Servizi di telefonia mobile nazionale/internazionale, trasmissione di dati e relative forniture

The European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) in Ispra invites tenders for a single-contractor framework agreement to provide national and international mobile telecommunications services, data transmission and related equipment supplies. The maximum aggregate value of the framework agreement is €800,000 and its maximum duration is 50 months, with service start planned for 24 November 2026. Key requirements include number portability for existing voice numbers by contract start, provision of multiple SIM profiles and postpaid billing, and supply of approximately 250 Android smartphones and 20 mobile WiFi hotspots. Tenders must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal eSubmission by 3 June 2026 at 16:00 Rome time.

What it procures

Scope at a glance

Framework contract (open procedure) for nationwide and international mobile telephony services, mobile data transmission and related supplies for the JRC site in Ispra (IT). Services include SIM voice/data plans (multiple profiles), roaming (EU and extra-EU), mobile hotspots, supply of smartphones and modems, corporate web portal, billing and reporting, implementation, maintenance and customer support.

Estimated value and duration:Estimated total value €800,000; maximum contract duration 50 months (incl. 2 months mobilisation). ¹

1. 1Who can apply: any economic operator (single tenderer or joint bid/consortium); registration in the EU Participant Register (PIC) and electronic eSubmission required
2. 2Key deliverables: SIMs (voice and data), number portability, mobile devices and hotspots on request, web management portal, detailed billing reports, helpdesk and SLA-driven technical support
3. 3Selection basics: exclusion and selection checks apply (no EU sanctions, financial/technical capacity, experience in mobile services)

Submission and documents:electronic submission via the EU Funding & Tenders portal; bidders must provide the completed financial and technical offer forms and the required declarations and supporting documents (see tender documents).

Footnotes

1. 1Official tender page and documentation available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Tender details.

Servizi di telefonia mobile nazionale/internazionale, trasmissione di dati e relative forniture. Procedura di gara: EC-JRC/IPR/2026/OP/0344. Contraente: Commissione europea, Centro comune di ricerca (JRC) – Infrastructure Ispra. Oggetto: contratto quadro per fornitura di servizi di telefonia mobile e trasmissione dati, inclusa fornitura di telefoni cellulari e hotspot Wi‑Fi, con copertura e roaming nazionali e internazionali, durata massima 50 mesi, valore stimato per l’intera durata €800 000.

Scadenze e modalità di partecipazione

Date principali pubblicate sul portale F&T:pubblicazione TED 04/05/2026, apertura seduta pubblica virtuale 04/06/2026 ore 10:00 Europe/Rome, termine per ricezione offerte 03/06/2026 ore 16:00 Europe/Rome. Sottomissione esclusivamente elettronica tramite eSubmission con account EU Login e PIC. Domande tramite sezione Domande & risposte del portale entro il termine indicato nel bando; l’amministrazione non è obbligata a rispondere a domande pervenute dopo la scadenza indicata (22/05/2026 23:59 Europe/Rome).

Sintesi dell’oggetto del contratto

Contratto quadro unico per fornitura servizi di telefonia mobile e trasmissione dati per il JRC di Ispra, Italia, con destinazioni nazionali, UE ed internazionali. Comprende: profili SIM voce e dati con bundle a soglia, roaming Extra‑EU con gettoni giornalieri, servizi di gestione online per amministrazione, reportistica di fatturazione dettagliata, fornitura opzionale di smartphone e hotspot Wi‑Fi (circa 250 smartphone e 20 hotspot stimati, non vincolanti). Il CQ è senza esclusiva; l’importo massimo cumulato è €800 000 per tutta la durata del CQ (50 mesi: 2 mesi avvio + 48 mesi esecuzione).

