Experience EU – Education, People-to-People and Alumni Work in the United States

The "Experience EU – Education, People-to-People and Alumni Work in the United States" is a tender opportunity issued by the European Commission under procedure identifier EC-FPI/WAS/2025/EA-RP/0028. This procurement aims to strengthen ties between the United States and the European Union through initiatives focused on education outreach and cultural exchange.

The total funding available for this project is €4,000,000, allocated over a duration of 48 months. The contracting authority responsible for this tender is the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI) of the European Commission. The deadline for submitting participation requests is January 23, 2026, and submissions must be done electronically through the designated system.

Eligible applicants primarily include organizations capable of providing educational and cultural services, such as non-profits, educational institutions, and cultural organizations. The structure of this tender allows for both individual and consortium submissions, with an emphasis on larger entities due to the scale of the required operations. Small and medium enterprises are not explicitly encouraged to apply.

The tender outlines various work strands to be conducted under the contract, including the Euro Challenge, Schuman Challenge, EU-US Emerging Leaders Visitors Programme, alumni engagement activities, and seminars focused on teaching the EU. The overarching goal is to create deep, lasting connections between American and European citizens through collaborative educational and cultural exchanges.

Key evaluation criteria for selecting contractors will heavily weigh quality (80%) against price (20%), signaling the importance of the proposed approach's quality over merely selecting the lowest bid. The application process will follow a two-stage procedure, requiring an initial expression of interest before selected candidates are invited to submit detailed proposals.

Successful candidates will receive payments through an electronic invoicing system based on services rendered, emphasizing a service-oriented contract rather than traditional grant funding. This initiative falls within the thematic areas of education, international relations, and cultural exchange, targeting primarily activities conducted within the United States. The procurement documents will provide further guidance on any additional requirements or co-funding stipulations, though none are explicitly stated currently.

Overall, the "Experience EU" tender represents a significant commitment to enhancing transatlantic education and cultural ties and is seeking qualified organizations to deliver impactful programs that resonate with American audiences while fostering mutual understanding between the EU and the US.

This is a call for tenders with procedure identifier EC-FPI/WAS/2025/EA-RP/0028 titled "Experience EU – Education, People-to-People and Alumni Work in the United States". The submission method is electronic and the call is currently open for submission. The TED reference is 233/2025 803365-2025.

The objective of Experience EU is to strengthen the bonds between citizens of the United States and the European Union through education outreach, people-to-people (P2P) programming and exchange, and alumni activities. The project will organize activities for US students, teachers, and targeted professionals to support their learning and teaching about the EU, foster dialogue, creativity, mutual understanding, and cooperation, and create lasting personal transatlantic connections and shared values. These activities will provide opportunities for the target audiences to experience the EU through direct contacts with EU representatives, experts, and citizens.

The project consists of the following work strands: Euro Challenge, Schuman Challenge, EU-US Emerging Leaders Visitors Programme, Alumni engagement, Model EU, Teaching the EU, EU Studies Seminar, Transatlantic P2P Seminar, Presence at relevant US conferences, and Communication, promotion and outreach.

This is a restricted procedure. The estimated total value of the tender is 4,000,000 EUR. The TED publication date is 03/12/2025. The lead contracting authority is the European Commission, FPI - Service for Foreign Policy Instruments. The main classification (CPV) code is 71621000 - Technical analysis or consultancy services. The nature of the contract is for services. The maximum contract duration is 48 months. The award method is best price-quality ratio. There is no framework agreement. The place of delivery or performance is the United States (20001034). The programme is America and the Caribbean (44995889). The deadline for receipt of requests to participate is 23/01/2026 00:00 America/New_York.

One document is available for download: Additional Information about the Contract Notice and Tender specifications (requests to participate), published on 03/12/2025, Version 1, with no translations available.

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

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This tender opportunity, "Experience EU," focuses on strengthening ties between the United States and the European Union through various educational and exchange programs. The European Commission is seeking a contractor to manage and implement a range of activities, including challenges for students, leadership programs, alumni engagement, seminars, and conference participation. The goal is to promote understanding, cooperation, and lasting connections between US and EU citizens. The tender is a restricted procedure, meaning that only pre-selected candidates will be invited to submit full proposals. The contract will be awarded based on the best price-quality ratio, and the maximum duration is 48 months. Interested parties must submit their requests to participate electronically by the specified deadline.

Eligible Applicant Types: The raw content does not explicitly define eligible applicant types. However, based on the nature of the tender, eligible applicants could include organizations with experience in education outreach, people-to-people programming, exchange programs, and alumni activities. This might include NGOs, educational institutions, consulting firms, or other entities with relevant expertise. The requirement for a PIC (Personal Identification Code) suggests that any organization capable of registering for one is eligible, which covers a broad range of legal entities.

Funding Type: The funding type is a procurement, specifically a call for tenders. The nature of the contract is for services.

Consortium Requirement: The content mentions that a PIC is mandatory to participate in a call for tenders as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium). This indicates that both single applicants and consortia are eligible.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The primary geographic focus is on the United States, as the activities are targeted at US students, teachers, and professionals. However, since the project aims to strengthen bonds between the US and the EU, it is implied that the tendering organizations can be from the EU or have a strong connection to the EU. The program is listed under "America and the Caribbean," but the core activities are clearly US-focused.

Target Sector: The target sectors are education, people-to-people exchange, alumni engagement, and transatlantic relations. Specific areas include EU studies, international relations, cultural exchange, and educational program development.

Mentioned Countries: United States.

Project Stage: The project stage is implementation and execution of established programs. The tender focuses on organizing and delivering activities rather than research or development. The activities listed (Euro Challenge, Schuman Challenge, etc.) suggest established programs that require ongoing management and execution.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the tender is 4,000,000 EUR.

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

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for providing services related to education outreach, people-to-people programming, and alumni activities.

Application Stages: The content refers to a "restricted procedure," which typically involves at least two stages: a selection stage based on the capacity to fulfill the contract requirements, and a subsequent award stage where the selected candidates submit full tenders. Therefore, there are at least 2 stages.

Success Rates: The raw content does not provide information on success rates.

Co-funding Requirement: The raw content does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

This opportunity is a call for tenders issued by the European Commission, specifically the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), with the procedure identifier EC-FPI/WAS/2025/EA-RP/0028. The tender, titled "Experience EU – Education, People-to-People and Alumni Work in the United States," aims to strengthen ties between the United States and the European Union through various educational and cultural exchange programs. The estimated total value of the tender is 4,000,000 EUR, and the contract duration is 48 months.

The project involves organizing activities for US students, teachers, and professionals to promote learning about the EU, foster dialogue, and create transatlantic connections. Key work strands include the Euro Challenge, Schuman Challenge, EU-US Emerging Leaders Visitors Programme, Alumni engagement, Model EU, Teaching the EU, EU Studies Seminar, Transatlantic P2P Seminar, presence at US conferences, and communication/outreach activities.

The submission method is electronic, and the deadline for receipt of requests to participate is January 23, 2026. The tender is a restricted procedure, implying a multi-stage application process. Eligible applicants can be single organizations or consortia, and they must register for a Personal Identification Code (PIC). The award method is based on the best price-quality ratio.

The selected organization will be responsible for delivering services related to the specified work strands, contributing to the overall goal of enhancing EU-US relations through educational and cultural exchange. The tender falls under the thematic areas of education, international relations, and cultural exchange, with a strong focus on activities within the United States.