Executive Summary

The Federal Chancellery awarded the contract to Apps with love AG on 23 June 2026 for the development of a Federal Council app. The app is to be available by mid-2027 and will provide bundled information from the Federal Council and federal administration on smartphones. The project costs a maximum of 3.4 million francs over a ten-year term until 2037. Development begins in the second half of 2026 and will take approximately ten months. The award has been legally binding since the expiry of the appeal period on 23 June 2026.

Persons

  • Federal Council (Institution; Contracting Authority)

Topics

  • Digital Transformation
  • Government Communication
  • Cybersecurity and Disinformation
  • Public Procurement Procedures

Clarus Lead

The Federal Council app addresses a growing trust problem: In light of AI-generated fakes and deepfakes, the national government needs a trustworthy channel independent of commercial platforms for crisis communication. The project signals that the state is reclaiming its information sovereignty – a strategy gaining international importance as governments seek to reduce their dependence on private social media.

Detailed Summary

The Federal Council app will rebundle existing federal content without requiring additional editorial resources. It utilizes the existing editorial system and enables multiple use of information across various channels – from press releases to resolutions to speeches. No new content will be produced; the restructuring will be carried out with existing personnel resources.

The tender issued on 5 November 2025 resulted in the award to Apps with love AG. Conception and implementation receive a maximum of CHF 325,000 (excl. VAT), while CHF 3.2 million is reserved for ten years of operation, maintenance, support, and further development. The total volume of CHF 3.4 million corresponds to the maximum budget, not the actual planned expenditures – the concrete utilization will depend on user behavior and further development needs. The prototype was already based on representative user surveys showing that over two-thirds of respondents considered a Federal Council app to be useful.

The award recipient convinced through the lowest price in the procedure, the greatest potential for further development, high motivation, and consistently good fulfillment of quality criteria.

Key Statements

  • The app launches mid-2027 and provides bundled Federal Council information independent of commercial platforms
  • Maximum costs: CHF 3.4 million over ten years (until 2037)
  • The project addresses disinformation risks and secures crisis communication
  • No new content required; utilization of existing editorial systems

Critical Questions

  1. Evidence: Is the assumption that two-thirds of the population would use the app based on a current survey? How large was the sample and how was representativeness ensured?

  2. Data Quality: How is it ensured that the app actually covers all relevant federal information in a timely and complete manner, without selection bias?

  3. Alternatives: Were costs and benefits of a presence on existing platforms (with content control) weighed against a standalone app?

  4. Implementation Risks: What technical or organizational hurdles could jeopardize completion by mid-2027, and how are delays contractually regulated?

  5. Usage and Adoption: How will the target audience be reached and motivated to install the app? Are there minimum usage targets?

  6. Long-Term Costs: The CHF 3.2 million for ten years of operation – does this include personnel costs for editorial and support, or are these additional?

  7. Data Protection: What data does the app collect about user behavior, and how is this data protected and used?

  8. Competitiveness: How is it ensured that the app is technically and user-friendly competitive with established news apps?

Source Directory

Primary Source: Package Switzerland-EU (Bilateral III) – Federal Council App – https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/e9PQnRQ7cRvaSE33uiVht

Supplementary Sources:

  • Tender on simap.ch: https://www.simap.ch/de/project-detail/43cc1bc5-7957-44ef-94d5-4d39285af4c2

Verification Status: ✓ 21.07.2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-Check: 21.07.2026