The verdict in three sentences
For a local authority serving 90,000 residents, a public website rebuild is a 35,000 to 90,000 EUR contract for delivery (about 38,000 to 98,000 USD), plus 4 years of application maintenance. Accessibility compliance is not optional: in France, RGAA 4.1 (aligned with WCAG 2.1 AA) requires a published accessibility statement and non-compliance can cost up to 50,000 EUR per service. A realistic schedule allows 5 to 7 months from contract award to launch, excluding the tender period.
What the specification must require
Site quality depends directly on the precision of the technical specification. Poorly scoped tenders produce offers that cannot be compared, with price gaps of 1 to 4. Here are the requirements we recommend for a local authority.
| Requirement | Expected level in 2026 | How it is verified |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility | RGAA 4.1 / WCAG 2.1 AA, compliance rate ≥ 90% at delivery, 100% targeted | Third-party audit on a sample of 20 to 25 pages |
| Online services | Forms connected to case management, national ID login if relevant | Functional acceptance, user testing |
| Events and directory | Calendar shared with member towns, directory of services and associations | Import of existing data, open feeds |
| Hosting | SecNumCloud or EU host subject only to EU law | Qualification certificate, data location |
| Security | Hardening, patches within 72 h, daily backups | Penetration test report |
| Personal data | GDPR, processing register, compliant cookie banner | Review by the DPO |
| Reversibility | Open-source CMS or full content export | Tested reversibility clause |
Also consider eco-design: the French RGESN framework is progressively applying to public bodies, and a lean site (page weight under 1.5 MB) improves access in poorly covered rural areas.
Detailed 2026 budget
| Lot or item | Content | Price 2026 (excl. tax) |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping and UX | Workshops with elected officials and departments, sitemap, user tests | 5,000 to 12,000 EUR |
| Accessible design | Brand guidelines, high-contrast mockups, compliant components | 6,000 to 15,000 EUR |
| CMS development | Templates, events, directory, news, search | 14,000 to 38,000 EUR |
| Online services | 5 to 15 forms, back-office connectors | 4,000 to 14,000 EUR |
| Content migration | 300 to 800 pages, cleanup, redirects | 3,000 to 7,000 EUR |
| External accessibility audit | Initial audit and re-audit | 3,000 to 6,000 EUR |
| Qualified hosting | SecNumCloud or EU, monitoring | 2,500 to 9,000 EUR / year |
| 4-year maintenance | Fixes, enhancements, security updates | 6,000 to 18,000 EUR / year |
Over 4 years, total cost of ownership is 70,000 to 200,000 EUR. Depending on that amount and the procedure, the buyer will run a simplified procedure or a formal procedure above EU thresholds. Maintenance as a framework agreement with purchase orders and an annual cap leaves room for enhancements.
Typical public sector project schedule
| Phase | Duration | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| Tender and bid evaluation | 2 to 3 months | Evaluation report, award notice |
| Scoping and UX | 4 to 6 weeks | Approved sitemap, user journeys |
| Design and elected officials sign-off | 4 to 6 weeks | Approved accessible mockups |
| Development and migration | 8 to 12 weeks | Site on staging |
| Accessibility audit and fixes | 3 to 4 weeks | Accessibility statement |
| Training and launch | 2 weeks | 10 to 25 editors trained |
Mini case study
Julien, communications director of an inter-municipal authority of 90,000 residents in southern France, manages a 650-page non-compliant site (estimated RGAA compliance 38%). He plans 62,000 EUR for delivery, 7,000 EUR a year for qualified hosting and 12,000 EUR a year for maintenance, 138,000 EUR over 4 years (about 150,000 USD). The 12 online services (school registration, waste, planning) handle 9,000 requests a year. If each online request saves 12 minutes of counter or phone handling, savings reach 1,800 staff hours a year, about 54,000 EUR at a loaded cost of 30 EUR per hour. Over 4 years, 216,000 EUR in savings comfortably covers the investment.
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FAQ
Is accessibility compliance mandatory for a local authority?
Yes. In France every authority must publish an accessibility statement and a multi-year plan, and in the EU the Web Accessibility Directive applies to all public bodies. French penalties can reach 50,000 EUR per non-compliant online service.
Is SecNumCloud hosting mandatory?
Not always for an information site, but it is recommended once sensitive data flows through online services. An EU host costs 2,500 to 5,000 EUR a year, SecNumCloud rather 5,000 to 9,000 EUR.
How do we avoid offers that cannot be compared?
Provide a detailed price schedule with 15 to 25 lines and a shared demo scenario. Price gaps then narrow from 1 to 4 down to 1 to 1.8.
How long should the maintenance contract run?
Four years is the usual format: one firm year then three renewals. The annual budget is 6,000 to 18,000 EUR depending on enhancement volume.
How many editors should we plan for?
An inter-municipal authority often has 10 to 25 editors. Plan 1 to 2 days of training and approval roles to keep content accessible.
Let's scope your project. Send us your draft specification or needs, and we will price delivery, hosting and maintenance, from 35,000 to 90,000 EUR for delivery, with a 5 to 7 month schedule. 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.