Requisiti essenziali e servizi richiesti

Requisiti funzionali e tecnici completi sono nel Capitolato d'oneri – Parte 2 (Specifiche tecniche). Punti salienti: modalità di erogazione in abbonamento con fatturazione bimestrale; migrazione delle numerazioni correnti (MNP) obbligatoria; SIM multiformato o eSIM; profili standardizzati (Voce Base, Voce Medio, Voce Top, Dati Medio, Dati Top, APN bidirezionale); hotspot tethering incluso; traffico dati in Italia e roaming UE/Extra‑UE; gestione on‑line delle SIM, contatori e reportistica fatturazione dettagliata; SLA minima: downtime annuo < 0,5%, disconnessioni ≤ 2%, call setup < 7 s; copertura territoriale indicativa: rete proprietaria e accordi con altri gestori, copertura territorio italiano > 90% e popolazione raggiunta > 98%, copertura area JRC e zone critiche con percentuali dettagliate in documentazione tecnica; supporto on‑site per avvio e gestione operativa; obblighi di sicurezza e trattamento dati conformi al regolamento UE 2018/1725 e alla base di riferimento in materia di sicurezza della Commissione.

Documentazione disponibile e obbligatoria

Documenti pubblicati sul portale F&T:Lettera di invito, Bozza di contratto quadro, Appendice prescrizioni sicurezza, Capitolato d'oneri Parte 1 (Specifiche amministrative) e Parte 2 (Specifiche tecniche), Allegati (autocertificazione, modulo offerta finanziaria e tecnica, elenco documenti da presentare, elenco edifici/mappa JRC, modulo d'accettazione, modelli lettere d'impegno e procura), Bozza di contratto quadro con condizioni particolari e generali. Tutti i documenti sono pubblicati in italiano come testo prevalente.

Valutazione e criterio di aggiudicazione

Procedura aperta; aggiudicazione al miglior rapporto qualità/prezzo (offerta economicamente più vantaggiosa). Ponderazione: Prezzo 80%, Qualità 20% (valutazione tecnica max 20 punti). Criteri qualitativi: principali sottocriteri relativi a SMS inclusi, GB inclusi per profili, roaming Svizzera incluso; punteggio tecnico fino a 20 punti, prezzo determinato sul prezzo complessivo (Tabella E modulo offerta finanziaria). Formula di valutazione indicata nei documenti di gara. Offerte non conformi ai requisiti minimi saranno respinte.

Requisiti di partecipazione e selezione

Possono partecipare persone fisiche e giuridiche conformi ai trattati UE e ai Paesi dell’accordo sugli appalti pubblici. Obbligo di registrazione nel Registro dei partecipanti e ottenimento del PIC. Prove richieste: autocertificazione esclusione/selezione (Allegato 2), documenti comprovanti capacità giuridica, economica e tecnica su richiesta. Criteri di selezione principali: fatturato annuo medio minimo richiesto €300 000 (ultimi due esercizi), esperienza tecnica: almeno tre progetti simili negli ultimi tre anni con valore minimo per progetto €200 000 (valutazione consolidata), certificazione qualità ISO 9001 o equivalente, evidenza rete e accordi roaming. Subappalto ammesso ma monitorato; subappaltatori che coprono >20% del contratto o su cui si fa affidamento per criteri di selezione devono essere indicati e fornire lettera d'impegno (Allegati 4 e 5.1).

Prezzi e fatturazione

Prezzo complessivo fisso omnicomprensivo dovrà essere compilato sul modello di offerta finanziaria (Allegato 6). Si richiedono tabelle separate per prezzi iniziali, ricorrenti annuali, costi di rete, costi per forniture e componenti extra‑soglia. Fatturazione elettronica tramite portale o reti interoperabili; fatture bimestrali per i profili in abbonamento. Report di dettaglio fatturazione obbligatorio per ogni periodo di fatturazione (campi e formato definiti nel Capitolato). Pagamenti: termini di pagamento 60 giorni; possibilità di pagamenti intermedi bimestrali per profili in abbonamento; penalità e procedure in caso di sospensione dei pagamenti o recupero.

Valore stimato:Importo massimo stimato per l'intera durata del CQ: €800 000.

Durata:Massimo 50 mesi: 2 mesi per avvio e 48 mesi per esecuzione (avvio operativo previsto 24 novembre 2026 se contratto firmato entro 24 settembre 2026).

