Communication about the European Union

The EU grant opportunity is a call for tenders under the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPARD) program, focusing on communication services in North Macedonia. The total estimated value of the contract is €7.27 million, to be implemented over a period of 60 months. The main objective is to actively communicate about the European Union (EU), its values, and its actions, particularly regarding the EU accession process, with the aim of positively influencing public perception in North Macedonia.

Eligible applicants are not limited to specific types, such as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), indicated by the `smeSuitableIndicator` set to false. The tender allows participation by various organizations, including large enterprises and non-profits, that can demonstrate suitability through economic and financial standing, as well as technical and professional ability.

This procurement type is centered on service contracts specifically addressing advertising campaign services. There is no explicit consortium requirement, allowing for submissions by single entities or groups. The place of delivery is defined as North Macedonia, indicating a focus on local implementation.

The submission is categorized as an open call with a deadline set for June 10, 2025, at 12:00 CEST. The tender emphasizes monetary support via electronic payments in exchange for services rendered. The evaluation process includes two key criteria weighted at 80% for quality and 20% for price, suggesting that proposals will be assessed based on their effectiveness and cost-efficiency.

Co-funding is not required, and success rates for applicants are not specified. The project is positioned at the implementation stage, focusing on active communication strategies as part of its objectives.

Overall, this tender presents a significant opportunity for organizations capable of conducting comprehensive communication efforts about the EU's role and contributions to North Macedonia, emphasizing an informative and educational approach. Submissions must adhere to specific requirements, including the necessity of obtaining a Personal Identification Code (PIC) for participation.

This is a call for tenders, reference number EC-ENEST/SKP/2025/EA-RP/0044, with TED reference 89/2025 294747-2025. It is an open for submission electronic procedure. The overall objective is to communicate actively, consistently, and effectively about the European Union, its values, and its actions, including the benefits of assistance provided to North Macedonia, and the EU accession process. The approach should be informative and educative, positively influencing public beliefs and perceptions about the EU in North Macedonia. The procedure type is restricted. The estimated total value is 7,270,000 EUR. The TED publication date is 08/05/2025. The lead contracting authority is the European Union, represented by the European Commission on behalf of and for the account of North Macedonia. The main classification (CPV) is 79341400 - Advertising campaign services. The nature of the contract is for services, with a maximum duration of 60 months. The award method is the best price-quality ratio. It is not a framework agreement. The selection criteria include suitability to pursue the professional activity, economic and financial standing, and technical and professional ability, all detailed in the procurement documents. The place of delivery or performance is North Macedonia (20000952). The program is the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (42921320). The deadline for receipt of requests to participate is 10/06/2025 at 12:00 Europe/Skopje.

Two documents are available: an additional information contract notice (ENa5f) and Question and Answer no. 1, both invitations to submit a request to participate. The first was published on 08/05/2025 (Version 1, no translations available), and the second on 28/05/2025 (Version 1, no translations available).

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

Six Q&A items are listed:

65560: Due to the upcoming Eid al-Adha holiday (5–9 June 2025), widely observed in Turkey, refer to published Q&A 1. Published on 28/05/2025 at 17:19.

65594: Due to the upcoming Eid al-Adha holiday (5–9 June 2025), widely observed in Turkey, refer to published Q&A 1. Published on 28/05/2025 at 17:12.

65595: A question regarding the EUR 2,100,000 minimum reference value for communication-related services; refer to published Q&A 1. Published on 28/05/2025 at 17:11.

65596: Regarding the technical capacity criteria and the specification "The completed services are in the doma...", refer to published Q&A 1. Published on 28/05/2025 at 17:09.

65597: Regarding the technical capacity criterion and communicating about the Euro..., refer to published Q&A 1. Published on 28/05/2025 at 17:08.

65556: Clarification request on Technical Criterion 16.3, Third Bullet Point, which states “The completed services are in th...”, refer to published Q&A 1. Published on 28/05/2025 at 17:06.

Several FAQs related to the eSubmission system are provided:

How to proceed if the system is slow: Use the latest versions of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Clear the cache and cookies. Published on 13/02/2025.

Which browsers does eSubmission support: Use the latest versions of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Refer to the System Requirements link. Published on 13/02/2025.

Is it possible to view submission details after the deadline: No, the content is encrypted upon upload and cannot be decrypted after the deadline. Published on 13/02/2025.

Where to find submissions in the Funding & Tenders portal: In ‘My Submission(s)’ for open calls, requests to participate, etc. Published on 17/10/2024.

Attachment size: Files must be less than 50 MB. Published on 17/10/2024.

How to name attachments: Follow the System Requirements. Published on 03/10/2024.

Can I submit a video: Check the System Requirements. Published on 03/10/2024.

