Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of July 10, 2026, from the Ceuta Port Authority, for the publication of the Agreement with the Andalusia, Ceuta and Melilla Demarcation of the College of Civil Engineers, Canals and Ports, on the issuance of professional certification |
|---|---|
| Publication | September 9, 2026 |
| Entry into force | September 9, 2026 |
| Affected parties | Contractor companies for port works in Ceuta and civil engineers who sign projects for the port |
| Category | Public Sector — Works contracting |
| Fee tier 1 | 1.5‰ of the Budget for Material Execution (BEC) up to €3,000,000 |
| Fee tier 2 | 0.75‰ on the amount exceeding €3,000,000 |
| Legal framework | Art. 13 Law 2/1974; Fifth additional provision Law 25/2009; Law 40/2015 on the Legal Regime of the Public Sector |
Contractors bidding for works at Ceuta Port will now encounter a new requirement in the tender specifications: professional certification issued by the Andalusia, Ceuta and Melilla Demarcation of the College of Civil Engineers, Canals and Ports. The agreement governing it, published in the Official State Gazette of September 9, 2026, enters into force on the same day of its publication.
Certification is not a mere formality: its payment is a prerequisite for starting the work. If the site survey report cannot be signed, contractual deadlines do not run, but neither can any work be executed. Knowing the fee and procedure from the bidding phase is therefore essential for proper budgeting.
What does this regulation establish?
The Ceuta Port Authority (CPA) and the Andalusia, Ceuta and Melilla Demarcation of the College of Civil Engineers, Canals and Ports formalize a voluntary professional certification agreement under article 13 of Law 2/1974 and the fifth additional provision introduced by Law 25/2009.
The CPA will incorporate the certification requirement directly in the tender specifications. The types of affected documents are:
| Document type | Certification |
|---|---|
| Construction projects | Mandatory (via specification) |
| Modified projects | Mandatory (via specification) |
| Site management | Mandatory (via specification) |
| Safety and health plans | Optional |
| Safety and health coordination | Optional |
Certification verifies four specific aspects:
- Identity and professional qualification of the signing engineer.
- Absence of professional disqualification.
- Formal integrity of the document.
- Technical competence of the professional.
The agreement explicitly clarifies that certification does not include substantive technical review of the project unless that service is contracted separately. Nor does it imply exclusivity: neither party is bound exclusively by this agreement.
Economic and operational impact
The cost of certification is calculated on the Budget for Material Execution (BEC) with a tiered structure:
| BEC tier | Applicable fee |
|---|---|
| Up to €3,000,000 | 1.5‰ of BEC |
| On the amount exceeding €3,000,000 | 0.75‰ of the excess |
The direct economic impact is moderate in absolute terms, but it has a critical operational consequence: payment is a prerequisite for signing the site survey report. This means that if the contractor or engineer has not processed and paid for the certification before that date, the work is administratively blocked, with the risk of incurring penalties for delay according to the contract.
From a planning perspective, certification should be incorporated into the work start schedule as a preliminary management task, not as a parallel procedure.
Who does it affect?
- Construction companies and contractors bidding for or executing works at Ceuta Port: must budget for the certification cost in their economic bid and manage its obtaining before the site survey.
- Civil engineers, canals and ports engineers who sign construction projects, modified projects, or site management for the CPA: must process certification with the Andalusia, Ceuta and Melilla Demarcation.
- Technical offices and bidding departments of companies operating in the port: must update their work start checklists to include this procedure.
- Project writers and engineering consultancies working for the CPA or for awarded contractors.
Practical example
A construction company is awarded a wharf expansion work at Ceuta Port with a BEC of €5,000,000. The calculation of professional certification would be as follows:
| Tier | Base | Fee | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| First tier | €3,000,000 | 1.5‰ | €4,500 |
| Second tier | €2,000,000 (excess over €3M) | 0.75‰ | €1,500 |
| Total certification | €5,000,000 | — | €6,000 |
Those €6,000 must be paid before the site manager signs the site survey report. If the company has not budgeted for this in its initial financial planning, it can cause a delay in the start of work and, consequently, tension in the contractual schedule.
What should companies do now?
- Review active tender specifications at Ceuta Port to identify whether they already include the requirement for professional certification, given that the agreement has been in force since September 9, 2026.
- Include the certification cost in economic bids: calculate the amount according to the fee (1.5‰ up to €3M of BEC and 0.75‰ on the excess) and add it to the bidding budget.
- Coordinate with the signing engineer the processing of certification with the Andalusia, Ceuta and Melilla Demarcation of the College of Civil Engineers, Canals and Ports well in advance of the site survey report.
- Update work start checklists to include professional certification as a mandatory prior step before signing the site survey report.
- Verify the professional qualification of the signing engineer before submitting the project, as certification explicitly checks for the absence of professional disqualification.
Frequently asked questions
How much does professional certification cost for a work at Ceuta Port?
The fee is calculated on the Budget for Material Execution (BEC): 1.5‰ on the first €3,000,000 and 0.75‰ on the amount exceeding that figure. For example, for a BEC of €5,000,000, the total certification cost would be €6,000.
When must certification be paid: before or after awarding the work?
Certification payment is a prerequisite for signing the site survey report, which is when work execution officially begins. It is not necessary to pay it at the time of bidding, but it must be paid before starting work.
Which Ceuta Port projects require certification mandatorily?
Construction projects, modified projects, and site management require mandatory certification according to the CPA's tender specifications. Safety and health plans and safety and health coordination are optional.
Does certification guarantee that the project is technically correct?
No. Certification verifies the identity and professional qualification of the engineer, the absence of professional disqualification, and the formal integrity of the document. It does not include substantive technical review of the project unless that additional service is expressly contracted with the College.
Does this agreement require contracting only engineers from the Andalusia, Ceuta and Melilla Demarcation?
No. The agreement explicitly establishes that it does not imply exclusivity for any of the parties. Any qualified civil engineer can sign the projects, but certification must be processed with the Andalusia, Ceuta and Melilla Demarcation of the College.
Official source
View complete regulation in official source
Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-18884
