Poland's Central Bank Buys an Automated Penetration Testing Tool for PLN 830,645 in a Fast Track Tender With One Bid
11 Nov 2026
Standfirst A central bank has to find the weak points in its own systems before anyone else does. Narodowy Bank Polski has contracted CumulusIT Sp. z o.o. to supply and deploy software that tests its defences automatically. The tender used a shortened deadline and drew a single bid of PLN 830,645.00 gross. Introduction Penetration testing means simulating attacks on a network to find weaknesses. Done by hand it takes skilled people and time. Automated tools run many tests repeatedly and report what they find. For an institution such as a central bank the aim is to find problems early and to repeat the check often. Narodowy Bank Polski or NBP bought such a tool as software on a 12 month subscription with technical support. The package also includes a technical design and installation and configuration and documentation and training workshops. Support services follow. The notice classes the contract as services and not as supplies. The notice describes the purchase in detail but says nothing about the product chosen or the systems to be tested. This article reports only what the notice states. Why This Contract Matters The contract shows how a financial institution buys security tooling. It is bought as a subscription with a bundle of services and not as a plain licence. The buyer also takes ownership of the design and the as built documentation through a transfer of copyright. It also matters for its procedure. The tender was marked accelerated and the notice explains why. That is rare in software purchases and it shows the buyer planned the timing ahead. Contract Timeline 21/01/2026: a prior information notice was published as 44488 2026. 26/10/2026: the winner was chosen. 02/11/2026: the contract was concluded. 10/11/2026: the notice was dispatched. 11/11/2026: the notice was published. The contract was signed 7 days after the winner was chosen (editorial calculation). The notice was dispatched 8 days after signature and published 9 days after signature (editorial calculations). The required performance period is up to 15 months from signature. That points to an end around 02/02/2028 (editorial projection). The subscription and support run for 12 months. Bids stayed binding until 28/12/2026. Contract Overview The notice records one lot and one winner. The buyer ran an open procedure under the Polish public procurement act. The scope is delivery and deployment of software for automatic penetration testing with services around it. The notice lists six parts of the delivery. They are a technical design and a 12 month licence subscription and 12 months of manufacturer technical support. Installation and configuration come next followed by as built documentation and post deployment workshops. A separate item covers maintenance support services. Key Contract Details BuyerNarodowy Bank Polski (National Bank of Poland) WinnerCumulusIT Sp. z o.o. TitlePurchase of an automated penetration testing tool (original: Zakup narzÄdzia do automatycznego testowania penetracyjnego) ProcedureOpen procedure. Accelerated Legal basisDirective 2014/24/EU and the Polish public procurement act of 11 September 2019 CPV72250000 System and support services. Additional codes 72611000 and 48000000 Estimated valuePLN 789,535.01 excluding VAT Awarded valuePLN 830,645.00 (gross price criterion) Ceiling or maximumNot applicable. No framework agreement Award criteria and weightsGross tender price 100% Duration and renewalsUp to 15 months from signature. Subscription 12 months. No renewals stated Tenders received1 (electronic) EU fundingNot financed with EU funds GPACovered by the Government Procurement Agreement SubcontractingNo Key datesWinner chosen 26/10/2026. Contract concluded 02/11/2026. Published 11/11/2026 Place of performanceWarsaw Poland Review bodyKrajowa Izba OdwoĆawcza (National Appeals Chamber) Project Scope The scope has two layers. The first is the tool itself delivered as a subscription for 12 months with manufacturer support. The second is the work to make it usable. That includes a technical design and installation and documentation and training for the bank's staff. The notice gives no product name and no list of systems to be tested. It does not say how many users or targets are covered. The detailed terms sit in an annex to the tender specification that the notice does not reproduce. The contracting authority has not disclosed this information. About the Contracting Authority Narodowy Bank Polski is classed as a body governed by public law with economic affairs as its activity. It sits at ulica ĆwiÄtokrzyska 11 21 in Warsaw. The notice names it as buyer and as the party that signs the contract. Tenders went through the bank's own purchasing platform which required an account on the MarketPlanet system. About the Organisations Involved The notice names five organisations. CumulusIT Sp. z o.o. The winner is based in Warsaw at ulica Nowy Ćwiat. The notice classes it as a micro or small or medium company. Its tender ranked first and was not a variant. It declared no subcontracting. The notice does not describe its business. Narodowy Bank Polski The buyer and the signing party. Krajowa Izba OdwoĆawcza The National Appeals Chamber is the review organisation and the source of information on review procedures. It sits at ulica PostÄpu 17A in Warsaw. SÄ d Polubowny przy Prokuratorii Generalnej Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej The Arbitration Court at the General Counsel to the Republic of Poland is named as the mediation organisation. It sits in Warsaw. Publications Office of the European Union This body acted as the TED eSender and has no role in the award. Procurement Analysis NBP used an open procedure and marked it as accelerated. The notice gives two reasons. The first is that bids were filed fully by electronic means which allows