Language learning in English, German and French for the staff of the Joint Research Centre in Karlsruhe (Germany)

The European Commission, DG HR, intends to launch a planned negotiated procedure (EC-HR/IPR/2026/MVP/0223-EXA) to award a framework agreement for in-person language training services in English, German and French at the JRC Karlsruhe site. The contract is classified under CPV 80000000, will be a framework agreement without reopening of competition for up to 36 months, and follows an earlier open call that received no bids. Expressions of interest must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal using an EU Login account between 10 April 2026 and 25 April 2026 (deadline 25/04/2026 00:59 Europe/Rome), with an indicative launch of the negotiated procedure on or after 27 April 2026. Detailed procurement documents, eligibility and award criteria will be published on the portal when the negotiated procedure is formally launched.

Opportunity snapshot

Essential details

Provision of in-person language training in English, German and French for staff of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) in Karlsruhe, Germany. The European Commission (DG HR) plans a negotiated procedure following an earlier unsuccessful open tender for the same lot (reference EC-HR/2024/OP/0111). ¹

What is being procured:Classified under CPV 80000000 Education and training services. A framework agreement (without reopening) for services to run up to 36 months.

Procedure and value:Planned negotiated procedure for a low/middle value contract. Estimated total value is not specified on the notice.

Who can apply:Language training service providers able to deliver in-person courses in Karlsruhe. Electronic submission via EU Login is required for expressions of interest.

Key dates and actions

1. 1Prepare evidence of classroom in-person delivery capacity in Karlsruhe (trainers, rooms, materials).
2. 2Register or ensure access to an EU Login account with required 2-factor authentication to submit electronically.
3. 3Submit an expression of interest through the Funding & Tenders Portal within the stated deadline.

Lead contracting authority:European Commission, DG HR Human Resources and Security. Submissions and further documents will be available via the official tender page: Tender notice. ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Source: EU Funding & Tenders Portal planned call for tenders EC-HR/IPR/2026/MVP/0223-EXA (notice published 03/10/2024). Access and submissions require an EU Login account with two-factor authentication.

Opportunity summary

The European Commission, Directorate-General for Human Resources and Security (DG HR) intends to launch a negotiated procedure (planned low/middle value) to award a framework agreement for in-person language training services in English, German and French for staff of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) located in Karlsruhe, Germany. This publication is an announcement of intent following an earlier open call for tenders (reference EC-HR/2024/OP/0111) which received no bids for this lot. The procedure identifier is EC-HR/IPR/2026/MVP/0223-EXA. The contract classification is CPV 80000000 Education and training services. The framework agreement is to run for up to 36 months and will be awarded without reopening of competition. Submission of expressions of interest is electronic via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and requires an EU Login account. Indicative timeline: expression of interest open 10/04/2026, deadline 25/04/2026 00:59 Europe/Rome, and indicative launch of the negotiated procedure 27/04/2026. More information and the record are available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal EU Funding & Tenders Portal ¹.

Detailed procurement characteristics

Procedure type and nature:Planned negotiated procedure for a middle/low value contract. Nature of contract: services (language training). Main CPV code: 80000000 Education and training services. Contract form: framework agreement, without reopening of competition. Maximum contract duration: 36 months. Lead contracting authority: European Commission, DG HR - Human Resources and Security. Delivery location: Joint Research Centre, Karlsruhe, Germany (in-person training).

Milestones and submission route

Key dates published on the portal:start date for expression of interest 10 April 2026 (Europe/Brussels), deadline for expression of interest 25 April 2026 00:59 (Europe/Rome), indicative date of launch of the negotiated procedure 27 April 2026 (Europe/Rome). Expressions of interest must be submitted electronically through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and require an EU Login account. Submissions must be sent exclusively to the address for submission shown on the portal entry (i.e., the electronic submission interface of the portal).

Procedure reference and portal link:Procedure identifier EC-HR/IPR/2026/MVP/0223-EXA. Portal record and details: EU Funding & Tenders Portal ¹.

