what is currently available on the market. Feedback from market operators is therefore essential to determine the level of R&D efforts required and the extent to which such predictive features can be achieved within the scope of the project. The envisaged approach is to establish feasible performance thresholds in the current phase of the project and to progressively improve these capabilities in subsequent development stages or future initiatives. Overall, predictive monitoring of heat stress and operational endurance is considered a key priority for further exploration.

First responders typically operate under well-defined Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that guide their response to different types of incidents. In the context of the ACTIVE PCP outcomes, could the introduction of new protective equipment or technologies lead to deviations from existing SOPs? In other words, is it acceptable or envisaged that such innovations may require experimentation beyond current procedural frameworks?

The introduction of advanced equipment and capabilities is expected to influence and potentially reshape existing SOPs. Current procedures often reflect existing limitations in equipment and operational capacity, for example, in hazardous environments, first responders may be instructed to withdraw and wait for specialised units. However, enhanced protective solutions could enable responders to safely operate in situations that are currently considered too dangerous. In such cases, SOPs would need to evolve accordingly, as improved equipment directly expands operational possibilities.

Real-life incident scenarios, including complex and multi-hazard environments, have highlighted gaps in current capabilities, particularly in prolonged operations or in remote areas where immediate specialised support may not be available. In these contexts, first responders are often required to take on multiple roles and remain operational for extended periods. Therefore, the development of new technologies is not expected to contradict SOPs, but rather to inform their adaptation. The evolution of procedures is seen as a natural and necessary consequence of improved operational capabilities, with the ultimate objective of enhancing both responder safety and effectiveness in the field.

Could you provide further clarification on the treatment of intellectual property rights (IPR) in cases © 2026 ACTIVE PCP where a supplier proposes a solution that has already reached a relatively advanced maturity level (e.g. TRL 6 or 7) through significant prior investment? In particular, how are such pre-existing IPRs handled within the procurement framework?

A clear distinction is made between background and foreground IPR. Background IPR refers to pre- existing intellectual property developed prior to the procurement. Suppliers will be required to declare these background IPRs as part of their technical offer, while retaining full ownership and the ability to further use and develop them. This also enables procurers to understand any dependencies related to the proposed solution. Foreground IPR, by contrast, relates to the results generated during the implementation of the PCP. These rights remain with the supplier, who retains the ability to commercially exploit the developed solutions. At the same time, procurers are granted usage rights to the results for their own purposes, on a long-term basis. Overall, this approach ensures a balance between protecting suppliers’ prior investments and providing incentives for innovation, while also securing access rights for public procurers.

From a practical perspective, how do you envision the deployment of capabilities in hazardous environments? In many such situations, specialised equipment is required to detect chemical, biological, or radiological risks. Is the ambition to equip all first responders (e.g. police officers or firefighters) with such capabilities as part of their standard equipment, or rather to rely on specialised teams? How is this addressed operationally, given that specialised units may not always be the first responders on the scene?

CBRN protection involves multiple components, including detection systems, respiratory equipment, and protective gear, which can be deployed through different operational models. The present project focuses specifically on the development of advanced protective equipment based on a smart textile approach, following an “all-hazards” perspective.

The objective is not to replace specialised units, but to enhance the baseline capabilities of first responders through wearable and integrated solutions that support both protection and monitoring (e.g. vital signs, geolocation). While technologies for monitoring already exist on the market, the main challenge lies in effectively integrating these functionalities into protective equipment, particularly within the fabric itself, in a way that remains practical and reliable in operational conditions.

This project should therefore be seen as one component within a broader ecosystem of solutions. Other initiatives may address complementary aspects, such as detection technologies or operational procedures (SOPs). Ultimately, a combination of these elements will be required to develop a comprehensive response approach to everyday CBRN and multi-hazard scenarios.

What is expected to happen after Phase 3 of the ACTIVE PCP? In particular, is there an expectation that a subsequent Public Procurement of Innovative Solutions (PPI) will follow, given that suppliers will have developed near-market-ready solutions at that stage?

At this stage, it is not possible to confirm whether a PPI will follow the completion of the PCP. This depends on a range of factors, including project outcomes, uptake by end users, and decisions at the European Commission level. Both PCPs and PPIs remain relatively limited in number, and future follow-up mechanisms will depend on how the broader policy and funding landscape evolves.

Nevertheless, the PCP is designed as a pathway towards market uptake. It enables the identification of needs, the development of prototypes, and the validation of solutions through pilot testing with end users. This process brings solutions close to market readiness and supports eventual procurement. © 2026 ACTIVE PCP In addition, the PCP provides suppliers with significant added value, including direct collaboration with multiple end users across Europe, access to operational feedback, and the opportunity to validate and refine their solutions in real-life conditions. This can strengthen their position for future commercialisation, regardless of whether a formal PPI follows.

Given the large and fragmented nature of the security market, successful solutions may find significant commercial opportunities beyond the PCP itself. Overall, while a follow-up PPI cannot be guaranteed, the PCP is intended to facilitate future deployment and market adoption of the developed solutions.

We are interested in participating in the ACTIVE PCP procurement and would like to ask whether the Call for Tenders is already open. If not, could you please let me know when the tender is expected to be published and when submissions will be accepted?

The launch of the upcoming Call for Tenders is currently planned for October 2026.
The final launch date and the detailed procurement schedule will be announced shortly through our official communication channels.

Is the intention that suppliers form consortia to submit proposals? Our intention would be to participate as a technology partner within a consortium, so we would appreciate any guidance you can provide on the expected participation model.

Suppliers can form consortia or participate as individual tenderers to the upcoming Call for Tenders. Both participations are eligible. We encourage the use of the Innovation Procurement Platform in order to matchmake with other suppliers and post expertise requests and offers for the specific tender.

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