EIC Innnovation Procurement Programme - Strategic access to innovation procurement

EISMEA (European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency) has published an open call for tenders (Procedure EISMEA/2026/OP/0012) to procure services to operate and expand the EIC Innovation Procurement Programme with an estimated budget of €4,300,000 and a maximum duration of 36 months. The contract requires delivery of training academies, matchmaking events, management of an Innovation Procurement Assistance Office, community and CRM/platform management, and communication and branding activities across multiple sectors and geographies. Tenders must be submitted electronically via eSubmission on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal by 8 June 2026 at 10:00 CET and must include required annexes demonstrating economic, financial, technical and professional capacity as specified in the tender dossier. Award will be based on the best price-quality ratio and the contractor must comply with data protection, security and EU visual identity rules while providing services free of charge to EIC Awardees.

What the contract buys

Scope in one line

A 36-month service contract to operate and expand the EIC Innovation Procurement Programme:run buyer-supplier matchmaking and events, deliver training Academies, update and expand the EIC Innovation Procurement Toolkit, provide tailored assistance to public buyers and EIC awardees (including an Innovation Procurement Assistance Office), manage the procurement community and communication/branding.

Total budget (estimated):€4,300,000 (estimated total contract value) ¹

1. 1Who may tender: service providers, consultancies or consortia (including subcontractors) able to deliver procurement assistance, training, events, community management and related IT/communication services across the EU and internationally
2. 2Contract type and duration: services contract; maximum duration 36 months
3. 3Award method: best price-quality ratio; procedure: open electronic tendering via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal

Key administrative facts

Lead contracting authority:European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). Main CPV: 79000000 (business services, consulting).

Deadlines and milestones:Deadline for receipt of tenders (electronic, Brussels time): 08/06/2026 10:00; public opening 08/06/2026 15:00 Europe/Brussels. Contract notice / TED publication: 23/04/2026. (A 2-factor EU Login requirement applies.) ¹

Eligibility and minimum expectations

Tenders can be single organisations or joint tenders. Selection requires demonstrable legal, economic and technical capacity (experience in procurement assistance, training/academies, events, community/platform management, multilingual reporting). Tenderers must upload the required annexes, declarations and proof of capacity via eSubmission; PIC and EU Login are mandatory.

What the authority emphasises

Priority will be given to providers who can combine operational delivery (events, tailored assistance, CRM/IT integration, community moderation) with strategic alignment to EIC BAS services and internationalisation. The contractor must follow Commission security, data protection and procurement rules and sign standard templates (power of attorney, declarations, annexes).

Full tender documents, Annexes and submission instructions are published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal; use the procedure identifier EISMEA/2026/OP/0012 for reference Call page. ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Official tender dossier, invitation to tender and annexes (tender ref EISMEA/2026/OP/0012) are available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal: the call page contains the Invitation to tender, Tender specifications, Annexes (technical capacity templates, declaration on honour, submission rules) and the TED notice.

Call type:Open procedure / Call for tenders published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. TED reference 79/2026 280433-2026. Lead contracting authority: European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA).

What is being procured

Purpose:to maintain, expand and operate a comprehensive EIC Innovation Procurement Programme that acts as a Centre of Excellence for innovation procurement, designed to open procurement markets to top‑notch EIC Awardees (mainly start‑ups, scale‑ups and SMEs) and to facilitate buyer engagement. Core services are organised across Work Packages covering Skills (training/academies and toolkit), Contacts (matchmaking, community management), Contracts (an Innovation Procurement Assistance Office providing hands‑on guidance to EIC Awardees to participate in public and private procurement in Europe and internationally), and horizontal activities on Communication/Branding, CRM/Key Account Management and project management.

Estimated total contract value:€4 300 000 (estimated total value). Maximum contract duration: 36 months. Nature of contract: services. Award method: best price-quality ratio.

