Informačno-komunikačné kampane na sociálnych sieťach

Planned negotiated procedure by the European Commission Directorate‑General for Communication (DG COMM) to procure year‑round social media communication campaigns for the EC Representation (procedure reference EC-COMM/BTS/2026/MVP/0182-EXA). The contract covers development of a 12‑month communication strategy and technical and production delivery of campaign materials including graphics, visuals, videos and competitions, with all outputs becoming the property of the EC Representation. The estimated total contract value is €128,000 and the maximum contract duration is 48 months. Expression of interest is electronic via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and EU Login is required; the expression of interest period runs from 10 April 2026 to 25 April 2026 with an indicative launch of the negotiated procedure on 27 April 2026.

High-level summary

What the tender covers

Annual social media communication services for the European Commission Representation:development of a 12-month communication strategy, production and technical delivery of campaign materials (graphics, visuals, videos, competitions, etc.), and ongoing consultation with the Representation. All deliverables become the Commission's property.

Who can apply:Marketing, advertising and communications service providers able to deliver social media strategies and creative production. Electronic submission requires an EU Login account; the contracting authority is European Commission DG COMM - Communication.

1. 1Procedure type: planned negotiated procedure for middle/low value contract
2. 2Estimated total value: €128000
3. 3Main CPV: 79341400 Advertising campaign services
4. 4Maximum contract duration: 48 months
5. 5Expression of interest period: 10/04/2026 to 25/04/2026 (deadline 00:59 Europe/Bratislava)

Submissions of expression of interest are electronic via the F&T Portal; EU Login is required. Indicative launch of the negotiated procedure: 27/04/2026. ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Official tender notice and practical details are on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Tender details.

Základný popis zákazky

Cieľom zákazky je zabezpečiť zrozumiteľnú a atraktívnu celoročnú komunikáciu na sociálnych sieťach Zastúpenia Európskej komisie (Zastúpenie EK), zameranú na konkrétnu cieľovú skupinu. Súčasťou dodávky bude vypracovanie 12-mesačnej komunikačnej stratégie (definovanie základných tém pre informačno-komunikačné kampane) a technické a produkčné zabezpečenie jednotlivých fáz komunikácie vrátane výroby komunikačných prostriedkov: grafiky, vizuálov, videí, súťaží a ďalších formátov. Výber a spracovanie európskych tém bude prebiehať v konzultácii so Zastúpením EK počas trvania zákazky. Všetky komunikačné výstupy budú vo vlastníctve Zastúpenia EK.

Procedure identifier:EC-COMM/BTS/2026/MVP/0182-EXA

Procedure type:Planned negotiated procedure for middle/low value contract (announcement of intent to launch a future negotiated low or middle value procedure).

Lead contracting authority:European Commission, DG COMM - Communication.

Estimated total value:€128,000 (estimated total value for the planned contract).

Nature and classification:Nature of the contract: services. CPV main classification: 79341400 - Advertising campaign services.

Maximum contract duration:48 months (maximum contract duration as indicated).

Key dates and milestones

1. 1Start date for expression of interest: 10/04/2026 (Europe/Brussels).
2. 2Deadline for expression of interest: 25/04/2026 00:59 (Europe/Bratislava).
3. 3Indicative date of launch of the negotiated procedure: 27/04/2026 (Europe/Bratislava).

How to express interest and apply

Expression of interest must be submitted exclusively electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. An EU Login account (two-factor authentication recommended and becoming mandatory progressively in 2026) is required to express interest. Submissions must be sent at the address for submission provided on the Portal (Express interest link).

Method of expression of interest:Electronic submission through the Portal using EU Login account. See EU Login / Funding & Tenders Portal guidance for account setup and 2-factor authentication procedures Funding & Tenders Portal. ¹

Eligibility, scope and applicant requirements

This is a public procurement tender (services) published by the European Commission (DG COMM). The announcement is a planned call; detailed tender documents and selection/award criteria will be published when the negotiated procedure is launched. As a procurement, eligibility will be governed by EU procurement rules and the specific contract notice and tender documents when published. Applicants should be prepared to comply with public procurement eligibility requirements (legal status, financial and economic capacity, professional/technical capacity, absence of exclusion grounds, and any required certifications or declarations).

