Public procurement notice: Contract Notice
Published: 2025-10-09
Buyer: Hint.co GmbH
Country: DE
Region: DED51
Contract type: Supplies
Procedure: Negotiated with prior call for competition
CPV classification: 24322210
Estimated value: 437500000 EUR
Submission deadline: 2025-12-05
Award criteria: price

Technical requirements: All grounds for exclusion specified in the aution documents pursuant to Sections 123, 124 and 126 of the German Act against Restraints of Competition (GWB) apply. Candidates must declare that no grounds for exclusion apply.
This auction procedure is part of the H2Global mechanism, an instrument for competition-based support of the market ramp-up of renewable methanol
Qualification and Authorisation to Pursue the Professional Activity:

Qualification and Authorisation to Pursue the Professional Activity shall first be met by providing a Registration in the Professional or Trade Register and a declaration of the absence of grounds for exclusion pursuant to 123 and 124 GWB. Proof of registration in the professional or trade register in accordance with the legal provisions of the State in which the candidate is established. In the event of non-registration:
Proof of authorised professional activity by other means or a self-declaration as to why proof cannot be provided.
The proof must not be older than 12 months at the time of the deadline for submitting requests to participate. In the case of a consortium of candidates, proof must be provided individually for each member of the consortium. The candidates shall submit a self-declaration on the grounds for exclusion pursuant to Sections 123, 124 of the German Act Against Restraints of Competition (Gesetz gegen Wettbewerbsbeschränkungen, GWB). The self-declaration is part of the 'Request to Participate’. In the event of failure to submit the selfdeclaration (i.e. the existence of a ground for exclusion), the following must be set out in a document prepared by the candidate (self-declaration to be prepared by the candidate):
- the circumstances leading to the existence of the grounds for exclusion pursuant to Sections 123, 124 GWB (type of misconduct, time of the misconduct and the damage caused by the misconduct)
- remedial actions taken in accordance with Section 126 GWB In addition, the candidate must provide a declaration that there are no additional grounds for exclusion beyond the misconduct outlined. In the case of a consortium of candidates, the self-declaration must be provided by the authorised representative of the consortium, stating that none of the consortium members have compulsory or discretionary grounds for exclusion.
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Self-Declaration on EU-Sanctions against Russia:

The candidate does not belong to the persons or companies referred to in Article 5(k)(1) of Council Regulation (EU) 833/2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia's actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine, as amended by Article 1 no. 23 of Council Regulation (EU) 2022/576 of 8 April 2022, Art. 1 no. 12 of Council Regulation (EU) 2022/879 of 3 June 2022 and Art. 1 no. 15 of Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1269 of 21 July 2022 which have a connection to Russia within the meaning of the provision,
a) through the candidate’s/consortium member’s Russian nationality or the candidate’s/consortium member’s establishment in Russia,
b) through the involvement of a natural person or an undertaking to whom one of the criteria under point (a) applies, in the candidate/consortium member by owning an indirect or direct proprietary right amounting to more than 50%,
c) through the candidate/consortium member acting on behalf of or at the direction of persons or undertakings to whom the criteria in points (a) and/or (b) apply.
2. The undertakings involved in the contract as subcontractors, suppliers or companies whose capacities are utilised in connection with providing the proof of eligibility, and which account for more than 10% of the contract value, also do not belong to the group of persons mentioned in the Regulation who have a connection to Russia within the meaning of the provision.
3. It is confirmed and guaranteed that, even during the contracting term, no subcontractors, suppliers or companies whose capacities are utilised in connection with providing the proof of eligibility, and on which more than 10% of the contract value depends, will be engaged.
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Self-Declaration on General Funding Requirements:

