Provision of mobile communications services in Tallinn - Estonia

eu-LISA (European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice) has published ex-ante publicity (reference LISA/2026/LVP/0008-EXA) for a planned negotiated procedure to award a framework agreement for mobile telephone services (CPV 64212000) in Tallinn, Estonia, for a maximum duration of 48 months. This publication is an announcement of intent, not a call for tenders; interested economic operators must submit an electronic expression of interest via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. The expression of interest period runs from 15 April 2026 to 30 April 2026 (deadline 23:59 Europe/Tallinn) and the negotiated procedure is indicatively due to be launched on 05 May 2026. Submissions require an EU Login account and, from 30 June 2026, two-factor authentication will be mandatory for portal access.

Opportunity snapshot

Essential facts

Planned negotiated procedure (low/middle value) to award a framework agreement for mobile-telephone services (CPV 64212000) in Tallinn. Contract duration up to 48 months. Procedure identifier LISA/2026/LVP/0008-EXA. Lead contracting authority: eu-LISA (European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice).

Estimated total value:Not specified in the publication.

Key dates:Start date for expression of interest 15/04/2026. Deadline for expression of interest 30/04/2026 23:59 Europe/Tallinn. Indicative launch of negotiated procedure 05/05/2026.

Who can apply

Commercial suppliers of mobile communications / mobile-telephone services able to provide services in Tallinn and to contract with an EU agency. Electronic submission requires an EU Login account (two-factor authentication will be mandatory during 2026).

How to express interest

Submit an electronic expression of interest via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal using your EU Login account. Submissions must be sent exclusively through the portal address indicated in the procedure record Tender record. ¹

1. 1Procedure type: Planned negotiated procedure for middle/low value contract
2. 2CPV: 64212000 - Mobile-telephone services
3. 3Maximum contract duration: 48 months
4. 4EU Login required for electronic submission; 2-factor authentication becoming mandatory in 2026

Footnotes

1. 1Full opportunity details and submission interface are on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal tender page linked above.

Basic facts and purpose

This is a planned notice (ex ante publicity) announcing the contracting authority's intention to launch a negotiated procedure for a low or middle value contract for the provision of mobile communications services in Tallinn, Estonia. The lead contracting authority is the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA). The procurement reference is LISA/2026/LVP/0008-EXA.

Procedure type:Planned negotiated procedure for middle/low value contract (ExA notice — this publication is not a call for tenders but an announcement of intent).

Main CPV classification:64212000 - Mobile-telephone services.

Nature of contract and duration:Service contract (provision of mobile communications). Maximum contract duration indicated: 48 months. The arrangement is described as a framework agreement.

Key dates and submission method

Milestones published in the notice set the start date for the expression of interest on 15/04/2026 (Europe/Brussels) and the deadline for expressions of interest on 30/04/2026 at 23:59 (Europe/Tallinn). The indicative date to launch the negotiated procedure is 05/05/2026 (Europe/Tallinn).

How to express interest:Expressions of interest must be submitted electronically through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal using an EU Login account. Submissions must be sent exclusively at the electronic address for submission provided on the portal; EU Login authentication (with two-factor authentication becoming mandatory during 2026) is required to submit. EU Funding & Tenders Portal. eu-LISA ¹

Detailed eligibility and application information

The notice itself contains core procurement metadata but does not publish full tender documents at this stage. It confirms the planned negotiated low/middle value procurement route and instructs interested economic operators to express interest electronically via EU Login. No detailed technical specifications, award criteria, estimated total value, or contract drafting terms are included in the ExA notice; these will be provided in the actual procurement documents when the contracting authority launches the negotiated procedure.

