The verdict in three sentences
For a local authority of 30,000 to 150,000 residents, the quality of the tender specification shapes the success of a website redesign more than the choice of vendor. Budgets observed in 2026 range from 25,000 to 60,000 EUR to build and 6,000 to 15,000 EUR per year in maintenance (about 27,000 to 65,000 USD and 6,500 to 16,000 USD), with 5 to 8 months from publication to launch. The sections that prevent bad surprises are online services, accessibility (WCAG 2.1 AA), sovereign hosting, reversibility and support and maintenance.
Procedure and budget: frame before writing
The communications director or chief executive must first estimate the total contract value, including maintenance over its duration, because that value sets the procedure. A 45,000 EUR site with 4 years of support at 10,000 EUR per year represents 85,000 EUR: in France this stays under an adapted procedure (MAPA) below EU thresholds. In Dublin, the same logic applies under Irish procurement rules, and in Toronto or Montreal under municipal purchasing bylaws.
| Authority size | Build budget 2026 | Maintenance and support per year | Typical procedure | Publication to launch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30,000 to 50,000 residents | 25,000 to 35,000 EUR | 6,000 to 8,000 EUR | Simplified procedure, buyer portal | 5 to 6 months |
| 50,000 to 80,000 residents | 35,000 to 45,000 EUR | 8,000 to 11,000 EUR | Simplified procedure, public notice | 6 to 7 months |
| 80,000 to 150,000 residents | 45,000 to 60,000 EUR | 11,000 to 15,000 EUR | Simplified or open tender depending on total value | 7 to 8 months |
| Citizen portal with advanced online services | +10,000 to 25,000 EUR | +3,000 to 6,000 EUR | Separate lot recommended | +1 to 2 months |
| Satellite sites (pools, libraries, tourist office) | 3,000 to 8,000 EUR per site | 800 to 2,000 EUR per site | Optional tranche | After the main site |
Splitting into a firm tranche and optional tranches lets you start with the approved budget, then activate satellite sites in the next fiscal year without re-tendering.
Essential sections of the specification
A local government specification runs 25 to 40 pages. The following sections must be precise, measurable and reflected in the pricing schedule.
| Section | Requirement to write | Why it is critical | Budget impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online services | List of the 10 to 20 priority services, links with existing e-services | First reason residents visit | 15 to 25% of the build budget |
| Events calendar and directory | Input by member municipalities, shared feeds, filters by town | Avoids duplicate work across departments | 5 to 10% |
| Accessibility | Target compliance level (RGAA in France, EN 301 549 in Ireland, AODA in Ontario), independent audit, accessibility statement | Legal obligation, tougher penalties | 3,000 to 8,000 EUR audit |
| Hosting | Data hosted in the EU (or Canada), sovereign cloud certification if sensitive data | Sovereignty and data protection | 1,500 to 6,000 EUR per year |
| Reversibility | Full export of content and code, documentation, transfer at no extra cost | Avoid vendor lock-in | Clause, low cost if planned |
| Support and maintenance | Response times by severity, included days | Service quality over 4 years | 6,000 to 15,000 EUR per year |
| Training and editing | Number of staff to train, editor guide | Department autonomy | 1,500 to 4,000 EUR |
On accessibility, write a verifiable requirement: a target compliance rate at delivery, confirmed by a third-party audit, with an obligation to fix issues before acceptance. A vague "accessible website" line lets you neither compare bids nor reject a non-compliant delivery.
Scoring criteria and typical timeline
Criteria should reflect what you really want. A common weighting for a local government site is 40% price, 45% technical merit and 15% methodology and schedule, with technical merit scored on a written proposal and a presentation.
| Stage | Indicative duration |
|---|---|
| Writing the specification and internal workshops | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Publication and receipt of bids | 4 to 5 weeks |
| Evaluation, presentations and award | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Design, mockups and approval | 6 to 8 weeks |
| Development, content migration, testing | 8 to 12 weeks |
| Accessibility audit, fixes and launch | 3 to 4 weeks |
Mini case study
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Ms Fabre, communications director of a 62,000-resident group of municipalities south of Grenoble, has 48,000 EUR for the build and 10,000 EUR per year for 4 years of support, i.e. 88,000 EUR in total. She structures the tender as a 40,000 EUR firm tranche for the main site and an 8,000 EUR optional tranche for two satellite sites. Her old site generated about 900 monthly calls to reception for simple procedures. By putting 15 guided online services live, the target is to avoid 35% of them, i.e. 315 calls per month. At 6 minutes per call, this frees around 31 staff hours per month, nearly 380 hours per year that can go back to front desk service.
FAQ
Should we mandate open source or a specific CMS?
Public procurement rules generally prohibit naming a brand without justification. You can however require objective criteria: source code transferred or under an open licence, content export in an open format, no blocking annual licence.
What budget should we plan for the accessibility audit?
Plan 3,000 to 8,000 EUR for an audit on a sample of 15 to 25 pages, carried out by an independent third party. Also plan a follow-up audit after fixes, often 1,000 to 2,500 EUR.
Is sovereign cloud hosting mandatory?
Not for a standard information website. It becomes relevant if the site processes sensitive resident data. EU or Canadian hosting with a data protection compliant provider is enough in most cases, for 1,500 to 3,000 EUR per year.
How do we avoid vendor lock-in after launch?
Include a precise reversibility clause: delivery of code, database and technical documentation, plus 3 to 5 days of transfer support included in the price. Without it, changing vendors can cost 15,000 EUR or more.
How long does a redesign really take?
Between 5 and 8 months from publication to launch, depending on size and number of online services. Delays come mostly from internal approvals and content migration, which should be planned from the start.
Let's scope your project. Share your population, priority online services and approved budget: we help you frame a local government website between 25,000 and 60,000 EUR, launched in 5 to 8 months. 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.