Requisiti di sicurezza e protezione dati

Obblighi di sicurezza richiamati nell'Appendice 2 e nella Base di riferimento in materia di sicurezza per connessioni esterne della Commissione. Il contraente e i prestatori di servizi devono rispettare le regole di gestione della sicurezza, gestione degli incidenti e misure tecniche richieste, incluse disposizioni su accesso remoto, autorizzazioni LEAR, eventuale necessità di autorizzazioni di sicurezza per personale, gestione degli incidenti con notifica entro 48 ore e cooperazione per audit e verifiche. Trattamento dei dati personali conforme al regolamento (UE) 2018/1725; obblighi e limitazioni sull’ubicazione dei dati e trasferimenti a paesi terzi sono specificati nei documenti.

Requisiti operativi e SLA principali

SLA e requisiti tecnici principali richiesti:continuità servizio, monitoraggio QoS, coperture 2G/4G/5G con percentuali minime (rete > 90% territorio, popolazione > 98%, copertura radius 30 km attorno JRC almeno 99%, copertura area centro JRC almeno 90%), parametri di disponibilità: downtime annuo < 0,5%, disconnessioni ≤ 2%, call setup < 7 s. Garanzia di compatibilità ETSI GSM e procedure per gestione per guasti, sostituzione SIM rubata/smarrita entro 4 ore, ticketing e tempi intervento: ticket assegnato entro 4 ore, risoluzione guasti entro 2 giorni lavorativi salvo casi complessi, supporto telefonico e personale dedicato (service number/personal agent). Fornitura SIM di scorta e assistenza on‑site per avvio (15 giorni totali).

Requisiti tecnici specifici per sedi critiche

Obbligo di garantire copertura indoor per edifici indicati (elenco e mappa in Allegato 1 alle Specifiche tecniche: tra gli altri Building 4, 6, 15, 36, 51, €59K/59U, Area 40, Reattore ESSOR). Esistente impianto indoor in edifici 100 e 101 con 43 antenne per edificio: offerta deve prevedere collegamento alla stazione radio base del fornitore e condivisione infrastruttura, o fornire soluzione alternativa approvata. Eventuali installazioni BTS richiedono Piano Operativo di Sicurezza, rispetto limiti esposizione elettromagnetica e normative nazionali; il JRC potrà fornire locali e energia per BTS su richiesta e previo accordo.

Criteri di valutazione tecnica (esempi di punteggio)

Punteggio tecnico fino a 20 punti. Sotto‑criteri e regole di assegnazione:SMS in Italia rispetto ai profili voce (max 4 punti), GB di traffico dati in Italia rispetto a profili voce/dati (max 8 punti) secondo soglie definite, roaming Svizzera incluso come UE (max 8 punti). Dettagli e soglie sono nel modello Offerta tecnica (Tabella F) e nei documenti di gara.

Obblighi contrattuali e condizioni particolari

Contratto quadro regola ordine di precedenza dei documenti, termine di validità delle offerte, possibilità per l'amministrazione di risolvere o sospendere per motivi previsti (compresa violazione obblighi di sicurezza, frode, irregolarità, mancato ottenimento permessi). Il contratto quadro regola inoltre proprietà intellettuale dei risultati, obblighi di riservatezza, controllo e audit per 5 anni dopo pagamento saldo e poteri OLAF e Corte dei conti. Clausole vessatorie sono evidenziate e richiedono approvazione specifica del contraente.

Elenco dei documenti che i candidati devono preparare

1. 1Autocertificazione esclusione/selezione (Allegato 2, firmata)
2. 2Modulo offerta finanziaria e tecnica completo (Allegato 6)
3. 3Offerta tecnica dettagliata che risponda a tutte le Specifiche tecniche (Parte 2 del Capitolato)
4. 4Documenti di prova relativi alla capacità tecnica e finanziaria se richiesti (es. fatture, referenze, certificati ISO)
5. 5Elenco subappaltatori identificati (Allegato 4) e relative lettere d'impegno (Allegato 5.1)
6. 6Lettere d'impegno per soggetti la cui capacità è invocata (Allegato 5.2)
7. 7Accordo/procura per offerte congiunte (Allegato 3) se applicabile
8. 8Documenti di identificazione e prova di rappresentanza dei firmatari

Domande frequenti tecniche e operative (estratto)

Il portale contiene domande Q&A d'uso della piattaforma eSubmission. Nessuna Q&A pubblica specifica alla procedura è riportata al momento dell'estrazione. Il contraente risponde ai quesiti pubblici tramite il portale fino alla data limite indicata nella documentazione.