1. 1Eligible Applicant Types: Telecommunications operators and providers of mobile telephony services (private telecom companies), SMEs and large enterprises operating in Estonia and the EU, consortia or joint ventures where permitted by the contracting authority, incumbent suppliers, and authorised resellers. Public bodies typically do not bid to provide commercial mobile services, but public-private partnerships could be possible if expressly allowed in the tender documents.
2. 2Funding Type: Public procurement (tender) — service contract (procurement for mobile communications services). This is not a grant, loan or subsidy.
3. 3Consortium Requirement: The notice does not mandate a consortium. The procurement is a negotiated procedure where either a single economic operator or, if permitted by the contract notice/terms, a consortium or joint venture may submit a tender. Applicants should consult the forthcoming tender documents for exact rules on consortiums and lead participant responsibilities.
4. 4Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The contracting authority is an EU agency (eu-LISA); procurement is targeted at operators able to provide services in Tallinn, Estonia. Geographically, eligible bidders are normally economic operators established in EU Member States and potentially EEA or other countries depending on eu-LISA and EU procurement rules; exact eligibility conditions will be in the procurement documents.
5. 5Target Sector: ICT and telecommunications — mobile communications and related services (voice, SMS, data, roaming/managed SIM solutions, mobile device connectivity, possibly M2M/eSIM solutions depending on specification).
6. 6Mentioned Countries: Estonia (Tallinn); contracting authority is an EU Agency serving the EU (eu-LISA).
7. 7Project Stage: Operational delivery / service provision (ongoing operations rather than R&D).
8. 8Funding Amount: Estimated total value not provided in the ExA notice (field left blank). The notice indicates low or middle value procurement but gives no numeric estimate; bidders must check the final tender for contract value and pricing schedules.
9. 9Application Type: Open planned negotiated procedure triggered by an ExA publication. Expression of interest stage is electronic and time-limited (see dates above). This is not invitation-only at the ExA stage, but the negotiated procedure may invite a restricted list of participants.
10. 10Nature of Support: Contractual payment for services (monetary) under a public procurement contract. No non-monetary support is indicated.
11. 11Application Stages: Two-stage process indicated: 1) Expression of interest (electronic via EU Login); 2) Launch of negotiated procedure with invited participants and submission of formal tenders. The negotiated procedure itself may have additional evaluation and negotiation rounds — applicants should expect at least two formal stages overall.
12. 12Success Rates: Not provided. For low/middle value negotiated procedures, success rates depend on number of applicants and selection, but exact historical rates are not published in the notice.
13. 13Co-funding Requirement: Not applicable; public procurement is a supplier contract where the supplier is paid by the contracting authority per contract terms. No co-funding from bidders is required, though bidders must meet financial and technical capacity and may be expected to offer commercially viable pricing.
14. 14Templates: The ExA notice does not include application or tender templates. Formal submission templates (selection and award forms, declarations, financial offers, technical offers) will be published with the procurement documents on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal when the negotiated procedure is launched. Applicants must register an EU Login account and monitor the procedure page for downloadable documents and template forms.

Practical guidance for applicants

Actions recommended before submitting an expression of interest or tender:

1. 1Register an EU Login account immediately if not already registered. From 30 June 2026 two-factor authentication will be mandatory for EU Login and the portal; register and enable at least one 2FA method now (EU Login mobile app, security key/T TPM, passkey, or eID where supported) to avoid access issues ¹.
2. 2Monitor the tender reference page on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal for the launch of the negotiated procedure and to download the full procurement documents, technical specifications, eligibility and selection criteria, award criteria, model contract, and template forms.
3. 3Prepare standard procurement documents typically requested: proof of registration (company extract), financial statements, references for similar contracts (mobile services to institutions or large customers), technical capabilities (network coverage and service-level agreements), certificates (ISO/IEC 27001 if required), and staff CVs if personnel are required.
4. 4Clarify whether the contracting authority allows consortium bids or subcontracting and prepare lead-partner declarations and power of attorney where applicable.
5. 5Review local/regulatory requirements for providing mobile services in Estonia (licensing, roaming agreements, SIM management, GDPR/data protection compliance for EU institutions) and be prepared to document compliance.

What the notice does not include (and where to find it)

The ExA notice does not include:monetary estimate of contract value, detailed technical specifications (scope of mobile services, SIM types, data volumes, roaming needs, device management), award and selection criteria with weights, contract terms and conditions, procurement timetable beyond the dates shown, or templates for submission. These items will be published in the procurement dossier when the negotiated procedure is formally launched on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal under the reference above.

