Support contract on transparency requirements for recommender systems under Articles 27 and 38 DSA

The opportunity presented is a procurement contract from the European Commission under the title "Support contract on transparency requirements for recommender systems under Articles 27 and 38 DSA." The contract is focused on supporting the Commission in monitoring and enforcing the transparency requirements outlined in the Digital Services Act, specifically regarding Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) and Very Large Online Search Engines (VLOSEs).

Key details include:

- The type of procurement is for services, under CPV codes 73000000 for research and development services and 79140000 for legal advisory services.
- The estimated total value of the contract is €142,000.
- The maximum duration of the contract is six months.
- The contract entails conducting a study aimed at gathering user evidence and examining how VLOPs and VLOSEs implement transparency and non-profiling requirements under the mentioned articles of the DSA.
- The main objectives of the study include evaluating compliance, providing a mapping of approaches by the relevant platforms, and comparing these against best practices.

Eligible applicants can potentially include research institutes, consultancy firms, legal advisory experts, and organizations with specialized knowledge in online platform regulations, recommender systems, and data protection. The call is anticipated to be open and is likely accessible to entities located within the EU, EEA, and possibly other countries, subject to EU procurement rules.

The nature of the support provided is monetary, as the successful contractor will receive payment for the services rendered. No co-funding is expected from applicants. The application process will be an open call allowing submissions, including potential consortia. The anticipated start date for the expression of interest is July 11, 2025, with a submission deadline of July 28, 2025, followed by the launch of the negotiated procedure on the same date.

The procurement aims to validate the operationalization of the DSA's transparency requirements and evaluates the efficacy of recommender systems while supporting the Commission's enforcement activities.

This is a publication announcing the European Commission's intent to launch a future negotiated low or middle value procedure, not a call for tenders. The procedure identifier is EC-CNECT/2025/MVP/0068-EXA. The title of the planned call for tenders is "Support contract on transparency requirements for recommender systems under Articles 27 and 38 DSA".

The estimated total maximum value is 142,000 EUR, and the maximum contract duration is 6 months. The contracting authority is the European Commission, DG CNECT Communications Networks, Content and Technology. The main classification (CPV) code is 73000000 Research and development services and related consultancy services. The nature of the contract is for services. There is no framework agreement associated with this procedure.

The contract aims to support the Commission in its monitoring and enforcement activities as the primary enforcer of the Digital Services Act (DSA), specifically by monitoring and verifying how Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) have operationalized the requirements set out in Articles 27 and 38 of the DSA. Article 27 of the DSA requires providers of online platforms to clearly explain in their terms and conditions the main parameters used in their recommender systems, using plain and intelligible language. They must also explain options for users to modify or influence these main parameters. The main parameters that must be explained include (a) the most significant criteria used to determine suggested information, and (b) the reasons for the relative importance of these parameters. For platforms offering multiple options for recommender systems, they must provide a functionality allowing users to select and modify their preferred option at any time. Such a functionality should be directly and easily accessible from the section of the platform’s interface where the information is prioritised. In addition to the obligations established by article 27, providers of VLOPs and Very Large Online Search Engines (VLOSEs) have an additional requirement: they must provide at least one recommender system option that is not based on profiling as defined in Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (“General Data Protection Regulation” or “GDPR”). Providers of VLOPs and VLOSEs should consistently ensure that users enjoy alternative options which are not based on profiling, for the main parameters of their recommender systems. Such choices should be directly accessible from the online interface where the recommendations are presented.

The insights gained from this study will support the Commission’s supervision and enforcement activities in assessing the compliance by the VLOPs and VLOSEs with the obligations that involve informing users about the functioning of recommender systems and offering them more choices. The study is aimed to gather evidence from users and map out providers of VLOPs’ approaches to the transparency and non-profiling aspects of recommender systems provisions of the DSA, namely articles 27 and 38. The study aims at providing a comprehensive overview of the operationalization of the transparency requirements of recommender systems across VLOPs and compare them against existing good practices.

The start date for expression of interest is 2025-07-11 Europe/Brussels, and the deadline for expression of interest is 28/07/2025 04:59 Europe/Brussels. The indicative date of launch of the negotiated procedure is 2025-07-28 Europe/Brussels.

