Media relations and outreach activities

The European Commission's Directorate-General for Communication has issued a call for tenders under the identifier EC-COMM/2025/OP/0051, aimed at establishing a framework contract for services related to media relations and outreach. The total estimated value of this contract is €75 million, and it is structured for a period of 48 months. This opportunity is focused on providing a range of services including the design, implementation, follow-up, and evaluation of media information events, press trips, and outreach activities, particularly online events.

Eligible applicants for this tender are primarily large enterprises and specialized service providers, although small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may also apply. The specific procurement type is a service contract, with an emphasis on quality as it follows a best price-quality ratio for evaluation criteria. The process is open and involves an electronic submission method with a deadline set for July 10, 2025, at 18:00, local Brussels time.

The evaluation of applications will be based on three primary selection criteria: suitability to pursue the professional activity, economic and financial standing, and technical and professional ability. No explicit mention of a consortium requirement suggests that both individual companies and collaborative groups can participate. However, the absence of a required co-funding component further clarifies that successful applicants will receive monetary compensation directly for the services provided under the contract.

Significant milestones include publication dates and specific deadlines for questions and submissions, along with guidance on the expected format and length of proposals. Applicants need to account for a variety of contractual stipulations outlined in the tender documents, including information on intellectual property rights, security requirements, and financial offers.

Overall, this tender represents a significant opportunity for experienced service providers in the public relations and media sector, with a strong focus on delivering comprehensive services to EU institutions. Interested organizations are encouraged to download the relevant documentation from the European Commission's dedicated portal for further details on submission requirements and specifics.

The European Commission, DG COMM Communication, has published a call for tenders with procedure identifier EC-COMM/2025/OP/0051. The TED reference is 96/2025 324449-2025. This is an inter-institutional call for tenders.

The objective of this invitation to tender is to provide the participating EU institutions and bodies with a Framework Contract for the provision of a range of services for the design, implementation, follow-up and evaluation of information events for the media, including press trips, and media relations as well as outreach activities including interactive online events.

The procedure type is open. The estimated total value is 75,000,000 EUR. The TED publication date is 20/05/2025. The nature of the contract is for services. The maximum contract duration is 48 months. The award method is best price-quality ratio. It is a framework agreement without reopening of competition. The main classification (CPV) code is 79416000 Public relations services.

The selection criteria include: Suitability to pursue the professional activity, Economic and financial standing, and Technical and professional ability. Please consult the procurement documents for details on these criteria.

Key milestones include: TED publication date: 20/05/2025. Date and time of public opening: 11/07/2025 10:30 Europe/Brussels. Deadline for receipt of tenders: 10/07/2025 18:00 Europe/Brussels. The contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after 03/07/2025 05:00 Europe/Brussels.

Submissions must be sent exclusively at the address for submission given below, using the electronic submission method.

The following documents are available for download:

EN Invitation to tender Invitation letter Published on 20/05/2025 Version 1 No translations available
EN Technical specifications Technical specifications Published on 20/05/2025 Version 1 No translations available
EN Annex 6B technical Offer Financial offer form Published on 20/05/2025 Version 1 No translations available
EN Annex 2 declaration-of-honour Declaration on honour (tender) Published on 20/05/2025 Version 1 No translations available
EN Appendix 2 Security requirements Draft contract annex Published on 20/05/2025 Version 1 No translations available
EN Annex V SLA Draft contract annex Published on 20/05/2025 Version 1 No translations available
EN Annex VI on IPR Draft contract annex Published on 20/05/2025 Version 1 No translations available
EN Annex VII on VAT for group members Draft contract annex Published on 20/05/2025 Version 1 No translations available
EN Annex IV FWC accommodation flat-rate ceilings Draft contract annex Published on 20/05/2025 Version 1 No translations available
EN Annex 7 Technical selection template T1 Other invitation to tender document Published on 20/05/2025 Version 1 No translations available

According to the terms of reference, proposals per Case Study must not exceed fifty (20) pages excluding WBS and annexes, in A4 format. Proposals per Case Study must not exceed twenty-five (25) pages per Case Study excluding annexes, in an A4 typewritten form. Annexes must be properly referenced in the treatment. This information was published on 23/05/2025 14:41.