Classificazione strutturale dell’opportunità (risposte alle domande di categorizzazione)

1. 1Eligible Applicant Types: startup, SME, large enterprise, university/research institute, nonprofit, government contractors; offerenti singoli o raggruppamenti di operatori economici; subappaltatori ammessi (deve essere indicata la percentuale e fornita lettera d'impegno per subappaltatori chiave).
2. 2Funding Type: procurement / tender (contratto quadro per servizi).
3. 3Consortium Requirement: single contraente preferito; offerta congiunta ammessa (raggruppamento) con capofila obbligatorio ove applicabile.
4. 4Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): soggetti stabiliti in Stati membri UE e in Paesi ammessi dagli accordi sugli appalti pubblici; servizio erogato per JRC Ispra (Italia) con componenti nazionali, UE e internazionali.
5. 5Target Sector: ICT, telecomunicazioni, services (mobile telephony, mobile data, hardware supply).
6. 6Mentioned Countries: Italia (sede JRC Ispra); Svizzera citata come paese di roaming importante; coperture nazionali, UE ed Extra‑UE; fornitore deve indicare elenco paesi Extra‑UE.
7. 7Project Stage: service delivery, operation and maintenance (esecuzione, manutenzione, migrazione servizi, fornitura hardware).
8. 8Funding Amount: valore stimato totale €800 000 per tutta la durata del contratto (50 mesi).
9. 9Application Type: open call / public tender via EU Funding & Tenders Portal, electronic submission (eSubmission) con scadenze fisse.
10. 10Nature of Support: fornitura di servizi e forniture materiali con pagamento monetario (procurement).
11. 11Application Stages: 1 (presentazione offerta unica) + valutazione amministrativa e tecnica; processo con possibilità di richiesta documentazione aggiuntiva e stage di firma contrattuale; in pratica 2 fasi (sottomissione, valutazione/aggiudicazione).
12. 12Success Rates: non specificati; gara pubblica aperta. Non disponibile tasso di successo storico; aggiudicazione a singolo vincitore del CQ.
13. 13Co-funding Requirement: non richiesto (contratto di servizi a prezzo omnicomprensivo).

Template e struttura delle domande di offerta (guida rapida)

Gli offerenti devono compilare e caricare in eSubmission i seguenti moduli strutturati:1) Allegato 6 Modulo per l'offerta finanziaria e tecnica con Tabelle A‑E per prezzi iniziali, forniture, prezzi ricorrenti e rete; 2) Offerta tecnica che risponda puntualmente a ciascun requisito numerato del capitolato d'oneri Parte 2 (specificare per ogni punto la pagina/numero del documento allegato che prova conformità); 3) Allegato 2 Autocertificazione esclusione/selezione firmata; 4) Allegato 4 Elenco subappaltatori identificati e Allegato 5 lettere d'impegno; 5) per offerte congiunte Allegato 3 accordo/procura firmato dal raggruppamento e nomina capofila. L'amministrazione richiede che le celle di input nel modello finanziario siano completate integralmente: celle non compilate possono portare all'esclusione.

Rischi, punti di attenzione e raccomandazioni per i candidati

Punti chiave da verificare prima della sottomissione:assicurare la capacità di completare la Number Portability e fornire scorta SIM; dimostrare copertura e interoperabilità roaming; preparare reportistica fatturazione dettagliata e formato elettronico; predisporre documentazione GDPR/ sicurezza e piani di continuità; verificare che i subappaltatori chiave non siano destinatari di misure restrittive e che le prove richieste siano pronte per la consegna rapida su richiesta; prevedere SLA con penalità e tempi di intervento compatibili con i requisiti del Capitolato.

