CFT-1782 - IT Consultancy Services for Corporate Applications (CORE)

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has announced a call for tenders, designated CFT-1782, for IT consultancy services specifically targeting corporate applications within its infrastructure. The objective is to establish Framework Agreements with up to five successful tenderers within a total budget of €120 million, intended to be utilized over a maximum period of 72 months. This procurement is classified as open, allowing any qualified entity to submit their application electronically.

Eligible applicants include entities capable of providing IT consultancy, with no limitations regarding the size or type of the company. Applicants may operate independently or in consortiums. The tender emphasizes that co-funding is not required, as the costs for these services will be covered entirely by the EIB.

The consultancy services will focus on four primary categories: implementation, development, maintenance, and operations of IT systems crucial for the EIB's corporate applications. The targeted functional domains include Financial and Supply Chain Management (FSCM) and Human Capital Management (HCM) solutions. Specific applications involved cover prominent systems like PeopleSoft FSCM, PeopleSoft HCM, SuccessFactors, and Oracle HCM Cloud.

The tender process entails a single-stage application with a rigorous evaluation based on technical and professional ability, economic standing, and suitability to provide the required services. Applicants must offer thorough documentation to support their technical capabilities and provide adequate references pertaining to past projects. The submission of tenders is subject to strict deadlines, with all documentation due on June 6, 2025, at 15:00 Luxembourg time. The public opening of the tenders will take place shortly thereafter, on June 10, 2025.

Successful candidates will be engaged through a framework agreement, implying they will provide services on a call-off basis. The EIB’s ongoing transformation, including migration from PeopleSoft HCM to Oracle Fusion HCM, is likely to require active support throughout the contract’s duration, extending to system maintenance and operational assistance.

Overall, this tender presents a significant opportunity for qualified IT consultancy firms to collaborate on critical enterprise applications and contribute to the EIB's strategic initiatives in financial and human management systems.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has issued a call for tenders, EIB/2024/OP/0026, titled "CFT-1782 - IT Consultancy Services for Corporate Applications (CORE)". This is an open procedure with electronic submission. The objective is to award Framework Agreements to up to five successful tenderers. The IT consultancy services are for the EIB Group’s corporate applications, grouped into implementation, development, maintenance, and operations. The services cover the following functional domains: Financial and Supply Chain Management (FSCM), Human Capital Management (HCM), and Transversal Solutions.

FSCM includes Procurement, Purchasing, Accounts Payable, General Ledger, Expenses, and other applications currently supported by Peoplesoft FSCM. HCM includes Administer Workforce, Recruitment, Position Management, Compensation, Global Payroll, Self-Service, Training, Time & Labor, Performance and Talent management, and PeopleSoft Interaction HUB, supported by Peoplesoft HCM, Success Factors, and Oracle HCM Cloud, as well as other future products in Human Resources. Transversal Solutions are a collection of COTS applications tailored to address specific business needs.

The estimated total value of this procurement is 120,000,000 EUR. The maximum contract duration is 72 months. The award method is based on the best price-quality ratio, utilizing a framework agreement with and without reopening of competition. Selection criteria include suitability to pursue the professional activity, economic and financial standing, and technical and professional ability, as detailed in the procurement documents.

Key milestones include a TED publication date of 21/03/2025, a public opening date of 10/06/2025 at 11:00 Europe/Luxembourg time, and a deadline for receipt of tenders on 06/06/2025 at 15:00 Europe/Luxembourg time. The contracting authority will not reply to questions submitted after 23/05/2025 05:00 Europe/Luxembourg.

Available documents include: General Administrative and Submission Clauses (GASC), Terms of Reference, Annex A - Technical Specifications, Annex B - Technical Proposal Form, Annex C - Financial proposal form, Annex D.2 – General Terms Conditions for ICT services for Framework Agreements, Annex D.3 Contract Template, Annex E.T.1 - Contract Reference Form - Criterion T1, Annex E.T.2 - Contract Reference Form - Criterion T2, and Annex E.T.3 - Contract Reference Form - Criterion T3.

An updated version of Annex D.1 - Model Framework Agreement for Provision of Services was released on 23/05/2025, clarifying Intellectual Property Rights, with updates visible in Track Changes in Articles 11 and 12.

Submissions must be sent exclusively via electronic submission at the address provided.

