User-friendliness of features employed by OMPs / Features employed by OMPs influencing users behavior

This document outlines a procurement opportunity from the European Commission, specifically under the Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT). The focus of the tender is a study on the user-friendliness of features employed by Very Large Online Marketplaces (VLOPs) in relation to the Digital Services Act (DSA), which is enforced across the EU.

The maximum contract value for this tender is set at 142,000 EUR, with a total duration of six months. The contract is a service contract, aimed at providing research and development services related to the compliance of digital platforms with the DSA. The application process is classified as an open call, and submissions are to be made electronically.

Eligible applicants include a range of entities capable of undertaking the required analysis, such as consulting firms, research institutions, and specialized service providers, but there is no specific targeting of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as indicated by the absence of a suitable indicator for SMEs.

Geographically, the opportunity is open to applicants located within the EU and the European Economic Area (EEA). While specific countries are not mentioned, the DSA applies broadly to online services across the EU, implying inclusivity within these jurisdictions for potential bidders.

The project is positioned in the research phase, focused on evaluating how well online marketplaces implement user-friendly features that comply with specific DSA obligations, including advertising transparency and user action mechanisms.

The nature of support entails financial compensation for the completion of the study, with no co-funding requirement placed on the contractor. The process will not have multiple stages; rather, it is expected to consist of a singular application stage.

Success rates for similar procurement opportunities are typically low, although specific statistics for this tender are not provided.

This opportunity not only serves as a pre-information notice but also indicates the intention to publish a negotiated tender procedure in the future, with key dates for expression of interest slated for July 15, 2025, to August 30, 2025, and a planned launch of the procedure on July 29, 2025.

In summary, the European Commission seeks a third-party contractor to explore and analyze the user-friendliness of features in VLOPs under the DSA. The objective is to substantiate the Commission's monitoring and enforcement efforts within the regulatory framework governing digital service operations in the EU market.

This is a pre-information notice, not a call for tenders. It announces the European Commission's intention to publish a future negotiated low or middle value procedure. The procedure identifier is EC-CNECT/2025/MVP/0066-EXA.

The subject of the planned call for tenders is the "User-friendliness of features employed by OMPs / Features employed by OMPs influencing users behavior".

The description is as follows: Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market for Digital Services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC (Digital Services Act – “DSA”), fully enforceable since 17 February 2024, applies to all online intermediaries in the EU including providers of online platforms that allow consumers to conclude distance contracts with traders (“online marketplaces”), offering their services in the single market, irrespective of whether they are established in the EU or outside. It imposes asymmetric due diligence obligations on different types of intermediaries depending on the nature of their services as well as on their size and impact, to ensure that their services are not misused for illegal activities and that providers operate responsibly. Online platforms are subject to general due diligence obligations under the DSA, including rules to prevent the spread of illegal content (Article 16) and requirements for transparency in advertising systems (Articles 26). In addition to these general obligations, online marketplaces must comply with specific rules outlined in Articles 30 to 32 of the DSA. The DSA contains also several transparency obligations directed towards consumers. These include advertising transparency (Article 26 DSA), user-friendly notice and action mechanism (Article 16 DSA), and transparent online interfaces for online marketplaces (Article 30 & 31 DSA). The impact of these obligations translates directly into the ability of consumers to find and make use of them. Certain substantive obligations are also limited only to Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) and Very Large Search Engines (VLOSEs) – i.e. those that reach more than 10% of the EU’s population and have a central role in facilitating the public debate and economic transactions. The DSA also creates for VLOPs and VLOSEs a risk-based approach combined with a stronger public oversight mechanism with the European Commission (“Commission”) being the sole enforcer of the rules. The above rules share the feature of empowering users to conduct specific actions on the platform or obtain information about either the platform or the platforms offerings. Therefore, it is important to assess the ability of users to benefit from these opportunities in practice, based on how online platforms have currently implemented their obligations under the DSA. In the context of the Commission’s effort to verify the compliance of very large online marketplaces with the requirements under the DSA and to gain a more comprehensive, holistic and EU-wide perspective on the implementation of the user-friendliness obligations by a set of very large online marketplaces, the Commission is seeking support from a suitable third-party contractor. The study will assist the Commission in the execution of its monitoring and enforcement activities as the primary enforcer of the DSA, in line with Art. 72 DSA, more specifically as regards provisions applicable to very large online marketplaces. To this aim, it will support the Commission enforcement activities in assessing the compliance by the designated very large online marketplaces with the obligations that involve enabling the user to access information or perform actions. The specific objectives of the study are to support the work of the Commission by providing: Evidence and data relating to the user friendliness of the features of selected very large online marketplaces with a set of DSA obligations and Analysis of user friendliness by the selected very large online marketplaces with a set of DSA obligations.

The maximum total contract value is 142,000 EUR. The procedure type is a planned negotiated procedure for a middle/low value contract. The lead 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. The maximum contract duration is 6 months. No framework agreement is mentioned.

