Editorial, historical, creative stock images and videos licencing services

The European Commission, DG Communication (procedure EC-COMM/2026/MVP/0101-EXA), has published ex ante publicity for a planned negotiated procedure to establish a framework agreement for licensing editorial, historical and creative stock images and video footage (CPV 79961000). The procurement is a services contract with a maximum duration of 48 months and an estimated total value not specified in the notice. Expressions of interest must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal using an EU Login between 24 March 2026 and 13 April 2026, with an indicative launch of the negotiated procedure on 15 April 2026. Detailed eligibility, selection and award criteria will be provided in the forthcoming negotiated procedure documents.

Opportunity snapshot

What is funded

Supply and licensing of images and video footage:historical items, editorial/news footage (political, cultural, social, scientific), and creative stock photos and video for use in Commission video/photo productions, websites, social media, events and decoration.

Who can apply:Commercial suppliers of photographic and audiovisual content (agencies or rights holders providing editorial, historical and creative stock imagery/video), able to grant licensing and delivery under an EU framework agreement. ¹

1. 1Contracting authority: European Commission, DG COMM Directorate-General for Communication.
2. 2Procedure: Planned negotiated procedure for low or middle value contracts (ExA publication).
3. 3Contract form: Framework agreement without reopening of competition.
4. 4Maximum duration: 48 months.

Submissions:electronic expression of interest via EU Login on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal; full tender documents to be published at procedure launch. No estimated total value specified in the ExA notice.

Footnotes

1. 1Official notice and future tender documents on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Tender page.

Opportunity summary

What the European Commission is procuring

The Directorate-General for Communication (DG COMM), Audiovisual Service of the European Commission, intends to establish a framework agreement with a supplier to provide a combination of Editorial and Historical images and video footage and Creative Stock images and video footage. The material will be used for video and photo productions, web and social media illustration, decorative purposes, events and other Commission communication activities covering historical items, current news items of political, cultural, social and scientific nature from around the world, as well as creative stock imagery and footage.

Procedure type:Planned negotiated procedure for middle/low value contract; this publication is ex ante publicity of the contracting authority's intention to launch a future negotiated low or middle value procedure. EU Login account is required for registration and submission of expressions of interest ¹.

Nature of contract and classification:Service contract for photographic services. Main CPV code: 79961000 Photographic services. Framework agreement without reopening of competition is intended.

Maximum contract duration:48 months (maximum duration indicated).

Key administrative details and timeline

1. 1Procedure identifier: EC-COMM/2026/MVP/0101-EXA
2. 2Lead contracting authority: European Commission, DG COMM - Communication
3. 3Type: Planned call for tenders (ex ante notice), negotiated procedure (middle/low value)
4. 4Framework arrangement: yes, framework agreement without reopening of competition
5. 5Contract nature: services (licensing and supply of images and video footage)
6. 6CPV code: 79961000 - Photographic services

Detailed classification and applicant guidance

Eligible Applicant Types

The notice itself does not list restrictive eligibility by legal type; typical eligible applicants for this type of EU procurement (photographic services/licensing) include: private companies (SMEs and large enterprises) acting as image/video stock suppliers or licensing agencies, audiovisual production companies, content agencies, archives and historical footage libraries, nonprofit cultural institutions or foundations if commercially structured to supply licences, and consortia combining archives with distribution/licensing partners. Public bodies are generally not suppliers in this procurement context. Individuals may participate only if legally constituted to enter a contract. Specific eligibility and exclusion grounds, required legal and financial capacity, and proof documents will be detailed in the future negotiated tender documents.

Funding Type

This is a public procurement (tender) resulting in a framework service contract. The primary financial mechanism is a service contract procured by the Commission, not a grant, loan or equity instrument.