Some frequently asked questions (FAQ) and answers related to this tender include:

The award criteria for mini-competitions will be set out in the Assignment Terms of Reference, referring to Annex D.1. Contracts delivered by different service providers to the same client cannot be consolidated into a single contract reference. Figures for different services provided to the same customer are acceptable if the lots are included in the same framework agreement, subject to conditions explained in Q&A ID 64319. Requests for extensions to the tender submission deadline will not be granted.

Regarding HCM applications, Oracle Fusion HCM Cloud is being implemented as part of an ongoing transformation program, with legacy PeopleSoft HCM systems still in use. The EIB uses BMC Helix ITSM suite, BMC Helix Digital Workplace Advanced, and BMC Discovery for its hybrid BMC infrastructure. References for Criterion T2 (managed services) do not need to be specifically for Oracle/PeopleSoft; comparable technologies are acceptable. The minimum and maximum number of contract references specified in the Terms of Reference apply per each of the criteria T1 - T5. For Reference Criterion T4 on DevSecOps, references outside HCM, FSCM, or enterprise applications are acceptable if they qualify as corporate/enterprise applications. The EIB may contact reference clients to verify authenticity, but a specific timeline cannot be provided.

Tenderers can rely on the capacities of other entities, regardless of legal links, to meet Technical and Professional capacity criteria, provided this is clearly explained in the tender. In the example given in Q&A ID 62471, 750 person-days is a cumulative figure. For each criterion, tenderers must present at least 2 and no more than 10 contract references. Specific contracts can be used as project references for criteria T1-T5, and multiple specific contracts can be used under different criteria.

SAP SuccessFactors supports Performance management, Learning & Development, and Succession planning. PeopleSoft HCM supports Core HR, Recruitment, Absence management, Compensation, and Global Payroll.

The tenderer's proposal must cover the entire scope of requirements; partial offers will be rejected. Tenderers must provide explicit and specific responses to each technical subject in Annex B, without cross-referencing. Several specific contracts under the same framework agreement can be consolidated as a single reference if certain conditions are met. "Enterprise Applications" are software solutions for corporate environments, excluding desktop applications. "Similar tools" refers to technical tools, frameworks, and methodologies used for application maintenance and support.

The tender opening will be postponed to 10 June 2025 at 11:00 Luxembourg time due to a public holiday. The value of services already rendered and invoiced is calculated from the contract start date, even if before the last 3 years preceding the deadline. An executive summary is optional. Subcontractors not introduced at the Framework stage can be introduced later once, subject to conditions in Article 5.

Tenderers can rely on capacities of other entities for technical and professional capacity, regardless of legal links, if those resources are available. For the statement "750 in at least 3 of: Oracle Fusion Cloud HCM, PeopleSoft FMS," 750 person-days is a cumulative figure.

The EIB's transformation program is scheduled for completion by the end of 2028, after which PeopleSoft HCM will be decommissioned. Integration between PeopleSoft FSCM and HCM is managed using PeopleSoft Integration Broker, with other integrations using various technologies. The implementation of Oracle Fusion HCM is ongoing, with the first wave including Workforce Structure, Core HR, Self-service, Compensation, HR Helpdesk, Performance Management, and Talent Management. The scope includes support for the current application stack, including PeopleSoft Applications and SAP SuccessFactors.

The EIB uses 3 main BMC products: BMC Helix ITSM suite and BMC Helix Digital Workplace Advanced running on BMC SaaS in the Frankfurt datacenter, and BMC Discovery.

In summary, this tender is for IT consultancy services to support the EIB Group's corporate applications across financial, human capital, and transversal domains. It involves a framework agreement with multiple potential service providers, focusing on implementation, development, maintenance, and operations of key systems like PeopleSoft, Oracle HCM Cloud, and SAP SuccessFactors. The tender emphasizes electronic submission, adherence to strict deadlines, and comprehensive documentation, with a recent update to the Model Framework Agreement concerning Intellectual Property Rights. Tenderers need to demonstrate strong technical and professional capabilities, provide relevant project references, and address all requirements specified in the procurement documents to be considered for this opportunity.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types for this opportunity are entities capable of providing IT consultancy services. This includes, but is not limited to, companies, firms, and organizations with the technical and professional capacity to deliver IT consultancy services for corporate applications. The tender is open to any entity that can meet the selection criteria related to professional activity, economic and financial standing, and technical and professional ability as detailed in the procurement documents. The European Investment Bank (EIB) is seeking up to five successful tenderers to award Framework Agreements. Tenderers can rely on the capacities of other entities, regardless of the legal nature of their links, provided they demonstrate that they will have at their disposal the resources necessary for the performance of the contract.

