European Commission Framework Contracts

See consulting opportunities for EC Framework Contracts

This page provides information about the horizontal framework contracts that have been put in place by EuropeAid Cooperation Office to facilitate the implementation of the external aid. This includes general information and guidelines about the various framework contracts and information about the framework contractors.

A framework contract is an agreement between one or more contracting authorities and one or more economic operators (multiple framework contracts) the purpose of which is to establish the terms governing specific contracts which may be awarded during a given period, particularly as regards the duration, subject, price, implementation rules and the quantities envisaged.

The framework contracts are instruments for fast and transparent recruiting of experts for all activities within the project cycle. They contain several thematic lots. Several contractors have been selected for each lot, most of which are consortia represented by a lead firm. The lead firm has been designated by the other partners to act on their behalf for the purposes of the contract and is the only one authorized to commit the consortium. Specific contract award is based on a competition, in this sense every request for service is submitted to 3 randomly-selected consortia of the list of pre-qualified consortia for the corresponding lot.

Main European Commission Framework Contracts:

Framework Contract Beneficiaries 2009:
EuropeAid/127054/C/multi
This FWC covering 12 lots is an instrument for fast and transparent recruiting of experts for activities in the sole interest of the beneficiary countries/ authorities of the European Commission's external aid programmes.

Framework Contract Beneficiaries 2005:
EuropeAid/119860/C/SV/multi (Replaced by EuropeAid/127054/C/multi)
This FWC covering 13 lots is an instrument for fast and transparent recruiting of experts for activities in the sole interest of the beneficiary countries/ authorities of the European Commission’s external aid programmes.

Framework Contract Commission 2007:
EuropeAid/123314/C/SER/multi
This FWC is a Multiple framework contract with regard to external aid, covering 6 lots, for the recruitment of expertise in favour of the European Commission or the European Commission and beneficiary countries.

Framework Contract Commission 2011:
EuropeAid/129783/C/SER/Multi
This FWC is multiple framework contract covering 3 lots, for technical assistance and studies, mainly in the field of external aid. This framework contract will be entered into with several economic operators for a maximum term of 2 years, renewable once for 2 years at most.

Framework Contract ROM - Results-Oriented Monitoring of operations financed by the European Union:
EuropeAid/129674/C/SER/Multi
This FWC is a Multiple framework contract within the framework of EU-funded external cooperation and enlargement, operating a system of results oriented monitoring of operations. Covers six lots

The Framework Contracts are used only when all the following conditions are fulfilled:

The total budget is less than €200 000
The funds are aimed for external aid, in the exclusive interest of an authority benefiting of external aid
The number of days worked by the expert does not exceed 260 days per action
The implementation period of the operation does not exceed 2 years (730 calendar days), addenda included.

These multiple contracts between the contracting authorities and the economic operators take the form of separate contracts but concluded in identical terms. The minimum number of economic operators may not be inferior to three.

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