Consortium Requirement

The ex ante notice does not mandate a consortium; either a single supplier or a grouping/consortium may be allowed depending on the future negotiated procedure documents. For complex supply covering broad geographic and subject-matter coverage, the Commission may accept consortium bids or subcontracting arrangements. Final rules on permitted consortiums and joint bids will be in the contract notice and tender specifications.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility)

As a European Commission procurement, the call will follow EU procurement rules. Eligible economic operators from EU Member States and likely from the European Economic Area should be able to participate. The ex ante notice does not list other geographic restrictions; precise rules regarding bidders from third countries will be in the tender documents and are governed by applicable EU procurement directives and internal Commission rules.

Target Sector

Sector:audiovisual, communications and media services. The contract specifically targets suppliers of photographic and video licensing services, historical and editorial archive footage, and creative stock imagery and video suitable for public affairs, communications campaigns, web and social use, events and audiovisual productions.

Mentioned Countries

No specific countries are explicitly listed in the notice. The contracting authority is the European Commission (based in Brussels, Belgium) and the procedure references Europe/Brussels time for milestones. Geographic scope is implicitly EU-wide for procurement participation.

Project Stage and Expected Deliverables

Project stage:operational supply and delivery. This procurement targets established suppliers capable of delivering licensed images and footage on demand, including historical and editorial archives and creative stock content, for immediate use in communication outputs. Deliverables will include licensed digital images and video files, licensing documentation, metadata, usage rights clearance, and potentially additional services such as digital delivery, search interfaces or bespoke licensing arrangements.

Funding Amount

The ex ante notice does not publish an estimated total value. The procedure identifier includes MVP (middle/low value), indicating a procurement below thresholds for open tenders but above small purchase levels. Exact estimated contract value and budget will be provided in the future negotiated procedure notice.

Application Type and Submission Method

Expression of interest must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal using an EU Login account. Submissions must be sent exclusively to the address for submission indicated in the future tender documentation. The current notice is an invitation to express interest between 24/03/2026 and 13/04/2026; the negotiated procedure is expected to launch circa 15/04/2026.

Nature of Support to Beneficiaries

Winners will enter a paid service contract and will receive monetary payments under contract terms for services rendered (licence fees, service fees). This is direct commercial remuneration under procurement, not non-financial advisory support.

Application Stages and Selection Process

The exact number of stages will be specified in the negotiated procedure documents. Typical negotiated procedures include: 1) expression of interest/selection (shortlisting based on capability and compliance), 2) invitation to negotiate/request for final tender with technical and financial proposals, 3) evaluation and possible negotiation, and 4) award and contract signature. Therefore, expect at least 2 to 3 formal stages from EoI to contract award.

Success Rates

The notice does not disclose historic success rates. Success probability depends on the number of interested suppliers, the Commission's shortlist size and evaluation criteria. For negotiated middle/low value procedures, a limited number of suppliers are typically invited to negotiate, so success rates for invited participants are higher than for open competitions but exact figures are not provided.

Co-funding Requirement

No co-funding from applicants is required as this is a procurement for paid services. Bidders must propose pricing; costs are covered by the contracting authority under the contract terms if awarded.

Expected Tender Documentation and Templates

The ex ante notice does not include full tender documents. When published, the negotiated procedure documents will typically include: administrative specifications and instructions to economic operators; selection criteria and required supporting documents (legal status, financial statements, references, staff CVs); technical specifications describing required content types, metadata and delivery methods; evaluation and award criteria (technical quality, coverage, licensing terms, price); draft contract and general terms; and forms/templates for submission (declaration on honour, financial offer template, tenderer identification form, subcontracting form).

