ESTEAM Festivals: Enhancing Digital and Entrepreneurial Competences in Girls and Women

EISMEA (EISMEA/2025/OP/0069) is procuring services to design and deliver ESTEAM Festivals and related materials and community activities to strengthen DigComp and EntreComp competences and confidence among girls (12–18) and adult women across SMP countries. The procurement is a best price-quality ratio award (30% price, 70% quality) with an estimated total value of €2,400,000 and an initial contract ceiling of €1,200,000 for 24 months, renewable once for a further 24 months. Mandatory deliverables include biannual Girls and Women Fests with minimum participant targets, training materials, monitoring and evaluation, after-movies and an annual peer-learning stakeholder event, with all costs covered by the fixed all-inclusive price. Electronic tenders must be submitted via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal by 06 May 2026 12:00 (Europe/Brussels).

What it funds

Service contract to organise ESTEAM Festivals and related activities (workshops, training materials, community building, alumni network, stakeholder peer‑learning events and evaluation) to enhance digital and entrepreneurial competences in girls (12–18) and adult women across SMP countries.

Who can apply

Open procedure for economic operators (sole tenderer or joint tender). Consortia and subcontracting are allowed; group members assume joint and several liability. Participants must meet exclusion and selection criteria specified in the tender documents.

Financial and contract summary

Key requirements (high level)

Deliverables include two annual Girls Fests and two Women Fests (minimum participant targets and at least one of each in Belgium each year), training/workbook materials (English plus local languages), videos/after‑movies, monitoring and feedback surveys, and an annual peer‑learning stakeholder event. Activities must align with DigComp and EntreComp and respect data protection and accessibility rules.

Eligibility & selection highlights:Minimum consolidated turnover and technical capacity thresholds apply; tenderers must demonstrate relevant project experience in digital and entrepreneurial education, event organisation, and work with girls/women in ESTEAM fields. Declarations and evidence on exclusion and financials may be requested during evaluation ¹.

How to submit

Electronic submission only via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal eSubmission system. PIC registration is required for organisations.

Deadlines & milestones

1. 1Deadline for receipt of tenders: 06/05/2026 12:00 Europe/Brussels
2. 2Public opening of tenders: 06/05/2026 15:00 Europe/Brussels
3. 3TED publication date: 11/03/2026

Practical notes

Tenders must follow the Tender Specifications and Annexes (Annex 1 lists required submission documents). Financial offers must be fixed, in euros, and include all charges. Technical offers are advised to be concise (guidance available in the specifications).

Full procurement documents, templates and submission are on the Funding & Tenders Portal (call EISMEA/2025/OP/0069). Use the official opportunity page to subscribe, download annexes and raise questions during the submission phase.

1. 1Primary portal link: ESTEAM tender on F&T Portal Opportunity page
2. 2TED notice: 49/2026 169436-2026 (TED) TED notice

Footnotes

1. 1See Tender Specifications (Annex I) for full exclusion and selection evidence requirements and timelines: documents available on the F&T Portal opportunity page.

The European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) is running an open procedure to contract a service provider to design and deliver ESTEAM Festivals and related activities that build digital (DigComp) and entrepreneurial (EntreComp) competences and confidence among girls (12–18) and women. This action continues the previous ESTEAM initiative (EISMEA/2021/OP/0004) and aligns with the SME Relief Package, SME Strategy, Gender Equality Strategy, New Skills Agenda, and the Digital Education Action Plan.

Procedure and portal:Open procedure. Electronic submission only via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Reference: EISMEA/2025/OP/0069. CPV: 80500000 Training services. Contract nature: services. Award: Best price-quality ratio (30% price, 70% quality). Portal entry: Call page.

Key Facts and Deadlines

Scope of Services

The contractor will organise and deliver ESTEAM Festivals and supporting activities across Single Market Programme (SMP) countries, prioritising locations not previously covered by ESTEAM Fests, with mandatory annual events in Belgium. Activities must directly implement DigComp and EntreComp through experiential workshops, confidence-building, and exposure to role models, alongside the creation of durable training materials and alumni networks.

