From comparison to recognition: Developing a methodology for the recognition of VET qualifications across Europe

The European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP) has issued a call for tenders identified as CEDEFOP/2025/OP/0013. This tender, titled "From comparison to recognition: Developing a methodology for the recognition of VET qualifications across Europe," aims to create a user-oriented methodology that supports the recognition of foreign Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications throughout the European Union (EU).

The project will build upon prior work by CEDEFOP and other relevant international and EU initiatives. Its objectives include mapping and analyzing current national policies and practices related to the comparison and recognition of VET qualifications, with a focus on access to employment and further learning. The endeavor seeks to identify common approaches and criteria to generate evidence-based guidance for a coherent and flexible recognition process for VET qualifications.

This is a public procurement opportunity with an estimated total value of 360,000 EUR. The contract duration can extend to a maximum of 36 months and is structured as a framework agreement, where submissions will be evaluated based on the best price-quality ratio. The tender is characterized by an open call, necessitating electronic submissions exclusively via the EU Funding and Tenders Portal.

Key milestones include: the TED publication date set for December 4, 2025; the deadline for tender submissions on January 30, 2026; and the public opening of tenders scheduled for February 3, 2026, at 12:00 (Brussels time). Queries regarding the tender must be submitted by January 22, 2026, to receive responses from the contracting authority.

Participating organizations may include service providers, consultants, research institutions, and relevant entities in vocational education. The documentation implies that consortium arrangements are permitted. A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for participation, and all submissions must comply with outlined electronic submission requirements. The project will not require co-funding from successful applicants.

Overall, this is a significant procurement opportunity aimed at enhancing VET qualification recognition across Europe, ultimately facilitating better access to employment and educational pathways for individuals with foreign qualifications.

The European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP) has published a call for tenders with the procedure identifier CEDEFOP/2025/OP/0013. The call, titled "From comparison to recognition: Developing a methodology for the recognition of VET qualifications across Europe," aims to develop a user-oriented methodology to support the recognition of foreign Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications across the EU.

The study will build on previous work by Cedefop and other relevant international and EU initiatives. It will map and analyze national policies and practices related to the comparison and recognition of VET qualifications and skills, with a particular focus on access to employment and pathways to further learning. The study intends to identify common approaches and criteria, and draw on comprehensive country-specific data to generate evidence-based guidance designed to enable a coherent and flexible approach to the recognition of VET qualifications.

This is an open procedure with an estimated total value of 360,000 EUR. The TED publication date is 04/12/2025. The maximum contract duration is 36 months. The award method will be based on the best price-quality ratio. This is a framework agreement without reopening of competition.

Key milestones include: TED publication date: 04/12/2025, Date and time of public opening: 03/02/2026 12:00 Europe/Athens, Deadline for receipt of tenders: 30/01/2026 15:59 Europe/Athens. The contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after 22/01/2026 06:00 Europe/Athens.

Submissions must be sent exclusively via electronic submission.

The main classification (CPV) code is 73000000, which refers to Research and development services and related consultancy services. The nature of the contract is for services.

The following documents are available for download:

1. Invitation-to-tender-e-submission (Invitation letter), published on 04/12/2025, Version 1.
2. Tender Specifications Recognition of VET qualifications (Tender specifications), published on 04/12/2025, Version 1.
3. ANNEX B - Draft FWC (Draft contract), published on 04/12/2025, Version 1.
4. ANNEX C - Declaration-honour (Other invitation to tender document), published on 04/12/2025, Version 1.
5. ANNEX E - Technical Proposal (Other invitation to tender document), published on 04/12/2025, Version 1.
6. ANNEX G - Questionnaire 5 (Other invitation to tender document), published on 04/12/2025, Version 1.
7. ANNEX G Questionnaires 1-6 (Other invitation to tender document), published on 04/12/2025, Version 1.
8. ANNEX H - Financial proposal (Financial offer form), published on 04/12/2025, Version 1.
9. ANNEX I Power of attorney Consortium FWC (Other invitation to tender document), published on 04/12/2025, Version 1.
10. ANNEX J (a) Model letter of Intent Subcontractor (Other invitation to tender document), published on 04/12/2025, Version 1.

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In summary, this call for tenders focuses on developing a methodology for recognizing VET qualifications across the EU. The European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP) is seeking a contractor to conduct a study that maps and analyzes national policies and practices related to VET qualification recognition. The goal is to create evidence-based guidance that promotes a coherent and flexible approach to recognizing these qualifications, ultimately facilitating access to employment and further learning for individuals with foreign VET credentials. The tender is an open procedure, meaning any eligible organization can apply, and the selection will be based on the best price-quality ratio. The project has a budget of 360,000 EUR and a maximum duration of 36 months. The deadline for submitting tenders is January 30, 2026.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated, but given the nature of the tender, it is likely open to organizations with expertise in research and development, vocational training, and education. This could include research institutes, universities, consulting firms, and other entities with relevant experience. The mention of "Power of attorney Consortium FWC" suggests that consortia are also eligible.

Funding Type: The funding type is a procurement, specifically a service contract. The call is an invitation to tender, and the nature of the contract is for services.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity appears to allow for both single applicants and consortia. The presence of "Power of attorney Consortium FWC" in the document list indicates that consortia are eligible and possibly encouraged.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The description mentions the recognition of VET qualifications across the EU, suggesting that the beneficiary scope is primarily focused on the EU. The study aims to develop a methodology applicable across the EU.

Target Sector: The target sector is primarily education and vocational training (VET), with a focus on the recognition of qualifications and skills. It also touches upon research and development services, as indicated by the CPV code 73000000.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity focuses on the European Union (EU) as a region, aiming to develop a methodology applicable across EU member states. No specific countries are explicitly mentioned, but the scope is the EU.

Project Stage: The project stage is research and development, leading to the development of a methodology and evidence-based guidance. The study will map and analyze existing policies and practices, identify common approaches, and generate guidance, indicating a development stage.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the contract is 360,000 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, as this is a service contract. The selected tenderer will be paid for conducting the study and developing the methodology.

Application Stages: The number of application stages is not explicitly mentioned, but it is likely a multi-stage process involving submission of a tender, evaluation, and contract award. The documents suggest at least a technical proposal and a financial proposal are required.

Success Rates: The success rates are not mentioned.

Co-funding Requirement: There is no explicit mention of a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

This is a call for tenders issued by the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP). The project, titled "From comparison to recognition: Developing a methodology for the recognition of VET qualifications across Europe," aims to create a user-oriented methodology to support the recognition of foreign Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications across the European Union. The selected contractor will be responsible for mapping and analyzing national policies and practices related to the comparison and recognition of VET qualifications, with a focus on access to employment and further learning. The study will identify common approaches and criteria, using country-specific data to develop evidence-based guidance for a coherent and flexible approach to VET qualification recognition. The procedure is an open call for tenders, requiring electronic submission. The estimated total value of the contract is 360,000 EUR, and the maximum contract duration is 36 months. The award method is based on the best price-quality ratio. The deadline for receipt of tenders is January 30, 2026. The contracting authority will not reply to questions submitted after January 22, 2026. Tenderers must submit a technical proposal, a financial proposal, and other required documents as outlined in the tender specifications. A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for participation. The eSubmission system supports multiple file types, with a maximum of 200 files and a size limit of 50 MB per file. The system supports all 24 official EU languages and uses encryption to ensure data integrity and confidentiality.