The European Commission’s Multiple Framework Contracts

The diverse EC multiple framework contracts are divided into different LOTs representing specific areas of expertise. Generally, the contracts deal with supplying the EC with technical assistance services to the benefit of third countries receiving external aid.

Recruitment for EC programs and regions
To increase flexibility in the provision of technical assistance (TA) to the benefit of third countries as well as its own operations, the European Commission (EC) has streamlined procurement procedures through the use of Framework Contracts (FWC). Framework contracts can cover all the main EC programmes and regions including PHARE, ISPA, SAPARD, TACIS, CARDS, OBNOVA, ALA, MEDA, FED, EAR and others. 

How it works
Framework contracts are mostly multi-year contracts in which groups of companies (consortia) become ‘preferred suppliers’ for TA services to the EC for a specific area of expertise, the so-called ‘LOTs’. Particular procedures vary between framework contracts and lots, but typically each lot is serviced by 4 consortia that are in turn invited – through a so-called Request for Services (RfS) – to submit proposals for a specific project. In a short proposal, each of these consortia offers a competitive team to the EC from their own staff, through their networks of partner organizations and/or by approaching freelance consultants.

It is not possible to inform of specific future Requests for Services in advance, but the prospective services required from the FWC experts will relate to the LOT in which they are represented. If a request for specific services matches an expert’s professional competences, that expert may be contacted by Danish Management, and – if selected by the EC – the respective expert(s) will be recruited for that specific assignment.

The expert area of a given FWC Lot should however not be considered as exhaustive and users may call on any additional expertise falling within a specific sector. Thus, for more complex assignments, teams may be complemented by expertise normally falling within another sector, provided the complementary expertise is minor compared to the core expertise. The objectives of each individual assignment will be described in the Specific Terms of Reference which describes each individual assignment and which are part of each Specific Contract.

Objectives
The objectives of a Framework Contract are to provide, via individual assignments through Specific Contracts, short-term TA which can be mobilised at very short notice. The quality of this TA must be guaranteed by the selected Framework Contractors who disposes of the appropriate internal and/or external technical skills. The TA will be provided for the exclusive benefit of the country receiving the external aid. TA may be required at any stage of the project cycle and may cover any aspect within a given technical field.

Danish Management, our networks, partners and interconnected experts
Main stakeholders in Danish Management’s part of the FWCs are: Our respective consortia, our local network partners (all from EC program countries), and our interconnection with a broad pool of highly qualified individual experts from all over the world.