Core Tasks and Minimum Requirements

• Task 1 — Girls’ ESTEAM Fests: One Spring and one Autumn fest each year with at least 400 total participants per fest. Format can be 1 day (≥400) or 2 days (≥200/day). Additional annual Girls’ Fest in Belgium with at least 300 participants. Delivery may combine concurrent sessions across multiple countries to reach targets. Address school participation constraints and prepare a plan for alternative activities for boys when needed.
• Task 2 — Women’s ESTEAM Fests: One Spring and one Autumn fest each year with at least 300 total participants per fest. Format can be 1 day (≥300) or 2 days (≥150/day). Additional annual Women’s Fest in Belgium with at least 300 participants. Require applications to minimise no-shows and the contractor selects participants. Sessions may run in parallel across countries.
• Co-location efficiencies: Where feasible, deliver Girls and Women Fests in the same country or city, either back-to-back or in parallel, to optimise logistics and budget.
• Local partner engagement: Proactively work with NGOs, schools, universities, women’s associations, business organisations, education and training institutions, ministries and local governments in host countries for outreach, content relevance, speakers/facilitators, logistics, and visibility.
• Workshop content and method: All workshops must promote learning-by-doing, small group experiential learning, confidence building, and be explicitly mapped to DigComp and EntreComp. Objectives and success outcomes must be pre-defined for each workshop. Approval of fest concepts, content, layout, and workshop facilitators required by EISMEA/DG GROW.
• Girls’ workshop content elements: Gamified business challenges and boardgames; self-confidence, strengths, and values; cybersecurity; coding; social media literacy; AI literacy; reflective learning; pathways for girls to become future facilitators/coaches.
• Women’s workshop content elements: Data analysis methods and tools; SWOT and market analysis; LinkedIn use; team building; investor pitching; negotiation; brand building; effective leadership; equality and diversity; online marketing; AI Academy; start-up guidance; entrepreneurial confidence; finance, tax, cashflow, fundraising and business finance; networking; women in tech; strengths cultivation; pathways to entrepreneurship.
• Languages: If all participants are proficient in English, run fully in English. Otherwise, hold workshops in local language with English for opening/closing. Provide interpretation/translation into English for attending contracting authority representatives as needed.
• Role models and facilitators: Predominantly female speakers and moderators aligned with learning needs, objectives, and local languages; include successful entrepreneurs, celebrities, and influencers engaged in empowering girls and women. Facilitators must have proven experience with the assigned age groups. Final role model selection requires contracting authority approval.
• Task 3 — Training and Learning Materials: Develop age-appropriate, high-quality workbooks and leaflets in English and the host country language, structured into entrepreneurial competences, digital competences, and confidence-building. Prioritise gamified challenges and applied casework. Produce tutorial videos (e.g., role model testimonies, case walkthroughs). Include special workbooks on ethical and creative AI use and on ethical and beneficial engagement with social media. Host materials on contractor’s platform, distribute in print at fests, and prepare for transfer to the EU Academy in acceptable formats at contract end. Disseminate through schools, teachers, and parent networks.
• Task 3 — Community Building: Assume the existing ESTEAM LinkedIn account. Schedule bi-monthly LinkedIn online sessions with role models or relevant topics. Tailor social media by audience (LinkedIn/Facebook for women; Instagram/X for youth). Produce after-movies for each fest (up to 8 videos total). Manage GDPR compliance and media consents.
• Task 4 — Feedback and Lessons Learnt: Systematically collect participant, facilitator, teacher, and partner feedback through standardised surveys capturing competence gains, confidence, interest change, satisfaction, and impact indicators. Use fixed questionnaires and defined timelines; adapt complexity for girls. Hold a debrief with EISMEA/DG GROW within 15 days after each fest. Update the EU-published lessons learnt Guide near contract end.
• Task 5 — Annual Peer-learning Event: Organise one stakeholder meeting per year (physical or online by agreement) rotating across EU regions, inviting authorities in all Member States responsible for empowering girls and women in entrepreneurship, science, and technology. Ensure at least three alumni speakers present experiences and propose topics. Aim to share good practices and foster replication of ESTEAM fests locally, regionally, and nationally.
• Methodological and delivery standards: Account for in-person, hybrid, and online scenarios; ensure accessible online outputs (W3C/WCAG 2.0 for publishables); apply European Commission Visual Identity Manual in public deliverables; integrate sustainability and green public procurement practices (e.g., EMAS, ISO 14001, EU Ecolabel) into event logistics; ensure data protection compliance (Regulations (EU) 2018/1725 and 2016/679); secure media consent forms; deliver high-quality English publications proofread by a native or equivalent.

