Further development of the sustainable district heating systems in Upper Nitra region (2026CE160AT046)

The objective of this service contract call for tender is to assist Upper Nitra regional and local authorities, DH suppliers and stakeholders in improving their capacity to identify, plan, develop and implement specific measures and action plans for improvement of their DHS restructuring within the legal framework of RES Directive EU/2023/2413 (Revised Renewable Energy Directive (EU) 2018/2001) and Energy efficiency Directive (EU) 2023/1791. The specific objective is to provide the specific technical assistance to local and regional stakeholders in the upper Nitra region to enable successful and effective implementation of improvements of their DHS with a direct impact on improving the socio-economic and environmental impact of transition to climate neutrality in the most affected territories.   Although subject to other contributing factors, the tasks and deliverables of the contract and the associated outcomes should over the longer-term contribute, towards a just transition and a climate neutral economy in the transitioning region and should directly contribute to alleviating the impact of the transition.  The achievement of the contract’s objectives is not solely the responsibility of the contractor and as well as specific objective must be achieved and fulfilled by the performed activities of the project, however, the expected long-term effects might alsowill depend partly but not only on action(s) of national, local and regional authorities and other stakeholders involved. The desired Aachievements of the objectives and a long-term impact of this contract depends largely on the degree of endorsement and implementation of the deliverables Specific Action Plans by concerned participants in the project and subsequent enforcement, as well as on wider policy focus and conditions, which remain outside the responsibility of the contracting authority and the contractor. Such endorsement and implementation remain the exclusive responsibility of concerned participants. In order to enable the best possible achievements, the contracting authority deploys also services of JASPERS initiative of the EIB. The contractor will work under close cooperation and supervision of the experts from JASPERS and be equally responsible to them as well as the contracting authority.

Face-to-face data collection meetings with city representatives and DH suppliers/providers in the Upper Nitra region, Slovakia (Task 2) — at least one meeting per participant required Physical meetings, presentations and workshops with national authorities and stakeholders in Slovakia, Upper Nitra region (hybrid mode with online participation allowed) Final one-day conference (Task 5) to be held in person at a venue in the Upper Nitra region agreed with DG REGIO and beneficiaries Kick-off meeting — explicitly required to be virtual, within two weeks of commencing the assignment Steering Committee meetings and presentations to the Steering Committee — to take place online, unless otherwise agreed Online Steering Committee meeting at end of Task 1 to present the draft Inception Report Part of data collection may be conducted through online research