Service Framework Contract for the provision of “Media and Communication Support Services”

The European Defence Agency (EDA) invites open tenders for a Service Framework Contract for Media and Communication Support Services with an estimated maximum value of €1,000,000 and a maximum duration of 48 months. The framework covers audiovisual production, social media campaigns, publications, promotional materials, event communication and related consultancy, with specific contracts issued under the framework without reopening competition. Submission is electronic via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal by 12 October 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time and award will be based on the most economically advantageous tender using a 70 percent technical and 30 percent price weighting. Eligible economic operators must meet exclusion and selection criteria, including specified financial capacity and relevant past performance as set out in the tender documents.

Call and contracting authority

EDA/2026/OP/0009 — European Defence Agency

What it funds:a single framework contract to provide media and communication support services including video and multimedia production, social media management and paid campaigns, publications and printing, promotional materials, strategic outreach to Member States, photography, podcasts and related services.

Estimated maximum value:€1,000,000 maximum contract ceiling for the framework (total over the full duration).

Duration and contract form:Framework agreement up to 48 months with specific contracts/orders called during the framework.

Who can apply and key eligibility

Open procedure procurement. Eligible tenderers:legal persons and natural persons with access to EDA procurement under EU rules (EU and eligible EEA/Western Balkans as applicable); joint tenders and subcontracting permitted but consortium leader and required documentation must be provided. Tenderers must meet selection criteria on turnover and experience and submit required declarations and evidence.

Minimum selection highlights:Minimum average annual turnover over the last three closed financial years €400,000; evidence of recent contracts in video, social media, publications and promotional items; named key profiles (project manager, communication consultant, video producer, social media specialist, graphic designer, editor).

Timetable and submission

Submission is electronic via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal (EU Login/PIC required). Deadline for receipt of tenders: 12 October 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Public opening: 13 October 2026, 11:00 Brussels time. Questions deadline noted in documents; contracting authority may stop replying to questions after 2 October 2026.

1. 1Award method: best price-quality ratio (technical 70% / financial 30% weighting as per tender specifications)
2. 2Maximum single framework value €1,000,000; contracting authority not obliged to order minimum volumes
3. 3Framework is single-lot; estimated quantities in tender are indicative only

Where to get the full procurement documents and submit:EU Funding & Tenders Portal tender page (access requires EU Login). The tender dossier includes Tender Specifications, Model Financial Proposal, Draft Framework Contract and Annexes. Tender details and documents EDA procurement page ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Full procurement dossier, Q&A and submission interface are available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal tender page linked above.

Opportunity reference:TED reference 167/2026 (597250-2026). Contracting authority: European Defence Agency (EDA). Procedure type: Open procedure (call for tenders). Framework contract number: 26.TT-MCU.OP.324. Estimated total maximum value: €1,000,000. Maximum framework duration: 48 months. Expected signature and start: Q4 2026 (framework contract enters into force on the date of last signature).

Key dates and milestones

Deadlines and public events published in the procurement documents:Deadline for receipt of tenders: 12 October 2026 at 17:00 (Europe/Brussels). Public opening of tenders (online): 13 October 2026 at 11:00 (Europe/Brussels). TED publication date of contract notice: 31 August 2026. Corrigendum and updated Tender Specifications published 09 September 2026. Contract signing expected Q4 2026. Note: the call and associated documents are available on the EU Funding & Tenders portal Funding & Tenders Portal. ¹

TED / Procurement references:TED reference 167/2026 (597250-2026). Procedure ID EDA/2026/OP/0009. Main CPV 75110000 - General public services. Procurement lot structure: single lot (LOT-0001).

What this contract covers (scope of services)

This is a single framework contract for Media and Communication Support Services to support EDA’s Media and Communication Unit (MCU). The framework is non-exclusive and intended to provide a broad range of services on demand via subsequent specific contracts or order forms. Services include audiovisual and video production, photography, podcast production, motion graphics and data visualisation, social media organic and paid campaign support, publication design and printing, promotional items, strategic outreach to Member States, mail and dispatching, content editing/copywriting, database management, and related consultancy on communication strategy, methodologies, quality assurance and impact assessment.