Answers to structured categorization questions

Eligible Applicant Types

Eligible applicants:Commercial language training providers, private companies and SMEs offering in-person corporate language training, freelance trainers or consortiums including training centres, vocational education providers, adult education institutions, language schools, and possibly public training bodies where allowed under procurement rules. Nonprofit and educational organisations that are legal entities and meet procurement capability requirements may also bid. Individual natural persons may participate only if national law and the procurement notice permit them to tender; typically contracting authorities expect legal entities. As a DG HR procurement, participation is open to economic operators established in eligible countries covered by the EU procurement rules and the portal (see Beneficiary Scope).

Funding Type

Primary financial mechanism:public procurement / service contract under a negotiated procedure. This is not a grant, loan or equity instrument; it is a tender for the award of a services contract and resulting framework agreement.

Consortium Requirement

Consortiums are allowed but not explicitly mandated. The notice indicates economic operators may submit expressions of interest; bidders may form a consortium or submit joint bids if the tender documents specify joint venture/consortium rules. The framework agreement will be awarded to one or more suppliers per lot as specified in the procurement documents; as this announcement follows a failed open tender for the same lot, the contracting authority is likely to accept single operators or consortia that demonstrate capacity.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility)

Geographic eligibility:operators established in Member States of the European Union and other countries eligible under EU procurement rules and the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Delivery is located in Karlsruhe, Germany, so bidders must be able to provide in-person services in Germany. The portal requires an EU Login to submit expressions of interest; international economic operators from countries party to procurement treaties recognised by the EU may participate if not excluded by the notice.

Target Sector

Target sector:Education and training services, specifically corporate/institutional language training and related pedagogical services (English, German and French). Secondary relevant sectors: human resources development, staff training, adult education, and workplace learning services.

Mentioned Countries

Explicitly mentioned country:Germany (Karlsruhe). Contracting authority: European Commission (based in Brussels) via DG HR. Portal and submission require EU Login; procedure published on EU-level portal. No other specific participating countries are named in the notice.

Project Stage

Project maturity:procurement for operational delivery. This is a service-provision stage requiring suppliers with established operational capacity to deliver in-person training (implementation / service delivery).

Funding Amount

Estimated total value:the portal entry for this planned negotiated procedure does not publish a numeric estimated total value in the scraped text. The record classifies the procurement as low/middle value; therefore the contract value will be within thresholds for negotiated middle or low value procedures as defined by Commission internal rules. Bidders should consult the eventual tender documents for the exact estimated value and budget.

Application Type

Method of application:planned negotiated tender following an expression of interest stage. Expressions of interest must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal (EU Login required). This is an open expression-of-interest (published) leading to an invitation to participate in the negotiated procedure; it is not an open call for tenders at this stage.

Nature of Support

Beneficiaries will receive a paid service contract (monetary payment for services provided). The winning supplier(s) will receive contract revenues for delivering language training services under the framework agreement. Non-monetary support is not part of this procurement.

Application Stages

Stages indicated by the notice:1) publication of intent / call for expressions of interest, 2) submission of expressions of interest (electronic), 3) launch of the negotiated procedure (invitation to submit tenders), 4) evaluation and award of framework agreement, 5) contract signature and implementation. In procurement terms there are at least three formal stages (EOI, negotiated tender, award), but practical steps can include additional administrative checks and clarifications.

Success Rates

No historical success-rate data is provided in the notice. The earlier open call for tenders for the same lot received no bids, indicating competition may be limited. Success rates for such procurement depend on the number of compliant bidders; contracting authorities may award to a single compliant tender if it meets requirements. Prospective bidders should treat success probability as contingent on meeting strict administrative and technical criteria and on the number of competing offers.

Co-funding Requirement

No co-funding from applicants is required or expected; this is a fee-for-service procurement where the contracting authority will pay the contracted supplier under the terms of the framework agreement. Bidders must cover their own bid preparation costs and may be required to demonstrate financial capacity or provide guarantees, depending on tender conditions.

