The new version of PRAG (Practical Guide to Contract Procedures for EU External Actions) 2025 introduces new features of interest to bidders, consultants, and entities interested in participating in EU-funded projects in the field of external action.

The webinar, available at the following link, addresses numerous technical and procedural aspects affecting the preparation, evaluation, and execution of contracts. Below are several important adjustments discussed in the webinar:

• Restructuring of the Expert Profile: The traditional CV has been replaced by the “Expert’s Profile,” limited to three pages and structured by specific criteria. Relevant experience must be repeated in both the general and specific sections when they correspond to different evaluation criteria.
• ​​Management of Expert Replacement: It is confirmed that experts can be replaced only once before the contract is issued, and any replacement must have equivalent or higher qualifications. Failure to replace experts in a timely manner may result in financial penalties.
• Instructions on Declarations of Honor and Supporting Entities: All entities providing capacity (including subcontractors) must sign the Declaration of Honor (Annex A14). Furthermore, the details of these entities must be submitted in separate documents.
• New invoicing policy and VAT exemption: For consortia without legal personality, each member must issue their own invoice (indicating the leader’s account), and a new procedure validated by the Commission’s accounting service has been established.
• Review of selection and evaluation criteria: Emphasis is placed on clearer and more proportional criteria. Furthermore, the inclusion of SMEs and local operators in consortia is considered added value, although the impact on scoring is at the discretion of the evaluation committee.
• Clarification on the use of the incidental budget: The rule that consortium members cannot invoice expenses to the incidental budget remains in place. External services may only be contracted under market and quality/price evaluation.

Other issues discussed include national eligibility, conditions for subcontracting experts, documentary evidence of references, and changes to the management of the electronic tendering system.

Access the full webinar at this link.

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