Conclusione: che cosa offre e cosa richiede questa procedura

Si tratta di una gara pubblica della Commissione europea – JRC Ispra per un contratto quadro unico finalizzato ad assicurare per il sito di Ispra servizi di telefonia mobile nazionale e internazionale, trasmissione dati, gestione amministrativa e tecnica delle utenze mobili e fornitura di dispositivi. Il contraente dovrà erogare servizi in abbonamento con fatturazione bimestrale, garantire migrazione numerazioni, copertura e qualità di rete concordate, portale di gestione, reportistica dettagliata per fatturazione e controllo, assistenza tecnica e KPI prestazionali. La selezione avverrà con criterio miglior rapporto qualità/prezzo (80% prezzo, 20% qualità tecnica). La partecipazione richiede registrazione nel Registro dei partecipanti, presentazione di autocertificazioni e compilazione dei moduli finanziari e tecnici indicati nei documenti di gara. Il valore stimato per la durata massima del CQ è €800 000.

Opportunity Overview

The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) at Ispra is seeking a single contractor to provide mobile telecommunications services, data transmission, and related equipment supplies. This is a framework agreement contract with a maximum value of €800,000 and a duration of 50 months (48 months of service delivery plus 2 months for implementation). The contract is being awarded through an open procedure under EU financial regulations.

Procedure Identifier:EC-JRC/IPR/2026/OP/0344

Publication Date:4 May 2026

TED Reference:85/2026 302913-2026

Key Dates and Deadlines

Scope of Services

The contract covers the provision of national and international mobile telecommunications services, data transmission, and related supplies for the entire JRC Ispra facility. The contractor must deliver a comprehensive solution including network services, service testing, project management, installation, service launch procedures, network monitoring and maintenance, customer support, and online management services.

Mobile Service Profiles Required

The contractor must offer five distinct SIM profile types with the following indicative quantities (non-binding): 30 Voice and Data Base profiles, 330 Voice and Data Medium profiles, 30 Voice and Data Top profiles, 100 Data Medium profiles, 30 Data Top profiles, and 3 Data profiles with bidirectional APN. All services must operate on subscription basis with postpaid billing.

Voice and Data Requirements

Base profile users require minimum 50 minutes monthly national calls, 50 SMS monthly in Italy, and 500 MB monthly data traffic. Medium profile users require unlimited national and EU calls, minimum 100 SMS monthly, and minimum 15 GB monthly data traffic in Italy and EU. Top profile users require unlimited national and EU calls, minimum 100 minutes monthly to non-EU countries, minimum 100 SMS monthly, and minimum 40 GB monthly data traffic in Italy with at least 20 GB usable in EU roaming. Data-only profiles range from 30 GB to 70 GB monthly. All profiles must include hotspot functionality and support 2G, 4G, and 5G technologies.

Equipment Supply

The contractor must provide approximately 250 low-range Android smartphones and 20 mobile WiFi hotspots as a single purchase (not rental or installment). The contractor must offer a discount on their standard price list for these devices and guarantee 24-month manufacturer warranty support.

Critical Implementation Requirements

• Mobile Number Portability (MNP) must be completed for all voice SIM cards by 24 November 2026 at 00:00, maintaining existing telephone numbers from the previous operator
• Service migration must occur without interruption
• SIM cards must be delivered two months before contract start (by 24 October 2026)
• On-site assistance of 15 days (non-consecutive) must be provided at contract start for SIM distribution and user support
• All SIM cards must be universal, multi-format (compatible with standard, micro, and nano formats) or eSIM
• No blocking of SIM cards upon exceeding thresholds; instead, overage charges apply according to the offer
• Extra-EU roaming requires fixed daily token activation with predefined call/SMS/data thresholds

Eligibility and Who Can Apply

This is an open procedure accessible to any economic operator (natural or legal person) established in EU Member States, countries that have ratified the WTO Government Procurement Agreement, or countries with specific agreements with the EU. Applicants must not be subject to EU restrictive measures and must not fall under exclusion criteria. Participation is open on equal terms to all eligible operators, including SMEs and organizations from third countries meeting the specified conditions.

Exclusion Criteria

Applicants will be excluded if they or their representatives are in bankruptcy, insolvency, or liquidation proceedings; have failed to pay taxes or social contributions; have committed serious professional misconduct; have been convicted of fraud, corruption, money laundering, terrorism financing, or human trafficking; have shown significant deficiencies in executing previous EU-funded contracts; have created entities to evade legal obligations; or have intentionally opposed investigations by EU authorities. Applicants must declare non-exclusion through a self-certification form (Allegato 2) and may be required to provide supporting documentation.