Eligible Applicant Types

The tender is for service providers in advertising, communication and digital social media production. Eligible applicant types typically include: private companies (SMEs and large enterprises) offering advertising, digital marketing and audiovisual production services; communication agencies; creative agencies; media production companies; consortia of agencies and freelancers; nonprofit organisations or public bodies only if allowed under the procurement rules and able to meet selection criteria. Individuals alone are unlikely to be eligible unless the tender allows natural persons and they meet the contractual and legal requirements. The final tender documents will specify exact eligibility and required supporting evidence.

Funding Type

Primary financial mechanism:procurement contract for services (purchase of advertising/communication services). This is not a grant, loan, or subsidy; it is a service contract awarded following a negotiated procurement procedure.

Consortium Requirement

Consortium may be allowed or encouraged if the tender requires combined capacities (e.g., strategy, creative production, video production, paid media buying). The announcement does not mandate a consortium; a single economic operator may bid. The eventual tender documentation will specify whether joint bids, subcontracting rules and lead partner responsibilities are permitted or required.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility)

As a European Commission procurement, eligible bidders will generally be economic operators established in EU Member States and potentially EEA countries and other countries listed in the procurement documents in line with procurement rules. The announcement itself does not list participating countries; bidders should consult the full tender notice at launch for precise geographic eligibility.

Target Sector

Sector focus:communication and advertising, public affairs communication, digital and social media, audiovisual production. Thematic content relates to European topics selected in consultation with the Representation of the European Commission.

Project Stage and Expected Deliverables

Expected maturity:operational implementation and communications production for a live campaign. Deliverables include a 12-month communication strategy, monthly/periodic campaign planning, creative assets (graphics, visuals), video production, content adapted to social media formats, interactive formats such as competitions, technical implementation of campaign phases, reporting and analytics. The contract may include strategic planning, creative concepting, production, publishing and performance monitoring.

Funding Amount and Contracting Scale

Estimated total value indicated:€128,000. This is the planned estimated value for the procurement; the actual budget per lot or per year will be specified in the tender documents. The contract may be a framework or multi-year agreement up to 48 months.

Application Type and Submission Process

Application type:planned negotiated procedure (call for tender to be launched). Current stage: publication of intent (ExA reference means announcement of intent). Expression of interest is requested electronically via the Portal within stated dates. After the expression of interest phase, the contracting authority will launch the negotiated procedure and invite selected or all interested economic operators in accordance with the chosen procedure.

Nature of Support

Nature of support:monetary—contractual payment for services delivered under a service contract. Beneficiaries (contractor) will receive payments according to the contract terms (service fees, production costs, possibly milestone payments). Non-monetary support (e.g., access to Commission channels for publication) is a feature of service delivery but not a direct financial benefit.

Application Stages

Anticipated stages:1) Expression of interest (electronic) by deadline; 2) Launch of negotiated procedure and submission of tender documentation; 3) Evaluation and possible clarification/negotiation stage under the negotiated procedure; 4) Award and contract signature; 5) Contract execution with periodic deliverables and approvals. Depending on the negotiated procedure specifics, there may be 3 to 4 formal stages from expression of interest to award.

Success Rates

Success rates are not published for this planned procurement. As a competitive procurement with a limited estimated value, success depends on meeting selection and award criteria, quality of the strategic and creative offer, compliance with procurement formalities, price competitiveness and demonstrated capacity. Historically, success rates for EU tenders vary widely; for middle/low value negotiated procedures, a small number of invited bidders are evaluated, so the effective success probability for an invited bidder can be higher than for open restricted procedures but cannot be quantified here.