The H2Global mechanism is based on a subsidy granted by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action ('Zuwendungsbescheid H2Global’, engl.: 'Grant Decision’).
Therefore, neither the individual candidate nor, if applicable, any member of the consortium of candidates must have any legal or factual circumstances that contradict the general funding requirements of the Grant Decision.
The candidate declares, that, without the funding from the H2Global mechanism, the construction of the production facility(ies) for the manufacturing of hydrogen and the derivatives covered by the contract as well as their operation during the term of the contract, would not be realised,
- that neither the candidate nor, if applicable, a member of the consortium of candidates is an 'undertaking in difficulty’ within the meaning of point 20 of the Guidelines on State aid for rescuing and restructuring non-financial undertakings in difficulty (OJ. EU 2014/C 249/01) and Article 2 no. 18 of the General Block Exemption Regulation (Regulation (EU) No 651/2014),
- that the candidate will immediately inform Hintco, if the candidate or, if applicable, a member of the consortium of candidates, files an application to the court for a declaration of bankruptcy,
- that neither the candidate nor, if applicable, a member of the consortium of candidates is subject to any recovery order resulting from an earlier decision by the European Commission establishing the unlawfulness of aid and its incompatibility with the internal market, which has not been fully complied with within the required timeframe,
- that the project will not receive any other state aid from the EU or third countries to cover the same costs that will be funded by the H2Global mechanism.
- that neither the candidate nor, if applicable, a member of the consortium of candidates has taken the final investment decision for the project before submitting the request to participate.
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Self-Declaration on the Anonymised Publication of Project Information

The candidate consents to the publication by Hintco and the H2Global Stiftung of the information from my 'Request to Participate’ and my bid as aggregated and anonymised market data.
Rating:

The candidate shall submit a selfdeclaration regarding an existing rating using the designated fields in the 'Request to Participate’.
The rating must be from one of the following rating agencies:
- Creditreform
- Moody’s
- Standard & Poor’s
- Fitch
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- Candidates may provide the rating of another rating agency. In this case, the candidate must demonstrate that the rating meets the requirements of one of the ratings listed above.
- At Hintco’s request, the candidate or in the case of a consortium of candidates, the authorised representative of the consortium, shall provide a document of the rating agency that proves the rating.
- In the case of a consortium of candidates, only one individual member who is liable for the consortium is required to submit proof of the corresponding rating.
- Under additional requirements the rating can be provided by a third part company that is neither the candidate nor the member of the consortium of candidates (see Section 3 lit. h of the 'Conditions of Participation’).
Equity Ratio and Turnover:

The candidate shall submit a selfdeclaration of its equity ratio and its turnover for the last three audited financial years in accordance with the accounting regulations applicable to the candidate. Candidates who have not yet been active for three audited financial years are required to submit a selfdeclaration for the period since their establishment. Please note: At Hintco’s request, the candidate or in the case of a consortium of candidates, the authorised representative of the consortium, shall provide proof through confirmation by an auditor, sworn auditor, tax consultant, tax agent, specialist lawyer for tax law, an auditing firm, accounting firm or professional practice under the StBerG (Tax Advisory Act) or a credit institution that the following information is accurate.
In the case of consortia of candidates, only one individual member who is liable for the consortium is required to submit proof of the corresponding equity ratio.
Under additional requirements the rating can be provided by a third party company that is neither the candidate nor the member of the consortium of candidates (see Section 3 lit. h of the 'Conditions of Participation’).

Eligibility requirements: Qualification and Authorisation to Pursue the Professional Activity:

Qualification and Authorisation to Pursue the Professional Activity shall first be met by providing a Registration in the Professional or Trade Register and a declaration of the absence of grounds for exclusion pursuant to 123 and 124 GWB. Proof of registration in the professional or trade register in accordance with the legal provisions of the State in which the candidate is established. In the event of non-registration:
Proof of authorised professional activity by other means or a self-declaration as to why proof cannot be provided.
The proof must not be older than 12 months at the time of the deadline for submitting requests to participate. In the case of a consortium of candidates, proof must be provided individually for each member of the consortium. The candidates shall submit a self-declaration on the grounds for exclusion pursuant to Sections 123, 124 of the German Act Against Restraints of Competition (Gesetz gegen Wettbewerbsbeschränkungen, GWB). The self-declaration is part of the 'Request to Participate’. In the event of failure to submit the selfdeclaration (i.e. the existence of a ground for exclusion), the following must be set out in a document prepared by the candidate (self-declaration to be prepared by the candidate):
- the circumstances leading to the existence of the grounds for exclusion pursuant to Sections 123, 124 GWB (type of misconduct, time of the misconduct and the damage caused by the misconduct)
- remedial actions taken in accordance with Section 126 GWB In addition, the candidate must provide a declaration that there are no additional grounds for exclusion beyond the misconduct outlined. In the case of a consortium of candidates, the self-declaration must be provided by the authorised representative of the consortium, stating that none of the consortium members have compulsory or discretionary grounds for exclusion.
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Self-Declaration on EU-Sanctions against Russia:

The candidate does not belong to the persons or companies referred to in Article 5(k)(1) of Council Regulation (EU) 833/2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia's actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine, as amended by Article 1 no. 23 of Council Regulation (EU) 2022/576 of 8 April 2022, Art. 1 no. 12 of Council Regulation (EU) 2022/879 of 3 June 2022 and Art. 1 no. 15 of Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1269 of 21 July 2022 which have a connection to Russia within the meaning of the provision,
a) through the candidate’s/consortium member’s Russian nationality or the candidate’s/consortium member’s establishment in Russia,
b) through the involvement of a natural person or an undertaking to whom one of the criteria under point (a) applies, in the candidate/consortium member by owning an indirect or direct proprietary right amounting to more than 50%,
c) through the candidate/consortium member acting on behalf of or at the direction of persons or undertakings to whom the criteria in points (a) and/or (b) apply.
2. The undertakings involved in the contract as subcontractors, suppliers or companies whose capacities are utilised in connection with providing the proof of eligibility, and which account for more than 10% of the contract value, also do not belong to the group of persons mentioned in the Regulation who have a connection to Russia within the meaning of the provision.
3. It is confirmed and guaranteed that, even during the contracting term, no subcontractors, suppliers or companies whose capacities are utilised in connection with providing the proof of eligibility, and on which more than 10% of the contract value depends, will be engaged.
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Self-Declaration on General Funding Requirements:

The H2Global mechanism is based on a subsidy granted by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action ('Zuwendungsbescheid H2Global’, engl.: 'Grant Decision’).
Therefore, neither the individual candidate nor, if applicable, any member of the consortium of candidates must have any legal or factual circumstances that contradict the general funding requirements of the Grant Decision.
The candidate declares, that, without the funding from the H2Global mechanism, the construction of the production facility(ies) for the manufacturing of hydrogen and the derivatives covered by the contract as well as their operation during the term of the contract, would not be realised,
- that neither the candidate nor, if applicable, a member of the consortium of candidates is an 'undertaking in difficulty’ within the meaning of point 20 of the Guidelines on State aid for rescuing and restructuring non-financial undertakings in difficulty (OJ. EU 2014/C 249/01) and Article 2 no. 18 of the General Block Exemption Regulation (Regulation (EU) No 651/2014),
- that the candidate will immediately inform Hintco, if the candidate or, if applicable, a member of the consortium of candidates, files an application to the court for a declaration of bankruptcy,
- that neither the candidate nor, if applicable, a member of the consortium of candidates is subject to any recovery order resulting from an earlier decision by the European Commission establishing the unlawfulness of aid and its incompatibility with the internal market, which has not been fully complied with within the required timeframe,
- that the project will not receive any other state aid from the EU or third countries to cover the same costs that will be funded by the H2Global mechanism.
- that neither the candidate nor, if applicable, a member of the consortium of candidates has taken the final investment decision for the project before submitting the request to participate.
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Self-Declaration on the Anonymised Publication of Project Information

The candidate consents to the publication by Hintco and the H2Global Stiftung of the information from my 'Request to Participate’ and my bid as aggregated and anonymised market data.
Rating:

The candidate shall submit a selfdeclaration regarding an existing rating using the designated fields in the 'Request to Participate’.
The rating must be from one of the following rating agencies:
- Creditreform
- Moody’s
- Standard & Poor’s
- Fitch
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- Candidates may provide the rating of another rating agency. In this case, the candidate must demonstrate that the rating meets the requirements of one of the ratings listed above.
- At Hintco’s request, the candidate or in the case of a consortium of candidates, the authorised representative of the consortium, shall provide a document of the rating agency that proves the rating.
- In the case of a consortium of candidates, only one individual member who is liable for the consortium is required to submit proof of the corresponding rating.
- Under additional requirements the rating can be provided by a third part company that is neither the candidate nor the member of the consortium of candidates (see Section 3 lit. h of the 'Conditions of Participation’).
Equity Ratio and Turnover:

The candidate shall submit a selfdeclaration of its equity ratio and its turnover for the last three audited financial years in accordance with the accounting regulations applicable to the candidate. Candidates who have not yet been active for three audited financial years are required to submit a selfdeclaration for the period since their establishment. Please note: At Hintco’s request, the candidate or in the case of a consortium of candidates, the authorised representative of the consortium, shall provide proof through confirmation by an auditor, sworn auditor, tax consultant, tax agent, specialist lawyer for tax law, an auditing firm, accounting firm or professional practice under the StBerG (Tax Advisory Act) or a credit institution that the following information is accurate.
In the case of consortia of candidates, only one individual member who is liable for the consortium is required to submit proof of the corresponding equity ratio.
Under additional requirements the rating can be provided by a third party company that is neither the candidate nor the member of the consortium of candidates (see Section 3 lit. h of the 'Conditions of Participation’).
Bid Bond and Contract Fees:

The candidates should indicate in the 'Request to Participate’ whether they wish to submit a bid bond. If this is the case, the candidates shall submit a bid bond during extended validation (see Section 6 lit. c of the 'Conditions for the Bidding Phase’). The bid bond does not have to be submitted with the request to participate or with the bid.

The Form for the bid bond must be used to submit the bid bond during extended validation. It contains the following terms and conditions:

Hintco shall be the beneficiary of the bid bond. The bid bond shall be in the form of either a Germanlaw-governed demand bank guarantee or an Englishor New York-law-governed standby letter of credit, each issued by a bank with a rating of at least a BBB+ rating by S&P, a Baa1 rating by Moody’s or an equivalent rating from an internationally recognised rating agency to secure the due performance of the obligation of the (prospective) seller to pay the initial service fee in full according to Section 17 of the HPA.

The initial service fee (pursuant to Sect. 17.2.1 of the HPA) is to be specified based on the contract volume offered by the bidder (1,25%).

In the case of consortia of candidates, only one individual member who is liable for the consortium is required to submit a bid bond.

In the event of an award, the contract fees shall be charged in consideration of the fact that Hintco takes economic risks that go beyond the role Hintco would have as a mere buyer of the product from the (prospective) seller and which also benefit the (prospective) seller. In particular, Hintco acts as an intermediary between the (prospective) seller and HSA customers to ensure the proper functioning of the H2Global Mechanism, which is a prerequisite for the (prospective) seller to sell and deliver products under the HPA.
Minimum Requirements & General Remarks:

Minimum Requirements:
One of the following three minimum requirements must be met:

(1) A rating of 'good creditworthiness’ or higher:
The candidate’s rating must be at least 'good creditworthiness’. The following ratings in particular are considered 'good creditworthiness’:
- Rating lower than 250 from the rating agency Creditreform,
- Rating Ba2 or higher from the rating agency Moody’s,
- Rating BB or higher from the rating agency Standard & Poor’s,
- Rating BB or higher from the rating agency Fitch.

Candidates may provide the rating of another rating agency. In this case, the candidate must demonstrate that the rating meets the requirements of one of the ratings listed above.
In the case of a consortium of candidates, at least one individual member who is liable for the consortium must have a rating of 'good creditworthiness’.

(2) Equity ratio of at least 20 percent and turnover of 20 million EUR:
Within the last three audited financial years, the equity ratio has not been below 20 percent and the turnover has not been below 20 million EUR. Candidates who have been active for less than three audited financial years cannot meet this minimum requirement.
In the case of consortia of candidates, at least one individual member who is liable for the consortium must not have fallen below the equity ratio of 20% and the turnover of 20 million EUR within the last three audited financial years.