Selection Criteria

Applicants must demonstrate:(1) legal and regulatory capacity to exercise the necessary professional activity; (2) average annual turnover exceeding €300,000 for the last two financial years; (3) experience with at least three similar projects (in terms of scope and complexity) completed in the last three years, each valued at minimum €200,000; (4) quality assurance measures complying with ISO EN 9001 standards or equivalent; and (5) adequate technical capacity evidenced by ownership of a telecommunications network and agreements with other operators to provide the required services. Applicants may rely on subcontractors' or other entities' capacities to meet selection criteria, provided they submit commitment letters and supporting documentation.

Funding and Contract Value

Maximum Contract Value:€800,000 for the entire 50-month period ¹

Contract Type:Framework agreement with a single contractor, without reopening of competition. The framework agreement does not obligate the contracting authority to place specific orders, but establishes terms and conditions for future purchases through specific contracts or purchase orders.

Pricing Structure:All prices must be all-inclusive (omnicomprensivo), expressed in EUR net of VAT and other taxes. Prices must cover all requirements specified in the technical specifications. The contractor must provide a complete tariff plan including all possible cost items and options. Estimated traffic volumes are provided in the financial offer template but are indicative and non-binding; actual volumes depend on orders placed through specific contracts.

Evaluation and Award Criteria

Offers will be evaluated on a best price-quality ratio basis. The evaluation methodology allocates 80 percent weighting to price and 20 percent to quality. The lowest-compliant price receives maximum 80 points. Quality is assessed on technical characteristics including SMS offerings, data traffic allowances, and Switzerland roaming inclusion, with a maximum of 20 points. The contract is awarded to the tenderer with the highest combined score (price plus quality points) whose offer is compliant, presented by an eligible applicant not subject to exclusion criteria, and meeting all minimum requirements.

Quality Evaluation Subcriteria

• SMS in Italy for voice profiles: up to 4 points (1 point for minimum 500 SMS monthly without additional cost; 2 points for unlimited SMS without additional cost)
• Data traffic in Italy for voice and data profiles: up to 8 points (1-2 points per profile tier based on exceeding minimum GB thresholds without additional cost)
• Switzerland roaming for voice and data profiles: up to 8 points (2 points per profile tier if Switzerland is included in the profile without additional cost like EU countries)

Submission Requirements and Process

Tenders must be submitted exclusively through the eSubmission electronic system available on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal. Applicants must register in the Participant Register to obtain a 9-digit Participant Identification Code (PIC) before submission. All documents must be submitted in one of the EU official languages, preferably with qualified electronic signatures complying with the eIDAS Regulation (EU 910/2014). Handwritten signatures are accepted but require retention of originals by the applicant for five years.

Required Documentation

• Self-certification on exclusion and selection criteria (Allegato 2) signed by legal representatives
• Proof of authorization to sign documents (for representatives)
• Agreement/power of attorney (Allegato 3) for joint offers, signed by all consortium members
• List of identified subcontractors (Allegato 4) with commitment letters (Allegato 5.1) for those with capacity relied upon or holding over 20 percent of contract value
• Commitment letters (Allegato 5.2) from entities whose capacity is relied upon for selection criteria
• Technical offer describing compliance with functional and technical requirements
• Financial offer using the provided template (Allegato 6) with complete price breakdown in EUR
• Declaration of independent preparation of the offer

Supporting documentation for exclusion and selection criteria (financial statements, quality certificates, network capacity declarations, etc.) must be provided upon request by the contracting authority, typically before award decision. Applicants are strongly advised to prepare all supporting documents in advance as they may be requested on short notice. Failure to provide valid documentation within specified deadlines may result in offer rejection.

Contract Terms and Conditions

Payment Terms

Payment is made in EUR within 60 days of invoice receipt. Intermediate payments are available on a bi-monthly basis for subscription profiles and provisional payments for traffic exceeding thresholds. Final payment is made upon completion of services. The contracting authority may suspend payment terms if invoices are non-compliant, supporting documents are missing, or if there are concerns about future contract performance. Late payments incur interest at the European Central Bank's main refinancing rate plus 8 percentage points. No pre-financing or guarantee retention is applied to this contract.