Deadlines and key procedure dates

1. 1TED publication date: 23/04/2026
2. 2Deadline for receipt of tenders: 08/06/2026 10:00 Europe/Brussels (electronic eSubmission via EU Login required)
3. 3Date and time of public opening (virtual): 08/06/2026 15:00 Europe/Brussels
4. 4Cut-off for questions: Contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after 28/05/2026 23:59 Europe/Brussels

Eligible applicant types

The tender is open to economic operators including:private sector companies (large enterprises and SMEs), consultancies, events and communications agencies, training providers, IT/platform providers, research organisations and NGOs, consortia (joint tenders). The procurement allows sole tenderers and joint tenders (groups of economic operators). Subcontracting and reliance on the capacities of third parties are explicitly foreseen; identified subcontractors must be declared in tender submission. Entities on whose capacities a tenderer relies must provide commitment letters.

Funding type and nature of support

This is a public procurement (service contract). The contracting authority will pay a contractor to deliver services. Beneficiaries of the delivered services (EIC Awardees) receive non‑monetary support (training, matchmaking, guidance, assistance, access to buyers, toolkit and communication support). The contractor will be remunerated by EISMEA; no grants to third parties are distributed under this contract.

Consortium requirement

Procedure accepts single (sole) tenderers and joint tenders (consortia). If a group without separate legal personality bids, one member must be designated as group leader and will be the single contact point; group members are jointly and severally liable. Subcontractors may be used and must be listed (Annex 4 model). Entities whose capacities are relied upon must provide commitment letters (Annex 5.2). Power of attorney and letter of submission templates are provided in the tender dossier.

Beneficiary scope (geographic eligibility)

Primary geographic focus:EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries. Activities may include international outreach and procurement opportunities beyond the EU where relevant and aligned with EIC internationalisation strategy. Remote service delivery locations for contractor personnel must be located in an EU Member State except for authorised missions.

Target sectors and thematic coverage

The programme targets innovation procurement across multiple sectors relevant to EIC Awardees and public challenges: health, defence & security, green/sustainability, climate, energy, transport and mobility, ICT, advanced manufacturing, buildings and construction, and other thematic areas. It also includes private sector procurement and international procurement (including tenders by international organisations).

Project stage and expected maturity of supported innovators

Support covers a range of TRLs:R&D service procurements (including PCPs) may target lower TRL innovators; innovation public procurements and private sector procurements generally target higher TRL solutions ready for commercialisation. Services include skills, matchmaking, market scanning, tailored assistance and consortium formation to help move technologies through validation, demonstration and commercialisation.

Funding amount and contract model

Estimated total value €4 300 000 for the whole contract (36 months). The contract is a multi‑year service contract (framework-type); the contractor receives payments under the contract for service delivery. The award is based on best price-quality ratio. The tender dossier includes Annex 1 (list of documents), Annex 6 financial offer model and Appendix 1 (schedule of prices).

Application and submission method

Application method:open call for tenders with electronic submission only via eSubmission on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. EU Login account is required. Required eSubmission attachments and formats are specified in the tender dossier; attachments must respect size and naming conventions. Submissions are encrypted by the system and cannot be accessed after the deadline. Drafts may be edited until deadline; withdrawal and replacement of a tender before the deadline is possible.

Nature of support to beneficiaries (EIC Awardees)

Beneficiaries (EIC Awardees) receive non‑financial business support:training (Academies), updated toolkit modules and new topical modules, matchmaking/pitching events with buyers, tailored assistance to prepare and submit bids to public/private/international procurements (including legal/IPR guidance), help forming consortia/subcontracting arrangements, access to CRM and Key Account Management and promotion via EIC communication channels. Assistance is delivered free to selected EIC Awardees under the programme; the contractor is paid by EISMEA.

Application stages and evaluation

Tender evaluation stages (procurement):standard procurement stages. Evaluation covers exclusion, selection (capacity) and award criteria. The award uses best price-quality ratio with scoring of quality criteria. Successful tenderer proceeds to contract signature and execution. For EIC Awardees applying to specific assistance calls under the contractor’s services, selection processes (calls for expression of interest) will follow approval by the Contracting Authority; selection lists the contractor proposes, Contracting Authority retains final approval.

1. 1Tender submission and public opening (virtual) – one step in procurement.
2. 2Evaluation of tenders against exclusion, selection and award criteria (quality and price).
3. 3Notification to tenderers and contract award to successful tenderer.
4. 4Contract signature and mobilisation (commencement of services).