Contact and Q&A:Questions and answers will be handled through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Bidders must log in with EU Login to submit questions; public Q&A will be available on the procedure page when the contracting authority opens the tender.

Summary — What is this opportunity about and how to approach it

This ex ante publicity announces eu-LISA's intention to procure mobile communications services in Tallinn, Estonia, through a planned negotiated low or middle value procurement procedure. The procurement covers mobile-telephone services (CPV 64212000) and is structured as a service framework agreement with a maximum duration of 48 months. Interested suppliers must submit an electronic expression of interest via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal by the stated deadline and must use an EU Login account. The ExA notice provides procurement metadata and timelines but omits detailed technical and contractual documentation, which will be published when the negotiated procedure is launched. Potential bidders should ensure EU Login access with two-factor authentication, prepare corporate, financial and technical evidence of capability to deliver mobile services in Tallinn, and monitor the portal for the full tender dossier.

Footnotes

1. 1EU Login two-factor authentication guidance and enrolment steps are published on the Funding & Tenders Portal and are required for submitting expressions of interest and tender documents. See the Portal Help pages for registering devices, security keys, passkeys, and linking national eID solutions.

This is a planned negotiated procedure for a middle or low value contract (EXA reference:LISA/2026/LVP/0008-EXA) announced by the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA). The opportunity involves providing mobile telephone services (CPV 64212000) in Tallinn, Estonia, for a maximum duration of 48 months under a framework agreement. Note that this is not yet a full call for tenders but ex-ante publicity announcing the intention to launch a negotiated procedure.

Contracting Authority

Lead contracting authority:European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA), based in Tallinn, Estonia. eu-LISA manages large-scale IT systems for border management, asylum, and migration in the EU.

Key Timeline and Milestones

1. 1Start date for expression of interest: 15 April 2026 (Europe/Brussels time)
2. 2Deadline for expression of interest: 30 April 2026, 23:59 (Europe/Tallinn time)
3. 3Indicative date of launch of the negotiated procedure: 05 May 2026 (Europe/Tallinn time)

Submissions for expression of interest must be electronic via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, requiring an EU Login account. As of 30 June 2026, 2-factor authentication will be mandatory for EU Login accounts.

Eligibility and Participation

This is a planned negotiated procedure for middle/low value contracts, open to economic operators expressing interest within the specified window. Successful candidates from expressions of interest will be invited to the negotiated procedure. An EU Login account is required for submission, subscription, and Q&A. Currently, no public Q&A items are available, but questions can be submitted after login.

Contract Details

Nature of contract:Services - Mobile telephone services (CPV 64212000).

Maximum duration:48 months.

Framework agreement:Yes.

Estimated total value:Not specified in the notice (typical for EXA publications at this stage).

Previous similar procurements by eu-LISA include a 2021 direct contract for mobile services in Tallinn (LISA/2021/NP/08), indicating recurring needs for such services.

Application Process

• Create or access an EU Login account at the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.
• Express interest electronically via the 'Express interest' button on the opportunity page.
• Monitor for invitation to the negotiated procedure if shortlisted.
• Prepare for 2FA requirements by June 2026, with options including EU Login app, security keys, passkeys, or eID.

Full details and submission available at EU Funding & Tenders Portal. For ExA procedures, see general guidance on negotiated low/middle value contracts Ex Ante Publicity Guidance. eu-LISA procurement contacts: eulisa-procurement@eulisa.europa.eu.

Additional Considerations

Expressions of interest must be submitted exclusively via the specified electronic address. No procurement documents are available yet, as this is pre-tender publicity. Market operators should monitor the portal for updates. Similar past tenders in Estonia (e.g., Rail Baltica mobile services) were awarded to local providers like Elisa Eesti AS, suggesting preference for operators with strong coverage in the region.

Footnotes

1. 1eu-LISA official website: eu-LISA.