Policy support framework contract 2026-2030

The upcoming procurement opportunity titled "Policy Support Framework Contract 2026-2030" is offered by the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) of the European Commission. The framework contract, with an estimated value of €8,000,000, is intended to provide support and assistance to DG ECHO in developing policies related to humanitarian aid. The contract will allow for the deployment of short-term expertise as needed and provide ongoing support over a maximum duration of 48 months.

This is classified as a service contract, specifically a framework agreement that does not entail reopening competition. The contracting authority published this as a Prior Information Notice (PIN), indicating that it prepares for a formal call for tenders expected to be published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJ S) around September 22, 2025, with the TED publication date set for September 23, 2025.

Eligible applicants for this contract likely include large consulting firms and professional service providers due to the `smeSuitableIndicator` being marked as false, indicating that small and medium-sized enterprises may not qualify. The objective is focused on the operational stage of providing policy support, rather than funding for research or development projects.

The targeted sectors include humanitarian aid policies and consulting services. Although no specific countries have been mentioned, the eligibility for organizations is typically restricted to those in EU member states, EEA countries, or EU candidate countries.

No co-funding is required, as contractors will be compensated for services rendered rather than receiving grants. Interested parties are encouraged to monitor the TED database for the official call for proposals, which will contain necessary details regarding technical specifications and submission requirements.

The opportunity is a planned call for tenders titled "Policy support framework contract 2026-2030" with the procedure identifier EC-ECHO/2025/OP/0032-PIN. It is classified as "forthcoming."

The objective of the Framework Contract is to provide support and assistance to DG ECHO policy development, through the deployment of short-term expertise, readied at short notice, as well as ongoing support in areas related to Humanitarian Aid Policies.

The procedure type is a planned call for tenders with OJ S publication. The estimated total value is 8,000,000 EUR. The TED publication date is 23/09/2025, and the estimated date of publication of a contract notice is 22/09/2025.

The lead contracting authority is the European Commission, DG ECHO European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO). The main classification (CPV) code is 79000000, which corresponds to Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security.

The nature of the contract is for services, with a maximum contract duration of 48 months. It is a framework agreement without reopening of competition.

A question was asked regarding where to find the procurement documents for this call for tenders. The answer provided states that the planned call for tenders announces the intention of the contracting authority to publish a future call for tenders, and that no other information or documents other than those published are available. This answer was published on 17/02/2024 00:54.

In summary, this is a pre-announcement for a significant framework contract aimed at providing policy support to DG ECHO in the area of humanitarian aid. The contract, valued at 8 million EUR, will involve deploying expertise at short notice and providing ongoing support. The actual call for tenders is expected to be published around September 2025, and the contract will run for a maximum of 48 months. Currently, no procurement documents are available, as the announcement only serves to inform potential bidders about the upcoming opportunity. Interested parties should monitor the TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) database for the official publication of the contract notice.

Eligible Applicant Types: The information provided does not explicitly state the eligible applicant types. However, given the nature of a framework contract for policy support and assistance, it is likely that eligible applicants could include consulting firms, research institutions, universities, and other organizations with expertise in humanitarian aid policies and related areas. The call is likely open to entities capable of providing short-term expertise and ongoing support.

Funding Type: The funding type is procurement, specifically a framework contract for services.

Consortium Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. However, framework contracts of this nature often allow both single applicants and consortia to apply. It would depend on the specific requirements outlined in the call for tenders when it is published.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The information does not explicitly state the geographic eligibility. However, since the contracting authority is the European Commission, DG ECHO, it is highly likely that the geographic eligibility includes EU member states. Depending on the specific requirements of the call, it may also be open to organizations from EEA countries, EU candidate countries, or even international organizations.

Target Sector: The target sector is humanitarian aid and civil protection. The framework contract aims to provide support and assistance to DG ECHO policy development in areas related to Humanitarian Aid Policies. The CPV code 79000000 indicates a focus on business services, including law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing, and security, which are all relevant to supporting policy development in the humanitarian sector.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned. The relevant region is the European Union, given the contracting authority is the European Commission, DG ECHO.

Project Stage: This is a framework contract to provide policy support, so it does not directly relate to a specific project stage in the traditional sense (idea, research, development, etc.). Instead, it focuses on providing ongoing support and expertise to DG ECHO as needed. The relevant stage is more akin to "implementation and support" of existing and future policies.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the framework contract is 8,000,000 EUR.

Application Type: The application type is a planned call for tenders with OJ S publication (Official Journal of the European Union, Supplement). This indicates a formal procurement process where the call for tenders will be published in the Official Journal.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for services. The contract is for services related to policy support and assistance.

Application Stages: The information does not provide details on the exact number of application stages. However, a typical call for tenders involves multiple stages, including submission of a proposal, evaluation of proposals, and contract award. It is likely to involve at least 2 or 3 stages.

Success Rates: The success rates cannot be determined from the provided information. Success rates for tenders vary depending on the specific call and the number of applicants.

Co-funding Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required. In general, procurement contracts do not require co-funding from the applicant.

Summary:

This is a planned call for tenders by the European Commission, DG ECHO, for a policy support framework contract with an estimated total value of 8,000,000 EUR. The objective of the framework contract is to provide support and assistance to DG ECHO policy development in areas related to Humanitarian Aid Policies. The contract will involve the deployment of short-term expertise, readied at short notice, as well as ongoing support. The call for tenders is expected to be published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJ S) around September 22, 2025, with the TED publication date on September 23, 2025. The maximum contract duration is 48 months. The contract is a framework agreement without reopening of competition. Organizations with expertise in humanitarian aid policies, consulting, research, and related areas are likely to be eligible to apply. The selected contractor(s) will provide services to DG ECHO in exchange for payment. This is a procurement opportunity, not a grant, and the standard procurement procedures will apply.