Success rates

Success rates:the tender dossier does not provide specific success rate statistics. As an EU procurement open procedure the number of bidders and success rates vary by procedure; generally success rate for a single‑lot EU service tender depends on the number of compliant tenders received. No historical acceptance/readmission rates are published in the call documentation.

Co‑funding and financial requirements

Co‑funding:Not applicable in the sense of grants. This is a service procurement where the contractor receives payments for delivering services. The contractor must absorb all costs associated with service delivery within the contract price (e.g. trainer fees, venue, catering, subcontractors). No additional reimbursement outside the contract price will be paid. Where subcontractors or third parties participate, their costs must be included in the tender price. The tender dossier defines financial and turnover selection criteria (Annex 2.1 and financial capacity rules) and requires evidence of financial and technical capacity; some financial statements may be requested on demand by EU Validation services.

Selection and minimum eligibility requirements (summary from tender dossier)

Key minimum selection/technical capacity criteria are required and described in Annex 2.2 (Technical capacity). The tenderer (or the combined group capacities) must demonstrate: experience in procurement assistance (Criterion T1), experience preparing procurement guidance or training (T2), experience organising training/academies (T3), events organisation experience (T4, two projects >= €200K each), network/community management on IT platforms (T5), capacity to produce and draft reports in English (T6).

Required professional profiles (team) and minimal CV evidence

Mandatory professional capacities for proposed team (selection P‑criteria):Project manager with higher education and minimum 5 years of project management in comparable sized projects (>= €2M) covering multiple countries and team management experience; language quality check: at least 8 team members with native or C2 English; data collection team with minimum 2 people (C1 English + 5 years experience); at least 5 legal/procurement experts (P4) with degrees and 5+ years experience (or 10 years equivalent); trainers in procurement (P6) at least 3 persons with relevant degrees and 5+ years; IT manager for platform development (P7); community managers (P8) at least 2; document drafters for procurement toolkits (P9) at least 2; communications/branding experts (P10) at least 2. CVs, role descriptions and project references must be provided as evidence (Annex 2.2).

Mandatory tender documentation and templates (submission guidance)

Tenderers must submit the documents listed in Annex 1 (List of documents). Key required documents to be uploaded in eSubmission: Declaration on Honour on exclusion and selection criteria (Annex 2), Annex 2.1 Statement on turnover (if relied upon for financial selection), Annex 2.2 Technical capacity (project references, CVs), Power of Attorney (Annex 3) for joint tenders, List of identified subcontractors (Annex 4), Letter of Submission (Annex 5), Commitment letters by subcontractors or entities on whose capacities the tenderer relies (Annex 5.1 / 5.2), Technical offer (including Technical Tender Form, Annex 7), Financial offer (Annex 6 model), Submission report (signed) and any other requested supporting evidence. Failure to upload mandatory documents will lead to rejection. Identification and participant PIC is required in the Participant Register.

• Annex 2: Declaration on honour (exclusion & selection)
• Annex 2.1: Statement on turnover (where required)
• Annex 2.2: Technical capacity and CVs
• Annex 3: Power of attorney (joint tenders)
• Annex 4: List of identified subcontractors
• Annex 5 / 5.1 / 5.2: Letter of submission and commitment letters
• Annex 6: Financial offer model
• Annex 7: Technical tender form (summary)
• Appendix 2 & 3: Security requirements and Security baseline where remote access is required
• Annex 9: Data protection notice template and instructions

Security, data protection and ethics

Security requirements:contractors and service providers must comply with the Commission's security policies. Where contractor personnel need access to Commission premises or IT (remote access), security screening and background checks apply; access badges and EU security procedures (including security advice from national authorities for personnel) may be required. Appendix 2 and Appendix 3 set out security rules and a security baseline for external connections. Data protection: processing of personal data follows Regulation (EU) 2018/1725; a Data Protection Notice template is provided (Annex 9). Contractors must sign confidentiality / ethics reminders for personnel working on Commission tasks. EU classified information is excluded unless explicitly provided and then specific rules apply.