a deadline five days shorter than the standard period. The second is that the bank had already published a prior information notice in January 2026 at least 35 days and not more than 12 months before sending the call. That also allows a shorter deadline (as stated in the notice). The procedure was therefore planned. Only one tender arrived. It came from a micro or small or medium firm in Poland. The lowest and highest admissible tenders are the same figure. The price rule gave 100% to gross price so with one bid the rule decided nothing. The notice also says the buyer plans to use a procedure that allows offers to be assessed before checking grounds for exclusion (editorial reading of article 139 as cited). The values need care. The estimated value of PLN 789,535.01 is stated without VAT. The tender of PLN 830,645.00 is a gross price including VAT. The two cannot be compared directly. The tender is PLN 41,109.99 above the net estimate if compared as they stand (editorial calculation). If the standard Polish rate of 23% applies the net equivalent of the tender is about PLN 675,321 which is 14.5% below the net estimate (editorial calculation). The notice does not state the VAT rate so this is only a guide. The notice sets several conditions on bidders. They had to hold no grounds for exclusion under national law and under the EU sanctions measures linked to Russian aggression. They had to hold a qualified electronic signature. A certificate under the new Polish contractor certification act could replace some documents. The buyer also barred goods and services from countries outside the Government Procurement Agreement and other trade agreements on pain of rejection and set the origin of a service by the origin of its provider. The review route is detailed. Appeals go to the National Appeals Chamber on any unlawful act or omission including a draft contract clause. The deadlines follow the rules for contracts above EU thresholds. A complaint against a chamber ruling goes to the Warsaw regional court within 14 days of delivery of the ruling. Additional Procurement Facts The estimate is net while the award criterion and tender are gross. A bid bond of PLN 15,000 was required. Bids stayed binding until 28/12/2026. The place of performance block appears twice with identical content. No strategic procurement aim is stated. The bank lists a whistleblower procedure in its public information bulletin. The notice records no complaint statistics. Market and Industry Perspective Automated penetration testing is a niche inside the wider cyber security market (editorial analysis). Buyers use it to test more often and at lower cost than with manual teams. A single bid for a PLN 0.8 million subscription fits a field where products and local partners are limited. The notice does not say whether the winner is a reseller or a developer. The winner is a Warsaw firm. Local integrators often hold the contract role while a foreign vendor supplies the software (editorial analysis). The notice records the manufacturer support requirement but does not name any manufacturer. Economic Significance At about PLN 0.83 million the contract is small for a central bank. Its importance lies in the risk it addresses. A gap in security testing can lead to far larger costs. The notice gives no figures on that exposure. The money flows to a Polish company. Whether any share flows to a foreign vendor is unknown because the notice records no subcontracting. Future Procurement Opportunities Subscriptions expire. The licence and support run for 12 months and the contract allows up to 15 months in total. A renewal or a new tender will be needed after that (editorial analysis). The notice gives no renewal terms. Related services such as manual testing and training and wider security monitoring may be bought separately. Opportunities for Suppliers Cyber security vendors and integrators can watch NBP tenders on its purchasing platform. The prior information notice route shows that the bank signals needs months ahead. Suppliers should read such notices early and prepare qualified signatures and platform accounts before a tender opens. What Businesses Should Watch Watch for the next prior information notice from NBP. Watch for the renewal of this subscription. Watch also for related purchases of testing and monitoring services. Poland Procurement Intelligence This award reflects a trend toward buying security capability as a subscription with services attached. The buyer gets a tool and the skills to run it. It also takes ownership of the design and documentation which reduces dependence on the supplier. The lesson for suppliers is that early notices matter. A prior information notice lets bidders prepare and lets the buyer shorten the deadline. A firm that waits for the call has less time than one that watched the earlier signal. Future tenders may use the same pattern of a prior notice followed by an accelerated call (editorial analysis). Supplier Takeaways A prior information notice allowed a shorter bid deadline. Gross price alone decided the award. Qualified electronic signatures and a platform account were required. Copyright in the design and documentation passes to the bank. Key Takeaways CumulusIT Sp. z o.o. won at PLN 830,645.00 gross. One tender was received. The procedure was accelerated and followed a prior information notice. The estimate is net and the tender is gross. Conclusion The National Bank of Poland has secured an automated penetration testing tool with services from a single Warsaw bidder. The notice explains its accelerated route and its conditions clearly but leaves the product and the scope of testing undisclosed. Suppliers should read it as a model of how a careful public buyer in finance packages cyber security tooling. Source: Tenders Electronic Daily (TED), Contract Award Notice 784805 2026, Official Journal of the European Union, OJ S issue 219/2026, published on 11/11/2026.
