Study 2025-001 - Connectivity Coverage in Europe 2025-2027

The European Commission, specifically the Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT), has announced a call for tenders (EC-CNECT/2025/OP/0018) for a service contract titled "Connectivity Coverage in Europe." This project aims to monitor digital connectivity available to EU citizens and businesses, particularly focusing on the European Economic Area and candidate countries for EU membership.

The total contract value is estimated at €420,000, with a maximum duration of 34 months. The selected contractor will be expected to deliver three annual reports detailing connectivity coverage at the country level, differentiating by various technologies and infrastructures. The deliverables will support the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) and the State of the Digital Decade Report, emphasizing the importance of accurate monitoring of connectivity status.

Eligible applicants include organizations capable of providing statistical services and technical expertise in connectivity and telecommunications, though the documentation suggests suitability for larger entities due to the project's scale and complexity. The application process is characterized as an open procedure, allowing both single applicants and consortia to submit tenders electronically. The deadline for submission is set for June 10, 2025, at 16:00 Brussels time, following an extension from the initial deadline, with a public opening scheduled for June 11, 2025.

Selection criteria include the suitability to pursue professional activities, economic and financial standing, and technical and professional qualification. Specific requirements pertaining to these criteria can be found in the tender documents, which are available for download and include invitation letters, tender specifications, and various annexes related to subcontractors, financial forms, model service contracts, and security requirements.

The contracting authority will consider tenders based on a best price-quality ratio, prioritizing technical quality over cost. While co-funding is not required, bidders must demonstrate adequate economic and financial capacity. The tender process emphasizes the importance of clear documentation and that specific technical capacities should be validated through project references.

In addition, issues related to electronic submissions, including technical recommendations for browser use and file size restrictions, have been addressed to facilitate a smooth application process. A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for participation, and all relevant documentation has been published in English.

Overall, this tender presents an important opportunity for organizations specializing in connectivity monitoring and analysis to contribute significantly to the data-driven policies surrounding digital infrastructure within Europe.

The European Commission, DG CNECT Communications Networks, Content and Technology, has issued a call for tenders EC-CNECT/2025/OP/0018 for a service contract titled "Connectivity Coverage in Europe." This is an open procedure with electronic submission. The aim of the service is to monitor the digital connectivity available for EU citizens and undertakings within the framework of the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) and the State of the Digital Decade Report.

The deliverables include three annual reports on connectivity coverage at the country level for the European Economic Area (EEA) and candidate countries for EU membership. These reports will differentiate subjects, reflecting available technologies and infrastructures as described in the technical specifications.

The estimated total value of the contract is 420,000 EUR. The maximum contract duration is 34 months. The award method is based on the best price-quality ratio. This is not a framework agreement.

The TED publication date was 02/05/2025. The date and time of the public opening is scheduled for 11/06/2025 at 10:00 Europe/Brussels time. The deadline for receipt of tenders has been extended to 10 June 2025, 16:00 Europe/Brussels time. The contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after 29/05/2025 05:00 Europe/Brussels.

Selection criteria include: Suitability to pursue the professional activity, Economic and financial standing, and Technical and professional ability. Detailed information on these criteria can be found in the procurement documents.

The following documents are available for download: Invitation to tender, Tender specifications, Annex 4 to TS List of identified subcontractors, Annex 3 to TS Agreement Power of attorney, Annex 2 to TS DoH Connectivity Coverage EC-CNECT2025OP0018, Annex 5.1 to TS Commitment letter by an identified subcontractor, Annex 5.2 to TS Commitment letter by an entity, Annex 6 to TS Financial form, Model Service Contract, and Appendix 1 Security requirements. All documents are in English and published on 02/05/2025, Version 1, with no translations available.

Submissions must be sent exclusively via electronic submission at the address provided. No interest or intention to bid is required to be registered.

