Via this tender GÉANT envisages to select IP Transit providers who have an Internet Protocol (IP) network that can reach every other network on the Internet solely via settlement-free interconnection (also known as settlement-free peering) and can reach all major networks on the Internet. In other words, contracting Tier-1 or at least close to Tier-1 IP Transit providers. It concerns retendering of existing frameworks for the provision of upstream or IP Transit services to support its National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) in Europe, the Mediterranean and wider regions, to allow them to exchange international IP traffic with the customers of commercial Internet Service Providers (ISPs) worldwide. The duration of the framework agreements exceeds the standard 4-year term and is set at 8 years. This is justified by the specific nature and objectives of the contract, which require a longer duration to ensure continuity, efficiency, and value for money. A detailed justification is provided in the tender documents.

The framework will be eligible for direct awards by the following NRENs and country location where services required: Lot 1: GÉANT (NETHERLANDS); https://network.geant.org/geant_ip/ Lot 2: RASH (ALBANIA); https://www.rash.al/en/ Lot 3: ASNET-AM (ARMENIA); https://asnet.am/ Lot 4: ANAS (AZERBAIJAN); https://ict.az/en Lot 5: BELNET (BELGIUM); https://belnet.be/ Lot 6: CARNET (CROATIA); https://www.carnet.hr/ Lot 7: CYNet (CYPRUS); http://cynet.ac.cy/ Lot 8: CESNET (CZECH_REPUBLIC); https://www.cesnet.cz/ Lot 9: EENet (ESTONIA); https://www.eenet.ee/EENet/ Lot 10: RENATER (FRANCE); https://www.renater.fr/ Lot 11: GRENA (GEORGIA); https://www.grena.ge/eng Lot 12: DFN (GERMANY); https://www.dfn.de/ Lot 13: GRNET (GREECE); https://grnet.gr/ Lot 14: Pro-M (HUNGARY); https://kifu.gov.hu/ Lot 15: HEANET (IRELAND); https://www.heanet.ie/ Lot 16: IUCC (ISRAEL); https://www.iucc.ac.il/he/ Lot 17: GARR (ITALY); https://www.garr.it/it/ Lot 18: LITNET (LITHUANIA); https://litnet.lt/ Lot 19: Restena (LUXEMBOURG); https://www.restena.lu/ Lot 20: University of Malta (MALTA); https://www.um.edu.mt/ Lot 21: RENAM (MOLDOVA); https://renam.md/ Lot 22: MREN (MONTENEGRO); https://mren.ucg.ac.me/index.php Lot 23: PSNC (POLAND); https://www.psnc.pl/ Lot 24: FCCN (PORTUGAL); https://www.fccn.pt/ Lot 25: MARnet (NORTH_MACEDONIA); https://marnet.mk/ Lot 26: RoEduNet (ROMANIA); https://www.nren.ro/ Lot 27: AMRES (SERBIA); https://www.amres.ac.rs/ Lot 28: ARNES (SLOVENIA); http://www.arnes.si/ Lot 29: RedIRIS (SPAIN); https://www.rediris.es/ Lot 30: SWITCH (SWITZERLAND); https://www.switch.ch/en Lot 31: ULAKBIM (TURKEY); https://ulakbim.tubitak.gov.tr/ Lot 32: ACOnet (AUSTRIA); https://www.aco.net/ Lot 33: BREN (BULGARIA); http://www.acad.bg/ Lot 34: Latvia Ministry of Education and Science (LATVIA); Lot 35: KREN (REPUBLIK OF KOSOVO); https://kren-ks.eu/ Lot 36: SANET (SLOVAKIA); https://www.sanet.sk/ Lot 37: URAN (UKRAINE); http://www.uran.ua/ For further information about the above institutions see the tender documentation.