Templates and application structure

The published portal entry is an announcement of intent and does not include full tender documents or templates. Typical procurement documentation to expect in the negotiated procedure will include: technical specification (detailed description of language training requirements, course types, levels, scheduling, participant numbers, learning outcomes, materials and evaluation), administrative and contractual terms (framework agreement draft, general conditions, payment schedule, insurance and liability clauses), selection and award criteria (eligibility, exclusion grounds, financial and technical capacity, past experience, references), pricing schedule / financial offer template (unit prices per teaching hour, travel costs if applicable, hourly rates for trainers, group and individual lesson tariffs), tender submission form and checklist, and declarations (conflict of interest, data protection, GDPR compliance). Bidders should prepare company registration documents, CVs of proposed trainers, examples of similar projects, pedagogical methodology descriptions, sample curricula and assessment methods, proof of capacity to provide in-person training in Karlsruhe (premises or local trainers), and price schedules. Exact templates and structured forms will be made available in the negotiated tender documents published on the portal at the time of launch.

1. 1Prepare EU Login account with two-factor authentication enabled (portal requires EU Login; 2FA became progressively mandatory in 2026).
2. 2Monitor the portal record for publication of the negotiated tender documents around the indicative launch date (27/04/2026).
3. 3Submit an expression of interest electronically by the deadline (25/04/2026 00:59 Europe/Rome).
4. 4When invited, prepare and submit a full tender in line with the technical specification, selection and award criteria and using provided templates.
5. 5Be ready to provide evidence of administrative, legal, technical and financial capacity, CVs of trainers, pedagogical materials, references for similar language training contracts, and pricing details.

Practical recommendations for potential bidders

1) Ensure organisational readiness to deliver in-person language training in Karlsruhe (local trainers or premises). 2) Prepare demonstrable experience in corporate/institutional language training for public sector clients including curricula, assessment methods and participant evaluation. 3) Collect and format administrative documents required for public procurement (company registration, financial statements, insurance certificates, declarations). 4) Create trainer profiles and CVs showing relevant qualifications and language teaching certificates. 5) Develop clear pricing per unit (per hour, per course, group and individual rates) anticipating framework agreement pricing schedules. 6) Register and secure EU Login access and, if not already done, set up two-factor authentication ahead of submission. 7) Monitor the EU portal record for the full negotiated procedure documentation and follow any Q&A published via the portal.

This notice is informational and announces the contracting authority's intent to launch a negotiated procedure for middle/low value service contracts. Bidders must consult the full tender documents when published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal to obtain binding details on eligibility, evaluation, award criteria, contract value, lots, and required supporting documentation. The earlier open call (EC-HR/2024/OP/0111) received no bids for this lot, which may indicate limited past market interest or specific tender conditions that should be reviewed carefully when the full documents are released. ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Full portal entry and official procurement record available at EU Funding & Tenders Portal opportunity page: ec.europa.eu

Procurement Overview

The European Commission, Directorate-General for Human Resources and Security (DG HR), is announcing its intention to launch a negotiated procedure for in-person language training services in English, German, and French for staff at the Joint Research Centre (JRC) facility in Karlsruhe, Germany. This procurement follows an unsuccessful open call for tenders (EC-HR/2024/OP/0111) where no bids were received for this specific lot. The contracting authority has therefore decided to proceed with a negotiated procedure for a middle or low value contract.

Procedure Identifier:EC-HR/IPR/2026/MVP/0223-EXA

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

Nature of Contract:Services

Main Classification:CPV 80000000 - Education and training services

Key Dates and Milestones

Interested service providers must submit their expression of interest electronically by the deadline. The expression of interest phase is critical as it determines which suppliers will be invited to participate in the subsequent negotiated procedure. ¹

Contract Terms and Duration

Maximum Contract Duration:36 months

Framework Agreement:Yes, framework agreement without reopening of competition

The contract will be structured as a framework agreement, meaning the selected service provider(s) will be bound to provide language training services over the 36-month period without the need for reopening the competition for individual training sessions or courses. This provides stability and continuity for the JRC's language training programme.

