French Ministry of Education Awards €170M Virtualisation Framework Contracts

The French Ministry of Education, together with the Ministry of Sports, Youth and Voluntary Organisations, has awarded two framework contracts for virtualisation solutions totalling up to €170 million. Econocom Products & Solutions SAS won Lot 1 (proprietary virtualisation, €100M max) and SCC France won Lot 2 (open-source virtualisation, €70M max). The contracts cover licences, subscriptions, support, maintenance, expertise, and training services.

Introduction

The Secrétariat Général of the French Ministry of Education, Higher Education, Research and Space, together with the Ministry of Sports, Youth and Voluntary Organisations, has conducted an open procedure for the procurement of virtualisation solutions. The framework agreements cover the needs of central and regional services of the ministries, as well as training and research establishments that are members of the Groupe Logiciel purchasing group.

The procurement is divided into two lots: Lot 1 for proprietary virtualisation solutions (maximum €100 million) and Lot 2 for open-source virtualisation solutions (maximum €70 million). The contracts include licences, subscriptions, support, maintenance, expertise, and training services.

Econocom Products & Solutions SAS (with subcontractors ITQ Consultancy SAS, Econocom Services & Solutions SAS, and SQUARE System) won Lot 1, while SCC France (with subcontractor COWIGO) won Lot 2. Both contracts run for an initial 12 months with three optional 12-month renewals, for a total potential duration of 48 months.

Why This Contract Matters

This procurement ensures that France's education and research institutions have access to modern virtualisation solutions, both proprietary and open-source.

This contract matters because it:

• Massive scale: Up to €170 million across two lots
• Covers entire education sector: Ministries, regional services, and research establishments
• Dual approach: Both proprietary and open-source solutions
• Comprehensive services: Licences, subscriptions, support, maintenance, expertise, training
• Long-term commitment: Up to 4 years (12 months + 3 renewals)
• French public sector: Major government IT infrastructure investment
• SME participation: Subcontracting to SMEs (SQUARE System, ITQ Consultancy, COWIGO)

Contract Timeline

• Previous notice: 49319-2026
• Winner chosen: 2 July 2026
• Contract concluded: 28 July 2026
• Initial contract start: 28 July 2026
• Initial duration: 12 months
• Maximum renewals: 3 (each 12 months)
• Maximum total duration: 48 months
• Notice published: 24 August 2026 (OJ S 162/2026)

Contract Overview

The French Ministry of Education conducted an open procedure under the standard regime, governed by EU Directive 2014/24/EU and the French Public Procurement Code (Code de la commande publique).

Key features include:

• Two lots: Proprietary virtualisation (Lot 1) and Open-source virtualisation (Lot 2)
• Framework type: Purchase order framework agreement with a single economic operator, no minimum amount, with a maximum amount
• Execution: Via purchase orders as needs arise
• Total maximum value: €170,000,000 (Lot 1: €100M, Lot 2: €70M)
• Total estimated value: €56,800,000 (Lot 1: €40M, Lot 2: €16.8M)
• Duration: 12 months initial + 3 x 12-month renewals = up to 48 months
• Evaluation: 40% price, 60% quality (all criteria in consultation documents)
• No EU funding

Key Contract Details

Detail	Information
Contracting authority	Ministère de l'Education nationale, de l'enseignement supérieur, de la recherche et de l'espace; Ministère des sports, de la jeunesse et de la vie associative
Contract title	Fourniture de licences, souscriptions, support et maintenance et prestations d'expertise et de formation pour un ensemble de solutions de virtualisation
Main CPV	48000000 Software package and information systems
Procedure type	Open procedure (standard regime)
Legal basis	EU Directive 2014/24/EU; French Public Procurement Code (articles L2124-2, R2124-2, R2162-4)
Total maximum value (EUR)	€170,000,000.00 (Lot 1: €100M, Lot 2: €70M)
Total estimated value (EUR)	€56,800,000.00 (Lot 1: €40M, Lot 2: €16.8M)
Number of lots	2
Initial duration	12 months
Maximum renewals	3 (12 months each)
Maximum total duration	48 months
EU funding	None
Covered by GPA	Yes
Evaluation criteria	Price (40%), Quality (60%)
Location	Various locations across France

Lot 1 – Proprietary Virtualisation Solutions

Lot 1: Fourniture de solutions de virtualisation propriétaires

• Maximum framework value: €100,000,000
• Estimated value: €40,000,000
• Winner: Econocom Products & Solutions SAS (mandataire/lead)
• Subcontractors: ITQ Consultancy SAS, Econocom Services & Solutions SAS, SQUARE System
• Subcontracting value: €5,600,000 (12% of contract)
• Subcontracting description: VMware and Omnissa solutions consulting, implementation, migration, security, training, support
• Number of tenders: 3
• Rank: 1st