I received an invitation but cannot view procurement documents: Select an organisation in the F&T Portal under “My Invitations”. Published on 03/10/2024.

Do I need to validate my PIC: A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory. Published on 03/10/2024.

I have an issue uploading a file: Ensure it follows the technical requirements of the system. Published on 03/10/2024.

How many attachments can I upload: The system allows a maximum of 200 files per tender. Published on 03/10/2024.

Why do tenderers need a PIC: It is mandatory to register for a PIC to submit a tender or request to participate. Published on 23/04/2024.

How do I register and get a PIC: Check if the organisation is already registered using the Search PIC tool. Published on 23/04/2024.

What is the validity period of a PIC: A PIC is unique and its validity is not limited in time. Published on 22/04/2024.

How many languages does the system support: The system supports all 24 official EU languages. Published on 01/04/2024.

Which is the character set encoding in the system: The character set encoding is UTF-8. Published on 22/02/2024.

Does the system use encryption: Yes, the system encrypts all uploaded documents using an asymmetric key. Published on 22/02/2024.

Which file types does the system support: The supported file types depend on the type of submission and are specified within the system requirements. Published on 21/02/2024.

Can I view and edit my draft submission: Yes, until the submission deadline. Published on 24/03/2023.

Legal form UNKNOWN is displayed: It is just a display issue and not blocking. Published on 03/08/2021.

I received an automatic email after submitting: This is an auto-generated notification. Published on 03/08/2021.

In summary, this is a call for tenders by the European Commission to find a contractor to communicate about the European Union and its values to the public in North Macedonia, with the aim of positively influencing their perception of the EU and the accession process. The tender is worth 7,270,000 EUR and the contract will last for 60 months. The application process is electronic, and the deadline to apply is June 10, 2025. Applicants must meet specific criteria related to their professional activity, financial standing, and technical abilities. The provided FAQs address common technical questions about using the eSubmission system, including browser compatibility, file size limits, and PIC requirements.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, the selection criteria mention "Suitability to pursue the professional activity," "Economic and financial standing," and "Technical and professional ability," suggesting that the opportunity is open to organizations or entities capable of demonstrating these qualities. This could include companies, firms, or other organizations. The requirement for a PIC (Personal Identification Code) also suggests that registered organizations are the intended applicants.

Funding Type: The funding type is procurement, specifically a service contract. The call is for "Advertising campaign services."

Consortium Requirement: The text mentions that a PIC is mandatory to participate in a call for tenders as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium). Therefore, both single applicants and consortia are eligible.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The place of delivery or performance is North Macedonia. The lead contracting authority is the European Union, represented by the European Commission on behalf of and for the account of North Macedonia. This suggests that the opportunity is primarily targeted at entities that can deliver services in North Macedonia.

Target Sector: The target sector is marketing and communication, specifically advertising campaign services. The call focuses on communicating about the European Union, its values, and its actions in North Macedonia.

Mentioned Countries: North Macedonia, Turkey.

Project Stage: The project stage is not explicitly mentioned, but given the nature of the call for tenders for advertising campaign services, it is likely at the implementation or execution stage. The selected entity will be responsible for developing and executing communication campaigns.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the contract is 7,270,000 EUR.

Application Type: The application type is an open call for tenders with a restricted procedure. Submissions must be sent electronically.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for services rendered, specifically advertising campaign services.

Application Stages: The procedure type is "Restricted procedure," suggesting that there are multiple stages. The first stage is a request to participate, with a deadline of 10/06/2025. The exact number of stages is not specified in the provided text, but a restricted procedure typically involves a pre-selection phase followed by a full proposal submission for those pre-selected.

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

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

Summary:

This is a call for tenders issued by the European Union, represented by the European Commission, on behalf of North Macedonia. The purpose of the tender is to procure advertising campaign services to communicate actively, consistently, and effectively about the European Union, its values, and its actions (including the benefits of the assistance provided to North Macedonia) and the EU accession process. The target audience is the public in North Macedonia, and the communication approach should be informative and educative, with the intention to positively influence their beliefs and perceptions about the European Union.

The procedure is a restricted procedure, meaning that there will be a pre-selection phase. The estimated total value of the contract is 7,270,000 EUR, and the maximum contract duration is 60 months. The award method is based on the best price-quality ratio. Submissions must be sent electronically, and the deadline for receipt of requests to participate is 10/06/2025.

To be eligible, applicants must demonstrate their suitability to pursue the professional activity, their economic and financial standing, and their technical and professional ability. A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for participation, whether as a sole candidate or as part of a consortium. The place of delivery or performance is North Macedonia. The system supports 24 official EU languages and uses encryption to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of information. The maximum size for attachments is 50 MB, and the maximum number of documents that can be uploaded per tender is 200.