EU Outreach and Partnership Facility for the GCC

The EU is initiating a call for tenders titled "EU Outreach and Partnership Facility for the GCC" under procedure identifier EC-FPI/RUH/2025/EA-RP/0021. The main objective of this initiative is to strengthen cooperation between the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, focusing on enhancing bilateral relations and addressing priority foreign policy areas. The expected service contract has an estimated total value of €3.5 million and is aimed at providing various services, including studies, events, technical support, and communication support.

Eligible applicants primarily include large enterprises and specialized organizations, as indicated by the ineligibility of SMEs for this tender. The application process is a restricted procedure, meaning only selected candidates may submit full proposals. An electronic submission method is required, and the deadline for requests to participate is set for July 16, 2025, at 16:00 Asia/Riyadh time. The project is expected to span a maximum duration of 36 months.

The geographic scope for service delivery includes GCC countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, along with EU member states. Key sectors targeted by this initiative include public diplomacy, cultural affairs, civil society, gender equality, education, and human rights advocacy, with a main classification code being 79952100 for cultural event organization services.

A strict evaluation process with a focus on quality over cost is employed, allocating 80% of the evaluation weight to quality criteria and 20% to cost. This emphasizes the need for contractors to have proven expertise in EU-GCC relations and the ability to deliver complex diplomatic services across various nations.

Applicants must register for a Personal Identification Code (PIC) to participate and should prepare their submissions adhering to specific technical requirements regarding file sizes and formats. While the success rates for submissions are not explicitly stated, they are expected to be competitive based on typical EU procurement standards. Co-funding is not required, as funding will be sufficient to cover the projects outlined in the tender.

Overall, this procurement opportunity presents a significant chance for qualified organizations to engage in meaningful partnerships that align with the EU's foreign policy strategies in the Gulf region.

The EU is offering a call for tenders titled "EU Outreach and Partnership Facility for the GCC" with procedure identifier EC-FPI/RUH/2025/EA-RP/0021. This is a restricted procedure, and submissions must be electronic. The call aims to further the objectives outlined in the Joint Communication to the European Parliament and the Council, 'A Strategic Partnership with the Gulf'. The primary goal is to enhance cooperation with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, addressing short and medium-term foreign policy priorities through strengthened bilateral relations, dialogues, alliances, and partnerships.

Key areas of focus include public diplomacy, cultural affairs, civil society, gender, education, human rights, and other relevant sectors where policy dialogues with targeted countries or territories are ongoing, planned, or ripe for further exploration. To achieve these objectives, the facility will procure a range of services, including studies, events, technical support, and communication support.

The estimated total value of this tender is 3,500,000 EUR. The TED publication date is 13/06/2025, and the deadline for receipt of requests to participate is 16/07/2025 at 16:00 Asia/Riyadh time. The lead contracting authority is the European Commission, FPI Service for Foreign Policy Instruments. The main classification (CPV) code is 79952100 Cultural event organisation services. The nature of the contract is for services, and the maximum contract duration is 36 months. The award method is based on the best price-quality ratio. No framework agreement is specified.

The places of delivery or performance include Oman (20000979), Kuwait (20000934), Qatar (20000993), EU Europe (31085118), United Arab Emirates (20000821), Saudi Arabia (20000997), and Bahrain (20000842). The relevant programme is Asia and the Pacific (44995882).

One document is available for download: an additional information document a5f Invitation to submit a request to participate, published on 13/06/2025, Version 1, with no translations available.

Submissions must be sent exclusively at the address for submission provided electronically.

Some frequently asked questions (FAQ) and their answers related to the eSubmission system are provided:

How to proceed if the system is slow or doesn’t work while uploading/downloading documents?
Please make sure you use the latest versions of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. If the issue persists, try the following steps: 1. Clear the cache and cookies on the Internet brows...Published on 13/02/2025 20:52

Which Internet browsers does eSubmission support?
Please use the latest versions of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. For the most up-to-date technical recommendations, click on the link System Requirements. You can access this link...Published on 13/02/2025 20:52

Is it possible to view the details of the submission after the deadline?
The content of the submission is not accessible after submitting the tender as the system encrypts all attachments upon upload. Thus, the system will not allow decryption after the u...Published on 13/02/2025 20:50

Where can I find my submissions in Manage My Area, in the Funding & Tenders portal?
Depending on the type or step of procedure, you can find the submissions in one of these sections: ·In ‘My Submission(s)’: tenders in response to open calls for tenders, requests to ...Published on 17/10/2024 20:40

Which size should attachments have?
For attaching files to your tender submission, eSubmission accepts files that are less than 50 MB in size. Any larger sizes will not be accepted by the system. For the latest informa...Published on 17/10/2024 20:36

How should I name attachments in eSubmision?
In eSubmission, you must name the attachments for your tender draft following the System Requirements. With regards to all attachment names, please see the following conditions: The ...Published on 03/10/2024 16:39

Can I submit a video in eSbmission? Which formats are supported?
You can check the System Requirements of eSubmission: Published on 03/10/2024 16:37

I received an invitation from the F&T Portal but cannot view the procurement documents.
Invited candidates can only see the procurement documents after having selected an organisation. Go to F&T Portal, “My Invitations”. Click on “Select Organisation” from the “Action” ...Published on 03/10/2024 16:37

Do I need to validate my PIC in order to submit a tender in eSubmission?
The Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory to participate in a call for tenders as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium). For subcontractors PIC i...Published on 03/10/2024 16:36

I have an issue uploading a file in eSubmission and it’s giving me an error. What do I do?
When uploading a file in eSubmission, you must first make sure it follows the technical requirements of the system, which are as shown below. A)For procurement procedures: B)For req...Published on 03/10/2024 16:36

