Why Open Market Consultations Matters in Security Innovation Procurement

Imagine a scenario where the world’s most advanced security practitioners are forced to use "yesterday’s tech" to solve "tomorrow’s threats." It’s a recurring frustration in public safety: the specific, high-stakes tools needed to manage complex crowd dynamics simply don’t exist off the shelf. They haven't been built yet.

This is the "innovation gap"—a space where operational needs outpace market reality. Bridging this gap requires more than just a standard purchase order; it requires a structured, collaborative journey. At the heart of this journey lies the Open Market Consultations (OMC), a pivotal phase that ensures the technology of the future is actually fit for the front line.

The SHIELD PCP Mission: Designing for the Real World

SHIELD PCP is an EU-funded project created to provide security practitioners with the innovative tools they need for dynamic crowd management. It aims to develop an integrated solution that enables seamless communication, coordination, and information sharing between all stakeholders operating in public spaces.

Co-coordinated by the Polish Platform for Homeland Security (PPHS), the initiative focuses on bridging the "innovation gap" where existing market technologies often lack the operational maturity required for real-world use.

To solve this, the project utilises Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP). Unlike traditional procurement, PCP doesn't buy a finished product; it buys the research and development needed to create one. It’s a framework for public buyers to procure R&D services through three distinct phases: Solution Design, Prototyping, and Operational Validation. To get the full breakdown, read our dedicated article:

The OMC: A Strategic Reality Check

The Open Market Consultation is the "bridge" between identifying a security gap and launching a formal tender. It is a period of transparent, two-way dialogue designed to ensure the upcoming procurement is grounded in what is actually possible.

As Etienne Genet, Head of the Procurement, Innovation and Logistics Department of the French Ministry of the Interior, puts it:

The OMC represents the fundamental step to prepare the tender. We sincerely hope to bring together major security industry players around this challenge identified by SHIELD PCP.

During the recent OMC events—which included a central hybrid gathering in Paris and a series of international webinars and an RFI questionnaire—the project team met directly with European technology providers. This wasn't just a networking exercise; it was a deep dive into the "art of the possible."

Watch the recording from the OMC in Paris:

Why the Market Needs to Talk to the Buyer

For an innovation tender to succeed, it cannot be written in a vacuum. The OMC allows the project to:

• Validate Prior-Art Analysis: Does the tech we think we need already exist somewhere else?
• Gather Supplier Insights: What are the emerging technologies (AI, predictive modelling, etc.) that the project might have overlooked?
• Clarify Operational Needs: Ensuring future technologies genuinely respond to practitioners’ operational requirements and can be validated in realistic conditions.

Youssef Bouali of DigInnov highlights the necessity of this phase:

The market is technologically active but not operationally mature. We would like to have prediction functionalities and real-time management features in tools to be developed.

What Stakeholders Gain

The OMC is where the "win-win" of the PCP process is engineered:

• For Technology Providers:
  They gain an early, clear view of the programme design and the emerging tender requirements. Suppliers can see the roadmap for the three development phases (Solution Design, Prototype Development, and Operational Testing) and prepare their R&D resources accordingly.
• For Public Buyers:
  They receive a "reality check" on their budget and timelines. Azra Atalan of Corvers notes:

OMC plays a crucial role in shaping the tender activities. It enables us to cross-check market analysis with industry representatives.

What Happens Next?

With the OMC phase concluding, the focus of the SHIELD PCP project consortium shifts to the final preparation of the Tender. As Nina Czyżewska of PPHS explains:

Comments from companies participating in the OMC event in Paris will be crucial in providing a final shape of the tender.

The Countdown to Innovation:

• May 2026: Official Call for Tender publication.
• June–August 2026: Reception of bids from technology providers.
• October 2026: Tender awards announcement and the start of Phase 1.

A project of this scale requires a steady hand at the helm. The Polish Platform for Homeland Security acts as a key partner and co-coordinator (along with Corvers), ensuring that the dialogue between practitioners and developers remains productive and compliant.

PPHS doesn't just manage the "how"—it shapes the "what." By ensuring the project adheres to legal, ethical, and security requirements, PPHS helps translate raw operational demands into a structured procurement process. Our work in building a network of end-users and practitioners ensures that the feedback gathered during the OMC is directly injected into the final tender specifications.

The momentum is building. By turning "talking points" into "tender requirements," SHIELD PCP is ensuring that when the final solutions are deployed, they won't just be innovative—they will be indispensable.

For years, the Polish Platform for Homeland Security (PPHS) has been committed to the development and implementation of new security solutions, bridging the gap between academia, business, and the authorities. If you are seeking an experienced partner for these types of initiatives, please contact us at (contact@pphs.pl).

We also invite you to follow the latest news on our website and the PPHS and SHIELD PCP LinkedIn pages to stay up to date with the progress of the project's PCP process.