Geographic Scope and Participants

Fests must take place in SMP-participating countries, prioritising those not yet covered by earlier ESTEAM events. Each year, at minimum, one Girls’ Fest and one Women’s Fest must be delivered in Belgium with respective minimum participant thresholds (Girls ≥500; Women ≥300). Participants must originate from SMP countries. Language delivery must fit participant proficiency and local context.

Place of performance:Contractor premises; EISMEA Brussels and online for coordination; fest venues across the EU as proposed by the contractor.

Deliverables and Reporting

• Inception Report (T0+4 weeks): Project scope and architecture; methodology for fest organisation, participant/facilitator recruitment, community and training materials; indicators and data methods; work plan and Gantt; management, resources, logistics, quality assurance; address kick-off comments.
• Progress Reports (at least Month 4, 15, 20): Concise updates on activities, completed tasks, milestones versus plan. Not linked to payments.
• Interim Report (Month 10): Programmes, outcomes, and lessons from fests thus far (Girls and Women separately); full list of workshops; learning and training materials; videos/after-movies; list of pre-existing rights.
• Final Report (Month 23.5 submission window): Summaries of outcomes and conclusions for all Girls’ and Women’s fests; full workshop list; compendium of all workbooks; stakeholder meeting recommendations and feedback; updated Lessons Learnt Guide. Include mandatory EU disclaimer in the final report and deliverables. Proofreading and accessibility rules apply.
• Meetings: Minimum six across 24 months (kick-off; three progress; interim; final). Minutes due within 7 days after each. Costs (including travel, accommodation, subsistence, catering) are covered within the fixed contract price; no separate reimbursement.
• Videos and media: Short after-movies for each fest (up to eight videos total). Social content and bi-monthly LinkedIn sessions. Media permissions and GDPR forms are required before filming/photography.

Financials, Duration, and Payments

• Total estimated value: €2,400,000. Initial direct contract ceiling: €1,200,000 (all charges and expenses included). Potential renewal: €1,200,000, subject to budget availability, continued need, and satisfactory performance.
• Initial duration: 24 months. Possible renewal: 24 months. Maximum overall duration: 48 months.
• Price is fixed, all-inclusive, and must cover all services, events, travel, accommodation, subsistence, catering, facilities, translation/interpretation, media production, and any other costs. No separate reimbursements.
• Payments: Interim payment at Month 10 upon acceptance of the Interim Report (indicatively 50%); balance payment after Final Report acceptance (indicatively remaining 50%). The precise provisions appear in the draft service contract.
• Invoicing and VAT: Price quoted free of duties/taxes/charges including VAT, as EU institutions benefit from VAT exemption rules.

Application and Evaluation

Tenders are submitted electronically via eSubmission on the Funding & Tenders Portal. One tender per tenderer (the latest valid submission counts; previous versions cannot be referenced to complete a later one). Variants are not allowed. Tenders must be valid for the period stipulated in the contract notice. The opening session is virtual and open to up to two representatives per tender upon request.

Evaluation flow

• Administrative compliance, access to procurement, and non-restrictive measures checks.
• Exclusion verification via Declaration on Honour and, when requested, supporting evidence; EDES consultation may occur.
• Selection criteria assessment (economic/financial, technical/professional capacity).
• Compliance with minimum requirements of the specifications.
• Award criteria scoring and ranking by best price-quality ratio (30% price; 70% quality). Minimum quality thresholds: at least 50% on each criterion and at least 60/100 overall to be considered for award.

