How much does a citizen portal or e-government project cost?

A single-service portal—for example, online permit applications with document upload, status tracking, and payment—typically costs $60,000–$150,000 over 4–7 months. Multi-service platforms with registry integration, e-ID login, and case management for back-office staff range from $200,000 to $500,000+. StepTo’s $35–75/hr rates typically come in 40–60% below Western European system integrators, which matters within fixed public budgets.

Can you meet public-sector accessibility requirements?

Yes. We build to WCAG 2.1 AA and EN 301 549, which the EU Web Accessibility Directive mandates for public-sector websites and apps, and Section 508 for US government work. Accessibility is tested with screen readers and keyboard-only navigation before each release, and we produce the accessibility statement your agency is required to publish.

How do you handle security and data protection for government systems?

GDPR-compliant data handling, role-based access with full audit trails, encryption in transit and at rest, and deployment into your national government cloud, an EU-region public cloud, or on-premise infrastructure as policy requires. We support ISO 27001-aligned development processes and cooperate with your security office on penetration testing and accreditation before go-live.

Can you integrate with national registries and e-ID systems?

Yes. Government services rarely stand alone—we integrate with civil, business, and address registries, document management systems, payment gateways, and national or eIDAS-compliant e-ID and e-signature schemes, using the interoperability buses and API standards your jurisdiction prescribes.

Do you work through tenders and subcontracting?

Both. We deliver directly to agencies and municipalities where procurement rules allow, and we frequently act as the engineering subcontractor for prime contractors and consultancies bidding on public tenders—providing the delivery team, technical documentation, and fixed-price commitments the bid requires.

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Government Digital Services

Government digital services replace paper forms, counter visits, and siloed registries with online services citizens can actually use. StepTo builds citizen portals, case management systems, and registry integrations for agencies, municipalities, and the prime contractors that serve them — engineered to EU standards for accessibility (WCAG 2.1 AA, EN 301 549), data protection (GDPR), and security. Serbian engineering rates of $35–75/hr stretch fixed public budgets 40–60% further than Western European integrators, and our dedicated team model keeps institutional knowledge intact across multi-year programmes.

GovTech Solutions We Build

Citizen service portals: Online applications for permits, licences, benefits, and certificates—with document upload, e-signature, payment, status tracking, and notifications.
Case management for back offices: Workflow engines for clerks and inspectors: assignment, deadlines, approvals, document generation, and full audit trails for administrative review.
Registry & data systems: Modern registries with versioned records, API access for other agencies, and migration from legacy databases and paper archives.
Open data & transparency dashboards: Public-facing statistics, budget visualisations, and machine-readable data publishing.
Interoperability layers: API gateways and message buses connecting agency systems, national registries, eIDAS-compliant e-ID, and payment infrastructure.
Legacy modernisation: Strangler-pattern replacement of aging systems while daily operations continue uninterrupted.

Compliance & Security Standards

Accessibility: WCAG 2.1 AA and EN 301 549 per the EU Web Accessibility Directive, verified with assistive technology testing; Section 508 for US work.
Data protection: GDPR by design—data minimisation, retention schedules, subject access tooling, and records of processing.
Security: Role-based access, audit logging, encryption at rest and in transit, ISO 27001-aligned processes, and support for accreditation and penetration testing.
Hosting flexibility: National government clouds, EU-region AWS/Azure, or on-premise deployment where sovereignty rules require it.

Engagement Models & Pricing

Fixed-scope delivery: Single-service portals from $60,000–$150,000 (4–7 months); multi-service platforms $200,000–$500,000+—priced and documented to fit procurement requirements.
Subcontracted engineering: Delivery teams for prime contractors bidding on tenders, with the technical documentation the bid demands.
Dedicated team: From $13,500/month for long-running programmes—see pricing and our dedicated team model.
Staff augmentation: From $4,500/month per engineer to reinforce in-house or contractor teams.

Why StepTo for Public Sector Work?

Standards-first delivery: Accessibility, data protection, and audit requirements are treated as acceptance criteria from sprint one—not retrofitted before go-live.
Documentation discipline: Architecture records, operations manuals, and handover documentation that survive staff turnover and administrative audits.
Budget efficiency: Nearshore rates let agencies deliver more services within fixed appropriations.
EU-adjacent, CET timezone: Serbian teams work your working day, with data residency options that satisfy EU hosting policies.

How We Deliver Government Digital Services

Service discovery (2–3 weeks): Map the citizen journey, back-office workflows, registry touchpoints, and compliance requirements with the agency team that owns the service.
Accessible UX prototyping: Clickable prototypes tested with real civil servants and citizen representatives — accessibility testing with screen readers and keyboard-only navigation starts here, not after launch.
Iterative build: Two-week sprints delivering working features; the citizen-facing application flow is proven early because it carries the most political and usability risk.
Registry & integration wiring: Connection to national registries, e-ID schemes, payment gateways, and back-office case management systems — with full audit logging and error handling for the hand-offs between systems.
Security accreditation support: Penetration testing, accessibility audit, and security documentation prepared for your accreditation body or procurement authority.
Launch & ongoing evolution: Staged rollout by service or region, with the documentation, training, and support structure that public-sector operations require.

Who This Is For

National and regional agencies replacing paper-based citizen services with online portals — permit applications, benefit claims, licence renewals, and certificate requests.
Municipalities building digital service platforms that connect citizens, back-office staff, and multiple agency registries through one interface.
Prime contractors and system integrators bidding on public tenders who need a reliable engineering delivery partner with the documentation and compliance maturity the bid demands.
EU-funded programme offices implementing digital government initiatives under the 2021–2027 and 2028–2034 MFF frameworks, where procurement rules and delivery milestones must be met.

Government digital services demand standards-first engineering that most commercial software teams are not structured to deliver. For a broader view of how senior-led nearshore partnerships are reshaping tech delivery for regulated environments, see our analysis on the nearshore inflection point in 2026.

FAQ: Government Digital Services

How much does a citizen portal or e-government project cost?: A single-service portal—for example, online permit applications with document upload, status tracking, and payment—typically costs $60,000–$150,000 over 4–7 months. Multi-service platforms with registry integration, e-ID login, and case management for back-office staff range from $200,000 to $500,000+. StepTo’s $35–75/hr rates typically come in 40–60% below Western European system integrators, which matters within fixed public budgets.
Can you meet public-sector accessibility requirements?: Yes. We build to WCAG 2.1 AA and EN 301 549, which the EU Web Accessibility Directive mandates for public-sector websites and apps, and Section 508 for US government work. Accessibility is tested with screen readers and keyboard-only navigation before each release, and we produce the accessibility statement your agency is required to publish.
How do you handle security and data protection for government systems?: GDPR-compliant data handling, role-based access with full audit trails, encryption in transit and at rest, and deployment into your national government cloud, an EU-region public cloud, or on-premise infrastructure as policy requires. We support ISO 27001-aligned development processes and cooperate with your security office on penetration testing and accreditation before go-live.
Can you integrate with national registries and e-ID systems?: Yes. Government services rarely stand alone—we integrate with civil, business, and address registries, document management systems, payment gateways, and national or eIDAS-compliant e-ID and e-signature schemes, using the interoperability buses and API standards your jurisdiction prescribes.
Do you work through tenders and subcontracting?: Both. We deliver directly to agencies and municipalities where procurement rules allow, and we frequently act as the engineering subcontractor for prime contractors and consultancies bidding on public tenders—providing the delivery team, technical documentation, and fixed-price commitments the bid requires.