Technical support for engaging with EU SMEs in textile and/or furniture sectors in the Ecodesign Forum

The European Commission (DG GROW) invites tenders for a direct service contract (reference EC-GROW/2026/OP/0011) to provide technical assistance engaging textile and/or furniture SMEs with the Ecodesign Forum, including outreach, SME selection, helpdesk support, synthesis of inputs and reporting. The maximum contract value is €150,000 (excluding VAT), the maximum duration is 36 months, and electronic tenders must be submitted via the EU eSubmission portal by 04 May 2026 at 16:00 Brussels time. Tenderers must meet exclusion and selection checks (average turnover > €50,000 over the last two years), demonstrate experience with SME representation across several Member States, include at least one team member with five years’ Ecodesign policy experience and one with CEFR C1 English, and provide required documents and Europass CVs. Award will be by best price-quality ratio (price 30%, quality 70%) following the tender specifications and annexes on the Funding & Tenders Portal.

What it funds

Tender to provide technical assistance to the European Commission (DG GROW) to identify, engage and facilitate participation of EU SMEs (especially micro‑enterprises) from the textiles and/or furniture sectors in Ecodesign Forum consultations and related stakeholder meetings; tasks include outreach, selection, helpdesk support, synthesis of SME inputs into position papers and reporting.

Who can apply

Any economic operator registered in the EU procedures (sole tenderer or joint tender). Participation is open to natural or legal persons and to organisations from countries covered by the Agreement on Government Procurement, subject to exclusion and selection checks in the procurement documents.

Key dates

Deadline for electronic submission via the EU Funding & Tenders portal eSubmission:04/05/2026 16:00 (Europe/Brussels). Public opening (virtual): 05/05/2026 10:00 (Europe/Brussels).

Funding and contract duration:Estimated total contract value €150,000 (excluding VAT); maximum duration 36 months ¹

1. 1Proactively identify and map SMEs, SME associations and Chambers of Commerce in textile and/or furniture sectors
2. 2Run outreach and act as a focal point/helpdesk to explain ESPR implications and participation routes
3. 3Select SMEs to ensure sectoral and geographic balance and support micro‑enterprises
4. 4Collect and synthesise SME inputs into position papers and present or facilitate those inputs in the Ecodesign Forum and stakeholder meetings
5. 5Provide ongoing reporting and verification of SME participation; activities repeated across the contract term

Award method:best price-quality ratio. Tender documents, invitation to tender, draft contract, tender specifications and templates are published on the EU Funding & Tenders portal.

Footnotes

1. 1Full procurement documents and submission are available on the Funding & Tenders portal F&T portal.

Basic identification and procurement metadata

Procedure reference EC-GROW/2026/OP/0011 (TED ref 64/2026 224685-2026). Contracting authority: European Commission, DG GROW - Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (GROW.I - Decarbonisation, Mobility, Raw Materials). Procedure type: Open procedure (electronic submission via eSubmission / Funding & Tenders Portal). Main CPV: 73000000 Research and development services and related consultancy services; additional CPV: 79400000 Business and management consultancy and related services.

Tender type:Tender / procurement for services (direct service contract / framework agreement, award method best price-quality ratio).

Estimated total value:€150,000 excluding VAT (maximum contract value).

Maximum contract duration:36 months (three years).

Deadlines and key dates

1. 1TED publication date: 01/04/2026
2. 2Deadline for receipt of tenders (electronic via eSubmission): 04/05/2026, 16:00 Europe/Brussels (UTC+02 in summer)
3. 3Date and time of public opening (virtual): 05/05/2026, 10:00 Europe/Brussels
4. 4Contract award and signature: after evaluation in accordance with best price-quality ratio; contract enters into force when last party signs

Scope, objectives and required services

The contracting authority requires a contractor to provide technical assistance to support and increase balanced and meaningful participation by EU SMEs (with special attention to micro-enterprises) active in the textiles and/or furniture product sectors in the Ecodesign Forum and other relevant stakeholder meetings related to implementation of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). The contractor will proactively identify and map SMEs and SME associations, explain ESPR provisions and implications for SMEs, outline engagement and participation opportunities, provide a focal point/helpdesk service for SMEs, coordinate and facilitate SME inputs, draft and synthesise SME inputs into position papers, and present or facilitate presentation of SME positions at the Ecodesign Forum or other stakeholder meetings. Physical attendance is not required; activities may be repeated over the three-year contract to include new SMEs over time.