Award criteria and weights (70% quality, 30% price)

• Quality of proposal for Girls’ ESTEAM Fests (max 40 points): Content mapped to DigComp/EntreComp and confidence-building; logistics plan; impact measurement and feedback; workshop topics and structure; quality and age-appropriateness of training materials; participant attraction strategy; local stakeholder engagement.
• Quality of proposal for Women’s ESTEAM Fests and Stakeholder Event (max 40 points): Content mapped to DigComp/EntreComp and confidence-building; logistics; impact and feedback; workshop topics and materials; stakeholder event organisation; participant attraction; local stakeholder engagement.
• Organisation, resources, and project management (max 10 points): Team roles, distribution of responsibilities, time and resource allocation per task/deliverable with rationale.
• Quality control and risk mitigation (max 10 points): Risk identification; QA measures; governance and task-role structure; continuity planning.

Eligibility and Minimum Capacity Requirements

Who may apply

Participation is open on equal terms to all natural and legal persons within the scope of the EU Treaties and to international organisations. It may also be open to persons established in certain third countries where a specific agreement with the EU on public procurement applies. All involved entities and subcontractors must not be subject to EU restrictive measures and must have access to this procurement. Registration in the Participant Register (PIC) is mandatory for each economic operator in a group tender. Subcontractors do not need a PIC unless otherwise specified, but all capacities relied upon must be eligible.

Economic and financial capacity

• Average yearly turnover over the last two closed financial years above €600,000 (consolidated across involved entities contributing to this criterion).
• Evidence (upon request or as per Annex 1): Profit and loss accounts and balance sheets for the last two closed years from entities contributing to the threshold, or equivalent bank statements. The most recent year must have closed within the last 18 months. Statement of turnover form (Annex 2.1).

Technical and professional capacity — tenderer-level references

• T1: At least two projects completed in the last two years, one digital (DigComp including AI) and one entrepreneurial (EntreComp), each with a minimum value of €300,000. Provide client, scope, value, start/end dates, role, and amounts invoiced.
• T2: At least three events/workshops delivered in the last two years (e.g., conferences, trainings, peer learning) using highly interactive methods, each with value at least €100,000.
• T3: At least four projects completed in the last two years focused on educating/training girls and women in ESTEAM areas with a strong entrepreneurship focus; minimum €200,000 each; at least two for girls and two for women.

Team composition — minimum profiles

• P1 Project Manager: ≥5 years’ project management, delivery oversight, quality control, client orientation, conflict resolution. Experience managing projects of at least €600,000 and spanning at least two countries; managed teams of ≥3 people.
• P2 DigComp/EntreComp Experts: At least two experts with relevant higher education or equivalent professional experience and ≥3 years’ experience.
• P3 Gender and Participation Experts: At least two experts experienced in boosting girls’ and women’s confidence and participation in ESTEAM and lifelong learning; relevant higher education or equivalent professional experience and ≥3 years’ experience.
• P4 Education Experts for school-aged girls and didactics: At least two experts experienced from age 12 upward in curricular/extra-curricular education and in designing teaching materials; relevant higher education or equivalent professional experience and ≥3 years’ experience.
• P5 Workshop Facilitators: At least two facilitators with a record of ≥5 workshops for girls or women.
• P6 Communications Expert: At least one expert experienced in strategies for events and campaigns, including online.

Provide detailed CVs indicating intended role, qualifications, relevant experience, languages, and project lists. Staff proposed must be available at contract start. Conflicting professional interests that could negatively affect performance are not permitted.

Submission Package and Templates

• Annex 1 — List of documents to be submitted with the tender or during the procedure.
• Annex 2 — Declaration on Honour on exclusion and selection criteria.
• Annex 2.1 — Statement of turnover.
• Annex 2.2 — Technical capacity (reference tables and CVs).
• Annex 3 — Power of attorney for joint tenders.
• Annex 4 — List of identified subcontractors (with roles/tasks and % of contract volume).
• Annex 5 — Letter of submission.
• Annex 5.1 — Commitment letter by an identified subcontractor.
• Annex 5.2 — Commitment letter by an entity on whose capacities is being relied (non-subcontractor).
• Annex 6 — Financial offer form (tasks-based, all-inclusive pricing).
• Annex 7 — Technical tender form.
• Submission report (system-generated), signed and uploaded before final submission.

