Legal advice, pre-litigation and litigation services in relation to EU staff matters

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is issuing a tender for legal services focused on EU staff matters. This procurement opportunity involves establishing two framework contracts with qualified law firms to provide essential legal expertise in areas such as the interpretation of EU Staff Regulations and support in pre-litigation and litigation processes before EU courts.

Eligible applicants are primarily law firms with significant experience. The tender explicitly states that it is not suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises, indicating a preference for larger law firms capable of handling complex legal matters efficiently. No geographic restrictions are detailed, but participants are likely expected to be based in EU or EEA countries.

The total indicative budget for this tender is €170,000, covering the duration of up to four years, with an initial contract period of one year and the possibility for three twelve-month renewals. The selection process is open and competitive, requiring firms to submit their proposals electronically by the deadline of February 17, 2026, at 12:00 CET. The assessment criteria prioritize quality at 70% and price at 30%.

The type of services sought includes legal advisement on staff employment conditions, drafting legal documents, representation before the Court of Justice of the European Union, and participation in meetings to discuss legal strategies and case developments.

Interested firms must ensure no conflicts of interest that could impair their performance. The award method will hinge on the best price-quality ratio, encouraging firms to demonstrate both expertise and competitive pricing in their bids. The EMA has set clear deadlines for submission and clarification requests, and the tender documents are available for review and download through the designated electronic platform.

This procurement serves the vital function of providing specialized legal support to the EMA without establishing permanent in-house counsel, thereby allowing flexibility in managing legal disputes and employment-related issues efficiently.

This is an invitation to tender, reference number EMA.2026.OP.0001, published on January 20, 2026. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is planning to launch a tender procedure for the procurement of legal services. The tender is for legal advice, pre-litigation, and litigation services related to EU staff matters. The procedure type is an open procedure.

The tender covers two main areas:

a) Legal advice related to the interpretation and implementation of the Staff Regulations of Officials and Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union, Protocol No. 7 on the Privileges and Immunities of the European Union, and other employment condition matters. These are collectively referred to as "EU staff matters."

b) Pre-litigation and litigation services related to the interpretation and implementation of the same provisions as in (a), concerning appeals, complaints, or disputes related to EU staff matters.

The scope of the tender is to establish two framework contracts with two qualified and experienced law firms. The services required include:

Advising the Agency on the legal implications of situations.
Drafting and reviewing documents related to cases and assisting in preparing the Agency's defense.
Drafting replies to complaints and other correspondence.
Participating in related meetings and discussions, usually via teleconference.
Assisting with the preparation of documents for written procedures and oral hearings, ensuring submission via e-curia or other means.
Providing legal representation for the Agency before the EU jurisdiction.

The legal services will typically be provided at the law firms' premises. However, attendance at the Agency's premises in Amsterdam or at the Court of Justice of the European Union may be required.

The maximum indicative budget for this tender is 170,000 EUR. The contract awarded will be for an initial duration of one year, renewable three times for one year each time, resulting in a maximum contract duration of four years.

Tenderers and their lawyers must not have any conflicting interests that could negatively affect the performance of the contract. Impartiality and objectivity are essential.

Key milestones for this tender are:

TED publication date: January 20, 2026
Date and time of public opening: February 17, 2026, at 14:00 Europe/Amsterdam time.
Deadline for receipt of tenders: February 17, 2026, at 12:00 Europe/Amsterdam time.
Deadline for questions: February 10, 2026, at 05:59 Europe/Amsterdam time.

The award method will be based on the best price-quality ratio. The nature of the contract is a framework agreement without reopening of competition.

The main classification (CPV) code for this tender is 79110000, which refers to legal advisory and representation services.

The estimated total value of the tender is 170,000 EUR, and the maximum contract duration is 48 months.

The following documents are available for download:

Invitation to Tender EMA.2026.OP.0001 Invitation letter
Technical Specifications EMA.2026.OP.0001 Tender specifications
Annex I Tender Specifications EMA.2026.OP.0001 Tender specifications - adm. part
Annex II Tender Specifications EMA.2026.OP.0001 Financial offer form
Annex III Tender Specifications EMA.2026.OP.0001 Declaration on honour (tender)
Annex IV Tender Specifications EMA.2026.OP.0001 Tender specifications - adm. part
Annex V Tender Specifications EMA.2026.OP.0001 Tender specifications - adm. part
Annex VI Tender Specifications EMA.2026.OP.0001 Tender specifications - adm. part
Annex VII Draft FWC Tender Specifications EMA.2026.OP.0001 Draft contract
Annex VIII Tender Specifications EMA.2026.OP.0001 Tender specifications - adm. part

Submissions must be sent exclusively via electronic means to the address provided in the submission terms.

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In summary, the European Medicines Agency is seeking qualified law firms to provide legal advice, pre-litigation, and litigation services related to EU staff matters. This tender aims to establish two framework contracts for a duration of up to four years. The services include advising the agency, drafting legal documents, participating in meetings, and representing the agency in legal proceedings. The submission process is electronic, and interested parties must adhere to the specified deadlines and technical requirements. The tender will be awarded based on the best price-quality ratio, and the selected firms must ensure impartiality and objectivity in their services. The total indicative budget for this tender is 170,000 EUR.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant type is law firms, comprising practicing lawyers as individuals. The tender specifies that two framework contracts will be established with two suitably qualified and experienced law firms.

Funding Type: The funding type is procurement, specifically a service contract. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is procuring legal advice, pre-litigation, and litigation services.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required or not. However, it mentions establishing two framework contracts with two law firms, suggesting that single applicants are eligible. It is possible that a consortium of law firms could also apply, but this is not explicitly stated.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is not explicitly stated, but given that it is a tender from the European Medicines Agency, it is highly likely that the eligible applicants must be based in the EU or EEA countries.

Target Sector: The target sector is legal services, specifically legal advisory and representation services related to EU staff matters. The Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV) code provided is 79110000, which confirms this.

Mentioned Countries: Amsterdam (Netherlands), Court of Justice of the European Union (Luxembourg).

Project Stage: The project stage is for established law firms to provide ongoing legal services. It is not related to a specific project stage like research or development.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value is 170,000 EUR.

Application Type: The application type is an open call for tenders.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for providing legal services.

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.

Success Rates: The success rates are not mentioned.

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding is not required.

Summary:

This is a call for tenders by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to procure legal services related to EU staff matters. The EMA plans to establish two framework contracts with two qualified law firms. The services include legal advice, pre-litigation, and litigation support concerning the interpretation and implementation of EU Staff Regulations, the Protocol on Privileges and Immunities, and other employment-related matters. The selected law firms will advise the Agency, draft legal documents, participate in meetings, and represent the Agency before EU jurisdictions, potentially at the EMA premises in Amsterdam or the Court of Justice of the European Union. The maximum indicative budget for this tender is 170,000 EUR. The contract will be for an initial duration of one year, renewable up to three times, resulting in a maximum duration of four years. The procedure type is an open procedure, and submissions must be sent electronically. The deadline for receipt of tenders is 17/02/2026 at 12:00 Europe/Amsterdam. Tenderers must ensure their lawyers do not have any conflicting interests that could compromise the impartial performance of the contract. The award method will be based on the best price-quality ratio.