The contribution service of ARD, ZDF and Deutschlandradio (hereinafter referred to as the "contribution service") intends to outsource its website "www.rundfunkbeitrag.de". With this procedure, he is looking for a service provider who will develop the currently existing website on the basis of contemporary and modern technology. Functionally, the website will then be further developed together in an agile team. The technical responsibility for the website remains with the contribution service. This applies both to the maintenance of the content and to the definition of the specifications for functional changes.

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It is intended to conclude a contract with the most economical bidder with the following service components:

- Relaunch to the current state of the art (contract for work)

- Provision of service components (service contract)

- Operation & further development (service contract)

The Contractor is obliged to start the relaunch as soon as the contract is awarded.

The Contribution Service intends to transfer all operating services in connection with the website to the operational responsibility of the Contractor.

The service contracts are put out to tender with a fixed term of 3 years, seamlessly after acceptance of the contract for work and services, as well as the possibility of a two-time unilateral extension by the contribution service (extension option) for another year each time under the same conditions. The Contribution Service is not obliged to exercise the above-mentioned extension options.

The Client guarantees the Contractor a minimum purchase quantity of 200 person-days (PT) during the fixed term and 65 PT during the extension options for the Operations & Development Service Contract. In total, the client is entitled to call up a maximum of PT 1,900 from the framework agreement as a maximum quantity. This maximum amount is expected to be broken down over the total term as follows: PT 1,140 during the fixed term and PT 380 per renewal option.

The Contribution Service reserves the right to have up to 10% of the requested PT provided at the Contribution Service location.

Further details can be found in Part B. of this participation brochure - short description of the advertised services.

The contribution service intends to outsource its website. With this process, the contribution service is looking for a contractor who maps the existing website with all its functions in a completely new and contemporary architecture. After successful acceptance and corresponding start of production, the associated operational responsibility is to be assumed by the contractor.

The functional development with up-to-date self-service offers and dialogues instead of forms is to be carried out together in an agile team (based on SCRUM) with employees of the contractor and the client. The technical / content-related responsibility as well as the editorial design of the content remain with the client.

It is intended to conclude a contract with the most economical bidder with a fixed term of 3 years with a two-time unilateral extension option for a further year each time on the same terms and conditions with the following service components:

- Relaunch (contract for work),

- Provision of service components (service contract),

- Operation & further development (service contract).

Due to the image of the contribution service and the fact that the contribution service stores data of many citizens, companies and institutions, it and especially the website are repeatedly the target of attacks. Therefore, there are high demands on the security of the system and the ability to react to attacks or to initiate measures if necessary.

User behavior is constant, with no significant peaks. In the 12 months from July 2022 to June 2023, the website had 16.6 million visits. There is a significantly lower number of users on weekends than on weekdays. At the beginning of each week (Mondays, Tuesdays) the usage is slightly higher than on the other working days.

As a result of the further development of the website and the associated increasing attractiveness for users, the contribution service hopes to shift the number of current written receipts (approx. 16.7 million per year) and telephone receipts (approx. 3.78 million per year) towards online-based communication. There is currently no forecast for the extent of the project.

INFORMATION ON THE COURSE OF THE NEGOTIATION PROCEDURE:

Once the initial offer has been submitted, the Contribution Service will negotiate the bids with the bidders. The first round of negotiations will serve to clarify any ambiguities and open points on technical issues that have arisen after the initial examination and evaluation of the initial offers, as well as to discuss the key points of the contract with the bidders. The contracting authority will hold discussions with each bidder individually in compliance with the principles of public procurement law. The Contribution Service reserves the right to conduct the negotiation round in the form of a video conference.

In order to prepare for the negotiations in a structured manner, bidders are asked to submit a Word document with their bid on their own attachment, from which the bidder's negotiation needs and topics emerge. The Word document must contain the following information:

- Reference: Which clause of the contract, which remuneration structure in the price sheet or which specific requirement (precisely specified!) does the negotiation proposal refer to?

- What exactly do you think should be changed (please with a concrete wording suggestion)?

- What is the reason for the proposed change, what are the advantages (specifically described) for the client.

- What would be the (concretely quantifiable) financial benefits of your proposal?

- Please sort the proposals in order of importance (the most important suggestions at the top, then descending) and clearly indicate whether AND (!) why you might be prevented from submitting an offer if your negotiation proposal is not complied with ("dealbreaker"):

Please note the following: In the present procedure, the participation brochure and the tender documents do NOT specify any minimum requirements for the provision of services within the meaning of § 17 (10) sentence 2 VgV. Insofar as A-criteria are defined, these are not minimum requirements within the meaning of § 17 (10) sentence 2 VgV. A-criteria can therefore also be the subject of negotiations and can be amended. Thus, if the bidder is unable to meet A criteria in the context of the first tender, in particular those for which it submits a negotiating proposal, this does not necessarily lead to exclusion in the first round. However, we would like to point out that the client is at liberty to adhere to all established A-criteria despite conflicting negotiation proposals, so that non-fulfilment of A-criteria may lead to exclusion in further rounds of negotiations. Thus, if the bidder is unable to meet all the initial A criteria, the bidder risks being excluded. There is no obligation on the part of the client to take up or accept proposals for negotiations. The client can therefore reject any negotiation proposals without any discussion or justification. In compliance with the principles of public procurement law, the contracting authority alone decides whether and which negotiating proposals are to be discussed.

We would like to point out that proposals for negotiations may also include B criteria. The B criteria are NOT award criteria within the meaning of § 17 para. 10 sentence 2 VgV. In all other respects, the above shall apply mutatis mutandis.

Following the negotiations, the requirements for the tenders will be adapted or clarified in the same way for all bidders, if necessary. Contractual regulations, performance requirements and also A or B criteria can be adapted. This is always done in compliance with the principles of public procurement law.