Library Services Platform

This opportunity is a call for tenders issued by the European Commission, Publications Office, for a cloud-based Library Services Platform (LSP) valued at €9 million. The tender is structured as an 8-year framework contract and seeks a commercially available Software as a Service (SaaS) solution to provide library services to EU institutions and potentially associated organizations. Applicants eligible to apply must be large enterprises or service providers with significant technical and operational infrastructure, as small and medium enterprises are explicitly excluded.

The procurement is designed to deliver an integrated Library Services Platform, which must include a Resource Discovery Service (RDS), migration from existing systems, comprehensive implementation support, and long-term maintenance and technical support. The expected solution needs to comply with EU data protection and security regulations and support multilingual functionalities.

The procedure is classified as an open call, allowing any qualified entity to submit a proposal via the EU Funding and Tenders Portal electronically. The deadline for submitting tenders is March 19, 2026, at 16:00 Brussels time, and a clarity request period will end on March 11, 2026.

The evaluation of the tenders will be based on a quality-price ratio, with 70% weighting on the quality of the proposal and 30% on the cost. This emphasizes the importance of the solution’s suitability over cost savings alone. The successful contractor will be compensated based on deliverables and performance, receiving full funding without a co-funding requirement.

Applicants must prepare complete proposals, including administrative and technical specifications, along with required documents outlined in the invitation to tender. The existing contract, EAC/22/2016, will be replaced through this process. As detailed procurement documents offer insights into application requirements and technical specifications, interested parties are encouraged to consult these resources for framework compliance and proposal finalization.

This is a call for tenders for a Library Services Platform. The procedure identifier is EC-OP/2025/OP/0027. The submission method is electronic and open for submission. The framework contract's scope is to provide a cloud-based Library Services Platform (LSP) with an integrated Resource Discovery Service (RDS), delivered under the Software as a Service (SaaS) model. This includes migration and implementation services, as well as comprehensive maintenance and support. The procedure type is an open procedure. The estimated total value is 9,000,000 EUR. The TED publication date is 26/01/2026. The lead contracting authority is the European Commission, Publications Office. The main classification (CPV) is 72212160 - Library software development services. The nature of the contract is services. The maximum contract duration is 96 months. The award method is the best price-quality ratio. It is a framework agreement without reopening of competition. The date and time of public opening is 20/03/2026 11:00 Europe/Luxembourg. The deadline for receipt of tenders is 19/03/2026 16:00 Europe/Luxembourg. The contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after 12/03/2026 05:59 Europe/Luxembourg.

There are 30 documents available for download:
EN01 AO EC-OP2025OP0027 Invitation to tender Invitation letter, published on 26/01/2026, Version 1, No translations available.
EN02 AO EC-OP2025OP0027 Tender specifications Part 1 Administrative specifications Tender specifications - adm. part, published on 26/01/2026, Version 1, No translations available.
EN03 AO EC-OP2025OP0027 Tender specifications Part 2 Technical specifications Technical specifications, published on 26/01/2026, Version 1, No translations available.
EN05 ANNEX 01 AO EC-OP2025OP0027 Abbreviation List-1 Other invitation to tender document, published on 26/01/2026, Version 1, No translations available.
EN06 ANNEX 02 AO EC-OP2025OP0027 Glossary Other invitation to tender document, published on 26/01/2026, Version 1, No translations available.
EN07 ANNEX 03 AO EC-OP2025OP0027 List of documents to be submitted-1 Other invitation to tender document, published on 26/01/2026, Version 1, No translations available.
EN08 ANNEX 04 AO EC-OP2025OP0027 Declaration on honour exclusion selection criteria Declaration on honour (tender), published on 26/01/2026, Version 1, No translations available.
EN09 ANNEX 05A AO EC-OP2025OP0027 Form identification tenderer Other invitation to tender document, published on 26/01/2026, Version 1, No translations available.
EN10 ANNEX 05B AO EC-OP2025OP0027 Persons designated sign FWC contact person Draft contract annex, published on 26/01/2026, Version 1, No translations available.
EN11 ANNEX 06A AO EC-OP2025OP0027 Questionnaire joint tenders subcontracting Other invitation to tender document, published on 26/01/2026, Version 1, No translations available.

