BSGEE2026-010 Printing

BSGEE2026-010 is an open procurement by the Office of the Secretary General of the European Schools for framework agreements covering printing, layout, proofing, packaging and delivery in three lots (INTERMATH manuals; Germany; Belgium and the Netherlands) with an estimated total value of €1,771,900. Submission is electronic only via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal (EU Login required) with a deadline for receipt of tenders on 23 October 2026 at 12:00 Brussels time and a public opening on 23 October 2026 at 14:30. Key contractual and technical requirements include use of FSC/PEFC or equivalent certified paper, proven capacity to absorb heavy summer production and dispatch volumes, multilingual layout and proofing workflows, and secure per-school packaging and delivery. Awards will be made by best price-quality ratio with tender validity of six months and framework duration up to 48 months.

What is funded

Scope

Framework contracts for printing and delivery services for the European Schools. Covers production, finishing, packaging and direct delivery of manuals and a wide range of printed materials (INTERMATH manuals, exam papers, agendas, magazines, posters, etc.).

Total estimated value:€1,771,900 (estimated overall procedure value across all lots).

1. 1Type: Open procedure (electronic submission)
2. 2Contracting authority: Office of the Secretary General of the European Schools (lead) / participating European Schools
3. 3Contract form: Framework agreements (without reopening of competition)

Contract duration per lot:maximum 48 months. Award method: best price-quality ratio; framework without reopening of competition. Tender specifications, draft framework contracts and financial offer forms published in the procurement documents.

Who can apply:Economic operators (companies or consortia) established in the EU; registration in the Participant Register (PIC) and an EU Login account required to submit tenders electronically.

1. 1Language requirements: Lot 1 English/French; Lot 2 German; Lot 3 French/Dutch/English
2. 2Key selection/qualification highlights: minimum turnovers and prior similar contract experience required per lot (see tender specifications)
3. 3Proofs required: Declaration on honour (exclusion), financial & technical evidence and Annex 6 financial offer form

Deadline for receipt of tenders:23 October 2026 at 12:00 (Europe/Brussels). Virtual public opening: 23 October 2026 at 14:30 (Europe/Brussels). Final date to submit questions to contracting authority: 15 October 2026 23:59 (Europe/Brussels).

Submission method:electronic eSubmission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal; an EU Login account and a registered PIC are mandatory. Subscribe and access procurement documents via the portal Funding & Tenders Portal ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Procurement page and documents (invitation letter, tender specifications, annexes, draft framework contracts and financial offer forms) are available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal at the tender reference EURSC/2026/OP/0010 (BSGEE2026-010 Printing).

Title:BSGEE2026-010 Printing (Call identifier: EURSC/2026/OP/0010, TED reference 180/2026 642595-2026). Lead contracting authority: Office of the Secretary-General of the European Schools (OSGES). Procedure type: Open procedure (call for tenders). Submission method: Electronic submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal eSubmission system (EU Login required). Publication date: 17/09/2026. Deadlines: final deadline for receipt of tenders 23/10/2026 12:00 Europe/Brussels; public opening 23/10/2026 14:30 Europe/Brussels. Estimated total value (all lots): €1,771,900.

Reference and where to read the full tender documents:Tender details and all procurement documents are published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Full procurement record including Tender Specifications, Draft Framework Contracts (one per lot), Annex 6 Financial Offer, Annex 2 Declaration on Honour, Annex 7 models, Annex 8 Quality offer and other annexes are attached to the notice F&T Portal opportunity page ¹.

1. 1Opportunity type: Tender / Procurement (framework agreements to be concluded)
2. 2Nature of contract: services (printing and delivery services, CPV 79823000 and 79810000)
3. 3Award method: best price-quality ratio (price and quality weighting specified in tendering terms: price 70%, quality 30% unless otherwise indicated in lot documents)
4. 4Framework agreement type: framework agreement without reopening of competition for each lot; specific contracts/orders will be placed under the framework

Lots, durations and estimated values

The procurement is divided into three independent lots. Tenderers may bid for one, more than one, or all lots. Each lot will be evaluated independently and may result in a separate framework contract.

Who can apply; eligible applicant types and geographic scope

Eligible applicants:legal persons (private sector printing companies and groups), consortiums/joint tenders (group members must appoint a group leader and provide power of attorney), and other entities registered in the Participant Register (PIC required). Subcontracting is permitted subject to rules in the Tender Specifications; identified subcontractors >10% or relied-upon entities for selection criteria must be declared and provide commitment letters. Natural persons may participate only where procurement law allows, but the tender is addressed primarily to companies providing printing services.