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Poland's Army Target Lifters Tender Collapses After Winning Bidder Refuses to Sign
10 Nov 2026
Standfirst Poland's 2 Regional Logistics Base has closed its tender for 20 sets of light target lifters with no award after the highest ranked bidder refused to sign the contract. Two SMEs tendered and price carried 60 per cent against warranty at 40. The notice does not name the bidder or explain the refusal. Introduction Marksmanship is a perishable skill. Soldiers must train regularly, and training requires targets that appear, move and fall in a realistic way. The light target lifter is the mechanism that makes that possible. Without it, ranges revert to static paper and the realism of the exercise drops. Poland's 2 Regional Logistics Base, based in Warsaw, ran an open procedure for 20 sets of light target lifters, split between a base order and an option. Two small firms tendered. The evaluation produced a winner. Then the highest ranked bidder refused to sign the contract, and the buyer has closed the procedure with no award. The notice does not identify the firm or explain the refusal. Why This Contract Matters Target lifters are the equipment that connects live fire training to realistic combat conditions. They raise, hold and drop targets so that soldiers practise engaging fleeting targets at unpredictable intervals. That is a more demanding exercise than shooting at a fixed frame. The contract matters because the Polish armed forces are engaged in a sustained programme of training and equipment renewal. Small items like target lifters are part of the training infrastructure that supports that effort. Twenty sets is a modest order, but it is a practical one. It also matters as a procurement signal. A tender that produced two bids, an evaluation and then a collapse at signature is a case study in contract risk. The buyer did the work, ran the competition and still ended with nothing. The notice does not explain why the winner walked away, but the outcome illustrates a real hazard in public procurement: a price that wins on paper can prove undeliverable at signature. Contract Timeline The result notice was dispatched on 09/11/2026 at 11:30:12 GMT and published in the Official Journal on 10/11/2026 under OJ S issue 218/2026. A previous notice is referenced under number 325143-2026, which is the earlier stage of the same procedure. The internal identifier is D/57/2026. The lot carried a start date of 11/05/2026 and a duration end date of 27/11/2026. The notice states that this start date is the date on which the contract notice was sent for publication, not the actual start of performance, which would be the date of signature. Delivery was required within 120 days of contract signature and in any event no later than 27/11/2026. Optional deliveries had a 90 day window from notification, again capped at 27/11/2026. Editorial analysis: with no contract signed, those deadlines are now academic for this procedure. Contract Overview The buyer is 2. Regionalna Baza Logistyczna, the 2nd Regional Logistics Base, a central government authority with defence as its activity, based at ul. Marsa 110 in Warsaw, postcode 04-470. The procurement was an open procedure under Directive 2014/24/EU, not accelerated. It covers one lot, LOT-0001, for the supply of 20 sets of light target lifters. The base order was 10 sets and the optional order a further 10 sets. The contract is classified as supplies under CPV 35210000 for targets for shooting practice. The place of performance is Warsaw, with specific delivery locations described in the procurement documentation. The procurement is GPA covered and not EU funded. The result is a no award. No winner was chosen and the competition is closed. The stated reason is that the highest ranked tenderer or tenderers refused to sign the contract. Key Contract Details Buyer2. Regionalna Baza Logistyczna WinnerNo winner. The highest ranked tenderer refused to sign the contract. TitleDostawa podnoĆnik lekkich figur bojowych (Supply of light target lifters) ProcedureOpen, not accelerated Legal basisDirective 2014/24/EU CPV35210000 Targets for shooting practice Estimated valueThe contracting authority has not disclosed this information. Awarded valueNone. No contract awarded. Ceiling or maximumThe contracting authority has not disclosed this information. Award criteria and weightsPrice 60 points; warranty period 40 points Duration and renewalsDelivery within 120 days of signature, no later than 27/11/2026. Option deliveries within 90 days of notification, no later than 27/11/2026. No renewals. Tenders received2, both electronic, both from SMEs, none from other EEA or non EEA countries EU fundingNo. Procurement project not financed with EU Funds. GPAYes, covered by the Government Procurement Agreement SubcontractingThe contracting authority has not disclosed this information. Key datesLot start 11/05/2026; end date 27/11/2026; notice dispatched 09/11/2026; published 10/11/2026 Place of performanceWarszawa (PL911), Poland, with delivery locations per the procurement documents Review bodyKrajowa Izba OdwoĆawcza Project Scope The scope is the supply of 20 sets of light target lifters, made up of 10 base sets and 10 optional sets. The detailed requirements sit in annex 1 to the procurement specification and the rest of the tender documentation, which the notice does not reproduce. The option mechanism is set out in some detail. The buyer may exercise the option repeatedly up to the maximum quantity in the draft contract. It may exercise the option during the base contract period but no later than 29/08/2026 according to the notice text, though the delivery deadline is stated as 27/11/2026. Editorial observation: those two dates are inconsistent and the notice does not reconcile them. The buyer must notify the contractor in writing or documentary form, and the contractor has no claim to require the buyer to order optional quantities. That option clause is standard. It gives the buyer flexibility without obliging it to spend. The notice does not describe the technical specification of the lifters, their operating mechanism, their durability standards or the warranty terms required. The contracting authority has not disclosed those details. About the Contracting Authority 2. Regionalna Baza Logistyczna is the 2nd Regional Logistics Base of the Polish armed forces. It is a central government authority with defence as its activity, based at ul. Marsa 110 in Warsaw, postcode 04-470, in the Miasto Warszawa NUTS region. Its registration number is 521-340-81-99 and the responsible unit is the Public Procurement Section. Its internet address is www.2rblog.wp.mil.pl and its procurement platform is platformazakupowa.pl. The base holds two roles in this notice. It is the buyer and the organisation providing offline access to the procurement