The verdict in three sentences
A 20 to 35 page bilingual corporate website for a group subsidiary costs between EUR 9,000 and 23,000 in 2026 (about USD 10,000 to 25,000, or 6 to 15 million FCFA for West African subsidiaries), excluding maintenance. The quality of the bids you receive depends almost entirely on the RFP: a vague brief produces quotes that vary fourfold and cannot be compared. With 12 precise sections, a scoring grid of 40% technical, 30% price, 30% references and a 16-week plan, you get comparable proposals and a choice you can defend to headquarters.
The 12 sections of an RFP that works
A corporate website RFP runs 12 to 20 pages. Longer and agencies skim; shorter and they guess. Here are the sections to cover, with what agencies concretely expect.
| No. | Section | Expected content |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Context and goals | Subsidiary business, link to the group, measurable objectives (applications, partner enquiries) |
| 2 | Audiences | Investors, partners, regulators, candidates, press, suppliers |
| 3 | Sitemap | 20 to 35 pages listed, sections, maximum depth of 3 levels |
| 4 | Brand and identity | Link to group guidelines, room for freedom, logos, typefaces |
| 5 | Content | Who writes, who translates, volume of photos and videos to produce |
| 6 | Features | News, careers, tenders, press room, forms |
| 7 | CMS and workflow | Roles (editor, subsidiary approver, HQ approver), publishing circuit |
| 8 | Hosting and security | EU hosting, HTTPS, daily backups, 99.9% uptime |
| 9 | Accessibility and performance | WCAG 2.1 AA, mobile score above 90, page weight under 1.5 MB |
| 10 | Personal data | Local data protection law (PDPA in Singapore), GDPR if the group is European |
| 11 | Maintenance and support | Response times, included hours, commitment length |
| 12 | Response terms | Format, deadline, required documents, scoring grid |
Section 7 is the one most often forgotten. In a group, a news item published without HQ approval can trigger a communications incident. Require a CMS with at least 3 roles and version history.
What budget to announce and how it breaks down
Stating a budget range does not weaken your negotiation: it prevents bids at EUR 3,000 on a free theme and others at EUR 45,000 with an oversized team. 2026 orders of magnitude for a 20 to 35 page bilingual site:
| Item | 2026 range (EUR excl. tax) | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping and workshops | 760 to 1,830 | 2 to 4 workshops with the subsidiary and HQ |
| UX and design (mock-ups) | 1,830 to 4,570 | 6 to 10 templates, mobile included |
| Development and CMS integration | 3,810 to 9,910 | Approval workflow, multilingual |
| Copywriting and translation | 1,220 to 3,050 | About EUR 40 to 70 per translated page |
| Corporate photos and video | 910 to 2,740 | 1 to 2 days of on-site shooting |
| QA, technical SEO, launch | 610 to 1,220 | Cross-browser and accessibility tests |
| Total project | 9,150 to 22,870 | Excluding maintenance |
| Maintenance and EU hosting | 180 to 530 per month | Depending on SLA and included hours |
Scoring grid and 16-week plan
For 4 agencies, a simple 100-point grid is enough. Recommended weighting: 40% technical, 30% price, 30% references.
| Criterion | Points | What you score |
|---|---|---|
| Understanding of needs and methodology | 15 | Restatement of goals, planned workshops |
| Technical solution (CMS, hosting, security) | 15 | Workflow, backups, mobile performance |
| Team and schedule | 10 | Named project manager, real availability |
| Total price and 3-year maintenance cost | 30 | Formula: 30 x cheapest bid / scored bid |
| Comparable references | 20 | Live bilingual corporate group sites |
| Pitch interview | 10 | Quality of answers, sector understanding |
On timing, 16 weeks is realistic: 3 weeks of tendering and selection, 2 weeks of scoping, 4 weeks of design with HQ approval, 5 weeks of development and content integration, 2 weeks of QA and launch. Delays almost always come from content: name an owner for copy in week 1.
Mini case study
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Mei Ling, head of communications at the Singapore subsidiary of an agri-food group, tenders a 28-page bilingual site to 4 agencies. She receives bids at EUR 8,840, 12,800, 17,070 and 25,150.
With the price formula, the EUR 12,800 bid scores 30 x 8,840 / 12,800 = 20.7 points out of 30. The cheapest bid takes 30 points but has no live bilingual reference (6/20) and no approval workflow (7/15 on technical). Final result: the EUR 12,800 agency totals 82 points against 68 for the cheapest. Over 3 years, with maintenance at EUR 275 a month, total cost is 12,800 + 9,900 = EUR 22,700, about EUR 630 per month of site life.
FAQ
Should the budget appear in the RFP?
Yes, as a range, for example EUR 12,000 to 18,000. Agencies calibrate their proposal instead of guessing, and the spread between bids often narrows from 1:5 to 1:2.
Why host in Europe?
Groups often require hosting that matches their security policy, with 99.9% uptime and off-site backups. A CDN keeps load times under 2 seconds in Asia or West Africa.
How long should agencies have to respond?
Two to three weeks. Under 10 days, serious agencies decline or send a generic offer.
Which CMS should we require?
Let the agency choose, but mandate the outcome: at least 3 roles, version history, native multilingual support and 2 to 4 hours of training included.
Should maintenance be part of the scoring?
Yes, ask for a 3-year cost. Maintenance at EUR 530 a month adds over EUR 19,000, often more than the project itself.
Let's scope your project. Send us your RFP or sitemap and we will reply with a detailed estimate between EUR 9,000 and 23,000, a 16-week plan and our bilingual corporate references. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
