The EEA, as leading contracting authority for the purpose of this inter-Agency call for tenders, seeks to establish a framework service contract with an experienced service provider who will assist it and the participating contracting authorities in carrying out their strategic communication activities.

The list of tasks below covers the main areas of service required but is not exhaustive. The contractor is expected to provide support in:

— planning: on the basis of the objectives formulated in the strategy, annual management plans, the communication framework as well as those arising from the rolling policy agenda, analyse and provide advice on the planning of the contracting authorities’ communication activities, including selection and prioritisation of communication opportunities; facilitation of planning workshops and training in communication planning approaches;

— storytelling and messaging: on the basis of activities and outputs planned, in preparation or already available, analyse and provide advice on storytelling, message development and usage of such content;

— stakeholder engagement: advice on stakeholder engagement activities; identify and prepare profiles of different existing and potential stakeholders and target audiences; advice on how to best match their information needs and preferences;

— products and activities: evaluate and provide advice on development and use of content for existing and potential communication channels, products and activities, with a focus on new and emerging tools;

— pre-testing: identify the most effective tools/methods that the contracting authorities could use to pre-test communication products and activities, as well as carry out such pre-testing on samples of relevant audiences;

— evaluation: identify effective tools for evaluating the impact and success of communication activities once a project or campaign has been carried out, as well as carry out such evaluation exercises;

— analysis: where relevant, provide analysis and assessments on communication science, covering a broad range of topics from communication theory, including approaches, behavioural elements, policy and implementation;

— network management: analyse how the contracting authorities may improve their communication impact through their existing networks and how they might link in with new networks, as well as providing assistance with such networking through for instance seminars and workshops, information-sharing tools, participatory activities, etc.;

— internal communication: analyse in-house communication routines, tools and organisational setup and provide advice on possible improvements. Also; help the contracting authorities develop and implement a strategic approach to internal communication.