Beneficiary geographic scope:Primarily European Union countries where European Schools are located: deliveries across multiple EU Member States (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia, Spain and others). The contracting authority is interschool (OSGES acting on behalf of participating European Schools), so applicants must be able to supply and deliver across the listed countries and within the EU/EEA region.

Target sector and services required

Sector:Printing and delivery services focused on educational materials and general school print needs. Core items and services required across lots include:

1. 1Multilingual textbook/manual production and layout: Lot 1 INTERMATH manuals (InDesign file management: incorporate translated text from Excel into InDesign templates for 21 languages; proofing in each language; provide web PDF versions; include stickers for SUN manual P1/P2; average ~95 pages per manual; durable square back glued binding; FSC/PEFC or equivalent certified paper required).
2. 2Standard printed materials: flyers, brochures, booklets, posters, promotional materials.
3. 3School-specific items: agendas (multiple formats), diploma covers, examination papers (S5/S6 and standardized S7 BAC papers), magazines, yearbooks, visit cards, customised cards, envelopes, letterhead, infirmary record forms.
4. 4Large-format printing: posters and displays.
5. 5Packaging and distribution to schools (secure packaging; separate packaging per order; no mixing of orders).
6. 6Catalogue provision and online ordering system (Lot 3 requires full catalogue access with a fixed discount rate for duration of contract).
7. 7Proofing workflow and technical assistance for file preparation and corrections prior to printing (deadlines for proofing stipulated per item type).
8. 8Compliance with environmental, social and labour obligations; use of FSC/PEFC certified paper or equivalent; additional environmental certifications encouraged (e.g. ISO 14001, Imprim'Vert) and evaluated as quality element.

Key procurement conditions and obligations

Form of contract:Framework Service Contract (FWC) concluded with the successful tenderer for each lot. The FWC is non-exclusive and sets the terms under which specific contracts or orders are placed. Framework ceiling values per lot are specified in the call notice and draft FWC. The FWC contains detailed special and general conditions, including IP rules, confidentiality, data protection (DPA annex), checks and audits, liquidated damages, price revision formula, and termination rules.

Notable operational provisions:Delivery timing and capacity requirements: heavy summer peak each year (main deliveries must arrive before the last Monday in August for most schools; Helsinki requires delivery by the second Monday in August). Tenderers must demonstrate capacity and resource planning for July and August to ensure printing and dispatch. Security of packaging, separate boxes per order, and special handling rules for exam papers (no external specimen marks on boxes) are mandatory.

Eligibility, exclusion and selection criteria (summary)

Exclusion criteria:Declarations of non-exclusion required (Annex 2 Declaration on Honour). Tenderers in exclusion situations under Article 138 of the Financial Regulation (bankruptcy, grave misconduct, fraud, corruption, money laundering, terrorist financing, child labour, irregularities, tax/social security breaches, creation of entities to circumvent obligations) will be rejected. Evidence may be requested; prior submissions within one year may be reused if unchanged.

Selection criteria (summary by lot):

1. 1Legal and regulatory capacity: registration in relevant trade register; evidence submitted with tender.
2. 2Economic and financial capacity: minimum average yearly turnover thresholds per lot (Lot 1: €100,000; Lot 2: €40,000; Lot 3: €80,000) — provide profit & loss accounts for last three years or bank statements as evidence.
3. 3Technical and professional capacity: minimum references and experience. For each lot tenderers must submit at least two similar contracts in the last three years with minimum reference values (Lot 1 references each >= €50,000; Lot 2 each >= €10,000; Lot 3 each >= €30,000).
4. 4Single Point of Contact (SPOC): proposed SPOC must meet language requirements per lot (Lot 1: English and French; Lot 2: German; Lot 3: Dutch and French).

Evaluation and award

Award criteria:Best price-quality ratio. Tender documentation shows price and quality sub-criteria; weighting example in tendering terms: quality 30% and price 70% (detail: consult Tender Specifications and Annex 8 Quality Offer). Quality elements include delivery time, environmental measures, proofing and layout capacity, and demonstrated logistics for summer dispatch. Price is assessed using Annex 6 Financial Offer templates provided per lot. The contracting authority may request clarifications or missing documents during evaluation.

Evaluation procedure and sequence:Administrative compliance check, exclusion criteria check, selection criteria verification, technical/quality evaluation and price evaluation. Tenderers may be requested to supply documentary evidence for selection criteria and exclusion checks within short deadlines. The contracting authority may reject tenders not meeting minimum selection criteria or failing exclusion checks.