documents. Readers who want to compare how military logistics bases across Europe structure their procurement can explore the contracting authority directory. About the Organisations Involved 2. Regionalna Baza Logistyczna The buyer and the body providing offline access to documents. A Polish military logistics base in Warsaw. It owns the target lifter requirement and managed the procedure. It will need to decide how to proceed after the collapse. Krajowa Izba OdwoĆawcza The review organisation and the body providing information on review procedures. It is Poland's National Appeal Chamber, based at ul. PostÄpu 17A in Warsaw, postcode 02-676, with registration number 5262239325. It hears public procurement appeals and is the forum for any challenge. Publications Office of the European Union Listed with the role of TED eSender. It operates the Tenders Electronic Daily platform and is not a party to the contract. It appears because the notice was transmitted through TED. The notice does not name the two tenderers or identify which one was highest ranked and refused to sign. That is a notable absence. In a no award notice of this type, naming the firm that withdrew would normally help the market understand what happened. The notice does not do so, and the contracting authority has not disclosed the identity. Procurement Analysis An open procedure is the standard route for a supplies contract of this value under Directive 2014/24/EU. It was not accelerated, consistent with a planned equipment purchase rather than an urgent operational need. The choice is appropriate and transparent. Competition was thin but real. Two tenders arrived, both electronic, both from SMEs. That is a narrow field, though not unusual for a specialised defence training item. The notice does not disclose the participation conditions or technical thresholds that might explain the small number of bidders. The award criteria are balanced. Price carried 60 points and warranty period carried 40. That is a meaningful quality weighting for warranty, which tells bidders the buyer cared about how long the equipment would be supported. A bidder offering a longer warranty could offset a higher price. Editorial analysis: the structure is sensible for durable training equipment, where reliability and support matter over the life of the product. The outcome is the interesting part. The procedure ran, tenders were evaluated and a winner emerged. Then the highest ranked tenderer refused to sign. The notice does not explain why. Editorial analysis: possible reasons include an error in the bid, a change in the firm's capacity, an inability to meet the delivery deadline of 27/11/2026, or a commercial reassessment after the price was submitted. None of these is confirmed by the notice. The buyer has closed the procedure rather than awarding to the second ranked bidder, which suggests the buyer chose to re tender rather than accept the next offer. The notice does not explain that decision either. The delivery timetable is a relevant factor. The contract required delivery within 120 days of signature and no later than 27/11/2026. With the procedure still unresolved in late 2026, that deadline was already tight. Editorial observation: a supplier examining the timetable at the point of signature may have concluded it could not be met, which would make refusal to sign a rational decision. The notice does not confirm this. The estimated value is not disclosed. That is a material gap. Without a value, the market could not assess the size of the opportunity from the notice alone, and the competitiveness of any bid cannot be judged. The notice does not discuss this. Two further facts shape the context. The procurement is GPA covered, so qualified suppliers from GPA member countries could in principle bid. And it is not EU funded. In practice, a specialised military training item procured in Polish is a domestic market, and the GPA coverage had little practical effect. Additional Procurement Facts The notice sets out extensive participation requirements. Bidders had to show they met the conditions and were not subject to exclusion under Article 108(1) and Article 109(1) points 1, 4 and 7 of the Polish public procurement law. They had to submit a European Single Procurement Document with their offer. The buyer stated it would first evaluate the offers and then verify the qualifications of the highest ranked bidder. A bid bond was required, and a performance bond of 2 per cent of the gross contract price was required from the winner. The notice does not disclose the estimated value, the number of sets per delivery location, the technical specification or the subcontracting arrangements. These are material gaps. The contracting authority has not disclosed this information. The review route is set out in general terms. Contractors have the legal remedies provided in Part IX of the Polish public procurement law, including appeal to the Krajowa Izba OdwoĆawcza. The notice does not state a specific deadline figure or whether any review request was filed. The notice also states that the buyer may cancel the procedure under Article 257 if the public funds it intended to use are not granted. Market and Industry Perspective Military training equipment is a specialised market. Target lifters are mechanical systems that must withstand repeated use, harsh weather and rough handling on ranges. The suppliers are typically small engineering firms rather than large defence primes, which matches the two SME bidders recorded here. The collapse at signature is a market signal. It suggests that the winning price or the delivery terms did not hold up when the contract was presented for signature. That happens in small firm procurement when a bidder underestimates costs, miscalculates a delivery schedule or finds that its supply chain cannot meet the required timeline. The notice does not confirm any of these. The wider context is that European military forces are investing in training infrastructure alongside major equipment programmes. Range equipment, targetry and simulation are part of that spending. Small contracts like this one matter to the firms that supply them. Readers tracking how defence training equipment contracts are structured across Europe can review sector coverage for context. Economic Significance The direct economic effect is that a target lifter procurement produced no contract. For the two SME bidders, that is wasted bid effort. For the logistics base, it is a delay in a planned training equipment purchase and a need to decide how to proceed. The wider significance is in what the collapse reveals about small firm defence supply. A contract that runs through evaluation and then fails at signature wastes public resources on both sides. The buyer must re tender, which adds cost and delay. The supplier may face consequences if the refusal is judged to be unjustified. The