Lot 1 Subcontractors

Subcontractor	Location	Size	Role
SQUARE System	Paris	SME	VMware/Omnissa services
ITQ Consultancy SAS	Lille	SME	VMware/Nutanix services
Econocom Services & Solutions SAS	Puteaux	Medium	VMware/Omnissa services

Lot 2 – Open-Source Virtualisation Solutions

Lot 2: Fourniture de solutions de virtualisation libres (open source)

• Maximum framework value: €70,000,000
• Estimated value: €16,800,000
• Winner: SCC France
• Subcontractor: COWIGO
• Subcontracting value: €1,200,000 (7.1% of contract)
• Subcontracting description: Training, expertise, consulting, engineering
• Number of tenders: 1 (sole bidder)
• Rank: 1st

Lot 2 Subcontractor

Subcontractor	Location	Size	Role
COWIGO	Lyon	Small	Training, expertise, consulting, engineering

Services Covered

Both lots cover a comprehensive range of virtualisation services:

• Licences: Software licensing for virtualisation solutions
• Subscriptions: Ongoing subscription services
• Support and maintenance: Technical support and software maintenance
• Expertise services: Consulting and advisory services
• Training: Training and skills transfer

Lot 1 Subcontracting Services Detail

The subcontractors for Lot 1 provide the following services around VMware, Omnissa, and Nutanix solutions:

• Conseil et accompagnement: Consulting and support
• Implémentation et déploiement: Implementation and deployment
• Migration: Migration services
• Sécurité et conformité: Security and compliance
• Formation et transfert de compétences: Training and skills transfer
• Support et services managés: Support and managed services

About the Contracting Authority

The Secrétariat Général of the French Ministry of Education, Higher Education, Research and Space, together with the Ministry of Sports, Youth and Voluntary Organisations, is the central government authority responsible for this procurement. The Sous-direction des achats (Procurement Sub-Directorate) manages the procurement process for the ministries' IT infrastructure needs.

About the Winners

Econocom Products & Solutions SAS (Lot 1 – Lead)

• Size: Medium-sized enterprise
• Headquarters: Puteaux, Hauts-de-Seine, France (NUTS: FR105)
• Registration number: 331 566 430 003 84
• Part of: Econocom Group, a European digital services company
• Subcontractors: ITQ Consultancy SAS, Econocom Services & Solutions SAS, SQUARE System

SCC France (Lot 2)

• Size: Large enterprise
• Headquarters: Nanterre, Hauts-de-Seine, France (NUTS: FR105)
• Registration number: 424 982 650 00014
• Part of: SCC Group, a European IT services provider
• Subcontractor: COWIGO

Evaluation Criteria

The contracts were awarded based on two main criteria:

• Price (40%): "Prix des prestations" – the price of services
• Quality (60%): All other criteria are detailed in the consultation documents (règlement de la consultation). Price is not the sole criterion.

Procurement Analysis

• Procedure: Open procedure under the standard regime, governed by EU Directive 2014/24/EU and the French Public Procurement Code.
• Lot 1 competition: Three tenders received for proprietary virtualisation solutions.
• Lot 2 competition: Only one tender received for open-source virtualisation solutions.
• Electronic submission: All tenders were submitted electronically.
• SME participation: Significant SME involvement through subcontracting (SQUARE System, ITQ Consultancy, COWIGO).
• No EU funding: The procurement is not financed with EU funds.
• Framework agreement: Without reopening of competition.
• No dynamic purchasing system used.
• Accelerated procedure: No.
• Review body: Tribunal administratif de Paris (Paris Administrative Court).

Additional Procurement Facts

• The contracts are covered by the WTO's Government Procurement Agreement (GPA).
• No EU funds were used for this procurement.
• The framework agreement is a purchase order agreement without minimum commitment.
• The maximum commitment is €100M for Lot 1 and €70M for Lot 2.
• The contract is tacitly renewable up to 3 times (12 months each).
• Subcontracting is significant: 12% for Lot 1 (€5.6M) and 7.1% for Lot 2 (€1.2M).
• Review deadlines: Within two months of publication, third parties can challenge the contract before the Paris Administrative Court.

Market & Industry Perspective

The French public sector IT market is dominated by large framework agreements that provide comprehensive solutions across the government. Virtualisation is a critical component of modern IT infrastructure, and both proprietary and open-source solutions are procured to meet diverse needs.

