Broadcast Services to provide EU-related News for Local and Community Radio Stations in Ireland

The European Commission is inviting tenders for a procurement contract focused on enhancing EU-related news coverage for local and community radio stations in Ireland. This initiative is aimed at creating a more informed public regarding EU affairs through improved news content. The total estimated value of the contract is €200,000, and it is open to service suppliers capable of producing such content. Eligible applicants are primarily established media production companies or specialized broadcast agencies, as the contract does not specifically favor small or new enterprises. The contract suggests a single applicant is sufficient, although consortia may also participate. The geographic focus is strictly on Ireland, with the European Commission’s Representation in Ireland managing the contract. Submissions for this tender must be made electronically by June 11, 2025, with a public opening on June 12, 2025. The evaluation criteria will prioritize quality of content (weighted at 60%) alongside cost (40%). There is no requirement for co-funding from participants, and the project duration can last up to 48 months. The process includes submitting a tender by the deadline, but there is no indication of multiple evaluation stages. Success rates are not disclosed, but they typically vary based on competition in such procurement contracts. Interested organizations must possess a Personal Identification Code (PIC) to participate, a requirement that applies to both sole candidates and consortium members. In summary, this tender presents an opportunity for media entities to contribute to the dissemination of EU information in Ireland, addressing the need for local coverage of EU policies and activities while fostering public awareness within communities.

The European Commission, DG COMM Communication, is inviting tenders for broadcast services to provide EU-related news stories for local and community radio stations in Ireland. The procedure identifier is EC-COMM/DUB/2024/OP/0006. This is an open procedure with electronic submission. The estimated total value of the tender is €200,000. The TED publication date is 06/05/2025, with TED reference number 87/2025 288992-2025. The deadline for receipt of tenders is 11/06/2025 at 16:00 Europe/Dublin. The date and time of the public opening is 12/06/2025 at 10:30 Europe/Dublin. The contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after 30/05/2025 06:00 Europe/Dublin. The maximum contract duration is 48 months. The award method is best price-quality ratio. There is no framework agreement.

The main classification (CPV) is 92211000 Radio production services. The nature of the contract is services.

Selection criteria include:Suitability to pursue the professional activity, Economic and financial standing, and Technical and professional ability. Consult the procurement documents for details.

The available documents are:

Invitation to tender EC-COMMDUB2024OP0006 Broadcast Services in IRL. 2025 - 2029 28012025Invitation letter, published on 06/05/2025, Version 1, no translations available.

Tender specifications EC-COMMDUB2024OP0006 Broadcast Services in IRL. 2025 - 2029, published on 06/05/2025, Version 1, no translations available.

Annex 2 to tender specs Declaration-of-honour-tenders EC-COMMDUB2024OP0006 Broadcast Services in IRL. 2025 - 2029, published on 06/05/2025, Version 1, no translations available.

Annex 6 to Tender specs Financial Offer Form EC-COMMDUB2024OP0006 Broadcast Services in IRL 2025 - 2029, published on 06/05/2025, Version 1, no translations available.

Annex 7 to Tender specs Technical Offer Form EC-COMMDUB2024OP0006 Broadcast Services in IRL 2025 - 2029, published on 06/05/2025, Version 1, no translations available.

Draft contract EC-COMMDUB2024OP0006 Broadcast Services in IRL. 2025 - 2029, published on 06/05/2025, Version 1, no translations available.

Submissions must be sent exclusively at the address for submission given below, using the electronic submission method.

FAQ's:

To proceed if the system is slow or doesn’t work while uploading/downloading documents, use the latest versions of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. If the issue persists, clear the cache and cookies on the Internet browser.

eSubmission supports the latest versions of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. For the most up-to-date technical recommendations, click on the link System Requirements.

It is not possible to view the details of the submission after the deadline because the system encrypts all attachments upon upload.

Submissions can be found in Manage My Area, in the Funding & Tenders portal, in ‘My Submission(s)’: tenders in response to open calls for tenders, requests to participate.

Attachments should be less than 50 MB in size.