Co-funding Requirement

No co-funding is required in the sense of matching funding because this is a procurement contract: the contracting authority will pay the contracted price for services. Bidders must price their offers to cover all costs. Any requirement for advance financing, guarantees, or performance bonds will be specified in the tender documents.

Templates and Application Structure

The announcement does not include full tender documents or templates. Expected application documents at tender stage typically include: 1) Request to participate / Form A (legal, identification, exclusion and selection declarations); 2) Economic and financial capacity evidence (balance sheet, turnover statements); 3) Professional and technical capacity evidence (references of similar contracts, CVs of key staff, portfolio of creative work); 4) Technical offer (methodology, 12-month communication strategy outline, content production plan, editorial calendar, sample creative concepts, approach to stakeholder consultation and approvals, measurement and reporting methodology); 5) Financial offer (detailed price breakdown, rates for staff, production and media if requested); 6) Subcontracting plan (if applicable); 7) Certificates or declarations required by the contracting authority. Bidders should prepare standard procurement forms and a clear structure: executive summary, strategic approach, creative concepts, production timeline, team and CVs, portfolio and references, quality assurance, data protection and IP handling, detailed budget and terms. All outputs will be owned by the contracting authority, so bidders should include IP transfer clauses in their proposals as required.

Procurement-specific requirements to anticipate

1. 1Compliance with EU procurement rules and national rules applicable to the authority.
2. 2EU Login account and possible mandatory two-factor authentication to submit documentation.
3. 3Evidence of legal status and financial solvency where requested.
4. 4Proven experience in social media campaigns, creative production and strategy for public institutions or comparable clients.
5. 5Capacity to produce multilingual content if required by the Representation (likely given EU context).
6. 6Ability to transfer full ownership of produced communication outputs to Zastúpenie EK (intellectual property assignment).
7. 7Adherence to Commission branding, visibility and content approval procedures (campaign themes to be consulted with Zastúpenie EK).
8. 8Data protection compliance (GDPR) for any personal data processed during campaigns (competitions, user-generated content).

Mentioned Countries or Regions

The opportunity is published by the European Commission (DG COMM) and is intended for the Representation of the European Commission. The announcement references Europe/Brussels and Europe/Bratislava time zones for milestone dates. No specific beneficiary country list is provided in the announcement; geographic eligibility will follow procurement rules and will typically include EU Member States and possibly EEA and other eligible countries as detailed in the tender dossier.

Intellectual Property and Ownership

All communication outputs produced under the contract will be the property of the Representation of the European Commission. Bidders must be able to assign or license rights to the contracting authority as required by the tender and ensure freedom to operate for any materials used.

Practical recommendations for bidders

1. 1Register and verify an EU Login account well before the expression of interest start date; set up two-factor authentication as required in 2026.
2. 2Prepare a concise capability dossier highlighting previous similar campaigns for public institutions or large multistakeholder clients; include metrics and outcomes.
3. 3Develop a clear 12-month strategic outline and sample creative concepts tailored to a specified target group, showing editorial calendar, content formats and KPIs.
4. 4Detail production capabilities (in-house or subcontracted) for graphics, video and interactive elements; include production timeline and estimated resource allocation.
5. 5Include a comprehensive pricing model with transparent breakdowns for strategy, production, project management and any media buying if requested.
6. 6Ensure GDPR compliance and include procedures for competitions, data collection and moderation of user-generated content.
7. 7Confirm willingness to transfer ownership of produced materials to the Commission and include IP assignment clauses as required.

This announcement is not a call for tender but a publication of intent to launch a negotiated procedure. Interested economic operators should submit an expression of interest electronically within the stated timeframe and monitor the Funding & Tenders Portal for the formal tender launch and full procurement documents.

Footnotes

1. 1Applicant guidance, account registration and two-factor authentication details are available on the Funding & Tenders Portal and EU Login help pages Funding & Tenders Portal and the Portal's EU Login documentation pages.