Operational tasks (detailed):The work is structured in five sequential tasks: Task 1 define selection criteria for SMEs/associations (to be completed within first 2 months); Task 2 outreach and intermediation (mapping completed within 4 months; outreach continuous); Task 3 selection of SMEs/associations/Chambers using evaluation grid (selection completed within 6 months; 40% payment at month 6); Task 4 technical and administrative support to selected SMEs including helpdesk, guidance, synthesis and facilitation of inputs and participation (interim payments: up to 30% at month 18 and up to 20% at month 32; max 10% of total contract amount per organised meeting); Task 5 verification of participation and reporting (final payment 10%).

Deliverables and payment milestones

1. 1Task 1 deliverable: documented selection criteria and evaluation grid. Payment: first interim payment 40% at month 6.
2. 2Task 2 deliverable: outreach actions log and compiled list of interested SMEs.
3. 3Task 3 deliverable: final selection list with justification, minimum target participation per meeting (at least 30 SMEs with minimum 10 per size category unless associations represent many members).
4. 4Task 4 deliverable: meeting lists, records of requests/support provided, synthesis of inputs; interim payments up to 30% (month 18) and up to 20% (month 32) subject to number of meetings held and ceilings per meeting.
5. 5Task 5 deliverable: comprehensive participation reports, records of continuity, quality and relevance of SME contributions and final synthesis documents. Final payment of 10%.

Submission, documents and signature rules

Tenders must be submitted exclusively via the EU eSubmission system accessible through the Funding & Tenders Opportunities Portal. Tenderers must be registered in the Participant Register and have a PIC. Required documentation (see tender Annex 1) includes: Declaration on Honour (exclusion and selection), evidence of legal existence, economic/financial evidence (turnover, accounts) if requested, technical tender and CVs (Europass) for key staff, list of identified subcontractors (if applicable) and commitment letters, financial tender using Annex 6 Financial Tender Form, and other annexes (Agreement/Power of attorney for joint bids). Electronic signature: preferred qualified electronic signature (QES); handwritten accepted but originals should be retained by tenderer for five years.

Where to find procurement documents:Funding & Tenders Portal tender page (opportunity and document downloads). Access to eSubmission requires EU Login and Participant Register PIC Funding & Tenders Portal. See procurement documents and annexes on that portal Tender documents ¹.

Eligibility and selection

Any natural or legal person established in the scope of the EU Treaties, international organisations, entities from third countries with procurement agreements or covered by the WTO Government Procurement Agreement may participate in the open procedure, subject to absence of exclusion grounds and compliance with selection criteria. Subcontracting is permitted; certain subcontractors must be identified (if >20% share or relied upon for selection criteria). Joint tenders are allowed; group leader must be appointed and all members sign Agreement/Power of attorney (Annex 3).

Eligible applicant types (detailed):Eligible applicants include SMEs (micro, small, medium) and SME associations, consultancies, NGOs, research bodies, industry associations, chambers of commerce, nonprofit organisations and other legal persons or natural persons established in eligible jurisdictions. Public bodies and universities may participate if they meet selection criteria and are not subject to exclusion/restrictive measures. Joint bids and subcontracting allowed.

Selection criteria (minimum required capacity)

Selection checks include legal/regulatory capacity, non-exclusion (Declaration on Honour and possible documentary evidence), economic and financial capacity and technical/professional capacity. Tenderers must declare they meet selection criteria; contracting authority may request evidence during evaluation or before award.