In summary, this is a call for tenders from the European Commission, DG COMM, seeking a framework contract for media relations, outreach, and information event services for EU institutions. The contract is valued at 75 million EUR and will last for 48 months. The deadline for submitting tenders is July 10, 2025. The call is open to all eligible organizations, and the award will be based on the best price-quality ratio. Interested parties should download the tender documents and submit their proposals electronically by the deadline. The tender involves providing services related to media events, press trips, media relations, and online outreach activities.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, given the nature of the tender for providing services related to media relations and outreach, it can be inferred that eligible applicants could include companies, agencies, or organizations with expertise in public relations, media, communication, event management, and related fields. This could encompass SMEs, large enterprises, and potentially non-profit organizations with relevant capabilities. The selection criteria mention "Suitability to pursue the professional activity," suggesting that the applicants must be entities capable of performing the services described.

Funding Type: The funding type is procurement, specifically a call for tenders. The objective is to establish a Framework Contract for services.

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required or if a single applicant is sufficient. However, the mention of "Annex VII on VAT for group members" suggests that consortia are permitted, as this annex addresses VAT considerations for group members. Therefore, either a single applicant or a consortium could be eligible.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is not explicitly stated, but given that this is an EU call for tenders from the European Commission, it is highly likely that the primary geographic eligibility is for entities located within the EU and potentially the EEA. The call is inter-institutional, implying that the services are intended for EU institutions and bodies.

Target Sector: The target sector is media relations, outreach, and interactive online actions. Specifically, the tender focuses on providing services for the design, implementation, follow-up, and evaluation of information events for the media, including press trips, media relations, and outreach activities, including interactive online events. The CPV code provided (79416000) confirms that the main classification is public relations services.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned. The relevant region is the EU, as the call is from the European Commission and targets EU institutions and bodies.

Project Stage: This is not a project-based funding opportunity but rather a framework contract for services. The relevant stage is the provision of services, encompassing design, implementation, follow-up, and evaluation.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the framework contract is 75,000,000 EUR. This is the overall budget for the contract, not individual grants or funding amounts.

Application Type: The application type is an open call for tenders, with electronic submission.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for services rendered under the framework contract. This is a service contract, so the support is financial compensation for the provision of media relations and outreach services.

Application Stages: The number of application stages is not explicitly stated, but it can be inferred that there are multiple stages. These likely include: submission of the tender, evaluation of suitability to pursue the professional activity, assessment of economic and financial standing, evaluation of technical and professional ability, and potentially negotiation before the framework contract is awarded.

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

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement. Given that this is a procurement contract for services, co-funding is unlikely.

Summary:

This is an open call for tenders (EC-COMM/2025/OP/0051) issued by the European Commission, DG COMM, with a TED reference of 96/2025 324449-2025. The objective is to establish a framework contract for the provision of media relations, outreach, and interactive online event services to participating EU institutions and bodies. The estimated total value of the contract is 75,000,000 EUR, and the maximum contract duration is 48 months. The award method is based on the best price-quality ratio. The submission method is electronic, with a deadline for receipt of tenders on 10/07/2025 at 18:00 Europe/Brussels. The contracting authority will not reply to questions submitted after 03/07/2025 at 05:00 Europe/Brussels. The tender documents include an invitation letter, technical specifications, a financial offer form, a declaration of honor, security requirements, service level agreement (SLA), information on intellectual property rights (IPR), VAT considerations for group members, accommodation flat-rate ceilings, and a technical selection template. The selection criteria include suitability to pursue the professional activity, economic and financial standing, and technical and professional ability. The proposals per Case Study must not exceed fifty (20) pages excluding WBS and annexes, in an A4. The proposals per Case Study must not exceed twenty-five (25) pages per Case Study excluding annexes, in an A4 typewritten form. Annexes must be properly referenced in the treatment. The contract is for services related to the design, implementation, follow-up, and evaluation of information events for the media, including press trips, and media relations as well as outreach activities including interactive online events.