The verdict in three sentences
A public website tender is won or lost on the price/value weighting and the reversibility clauses, far more than on the headline amount. Clear lotting (design, development, support) and an enforceable accessibility (WCAG 2.1 AA) requirement protect the authority from a captive supplier. Budget EUR 65,000 to 190,000 by scope, 6 to 9 months, and support of EUR 800 to 2,500/month.
Tender structure: lotting and criteria
Public procurement rules require justification and transparency. Sensible lotting avoids locking the authority to a single supplier and opens competition to local SMEs. Here is a 2026 template.
| Lot | Object | Indicative budget | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lot 1 | Design & UX/UI | EUR 16,000 - 42,000 | 2-3 months |
| Lot 2 | Development & CMS | EUR 32,000 - 105,000 | 3-5 months |
| Lot 3 | Support & hosting | EUR 800 - 2,500/mo | 3-4 years |
| Lot 4 | Accessibility audit (WCAG) | EUR 4,000 - 12,000 | one-off |
| Option | Data migration & SEO | EUR 6,000 - 21,000 | 1-2 months |
Then weight the offer so the cheapest bid is not mechanically selected. A balanced split rewards quality without opening the door to legal challenge.
| Criterion | Recommended weight | Expected evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Technical value | 50% | Technical proposal, mockups |
| Price | 30% | Detailed price schedule |
| Accessibility (WCAG) | 10% | Compliance plan 2.1 AA |
| Timeline & method | 10% | Schedule, project management |
The 6 anti vendor lock-in clauses
The main risk of a public web tender is not the initial price but dependency on the supplier once the site is live. These six clauses, written into the specification, guarantee reversibility.
| Clause | Effect | Potential saving |
|---|---|---|
| Source code ownership | Full delivery to repository | avoids EUR 16,000-42,000 buy-back |
| Technical documentation | Third-party takeover possible | -50% transfer cost |
| Open-source CMS | No proprietary licence | EUR 3,000-8,000/yr saved |
| Guaranteed data export | Open formats (CSV, JSON) | reversibility in days, not months |
| Costed reversibility | Exit cost capped in the tender | avoids surprise quote |
| Sovereign hosting | Data in jurisdiction, compliant | compliance without late surcharge |
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An authority that omits the code ownership clause typically pays to buy back its own site in the next tender: a reversibility surcharge often estimated at EUR 22,000.
Mini case study
Sophie, digital project officer in a Toronto district authority, is preparing the redesign of a citizen portal (target budget EUR 120,000). Without lotting, the previous tender had tied her for 4 years to a supplier billing every change at EUR 1,200. By lotting (Lot 2 development at EUR 82,000, Lot 3 support at EUR 1,500/month) and requiring code ownership, she brought two local SMEs into the competition. Result: support negotiated at EUR 1,150/month instead of EUR 1,900, i.e. EUR 9,000 saved per year, and reversibility costed at EUR 3,600 instead of an estimated EUR 23,000 buy-back. Cumulative gain over 4 years: about EUR 55,000.
FAQ
What budget for a public website redesign? 2026 order of magnitude: EUR 65,000 to 190,000 by number of e-services and content volume. Add support of EUR 800 to 2,500/month.
Is accessibility compliance mandatory? Yes, public sites must meet WCAG 2.1 AA with an accessibility statement. An audit costs EUR 4,000 to 12,000; non-compliance can expose you to penalties up to EUR 50,000.
Should the tender be split into lots? Lotting is the default principle of public procurement. It opens competition to SMEs and avoids dependency on a single supplier over 3 to 4 years.
What must the technical proposal contain? Project management method, mockups, accessibility plan, dedicated team, schedule and reversibility plan. It carries 50% of the score in a balanced weighting.
How do I avoid vendor lock-in? Write into the specification code ownership, documentation, an open-source CMS and costed reversibility. These clauses avoid a site buy-back often estimated at EUR 22,000 in the next tender.
Let's scope your project. Send us your scope (e-services, volume, deadline) and an indicative envelope (EUR 65,000-190,000): we help you draft an anti lock-in specification and calibrate the weighting. 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.