1. 1Financial criterion F1: average annual turnover in the last two financial years above €50,000 (consolidated assessment across involved entities allowed). Evidence: profit & loss and balance sheets or bank statements; may be requested later.
2. 2Technical/professional criteria T1-T3 (must be provided with tender): T1 demonstrable experience representing textiles or furniture SMEs/associations across several Member States and at least one comparable project completed; T2 at least one team member with minimum 5 years professional experience in Ecodesign policy; T3 at least one team member with CEFR English C1 level (self-assessed in CV). Evidence: project list and Europass CVs for involved personnel.

Award criteria and evaluation

Award will be based on the most economically advantageous tender using best price-quality ratio. Price weighting: 30%. Quality weighting: 70% (quality of approach to reach and synthesize SME inputs 70 points; organisation of work and resource allocation 15 points; project management and quality control 15 points). Minimum thresholds: overall score at least 60%, and at least 50% per single award criterion, otherwise excluded.

Geographic and beneficiary scope

Geographic eligibility follows EU procurement rules:entities established under EU Treaties, international organisations and third-country entities covered by procurement agreements (WTO GPA, or bilateral agreements as applicable). The action focuses on EU SMEs and must ensure broad geographical representation across EU Member States. Contract performance may be delivered from contractor premises located in EU/EEA; Commission use and Sensitive Non-classified information must be hosted in EU Member States (see security requirements).

Mentioned countries / region:No individual countries are mandated as eligible beneficiaries in the tender text; the target region for outreach is the European Union (EU) Member States. The contracting authority is based in Belgium (Brussels).

Project stage, expected maturity and sector focus

Target project stage:stakeholder engagement, consultation, synthesis and policy input. This is implementation and facilitation support (engagement, consultation, synthesis, representation) rather than research or product development. Activities support preparatory studies and policy impact assessment for ESPR implementation.

Target sector(s):Textiles and/or furniture sectors (product sectors under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation).

Funding, payments and co-funding

This is a procurement for a service contract. The estimated total maximum value is €150,000 (excl. VAT) for the full contract duration. Payments are milestone/interim based as described under deliverables: first interim payment 40% at month 6, interim payments up to 30% at month 18 and up to 20% at month 32 (subject to meetings held and ceilings), and final 10% after Task 5 reporting. No pre-financing guarantee is required by default. VAT treatment: contractors must follow VAT invoicing rules; EU institutions generally exempt from VAT — instructions and Annex 3 (group members’ VAT split) apply for joint tenders. Travel and accommodation are not covered by the contract.

Funding type:Procurement / service contract (Commission pays contractor). Not a grant, loan, or equity instrument.

Co-funding requirement:No co-funding required or requested in the tender specifications. All costs for tender preparation and attendance at opening borne by tenderer.

Consortium and subcontracting rules

Submission may be by a single legal entity or a consortium (joint tender). If a joint tender is submitted, all group members are jointly and severally liable. A group leader must be appointed and sign the Agreement/Power of attorney (Annex 3). Subcontracting is permitted and must be declared: identified subcontractors (intended share >20% or relied upon for selection criteria) must be named in Annex 4 and provide commitment letter (Annex 5.1). If the tenderer relies on other entities' capacities (not subcontractors), a commitment letter (Annex 5.2) must be provided.

Application method and stages

Application type:single-stage open call (electronic submission via eSubmission). Tenders are evaluated following administrative, exclusion, selection and award criterion checks. The contracting authority may request clarifications or missing evidence during evaluation. Presumed successful tenderer will be requested to provide supporting evidence before contract signature. There is a virtual public opening (date provided).

Application stages:1 stage submission; evaluation follows multiple internal checks (administrative compliance, exclusion, selection, quality and price scoring). Overall procedural stages are: submission, opening, evaluation (may include requests for clarification/evidence), award decision, contract signature.