Eligible applicant types

Permitted tenderers:legal persons and natural persons established in the EU and other countries covered by the EDA access rules. Participation formats: single tenderer (sole contractor) or joint tender (consortium/group) where one member is designated as consortium leader. Subcontracting is allowed but subcontractors whose share exceeds 10% or on whose capacity the tenderer relies for selection criteria must be identified and submit a letter of intent. The tender documents require legal identification, PIC registration and bank details.

1. 1Legal entities established in EU Member States (eligible to lead or be member).
2. 2Consortia of legal entities (must designate a group leader and provide power of attorney for joint liability).
3. 3Subcontractors of any nationality may be used, subject to the call’s access limitations and EDA approval for certain roles.

Funding type and financial model

This is a procurement / tender (framework agreement) by EDA for services. Funding instrument: award of a framework service contract (procurement). Contractual award method: best price-quality ratio (quality weighted 70%, price 30%). Maximum total estimated value: €1,000,000 for the framework. Individual specific contracts will be issued under the framework; tenders quoting a total price exceeding €200,000 may be disqualified for award evaluation purposes as per tender rules.

Consortium requirement

Consortiums (joint tenders) are permitted but not mandatory. EDA allows either single tenderer or joint tenders. If a joint tender is submitted the group members are jointly and severally liable and must appoint one member as leader (group leader). Power of attorney (model provided in Annex 4.3) is mandatory for joint tenders. All members of a joint tender must supply the administrative documentation specified in the checklist.

Beneficiary scope (geographic eligibility)

Primary geographic eligibility:EU Member States. EDA notes that economic operators established in certain non-EU countries party to relevant procurement agreements (EEA and certain Stabilisation and Association Agreements) may participate as specified in the tender documentation. The tender text explicitly mentions Administrative Arrangements with Norway, Switzerland, Serbia, Ukraine and the US Department of Defense; and also lists countries with procurement agreement access such as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Subcontractors may be of other nationalities subject to restrictions and EDA approval as described in the tender specifications.

Target sector and thematic scope

Primary sector:communication, media and public information services supporting defence-related institutional activities. Secondary thematic focus: defence communications, public affairs, institutional outreach, event communication, digital media and publishing. CPV classification: 75110000 - General public services. The contractual work will support EDA’s communications across defence, R&T cooperation, capability development, and institutional engagement.

Mentioned countries and partners

• European Union (Member States)
• Norway
• Switzerland
• Serbia
• Ukraine
• United States of America (Department of Defense)
• Iceland
• Liechtenstein
• North Macedonia
• Albania
• Montenegro
• Kosovo
• Bosnia and Herzegovina

Project stage and maturity expected

This is an operational services procurement (delivery stage). Expected maturity:delivery, production, and operational support. The framework supplies resourcing, creative production, campaign execution and ongoing communication services rather than R&D. Assignments will include concept development, production, distribution and campaign evaluation.

Funding amount and financial scale

Estimated overall contract value (maximum):€1,000,000. This is the maximum value for the full framework. Individual specific contracts will be priced against the contractor’s price list submitted in Annex 4.6 (model financial proposal). For evaluation the Model Financial Proposal uses indicative quantities; tenderers must submit unit prices that remain binding throughout the framework. Note: a financial evaluation rule in the tender disqualifies tenders quoting a price exceeding €200,000 (reference to an internal threshold used for automatic disqualification in the financial assessment).

Application type and submission method

Application method:Open call for tenders via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Submission is electronic only using the e-Submission application on the Portal. EU Login account and Participant Identification Code (PIC) are required. Submission method code: ESUBMISSION. All required forms and attachments must be uploaded before the deadline.

Nature of support to beneficiaries

Beneficiaries receive non-reimbursable payments for the provision of services under procurement contract(s) (i.e., money as payment for services provided under the contract). Support is contractual procurement of services (not grants or subsidies). Beneficiaries (contractor) will receive fees and reimbursement where applicable, according to the contractual payment schedule (interim payment and balance).