Submission process and templates

Submission is electronic only via the Funding & Tenders Portal eSubmission application (EU Login and organisation PIC required). Tenderers must upload all required documents by the deadline. Attachments must meet eSubmission system requirements (file size, supported formats). The eSubmission receipt with timestamp is proof of timely submission. Questions during submission must be raised in the Portal Q&A by the stated cut-off in the contract notice.

1. 1Mandatory forms and annexes provided in the procurement documents (examples): Annex 1 List of documents to be submitted; Annex 1.1 Tenderer’s identification form; Annex 2 Declaration on Honour; Annex 3 Agreement/Power of Attorney for joint tenders; Annex 4 List of identified subcontractors; Annex 5.1 and 5.2 commitment letters (subcontractors / relied-on entities); Annex 6 Financial Offer (Excel templates per lot); Annex 7 Models (technical examples by lot and item); Annex 8 Quality Offer (quality evaluation templates).
2. 2For Lot 1 specific templates: Annex 6 LOT 1 INTERMATH worksheet includes delivery lists per school and itemised unit prices; Annex 7 models include layout and exam paper models.
3. 3Signature policy: qualified electronic signature preferred for Declaration on Honour; hand-signed originals acceptable where QES not available (instructions in Tender Specifications).

Templates and structure of application forms (practical outline):Prepare the following, matching the Annex numbering: Annex 1.1 Tenderer identification; Annex 2 Declaration on Honour (signed); Annex 3 Joint tender Agreement (if applicable); Annex 4 subcontractor list and Annex 5 commitment letters where required; Annex 6 Financial Offer Excel (completed per lot and per catalogue line); Annex 7 technical models (confirm compliance with the technical specifications and provide print/production samples if requested); Annex 8 Quality Offer (delivery times table, environmental measures, staff/SPOC cv). Provide company registration and accounts (for turnover proof) and client references (minimum 2 per lot as specified).

Administrative and contractual specifics

Framework contract clauses:price revision formula (HICP-based index described in the FWC), payment terms, invoicing instructions (functional mailbox OSG-INVOICES@eursc.eu for Lot 1; school-specific invoicing for Lots 2/3 as specified in each specific contract), VAT rules and VAT certificate handling for intra-community transactions, liability, confidentiality, data protection and audit/inspection rights (Court of Auditors, OLAF/EPPO). Tenderers must comply with environmental and labour law obligations set out in the Tender Specifications.

Operational / logistics requirements

Key operational requirements include:secure packaging per school/order; no mixing of different orders in a single box; delivery during school opening hours unless agreed otherwise; supplier to ensure capacity for summer peak dispatch; acceptance and replacement procedures for non-conforming items; return/replacement conditions at contractor expense for damaged or non-conforming items; separate shipping instructions for exam papers (no specimen marking on boxes).

Deadlines and important dates

1. 1TED publication/date on Portal: 17/09/2026 (procurement notice published and documents available).
2. 2Deadline for receipt of tenders: 23/10/2026 12:00 Europe/Brussels.
3. 3Public opening session: 23/10/2026 14:30 Europe/Brussels (virtual opening; max two representatives per tender may attend with prior request).
4. 4Final date for contracting authority replies to questions in submission phase: 15/10/2026 23:59 Europe/Brussels (contracting authority not bound to reply to questions submitted after this date).

Other practicalities for applicants

Registration and codes:a valid PIC (Participant Identification Code) is required for any tenderer or consortium member participating in the eSubmission application. The main CPV codes used are 79823000 Printing and delivery services and 79810000 Printing services. The tender specifications require tender validity of 6 months and the tender must include all mandatory forms. Maximum number of attachments per eSubmission is 200 files and acceptable file size for attachments is less than 50 MB per file (system requirements available in the Portal guidance).

Questions you must address in your tender (practical checklist)

1. 1Complete Annex 6 Financial Offer Excel for each lot you bid for, and submit both PDF and native Excel versions as requested.
2. 2Provide Annex 2 Declaration on Honour signed (QES recommended) and supply supporting evidence if requested.
3. 3Provide proof of turnover and accounts for the last three financial years to meet turnover thresholds.
4. 4Provide at least two relevant references for similar printing contracts completed in the last three years with value thresholds per lot.
5. 5Designate and document a Single Point of Contact (SPOC) with the languages required by the lot and include a CV and contact details.
6. 6Declare identified subcontractors >10% and provide commitment letters (Annex 5.1) and list them in Annex 4. If relying on other entities for selection criteria, provide commitment letters (Annex 5.2) and evidence.
7. 7Complete Annex 8 Quality Offer sections (delivery times, examples of environmental measures and certifications).
8. 8If bidding for Lot 1 INTERMATH, demonstrate capability with InDesign multilingual files workflow, proofing in each language and logistics for distribution to 37 schools and accredited schools as listed in the specifications.