Performance, deliverables and KPIs (summary)

Deliverables:defined per Work Package and in the tender specifications. Examples: updated and new toolkit modules; six Innovation Procurement Academies (min. 4 sessions each, min. 40 participants each); at least 23 matchmaking events (minimum 17 with on-site/hybrid element); establishment and operation of the EIC Innovation Procurement Assistance Office offering tailored assistance to EIC Awardees and strategic stakeholders; community management and content creation; CRM enrichment and annual reporting; communication and branding materials; monitoring & impact surveys at event and 6 months post-event; documented KPIs and metrics including net promoter score, number of assisted innovators, number of tenders submitted by assisted innovators, tenders won, number of buyers engaged, community growth, training participants and their impact.

Indicative measurable KPIs (examples mentioned in the tender):Number of Academies (6); minimum participants per Academy (40); matchmakings (>=23, at least 17 on-site/hybrid); assistance cases (per type); toolkit modules updated + 7 new international modules; CRM entries and enrichment; community growth (LinkedIn and platform members); follow-up impact surveys at 6 months to capture contracts/pilots launched.

Evaluation / award criteria (high level)

Award is based on best price-quality ratio. Quality criteria are weighted and include:1) Quality of proposed methodology (45 points) split across WPs; 2) Customisation to EIC goals and needs, synergies and communication/impact plan (25 points); 3) Organisation of work, resources and project management (20 points); 4) Quality control and risk management (10 points). The Financial offer is evaluated together with quality to determine best price-quality ratio. Annex 7 Technical Tender Form provides a structured summary for evaluators.

Templates and application form structure

The procurement dossier provides model templates and forms to be used and uploaded to eSubmission. These include: Annex 2 Declaration on Honour (exclusion/selection), Annex 2.1 Statement on turnover, Annex 2.2 Technical capacity (project references and CV templates), Annex 3 Power of Attorney (group leader mandate), Annex 4 List of identified subcontractors, Annex 5 Letter of Submission (identification, contacts, group/subcontractor details), Annex 5.1/5.2 Commitment letters by subcontractors and entities on whose capacity the tenderer relies, Annex 6 Financial offer model, Annex 7 Technical Tender Form (structured summary to help evaluators), Appendix 2 Security requirements, Appendix 3 Security Baseline, Annex 9 Data Protection Notice template, Submission Report (signed) and Submission via eSubmission. Names of files and upload locations (eSubmission sections) are specified in Annex 1.

1. 1Identification and Administrative: Declaration on Honour (Annex 2); Authorisation to sign; Power of Attorney for group leader.
2. 2Financial capacity documents: Annex 2.1 (if applicable) and accounting documents on request.
3. 3Technical capacity: Annex 2.2 project references, CVs, and Technical Offer (with Technical Tender Form Annex 7).
4. 4Tender data: Technical offer (under Tender Data), Financial offer (under Financial offer section), Submission report.

Practical eSubmission rules and system requirements

Submission is electronic only through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal eSubmission. EU Login is required. From June 2026 two-factor authentication may be mandatory. File size limits and technical requirements are available on the Portal System Requirements pages. Maximum number of uploaded files per submission is 200; individual file size limits and allowed formats apply. Attachments must be named following system rules. The submission receipt timestamp provides proof of on‑time delivery. Drafts can be modified until the deadline.

Contract management and payment

Contract model:service contract with special and general conditions (contract model provided in tender dossier). Payments are governed by the contract (interim payments and payment of balance; invoicing via Portal/electronic system), with 60 days payment period by default after approval. No pre‑financing required (as per special conditions). Performance, reporting, security and audit clauses apply; checks, audits and EDES registration rules apply for exclusion detection. Contractors must maintain records for 5 years after payment of balance as per audit provisions.

Cooperation, synergies and alignment

Contractor must demonstrate coordination with other EIC BAS programmes (Corporate Partnership Programme, Trade Fairs, Global Business Expansion, Coaching, KAMs) and relevant EU, national and regional initiatives (Competence Centres on Innovation Procurement, Networks of buying authorities, etc.). The contract emphasises synergies, non‑duplication of previous assistance, and data sharing with EIC CRM/KAM functions. Contractor must participate in EIC reporting and KAM annual needs reporting and cooperate on CRM data handling (data privacy rules apply).