Success rates and competition

The tender is an open competitive procurement and the contracting authority will award to the economically most advantageous tender based on best price-quality ratio. The tender documents do not state historical success rates. Given typical EU Commission open procedures for service contracts of this scale, competition is usually moderate to high among consultancies and consortia specialising in SME outreach, policy stakeholder engagement and Ecodesign-related work.

Security, data protection and ethics

Security requirements apply:Commission security rules, Security Baseline for External Connections and obligations in Appendix 1 of the draft contract. If contractor personnel need access to Commission premises or IT assets in Belgium they will require screening/security advice; contractors must pay screening fees. Processing of personal data must comply with Regulation (EU) 2018/1725; privacy notice and data controller contact provided in draft contract. An Ethics Reminder for service providers is included and must be passed to contractor personnel and subcontractors.

Templates and application structure guidance

The tender documents provide mandatory templates and structure for the submission. Key templates and forms included as annexes on the portal: Invitation to tender, Tender specifications (Annex I), Declaration on Honour (Annex 2), Agreement/Power of attorney for joint tenders (Annex 3), List of identified subcontractors (Annex 4), Commitment letters (Annex 5.1 and 5.2), Financial Tender Form (Annex 6), draft Direct Service Contract (Annex II) and appendices on security, VAT, IPR statements. Tenderers must use Financial Tender Form (Annex 6) for price breakdown and follow Annex 1 (list of documents to submit) for required attachments and where to upload them in eSubmission.

1. 1Technical proposal content: explanation of approach to reach SMEs, outreach actions, selection criteria application, facilitation and helpdesk methodology, description of meetings and participation facilitation (including digital facilitation), quality assurance, language support and tools for non-English speakers, and plan for ensuring broad geographical and sectoral representation.
2. 2Personnel and CVs: Europass format CVs for all key personnel with roles, responsibilities, contractual link to tenderer and relevant experience (Ecodesign policy experience, SME engagement experience, language skills).
3. 3Project references: list of comparable projects, scope, dates, role and contact for client references where available.
4. 4Financial proposal: completed Annex 6 Financial Tender Form with daily rates, man-days, other costs and total price in EUR (exclusive of VAT).

Intellectual property and results exploitation

Under the draft contract the Union acquires ownership of the results produced specifically for it; pre-existing rights must be declared and licensed to the Union on a royalty-free, non-exclusive, irrevocable basis as stipulated. Tenderer must provide list/declaration of pre-existing rights or confirm none exist and provide evidence if requested. Annexes provide templates for IPR declarations and statements.

Risk, compliance and audit

Contractor must assist with fraud prevention and detection; audits and checks by Commission services, Court of Auditors, OLAF or EPPO can be expected. Contractor must keep documents for five years after payment of the balance and cooperate with audits and investigations. Liquidated damages, reduction in price and termination clauses apply per the General and Special Conditions of the contract.

Quick checklist for applicants (practical steps)

1. 1Register in Participant Register and obtain PIC if not already registered.
2. 2Create EU Login account and familiarise with eSubmission system and technical requirements well before the deadline.
3. 3Download full tender dossier from the Funding & Tenders Portal and read Invitation to Tender, Tender Specifications and Draft Contract (Annex II) in full.
4. 4Prepare Declaration on Honour (Annex 2), Annex 1 package of required documents, and Annex 6 Financial Tender Form; ensure signatures (prefer QES).
5. 5Assemble technical proposal: methodology, selection criteria, outreach plan, resource allocation, risk management and CVs (Europass format) demonstrating Ecodesign and SME engagement experience.
6. 6If submitting as joint tender: prepare Agreement/Power of attorney (Annex 3). Identify subcontractors if applicable and include Annex 4 and commitment letters (Annex 5.1 and 5.2).
7. 7Submit only via eSubmission before 04/05/2026 16:00 Brussels time; ensure upload of all required attachments and receive submission receipt (timestamp).

The contracting authority will not answer questions submitted after 23/04/2026 23:59 Europe/Brussels. Tenderers should consult the eSubmission Quick Guide and system requirements for supported browsers, file types and limits. Failure to comply with the mandatory submission requirements will lead to rejection.

