Establishment of an Advisory Tool for the Outermost Regions (2025CE160AT003)

The European Commission's Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy has issued a call for tenders under the title "Establishment of an Advisory Tool for the Outermost Regions." This procurement opportunity, identified as 2025CE160AT003, has a total estimated contract value of €700,000. The contract duration is set for 28 months, starting from the publication date on September 1, 2025, through to the submission deadline of October 30, 2025, at 16:00 UTC.

This tender seeks to provide a support service to DG REGIO, aimed at creating an advisory mechanism tailored for the outermost regions of the EU. The selected contractor will be responsible for establishing and managing this advisory tool, operating its secretariat, managing calls for applications, overseeing evaluation processes, and delivering advisory services. The overall goal is to facilitate development in the outermost regions and mitigate disparities with the rest of the EU.

Eligible applicants are likely to include larger enterprises or established service providers, particularly in the business and management consultancy sector, as indicated by the lack of suitability for small and medium-sized enterprises. The opportunity does not specify a consortium requirement, suggesting that either single applicants or partnerships could compete, provided they demonstrate adequate capability and experience.

The procurement type designated in the documents is a service contract, and the application process is structured as an open call with electronic submissions mandated. The evaluation criteria emphasize quality, with 70% weight given to quality aspects versus 30% for pricing.

The main CPV code related to this tender is 79410000, reflecting the focus on business consultancy and related services. While specific countries are not listed, the term "outermost regions" typically refers to EU territories such as French overseas departments and the Canary Islands. The selected contractor should possess substantial expertise in EU regional policy and advisory service delivery.

All submissions must comply with the technical and administrative requirements outlined in the tender documentation, available in multiple languages. The award method will prioritize the best price-quality ratio, implying a competitive evaluation process. Interested parties should ensure to submit questions by October 22, 2025, to receive answers before the deadline.

The European Commission, DG REGIO Regional and Urban Policy, has published a call for tenders with procedure identifier EC-REGIO/2025/OP/0007 titled "Establishment of an Advisory Tool for the Outermost Regions (2025CE160AT003)". The TED reference is 166/2025 569113-2025.

The overall objective of this open procedure is to provide a support service to REGIO.A1 in setting up an advisory tool for the outermost regions (OR), run the secretariat of the advisory tool, support the launch of two calls for applications, support the evaluation process, and provide the advisory services to the outermost regions. The ultimate purpose of this assignment is to support the development of the outermost regions, the most remote parts of the Union, and contribute to bridging the gap with the rest of the EU.

The estimated total value of the contract is 700,000 EUR. The nature of the contract is for services, with a maximum duration of 28 months. The award method will be based on the best price-quality ratio. No framework agreement is mentioned.

The TED publication date was 01/09/2025. The date and time of the public opening is 30/10/2025 at 16:30 Europe/Brussels time. The deadline for receipt of tenders is 30/10/2025 at 16:00 Europe/Brussels time. The contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after 22/10/2025 at 06:00 Europe/Brussels time.

Submissions must be sent exclusively via electronic submission.

The main classification (CPV) code is 79410000, which refers to business and management consultancy services.

There are 15 documents available for download:

1. Invitation to tender Invitation letter (English, Version 1, published 01/09/2025, no translations available)
2. Declaration on honour (tender) (English, Version 1, published 01/09/2025, no translations available)
3. Tender specifications Part 1 Administrative specifications (French, Version 1, published 01/09/2025, no translations available)
4. Tender specifications Part 1 Administrative specifications (Estonian, Version 1, published 01/09/2025, no translations available)
5. Tender specifications Part 1 Administrative specifications (Portuguese, Version 1, published 01/09/2025, no translations available)
6. Tender specifications Part 2 Technical specifications (Estonian, Version 1, published 01/09/2025, no translations available)
7. Tender specifications Part 2 Technical specifications (Portuguese, Version 1, published 01/09/2025, no translations available)
8. Tender specifications Part 2 Technical specifications (French, Version 1, published 01/09/2025, no translations available)
9. Technical specifications Part 2 Technical specifications (English, Version 1, published 01/09/2025, no translations available)
10. Draft contract Annex III VAT share (English, Version 1, published 01/09/2025, no translations available)

A question was raised requesting the upload of Part 1 Administrative Specifications in English, and the response indicates that the document has been uploaded and that there are a total of 15 documents available.