Application stages and evaluation process

The evaluation follows a staged approach described in the tender specs. The official process has five stages: Stage 1: eligibility (access to the procedure); Stage 2: exclusion criteria (declaration on honour + checks); Stage 3: selection criteria (economic & financial capacity and technical-professional capacity); Stage 4: verification of minimum requirements; Stage 5: award criteria assessment (technical quality and financial score). The technical quality threshold: overall minimum 70% and minimum 50% per individual criterion to pass. Final ranking uses a weighted formula: final score = technical score x 0.7 + financial score x 0.3.

1. 1Stage 1: Application of eligibility rules (access conditions: place of establishment / nationality).
2. 2Stage 2: Exclusion check (Declaration on Honour; EDES checks).
3. 3Stage 3: Selection (financial capacity and demonstration of past contracts; CVs for key profiles).
4. 4Stage 4: Minimum requirements / conformity checks.
5. 5Stage 5: Award evaluation (technical criteria 70 points weighting; price 30% weighting).

Success rates

No numerical success rate is published in the procurement documents. Success rates are determined by competition, compliance with eligibility/exclusion/selection criteria, the technical evaluation and price. Tenders failing minimum requirements or thresholds are excluded. The framework awards the contract to the most economically advantageous tender (MEAT).

Co-funding requirement

No co-funding from the applicant is required. This is a procurement for services:the contractor is paid for services delivered under the contract. The tender does not require matching funds or co-financing by tenderers.

Eligibility and selection key technical requirements (what to provide and demonstrate)

Mandatory selection minima (high level):1) Economic and financial capacity: minimum average annual turnover over last three closed financial years of €400,000. 2) Technical/professional capacity: evidence of relevant contracts in the last 3 years: at least two contracts in video & multimedia > €15,000 each; two contracts supporting social media activities > €15,000 each; five contracts for design/production/delivery of publications > €5,000 each; two contracts for promotional items > €5,000 each; two contracts for visual displays > €5,000 each. 3) Team profiles: must demonstrate availability of required key profiles and experience thresholds (Project Manager/Account Director 10 years; Communication consultant 5 years; Video Producer 3 years with at least 5 video projects in the last year; Social Media Specialist 3 years with at least 3 social campaigns in the last year; Graphic Designer 5 years; English Editor 3 years with 2 projects in last year). 4) Language: personnel must demonstrate English proficiency (CEFR C1/C2 or equivalent).

What to submit (application templates and structure)

Tenders must be structured and uploaded in the e-Submission application in five sections. Mandatory annexes and templates are provided in the call dossier. Important templates available in Annexes: Checklist of Documents to be submitted in e-Submission (Annex 4.1), Subcontractor Letter of Intent (Annex 4.2), Power of Attorney for joint tenders (Annex 4.3), Declaration on Honour on exclusion and selection (Annex 4.4), Financial and Economic Capacity Overview form (Annex 4.5), Model Financial Proposal form (Annex 4.6), Draft Framework Contract (Annex 4.7). Tenderers must not modify the model financial form (protected cells and formulas). Signatures must be provided per signature policy (qualified electronic signature or handwritten, scanned).

1. 1Section 1: Administrative information (Identification Form for Legal Entities and Bank Accounts; evidence of legal status; power of attorney if joint tender; bank statement or Financial Identification).
2. 2Section 2: Declaration on Honour (exclusion and selection form to be signed), required fields in portal.
3. 3Section 3: Evidence for selection criteria (Financial & Economic Capacity form; evidence of past contracts; certificates of satisfactory execution; CVs in Europass format for proposed experts).
4. 4Section 4: Technical Proposal (max 80 pages; structured around methodology, schedule, resource management, quality management, risk management; must not contain prices).
5. 5Section 5: Financial Proposal (Model Financial Proposal Annex 4.6 in native format; unit price list binding for the framework).

Checklist highlights:attach signed Declaration on Honour; Identification Form for Legal Entities and Bank Accounts signed and stamped or accompanied by recent bank statement; Financial and Economic Capacity Overview form; CVs and evidence of relevant past contracts and at least one certificate of satisfactory execution; Subcontractor Letter of Intent for identified subcontractors whose share >10% or whose capacity is relied upon.

