User observations on usage of recommender systems to enable scaling of recommender systems experiments through automated and agentic means

Pursuant to article 27 DSA, providers of online platforms must clearly explain in their terms and conditions the main parameters used in their recommender systems, using plain and intelligible language. Moreover, they must explain options for users to modify or influence these main parameters. The main parameters that must be …

CPV: 79140000 Legal advisory and information services
Deadline:
Sept. 29, 2025, 4 p.m.
Deadline type:
Submitting a bid
Place of execution:
User observations on usage of recommender systems to enable scaling of recommender systems experiments through automated and agentic means
Awarding body:
European Commission, DG CNECT - Communications Networks, Content and Technology
Award number:
EC-CNECT/2025/OP/0056

1. Buyer

1.1 Buyer

Official name : European Commission, DG CNECT - Communications Networks, Content and Technology
Legal type of the buyer : EU institution, body or agency
Activity of the contracting authority : General public services

2. Procedure

2.1 Procedure

Title : User observations on usage of recommender systems to enable scaling of recommender systems experiments through automated and agentic means
Description : Pursuant to article 27 DSA, providers of online platforms must clearly explain in their terms and conditions the main parameters used in their recommender systems, using plain and intelligible language. Moreover, they must explain options for users to modify or influence these main parameters. The main parameters that must be explained include (a) the most significant criteria used to determine suggested information, and (b) the reasons for the relative importance of these parameters. For platforms offering multiple options for recommender systems, they must provide a functionality allowing users to select and modify their preferred option at any time. Such a functionality should be directly and easily accessible from the section of the platform’s interface where the information is prioritized. In addition to the obligations established by article 27, providers of VLOPs and VLOSEs have an additional requirement: they must provide at least one recommender system option that is not based on profiling as defined in Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (“General Data Protection Regulation” or “GDPR”). These transparency requirements aim to give users more control and understanding of how information is presented to them on online platforms, particularly in relation to personalized recommendations. Against this background, this contract will explore how users engage with recommender systems across Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) and Very Large Online Search Engine (VLOSEs) through user surveys and user observations. DG CONNECT, together with the European Centre for Algorithmic Transparency at the Joint Research Centre (ECAT – JRC), is developing new methods to analyze recommender systems. These methods are developed across a wide range of representative recommendation surfaces across VLOPs and VLOSEs (both in terms of user experience – social media feeds, products listing, etc. - and types of contents – video, text, images, products, etc.). Therefore, the need arises to ground the understanding of such systems with real world data from observations of user interactions with recommender systems, confronting state of the art of the scientific literature with the reality of a representative panel of VLOPs and VLOSEs’ user base (in terms of relevant demographic variables such as age, gender, computer literacy, etc.).
Procedure identifier : 4ab71ff5-0048-44ab-ac98-c5bb2c7f527b
Internal identifier : EC-CNECT/2025/OP/0056
Type of procedure : Open
The procedure is accelerated : no

2.1.1 Purpose

Main nature of the contract : Services
Main classification ( cpv ): 79140000 Legal advisory and information services

2.1.2 Place of performance

Anywhere
Additional information : Please consult the procurement documents.

2.1.3 Value

Estimated value excluding VAT : 250 000 Euro

2.1.4 General information

Additional information : In case of unavailability or disruptions in the functioning of the electronic means of communication provided in Section 5.1.11 in the last 5 calendar days before the time limit for receipt indicated in Section 5.1.12, the contracting authority reserves the right to extend this time limit and publish the extension at the Internet address provided in Section 5.1.11, without a preceding publication of a corrigendum to this notice. Economic operators interested in this procurement are invited to subscribe to the call for tenders at the address in Section 5.1.11 in order to get notified when new information or documents are published.
Legal basis :
Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509

5. Lot

5.1 Lot technical ID : LOT-0001

Title : User observations on usage of recommender systems to enable scaling of recommender systems experiments through automated and agentic means
Description : Pursuant to article 27 DSA, providers of online platforms must clearly explain in their terms and conditions the main parameters used in their recommender systems, using plain and intelligible language. Moreover, they must explain options for users to modify or influence these main parameters. The main parameters that must be explained include (a) the most significant criteria used to determine suggested information, and (b) the reasons for the relative importance of these parameters. For platforms offering multiple options for recommender systems, they must provide a functionality allowing users to select and modify their preferred option at any time. Such a functionality should be directly and easily accessible from the section of the platform’s interface where the information is prioritized. In addition to the obligations established by article 27, providers of VLOPs and VLOSEs have an additional requirement: they must provide at least one recommender system option that is not based on profiling as defined in Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (“General Data Protection Regulation” or “GDPR”). These transparency requirements aim to give users more control and understanding of how information is presented to them on online platforms, particularly in relation to personalized recommendations. Against this background, this contract will explore how users engage with recommender systems across Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) and Very Large Online Search Engine (VLOSEs) through user surveys and user observations. DG CONNECT, together with the European Centre for Algorithmic Transparency at the Joint Research Centre (ECAT – JRC), is developing new methods to analyze recommender systems. These methods are developed across a wide range of representative recommendation surfaces across VLOPs and VLOSEs (both in terms of user experience – social media feeds, products listing, etc. - and types of contents – video, text, images, products, etc.). Therefore, the need arises to ground the understanding of such systems with real world data from observations of user interactions with recommender systems, confronting state of the art of the scientific literature with the reality of a representative panel of VLOPs and VLOSEs’ user base (in terms of relevant demographic variables such as age, gender, computer literacy, etc.).
Internal identifier : EC-CNECT/2025/OP/0056

