Copernicus C3S2_520 Quality Assurance for Datasets in the Climate Data Store

2. VI.3 Additional information:

General eligibility: According to the prospective Contribution Agreement between the European Union and ECMWF, participation in calls for tenders shall preferably be open to entities established in Member States of the European Union and to entities established in Copernicus participating states in accordance with the conditions laid down in the EU’s Space Programme Regulation. The Regulation can be found at https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv%3AOJ.L_.2021.170.01.0069.01.ENG&toc=OJ%3AL%3A2021%3A170%3AFULL It is currently ECMWF’s expectation that, in practice, entities established in other States may therefore exceptionally be eligible exceptionally and subject to specific scientific or other requirements (as specified in the tender documents) as well as express prior approval by an EU Procurement Board. This applies to both prime and sub-contractors. Accordingly, ECMWF is required to reserve the right to exclude ineligible persons or entities from tenders at any point in time. All tenderers as well as their sub-contractors must meet all eligibility criteria throughout the whole duration of the procurement exercise as well as their prospective contracts. Eligibility of United Kingdom (UK) and Swiss (CH) entities: The above applies also to entities based in the UK. UK and Switzerland. At present, neither the UK is neither an nor Switzerland are EU Member State nor States or participating in the EU Space Programme. However, the UK and we understand that the European Union have agreed — in principle — that the UK both countries may continue participating in, among others, the Copernicus component of the EU Space Programme as a third country countries for the period of 2021-2027. Detailed The detailed conditions for such a participation will require further negotiations between are still being negotiated, but the UK and government has confirmed that, at the European Union. present time, UK organisations cannot bid for Copernicus services contracts, unless there are exceptional circumstances (as determined by the EU). Further information may be found in the following link of the UK Government, for the accuracy of which ECMWF will not assume any liability: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-involvement-in-the-eu-space-programme https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-involvement-in-the-eu-space-programme. It is likely that Swiss organisations will be in the same situation as UK ones. ECMWF will publish relevant updates in this regard once they are available.