(3) Bid Bond
The candidate commits to submit a bid bond during extended validation. The Form 'Bid Bond’ will be used to submit the bid bond during extended validation. In the case of consortia of candidates, only one individual member who is liable for the consortium is required commit to submit the Form 'Bid Bond’.

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General Remarks:
Candidates or consortia of candidates may, in principle, rely on third party companies to meet the minimum requirements. However, this does not apply for the submission of a bid bond (see Section 3 lit. h of the 'Conditions of Participation’). 

Candidates or consortia of candidates who do not meet at least one of the three aforementioned minimum requirements (a rating of 'good creditworthiness’ or higher, an equity ratio of at least 20 percent and turnover of 20 million EUR, or the commitment to a bid bond) will be excluded from the further auction procedure.
Requirements for the Project Description:

The candidate is considered technically and professionally capable if they are assumed to have the necessary expertise and experience to fulfil the HPA and if the candidate meets the minimum requirements.

The candidate shall submit, as part of the 'Request to Participate', a project description consisting of the documents 'Project Description - Factsheet’ und 'Project Description - Concept’. The project description will be assessed during the call for competition and shall demonstrate the know-how and resources of the candidate, existing and information, whereby the candidate is free to involve subcontractors. Do note the information provided in the introductory sheet of the document 'Project Description - Factsheet’ regarding plan data and estimates for the project description. The project description may be updated during the bidding phase.
Before an HPA is awarded, the updated project description will be reviewed again. In this respect, reference is made to Section 5 of the 'Conditions for the Bidding Phase’.

Note, that at this phase it is not yet required to complete the documents 'Project Description - Factsheet’ und 'Project Description - Concept’ in full and in every detail. The fields that are marked 'with bid only’ are not required for the request to participate.
Also, the candidates can limit their project description for the project description to information that is currently available and can, where necessary, give estimates und plans.
To determine the technical and professional ability of the candidates, Hintco assesses the concretisation of the project and the level of detail of the information provided by the candidate. Furthermore, the plausibility of the explanations, in the sense of a consistent, comprehensible presentation of the project based on realistic information, will be considered.
Hintco will make an overall assessment whether it appears predominantly probable ('prognosis’) that the candidate has the technical and professional ability to prepare an admissibale bid in due time and, later, to perform the services according to the HPA and the Performance Specifications.

A positive prognosis is a minimum requirement.

The entire value chain is analysed, whereby each individual stage must be assessed positively. The individual stages of the project description are:
- Power generation
- Hydrogen production
- Production of methanol
- Additional feedstock next to hydrogen for methanol production
- Transport and Delivery Concept

A positive prognosis cannot be granted, if the candidate does not demonstrate in a concrete and plausible way, how the resources and the know-how necessary for each stage of the value chain of the product mentioned above will be provided.

The candidate does not have to fulfil this prerequisite on its own and may rely on subcontrators. However, a 'Declaration of Liability' or other supplemental documents are not necessary. A plausible and concrete concept is sufficient to that extent. In the case of a consortium of candidates, the minimum requirement must be met by the members of the consortium as a whole.
Candidates and bidders are required to provide Hintco with all additional information necessary. Hintco reserves the right to exclude candidates from the auction procedure who do not comply with a request for clarification, do not comply with the request in time or do not comply with it in full.
The supplier must produce, transport, and deliver the product in compliance with the HPA awarded. Performance must meet the technical product specifications, RFNBO conformity, sustainability requirements, and human rights and environmental standards as set out in the respective annexes of the HPA. After the HPA is signed, verification follows based on these annexes. An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and a Social Impact Assessment (SIA) are mandatory. Their implementation must follow the procedure laid out in the HPA.
Award Criterion 1: 
Volume-weighted Price (EUR per metric tonne)
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The volume-weighted average price (EUR per metric tonne) is to be evaluated on the basis of the contract prices and the respective minimum contract quantity stated in the
'Price and Quantity Sheet' for all contract years (entire contract term).
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Step 1: Determination of the volume-weighted average price

The volume-weighted average price (P) is to be calculated as follows and will be commercially rounded off to two decimal places:

P = Sum(C_i x M_i)/Sum(M_i)
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Where:
- Ci = Contract price (in EUR per metric tonne) for the respective delivery year i according to the 'Price and Quantity Sheet’
- Mi = Minimum contract quantity (in batches) for the respective delivery year i according to the 'Price and Quantity Sheet’
- i = Delivery years
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Step 2: Scoring Bids can score a maximum of 90 points. The bid with the lowest volume-weighted average price (EUR per metric tonne) will receive 90 points (maximum score). The points of the other bids are calculated according to the following formula (commercially rounded to two decimal places):
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Score for Award Criterion 1 = Pbest / P × 90 Where:
- Pbest = Lowest volume-weighted average price among the admissible bids
- P = Offered volume-weighted average price

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Award Criterion 2: 
Optional Contract Quantity Ratio:
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The optional contract quantity relative to the minimum contract quantity according to the 'Price and Quantity Sheet’ (both cumulated over the entire contract term) is evaluated.
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Step 1: Determination of relative optional delivery quantity
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The optional contract quantity ratio (Q) is to be calculated as follows and will be commercially rounded off to 2 decimal spaces:
Oi = Optional contract quantity (in batches) for the respective year i according to the 'Price and Quantity Sheet’
Mi = Minimum contract quantity (in batches) for the respective year i according to the 'Price and Quantity Sheet’
i = Delivery years
Q = Sum(O_i)/Sum(M_i)
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Step 2: Scoring Bids can score a maximum of 10 points. The bid with the largest optional contract quantity ratio will receive 10 points (maximum score). The points for the other bids are calculated according to the following formula (commercially rounded to two decimal places):
Score award criterion 2 = (Q/Q_max) *10
Q max = largest optional contract quantity ratio among the admissible bids
Q = offered optional contract quantity ratio

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Total Score
The following formula is used to determine the total score:
Total score = Score award criterion 1 + Score award criterion 2
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The bidder with the highest total score is deemed to be the best bidder. If two or more bids achieve the same total score, the best bidder will be deemed to be the bidder who has offered the lower volume-weighted price. If there is still a tie between several bidders despite these criteria, the best bidder will be determined amongst those bidders by drawing lots. The best bidder will be subject to extended validation in accordance with Section 6 'Conditions of the Bidding Phase'.
With regard to the filing of legal remedies (Rechtsbehelfen), please note the following information: Hintco is not a contracting authority within the meaning of Sections 98 et seq. of the German Act Against Restraints of Competition (Gesetz gegen Wettbewerbsbeschränkungen, GWB) and therefore the scope of application laid down in Part 4 GWB and the German Regulation on the Award of Public Contracts (Verordnung über die Vergabe öffentlicher Aufträge, VgV) is not applicable.

Only if the objective of a legal remedy is directed towards the applicability of the Part 4 GWB and the German Regulation on the Award of Public Contracts (Verordnung über die Vergabe öffentlicher Aufträge, VgV) legal recourse to the procurement review bodies under Sections 160 et seq. GWB could be initiated. The information on the procurement review body and the following provisions laid down in Section 160 Section 3 GWB are provided as a purely precautionary measure in the event that these provisions are declared applicable in a legal dispute.

Section 160 (3) GWB reads:

The application is inadmissible if
1. the applicant became aware of the claimed violation of public procurement provisions before filing the application for review, but did not complain to the contracting authority within a time limit of 10 calendar days; the expiry of the time limit under Section 134(2) remains unaffected,
2. violations of public procurement provisions which become apparent from the tender notice are not notified to the contracting authority by the end of the time limit for the application or the submission of a tender specified in the notice,
3. violations of public procurement provisions which only become apparent from the procurement documents are not notified to the contracting authority by the end of the time limit for the application or the submission of a tender specified in the notice,
4. more than 15 calendar days have expired since receipt of notification from the contracting entity that it is unwilling to redress the objection. shall not apply to an application under Section The latter sentence shall no apply to an application under Section 135(1) no 2 to have the contract declared ineffective. Section 134(1) sentence 2 shall remain unaffected.

Winner: Hint.co GmbH