TERMS OF REFERENCE

FOR CONTRACTING MEDIA MONITORING SERVICES TO ANALYSE HOW THE EUROPEAN UNION AND EU ASSISTANCE/SUPPORT ARE COVERED IN MASS MEDIA AND SOCIAL MEDIA

1. BACKGROUND

‘Strategic Communication and Support to Mass Media in the Republic of Moldova’ (hereafter StratCom or Contractor) is a four-year project funded by the European Union (EU). The overall objective of the project is to support the successful implementation of democratic reforms in the Republic of Moldova by increasing the visibility of the EU and its assistance to the country, thereby contributing to a stable, prosperous, and democratic future for all its citizens. The project aims to develop and deliver positive, credible, and impactful communication on EU support to the Republic of Moldova through a comprehensive horizontal communication strategy, large-scale campaign activities, and targeted support to the mass media sector.

These Terms of Reference (ToR) aim to support the StratCom project in conducting systematic and high-quality media and social media monitoring. The monitoring will focus primarily on how the European Union and its assistance/support (but not limited to) are portrayed and discussed in the Moldovan information space, including traditional mass media (broadcast, print, and online/digital) and social media platforms.

To achieve this, the StratCom project seeks a specialized company capable of delivering comprehensive, analytical, and timely media monitoring services, including both quantitative and qualitative analysis.

2. SCOPE OF ASSIGNMENT

The selected Contractor shall provide a full range of media and social media monitoring services as required by the StratCom project (hereafter the Beneficiary). The services will include regular and ad-hoc reports assessing how the EU, the European Union Delegation to the Republic of Moldova (hereafter EUD), and specifically EU assistance/support are represented in national and regional media, including the tone, frequency, and context of coverage.

The Contractor shall:

• Produce media monitoring reports with an easy-to-search press clipping archive containing materials published by major Moldovan TV, online, and print outlets related to EU, EUD, EU assistance/support and the Beneficiary’s work;
• Conduct ad-hoc media monitoring coverage reports for the specific events or activities organized by the Beneficiary or EUD;
• Work in close coordination with the Beneficiary to:

1. Establish key research keywords and themes;
2. Agree on the report format, structure, and frequency;
3. Define and confirm delivery schedules.

At the start of the assignment, the Beneficiary will provide the Contractor with relevant background information and overall guidance necessary for the proper fulfilment of the task.

3. TIMING OF THE ASSIGNMENT

Preparation: October – November 2025.

Implementation: November 2025 – September 2027.

4. DETAILS OF THE ASSIGNMENT AND DELIVERABLES

The Contractor shall, upon request and receipt of duly authorized instructions, provide the following deliverables:

• A list of keywords (up to 20), agreed with the Beneficiary, forming the basis of the monitoring;
• Weekly media monitoring reports (quantitative and qualitative), in English, delivered electronically, covering national and regional media in Romanian, Russian, and English. Reports should include hyperlinks to original sources where applicable;
• Monthly media monitoring reports, providing an overview of key trends, patterns, and narratives identified during the month, along with comparisons to previous reporting periods;
• Ad-hoc media monitoring reports related to specific EU-related events or activities. These will be developed upon request and in coordination with the Beneficiary;
• Access to an online archive and/or platform containing all relevant media materials in their original language (Romanian, Russian, or English).

The Contractor shall:

• Produce the reports using its own technical and human resources;
• Deliver all reports according to the agreed schedule;
• Respond promptly to ad-hoc requests for event-specific monitoring;
• Adjust keywords and topics when requested by the Beneficiary;
• Incorporate the Beneficiary’s feedback into subsequent reports.

The geographic scope of monitoring will cover national and regional media outlets in Moldova, but also their social media platforms.

Note: If monitoring of international media is required, the Contractor will agree with the Beneficiary on the media outlets, platforms and parameters of that specific task.

Inputs:
The Beneficiary will:

• Agree on the final list of keywords;
• Approve the templates for weekly, monthly, and ad-hoc reports;
• Provide contextual information regarding events or activities requiring ad-hoc monitoring.

5. REQUIEREMENTS FOR CONTRACTORS

The Contractor must meet the following criteria:

• Be a legally registered entity (registration certificate required);
• Have at least five years of experience in media monitoring (TV, radio, print, online, and social media);
• Demonstrate relevant experience in providing monitoring and analytical services to international organizations, development projects, or public institutions;
• Present a portfolio of similar work and provide details of the software/tools used for monitoring;
• Possess adequate technical equipment and qualified human resources to ensure timely and quality delivery of outputs.

The Contractor shall participate in review meetings with the Beneficiary, when required, to discuss performance, address potential improvements, and adjust keywords or methods if necessary.

6. EVALUATION

The award of the contract will be made to the company whose offer is determined to be:

• Technically responsive, compliant, and acceptable; and
• Having received the highest combined score based on the pre-defined weighted technical and financial criteria.

7. SUBMISSION OF OFFERS

The interested companies are invited to submit the above-mentioned documents, including:

• Profile of the consultant (max 2 pages) mentioning relevant experience and why they are suitable for the work;
• CV of relevant professional who will act as contact point for the Beneficiary;
• The financial quotations form completed, indicating the overall cost for one month for these services.

The bid, as well as all correspondence and documents relating to the bid shall be written in English. All financial information should be provided in Euro. Bids shall remain valid for the period of 90 days after the date of bid submission.

The full package must be sent by email at: anastasia.chistol@eu4moldova.eu no later than November 7, 2025, COB.

Please mention in the subject line “Provision of MEDIA & SOCIAL MEDIA MONITORING”.

Organizații vizate:

• GOPA PACE