Opportunity Overview

This is a planned negotiated procedure for a middle or low value service contract issued by the European Commission Directorate-General for Communication (DG COMM). The contracting authority intends to procure comprehensive social media communication campaign services for the EC Representation office. This is not yet an active call for tenders but an advance notice of the Commission's intention to launch a negotiated procedure in the near future.

Procedure Reference:EC-COMM/BTS/2026/MVP/0182-EXA

Procedure Type:Planned negotiated procedure for middle or low value contract

Scope of Work

The contract objective is to procure clear and attractive year-round social media communication for the EC Representation office, targeted at a specifically defined audience. The service provider will be responsible for developing a comprehensive 12-month communication strategy that defines core European themes to be communicated through information and communication campaigns. The contractor must provide technical support across all phases of communication delivery, including production of communication materials such as graphics, visuals, videos, and competitions.

All European themes and information-communication campaign content will be coordinated with the EC Representation office throughout the contract duration. Importantly, all communication outputs and deliverables will become the property of the EC Representation office upon completion.

Financial Information

Estimated Total Contract Value:€128,000

Maximum Contract Duration:48 months

Contract Nature:Services

Main Classification:CPV 79341400 - Advertising campaign services

Key Dates and Milestones

Interested parties should note that this is an advance notice only. The actual call for tenders will be launched following the expression of interest phase. Potential bidders are advised to monitor the EU Funding and Tenders Portal for the formal tender announcement.

Submission Requirements

Submission Method:Electronic submission exclusively

Authentication Requirement:An EU Login account is required for electronic submission of expressions of interest and future tender submissions. As of 1 July 2026, two-factor authentication will be mandatory for all EU Login accounts accessing the portal.

Eligibility and Participation

While specific eligibility criteria are not detailed in the advance notice, this is a service contract for advertising and communication campaign services. Potential bidders should be established service providers with demonstrated expertise in social media strategy development, content creation, and campaign management. The contracting authority will specify detailed eligibility requirements in the formal tender documentation.

Bidders must be able to demonstrate professional capacity in developing comprehensive communication strategies, producing multimedia content, managing social media platforms, and coordinating with EU institutional stakeholders. Experience with EU communication priorities and multilingual campaign delivery would be advantageous.

Important Procedural Notes

This advance notice (marked with 'ExA' in the reference number) is not a formal call for tenders. It announces the Commission's intention to launch a negotiated procedure for a middle or low value contract. The negotiated procedure allows the contracting authority to conduct negotiations with selected candidates on contract terms and conditions, rather than applying a standard competitive tender process. ¹

Procurement documents for this procedure will not be available until the formal tender is launched. Interested parties should register for notifications on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal to receive alerts when the formal call is published. Questions and answers regarding the opportunity will be managed through the portal's Q&A system once the formal tender is launched.

Contracting Authority

The European Commission Directorate-General for Communication (DG COMM) is responsible for explaining EU policies to external audiences, managing the Commission's corporate image, and running pan-European campaigns highlighting EU priorities. The DG COMM coordinates communication activities across the Commission and with other EU institutions and national governments.

Next Steps for Interested Parties

1. 1Create or verify your EU Login account on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal
2. 2Set up two-factor authentication on your EU Login account in preparation for mandatory implementation
3. 3Subscribe to notifications for this opportunity (reference EC-COMM/BTS/2026/MVP/0182-EXA) to receive alerts when the formal tender is launched
4. 4Monitor the portal from 27 April 2026 onwards for the formal call for tenders
5. 5Review procurement documents carefully when published to understand detailed requirements, evaluation criteria, and submission procedures
6. 6Prepare your expression of interest or tender submission according to the specifications provided in the formal tender documentation

For technical support or questions about the procurement process, contact the EU Funding and Tenders Portal helpdesk through the official portal website.

Footnotes

1. 1References featuring 'ExA' in the procedure identifier are advance notices announcing the contracting authority's intent to launch a future negotiated procedure for low or middle value contracts. These are not active calls for tenders and do not allow immediate submission of bids. Formal tender documentation and submission procedures will be published separately when the negotiated procedure is officially launched.