Submissions must be sent exclusively at the address for submission given. The submission method is electronic.

One question and answer is available:
Question: Is the present tender the continuation of a past tender?
Answer: The FWC, which will be concluded following this procurement procedure, will replace contract EAC/22/2016, currently in force. Participation in the present procurement procedure is open. Published on 29/01/2026 15:49.

An updated version of the file “27 ANNEX 18 AO EC-OP2025OP0027 Technical specifications Questionnaire ” published on 28/01/2026, replaces the previous version published on 26/01/2026.

In summary, this is a European Commission call for tenders to establish a framework contract for the provision of a cloud-based Library Services Platform (LSP) with an integrated Resource Discovery Service (RDS), delivered under the Software as a Service (SaaS) model. The contract includes migration, implementation, maintenance, and support services. The estimated value of the contract is 9 million EUR, and the maximum duration is 96 months. The procedure is an open procedure, meaning any interested party can submit a tender. The deadline for submitting tenders is March 19, 2026. The contract will replace the existing contract EAC/22/2016. Tenderers must submit their proposals electronically and should consult the provided documents, including the invitation letter, administrative and technical specifications, and annexes, to prepare a compliant and competitive offer. A questionnaire regarding joint tenders and subcontracting is also included.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated, but based on the nature of the tender, it is likely open to companies or organizations that can provide a cloud-based Library Services Platform (LSP) with an integrated Resource Discovery Service (RDS) under a Software as a Service (SaaS) model. This could include SMEs, large enterprises, or consortia with relevant expertise.

Funding Type: Procurement. This is a call for tenders, indicating a procurement procedure where the European Commission seeks to purchase services.

Consortium Requirement: The documentation includes a questionnaire for joint tenders and subcontracting, suggesting that both single applicants and consortia are eligible.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is not explicitly stated, but given that it is a European Commission tender, it is likely open to entities within the EU and potentially the EEA or other countries with agreements with the EU.

Target Sector: This program targets the ICT sector, specifically focusing on library software development services. It also touches upon the education sector, as it concerns library services.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned. The relevant region is the EU, as the European Commission is the lead contracting authority.

Project Stage: The project stage is for a fully developed and ready-to-deploy solution, as the tender is for the provision of a cloud-based Library Services Platform, including migration, implementation, maintenance, and support.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the contract is 9,000,000 EUR.

Application Type: Open call. The procedure type is explicitly stated as an open procedure.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for services rendered, specifically the provision of a Library Services Platform and related services.

Application Stages: The number of application stages is not explicitly mentioned, but it can be inferred that there are multiple stages, including submission of the tender, evaluation, and contract award.

Success Rates: The success rates are not mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The need for co-funding is not explicitly stated.

Summary:

This is a call for tenders (EC-OP/2025/OP/0027) issued by the European Commission, Publications Office, for the provision of a cloud-based Library Services Platform (LSP) with an integrated Resource Discovery Service (RDS), delivered under the Software as a Service (SaaS) model. The tender includes migration and implementation services, as well as comprehensive maintenance and support. The procedure is an open procedure, meaning any eligible organization can submit a tender. The estimated total value of the framework contract is 9,000,000 EUR, and the maximum contract duration is 96 months. The deadline for receipt of tenders is 19/03/2026 at 16:00 Europe/Luxembourg. The contract will be awarded based on the best price-quality ratio. The FWC, which will be concluded following this procurement procedure, will replace contract EAC/22/2016, currently in force.
To participate, interested parties must submit their tenders electronically, including all required documents such as the invitation to tender, administrative specifications, technical specifications, abbreviation list, glossary, list of documents to be submitted, declaration on honour, form for identification of the tenderer, details of persons designated to sign the FWC, a questionnaire for joint tenders and subcontracting, and any other relevant information.