The Copernicus programme provides access on a full, free and open basis to its Sentinel data and the Copernicus services information products. In addition to Earth Observation data provided by the Sentinel satellites, the missions contributing to Copernicus, the so-called Copernicus Contributing Missions, play a crucial role, delivering complementary data to ensure that a whole range of observational requirements is satisfied. This activity is operated by ESA (‘the Agency’) on behalf of the European Commission. The Agency has established a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for the procurement of commercial Earth Observation data from Copernicus Contributing Missions. The DPS for Copernicus Contributing Missions is a completely electronic process whose characteristics, governance and processes are described in the DPS Specifications.

The present publication refers to Category 3 – Earth Observation Data Suppliers for miscellaneous data needs. The scope of this new category can be found in the DPS Specifications. Once the DPS is published, economic operators can submit their Applications at any time during the duration of the DPS in order to be able to tender in the second stage of the process. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the first Restricted Competition (i.e. Stage 2) to be issued under the present DPS for Category 3 will only be accessible to those Candidates who have submitted their Applications before 04/09/2023 and have received a positive response from the Agency.