1. SCOPE AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PROCUREMENT  1.1. Contracting authority: who is the buyer?  1.2. Subject: what is this call for tenders about?  1.3. Lots: is this call for tenders divided into lots?  1.4. Description: what do we want to buy through this call for tenders?  This call for tenders is launched and managed by the European Commission, referred to as the  Contracting authority for the purposes of this call for tender, assisted by its Directorate  General for Environment.  The subject of this call for tenders is “Supporting the development of a roadmap for the  reduction of whole life carbon of buildings”.  This call for tenders is not divided into lots.  The services that are the subject of this call for tender, including any minimum requirements,  are described in detail below.  Variants (alternatives to the model solution described in the Tender Specifications) are not  allowed. The  Contracting authority  will disregard any variants described in a tender. 4