5.1.1 Purpose

Main nature of the contract : Services
Main classification ( cpv ): 79140000 Legal advisory and information services
Options :
Description of the options : provided they are in conformity with the basic project, new services or works consisting in the repetition of similar services or works, may be entrusted up to 50 % of the initial contract to the initial contractor by negotiated procedure without prior publication of a contract notice.

5.1.2 Place of performance

Anywhere
Additional information : Please consult the procurement documents.

5.1.3 Estimated duration

Duration : 9 Month

5.1.5 Value

Estimated value excluding VAT : 250 000 Euro

5.1.6 General information

Reserved participation : Participation is not reserved.
Procurement Project fully or partially financed with EU Funds.
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) : no

5.1.10 Award criteria

Criterion :
Type : Quality
Description : Please consult the procurement documents.
Category of award threshold criterion : Weight (percentage, exact)
Award criterion number : 60
Criterion :
Type : Price
Description : Please consult the procurement documents.
Category of award threshold criterion : Weight (percentage, exact)
Award criterion number : 40

5.1.11 Procurement documents

5.1.12 Terms of procurement

Terms of submission :
Electronic submission : Required
Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted : Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, German, Greek, English, Spanish, Estonian, Finnish, French, Irish, Croatian, Hungarian, Italian, Lithuanian, Latvian, Maltese, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Swedish
Electronic catalogue : Not allowed
Deadline for receipt of tenders : 29/09/2025 16:00 +02:00
Deadline until which the tender must remain valid : 9 Month
Information about public opening :
Opening date : 30/09/2025 14:00 +02:00
Terms of contract :
The execution of the contract must be performed within the framework of sheltered employment programmes : No
Electronic invoicing : Allowed
Electronic ordering will be used : yes
Electronic payment will be used : yes

5.1.15 Techniques

Framework agreement :
No framework agreement
Information about the dynamic purchasing system :
No dynamic purchase system

5.1.16 Further information, mediation and review

Review organisation : Court of Justice of the European Union
Organisation providing more information on the review procedures : European Commission, DG CNECT - Communications Networks, Content and Technology

8. Organisations

8.1 ORG-0001

Official name : European Commission, DG CNECT - Communications Networks, Content and Technology
Registration number : COM
Department : CNECT.F - Online Platforms: Society,CNECT.F.2 - DSA Risk Management and User Rights
Postal address : Rue de la Loi 200, Wetstraat 200
Town : Brussels
Postcode : B-1049
Country subdivision (NUTS) : Arr. de Bruxelles-Capitale/Arr. Brussel-Hoofdstad ( BE100 )
Country : Belgium
Telephone : +32 2 299 11 11
Roles of this organisation :
Buyer
Organisation providing more information on the review procedures

8.1 ORG-0002

Official name : Court of Justice of the European Union
Registration number : CURIA
Postal address : Rue du Fort Niedergrünewald
Town : Luxembourg
Postcode : L-2925
Country subdivision (NUTS) : Luxembourg ( LU000 )
Country : Luxembourg
Telephone : +352 4303-1
Internet address : http://curia.europa.eu
Roles of this organisation :
Review organisation

8.1 ORG-0003

Official name : European Commission
Registration number : EUCOM
Postal address : Mondrian (CDMA), Rue du Champ de Mars 21
Town : Brussels
Postcode : B-1050
Country subdivision (NUTS) : Arr. de Bruxelles-Capitale/Arr. Brussel-Hoofdstad ( BE100 )
Country : Belgium
Telephone : +32 2 299 11 11
Roles of this organisation :
TED eSender

Notice information

Notice identifier/version : 36b42891-95c4-4da9-9b50-3d1e2c11336a - 01
Form type : Competition
Notice type : Contract or concession notice – standard regime
Notice dispatch date : 27/08/2025 10:07 +02:00
Languages in which this notice is officially available : English
Notice publication number : 00562735-2025
OJ S issue number : 164/2025
Publication date : 28/08/2025