Clarifications and answers to questions from potential tenderers have been published. For example, the speed categories listed in Section 1.4.1.5 of the tender specifications are final and aligned with policy objectives. Technical and professional capacity should be demonstrated via project references, and only projects mentioned in the "Evidence" section will be considered. The website of a company does not qualify as a national database for providing evidence that the person signing the documents is an authorized representative. Evidence of economic and financial capacity must be submitted. The contractor is not required to develop the 5G QoS Methodology, as it has already been developed by the 5G QoS Methodology Steering Committee.

For technical issues with the eSubmission system, it is recommended to use the latest versions of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, clear the cache and cookies, and ensure that attachments are less than 50 MB in size. The system supports all 24 official EU languages and uses UTF-8 character set encoding. The system encrypts all uploaded documents using an asymmetric key. The maximum number of documents allowed per tender submission is 200 files. A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for participation.

In summary, this tender is an invitation for organizations to bid on a service contract to monitor connectivity coverage in Europe. The European Commission seeks a contractor to deliver three annual reports detailing connectivity across the EEA and candidate countries, utilizing specific technologies and infrastructures. The tender is open for electronic submission until June 10, 2025. Applicants will need to demonstrate their professional, economic, and technical capabilities, and adhere to specific guidelines for submission and documentation. The selected contractor will contribute to the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) and the State of the Digital Decade Report by providing crucial data on connectivity across Europe.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated, but based on the documentation required (financial form, commitment letters from subcontractors), it can be inferred that eligible applicants are likely to be organizations such as companies, research institutions, or consortia with the capacity to provide statistical services and technical expertise in connectivity and telecommunications. The tender specifications documents should be consulted for definitive eligibility criteria.

Funding Type: The funding type is procurement, specifically a service contract.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity allows for both single applicants and consortia. This is implied by the mention of subcontractors and the possibility of commitment letters from multiple entities.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes the European Economic Area (EEA) and candidate countries for membership of the European Union.

Target Sector: The target sector is ICT, specifically focusing on digital connectivity, telecommunications, and statistical services related to connectivity coverage.

Mentioned Countries: Italy is mentioned in the context of a bank holiday affecting the submission deadline. The European Economic Area (EEA) and candidate countries for EU membership are also mentioned as the geographic scope of the connectivity coverage study.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on implementation and service delivery, specifically monitoring and reporting on existing connectivity coverage. This is not research or early-stage development, but rather an operational service.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the contract is 420,000 EUR.

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

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for services rendered, as this is a service contract.

Application Stages: The number of application stages is not explicitly stated, but it involves at least one stage of submitting a tender, followed by evaluation and selection. The tender specifications documents should be consulted for definitive information.

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

Co-funding Requirement: The co-funding requirement is not explicitly stated, but typically in procurement contracts, co-funding is not required. The tender specifications documents should be consulted for definitive information.

Summary:

This is a call for tenders (EC-CNECT/2025/OP/0018) issued by the European Commission, DG CNECT, for a service contract titled "Connectivity Coverage in Europe." The aim of the service is to monitor digital connectivity available to EU citizens and businesses within the European Economic Area and EU candidate countries. The selected contractor will be responsible for delivering three annual reports on connectivity coverage at the country level, differentiating by technology and infrastructure. The estimated total value of the contract is 420,000 EUR, and the maximum contract duration is 34 months.

The procedure type is an open procedure, meaning any organization meeting the selection criteria can submit a tender. The submission method is electronic, and the deadline for receipt of tenders has been extended to 10 June 2025, at 16:00 Europe/Brussels time. The award method is based on the best price-quality ratio.

The tender documents include an invitation letter, tender specifications, annexes related to subcontractors and legal agreements, a financial form, a model service contract, and security requirements. Tenderers must demonstrate their suitability to pursue the professional activity, economic and financial standing, and technical and professional ability.

The call for tenders is relevant to organizations with expertise in statistical services, telecommunications, and digital connectivity monitoring. The contractor will not be required to develop the 5G QoS Methodology, as a methodology has already been developed by the 5G QoS Methodology Steering Committee.

The eSubmission system supports various file types up to 50 MB each, with a maximum of 200 files per tender. A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for participation. The system supports all 24 official EU languages and uses UTF-8 character set encoding with encryption to ensure data integrity and confidentiality.