Provision of Business and IT Services (Specification, Development, Maintenance, and Support)
The European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), Brussels
Framework contract for 48 months
Budget €50.000.000
Deadline 19/7
Objectives of the Framework Contract
The main objective of the framework contract is to develop effective IT capabilities that will support the policy objectives of the European Commission notably the realisation of the European Education Area.
This framework contract is of strategic importance to EACEA. There are four key objectives that EACEA puts on this framework contract:
(1) To acquire the necessary IT capacity to support and implement IT initiatives detailed in the Agency’s work plan, including the digitalisation of the Erasmus+ programme, community management and stakeholder engagement.
(2) To establish an IT governance framework that is seamlessly integrated with the organisation’s overarching corporate governance model, thereby ensuring aligned, efficient, and compliant execution of IT projects.
(3) To ensure seamless integration of these initiatives with existing IT systems and frameworks both internal from the Commission and external (those used by the relevant communities).
(4) To ensure compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
Work Area’s
The scope of this Framework Contract encompasses a range of critical work areas that form the backbone of our IT operations and strategic initiatives. These areas are fundamental to achieving the objectives outlined in the agency’s work plan and ensuring a cohesive, effective approach to IT governance and service delivery. The primary work areas covered under this contract include:
(1) Work Area 01 – Governance: Establishing and maintaining the IT governance framework, aligned with the organisation’s corporate governance model, to ensure consistent decision-making processes and compliant execution of IT projects.
(2) Work Area 02 – Business & Technology Consultancy: Providing expert advice and consultancy services to bridge the gap between business objectives and technological capabilities.
(3) Work Area 03 – Data Governance and Data Management: Providing expert advice on, consultancy on and implement the data governance model of the European commission.
(4) Work Area 04 – IT Project Activities: Managing various aspects of IT projects, including but not limited to inception, elaboration, construction, transitioning and closure.
(5) Work Area 05 – IT Service and IT Operations Activities: Overseeing the delivery, maintenance, and improvement of IT services and IT operations that support business processes and functions. In complex environments the definition of the services (Strategy & Design phase) will be part of this activity.
(6) Work Area 06 – UX – UI activities: This work area specifies the activities related to the User experience and User Interface design. It is especially important to make use of this work area in projects that interact with the public through an interface provided by the EC or the agency.
(7) Work Area 07 – Takeover and Handover Activities: This involves the structured inclusion of new projects and services into the framework contract as the organisation’s needs evolve. At the end of the contract term, a thorough handover process will be executed to transition responsibilities, data, and relevant documentation to the succeeding contractor, ensuring business continuity and minimal disruption to ongoing IT services.
(8) Work Area 08 – Security based activities This work area will reassure the agency that all necessary security requirements on the level of the framework contract are implemented according Commission Decision (EU, Euratom) 2017/46
Through these work areas, we aim to establish a comprehensive and dynamic framework that adapts to the evolving needs of our organisation.
Technologies
Within the parameters of this Framework Contract, the following technologies and software platforms are commonly supported and are expected to be predominantly utilised:
• Cloud Computing Services (e.g., AWS, Azure)
• Virtualization Technologies (e.g., VMware, Hyper-V)
• Databases (e.g., Oracle, SQL Server, MongoDB)
• Data management (Business Objects (BO), PowerBI, Qlik, KNIME)
• Programming Languages (e.g., Java, JavaScript/Node.js, Python, C#, .Net, PHP, Ruby, Go (Golang))
• Cloud frameworks and tools (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes, Microservices Architecture, Serverless Frameworks)
• Web Technologies (e.g., HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Drupal)
• Content Management Systems (e.g., Drupal)
• Network Protocols (e.g., TCP/IP, HTTP/HTTPS)
• Operating Systems (e.g., Windows, Linux, macOS)
• Enterprise Software Solutions (e.g., ERP, CRM)
• Middleware (e.g., Apache, JBoss, WebLogic, WebSphere, Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS), ODBC (Open Database Connectivity), JDBC (Java Database Connectivity))
• Micro service-based system development
• API gateway technologies
• DevSecOps Tools (e.g., JIRA, Confluence, Jenkins, Bitbucket, GitLab, Sonar Cube)
Several projects and services described are based on Drupal and OpenEuropa web platform. It is expected from the contractor to have sufficient resources to accommodate our requests and have skilled staff to deliver high quality products.
The European Student Card Initiative is not based on Drupal or Open Europa. The initiative will include diverse technologies, platforms. We expect the contractor to be in a position to deliver all necessary skills to implement this bespoke application based in the cloud.
Leave a Reply