Comprehensive summary: what this opportunity is about and how to explain it

This procurement seeks a service provider (single organisation or consortium) to act as a technical facilitator and focal point connecting EU SMEs (with a priority on micro-enterprises), SME associations and Chambers of Commerce in the textiles and/or furniture sectors with the Commission's Ecodesign Forum and related stakeholder processes implementing the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation. The contractor will design selection criteria to ensure balanced, geographic and sectoral representation of SMEs, map and reach out to SME stakeholders across Member States, administer a fair selection process, provide continuous technical and administrative support (helpdesk) to selected SMEs to help them understand ESPR implications, prepare and synthesise SME inputs into position papers, and either present those positions or facilitate SME intervention in the Forum and other stakeholder meetings. The contract is three years in duration, with a maximum value of €150,000. Submissions are made by electronic tender via the EU eSubmission system on the Funding & Tenders Portal. The award will be made on a best price-quality ratio (30% price, 70% quality) with specified thresholds. Applicants must meet selection criteria (financial threshold, sectoral experience, Ecodesign expertise and language capability) and comply with security, data protection and ethical obligations. The procurement dossier provides detailed templates, annexes and a draft contract which must be followed exactly; identified subcontractors and entities on whose capacities the tenderer relies must be documented. The contractor will be paid by milestone/interim payments aligned to delivery of Task 1-5 deliverables and must maintain records and cooperate with audits and checks.

For all downloads, documents, templates and the eSubmission link consult the Funding & Tenders Portal tender page for EC-GROW/2026/OP/0011 Tender documents & submission ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Tender documents, templates and the eSubmission link are available from the Funding & Tenders Portal opportunity page: ec.europa.eu. This page contains the Invitation to Tender, Tender Specifications (Annex I) and all annexes, draft contract (Annex II) and Q&A facility.

Opportunity Overview

The European Commission, DG GROW (Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs) is seeking a contractor to provide technical assistance for engaging European SMEs in the textile and/or furniture sectors with the Ecodesign Forum. This is a direct service contract opportunity with a maximum budget of €150,000 and a duration of 36 months.

Tender Reference:EC-GROW/2026/OP/0011

Contracting Authority:European Commission, DG GROW - Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, Brussels, Belgium

What is the Funding About

This contract supports the implementation of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which aims to make products more durable, repairable, and recyclable. The contractor will facilitate balanced participation from textile and furniture SMEs in the Ecodesign Forum and related stakeholder consultations. The primary objective is to ensure meaningful consultation on Ecodesign preparatory studies, potential Ecodesign requirements, and ESPR implementation matters. The contractor will serve as a focal point and helpdesk for SMEs, helping them understand regulatory implications and participate effectively in policy discussions.

Who Can Apply

This is an open procedure. Any natural or legal person, including sole traders, SMEs, consultancies, and organizations, may submit a tender. Tenderers must be established in EU Member States, third countries with special procurement agreements with the EU, or countries that have ratified the WTO Government Procurement Agreement. Joint tenders from groups of economic operators are permitted. Subcontracting is allowed.

Eligibility Requirements

• Not subject to EU restrictive measures or exclusion situations as defined in Article 138 of the Financial Regulation
• Have access to procurement under applicable rules
• Registered in the EU Participant Register with a valid Participant Identification Code (PIC)
• Able to provide evidence of legal existence and status
• Not in bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar proceedings
• Not in breach of tax or social security obligations
• Not subject to professional conflicting interests that would negatively affect contract performance

Selection Criteria and Minimum Requirements

Economic and Financial Capacity (Criterion F1):Average yearly turnover of the last two financial years above €50,000. Evidence required: profit and loss accounts and balance sheets for the last two years, or bank statements. The most recent year must have been closed within the last 18 months.