Risks and compliance

Key risks identified in the tender dossier include:overlap/duplication with previous assisted buyers (to be avoided), insufficient buyer commitment (selection criteria require demonstration of commitment), inability to attract procurement practitioners as trainers, cybersecurity/data protection compliance with Commission rules, and resourcing variability. Tenderers must present risk mitigation, contingency planning, and quality control measures as part of the technical offer (these are scored).

Summary: What is this opportunity about and what should applicants know?

This is a competitive EU service procurement to select a contractor to run and scale the EIC Innovation Procurement Programme for up to 36 months with an estimated total value of €4.3 million. The contractor will maintain and expand a centre of excellence that: updates and expands practical procurement guidance (the EIC toolkit), organizes hands‑on Innovation Procurement Academies, operates matchmaking and buyer engagement events (on‑site, hybrid and online), manages the EIC Innovation Procurement Community and platforms, establishes and runs an Innovation Procurement Assistance Office to provide tailored guidance to EIC Awardees (start‑ups, scale‑ups and SMEs) and to strategic public/private stakeholders, and implements communication, branding and CRM/KAM activities. The programme has a strong focus on increasing the capacity of buyers to procure innovative solutions, opening procurement markets for SMEs and start‑ups, and helping EIC Awardees to identify and win procurement opportunities across the EU and internationally.

1. 1Eligible applicants: single organisations or consortia (companies, consultancies, training providers, events agencies, IT/platform providers, research institutions, NGOs).
2. 2Application: submit tender electronically via EU Funding & Tenders Portal eSubmission before 08/06/2026 10:00 (Brussels time).
3. 3Required evidence: declarations on exclusion/selection, financial/technical capacity evidence, project references, CVs, technical offer, financial offer, forms (Annexes 1–9).
4. 4Key deliverables: 6 Academies, 23 matchmakings (>=17 on-site/hybrid), updated toolkit + 7 new international modules, establishment of an Innovation Procurement Assistance Office, community management, CRM updates, communication/branding activities and regular monitoring/reporting with impact surveys.
5. 5Security/Data: contractors and personnel must comply with Commission security baseline and data protection rules. Screening may be required for personnel with access to Commission premises or IT.
6. 6Contract and payments: paid service contract; award on best price-quality ratio. All service costs must be inside the contract price; no additional reimbursements anticipated.

How to prepare a compliant tender (practical checklist)

Key actions for tenderers:register organisation and obtain PIC; create EU Login and eSubmission readiness; prepare and upload mandatory forms (Annex 2 Declaration on Honour, Annex 5 Letter of Submission, Annex 3 power of attorney for joint tenders, Annex 4 subcontractors list as needed); compile Annex 2.2 technical capacity references and CVs matching P‑criteria; complete Technical Offer aligned to WP1–WP4 including methodology, workplan, staffing and KPIs; complete Technical Tender Form (Annex 7) as an executive summary; prepare Financial Offer on Annex 6 model; ensure compliance with security baseline if remote access is needed; gather commitment letters from subcontractors and entities relied upon; sign submission report and upload before deadline.

Funding Opportunity Overview

This is a call for tenders issued by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) to procure comprehensive services for the EIC Innovation Procurement Programme. The programme aims to facilitate access to procurement markets in Europe and globally for EIC-backed innovators, including start-ups and SMEs, while supporting public and private buyers in implementing innovation procurement strategies.

Opportunity Details

Procedure Reference:EISMEA/2026/OP/0012

Opportunity Type:Call for Tenders - Open Procedure

Contracting Authority:European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA)

Publication Date:23 April 2026

Estimated Total Budget:€4,300,000

Contract Duration:36 months from entry into force

Award Method:Best price-quality ratio

Key Deadlines

Scope of Services

The contractor will deliver a comprehensive, holistic programme structured around five work packages designed to support EIC Awardees in accessing procurement markets and to enhance the capacity of public and private buyers to implement innovation procurement strategies.