Application stages, consortium requirement and co-funding

Consortium requirement:Not mandatory. The procedure allows single tenderers or joint tenders (consortiums). If submitting a joint tender, all members must sign an Agreement/Power of Attorney (Annex 3) appointing a group leader who will contract with the contracting authority and assume joint and several liability.

Application stages:The procurement evaluation process comprises: 1) electronic submission (one stage) and administrative compliance check; 2) exclusion and selection criteria verification; 3) quality and price evaluation leading to ranking and award of the framework contract. Overall this can be considered a 3-stage administrative/evaluation sequence for bidders (submission; selection/exclusion verification; award).

Co-funding requirement:No co-funding from applicants is required. This is a procurement: payments will be made under the terms of the framework/specific contracts. No grant co-financing model applies.

Nature of support, funding type and project stage

Funding Type:Procurement / tender resulting in paid service contracts (framework agreements). Nature of support: commercial contractual payments for services (not grants). Project stage: This is a procurement for production, printing and delivery operational services (implementation / delivery stage).

Mentioned countries (explicit list from documents)

1. 1Austria
2. 2Belgium
3. 3Denmark
4. 4Estonia
5. 5Finland
6. 6France
7. 7Germany
8. 8Greece
9. 9Ireland
10. 10Italy
11. 11Luxembourg
12. 12Netherlands
13. 13Poland
14. 14Slovenia
15. 15Spain

Project maturity and expected funding scale

Project stage / maturity:operational implementation of print production and logistics for educational materials (not R&D). Funding amount and scale: Overall estimated total procedure value €1,771,900 across all three lots. Lot-level estimated values: Lot €1 720,000; Lot €2 289,500; Lot €3 762,400. These are indicative ceilings and the contracting authority is under no obligation to spend the full amounts.

Application type, success rates and timeline estimates

Application type:Open call / open procedure through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal eSubmission system (electronic only). Success rates: not provided in the procurement documentation; success rates for public procurement are dependent on number of valid tenders submitted and cannot be estimated from the notice alone. Timeline: publication 17/09/2026; submission deadline 23/10/2026 12:00; virtual opening 23/10/2026 14:30; subsequent evaluation and award period as defined in Tender Specifications.

Key risks and compliance points for bidders

1. 1Ensure full compliance with exclusion and selection evidence requests; delays in providing documents may lead to rejection.
2. 2Demonstrate capacity for heavy summer production and multi-destination dispatch (Lot 1 especially requires readiness in July/August).
3. 3Supply documentation showing use of FSC/PEFC or equivalent certified paper and environmental credentials where requested; these are mandatory labeling requirements.
4. 4Follow the Annex 6 financial offer forms precisely (Excel native and PDF versions required) and provide correct bank account and VAT information as instructed in invoicing provisions.
5. 5Observe confidentiality and data protection requirements (DPA Annex and restrictions on where data may be processed as applicable).

How to prepare a compliant bid — quick checklist

1. 1Register organisation in the Participant Register and obtain PIC; ensure EU Login account for eSubmission.
2. 2Download all documents (Invitation Letter, Tender Specifications, Annexes 2, 6, 7, 8, Draft FWC per lot) and read draft contract clauses carefully.
3. 3Complete Annex 6 Financial Offer native Excel and export to PDF; sign and include both versions during submission.
4. 4Complete Annex 2 Declaration on Honour and Annex 1.1 identification forms; sign with QES if available or handwritten signature scanned as instructed.
5. 5Assemble selection evidence: accounts/profit & loss, client references, details of SPOC, evidence of certifications (FSC/PEFC, environmental certifications).
6. 6List subcontractors and provide Annex 5.1 commitment letters if subcontractor share >10% or relied-on entity.
7. 7Complete Annex 8 Quality Offer (delivery times, environmental measures) and provide proofs or certifications.
8. 8Submit via eSubmission before the deadline; check system requirements and allowed file types; keep submission receipt and timestamp.

Final recommendation:consult the Tender Specifications and Draft Framework Contract for each lot in full to ensure acceptance of the contractual terms (price revision, IP, confidentiality, audits, liquidated damages, data protection), and plan production capacity and logistics to meet the strict summer dispatch requirements and multilingual proofing obligations for Lot 1.

This opportunity is a public procurement for printing and delivery services managed by the European Schools (OSGES). It invites commercial printing companies and consortia to bid for framework contracts in three lots covering INTERMATH multilingual manuals and general printing services for Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. The tender requires submission through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal eSubmission system by the stated deadline. Annexes contain the mandatory financial templates, technical models, declaration of honour and draft framework contracts. Ensure full compliance with selection and exclusion criteria, evidence requirements, and the operational delivery constraints (especially the summer peak period).