Submissions must be sent exclusively at the address for submission given below. The method of expression of interest is electronic, and the address for expression of interest is "Express interest".

In summary, this opportunity is a pre-announcement for a forthcoming negotiated procedure by the European Commission, DG CNECT, concerning a support contract focused on the transparency requirements for recommender systems as mandated by Articles 27 and 38 of the Digital Services Act (DSA). The contract, valued at a maximum of 142,000 EUR and lasting for 6 months, will involve research and consultancy services to monitor and verify how VLOPs and VLOSEs are implementing the DSA's provisions regarding transparency and user choice in recommender systems, particularly concerning profiling. The study will gather evidence from users and map out the approaches of VLOPs to the transparency and non-profiling aspects of recommender systems. The expression of interest period begins on July 11, 2025, and concludes on July 28, 2025. The actual call for tenders is planned for launch around July 28, 2025.

Eligible Applicant Types: The information provided does not explicitly state the eligible applicant types. However, given the nature of the contract which involves providing support to the European Commission in monitoring and enforcement activities related to the Digital Services Act (DSA), it is likely that eligible applicants could include research institutes, consultancy firms, legal experts, or other organizations with expertise in online platform regulation, recommender systems, data protection, and the DSA. The call is for a service contract, so it is likely that companies and organizations are the target beneficiaries.

Funding Type: The funding type is a service contract. This is indicated by the phrases "support contract" and "Nature of the contract: services".

Consortium Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required or if a single applicant is sufficient. This will likely be detailed in the full call for tenders when it is published.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The information does not explicitly state the geographic eligibility. However, given that it is a contract from the European Commission, it is highly likely that the beneficiary scope includes entities located within the EU. It is possible that entities from EEA countries or other countries with specific agreements with the EU may also be eligible, but this would need to be confirmed in the full call details.

Target Sector: The target sector is ICT, specifically focusing on the regulation of online platforms, recommender systems, data protection, and the Digital Services Act (DSA). It also touches upon legal and policy aspects related to the digital economy.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned. The relevant region is the EU, as the contract relates to the enforcement of the Digital Services Act, a European Union regulation.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on the operationalization, monitoring, and enforcement of existing regulations (specifically Articles 27 and 38 of the DSA). It is not about research or development of new technologies, but rather about assessing the implementation of transparency requirements for recommender systems by Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) and Very Large Online Search Engines (VLOSEs).

Funding Amount: The estimated total maximum value is EUR 142,000.

Application Type: The application type is a planned negotiated procedure for a middle/low value contract. This means that after the expression of interest, the contracting authority will likely invite a limited number of pre-selected candidates to submit a full proposal.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for providing services to the European Commission. The support is monetary, as it is a service contract.

Application Stages: The application process involves at least two stages: an expression of interest, followed by a negotiated procedure where selected candidates will be invited to submit a full proposal. There may be further stages within the negotiated procedure itself.

Success Rates: The success rates cannot be determined from the provided information, as this is a planned negotiated procedure. Success rates for negotiated procedures are typically higher than open calls, as the contracting authority pre-selects the candidates.

Co-funding Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required. Given that it is a service contract, co-funding is unlikely, but this would need to be confirmed in the full call details.

Summary:

This is a pre-announcement of a forthcoming call for tenders by the European Commission, DG CNECT, for a support contract focused on the transparency requirements for recommender systems under Articles 27 and 38 of the Digital Services Act (DSA). The contract, with an estimated maximum value of EUR 142,000 and a duration of 6 months, aims to support the Commission in monitoring and verifying how Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) and Very Large Online Search Engines (VLOSEs) are implementing the DSA's provisions related to informing users about the functioning of their recommender systems and offering choices that are not based on profiling. The selected contractor will conduct a study to gather evidence from users and map out the approaches taken by VLOPs to comply with the transparency and non-profiling aspects of recommender systems. The study's findings will inform the Commission's supervision and enforcement activities. The procedure will be a planned negotiated procedure for a middle/low value contract. The start date for expression of interest is planned for 2025-07-11, with a deadline of 2025-07-28. The indicative date for the launch of the negotiated procedure is 2025-07-28. Interested parties should submit an electronic expression of interest. This is not a call for tenders yet, but an announcement of the Commission's intention to launch one in the future.