Technical and Professional Capacity (Criterion T1):Proven experience representing textile or furniture SMEs, SME associations, or Chambers of Commerce in comparable consultative forums. Must demonstrate experience covering several EU Member States and possess a well-established network of SMEs in textile and/or furniture sectors. At least one similar project in scope and complexity must be completed in the past. Evidence required: detailed project list with start/end dates, total amounts, scope, role, invoiced amounts, and indication of existing networks. Client references may be requested.

Technical and Professional Capacity (Criterion T2):At least one team member must possess 5 years of professional experience in Ecodesign policy. Evidence required: Europass curriculum vitae format for all persons involved in service provision, with precise contractual links to the tenderer clearly described.

Technical and Professional Capacity (Criterion T3):At least one team member involved in service provision must possess level C1 English language proficiency according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), as self-assessed in the CV. Evidence required: Europass curriculum vitae format for all persons involved.

Funding Amount and Payment Structure

Maximum Contract Value:€150,000 (excluding VAT)

Payment Schedule:

• 40% upon completion of Tasks 1-3 (month 6): Definition of selection criteria, outreach and intermediation, and SME selection
• 30% in month 18: Technical and administrative support delivery, subject to number of meetings held
• 20% in month 32: Continuation of technical and administrative support, subject to number of meetings held
• 10% upon final completion: Verification of participation and reporting
• Ceiling applies: no more than 10% of total contract amount per organized meeting; if fewer than five meetings are held, total disbursed amount will be less than 50%

Pre-financing, performance guarantees, and retention money guarantees are not applicable to this contract. The contractor must invoice for interim payments and the final balance within specified timeframes.

Contract Duration and Key Dates

Maximum Duration:36 months from contract entry into force

Tender Submission Deadline:04 May 2026 at 16:00 Brussels time (UTC+02:00)

Deadline for Requesting Additional Information:23 April 2026 at 23:59 Brussels time

Tender Opening:05 May 2026 at 10:00 Brussels time (virtual opening session)

Tender Validity Period:6 months from submission deadline

Key Responsibilities and Deliverables

The contractor will execute five sequential tasks over the contract period:

Task 1 - Definition of Selection Criteria (Months 1-2):Establish clear, transparent, and documented eligibility criteria for reaching EU textile and/or furniture SMEs. Develop an evaluation grid enabling objective SME comparison. Deliverable: documented criteria set and evaluation grid validated with Commission services.

Task 2 - Outreach and Intermediation (Months 1-4 and ongoing):Map potential SMEs, SME associations, and Chambers of Commerce across Europe using sectoral databases and professional networks. Conduct outreach presenting the initiative scope and expected inputs. Deliverable: list of actions taken and compiled list of interested SMEs, including facilitation for non-English speakers.

Task 3 - SME Selection (Months 1-6):Apply evaluation grid to assess suitability of interested SMEs, conduct interviews if necessary, and ensure representativeness and geographical balance. Each meeting must include participation or input from at least 30 SMEs, with minimum 10 from each category (micro, small, medium-sized). Deliverable: final selection list with justification report, reasoning for each selected stakeholder, and documentation of non-selected candidates.

Task 4 - Technical and Administrative Support (Throughout contract):Provide ongoing support to selected SMEs in understanding ESPR requirements and facilitating their participation in Ecodesign Forum and stakeholder meetings. Synthesize SME inputs into position papers for presentation. Offer linguistic facilitation where needed. Deliverable: list of organized meetings, records of stakeholder requests, time spent supporting SMEs, and synthesized inputs provided.

Task 5 - Verification of Participation and Reporting (Final phase):Document contractor engagement quality and quantity, including hours dedicated to tasks. Record number of SMEs supported and their participation in Forum meetings. Deliverable: comprehensive reports and records of SME involvement, attendance, continuity of engagement, quality and relevance of contributions, and synthesized inputs provided.

