NIRAS celebrates tremendous success in EU's SEA 2023 Framework Contracts, securing 12 of 17 Lots

This week, the long-awaited results of the EU’s Framework Contracts for Services for External Aid (SEA 2023) were released. NIRAS won an incredible 12 of 17 Lots; we are leading 5 and be a partner in the remaining 7 Lots, with a decision on Lot 2 still to come early next year.

This is a game-changer for NIRAS and our partners. We will be leading consortia for Lots 3, 9, 10, 11 and 15 and a partner in Lots 4, 7, 8, 12, 14, 16 and 17.

“Congratulations 465 million times! (€465 million is the total market volume of the Lots we are going to be part of through the large number of mini-bids expected to come out over the next 4-5 years.) There are hardly any superlatives or praise BIG enough to express the magnitude of this result! A huge thank you to all the hard work that was put into achieving this amazing outcome,” NIRAS International Consulting Senior Vice President and Division Head Tor Lundström announced in an email to the team leading our bids.  

A new chapter in development aid

Launching in January next year, SEA 2023 replaces the current “Framework Contract for Services for the Implementation of External Aid 2018” (FWC SIEA 2018). Under the SIEA 2018, which had only 6 Lots, NIRAS was part of 5, leading the Consortium for 3. Under SEA 2023, we will lead 5 (possibly 6 depending on the results of Lot 2) and be a partner in the remaining 7 Lots. As a technical sector, each Lot has a designated theme. For example, Lots 3 which we will lead, covers Agriculture and Food Systems. Lot 10 covers Civil Society and Local Authorities.

The SEA 2023 framework contract is mainly intended to support the European Commission Directorates-General (DG) in charge of the implementation of external action, such as DG INTPA, DG NEAR, the service for Foreign Policy Instruments and EU Delegations around the world. Compared to a standard tender procedure, the framework contract is a contractual tool that can mobilise expertise and services rapidly through specific contracts focused reducing poverty, ensuring sustainable development, and promoting democracy, human rights, and the rule of law across the globe. Groups of contractors form consortia to deliver the services for each Lot with one firm as the designated lead who coordinates proposals once the contracting process has begun.

Headed by Karen Soboleosky in our Copenhagen office, NIRAS operates a specific Framework Contracts Unit with a dedicated team of 30 employees, based in Belgium, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Poland, Serbia and Sweden. The team is specialised in project cycle management and extremely agile and experienced in finding and mobilising the right expertise in a very short time. It is intense, stressful and demanding work.

Join us in raising a toast to Karen, her team and everyone in NIRAS who supported work on these 17 bids. Major congratulations are well-deserved as winning 12 of 16 Lots (a 75% hit ratio) is something to be very proud of!

Needless to say we have a big hiring campaign ahead of us. You can register your CV to be considered for a position as part of the technical teams needed to lead our clients’ projects over the coming years. Together we can make a difference and deliver on our wider purpose of building a more equal, stable and sustainable world.