Performance and Quality Standards

The contractor must provide services meeting high quality standards and state-of-the-art practices in the telecommunications sector. Services must comply fully with all technical specifications and functional requirements throughout the contract duration. The contractor is responsible for obtaining all necessary permits and licenses in Italy. Quality failures may result in price reduction proportional to the deficiency, penalties for late delivery calculated at 0.3 times (contract value divided by duration in days) per day of delay, or contractor replacement at the contractor's expense. The contractor must monitor network costs and propose more favorable conditions annually and whenever new EU regulations establish lower prices.

Liability and Insurance

The contractor executes the contract at its own risk and must indemnify the contracting authority against third-party claims for damages or losses. Liability is capped at three times the specific contract value, except in cases of gross negligence, willful misconduct, or intellectual property violations, where full liability applies. The contractor must maintain appropriate insurance against risks and damages as required by applicable law and normal industry practice.

Data Protection and Security

The contractor must comply with EU Regulation 2018/1725 on personal data protection and EU Regulation 2023/2841 on cybersecurity. Personal data must be processed only within EU and EEA territory and stored exclusively in data centers located in these regions unless otherwise specified in the offer. The contractor must implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures, report security incidents within 48 hours, and assist the contracting authority with data subject rights requests. Data location cannot be changed without prior written authorization. The contractor must maintain records of all data processing activities and cooperate with audits by the European Data Protection Supervisor and other EU authorities.

Intellectual Property Rights

The contracting authority acquires irrevocable worldwide ownership of all results and intellectual property rights in newly created materials specifically produced for the Union. The contractor grants free, non-exclusive, irrevocable licenses for pre-existing materials incorporated in results, with sublicensing rights to EU entities and contractors working for the Union. The contractor must identify all pre-existing rights in results and provide proof of ownership or proper licensing. The contractor must ensure creators waive moral rights objections to publication, attribution decisions, and reasonable adaptations of results.

Subcontracting

The contractor may subcontract parts of the contract with prior written authorization from the contracting authority, except that mobile telecommunications service delivery cannot be subcontracted as it is considered a critical activity. The contractor remains fully responsible for contract execution. Identified subcontractors (those with over 20 percent of contract value or whose capacity is relied upon for selection criteria) must be declared in the offer with commitment letters. Changes to subcontractors after tender submission require prior written approval and must not alter the substance of the offer or change evaluation results. The contractor must ensure subcontractors comply with data protection, confidentiality, and security obligations.

Termination and Resolution

Either party may terminate the framework agreement with six months' written notice. The contracting authority may terminate immediately or with notice for: failure to start service delivery within 15 days of the scheduled date; inability to obtain necessary permits; substantial non-compliance with contract terms; contractor's exclusion circumstances; irregularities or fraud in the procurement or execution; failure to meet environmental, social, or labor obligations; conflicts of interest; material changes in contractor's legal, financial, or technical situation; force majeure making performance impossible; changed contracting authority needs; or data protection violations. Upon termination, the contractor must provide all assistance needed for service completion or transfer to a new contractor without additional costs, unless the contractor demonstrates that assistance requires substantial additional resources.

Price Revision

Prices are fixed for the first year of the contract. From the second year onwards, prices may be revised annually based on the Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) for the euro zone published by Eurostat. Either party may request price revision by submitting written notice at least three months before the contract anniversary. The revision formula applies 80 percent weight to the HICP index change and 20 percent to the original price. The contracting authority orders services based on prices in effect on the specific contract start date.

Administrative and Procedural Information

Contracting Authority

The European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), located at Via Enrico Fermi 2746, I-21027 Ispra (VA), Italy, is the contracting authority. The JRC is a Directorate-General of the European Commission that conducts research and provides scientific and technical support to EU policies.

Legal Framework

This procurement is governed by EU Financial Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 and follows an open procedure under Article 167(1)(a) of that regulation. Italian law applies to the contract, with exclusive jurisdiction vested in the Court of Varese, Italy. The contract is subject to EU privileges and immunities, including VAT exemption for the contracting authority.

