Research and development services and related consultancy services

Tender description

ECMWF as the Entrusted Entity for the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) has awarded contracts for the production of seasonal forecast (SF) data for use as part of a multi-model seasonal forecast system. Contracts have been negotiated with several suppliers of seasonal forecast data, to cover the period 1.10.2015 to 31.12.2017. This period is separated into 2 phases: a Proof of Concept (POC) phase from 1.10.2015 to 31.12.2016, and a Pre-Operational phase from 1.1.2017 to 31.12.2017. Starting in January 2018, C3S should move to a fully operational phase, for which the procurement of seasonal forecast data will be the subject of a separate tender process for selecting up to 4 or 5 providers. ECMWF is contracting with 2 experienced providers (hereafter referred to as Core Providers), with the capability of contributing with a properly documented product from the start of the project, and also with 2 providers yet in a development phase (hereafter referred to as Additional Providers), who have the potential to contribute to the multi-model system at some stage during the pre-operational phase. Lot 1 — Core Providers: During the Proof-of-Concept (POC) phase, the 2 core providers will supply a Specified Data stream from the beginning of the contract, and will provide a Specified Data stream from an enhanced forecasting system before the end of the contract period. The Specified Data from these Providers, together with similar data provided by ECMWF, will be used for initial development of the Seasonal Forecasts services of C3S during the POC phase of the project. The Core Providers will be funded to provide both for the immediate provision of the specified data from the start of the project, and to enable each provider to implement a next generation, high resolution forecasting system with comprehensive re-forecast data. A contribution to the development of C3S multi-model products is also part of the contracted activities. Lot 2 — Additional Providers: The 2 Additional Providers will supply a Specified Data stream starting during the Pre-Operational phase (2017). These Additional Providers will demonstrate the potential to contribute to the multi-model system at some stage during the Pre-Operational phase. This data will feed into the C3S Seasonal Forecasts system as it becomes available. These additional Providers will be funded from the start of the POC phase and this funding is intended to support the introduction of a seasonal forecasting system with comprehensive re-forecast data.