Calls for expressions of interest in deploying and operating Galileo Concession

Brussels, 24 February 2003

Call for expressions of interest from undertakings for the "Galileo Concession" to deploy and operate the Galileo satellite navigation system (OJ C43/12 22.2.2003). Text [NB link expires 45 days from publication date]

Announcement
This call for expression of interest aim solely at constituting a database of parties interested to bid in the course of this year for the Galileo Concession. It is without prejudice to the provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No 876/2002 of 21 May 2002 and the decisions of the Galileo Joint Undertaking on the tendering procedure to be taken on the basis of that Regulation.

What is Galileo?
The Galileo satellite radio-navigation programme depends on cutting-edge technology and enables a user equipped with a receiver to receive signals from several satellites and thus determine his exact position in time and space at any given moment.Galileo is based on a constellation of 30 satellites placed in a medium earth orbit (at an altitude of approximately 24 000 km) continuously covering the entire surface of the earth. Each satellite is a platform equipped with an atomic clock providing extremely precise time measurement (Galileo time). Technically, the system is managed by ground stations.

The European Space Agency is fully involved in the project and is responsible for its technical implementation.Galileo is the first major programme bringing together the Community institutions and the European Space Agency.

What is the Galileo Joint Undertaking?
The Joint Undertaking has been established by Regulation (EC) No 876/2002 , the text of which is available from http://europa.eu.int/comm/energy_transpo rt/en/gal_doc_en.html as the operational body to implement the development phase of the Galileo programme of radio-navigation by satellite.

What are the missions of the Joint Undertaking?
- to launch the research and development activities needed to successfully complete the development phase (2002-2005);
- to help to mobilise the public and private sector funds needed; in particular, to negotiate, by way of a competitive tendering process with the private sector, an overall agreement for the financing of the deployment (2006-2007)and operational phases;
- to supervise the carrying-out of all programmes;
- to oversee the optimal integration of EGNOS in Galileo.

The concession process
The concession process will be managed by the Galileo Joint Undertaking, as provided for in particular by Articles 4 and 9 of the statutes of the Joint Undertaking annexed to Regulation (EC) No 876/2002 . The Galileo Joint Undertaking should be in a position to take the appropriate decisions in 2003 and 2004, so that final bids could be submitted in Summer 2004, after which time the final Concession Contract will be awarded.

Planning
In order to have a view of the number of potential bidders, interested parties should express by 15 April 2003, their interest to the Galileo Concession in writing to the European Commission by registered post to:
European Commission
Directorate-General for Energy and Transport
Unit TREN.E.4
Office DM 28 1/32
B-1049 Brussels

Interested parties are not required to provide any further information at this stage. Those companies having answered to this call for expression of interest will receive the documentation relevant to the Galileo programme.

Further Information
As published in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 19 July 2002, the European Commission will be holding a briefing session on 18 March 2003. The event will be held in Brussels and be hosted by representatives of the Commission, the Galileo Joint Undertaking, the European Space Agency and consultants. It will provide an opportunity to inform undertakings about progress on the programme, the stages in the procedure for selection of the future concession holder and the many services which satellite radio-navigation will bring.

Simultaneous interpretation will be provided so that contributions can be made in English, French or German.

Further information on the Galileo programme can be found at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/energy_tra nsport/galileo/index_en.htm

Official Journal of the EC, C43/12 22.2.2003