Technical offer formatting:Strongly advised maximum of 60 pages for the technical narrative (CVs and evidences annexed do not count). Number pages coherently. Content must fully address all minimum requirements and award criteria. Personal data processing/storage outside the EU/EEA must be declared; otherwise EU/EEA storage is assumed.

Financial offer:Use Annex 6 to provide an all-inclusive price by task. Ensure the eSubmission total matches the uploaded financial file total; the uploaded file prevails in case of discrepancy. Prices in euros, VAT-exempt for EU institutions.

Compliance, Legal, and Policy Requirements

• Data protection: Comply with Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 and GDPR (EU) 2016/679; follow contracting authority procedures and model notices where applicable.
• Intellectual property: Results’ IPR and pre-existing rights governed by draft service contract (Articles I.10 and II.13). Provide list and evidence of pre-existing rights with the Final Report.
• Security: Follow Commission security rules for information systems and classified information where applicable.
• Accessibility and identity: Conform with W3C/WCAG for accessible PDFs and the European Commission’s Visual Identity Manual for publishables.
• Green public procurement: Describe and implement environment and energy-efficient solutions throughout service delivery and event management; consider EMAS, ISO 14001, EU Ecolabel or equivalent.
• Media rights: Obtain image rights and consents during registration/application; ensure GDPR-compliant handling.
• No variants: Tenders proposing alternatives to the described model solution are not accepted.
• Eligibility checks: All involved entities and subcontractors must not be under EU restrictive measures and must have procurement access.
• Subcontracting: Permitted; identify subcontractors relied upon for selection capacity and those with an individual share above 20%. Commitment letters are required. Changes after submission require prior approval and must not alter tenders substantially.
• Joint tenders: Allowed; all members are jointly and severally liable. Group leader is single point of contact. Post-deadline composition changes are largely prohibited except in narrow cases (e.g., universal succession) under strict conditions.

Categorisation Answers (structured extraction)

Eligible Applicant Types:Any economic operator with access to EU procurement: SMEs, large enterprises, training and event service companies, universities and higher education institutions, research and innovation actors, nonprofit organisations and NGOs, foundations, international organisations, public bodies or agencies, and consortia of the above. Natural persons may also apply where permissible under national law and access rules. All involved entities and subcontractors must not be subject to EU restrictive measures and must have access to procurement.

Funding Type:Procurement of services under a direct service contract. Payments are made against deliverables per contract terms; this is not a grant, loan, or equity instrument.

Consortium Requirement:Single tenderer or joint tender permitted. A consortium is not mandatory. Where joint, group members are jointly and severally liable and must appoint a group leader. Subcontracting is allowed.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Open to entities within the scope of the EU Treaties and, where applicable, specific third countries having public procurement agreements with the EU. Delivery of services targets SMP countries; participants in fests must originate from SMP countries. Annual mandatory delivery in Belgium.

Target Sector:Training services; education; entrepreneurship; ICT and digital skills; gender equality and inclusion; events and community building; innovation ecosystems; AI literacy. CPV: 80500000 Training services. Frameworks: DigComp, EntreComp.

Mentioned Countries:Belgium is explicitly mandated for at least one Girls’ Fest and one Women’s Fest each year. Festivals take place across Single Market Programme (SMP) countries. European Union Member States are in scope; SMP-associated countries are eligible per the SMP participation list.

Project Stage:Implementation and service delivery. Activities include design, production, delivery, evaluation, materials development, and community building.

Funding Amount:Estimated total procurement value €2,400,000. Initial contract ceiling €1,200,000 for 24 months, with a possible renewal of €1,200,000 for an additional 24 months, subject to conditions.

Application Type:Open call for tenders via electronic submission (eSubmission) on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. One-stage evaluation process.

Nature of Support:Monetary compensation for contracted services under a fixed, all-inclusive price. No separate cost reimbursements beyond the contract price.

Application Stages:Single submission and evaluation stage: administrative and access checks, exclusion, selection, compliance with minimum requirements, and award scoring. Public opening of tenders follows the submission deadline.

Success Rates:Not disclosed. No historical or target success rate is provided.

Co-funding Requirement:No co-funding requirement. This is a procurement contract with a fixed total price. The contractor must cover all delivery costs within the offered price. Interim and final payments are made upon acceptance of deliverables per the contract.