1. 1Anticipate to provide company legal details and contact information
2. 2Provide proof of legal and regulatory standing (company registration, VAT number, etc.)
3. 3Financial capacity evidence (turnover statements or bank references) as required
4. 4Technical capacity evidence: catalogue samples, metadata standards used, delivery workflows, archive descriptions, reference contracts with public bodies or major clients
5. 5Staff competence: key personnel CVs, account managers and rights clearance specialists
6. 6Proof of rights and clearances for historical/editorial footage and creative stock or processes for securing rights where third-party rights apply
7. 7Pricing schedule template for licensing fees, usage types (internal, public, broadcast, online, events), and rates for bespoke services
8. 8Declarations on subcontractors and third-party rights clearance
9. 9Compliance statements with EU data protection and intellectual property rules as applicable

Additional procurement-specific considerations

Bidders should prepare to demonstrate comprehensive coverage across subject matter (political, cultural, social, scientific), geographic sourcing and language metadata, fast digital delivery, clear licensing terms permitting Commission use across multiple channels, and robust rights clearance especially for historical and editorial content. Archival provenance, digitisation quality, resolution/format options, captioning/subtitling options for footage, and metadata completeness will likely be key evaluation aspects. Security, confidentiality, usage reporting and invoicing arrangements will also be covered in the tender specifications.

How to act now

Register or ensure you have an EU Login account and maintain an active profile on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Prepare corporate documentation, sample catalogues and evidence of rights clearance. Submit an expression of interest electronically before 13/04/2026 23:59 (Europe/Brussels) to be considered for the negotiated procedure expected to launch on 15/04/2026.

Footnotes

1. 1EU Login account is required for electronic submission and portal access. See the EU Login help page on the European Commission portal for account creation and support.

Opportunity Overview

This is a planned negotiated procedure for a middle or low value contract (identifier EC-COMM/2026/MVP/0101-EXA) announced by the European Commission, DG Communication (DG COMM). The Commission, particularly its Audiovisual Service, seeks a supplier to provide licensing services for historical and editorial images/videos, as well as creative stock images and video footage. These assets cover historical items, current news on political, cultural, social, and scientific topics worldwide, for use in video/photo productions, web/social media, decorations, and events.

Note that this is not an active call for tenders but ex ante publicity announcing the intent to launch a future negotiated procedure. It will establish a framework agreement without reopening of competition.

Procurement Details

Procedure Type:Planned negotiated procedure for middle/low value contract.

Nature of Contract:Services (CPV code 79961000 - Photographic services).

Contract Duration:Maximum 48 months.

Framework Agreement:Yes, without reopening of competition.

Estimated Total Value:Not specified in the available details.

Eligibility and Participation

Eligible suppliers are those capable of providing the required licensing services for the specified image and video categories. Specific eligibility criteria will be detailed in the forthcoming negotiated procedure documents. An EU Login account is required to express interest, submit questions, or participate electronically.

Key Milestones

1. 1Start date for expression of interest: 24 March 2026 (Europe/Brussels)
2. 2Deadline for expression of interest: 13 April 2026, 23:59 (Europe/Brussels)
3. 3Indicative launch of negotiated procedure: 15 April 2026 (Europe/Brussels)

Expressions of interest must be submitted electronically via the designated address on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Only submissions through this method will be accepted.

How to Participate

• Create an EU Login account if you do not have one (requires only email and password).EU Login Help
• Subscribe to the opportunity on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.
• Submit expression of interest electronically between 24 March and 13 April 2026.
• Monitor the portal for questions & answers (Q&A) and updates.

For reference on ExA procedures (prior information notices for negotiated low/middle value contracts), consult the official guidance.¹

Contracting Authority and Context

Lead authority:European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication (DG COMM). DG COMM handles the Commissions corporate image, media relations, public communication, pan-European campaigns, and audiovisual needs, aligning with this procurements focus on visual content for communication purposes.

Primary source:EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Additional context on DG COMM: DG Communication.

Additional Considerations for Applicants

• This is a service contract focused on licensing, not production or custom creation.
• Prepare comprehensive catalogues of historical/editorial and creative stock assets covering global topics.
• Ensure compliance with EU procurement rules for negotiated procedures, including potential minimum standards for participation.
• No public Q&A items available yet; log in to submit questions.
• Review general ex ante publicity guidance for planned negotiated contracts.¹

Footnotes

1. 1Information ex ante publicity for planned negotiated low and middle value contracts: Documents. ExA references indicate prior notices, not full tenders; full procedure launches post-expression phase.