Key trends in this market include:

• Dual sourcing: Procuring both proprietary and open-source solutions
• Comprehensive services: Licences + support + expertise + training
• Long-term frameworks: Up to 4 years with tacit renewals
• SME participation: Subcontracting to SMEs is common
• Large volumes: High-value contracts (€100M+)

Economic Significance

At up to €170 million, this procurement represents a major IT infrastructure investment for the French education and research sector. The contracts will:

• Modernise IT infrastructure: Provide up-to-date virtualisation solutions
• Support education and research: Cover ministries, regional services, and research establishments
• Enable digital transformation: Support the digitalisation of French education
• Support SMEs: Subcontracting to three SMEs (SQUARE System, ITQ Consultancy, COWIGO)
• Provide long-term stability: Up to 4 years of service continuity

Future Procurement Opportunities

With these frameworks now in place, future opportunities include:

• Re-tender: Expected in 2030 after the 48-month maximum duration
• Additional services: Related IT services not covered by these frameworks
• Other government departments: Similar virtualisation procurements elsewhere in the French public sector
• Groupe Logiciel: Other software procurement by the purchasing group

Opportunities for Suppliers

While these contracts are awarded, opportunities remain for IT suppliers:

• Subcontracting: The winners may seek additional subcontractors for specialist services
• Re-tender: Prepare for the next procurement cycle
• Other government departments: Similar virtualisation tenders in other ministries
• Groupe Logiciel: Other software procurement opportunities

What Businesses Should Watch

• French government IT procurement notices
• Ministry of Education's future tenders
• Groupe Logiciel purchasing group announcements
• Virtualisation technology trends (proprietary vs open-source)
• Changes to French Public Procurement Code

FranceTenders Procurement Intelligence

This virtualisation framework procurement is a notable example of large-scale French government IT procurement. Several features stand out:

• Scale: Up to €170 million across two lots
• Dual approach: Both proprietary (Lot 1) and open-source (Lot 2) solutions
• Comprehensive coverage: Licences, subscriptions, support, maintenance, expertise, training
• Long-term: Up to 48 months with tacit renewals
• SME participation: Significant subcontracting to SMEs
• Competition: 3 bidders for Lot 1, 1 bidder for Lot 2

For suppliers, this procurement highlights the importance of:

• Comprehensive solutions: Offering both software and services
• Quality focus: Quality accounts for 60% of evaluation
• Competitive pricing: Price accounts for 40%
• SME collaboration: Subcontracting partnerships with SMEs
• Long-term commitment: Ability to support 4-year frameworks

Supplier Takeaways

• Offer comprehensive virtualisation solutions (licences + services)
• Demonstrate quality – 60% of evaluation is quality-based
• Provide competitive pricing – 40% weighting
• Build partnerships with specialist SMEs for subcontracting
• Develop capability for long-term (4-year) frameworks
• Monitor French government IT procurement opportunities

Key Takeaways

• French Ministry of Education awarded two virtualisation framework contracts
• Lot 1 (proprietary): €100M max – Econocom Products & Solutions SAS
• Lot 2 (open-source): €70M max – SCC France
• Total maximum value: €170,000,000
• Duration: 12 months + 3 x 12-month renewals (up to 48 months)
• Evaluation: Price (40%), Quality (60%)
• Subcontracting: 12% for Lot 1, 7.1% for Lot 2
• SME participation: SQUARE System, ITQ Consultancy, COWIGO
• 3 bidders for Lot 1, 1 bidder for Lot 2

Conclusion

This virtualisation framework procurement represents a major IT infrastructure investment for the French education and research sector. By awarding two separate lots for proprietary and open-source solutions, the Ministry of Education ensures that its central and regional services, as well as research establishments, have access to modern virtualisation technologies.

The 40% price / 60% quality weighting reflects the importance of both cost-effectiveness and service quality in public sector IT procurement. The significant subcontracting to SMEs (SQUARE System, ITQ Consultancy, COWIGO) demonstrates the accessibility of these large contracts to smaller businesses through partnership models.

With a potential duration of up to 48 months, these framework agreements provide long-term stability for both the contracting authority and the successful suppliers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the contracting authority?

Ans: The Secrétariat Général of the French Ministry of Education, Higher Education, Research and Space, together with the Ministry of Sports, Youth and Voluntary Organisations.

Q: What is the total value of the procurement?

Ans: Up to €170,000,000 across both lots (Lot 1: €100M, Lot 2: €70M).

Q: Who won Lot 1 (proprietary virtualisation)?

Ans: Econocom Products & Solutions SAS (lead), with subcontractors ITQ Consultancy SAS, Econocom Services & Solutions SAS, and SQUARE System.

Q: Who won Lot 2 (open-source virtualisation)?

Ans: SCC France, with subcontractor COWIGO.

Q: What services are covered?

Ans: Licences, subscriptions, support, maintenance, expertise, and training for virtualisation solutions.

Q: What were the evaluation criteria?

Ans: Price (40%) and Quality (60%).

Q: How long are the contracts?

Ans: 12 months initial + 3 x 12-month renewals = up to 48 months.

Q: How many tenders were received?

Ans: 3 for Lot 1, 1 for Lot 2.

Q: Is this contract funded by the EU?

Ans: No, the procurement is not financed with EU funds.

Q: What is the review body?

Ans: Tribunal administratif de Paris (Paris Administrative Court).

Source: EU Official Journal, Contract Award Notice 582688-2026, OJ S 162/2026, published 24 August 2026.