The start date for expression of interest is 2025-07-15 Europe/Brussels. The deadline for expression of interest is 30/08/2025 04:59 Europe/Brussels. The indicative date of launch of the negotiated procedure is 2025-07-29 Europe/Brussels.

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

A question in the Public Q&A section asks where to find procurement documents for calls for tenders with 'ExA' in the reference. The answer states that references featuring 'ExA' are not calls for tenders but publications announcing the contracting authority's intent to launch a low or middle negotiated procedure in the future. This answer was published on 03/10/2024 16:32.

In summary, this is a pre-information notice for a planned negotiated procedure related to a study on the user-friendliness of features employed by very large online marketplaces (VLOMs) in the context of the Digital Services Act (DSA). The European Commission, as the primary enforcer of the DSA, seeks a contractor to provide evidence and analysis on how user-friendly the features of selected VLOMs are, specifically concerning their obligations under the DSA. The study aims to support the Commission's monitoring and enforcement activities. The maximum contract value is 142,000 EUR, and the contract duration is 6 months. The expression of interest period opens on July 15, 2025, and closes on August 30, 2025, with the negotiated procedure expected to launch around July 29, 2025. This notice is not a call for tenders, but an announcement of a future opportunity.

Eligible Applicant Types: The opportunity seeks a "suitable third-party contractor," implying that eligible applicants could include SMEs, large enterprises, research institutes, consulting firms, or other organizations capable of conducting the required study and analysis. The specific type of organization is not explicitly defined, but the emphasis is on demonstrated expertise and capacity to fulfill the contract's objectives.

Funding Type: The funding type is a service contract, as the European Commission is seeking a contractor to provide specific services, namely a study and analysis of the user-friendliness of features employed by Very Large Online Marketplaces (VLOMs).

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required or if a single applicant is preferred. However, the description refers to a "third-party contractor," which suggests that a single entity is likely sufficient, although a consortium with clearly defined roles and responsibilities could also be considered.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The opportunity relates to the Digital Services Act (DSA), which applies to all online intermediaries in the EU, including those established outside the EU but offering services in the single market. Therefore, the geographic eligibility for applicants is likely broad, encompassing entities within the EU and potentially those outside the EU that can demonstrate relevant expertise and capacity to conduct the study within the context of the DSA and its application in the EU.

Target Sector: The target sector is ICT, specifically focusing on the regulation of online platforms and marketplaces under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The opportunity is directly related to the digital economy, online services, and the enforcement of regulations concerning user protection and platform transparency.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the focus is on the European Union (EU) and the application of the Digital Services Act (DSA) within the EU single market. The DSA applies to online intermediaries offering services in the EU, regardless of their location.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on the implementation and enforcement of existing regulations, specifically the Digital Services Act (DSA). The study aims to assess the user-friendliness of features implemented by Very Large Online Marketplaces (VLOMs) in compliance with the DSA, indicating a stage of monitoring and validation of regulatory compliance.

Funding Amount: The maximum total contract value is 142,000 EUR. This indicates that the funding range for this opportunity is under €200k.

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 select number of candidates to submit a full proposal.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a service contract payment in exchange for delivering the study and analysis as specified in the contract terms.

Application Stages: The application process appears to involve at least two stages: an initial expression of interest, followed by a potential invitation to submit a full proposal as part of the negotiated procedure.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned. However, as a negotiated procedure, the success rate after the expression of interest stage is likely to be higher than an open call, as only a limited number of candidates will be invited to submit a full proposal. The success rate of obtaining the funding is therefore other.

Co-funding Requirement: The opportunity does not mention any co-funding requirement. It is implied that the full contract value will be covered by the European Commission.

Summary:

This opportunity is a planned negotiated procedure initiated by the European Commission, DG CNECT, to procure a study on the user-friendliness of features employed by Very Large Online Marketplaces (VLOMs) in the context of the Digital Services Act (DSA). The DSA, fully enforceable since February 17, 2024, aims to regulate online intermediaries and ensure a safer online environment for consumers within the EU single market. The study's primary objective is to support the Commission's monitoring and enforcement activities under the DSA, specifically concerning provisions applicable to VLOMs. The selected contractor will be responsible for providing evidence and data related to the user-friendliness of VLOM features and analyzing their compliance with DSA obligations. The maximum contract value is 142,000 EUR, and the contract duration is six months. The procedure is a planned negotiated procedure for a middle/low value contract. The indicative date for the launch of the negotiated procedure is July 29, 2025. The start date for the expression of interest is July 15, 2025, with a deadline of August 30, 2025. Interested parties must submit an electronic expression of interest. This is not a call for tenders but an announcement of the contracting authority's intention to publish a future negotiated procedure. The study falls under the CPV code 73000000, which covers research and development services and related consultancy services. The European Commission seeks a third-party contractor to assess how VLOMs are implementing obligations under the DSA, particularly those empowering users to take specific actions or access information on the platforms. The study will provide the Commission with a comprehensive, holistic, and EU-wide perspective on the implementation of user-friendliness obligations by VLOMs.