Evaluation criteria and scoring (award method)

Award method:best price-quality ratio (MEAT). Technical quality accounts for 70% of the final score; price accounts for 30%. Technical evaluation uses five qualitative award criteria totalling 100 points (methodology 30 points; schedule management 15 points; resource management 20 points; quality management 20 points; risk management 15 points). Thresholds: tenders with <70% overall technical score or <50% in any single technical criterion will be excluded from further consideration. Financial score is computed as (lowest admissible tender price / tender price) x 100. Final score = (technical score x 0.7) + (financial score x 0.3).

Contracting modalities and deliverables

Contract awarded as framework agreement without reopening of competition (single contractor framework). Specific contracts or order forms will be issued for individual assignments. The contracting authority may order services using a Service Request Form. The contractor must nominate a Project Manager as main point of contact. Deliverables and approval processes will be defined in each specific contract. All deliverables are to be provided in English unless otherwise agreed; quality control by a native English speaker is required. Intellectual property: EDA acquires ownership of results created under the contract; pre-existing rights are licensed as specified in the draft contract. Security classification: the contract is unclassified; if classified information becomes necessary it will be managed according to Council Decision 2013/488/EU.

Payment, guarantees and finances

Payments are made in EUR, VAT excluded (EDA is VAT-exempt for EU purchases). Interim payment arrangements: framework provides for interim payment (example: up to 40% of a specific contract price subject to approved deliverables) and payment of balance upon acceptance. The Model Financial Proposal Annex 4.6 (excel native) must be used and unit prices are binding for the framework. Performance guarantees are not required by default for the framework, but contracting authority may request guarantees for specific contracts as set out in the draft contract. Price revision formula uses HICP Euro area indices as indicated in the Special Conditions.

Selection and exclusion details (what causes rejection)

Tenders will be rejected if incomplete (missing mandatory documents), if they fail eligibility, exclusion or selection criteria, violate the submission rules (e.g., late receipt), modify the model financial form (unauthorised changes), or contain unacceptable variants (variants not allowed). Grounds for exclusion include bankruptcy, serious professional misconduct, fraud, corruption, money laundering, terrorist financing, grave breaches in contract performance, or being subject to EU restrictive measures. Any change in consortium composition or subcontracting during the procurement procedure may lead to rejection.

Templates and application form structure (how the application forms look)

The procurement package provides the following templates and forms. Tenderers must use these models and upload them in the e-Submission application in the specified sections: 1) Identification Form for Legal Entities and Bank Accounts (standard EU template). 2) Declaration on Honour on Exclusion and Selection Criteria (Annex 4.4). 3) Financial and Economic Capacity Overview form (Annex 4.5). 4) Model Financial Proposal (Annex 4.6) – Excel native with Part 1 (expert daily rates) and Part 2 (typical products/orders with indicative quantities). 5) Draft Framework Contract (Annex 4.7). 6) Subcontractor Letter of Intent (Annex 4.2). 7) Power of Attorney (Annex 4.3) for joint tenders. 8) Checklist of required documents (Annex 4.1).

1. 1Model Financial Proposal Annex 4.6: price table with mandatory unit prices and binding quantities for evaluation (indicative quantities only; contractor not guaranteed orders).
2. 2Exclusion & selection forms: Declaration on Honour and supporting documentary evidence for selection criteria (turnover, references, CVs in Europass format).
3. 3Draft framework contract: Special and General Conditions included as Annex 4.7 and must be accepted in full (tenderers must not substitute their own terms).

Practical submission notes and e-Submission technicalities

Submission is electronic only via the Funding & Tenders Portal e-Submission. A PIC (Participant Identification Code) and EU Login account are required for each participating legal entity. Maximum number of upload attachments per submission: 200. Individual attachments must be less than 50 MB and in supported file types. Draft and final submissions can be edited until the receipt deadline. The Portal encrypts attachments upon upload and attachments are not accessible after submission. Tenderers are advised to start early and contact the F&T helpdesk in case of problems (support details in the Portal).

Other operational details drawn from tender documents

Indicative volume examples and typical annual needs are provided in the tender (e.g., EDM magazine 2 issues/year printed 500 copies; 7 podcast episodes/year; 2 animated explainer videos/year; social media paid campaigns 1-3 per year; 5-6 long publications projects/year). The estimate is indicative and not a commitment to purchase minimum quantities. Printing is preferably done in Brussels; sustainability and environmental standards are required. The contractor may purchase subscription services on behalf of EDA if permitted by suppliers’ terms and conditions.