Work Package 1: Skills Enhancement on Innovation Procurement

The contractor must organize six EIC Innovation Procurement Academies, each with a minimum duration of four sessions (minimum three hours per session). These academies will cover procurement of R&D services, innovation public procurement, private sector innovation procurement, and international-level innovation procurement. Trainers must be practitioners from public and private buyers. Minimum 40 stakeholders must attend each academy. The contractor must also update existing modules of the EIC Innovation Procurement Toolkit and draft new modules covering defence procurement, security procurement, health procurement, green and sustainability procurement, regional policy procurement, regulatory sandboxes, and international procurement in seven focus countries to be designated by the contracting authority. Additionally, the contractor will provide assistance to strategic stakeholders in Europe (public buyers and innovation agencies) to implement innovation procurement, with assistance ranging from two to five days per stakeholder.

Work Package 2: Contacts - Reinforcing EIC Awardees with Buyers

The contractor must organize at least 23 matchmaking events with public or private sector buyers, with a minimum of 17 events held on-site or in hybrid format. These events will facilitate interactions between EIC Awardees and committed buyers. The contractor will also manage and expand the EIC Innovation Procurement Community, primarily through LinkedIn and the EIC Community Platform, including content curation, member engagement, and knowledge management. The contractor must facilitate demand-side participation in Advanced Innovation Challenges to enhance validation and uptake of breakthrough solutions.

Work Package 3: Contracts - EIC Innovation Procurement Assistance Office

The contractor will establish and operate the EIC Innovation Procurement Assistance Office to provide tailored guidance to EIC Awardees seeking to participate as suppliers in procurement tenders. Services include assistance for: procurement of R&D services including Pre-Commercial Procurements (PCPs); innovation public procurements excluding R&D services; private sector innovation procurement; and innovation procurement at global level beyond Europe. Each EIC Awardee receiving assistance must receive a minimum of five working days of support. The contractor will prepare and manage calls for expressions of interest, conduct market scanning, provide legal and intellectual property rights support, and facilitate consortium formation among innovators.

Work Package 4: Communication and Branding

The contractor must implement comprehensive marketing and communication campaigns to promote the EIC Innovation Procurement Programme concept and activities through social media, websites, forums, press releases, and other channels. All communications must use the official programme name exclusively and comply with EISMEA and European Commission visual identity guidelines. The contractor must coordinate synergies with other EIC Business Acceleration Services programmes and broader EU initiatives on innovation procurement to maximize overall impact and avoid duplication.

Eligibility and Submission Requirements

Tenders must be submitted exclusively via the electronic submission system (eSubmission) available on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal. Tenderers must register in the Participant Register and obtain a Participant Identification Code (PIC). Tenders can be submitted by sole tenderers, joint tenders (groups of economic operators), or with identified subcontractors. All tenderers must comply with exclusion criteria and meet selection criteria related to economic and financial capacity as well as technical and professional capacity.

Selection Criteria - Technical Capacity

Tenderers must demonstrate experience in the following areas:procurement assistance provision (minimum €500,000 project value in last five years); guidance on procurement matters and training services (minimum €500,000 project value); organizing training courses and academies (minimum €300,000 project value); events organization (minimum two projects of €200,000 each); managing networks and communities through IT platforms (minimum €300,000 project value); and capacity to work and draft reports in English (minimum three projects with English reports).

Selection Criteria - Professional Capacity

The team must include:a project manager with higher education degree and minimum five years project management experience in projects of at least €2,000,000 covering at least five countries with team management of at least ten people, plus certified project management skills; at least eight team members with native-level or equivalent English knowledge (C2 level); at least two team members with five years data collection experience and C1 English level; at least five team members with law or procurement degree and five years professional experience (or ten years equivalent without relevant degree); at least two team members with communication or media degree and five years events management experience; at least three team members with law or procurement degree and five years training experience (or ten years equivalent); at least one team member with IT degree and five years experience in website and platform design; at least two team members with communication degree and five years cross-border community management experience; at least two team members with higher education and five years experience drafting procurement-related documents; and at least two team members with communication or media degree and five years communication and branding experience (or ten years equivalent).

Required Documentation

Tenderers must submit the following documents with their tender:Declaration on Honour on exclusion and selection criteria; evidence of economic and financial capacity including turnover statements; evidence of technical and professional capacity with project references and CVs; technical offer describing methodology for all work packages; financial offer; technical tender form; letter of submission; and submission report. For joint tenders, a power of attorney and commitment letters from identified subcontractors are required. All documents must be uploaded to eSubmission in the specified format and naming conventions.