notice does not indicate whether any such consequence applies. For suppliers, the economic signal is that public sector training equipment work is available but the delivery terms matter. A contract with a tight deadline and a performance bond is not risk free. Firms that bid should be confident they can deliver within the stated window before committing. Future Procurement Opportunities The most likely future opportunity is a relaunch of the target lifter procurement. The logistics base still needs the equipment. The notice does not confirm a relaunch or give a date. Editorial projection: a new tender is the logical next step, potentially with a longer delivery window, a revised option schedule or a re tender among the existing bidders. A second possibility is that the buyer awards to the second ranked bidder. The notice states the procedure is closed with no winner, which suggests this did not happen. However, the notice does not explain why. The buyer could in principle run a new procedure rather than accept the next offer. A third possibility is a direct negotiation or a revised specification. The notice does not disclose any such plan. Suppliers can monitor these possibilities through live European tender notices and by tracking the base's publications on its buyer profile. Opportunities for Suppliers For engineering firms that make range and targetry equipment, this closure is a live signal that the logistics base has an unmet requirement. A buyer that has just closed a procedure is a buyer that will need a new route to market. Firms with target lifter capability should prepare for a relaunch. The practical steps are clear. Review the original procurement documents in the document library if they remain available, to understand the specification, the option mechanism and the delivery deadline. Assess whether the timetable is achievable and what warranty period would score well against the 40 point criterion. Consider whether the delivery deadline of 27/11/2026 was the reason the winner withdrew, and whether a relaunch might offer a longer window. Suppliers should also watch for other range and training equipment tenders from the same base. Setting alerts through registration helps capture those opportunities. The price led criteria with a meaningful warranty weight mean bidders should prepare a competitive price and a strong support offer, but also a delivery plan they can actually meet. What Businesses Should Watch Watch for a relaunch of the target lifter procurement, possibly with revised delivery terms. Watch for other range and training equipment contracts from the same logistics base. Watch for any notice that identifies the firm that withdrew or explains the circumstances. Watch the review environment too. The notice names the Krajowa Izba OdwoĆawcza as the review body and refers deadlines to the Polish public procurement law. Any challenge would go through that chamber. Businesses with an interest in defence training equipment procurement should monitor the base's buyer profile and the relevant CPV codes. The keyword search tool can help track themes such as target lifters, range equipment or military training infrastructure. poland tenders.com Procurement Intelligence The broader trend this notice represents is the fragility of small defence equipment procurements. Buyers run open procedures, receive a handful of bids from small firms, evaluate them and then discover at signature that the winning offer cannot be delivered on the stated terms. That is a recurring pattern in specialised mechanical equipment, where bid pricing is difficult and delivery timelines can be tight. The strategic importance of the award, or rather the non award, lies in what it reveals about contract risk. Two SME bids and a winner who refused to sign tells us the commercial terms did not hold. The notice does not identify the cause, but the tight delivery deadline of 27/11/2026 is visible in the document. Suppliers should read this as a market where delivery capability matters as much as price. A bid that wins on paper but cannot be delivered costs the buyer time and the supplier credibility. For positioning, suppliers should focus on realistic pricing, achievable delivery schedules and a warranty offer that scores well against the 40 point criterion. The performance bond of 2 per cent is a modest requirement, but the refusal to sign may carry consequences under Polish procurement law. Firms should understand those consequences before bidding. Future contracts in this space are likely to follow the same template: open procedure, price led with a warranty weight, small SME field and a defined delivery window. Firms that prepare technical documentation, a realistic timetable and a strong support offer in advance will be better placed when the relaunch appears. The buyer may also adjust the timetable, which would be a welcome change for suppliers who found the original deadline unworkable. Supplier Takeaways Two SMEs tendered. The highest ranked bidder refused to sign and the procedure closed with no award. Price carried 60 points and warranty period 40 points. The contract required delivery within 120 days of signature and no later than 27/11/2026. The notice does not name the withdrawing bidder, disclose the estimated value or explain the refusal. The requirement for 20 sets, split 10 base and 10 optional, remains unmet. Key Takeaways 2. Regionalna Baza Logistyczna closed its light target lifter tender with no winner. The stated reason is that the highest ranked tenderer refused to sign the contract. The procurement was open, GPA covered and not EU funded, under Directive 2014/24/EU. The notice carries an inconsistency between the option exercise deadline of 29/08/2026 and the delivery deadline of 27/11/2026. A relaunch is the likely next step. The notice does not confirm it. Conclusion A tender that fails at signature is a costly outcome for everyone involved. Poland's 2nd Regional Logistics Base ran an open procedure for light target lifters, received two SME bids, evaluated them and then found that the winner would not sign. The equipment is still needed, the training requirement has not gone away and the procedure has to start again. The next move belongs to the buyer, whether that is a relaunch with revised delivery terms, a re tender among the existing bidders or a different approach altogether. Suppliers should watch closely and prepare a bid they can actually deliver. The full picture of how European public procurement works, including no award outcomes and contract signature risk, is available through public procurement guidance. Readers who want to discuss the implications for their own bidding strategy can use the contact page. Source: Tenders Electronic Daily (TED), Contract Award Notice 782117 2026, Official Journal of the European Union, OJ S issue 218/2026, published on 10/11/2026.
