Trusted Personal Data Flows for EU Competitiveness and Security

The European Commission has issued a tender opportunity titled "Trusted Personal Data Flows for EU Competitiveness and Security" (EC-FPI/2025/EA-RP/0017). This is a service contract aimed at enhancing data protection frameworks in partner countries, with a total estimated value of €2 million over a maximum duration of 24 months. The contract will focus on providing expertise and advice related to improving data protection laws and enforcement mechanisms, particularly in support of independent data protection authorities.

Eligible applicants include consultancies, legal firms, technical assistance providers, and organizations with expertise in data protection law reform. Although the specific eligibility of SMEs is indicated as not prioritized, there is no restriction on the types of entities that can apply. The application process is an open call for tenders, with electronic submission required via the EU’s Funding & Tenders Portal, and the deadline for submission is July 11, 2025, at 14:00 CEST.

The geographic scope includes international participation, with the tender aimed at key partner countries whose specific identities are not detailed. The primary sectors targeted include cybersecurity and legal/policy advisory services, as denoted by the relevant Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV) codes.

The tender follows a restricted procedure, which typically involves two stages: an initial request to participate for pre-selection, followed by submission of a full proposal for qualified candidates. Evaluation criteria will emphasize both price and quality, with a weighting of 80% on quality and 20% on price. There is no requirement for co-funding associated with this procurement contract.

This initiative is part of the EU's Rapid Response program, reflecting an emphasis on enhancing data governance and international data flow standards. Successful contractors will need to ensure proper visibility and accountability in line with EU regulations, including the use of EU emblems and appropriate funding statements in any communication or documentation related to the project. All application materials must conform to the requirements set out in the eSubmission platform, and a valid Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for participation.

This is a call for tenders, titled "Trusted Personal Data Flows for EU Competitiveness and Security". The procedure identifier is EC-FPI/2025/EA-RP/0017. The submission method is electronic and the call is currently open for submission.

The description of the call is as follows: This is a service contract to purchase expertise and advice for FPI and DG JUST to strengthen awareness of the EU’s data protection framework in key partner countries. The contractor will support key partner countries in developing or improving their data protection laws and enforcement mechanisms, with a focus on independent data protection authorities.

The procedure type is a restricted procedure. The estimated total value is 2,000,000 EUR. The TED publication date is 11/06/2025. The lead contracting authority is the European Commission, FPI - Service for Foreign Policy Instruments. The main classification (CPV) code is 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services. The nature of the contract is for services. The maximum contract duration is 24 months. The award method is best price-quality ratio. This is not a framework agreement. The selection criteria include the place(s) of delivery or performance, which is specified as 31085511 - All Countries. The relevant programme is 44995800 - Rapid response.

Key milestones include the TED publication date of 11/06/2025 and the deadline for receipt of requests to participate, which is 11/07/2025 at 14:00 Europe/Brussels time.

There is one document available: "Additional information contract noticeInvitation to submit a request to participate," published on 11/06/2025, Version 1. No translations are available.

Submissions must be sent exclusively at the address for submission provided. The submission method is electronic.

There are currently no public Q&A items.

Some frequently asked questions (FAQ) and their answers related to the eSubmission system are available:

How to proceed if the system is slow or doesn’t work while uploading/downloading documents?
Please make sure you use the latest versions of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. If the issue persists, try the following steps: 1. Clear the cache and cookies on the Internet browser. Published on 13/02/2025 20:52

Which Internet browsers does eSubmission support?
Please use the latest versions of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. For the most up-to-date technical recommendations, click on the link System Requirements. You can access this link. Published on 13/02/2025 20:52

Is it possible to view the details of the submission after the deadline?
The content of the submission is not accessible after submitting the tender as the system encrypts all attachments upon upload. Thus, the system will not allow decryption after the upload. Published on 13/02/2025 20:50

Where can I find my submissions in Manage My Area, in the Funding & Tenders portal?
Depending on the type or step of procedure, you can find the submissions in one of these sections: In ‘My Submission(s)’: tenders in response to open calls for tenders, requests to. Published on 17/10/2024 20:40

Which size should attachments have?
For attaching files to your tender submission, eSubmission accepts files that are less than 50 MB in size. Any larger sizes will not be accepted by the system. For the latest informa. Published on 17/10/2024 20:36

How should I name attachments in eSubmision?
In eSubmission, you must name the attachments for your tender draft following the System Requirements. With regards to all attachment names, please see the following conditions: The . Published on 03/10/2024 16:39

Can I submit a video in eSbmission? Which formats are supported?
You can check the System Requirements of eSubmission: Published on 03/10/2024 16:37

I received an invitation from the F&T Portal but cannot view the procurement documents.
Invited candidates can only see the procurement documents after having selected an organisation. Go to F&T Portal, “My Invitations”. Click on “Select Organisation” from the “Action”. Published on 03/10/2024 16:37

Do I need to validate my PIC in order to submit a tender in eSubmission?
The Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory to participate in a call for tenders as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium). For subcontractors PIC i. Published on 03/10/2024 16:36