Scope of Services

The procurement covers in-person language training services in three languages for JRC Karlsruhe staff:

• English language training
• German language training
• French language training

Training must be delivered on-site at the JRC Karlsruhe facility in Germany. The JRC is the science and knowledge service of the European Commission, and the Karlsruhe site is one of five JRC research facilities across Europe. ² Staff development and language skills enhancement are part of the Commission's commitment to supporting employee well-being and lifelong learning.

Submission Requirements

Method of Submission:Electronic submission only

EU Login Requirement:An EU Login account is required for electronic submission

Prospective bidders must have an active EU Login account to submit their expression of interest. EU Login is the European Commission's authentication system. If you do not have an account, you can create one easily using only an email address and password. As of 1 July 2026, two-factor authentication will be mandatory for EU Login accounts accessing the Funding and Tenders Portal. ³

Eligibility and Applicant Profile

While specific eligibility criteria are not detailed in the announcement, typical requirements for language training service providers in EU procurement include:

• Established language training provider with proven experience in corporate or institutional training
• Capacity to deliver in-person training in English, German, and French
• Experience with multilingual staff training programmes
• Ability to tailor courses to different proficiency levels
• Professional instructors with relevant qualifications
• Flexibility to accommodate scheduling for working professionals

The Karlsruhe area in Germany has established language training infrastructure. Local providers such as KERN Training and Hochschule Karlsruhe's Institute for Foreign Languages (IFS) offer language courses in the required languages. ⁴ However, bidders need not be local; the key requirement is the ability to deliver quality in-person training at the JRC Karlsruhe site.

Background and Context

This procurement is part of the European Commission's broader commitment to staff development and lifelong learning. The DG HR is responsible for training and career management for Commission staff. Language skills are essential for international organisations like the European Commission, where multilingualism supports effective communication and collaboration across member states.

The JRC Karlsruhe site is one of five research facilities operated by the Joint Research Centre across Europe, with locations also in Geel (Belgium), Ispra (Italy), Petten (the Netherlands), and Seville (Spain). The Karlsruhe facility conducts research in various scientific and technical areas supporting EU policy development.

Important Notes for Applicants

This announcement is not yet a formal call for tenders. It is a publication of the contracting authority's intention to launch a negotiated procedure in the future. The expression of interest phase is the first step, and only selected providers will be invited to participate in the subsequent negotiated procedure. Detailed procurement documents and specific requirements will be made available once the negotiated procedure is formally launched on or after 27 April 2026.

Interested parties should monitor the EU Funding and Tenders Portal regularly for updates and the formal launch of the negotiated procedure. Questions and clarifications can be submitted through the portal's Q&A section once the formal call is published.

Contact and Further Information

For general inquiries about EU procurement procedures and the Funding and Tenders Portal, contact the EU Funding and Tenders Portal helpdesk. For specific questions about this procurement opportunity, wait for the formal call launch and submit questions through the portal's Q&A mechanism. The contracting authority is the European Commission, Directorate-General for Human Resources and Security.

Footnotes

1. 1Expression of interest submissions are the initial stage of a negotiated procedure. Selected providers will then be invited to submit formal tenders or proposals for the actual contract award.
2. 2The JRC operates research facilities in five EU member states: Belgium (Geel), Germany (Karlsruhe), Italy (Ispra), the Netherlands (Petten), and Spain (Seville), with headquarters in Brussels.
3. 3Two-factor authentication methods include registered mobile devices with the EU Login app, security keys, trusted platforms, passkeys on mobile devices, or national eID cards. Users should register at least one method before 1 July 2026.
4. 4Local language training providers in Karlsruhe include KERN Training (Kaiserstrasse 84, 76133 Karlsruhe, phone +49 721 8 31 83 57) and Hochschule Karlsruhe's Institute for Foreign Languages (IFS), which offer courses in English, German, French and other languages at various CEFR proficiency levels.