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Poland's Military Vehicle Repair Tender Fails to Attract a Single Bid in GdaĆsk
09 Nov 2026
Standfirst A Polish military unit has closed one part of its 23 lot vehicle repair framework after zero tenders arrived for Mercedes vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes in GdaĆsk. The lot carried price at 60 per cent, workshop authorisation at 20 and parts discount at 20. The notice covers only that lot. The other 22 lots are not reported here. Introduction Military vehicles break down like any others. They need servicing, bodywork, paint and repair, often at short notice and to standards that civilian garages do not routinely meet. For the Polish armed forces, keeping that work flowing means contracting a network of authorised workshops across the country. Jednostka Wojskowa Nr 2305, a Polish military unit based in Warsaw, ran an open procedure divided into 23 parts for vehicle maintenance, repair, bodywork and painting services. Part 5 covered Mercedes vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight in GdaĆsk. Not one tender arrived. The buyer has closed that part with no winner. The notice records only this lot, so the outcome of the other 22 parts is not disclosed here. Why This Contract Matters Vehicle availability is a readiness issue. A unit that cannot service its transport fleet loses operational flexibility. Repair and maintenance contracts for military vehicles are therefore not routine admin. They are part of the logistics backbone that keeps units moving. The contract matters because the requirement is specific. Part 5 was not a general garage contract. It targeted Mercedes vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes in a defined location, GdaĆsk. That combination of brand, weight class and geography narrows the pool of workshops that can credibly bid. When a lot like that attracts no interest, the practical effect is that those vehicles have no contracted repair route through this framework. It also matters as a procurement signal. The buyer divided a large requirement into 23 parts, presumably to widen competition and let local workshops bid for what they can serve. Part 5 still failed. That tells us the geographic or brand specific market in GdaĆsk was not willing or able to engage on these terms. Contract Timeline The result notice was dispatched on 05/11/2026 at 16:01:23 GMT and published in the Official Journal on 09/11/2026 under OJ S issue 217/2026. A previous notice is referenced under number 749053-2025, which is the earlier stage of the same procedure. The internal identifier is ZP-59/2025. The lot has a stated duration end date of 31/12/2026, with other duration recorded as unknown. The notice does not disclose when the tender was launched, when the deadline for bids fell or when the buyer decided to close part 5. The contracting authority has not disclosed those dates. Editorial analysis: the 31/12/2026 end date suggests the framework was structured around annual service periods, which fits the renewal mechanism described below. Contract Overview The buyer is Skarb PaĆstwa - Jednostka Wojskowa Nr 2305, which translates as the State Treasury - Military Unit Number 2305. It is a central government authority with defence as its activity, based at ul. Marsa 80 in Warsaw, postcode 04-520. The procurement was an open procedure under Directive 2014/24/EU. It was not accelerated. It covered vehicle maintenance, repair, bodywork, paint and conservation services divided into 23 parts. This notice reports only part 5, LOT-0005, for Mercedes vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight in GdaĆsk. The lot is classified as services under CPV 50630000 for repair and maintenance services of military vehicles. It is GPA covered and not EU funded. There is no framework agreement and no dynamic purchasing system, though the lot carries renewal options. The result is clear. No winner was chosen and the competition is closed. The stated reason is that no tenders, requests to participate or projects were received. Key Contract Details BuyerSkarb PaĆstwa - Jednostka Wojskowa Nr 2305 WinnerNo winner chosen. Competition closed. TitleWykonywanie usĆug obsĆugowo-naprawczych oraz blacharsko-lakierniczych i konserwacyjnych pojazdĂłw z podziaĆem na 23 czÄĆci (Performance of maintenance and repair, bodywork and paint and conservation services for vehicles, divided into 23 parts) ProcedureOpen, not accelerated Legal basisDirective 2014/24/EU CPV50630000 Repair and maintenance services of military vehicles Estimated valueThe contracting authority has not disclosed this information for lot 5. Awarded valueNone. No contract awarded. Ceiling or maximumThe contracting authority has not disclosed this information. Award criteria and weightsPrice 60 per cent; workshop authorisation 20 per cent; parts discount 20 per cent Duration and renewalsEnd date 31/12/2026, other duration unknown. Maximum renewals 3, covering 12 month periods for 2027, 2028, 2029 or until funds are exhausted Tenders received0 EU fundingNo. Procurement project not financed with EU Funds. GPAYes, covered by the Government Procurement Agreement SubcontractingThe contracting authority has not disclosed this information. Key datesNotice dispatched 05/11/2026; published 09/11/2026. Tender and decision dates not disclosed. Place of performanceGdaĆsk, with the buyer address in Warszawa (PL911), Poland Review bodyKrajowa Izba OdwoĆawcza Project Scope Part 5 covered maintenance, repair, bodywork, paint and conservation services for Mercedes vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight in GdaĆsk. The detailed description sits in Part III of the procurement specification, which the notice does not reproduce. The lot included an option. The notice states that the buyer anticipates an optional contract in accordance with the procurement documentation. It also sets out a renewal mechanism. The buyer reserves the right to increase the scope of services by awarding a contract under Article 31(2) of the Polish public procurement law. Renewal is defined as performance of the contract for a further 12 months, for 2027, 2028, 2029, or until the funds in the original contract are exhausted. The maximum number of renewals is three. That structure matters. It means the lot was designed as a recurring service arrangement with annual extensions, not a single repair job. A workshop bidding for it would be committing to a multi year relationship. The notice does not disclose the estimated annual value or the expected volume of work. About the Contracting Authority Skarb PaĆstwa - Jednostka Wojskowa Nr 2305 is a Polish military unit acting on behalf of the State Treasury. It is a central government authority with defence as its activity. Its registered address is ul. Marsa 80 in Warsaw, postcode 04-520, in the Miasto Warszawa NUTS region. Its NIP registration number is 9521818707 and the responsible department is the Public Procurement Group. Its internet address is www.grom.wp.mil.pl and its procurement platform is platformazakupowa.pl. The