The European Southern Observatory (ESO)
Overview
The European Southern Observatory (ESO) builds and operates a suite of the world’s most advanced ground-based astronomical telescopes. ESO has an annual budget of 135 million Euros and is constructing the billion Euro ELT (Extremely Large Telescope) project.
ESO has its headquarters in Garching, Germany, and operates three major sites in Chile. Major facilities include the Very Large Telescope (VLT) and the Atacama Large Millimetre Array (ALMA). The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) manages the subscription costs for the UK and hosts the UK Industrial Liaison Office, supporting the UK supply chain.
The UK ILO advertises opportunities via STFC’s Tender Opportunities Service, which you can register with to receive details of opportunities by sector.
Key facts
There are many areas in which UK companies can supply products and services to ESO including:
- optics (visible through to mm-wave)
- detectors (visible through to mm-wave)
- civil engineering
- mechanical engineering and machining
- cryogenics and vacuum
- electronics
- insurance
- software and information technology.
ESO works closely with the UK as one of its Member States to achieve a fair return on its investment, including providing UK companies with opportunities to bid for contracts. ESO procures through competitive tenders, awarding contracts on a best value for money basis. Single source tenders are extremely rare, except for small value procurements.
Check the ESO procurement page for:
- advance information on forthcoming calls for tenders exceeding €150,000 downloadable version of current advance calls is available)
- calls for tenders (downloadable version of current calls for tenders is available)
- conditions governing invitations to tender and tenders
- conditions of ESO contracts
- conditions of purchase orders.
Notifications of imminent calls are circulated by the UK’s industrial liaison officer for ESO. To receive these tender notifications, register with the STFC Tender Opportunities Service. Small value procurements are processed internally by ESO using their in-house supplier database. To ensure that your details are maintained on this database, please contact the UK ILO.
Procurement Process
ESO follows its own procurement rules as agreed by its Member States and detailed in its General Conditions. For matters not specifically covered within the General Conditions, ESO is governed by German law.
All tenders greater than €150,000 are publicised on the ESO website. Tenders between €50,000 and €150,000 are not publicly advertised. ESO procures via a competitive process, awarding contracts on a fully compliant and best value for money basis.
The UK Industrial Liaison Office (ILO) provides a free service to support UK companies interested in working with ESO and promoting relevant tenders to them. As ILO, team receives advance notification of all ESO tenders valued over €50,000 and is invited to put forward up to five UK companies per tender who would like to participate.