I have an issue uploading a file in eSubmission and it’s giving me an error. What do I do?
When uploading a file in eSubmission, you must first make sure it follows the technical requirements of the system, which are as shown below. A)For procurement procedures: B)For req. Published on 03/10/2024 16:36

How many attachments can I upload per submission?
The maximum number of documents the system will allow you to upload per tender is 200 files. You are able to check the eSubmission System Requirements in the documentation by clicking. Published on 03/10/2024 16:35

Why do tenderers need a PIC?
It is mandatory to register for a PIC if you intend to submit a tender or a request to participate. Only one PIC per organisation must be used. Therefore, if your organisation alread. Published on 23/04/2024 17:14

How do I register my organisation and get a Participant Identification Code (PIC)?
First, check if the organisation is already registered using the Search PIC tool under 'How to Participate' > Participant Register. If your organisation is a bigger. Published on 23/04/2024 16:07

What is the validity period of a PIC?
A PIC is unique and its validity is not limited in time. Published on 22/04/2024 22:55

How many languages does the system support?
The system is multilingual and supports all 24 official EU languages. Published on 01/04/2024 19:56

Which is the character set encoding in the system?
The character set encoding is UTF-8. Published on 22/02/2024 23:58

Does the system use encryption to ensure the integrity and the confidentiality of the information?
Yes, the system encrypts all uploaded documents, using an asymmetric key as an encryption mechanism. Published on 22/02/2024 23:57

Which file types does the system support?
The supported file types depend on the type of submission you want to make. The allowed file types are specified within the system requirements linked to the procedure in question. M. Published on 21/02/2024 23:55

Can I view and edit my draft submission?
Until the deadline for the submission has been reached, submissions in the draft status can be edited, viewed and deleted. Published on 24/03/2023 21:32

In the submission report, under the name of our entity, "Legal form: UNKNOWN" is displayed while in the system, our legal form was correctly displayed. Is this a problem for the submission?
No, it is just a display issue. This is not blocking for you: you can submit. Published on 03/08/2021 22:07

I sent my submission on time and a few days later, I received an automatic email informing me that the deadline for the reception of submissions had been reached. Does this mean that my submission was not correctly sent?
No, this is an auto-generated notification sent when the time limit of receipt defined for the call for tenders has been reached. Until then, you had the possibility of withdrawing. Published on 03/08/2021 22:05

In summary, this is a call for tenders by the European Commission's Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI) and DG JUST, seeking expertise and advice to promote the EU's data protection framework in partner countries. The selected contractor will assist these countries in developing and improving their data protection laws and enforcement, with a particular emphasis on independent data protection authorities. The contract is valued at 2 million EUR and will run for a maximum of 24 months. The procedure is restricted, meaning that only invited candidates can submit a full tender. The deadline for submitting a request to participate is July 11, 2025. The submission must be done electronically through the EU's eSubmission portal, and applicants must have a valid PIC (Participant Identification Code). The tender will be awarded based on the best price-quality ratio. The eSubmission system supports all 24 official EU languages and uses encryption to protect the confidentiality of submitted information.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated, but given the nature of a service contract for expertise and advice, eligible applicants could include consulting firms, research institutions, universities, and other organizations with relevant expertise in data protection and international cooperation.

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

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. However, the FAQ section mentions that a Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory to participate as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium), implying that both single applicants and consortia are eligible.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The place of delivery or performance is indicated as "All Countries," suggesting that the geographic eligibility is international.

Target Sector: The target sector is data protection and security, with a focus on strengthening awareness of the EU’s data protection framework in key partner countries. This includes developing or improving data protection laws and enforcement mechanisms, with a focus on independent data protection authorities. The CPV code 73200000 points to Research and development consultancy services.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity mentions "key partner countries" but does not specify which countries these are. Therefore, the geographic scope is international.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on implementation and support, specifically providing expertise and advice to improve data protection frameworks in partner countries. This suggests a stage of development, validation, and implementation rather than basic research or idea generation.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the contract is 2,000,000 EUR.

Application Type: The application type is an open call for tenders, with electronic submission. The procedure type is specified as a restricted procedure.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for services rendered, specifically expertise and advice related to data protection.

Application Stages: The procedure type is "Restricted procedure" which usually involves two stages: a request to participate and a full proposal submission for those who are pre-selected. Therefore, there are likely 2 stages.

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

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

This is a call for tenders for a service contract issued by the European Commission, specifically the FPI (Service for Foreign Policy Instruments) and DG JUST. The project aims to enhance awareness and implementation of the EU's data protection framework in key partner countries around the world. The selected contractor will provide expertise and advice to these countries, assisting them in developing and improving their data protection laws and enforcement mechanisms, with a particular emphasis on supporting independent data protection authorities. The total estimated value of the contract is 2,000,000 EUR, and the maximum contract duration is 24 months. The submission method is electronic, and the deadline for receipt of requests to participate is July 11, 2025, at 14:00 Brussels time. The procedure is a restricted procedure, meaning there are likely two stages to the application process. A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for participation, whether as a single applicant or as part of a consortium. The call is open to international applicants. The tender will be awarded based on the best price-quality ratio. The selected contractor will contribute to the Rapid Response program.