unit holds two roles in this notice. It is the buyer and the organisation providing additional information about the procedure. Readers who want to compare how military procurement units across Europe structure their maintenance contracts can explore the contracting authority directory. About the Organisations Involved Skarb PaĆstwa - Jednostka Wojskowa Nr 2305 The buyer and the body providing procedural information. A Polish military unit based in Warsaw. It owns the vehicle maintenance requirement and managed the 23 part procedure. It will need to decide how to proceed for part 5 after the closure. Krajowa Izba OdwoĆawcza The review organisation, the mediation organisation and the body providing information on review procedures. It is Poland's National Appeal Chamber, based at ul. PostÄpu 17a in Warsaw, postcode 04-520. It hears public procurement appeals and handles mediation. The notice refers review deadlines to the relevant provisions of the Polish public procurement law rather than stating a figure. Publications Office of the European Union Listed as ORG-0000 with the role of TED eSender. It operates the Tenders Electronic Daily platform and is not a party to the contract. It appears because the notice was transmitted through TED. No winners or tenderers appear in this notice because none existed for part 5. There are none to profile. That absence is the central fact of the document. Procurement Analysis An open procedure is the standard route for a services contract under Directive 2014/24/EU. It maximises transparency and invites any qualified supplier. Dividing a large national requirement into 23 parts is a deliberate design choice. It lowers the barrier for local workshops and avoids concentrating the whole fleet maintenance need in a few large contractors. On paper, that is a sensible structure. Part 5 still attracted zero bids. The notice does not explain why. Several factors are visible from the document and worth setting out, without asserting a cause the notice does not state. First, the requirement is brand specific. It targets Mercedes vehicles in a defined weight class. A workshop must be able to service that brand to the standard the buyer expects. Second, the location is fixed. The work is in GdaĆsk, so a workshop elsewhere cannot easily compete. Third, the award criteria reward workshop authorisation at 20 per cent. That suggests the buyer expected an authorised or officially recognised workshop, which narrows the field further. The price weight is 60 per cent, with 20 per cent on workshop authorisation and 20 per cent on parts discount. That is a price led structure with meaningful quality proxies. A bidder would need to offer competitive labour rates, demonstrate authorisation and give a discount on parts. Editorial analysis: for a small local workshop, the administrative effort of bidding for a 23 part framework, combined with the specific brand and authorisation requirements, may have outweighed the expected return. The notice does not confirm this. The renewal mechanism is a relevant factor. With up to three annual renewals, the lot could run for several years. That should make it more attractive, not less. But the notice also states that renewals run until funds in the original contract are exhausted, which introduces uncertainty about volume. A workshop weighing a multi year commitment with an undefined work volume may have concluded the risk reward balance did not work. The notice does not say. The estimated value for lot 5 is not disclosed. That is a material gap. Without a value, the market could not assess the size of the opportunity from the notice alone. Editorial observation: a published estimate might have helped attract bidders. The notice does not discuss this. Two further facts shape the context. The procurement is GPA covered, so qualified suppliers from GPA member countries could in principle bid. And it is not EU funded. In practice, a local vehicle repair contract in GdaĆsk for Polish military vehicles is a domestic market, and the GPA coverage had little practical effect. Additional Procurement Facts The notice does not disclose the volume of vehicles covered, the expected number of service jobs per year, the estimated annual value or the subcontracting arrangements. These are material gaps for anyone assessing the opportunity. The contracting authority has not disclosed this information. The lot carries no strategic procurement aim and no Green Public Procurement criteria. The award is a straightforward price led service contract with quality proxies, not a sustainability driven procurement. The review route is set out in general terms. Contractors have the legal remedies provided in Part IX of the Polish public procurement law, including appeal to the Krajowa Izba OdwoĆawcza and a complaint to the district court, filed in the manner and within the deadlines set by that law. The notice does not state a specific deadline figure or whether any review request was filed. Market and Industry Perspective Military vehicle repair is a specialised service market. It requires workshops that can handle military specifications, security requirements and often brand specific diagnostic equipment. The supplier base is a mix of authorised dealer networks and independent specialist garages. Geographic proximity matters because vehicles must be physically brought to the workshop. The zero bid outcome for part 5 suggests that in GdaĆsk, the combination of brand, weight class, authorisation requirement and contract terms did not align with the local market. That is a localised signal rather than a national one. The notice does not report the outcome of the other 22 parts, so we cannot tell whether the framework as a whole succeeded. Editorial analysis: it is possible that other parts attracted bids and only part 5 failed. The notice does not confirm this either way. The wider context is that European military forces are investing in fleet readiness and maintenance contracting. Multi lot service frameworks are a common model because they combine national coverage with local delivery. When one lot fails, the buyer typically has to re tender it, procure directly or accept reduced coverage in that area. Readers tracking how defence maintenance contracts are structured across Europe can review sector coverage for context. Economic Significance The direct economic effect is that a vehicle repair service lot in GdaĆsk produced no contract. For the local workshop market, that is a lost opportunity. For the military unit, it is a gap in the contracted repair network for Mercedes vehicles in that area. The wider significance is in what the failure reveals about the 23 part structure. Splitting a national requirement into many local lots is meant to widen competition. When a local lot attracts no interest, the buyer may need to reconsider the terms, the value disclosure or the bundling of nearby areas. The notice does not say what the buyer will do next. For suppliers, the economic signal is that public sector vehicle repair work is available but