Submission How-To and System Notes

• Register or reuse a PIC in the Participant Register for each member of a joint tender. The PIC is not required for non-identified subcontractors.
• Prepare all annexed templates, signatures (preferably qualified electronic signature per eIDAS), and evidence. Chain of signing authority or power(s) of attorney must be provided where applicable.
• Follow eSubmission technical constraints (file size limits, file types) and ensure the Technical Offer, Financial Offer (Annex 6), Technical Tender Form (Annex 7), and Submission Report are uploaded correctly.
• Only the last valid submission before the deadline counts. Late submissions are automatically rejected.
• Public opening is virtual; request access via email with required details at least three hours prior to opening.

Checklist of Minimum Content to Address in the Technical Offer

• Detailed fest concepts for Girls and Women mapped to DigComp and EntreComp, with confidence-building components and explicit workshop objectives and expected outcomes.
• Annual plan showing: one Spring and one Autumn Girls’ Fest (≥400 each), one Spring and one Autumn Women’s Fest (≥300 each), plus mandatory Belgium fests (Girls ≥500; Women ≥300) each year, with approach to multi-country parallel sessions where relevant.
• Strategy for co-locating Girls’ and Women’s fests to optimise logistics where feasible.
• Participant outreach strategies tailored to schools, parents, and women professionals; selection processes (for Women’s Fests) to reduce no-shows.
• Role model identification and approval process, including language fit and expertise; facilitator recruitment and vetting aligned to age groups.
• Training and learning materials plan, including gamified challenges, special AI and social media workbooks, formats for EU Academy, and language versions.
• Community building and communications plan: LinkedIn account management, bi-monthly online sessions, social media by audience, after-movies production, GDPR compliance for media.
• Feedback, monitoring, and evaluation framework: indicators for outputs, outcomes, impact; survey instruments; timeline; debrief processes; lessons-learnt updates.
• Green event logistics approach and accessibility standards for online outputs; application of the EC Visual Identity Manual to public deliverables.
• Project management structure, team deployment, task-time allocation per deliverable, quality assurance and risks mitigation, continuity planning.
• Budget allocation rationale per task aligned with value creation and participant targets (without duplicating financial details reserved for Annex 6).

What This Opportunity Is About — Summary

EISMEA seeks a capable service provider or consortium to design and implement a high-impact, multi-country programme of ESTEAM Festivals and accompanying actions that measurably improve digital and entrepreneurial competences and confidence among girls and women across the Single Market Programme countries. The contractor must deliver a full annual cycle of Girls’ and Women’s Festivals, including larger mandatory events in Belgium, with content that is explicitly mapped to the EU’s DigComp and EntreComp frameworks. The approach must centre on experiential learning, gamification, and role-model engagement, and must be supported by high-quality multi-language training materials, a sustained online community presence, and a growing alumni network. The contractor will also manage feedback loops, standardised monitoring and evaluation, after-movie production, and one annual stakeholder peer-learning event that enables policy and practice exchange and helps replicate ESTEAM Fests at national and regional levels. The contract is a direct procurement of services (not a grant), with a fixed, all-inclusive price and a best price-quality award method. Applicants must demonstrate strong recent track records in DigComp/EntreComp implementation, interactive event delivery at scale, and dedicated programmes for both girls and women in ESTEAM domains, as well as the specialist team profiles required to execute the contract to a high standard. The opportunity aligns with major EU policy priorities on SMEs, gender equality, skills, and digital education, and aims at widespread and lasting impact across Europe through rigorous design, delivery, and dissemination.

Opportunity Overview

This is an open procedure call for tenders (EISMEA/2025/OP/0069) managed by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). It continues the previous ESTEAM project (EISMEA/2021/OP/0004) by organising festivals to equip girls aged 12-18 and adult women starting or changing careers with digital (DigComp) and entrepreneurial (EntreComp) competences, boosting confidence for careers in entrepreneurship, science, and technology (ESTEAM fields). The action supports EU strategies including SME Relief Package, SME Strategy, Gender Equality Strategy, New Skills Agenda, and Digital Education Action Plan.

