European framework contracts: Who won the most business?

The Directorate-General for International Partnerships, or DG INTPA, is the European Commission’s leading agency for international cooperation and development. It carries out a number of initiatives that help European Commission and European Union member countries fulfill their commitment toward the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs. DG INTPA accounts for a significant portion of total EU aid spending, which is estimated to be worth more than €15 billion annually. One of the main mechanisms for distributing this cash is via a framework contract, which allows preapproved consortia to bid for work at short notice. In this article, we looked into the framework contract awarded between 2018 and 2021 to see who were DG INTPA’s biggest contractors. Inside the framework contract In 2018, DG INTPA announced a new framework contract, called Services for Implementation of External Aid, or SIEA — with an estimated budget of €650 million ($697 million). Originally set to be completed by 2022, the framework has been extended until May 31, 2023. So far, €362.6 million has already been disbursed for almost 1,800 contracts awarded between 2018 and Jan. 18, 2022. These were funded under six lots: • €60.2 million out of the €125 million budget for Lot 1 — Sustainable management of natural resources and resilience. • €115 million out of the €155 million budget for Lot 2 — Infrastructure, sustainable growth and jobs. • €94 million out of the €154 million budget for Lot 3 — Human rights, democracy and peace. • €41.5 million out of the €73 million budget for Lot 4 — Human development and safety net. • €41.8 million out of the €63 million budget for Lot 5 — Budget support. • €10 million out of the €80 million budget for Lot 6 — Innovative financing for development. This suggests that with two years to go, DG INTPA still had €287.4 million in remaining budget for the contract. Top 10 contractors from 2018 to 2021 Overall, the top 10 contractors won €172.2 million — 47.5% of the total. All are development consulting firms based in Europe — four in Belgium, two in Denmark, two in France, and one each in Germany and Spain. 1. COWI Belgium Location: Brussels, Belgium Established: 2000 Total number of contracts: 114 Total contract amount: €29.4 million COWI Belgium offers services in development assistance, environmental protection, impact assessment, and transport infrastructure. It’s a subsidiary of COWI Denmark — one of the four main business lines of the consulting firm COWI Group. Its biggest contract, worth €1 million, was for a feasibility study on the economic development of the Tetetou hydroelectric site in Togo. It also won contracts for studies and technical assistance in a range of sectors, including agriculture, economic development, energy, and transportation. 2. DT Global Europe Location: Madrid, Spain Established: 2019 Total number of contracts: 125 Total contract amount: €21.3 million DT Global implements projects for a number of donors, including the Asian Development Bank, EC, United Nations, the United States Agency for International Development, and the World Bank. Its office in Europe is among the biggest recipients of the framework contract, with €21.3 million. Its biggest award, worth over €960,000, was for the formulation of a national development plan funded under the Support Programme for Employment and Regional Integration of Madagascar, or PROCOM — an €8 million project supporting the country’s private sector. In 2019, AECOM International Development became DT Global. Since then, it has acquired two large consultancy firms — Cardno International Development and IMC Worldwide. DT Global Europe currently implements 18 projects funded by the European Commission. 3. IBF International Consulting Location: Brussels, Belgium Established: 1977 Total number of contracts: 112 Total contract amount: €20.4 million IBF International Consulting specializes in development aid consulting. In 1996, it won its first EU project, which supported candidate countries applying to be members of the EU. Since then, it has provided capacity building, technical assistance, and institutional strengthening services to a number of bilateral and multilateral donors. IBF won large contracts in education, governance, and social development. The biggest, worth nearly €1 million, was for the implementation of the EU4Youth — EU’s program for youth leadership and entrepreneurship. 4. NIRAS Location: Allerød, Denmark Established: 1956 Total number of contracts: 70 Total contract amount: €17.9 million NIRAS is one of Europe’s largest development consulting companies, with over 50 offices across the globe. It has been a long-time partner of the EU, having been awarded over €35 million for more than 350 contracts under the Facility and Framework Contracts. NIRAS was awarded nearly €930,000 to work on a program to support civil society organizations working on human rights in Russia. 5. DAI Global - EU Business Unit Location: Brussels, Belgium Established: 2016 Total number of contracts: 71 Total contract amount: €15.3 million DAI Global is a leading partner to some of the biggest aid donors, including the U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, EU, and USAID. Its portfolio includes more than 95 EU-funded projects in over 80 countries. Its corporate office in Belgium won nearly €1 million for the provision of technical assistance to Integrated Policy Management Groups, or IPMGs, in Albania. The government of Albania set up IPMGs as part of good governance reforms necessary for its EU membership application. 6. Rambøll Denmark Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Established: 1945 Total number of contracts: 58 Total contract amount: €15.3 million Rambøll provides consulting services in a number of sectors, including construction, transportation, energy, and environment. The consulting firm won a number of large contracts, including a feasibility study for a hydropower plant in Liberia, rainwater drainage works in the Republic of the Congo, and protection of water resources in Togo. Its biggest was a €1 million contract for the design of the bus rapid transit core line 3 in Nairobi, Kenya. 7. Application Européenne de Technologies et de Services Location: Lons, France Established: 1996 Total number of contracts: 66 Total contract amount: €13.5 million AETS provides technical support, impact assessment, and consulting services to clients, including Agence Française de Développement, EC, and World Bank. It is a subsidiary of the construction and engineering company APAVE Group. AETS was awarded nearly €870,000 for technical assistance for the Promove Comércio Programme in Mozambique — EU’s trade facilitation activity in the country. 8. Particip Location: Freiburg, Germany Established: 1989 Total number of contracts: 69 Total contract amount: €13.5 million Particip provides services in contract and project management, data collection and monitoring, evaluation, and institutional support. To date, it has won over 800 short-term contracts from the EU, either as part of a consortium or partner. Its biggest contract, worth €1 million, was for the coordination support for the Partnerships for Sustainable Cities — EU’s program for urban governance. 9. SUEZ Consulting Location: Nanterre, France Established: 1919 Total number of contracts: 56 Total contract amount: €13.3 million A subsidiary of the utility company SUEZ Group, SUEZ Consulting provides services geared towards green transition. Its biggest contract, worth over €960,000, supported the EU’s Digital For Development Hub. D4D serves as the EU’s platform for digital cooperation among its members and global partners. In 2015, the SUEZ Environment Group, which includes SAFEGE, became SUEZ Consulting — merging the group’s engineering and consulting services. 10. International Consulting Expertise Location: Brussels, Belgium Established: 2011 Total number of contracts: 53 Total contract amount: €12.3 million ICE Consulting provides technical assistance to public and private clients in over 10 key areas, including education, energy, governance, health, and justice. It was awarded €1 million to improve the justice system in Azerbaijan by helping the Ministry of Justice introduce alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and provide legal aid to its citizens. Try out Devex Pro Funding today with a free 5-day trial, and explore funding opportunities from over 850 sources in addition to our analysis and news content.