Concise guidance to prepare a compliant offer

Recommended immediate actions for applicants:register PIC and EU Login; download and study the Tender Specifications (version 2), Model Financial Proposal (Annex 4.6), Draft Contract (Annex 4.7), Annexes 4.1-4.5; prepare and sign the Declaration on Honour; prepare CVs (Europass) and reference contracts with at least one certificate of satisfactory execution; complete the Financial & Economic Capacity form with turnover evidence; complete the Model Financial Proposal without altering formulas or protected cells; assemble power of attorney if bidding as consortium and letters of intent for subcontractors; upload all documents in the correct e-Submission tabs well before the 12 Oct 2026 deadline.

• Check tender access rules (nationality/place of establishment).
• Ensure minimum selection thresholds are demonstrable (turnover, references, team profiles).
• Do not alter the Model Financial Proposal protected cells or indicative quantities.
• Follow the technical proposal structure (methodology, schedule, resources, quality, risk) and respect the 80-page limit.

Summary:This tender is a public procurement opportunity from the European Defence Agency to establish a non-exclusive framework service contract for media and communication support covering audiovisual production, social media support, publications and promotional materials, strategic outreach and associated consultancy. The framework has a maximum total value of €1,000,000 and a maximum duration of 48 months. Applicants must submit a complete electronic tender through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal by 12 October 2026, meeting eligibility, exclusion and selection criteria and demonstrating the required experience, team profiles and financial stability. The award will be based on best price-quality ratio (technical 70%, price 30%).

Footnotes

1. 1Procurement details, call documents and submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal: ec.europa.eu

This is an open procurement procedure launched by the European Defence Agency for a services framework contract covering media and communication support, with an estimated total value of €1000000, a maximum duration of 48 months, and a framework agreement structure without reopening of competition¹.

Core opportunity:The contract concerns outsourced media and communication support for the European Defence Agency, including content creation, publications, social media, multimedia, promotional materials, and event-related communication support.

What the funding or contract is about

The procurement is not a grant or subsidy but a service tender for a framework contract. The available information shows that the contracting authority intends to procure ongoing communication support services, rather than a one-off deliverable, over the life of the framework. The Q and A clarifications indicate that the scope can include video and multimedia support, social media content and campaign support, publications and copywriting, branded promotional materials, and event support. Additional clarifications confirm that long publications are expected at roughly 5 to 6 projects per year, branded stationery and other branded items may each reach up to 5 projects per year, and dispatching publicity refers to postal dispatch and distribution of EDA publications and other communication materials.

Who can apply

The procedure is an open procedure, so economic operators that meet the tender specifications, exclusion criteria, and selection criteria may submit a tender. The portal Q and A indicates that access provisions apply to the tenderer itself, and the tender documents set the detailed eligibility and selection rules. The call is not marked as SME suitable, which suggests the contracting authority does not consider it particularly tailored to small and medium sized enterprises.

Submission access requirements:Bidders must submit electronically through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal, and an EU Login account is required to access submission tools. A PIC is mandatory for a sole tenderer or for each consortium member. Subcontractors do not need a PIC for the main submission, but the lead tenderer remains responsible for compliance with the procedural requirements.

Financial and contractual terms

The award is based on the best price quality ratio, with the procurement documents indicating a 70 percent quality and 30 percent price weighting. Tender validity is 6 months, according to the tendering terms in the procurement data.

Selection and compliance points applicants should note

The tender specifications require financial and economic capacity evidence, including a minimum average annual turnover for the last three closed financial years.

Applicants should also review the corrigendum and the updated tender specifications version 2, since the portal shows that the tender documents were amended after initial publication.

Practical assessment of the opportunity

This opportunity is relevant to established communication agencies, media production companies, content and publishing specialists, event communication providers, and integrated communication consultancies that can demonstrate comparable services in the public sector or for large institutional clients. The most important competitiveness factors appear to be the ability to provide a broad communication service offer, credible staffing and language capability, documented past performance, and a strong value for money financial proposal.

Footnotes

1. 1Official opportunity page on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal: Service Framework Contract for the provision of Media and Communication Support Services.