The verdict in three sentences
A local-government citizen portal is priced in 2026 according to page count, online services and the required accessibility level, and can be framed against a benchmark budget band. A successful RFP is not won on the lowest price but on a precise scope, a clear scoring grid and verifiable deliverables. The two things that sink public projects are neglected accessibility and the absence of content governance after delivery.
Structuring the scoring grid
A public RFP is judged on weighted criteria. A vague grid attracts incomparable bids; a precise grid surfaces serious vendors. Here is a proven 2026 template.
| Criterion | Weight | What is assessed |
|---|---|---|
| Technical value | 40% | architecture, accessibility, security |
| Price | 25% | consistency, itemised schedule |
| Similar references | 15% | delivered public portals |
| Timeline & method | 10% | plan, milestones |
| Accessibility (evidence) | 10% | audit, compliance plan |
Requiring accessibility evidence (audit, sample) in the bid avoids discovering a non-compliant site at acceptance.
Budget, deliverables and timeline
Cost mainly depends on the number of online services (procedures, forms, appointment booking) and the editorial volume. Here is a 2026 order of magnitude per tier (illustrative EUR equivalents).
| Tier | Pages | Online services | Budget (EUR eq.) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Showcase portal | 15-25 | 0-2 | EUR 23,000 | 12-16 wks |
| Services portal | 30-40 | 3-6 | EUR 38,000 | 16-20 wks |
| Full portal | 50-60 | 7-12 | EUR 69,000 | 20-24 wks |
| CMS + workflow | included | — | included | — |
| Staff training | 2-4 days | — | included | — |
| Maintenance/year | — | — | EUR 4,000-9,000 | — |
2026 estimate. Add a dedicated line for evolutionary maintenance: an untended portal degrades within 18 months.
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Mini case study
Mr Ouedraogo, digital project lead for a district council, is steering a 35-page portal with 5 online procedures. The awarded budget is around EUR 38,000. By digitising civil-status certificate requests, the council handles 400 requests/month online instead of at the counter: at 20 minutes saved per file and a staff cost of about EUR 4/hour, the saving reaches roughly 400 x 0.33 h x 4 = EUR 528/month, close to EUR 6,300/year, before counting the citizen convenience.
FAQ
Is accessibility mandatory for a public site? It is increasingly required in RFP scopes: a citizen portal must be usable by everyone, including people with disabilities. Writing a WCAG 2.2 AA audit into the deliverables protects the authority.
How do we avoid abnormally low bids? By requiring an itemised price schedule and references of genuinely delivered public portals. A bid 40% below the average often hides an incomplete scope.
What is a realistic timeline for a citizen portal? 16 to 24 weeks in 2026 for 30-60 pages with online services, including acceptance and staff training. A quoted 8-week timeline is a warning sign.
Does the authority need a CMS? Yes: staff must publish notices, news and procedures without a developer. A CMS with a validation workflow ensures consistency and traceability.
What maintenance budget to plan? Expect EUR 4,000 to 9,000/year depending on the number of services: security updates, regulatory changes, backups and staff support.
Let's scope your project. Share your page count, target online services and RFP budget: we help frame the scope, the scoring grid and the deliverables. 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.