Attachments in eSubmission must be named following the System Requirements.

The maximum number of documents that can be uploaded per tender is 200 files.

A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory to participate in a call for tenders as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium).

To register an organisation and get a Participant Identification Code (PIC), first check if the organisation is already registered using the Search PIC tool under 'How to Participate' > Participant Register.

A PIC is unique and its validity is not limited in time.

The system is multilingual and supports all 24 official EU languages.

The character set encoding is UTF-8.

The system encrypts all uploaded documents, using an asymmetric key as an encryption mechanism.

The supported file types depend on the type of submission. The allowed file types are specified within the system requirements linked to the procedure in question.

Until the deadline for the submission has been reached, submissions in the draft status can be edited, viewed and deleted.

In the submission report, if "Legal form:UNKNOWN" is displayed, it is just a display issue and is not blocking for submission.

An automatic email informing that the deadline for the reception of submissions had been reached does not mean that the submission was not correctly sent.

In summary, the European Commission is seeking a service provider to deliver EU-related news content to local and community radio stations across Ireland. This tender aims to bridge the gap in EU news coverage at the local level, given that local media outlets typically lack dedicated Brussels correspondents. The selected provider will be responsible for creating and distributing news stories about EU policies and activities, thereby enhancing public awareness and understanding of the EU within Irish communities. The tender is open to all eligible organizations, and the contract will be awarded based on the best price-quality ratio. Interested parties must submit their tenders electronically by the specified deadline, ensuring they meet all the technical and administrative requirements outlined in the tender documents. The project is designed to run for a maximum of 48 months and has an estimated total value of €200,000.

Eligible Applicant Types:The eligible applicant type is a service supplier. The tender specifies that the European Commission's Representation in Ireland intends to sign a contract with a service supplier to provide EU-related news stories. The selection criteria also mention suitability to pursue the professional activity, economic and financial standing, and technical and professional ability, suggesting that established organizations are preferred.

Funding Type:The funding type is a service contract. The European Commission intends to sign a contract with a service supplier.

Consortium Requirement:The opportunity does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required or if a single applicant is sufficient. However, the FAQ mentions that a Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory to participate as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium), suggesting that both single applicants and consortia are eligible.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):The geographic eligibility is primarily focused on Ireland, as the service is intended for local and community radio stations in Ireland. However, the origin of the service provider is not explicitly limited, so it is possible that entities from other EU countries could apply, provided they can effectively deliver the required services in Ireland.

Target Sector:The target sector is media and communication, specifically radio broadcasting and news services related to EU affairs. The CPV code provided (92211000) confirms that the main classification is radio production services.

Mentioned Countries:Ireland, Brussels.

Project Stage:The project stage is operational. The tender is for providing an existing service, namely the provision of EU-related news stories.

Funding Amount:The estimated total value of the contract is €200,000.

Application Type:The application type is an open call for tenders, with electronic submission.

Nature of Support:The beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for services.

Application Stages:The number of application stages is not explicitly stated, but based on the documentation provided (invitation to tender, tender specifications, declaration of honor, financial offer form, technical offer form, and draft contract), it can be inferred that there is at least a two-stage process: submission of the tender and potential contract negotiation.

Success Rates:The success rates are not mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement:Co-funding is not mentioned in the provided text.

Summary:This is a call for tenders by the European Commission Representation in Ireland for a service supplier to provide EU-related news stories to local and community radio stations in Ireland. The aim is to improve the flow of information about the EU to the general public, as local media outlets often lack dedicated correspondents in Brussels. The contract is valued at an estimated €200,000 and has a maximum duration of 48 months. The procedure is an open call, and submissions must be made electronically. Tenderers must provide information demonstrating their suitability to pursue the professional activity, their economic and financial standing, and their technical and professional ability. The deadline for submitting tenders is June 11, 2025. The contract will be awarded based on the best price-quality ratio. The eSubmission system supports various file types and has specific requirements for attachment sizes and naming conventions. A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for all tenderers, whether they are single entities or part of a consortium. The system supports all 24 official EU languages and uses encryption to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of the information.