TED reference:49/2026 169436-2026. CPV: 80500000 - Training services. Nature: Services. Award method: Best price-quality ratio.

Key Dates and Deadlines

• TED publication date: 11 March 2026
• Deadline for questions: 29 April 2026 23:59 Europe/Brussels
• Deadline for receipt of tenders: 6 May 2026 12:00 Europe/Brussels
• Public opening: 6 May 2026 15:00 Europe/Brussels

Funding and Contract Details

Estimated total value:€2,400,000 (maximum), including all charges and expenses.

Initial contract:Maximum €1,200,000 for 24 months.

Renewal:Possible once for additional 24 months (maximum €1,200,000), subject to budget availability, continued needs, and good performance. Notification 3 months before initial end.

Maximum duration:48 months.

Eligibility and Who Can Apply

Open to natural or legal persons within EU Treaties scope, international organisations, or third-country entities with EU public procurement agreements. Joint tenders and subcontracting allowed. No lots. Must register in Participant Register for PIC. Entities must not be subject to EU restrictive measures.

Exclusion Criteria

Tenderers in exclusion situations (e.g., bankruptcy, tax/social security breaches, fraud, corruption, professional misconduct) per Article 138(1) Financial Regulation are excluded. Declaration on Honour required (Annex 2). Supporting evidence may be requested.

Selection Criteria

Economic and Financial Capacity

• Average yearly turnover last 2 years: above €600,000 (consolidated for tenderer as whole).

Technical and Professional Capacity

• T1: 2 projects (1 digital, 1 entrepreneurial, DigComp/EntreComp) last 2 years, each >= €300,000.
• T2: 3 events/workshops (interactive methods) last 2 years, each >= €100,000.
• T3: 4 projects (2 girls, 2 women in ESTEAM/entrepreneurship) last 2 years, each >= €200,000.
• Team: Project Manager (5+ years, similar projects); 2 DigComp/EntreComp experts (3+ years); 2 gender/ESTEAM experts (3+ years); 2 school girls education experts (3+ years); 2 facilitators (5+ workshops each); 1 communication expert.

Evidence:Annex 2.2 (Technical capacity), CVs, project lists with tender. Consolidated assessment for T1-T3.

Scope of Work and Tasks

Geographical scope:SMP countries, preference for new countries; annual events in Belgium (Girls Fest: 500+ participants; Women Fest: 300+).

1. 1Task 1: Girls ESTEAM Fests (Spring/Autumn: 400+ each; Belgium: 300+ yearly). 1-2 days, interactive workshops (gamification, cybersecurity, coding, AI/social media literacy, confidence-building).
2. 2Task 2: Women ESTEAM Fests (Spring/Autumn: 300+ each; Belgium: 300+ yearly). Application-based selection; workshops (data analysis, pitching, fundraising, networking, women in tech).
3. 3Common: Local partners (NGOs, schools etc.); role models (female, approved); English/local language; hybrid flexibility.
4. 4Task 3: Training materials (workbooks, leaflets, videos on DigComp/EntreComp/confidence; AI/social media specials); EU Academy format; English/local languages.
5. 5Task 4: Community building (social media, LinkedIn take-over, alumni network, 8 after-movies, bi-monthly sessions); feedback surveys, de-briefs, update ESTEAM Guide.
6. 6Task 5: Annual peer-learning event (physical/online, different EU regions, invite MS authorities, 3 alumni reps).

Deliverables:Inception report (T0+4w), progress reports (M4/15/20), interim (M10, 50% payment), final report (M23.5w, balance). Meetings: 6+ yearly. All costs included (travel, catering etc.). Green procurement required.

Evaluation and Award

Best price-quality ratio. Technical max 60 pages.

Submission and Documents

Electronic via eSubmission on F&T Portal:EU Funding & Tenders Portal. 18 documents (Annex 1). QES preferred. PIC required.

Additional Information

IP:Results owned by contractor, licensed to EU; pre-existing rights listed. Data protection: GDPR/2018/1725 compliance. Security: Commission rules. Questions via portal.

Primary source:Tender Details. Download Tender Specifications, Invitation to Tender, Annexes.