Data collection, validation and dissemination for the enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) countries

The European Commission, specifically the Directorate-General for Eurostat (DG ESTAT), is issuing a call for tenders titled "Data collection, validation and dissemination for the enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) countries" under project ID EC-ESTAT/2025/OP/0066. This procurement opportunity seeks service contractors, including consulting firms and research organizations, to deliver data collection, validation, and dissemination services focusing on EU enlargement and ENP countries. The total budget for the project is set at €450,000, with a contract duration of 38 months, allowing for an initial service period of 14 months and the possibility of two renewals.

The submission deadline for tenders is February 20, 2026, at 16:00 UTC, with the public opening of bids occurring on February 24, 2026, at 10:00 UTC. Tenders must be submitted electronically through the Funding and Tenders Portal, which supports multiple languages and requires a Personal Identification Code (PIC) for participation. Eligible applicants are expected to be larger organizations given that the tender is not suitable for SMEs.

The evaluation of tenders will consider quality (70%) more heavily than price (30%), emphasizing the need for reliable methodologies. The successful contractor will receive payments for their services, aligning with the structure of a service contract rather than a grant. The focus of the work will involve established statistical collection and dissemination processes rather than pilot or research initiatives, indicating a mature operational stage.

The targeted beneficiary scope includes countries involved in the EU enlargement process and ENP, which encompass regions such as the Western Balkans and parts of Eastern Europe and North Africa. Specific country mentions include Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Ukraine, and Moldova among others.

Overall, this tender represents a significant opportunity for qualified organizations to engage in vital data services for the European Commission, aimed at enhancing statistical information relevant to policy-making and governance in the region. The emphasis on quality in the award criteria underlines the importance of expertise and reliability in handling extensive data collection across diverse contexts.

All relevant tender documents, including the invitation letter and financial offer form, have been made available since December 19, 2025, as version 1, without translations. The entire tender process underscores the EU's commitment to integrating electronic solutions for public procurement, ensuring both transparency and security in handling submissions.

The European Commission, DG ESTAT Eurostat is launching a call for tenders EC-ESTAT/2025/OP/0066 for data collection, validation, and dissemination for the enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) countries. This is an open procedure with electronic submission. Eurostat’s Unit B3, ‘Enlargement, neighbourhood and development cooperation’ is responsible for this tender. The goal is to collect, validate, and disseminate data from enlargement and ENP countries, addressing the needs of EU institutions, national governments, private organizations, and individual citizens. The estimated total value of the tender is 450,000 EUR. The TED publication date is 19/12/2025. The main classification (CPV) code is 72314000, which refers to data collection and collation services. The nature of the contract is for services, with a maximum contract duration of 38 months. The award method will be based on the best price-quality ratio. There is no framework agreement associated with this tender. The date and time of the public opening is 24/02/2026 at 10:00 Europe/Luxembourg time. The deadline for receipt of tenders is 20/02/2026 at 16:00 Europe/Luxembourg time. The contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after 12/02/2026 at 07:00 Europe/Luxembourg time. The TED reference is 245/2025 845594-2025.

The following documents are available for download: Invitation to tender OP 0066 Data Collection Invitation letter, Tender Specifications ESTAT 2025 OP 0066 Tender specifications (two versions of the same document are listed), Draft Contract ESTAT 2025 OP 0066 Draft contract, and Annex 6 Financial Tender ESTAT 2025 OP 0066 Financial offer form. All documents were published on 19/12/2025 and are version 1, with no translations available.

Submissions must be sent exclusively via electronic submission.

A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory to participate in this call for tenders, either as a sole candidate/tenderer or as part of a group (consortium). Subcontractors may also need a PIC.

The eSubmission system supports the latest versions of Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. The system is multilingual, supporting all 24 official EU languages, and uses UTF-8 character set encoding. It encrypts all uploaded documents using an asymmetric key. The supported file types depend on the type of submission and are specified within the system requirements linked to the procedure. The maximum file size for attachments is 50 MB, and the maximum number of documents that can be uploaded per tender is 200.

Until the submission deadline, draft submissions can be edited, viewed, and deleted. The content of the submission is not accessible after the deadline, as the system encrypts all attachments upon upload and does not allow decryption after the deadline.

If the system is slow or not working, users should clear their browser's cache and cookies and ensure they are using the latest versions of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.

This tender opportunity focuses on acquiring services for data collection, validation, and dissemination related to countries involved in the EU enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy. Eurostat, specifically Unit B3, aims to gather data that meets the needs of various stakeholders, including EU institutions, national governments, private organizations, and citizens. The selected contractor will be responsible for collecting data from these countries, ensuring its accuracy through validation processes, and then disseminating the data to the relevant parties. The contract is substantial, with a budget of 450,000 EUR and a duration of 38 months, indicating a significant and sustained effort in gathering and distributing statistical information. The award will be based on the best price-quality ratio, meaning that while cost is a factor, the quality and comprehensiveness of the proposed services will be heavily weighted in the decision-making process. The electronic submission requirement and the use of the eSubmission platform highlight the EU's commitment to digital processes and security in handling sensitive data.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated, but given the nature of the tender, it is likely open to organizations capable of providing data collection, validation, and dissemination services. This could include SMEs, large enterprises, research institutes, or other organizations with relevant expertise.

Funding Type: The funding type is procurement, specifically a service contract.

Consortium Requirement: The requirement for a consortium or single applicant is not explicitly stated, but the FAQ mentions that 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). This implies that both single applicants and consortia are eligible.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility focuses on "enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) countries." This suggests that the work will involve these countries, and thus, applicants from the EU, ENP countries, and potentially other countries might be eligible, depending on the specific requirements outlined in the tender documents.

Target Sector: The target sector is primarily data collection and collation services, specifically related to statistical data for enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) countries. This falls under the broader sector of data and information services, with a focus on statistical information.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity mentions "enlargement countries" and "European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) countries." No specific countries are named, but the focus is on these regions.

Project Stage: The project stage is operational, focusing on the collection, validation, and dissemination of existing data. It is not a research or development project but rather an implementation and service provision project.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the tender is 450,000 EUR.

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 rendered.

Application Stages: The number of application stages is not explicitly mentioned, but it is likely a multi-stage process involving submission of a tender, evaluation, and contract award.

Success Rates: The success rates are not mentioned.

Co-funding Requirement: There is no mention of a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

This is a call for tenders (EC-ESTAT/2025/OP/0066) issued by Eurostat's Unit B3, focusing on data collection, validation, and dissemination for enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) countries. The aim is to gather data relevant to the EU institutions, national governments, private organizations, and individual citizens. The procedure is an open procedure with electronic submission. The estimated total value of the tender is 450,000 EUR, and the maximum contract duration is 38 months. The award method is based on the best price-quality ratio. The TED publication date was 19/12/2025, and the deadline for receipt of tenders is 20/02/2026 at 16:00 Europe/Luxembourg time. The contracting authority will not reply to questions submitted after 12/02/2026 at 07:00 Europe/Luxembourg time. The tender documents include an invitation letter, tender specifications, a draft contract, and a financial offer form. Submissions must be sent electronically. A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for all tenderers, whether single applicants or members of a consortium. The eSubmission system supports various file types, with a maximum file size of 50 MB per attachment and a limit of 200 files per submission. The system supports all 24 official EU languages and uses UTF-8 character set encoding. The system encrypts all uploaded documents to ensure integrity and confidentiality.