the terms matter. A lot with a specific brand, an authorisation criterion and an undefined volume may not appeal even when the underlying need is real. Workshops that can meet the requirements should watch for a relaunch on revised terms. Future Procurement Opportunities The most likely future opportunity is a relaunch of part 5 or a revised approach to the GdaĆsk Mercedes requirement. The military unit still needs maintenance and repair services for those vehicles. The notice does not confirm a relaunch or give a date. Editorial projection: a new tender is the logical next step, potentially with a published estimate, a revised authorisation requirement or a different lot boundary. A second possibility is that the buyer absorbs the GdaĆsk requirement into another part or procures it directly. The notice does not disclose the outcome of the other 22 parts, so it is not possible to say whether a neighbouring lot could cover the gap. A third possibility is that the requirement returns under the renewal mechanism. The lot allows up to three annual renewals, but with no winner there is nothing to renew. Any future contract would need a fresh competition. Suppliers can monitor these possibilities through live European tender notices and by tracking the unit's publications on its buyer profile. Opportunities for Suppliers For vehicle repair workshops in and around GdaĆsk, this closure is a live signal that the military unit has an unmet requirement. A buyer that has just closed a lot for lack of interest is a buyer that will need a new route to market. Workshops with Mercedes servicing capability and any form of official authorisation should prepare for a relaunch. The practical steps are clear. Review the original procurement documents in the document library if they remain available, to understand the specification, the authorisation requirement and the parts discount mechanism. Assess whether the terms were workable for your business and what changes would make a bid viable. Consider whether a partnership with an authorised Mercedes workshop could strengthen a future offer. Suppliers should also watch for the other 22 parts. The notice reports only part 5, so the outcome of the rest is undisclosed. If some parts were awarded and others failed, there may be further relaunch opportunities. Setting alerts through registration helps capture those openings. The price led criteria with authorisation and parts discount weights mean bidders should prepare a competitive rate card and evidence of brand capability. What Businesses Should Watch Watch for a relaunch of the GdaĆsk Mercedes lot, with a published estimate or revised terms. Watch for result notices covering the other 22 parts, which will show whether the framework succeeded elsewhere. Watch for any direct award or alternative procurement for the GdaĆsk vehicles. Watch the review environment too. The notice names the Krajowa Izba OdwoĆawcza as the review and mediation body and refers deadlines to the Polish public procurement law. Any challenge would go through that chamber. Businesses with an interest in defence maintenance procurement should monitor the unit's buyer profile and the relevant CPV codes. The keyword search tool can help track themes such as military vehicle repair, Mercedes servicing or GdaĆsk defence contracts. poland tenders.com Procurement Intelligence The broader trend this notice represents is the difficulty of matching multi lot defence service frameworks to local market capacity. Buyers split requirements to widen competition and support local suppliers. That works when the local market can meet the brand, authorisation and volume conditions. It fails when those conditions narrow the field to zero. The GdaĆsk Mercedes lot is a clear example. The strategic importance of the award, or rather the non award, lies in what it reveals about lot design. A brand specific lot with an authorisation criterion and an undisclosed estimate in a single city is a narrow proposition. The three part award criteria, price at 60, authorisation at 20 and parts discount at 20, tell bidders what the buyer values. But without a visible estimate and with an uncertain volume, the commercial case may not close for a local workshop. The notice does not identify the cause, but the structure is visible. For positioning, suppliers should treat failed lots as scheduled future opportunities. A buyer that has closed a lot for lack of interest has an unmet need and a reason to re engage. Workshops that understand why the first attempt failed and can propose workable terms will be better placed on the second attempt. Future contracts in this space are likely to be either a revised local lot or a broader regional bundle. Suppliers should prepare for both, with evidence of brand capability, authorisation status and a competitive rate card. The renewal mechanism is also worth noting: a successful bid could run for several years, so the long term value may be greater than the first year suggests. Firms that prepare documentation in advance will be better placed when the relaunch appears. Supplier Takeaways Zero tenders arrived for the GdaĆsk Mercedes lot. The competition closed with no award. Price carried 60 per cent, workshop authorisation 20 and parts discount 20. The lot allowed up to three annual renewals, running to 2029 or until funds are exhausted. The notice does not disclose the estimated value, the vehicle volume or the outcome of the other 22 parts. The notice covers only part 5. The status of the remaining lots is undisclosed here. Key Takeaways Jednostka Wojskowa Nr 2305 closed part 5 of its 23 part vehicle repair procedure with no winner. Part 5 covered Mercedes vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes in GdaĆsk. The procedure was open, GPA covered and not EU funded, under Directive 2014/24/EU. The lot end date is 31/12/2026 with up to three 12 month renewals. The requirement for those vehicles remains unmet by this framework. Conclusion A lot that attracts no bids is a quiet but useful document. A Polish military unit set out to contract repair services for Mercedes vehicles in GdaĆsk, with a price led evaluation and a multi year renewal structure. No workshop came forward. The buyer has closed the lot and the vehicles have no contracted repair route through this framework. The requirement has not gone away. Those vehicles still need servicing and repair. The next move belongs to the buyer, whether that is a relaunch with revised terms, a broader regional bundle or a different procurement approach. Workshops should watch closely and prepare. The full picture of how European public procurement works, including multi lot defence frameworks and no bid outcomes, is available through public procurement guidance. Readers who want to discuss the implications for their own bidding strategy can use the contact page. Source: Tenders Electronic Daily (TED), Contract Award Notice 777582 2026, Official Journal of the European Union, OJ S issue 217/2026, published on 09/11/2026.
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