How many attachments can I upload per submission?
The maximum number of documents the system will allow you to upload per tender is 200 files. You are able to check the eSubmission System Requirements in the documentation by clicking...Published on 03/10/2024 16:35

Why do tenderers need a PIC?
It is mandatory to register for a PIC if you intend to submit a tender or a request to participate. Only one PIC per organisation must be used. Therefore, if your organisation alread...Published on 23/04/2024 17:14

How do I register my organisation and get a Participant Identification Code (PIC)?
First, check if the organisation is already registered using the Search PIC tool under 'How to Participate' > Participant Register. If your organisation is a bigger...Published on 23/04/2024 16:07

What is the validity period of a PIC?
A PIC is unique and its validity is not limited in time.Published on 22/04/2024 22:55

How many languages does the system support?
The system is multilingual and supports all 24 official EU languages.Published on 01/04/2024 19:56

Which is the character set encoding in the system?
The character set encoding is UTF-8.Published on 22/02/2024 23:58

Does the system use encryption to ensure the integrity and the confidentiality of the information?
Yes, the system encrypts all uploaded documents, using an asymmetric key as an encryption mechanism.Published on 22/02/2024 23:57

Which file types does the system support?
The supported file types depend on the type of submission you want to make. The allowed file types are specified within the system requirements linked to the procedure in question. M...Published on 21/02/2024 23:55

Can I view and edit my draft submission?
Until the deadline for the submission has been reached, submissions in the draft status can be edited, viewed and deleted. Published on 24/03/2023 21:32

In the submission report, under the name of our entity, "Legal form: UNKNOWN" is displayed while in the system, our legal form was correctly displayed. Is this a problem for the submission?
No, it is just a display issue. This is not blocking for you: you can submit. Published on 03/08/2021 22:07

I sent my submission on time and a few days later, I received an automatic email informing me that the deadline for the reception of submissions had been reached. Does this mean that my submission was not correctly sent?
No, this is an auto-generated notification sent when the time limit of receipt defined for the call for tenders has been reached. Until then, you had the possibility of withdrawing...Published on 03/08/2021 22:05

In summary, this EU call for tenders, titled "EU Outreach and Partnership Facility for the GCC," aims to strengthen cooperation between the EU and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. It focuses on enhancing bilateral relations and addressing foreign policy priorities through various services like studies, events, and technical support. The total estimated value is 3.5 million EUR, and the deadline for submitting requests to participate is July 16, 2025. The tender is a restricted procedure, meaning only invited candidates can submit full proposals. The European Commission's Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI) is the lead contracting authority. The project seeks to improve public diplomacy, cultural affairs, civil society engagement, gender equality, education, and human rights in the GCC region. The submission process is electronic, and applicants need to adhere to specific technical requirements for file sizes and formats. A Participant Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for participation.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, given the nature of the call for tenders, it is likely that eligible applicants include organizations capable of providing services such as studies, events, technical support, and communication support. This could include SMEs, large enterprises, research institutes, consulting firms, non-profits, and other entities with relevant expertise.

Funding Type: The funding type is procurement, specifically a service contract. The call is for tenders, indicating that the European Commission is seeking to procure services from external providers.

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required or if single applicants are allowed. However, the FAQ section mentions that a Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory to participate in a call for tenders as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium), suggesting that both single applicants and consortia are eligible.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility for the delivery or performance of services includes Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, EU Europe, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. The programme itself is related to Asia and the Pacific.

Target Sector: The target sectors include public diplomacy, cultural affairs, civil society, gender, education, human rights, and other relevant sectors where policy dialogues with targeted countries or territories are ongoing, planned, or ripe for further exploration. The main classification (CPV) code is 79952100, which corresponds to cultural event organization services.

Mentioned Countries: Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain. EU Europe is also mentioned as a place of delivery or performance.

Project Stage: The project stage is not explicitly mentioned, but given the nature of the call for tenders for services like studies, events, technical support, and communication support, it is likely that the expected maturity is at the development, validation, or implementation stage.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the procurement is 3,500,000 EUR.

Application Type: The application type is an open call for tenders, with a restricted procedure. Submissions must be sent electronically.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for providing services. The contract is for services, and the award method is based on the best price-quality ratio.

Application Stages: The procedure type is a restricted procedure, which typically involves two stages: a request to participate and a full tender submission. The deadline for receipt of requests to participate is 16/07/2025.

Success Rates: The success rates are not mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

This is a call for tenders by the European Commission, FPI Service for Foreign Policy Instruments, for the "EU Outreach and Partnership Facility for the GCC" (Gulf Cooperation Council). The procedure identifier is EC-FPI/RUH/2025/EA-RP/0021. The primary goal of this action is to enhance cooperation with the GCC countries, addressing short and medium-term foreign policy priorities through strengthened bilateral relations, dialogues, alliances, and partnerships. Key areas of focus include public diplomacy, cultural affairs, civil society, gender, education, human rights, and other relevant sectors.

The facility will procure a range of services, including studies, events, technical support, and communication support. The estimated total value of the procurement is 3,500,000 EUR, and the maximum contract duration is 36 months. The award method is based on the best price-quality ratio.

The geographic scope for the delivery or performance of services includes Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, EU Europe, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. The programme is related to Asia and the Pacific.

The procedure type is a restricted procedure, and submissions must be sent electronically. The TED publication date is 13/06/2025, and the deadline for receipt of requests to participate is 16/07/2025 at 16:00 Asia/Riyadh time.

To participate, organizations must register for a Personal Identification Code (PIC). The system supports all 24 official EU languages, and the character set encoding is UTF-8. The system encrypts all uploaded documents using an asymmetric key as an encryption mechanism. Attachments must be less than 50 MB in size, and the maximum number of documents that can be uploaded per tender is 200 files.