Award Criteria and Evaluation

Tenders will be evaluated on a best price-quality ratio basis using the following weighting:

Price (30%):Total tender price covering all requirements, expressed in euros and quoted free of VAT

Quality (70%):Evaluated on three sub-criteria: (1) Quality of proposed approach to reach SMEs and facilitate their participation (70 points maximum); (2) Organization of work and resource allocation, including team roles and time/resource allocation adequacy (15 points maximum); (3) Quality and efficiency of project management, including quality control systems and risk management (15 points maximum). Tenders scoring less than 60% overall or less than 50% on any single criterion will be excluded.

The ranking formula is:Score = (cheapest price x 100 x 30%) / tender price + (quality score x 70%). In case of tie, the tenderer with highest quality marks wins.

Submission Requirements and Procedures

Submission Method:Electronic submission only via eSubmission system on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal. No paper or email submissions accepted.

Required Documents:

• Declaration on Honour on exclusion and selection criteria (signed)
• Evidence of authorization to sign documents
• Agreement/Power of attorney (if joint tender)
• List of identified subcontractors and proportion of subcontracting
• Commitment letters from subcontractors and entities on whose capacity tenderer relies
• Evidence of non-exclusion (judicial records, tax certificates, etc.)
• Evidence of economic and financial capacity (profit/loss accounts, balance sheets, or bank statements)
• Evidence of technical and professional capacity (project references, CVs in Europass format)
• Technical tender addressing all requirements and award criteria
• Financial tender using provided Financial Tender Form (Annex 6)

Language:Tenders may be submitted in any official EU language

Signature:Qualified electronic signature (QES) strongly encouraged; handwritten signatures accepted but create additional administrative burden

Important Conditions and Restrictions

• Physical attendance at meetings not required; remote participation acceptable
• Travel and accommodation expenses not covered by contract
• Contractor must comply with EU security requirements and data protection regulations
• Contractor responsible for all costs related to security measures, background checks, and security clearance
• No pre-financing available; payments made upon invoice submission and approval of deliverables
• Contract may be terminated for convenience by either party with three months written notice
• Contractor must maintain records for five years from payment of balance
• All results and intellectual property rights acquired by the Union
• Contractor must ensure broad geographical and sectoral representation of SMEs
• Including new SMEs during contract period is mandatory obligation

Regulatory Framework and Context

This procurement is governed by the Financial Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 and implements the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) (EU) 2024/1781. The ESPR replaces and extends the previous Ecodesign Directive 2009/125/EC, establishing a framework for setting Ecodesign requirements on specific product groups. Textiles and furniture are priority sectors under the ESPR 2025-2030 working plan, with ecodesign measures for textiles expected around 2027 and furniture around 2028. The Ecodesign Forum is an expert group established to support ESPR implementation, comprising Member State representatives, trade and business associations, NGOs, and research institutes.

Contact Information and Resources

Contracting Authority Contact:European Commission, DG GROW - Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, GROW.I.4 - Sustainable Products, Email: GROW-I4-1@ec.europa.eu, For invoicing: GROW-B2-FINANCIAL-INITIATION@ec.europa.eu

Procurement Portal:EU Funding and Tenders Portal

Participant Register:Participant Register

eSubmission System:eSubmission Portal

Key Applicant Considerations

Prospective applicants should note that this contract requires demonstrated expertise in SME engagement and consultation processes, particularly in textile and furniture sectors. Strong networks across multiple EU Member States are essential. Experience with Ecodesign policy and regulatory frameworks is mandatory, with at least one team member requiring five years in this field. Excellent English language skills at C1 level are required for at least one team member. The contractor must be prepared to work across diverse geographical regions and manage complex stakeholder coordination. The payment structure is performance-based, with significant portions tied to meeting specific deliverables and the number of meetings organized. Applicants should carefully review all tender specifications and draft contract terms before submission, as these define all contractual obligations and rights.

Footnotes

1. 1The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) represents a major shift in EU product policy, extending beyond energy-related products to cover nearly all physical goods sold in the EU. It aims to ensure products are more durable, repairable, and recyclable, supporting the circular economy and climate goals. The regulation introduces new tools including Digital Product Passports and mandatory Green Public Procurement criteria.