Funding Type: The funding type is procurement, specifically the award of Framework Agreements for services. The European Investment Bank (EIB) intends to establish framework agreements with selected tenderers for the provision of IT consultancy services. These framework agreements will define the terms and conditions under which specific service contracts will be awarded during the duration of the agreement. The nature of the contract is services, with the selected tenderers providing IT consultancy on a call-off basis.

Consortium Requirement: Both single applicants and consortia are eligible to apply. The tender documents specify that tenderers can rely on the capacities of other entities, irrespective of the legal links between them. This implies that consortia are permitted, where multiple entities collaborate to meet the requirements of the tender. However, contracts delivered by different service providers to the same client cannot be consolidated in a single contract reference, indicating that each entity within a consortium must provide its own distinct contract references.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is not explicitly stated, but given that it is a European Investment Bank (EIB) tender, it is likely open to entities within the European Union and potentially the European Economic Area. The absence of specific geographic restrictions suggests that entities from other countries might also be eligible, provided they meet all other requirements of the tender.

Target Sector: The target sector is Information and Communication Technology (ICT), specifically IT consultancy services for corporate applications. The tender focuses on the provision of IT consultancy services for the EIB Group’s corporate applications, covering implementation, development, maintenance, and operations. The functional domains include Financial and Supply Chain Management (FSCM), Human Capital Management (HCM), and Transversal Solutions. Key technologies and applications mentioned include PeopleSoft FSCM, PeopleSoft HCM, SAP SuccessFactors, Oracle HCM Cloud, and BMC Helix ITSM suite. The tender also touches on areas like DevSecOps and enterprise applications.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity details explicitly mention Frankfurt, Germany, as the location of the datacenter where BMC SaaS is running. Luxembourg is mentioned as the location for the date and time of the public opening and the deadline for receipt of tenders.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on implementation, development, maintenance, and operations of existing and transitioning IT systems. The EIB is looking for IT consultancy services to support their corporate applications, which include ongoing projects and the transformation of systems like PeopleSoft HCM to Oracle Fusion HCM, scheduled for completion by the end of 2028. The services also cover the support of current application stacks, such as PeopleSoft Applications and SAP SuccessFactors.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of this procurement is 120,000,000 EUR. This amount represents the total estimated expenditure over the maximum contract duration of 72 months and is to be distributed among up to five successful tenderers.

Application Type: The application type is an open call for tenders, with electronic submission being the required method. The procedure is an open procedure, meaning any interested entity that meets the eligibility criteria can submit a tender.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive service contracts for IT consultancy, which translates to monetary compensation for services rendered under the framework agreements. The selected tenderers will be providing IT consultancy services and will be paid for the services they deliver.

Application Stages: The application process involves at least one stage, which is the submission of a tender in response to the call. The selection criteria include suitability to pursue the professional activity, economic and financial standing, and technical and professional ability. Tenderers must meet these criteria to be considered for the award of a framework agreement.

Success Rates: The success rate is difficult to determine precisely, but the tender documents state that up to five successful tenderers will be awarded Framework Agreements. This suggests that the success rate will depend on the number of tenders received and the quality of those tenders.

Co-funding Requirement: The tender documents do not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement. The focus is on the provision of IT consultancy services in exchange for monetary compensation, rather than a grant or subsidy that would require co-funding.

Summary: This opportunity is a call for tenders by the European Investment Bank (EIB) to award Framework Agreements to up to five entities for the provision of IT consultancy services. The EIB is seeking experienced IT consultants to support their corporate applications, covering areas such as Financial and Supply Chain Management (FSCM), Human Capital Management (HCM), and Transversal Solutions. The total estimated value of the procurement is 120 million EUR over a maximum contract duration of 72 months. The tender is open to any entity that can demonstrate the required technical and professional capacity, economic and financial standing, and suitability to pursue the professional activity. Tenderers must submit their proposals electronically, adhering to the specified deadlines and submission guidelines. The selected tenderers will provide IT consultancy services on a call-off basis, supporting the implementation, development, maintenance, and operations of the EIB Group’s corporate applications. This includes working with technologies such as PeopleSoft, SAP SuccessFactors, Oracle HCM Cloud, and BMC Helix ITSM suite. The EIB is currently undergoing a transformation program, including the migration from PeopleSoft HCM to Oracle Fusion HCM, which is scheduled for completion by the end of 2028. The selected consultants will play a crucial role in supporting this transformation and ensuring the smooth operation of the EIB’s IT systems.