For detailed documents and downloads see the call on the Portal F&T Portal opportunity page ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Full procurement documentation including Invitation Letter, Tender Specifications, Annex 2 Declaration on Honour, Annex 6 Financial Offer (Excel), Annex 7 Models, Annex 8 Quality Offer and Draft Framework Contracts per lot are published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal opportunity page: ec.europa.eu

This is an open procurement for printing services and delivery for the European Schools, published on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal as a framework agreement with three lots and an estimated total value of €1,771,900.[1][11]

Opportunity overview

The lead contracting authority is the Office of the Secretary General of the European Schools, acting for the participating European Schools, and the procedure identifier is EURSC/2026/OP/0010. Submission is electronic only, the portal record shows a deadline for receipt of tenders on 23 October 2026 at 12:00 Brussels time, and the public opening is scheduled for 23 October 2026 at 14:30 Brussels time.[1]

Submission and contact conditions:EU Login is required for electronic submission and for use of the portal question function, and the contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after 15 October 2026 at 23:59 Brussels time.[1]

Lots and estimated values

What the contract is about

The procurement covers the printing of educational and administrative materials, together with layout correction, proofing, packaging and direct delivery to schools. The tender documents state that the paper must be FSC or PEFC certified or equivalent, that the supplier must have sufficient summer capacity to handle peak printing and dispatch work, and that services must be adapted to the languages required by each lot.

Lot 1 covers INTERMATH manuals for primary education. The contractor must work with the Pedagogical Development Unit of the OSGES to prepare SUN and STAR manuals for levels P1 to P5 in 21 languages, incorporating translations into InDesign files, checking layout consistency, providing technical assistance, supplying PDF web versions, and producing final page proofs for new editions before 5 July. The annual estimated volume is 28,000 manuals across 210 versions, with secure packaging, delivery to all participating schools and accredited European Schools, and the main annual delivery no later than the last Monday in August, except Helsinki which must be delivered by the second Monday in August.

Lot 2 covers printing services for Germany and lot 3 covers Belgium and the Netherlands. These lots include school specific printing work such as diploma covers and school agendas, with proofing requirements before final printing, delivery to the ordering schools, and annual dispatch deadlines tied to school calendars. Lot 3 also requires full access to the tenderer's catalogue with a fixed discount for the contract duration.

Who can apply

The opportunity is open to economic operators able to meet the exclusion, selection and contract performance requirements set out in the procurement documents. The tender file covers sole tenderers, joint tenders, subcontractors and entities whose capacity is relied upon, and the procedure is marked as not suitable for SMEs.

• Tenderers must not be subject to exclusion grounds such as bankruptcy, serious professional misconduct, fraud, corruption, money laundering, terrorist offences, child labour, trafficking in human beings, significant contract performance failures, or restrictive measures.
• Tenderers must declare that they have no established debt to the Union, European Atomic Energy Community or an executive agency when the latter implements the Union budget.
• Tenderers must confirm that the submitted offer has been prepared independently and autonomously from the other tenders in the same procedure.
• Tenderers must provide the declaration on honour and the evidence required by the tender specifications for exclusion and selection criteria.
• A valid Participant Identification Code is required for participation, and the declaration on honour may be signed either with a qualified electronic signature or by handwritten signature after electronic completion.
• The tender documents indicate that no variants are allowed unless expressly permitted and that partial bids or conditional bids covering only part of a lot are not permitted.

Key requirements and conditions

1. 1Submission method is electronic only through the Funding and Tenders Portal.
2. 2Language requirements are English or French for lots 1 and 3, and English or German for lot 2.
3. 3Tender validity is 6 months.
4. 4Award is based on the best price quality ratio, with 30 percent for quality and 70 percent for price.
5. 5The framework contracts are concluded for an initial period of 12 months and may be renewed 3 times, up to a maximum contract duration of 48 months.
6. 6The financial offer form must be submitted in both PDF and Excel format as requested by the tender documents.
7. 7For lot 1, most deliveries must take place before September and the supplier must be able to absorb heavy summer production volumes.
8. 8For lot 2 and lot 3, the tender documents require proofing deadlines in advance of final print production and annual delivery windows aligned with the schools' calendars.

Practical bidder information

Applicants should review the tender specifications, draft framework contracts, technical annexes and financial offer templates before submitting, because the documents place substantial emphasis on layout support, proofing, delivery logistics, language adaptation and print quality. The tender also provides a public opening process, with a maximum of two representatives per tender able to attend virtually if they request access in advance.