Communication and Questions

All communications must be submitted in writing through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal using the Questions and Answers section. The contracting authority is not obligated to respond to questions submitted fewer than six working days before the tender deadline. Questions and answers are published on the portal for all participants. Administrative and financial inquiries should be directed to the R8 Budget Execution Unit, while technical inquiries should be directed to the R.6 Infrastructure Ispra Unit. Contact details are available in the tender documents.

Tender Opening and Evaluation

Tenders will be opened in a virtual public session on 4 June 2026 at 10:00 (Rome time). A maximum of two representatives per tenderer may attend. Tenderers must request attendance by email at least three hours before the opening, providing representative names, email addresses, tenderer name, and the eSubmission submission receipt. The public opening session is limited to verifying that offers were submitted according to requirements and announcing the names of tenderers. Detailed evaluation occurs after opening and is not public. Tenderers will be notified of results by email to the contact person indicated in eSubmission.

Confidentiality and Information Access

Once opened, tenders become the property of the contracting authority and are treated confidentially. The contracting authority may share tenders with EU personnel, other institutions, and contractors working for it, all bound by confidentiality obligations. After award decision, the contracting authority will communicate to requesting tenderers the name of the selected tenderer, the characteristics and relative advantages of the selected offer, and the total financial value. The contracting authority may withhold information it considers confidential, including unit prices, technical secrets, or commercial secrets, unless public interest in disclosure prevails. Tenderers must clearly identify information they consider confidential and justify non-disclosure; generic claims that entire offers are confidential will not be accepted.

Key Considerations for Applicants

• This is a framework agreement that does not guarantee any specific purchase volume; the contracting authority may order services through specific contracts within the €800,000 maximum
• Mobile Number Portability is mandatory and must be completed by 24 November 2026 without service interruption, making this a critical implementation requirement
• The contractor cannot subcontract the core mobile telecommunications service delivery, which is classified as a critical activity
• All prices must be all-inclusive in EUR and net of VAT; the contracting authority is exempt from VAT under EU privileges
• Quality evaluation focuses on value-added features (SMS allowances, data traffic, Switzerland roaming) beyond minimum requirements, offering opportunities for differentiation
• The contractor must provide 15 days of on-site support during contract launch for SIM distribution and user assistance
• Estimated quantities and traffic volumes are indicative and non-binding; actual volumes depend on contracting authority orders
• Price revision is possible annually from year two onwards based on HICP index changes
• The contractor must comply with strict data protection requirements, including data location restrictions to EU/EEA territory
• Qualified electronic signatures are strongly recommended for all documents to reduce administrative burden
• Supporting documentation for selection criteria should be prepared in advance as it may be requested on short notice
• The contracting authority may request updated self-certifications or supporting documents at any time during the procedure

How to Apply

Interested applicants must register in the EU Participant Register to obtain a PIC before submitting tenders. Tenders must be prepared and submitted exclusively through the eSubmission system on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal at [[ec.europa.eu. Applicants should familiarize themselves with eSubmission requirements and supported file formats well in advance. The eSubmission Quick Guide is available at [[webgate.ec.europa.eu (requires EU Login account). All required documents must be uploaded to eSubmission by the deadline of 3 June 2026 at 16:00 (Rome time). Late submissions will be rejected. Applicants are responsible for ensuring timely submission and should submit well before the deadline to avoid technical issues.

Additional Resources

The complete tender documentation, including the draft framework agreement, technical specifications, financial offer template, and all annexes, is available on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal at the opportunity URL. The Participant Register is accessible at [[ec.europa.eu. The EU Login help page provides guidance on account creation and access. For technical support with eSubmission, contact the eSubmission Helpdesk through the Quick Guide. For questions about the tender itself, use the Questions and Answers section on the portal, ensuring submission at least six working days before the deadline.

Footnotes

1. 1The maximum contract value of €800,000 represents the ceiling for all purchases under the framework agreement over the 50-month period. This is an estimated maximum; the contracting authority is not obligated to spend this full amount. Actual expenditure depends on specific orders placed through individual contracts or purchase orders issued during the framework agreement's validity.