In summary, this call for tenders seeks a service provider to assist DG REGIO in establishing and running an advisory tool for the EU's outermost regions. This involves setting up the tool, managing its secretariat, supporting calls for applications, evaluating applications, and providing advisory services. The goal is to support the development of these regions and reduce the gap between them and the rest of the EU. The contract is worth 700,000 EUR and will last for 28 months. The tender will be awarded based on the best price-quality ratio. The deadline for submitting tenders is October 30, 2025.

Eligible Applicant Types: The opportunity details do not explicitly state the eligible applicant types. However, given the nature of the tender for business and management consultancy services, eligible applicants are likely to include companies, consulting firms, and potentially research institutions with relevant expertise. The absence of explicit restrictions suggests that SMEs, large enterprises, and potentially public-private partnerships could be eligible, provided they meet the technical and administrative requirements outlined in the tender specifications.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a procurement contract for services. The contracting authority will pay for the services rendered based on the terms outlined in the contract.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity details do not explicitly state whether a consortium is required or if a single applicant is sufficient. The tender is open, suggesting that both single applicants and consortia are potentially eligible, provided they can demonstrate the necessary capacity and expertise to fulfill the contract requirements. The tender documents should be reviewed to confirm if a consortium is necessary to meet the technical requirements.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The opportunity aims to support the development of the outermost regions of the European Union and bridge the gap with the rest of the EU. Therefore, while not explicitly stated, it is implied that the geographic eligibility extends to entities based in the EU or those capable of providing services within the EU's outermost regions. The specific eligibility criteria regarding the location of the applicant should be detailed in the tender specifications.

Target Sector: The primary target sector is business and management consultancy services, specifically related to regional and urban policy. The opportunity focuses on providing support for the development of the EU's outermost regions.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the focus is on the "outermost regions" (OR) of the European Union. These regions are: French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte and Réunion (France), Azores and Madeira (Portugal), and Canary Islands (Spain).

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on implementation and service delivery. The selected contractor will be responsible for setting up an advisory tool, running a secretariat, supporting calls for applications, managing the evaluation process, and providing advisory services. This suggests a need for applicants with experience in service delivery and project management rather than early-stage research or development.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the contract is 700,000 EUR.

Application Type: The application type is an open call for tenders, with electronic submission required.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for services rendered. The contract is for services, and the selected contractor will be compensated for their work.

Application Stages: The number of stages is not explicitly stated, but it can be inferred that there will be at least two stages: submission of the tender and evaluation of the tender. Additional stages may include contract negotiation and award. The tender documents should provide more detail on the evaluation process and stages.

Success Rates: The success rates are not mentioned in the opportunity details. Success rates for EU tenders are typically competitive, and the specific rate for this tender will depend on the number of applicants and the quality of the proposals received.

Co-funding Requirement: The opportunity details do not mention a co-funding requirement. As a procurement contract, it is unlikely that co-funding would be required, but this should be confirmed in the tender specifications.

Summary: This opportunity is a call for tenders issued by the European Commission, DG REGIO, for the establishment of an advisory tool for the outermost regions of the EU. The overall objective is to provide support services to REGIO.A1 in setting up and running the advisory tool, supporting calls for applications, managing the evaluation process, and providing advisory services to these regions. The ultimate goal is to support the development of the outermost regions and bridge the gap with the rest of the EU. The procedure type is an open procedure, with an estimated total value of 700,000 EUR. The contract duration is 28 months, and the award method is based on the best price-quality ratio. The deadline for receipt of tenders is October 30, 2025. Interested parties should submit their tenders electronically, and the contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after October 22, 2025. The tender documents, including the invitation to tender, declaration on honour, and technical specifications, are available for download in multiple languages. The selected contractor will be responsible for providing business and management consultancy services to support the development of the EU's outermost regions.