In Strasbourg, the European Parliament occupies a building complex comprising a high-rise building and 2 public access buildings with a total surface area of 313 006 m2.

In addition to the MEPs, their employees and staff, approximately 193 000 people visited these buildings in 2013.

The European Parliament would like to sign a framework contract for security services in the field of fire safety (pursuant to the regulations against fire and panic risks) and personal assistance.

The main tasks are:

— surveillance patrols and technical patrols (using clocking system) inside and outside the buildings,

— prevention of fire risks,

— on-site intervention and assistance to persons,

— inspections of fire-safety installations,

— operating control stations for the fire-safety control centre,

— technical planning, advice, implementing plans and following instructions,

— drawing up detailed reports,

— any other task assigned by the internal security unit with a view to bolstering overall security.

The working schedule fluctuates considerably, depending on the rhythm of parliamentary activity. In Strasbourg, the buildings are heavily occupied for 12 weeks a year (in principle, once a month, except in August, and twice in September). For the remaining 40 weeks, there is reduced activity, meaning that there is an appreciable variation in the volume of services related to the contract and necessary staff.

It should be noted that, several times a year, the European Parliament's buildings hold one-off events, such as open days, which require specific organisation and additional staff.

The contract has an initial duration of 12 months, renewable 3 times up to a maximum of 48 months.

The framework contract will be carried out via periodic purchase orders for fire-safety and personal-assistance services. In principle, 3 periodic purchase orders are set up as follows:

— 1 purchase order for January–February,

— a second purchase order for March–September,

— a third purchase order for October–December.

The one-off events will, if applicable, be subject to specific purchase orders.