The verdict in three sentences
A public website tender is won on the technical proposal, not the price: the common 2026 weighting is 60% technical / 40% price, so undercutting is never enough. The three disqualifying requirements, in France and beyond, are accessibility (RGAA 4.1 / WCAG AA), data sovereignty (SecNumCloud or EU hosting), and GDPR compliance. Aim for a realistic budget of EUR 20,000-90,000 by scope and polish every scored criterion rather than underpricing.
The unavoidable regulatory requirements
A public body applies obligations the private sector often ignores. Failing to address them in the technical proposal means elimination before the price is even scored.
| 2026 requirement | What it imposes | Impact on the bid |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility RGAA 4.1 / WCAG AA | AA compliance, published statement | Audit + fixes: +EUR 5,000-15,000 |
| Sovereign hosting | SecNumCloud or EU host | Higher recurring cost |
| GDPR & data | Register, DPO, minimization | Mandatory documentation |
| Reversibility | Return of data and code | Contract clause |
| Eco-design | RGESN framework | Scoring differentiator |
| Multilingual | Local + community languages | +EUR 1,500-4,000 |
The typical scoring grid
Understanding the grid before writing lets you spend effort where points are won. Here is a representative 2026 public-body weighting.
| Criterion | Weight | What earns points |
|---|---|---|
| Technical value | 40% | Precise proposal, mockups, methodology |
| Accessibility & quality | 20% | Quantified WCAG commitment, user testing |
| Price | 40% | Coherent, neither underpriced nor excessive |
| Timeline & planning | Sub-criterion | Realistic schedule with milestones |
| Similar references | Sub-criterion | Comparable public projects delivered |
Mini case study
Nadia, who runs an 8-person agency in Marseille, bids on a public redesign, estimated budget EUR 55,000. Tempted to undercut to EUR 38,000, she does the math: price is only 40%, and her technical offer is strong. She proposes EUR 49,000 with a detailed proposal, a quantified accessibility commitment, and two public-sector references. She scores 17/20 technical and 15/20 price, beating the lowest bidder at EUR 38,000 whose technical score caps out. Tender won, margin preserved by about EUR 11,000.
FAQ
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Do you always have to be the cheapest?
No. With 60/40 weighting favoring technical value, a price that is too low raises feasibility doubts and cannot offset a weak proposal.
What is RGAA 4.1?
The French general accessibility framework, mandatory for the public sector. It requires WCAG level AA compliance and a published accessibility statement.
Is SecNumCloud mandatory?
Not always, but increasingly required for sensitive data. Otherwise, GDPR-compliant EU hosting is the minimum expected.
How long to prepare a response?
Budget 5 to 15 person-days depending on scope: technical proposal, mockups, planning, administrative documents, and reference sourcing.
Can a small agency win?
Yes, with an excellent technical proposal and relevant references. A temporary consortium also lets you pool missing skills.
Let's scope your project. Preparing a public website tender response (budget EUR 20,000-90,000)? We co-build the technical proposal and the accessibility commitment. 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.