Payment Terms

The contract provides for interim payments and payment of balance. The contractor may claim a first interim payment equal to 40 percent of the contract value upon submission of invoice and relevant deliverables. A second interim payment of 40 percent is available upon submission of further deliverables. The final balance payment of 20 percent is due upon completion of all contract obligations. The contracting authority must approve submitted documents and pay within 60 days from receipt of invoice. All costs including event organization, catering, trainer remuneration, and platform management must be included in the all-inclusive total price with no additional reimbursement.

Key Performance Indicators and Deliverables

The contractor must deliver measurable results including:six EIC Innovation Procurement Academies with minimum 40 participants each; updated and new modules of the EIC Innovation Procurement Toolkit; assistance to strategic stakeholders in implementing innovation procurement; at least 23 matchmaking events with committed buyers; expansion and active management of the EIC Innovation Procurement Community; provision of tailored assistance to EIC Awardees for participation in procurement tenders across multiple categories (R&D procurement, innovation procurement, private sector procurement, and global procurement); comprehensive communication and branding campaigns; and regular surveys measuring impact including contracts signed, pilots implemented, and participant satisfaction scores.

Important Conditions and Requirements

The contractor must provide services free of charge to EIC Awardees and strategic stakeholders. All services must be delivered primarily in English, with specific assistance to public buyers potentially in local languages. The contractor must use the customer relationship management system provided by the contracting authority to track interactions and data. The contractor must ensure flexibility to adapt to changing EIC portfolio needs, with estimated workload variation of approximately 25 percent between work packages. The contractor must comply with all data protection regulations including GDPR and Regulation (EU) 2018/1725. All communications and deliverables must comply with EISMEA and European Commission visual identity guidelines. The contractor must develop synergies with other EIC Business Acceleration Services programmes including the Corporate Partnership Programme, Trade Fairs Programme, and Global Business Expansion Programme. The contractor must be prepared to handle confidential and classified information for defence and security procurement assistance cases, potentially requiring security clearances.

Submission Instructions

Tenders must be submitted exclusively through eSubmission before the deadline of 8 June 2026 at 10:00 CET. Tenderers must ensure all required documents are included at submission time. After submission, tenders can be withdrawn and replaced with new versions until the deadline. Only the latest submitted tender will be evaluated if multiple tenders are submitted. No tenders will be accepted after the deadline. Tenderers may request to attend the public opening session by sending an email to EISMEA-PROCUREMENT@ec.europa.eu at least three hours before the scheduled opening time, providing full names, email addresses, represented tenderer name, and submission receipt number.

Contact Information

For questions about the tender, tenderers must use the Questions and Answers section on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal. The contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted less than six working days before the submission deadline. All additional information will be published on the portal. Tenderers are responsible for checking for updates and modifications during the submission period. For technical issues with eSubmission, contact the eSubmission Helpdesk as detailed in the eSubmission Quick Guide.

Legal Framework and Applicable Law

The contract is governed by Union law, complemented where necessary by Belgian law. The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods is excluded. The courts of Brussels, Belgium have exclusive jurisdiction over any disputes regarding validity, interpretation, performance, or termination of the contract. The contract incorporates the tender specifications (Annex I) and the contractor's tender (Annex II) as integral parts. In case of conflict between documents, the order of precedence is: main conditions, special conditions, general conditions, tender specifications, and contractor's tender.

Additional Considerations for Applicants

Applicants should note that this is a follow-up to the previous tender EISMEA/2022/OP/0022 with significant novelties including the establishment of the EIC Innovation Procurement Assistance Office and expanded support to strategic stakeholders. The programme operates within the context of the EIC Work Programme 2026 and broader EU policies on innovation procurement, including the Innovation Act and revised EU Public Procurement Directives. Tenderers must demonstrate understanding of the evolving landscape of innovation procurement in Europe and globally. The contractor must be prepared to adapt to future changes in the EIC portfolio, including potential modifications to eligible beneficiary categories through future work programme amendments or changes to the Multiannual Financial Framework. Particular attention should be given to synergies with other EIC initiatives and the need to avoid duplication of efforts while maximizing complementarity and impact across the broader EIC ecosystem.