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CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Joint Harmonised European Union Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys

(2006/C 172/11)

1   CONTEXT

The European Commission is launching a call for proposals (ref. ECFIN/2006/A3-02) for carrying out surveys as part of the Joint Harmonised Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys (approved by the Commission on 29th November 2000) in the EU Member States. This call for proposals will cover the Netherlands and Finland.

The programme is designed to gather information on the state of the economies in the EU Member States so as to be able to compare their business cycles for EMU (Economic and Monetary Union) management purposes. It has become an indispensable tool in the EMU economic surveillance process, as well as for general economic policy purposes.

2   PURPOSE AND SPECIFICATIONS OF THE ACTION

2.1   Objectives

The joint harmonised programme involves specialised bodies/institutes carrying out opinion surveys on a joint financing basis. The Commission is looking to conclude a sixteen-monthly grant agreement for the action with bodies and institutes suitably qualified to carry out one or more of the following surveys for the period January 2007 — April 2008:

The surveys target managers in the investment, construction, retail trade and services sector.

2.2   Technical specifications

2.2.1   Survey timing and reporting of results

The following table gives an overview of the surveys requested under this call for proposals:

A detailed description of the action can be downloaded from the following Internet address:

http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/tenders/2006/call2006_5en.htm

2.2.2   Methodology and questionnaires of the Joint Harmonised EU Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys

Details on the methodology can be found in the user's guide on:

http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/indicators/business_consumer_surveys/userguide_en.pdf

3   ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS AND DURATION

3.1   Administrative provisions

The body or institute is to be selected for a maximum period of 16 months. For this purpose a sixteen-monthly agreement will be concluded between the parties, which will specify the common objectives and the nature of the action planned. The grant agreement will cover the period January 2007 — April 2008.

3.2   Duration

The surveys run from 1 January 2007 until 30 April 2008. The duration of the action may not exceed 16 months.

4   FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK

4.1   Sources of Community funding

The operations selected will be financed from budget heading 01.02.02 — Coordination and surveillance of economic and monetary union.

4.2   Estimated total Community budget for this call

4.3   Percentage of Community co-financing

The Commission's share in the joint financing may not exceed 50 % of the eligible costs incurred by the beneficiary on each survey.

4.4   Funding of the action by the beneficiary and eligible costs incurred

Eligible costs can be incurred only after signature of the grant agreement by all the parties, save in exceptional cases and, under no circumstances, before submission of the application for a grant. Contributions in kind are not regarded as eligible costs.

The beneficiary will be requested to submit a detailed budget containing an estimate of the costs and funding of the action, expressed in EURO. The budget will be incorporated as an annex to the grant agreement. The Commission may subsequently use these figures for auditing purposes.

5   ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

5.1.   Legal status of applicants

The call for proposals is open to bodies and institutes (legal entities) with legal status in one of the EU Member States, or in one of the acceding or candidate countries. Applicants must show that they exist as a legal entity and provide the required documentation by means of the standard legal entity form.

5.2.   Grounds for exclusion

Applications will not be considered for a grant if the applicants are in any of the following situations (1):

Applicants must certify that they are not in one of the situations listed under points 5.2 by means of the standard declaration form on eligibility.

5.3   Administrative and financial penalties

6   SELECTION CRITERIA

Applicants must have stable and sufficient sources of funding to maintain their activity throughout the period during which the action is being carried out. They must have the professional competences and qualifications required to complete the proposed action or work programme.

6.1   Financial capacity of applicants

Applicants must have the financial capacity to complete the proposed action and must provide their balance sheets and profit and loss accounts for the last two financial years for which the accounts have been closed. This provision does not apply to public bodies and international organisations.

6.2   Operational capability of applicants

Applicants must have the operational capability to complete the proposed action and should provide the appropriate supporting documentation.

The following criteria will be used to assess the applicant's ability:

7   AWARD CRITERIA

The following criteria will be used to award the agreement to successful candidates:

8   PRACTICAL PROCEDURES

8.1   Drawing-up and submission of proposals

Proposals must contain the completed and signed standard grant application form and all supporting documents referred to in the form.

The proposals must be presented in three sections:

The following standard forms can be obtained from the Commission:

as well as documentation regarding the financial aspects of the grant:

The Commission reserves the right to amend these standard documents in line with the needs of the joint harmonised programme and/or budget management constraints.

Proposals must be submitted in one of the official languages of the European Community together with a translation in English, French or German, where appropriate.

One signed original proposal and two copies must be supplied by the applicant.

Proposals must be sent in a sealed cover contained in another sealed envelope.

The outside envelope should bear the address given at point 8.3 below.

The sealed inner envelope containing the proposal must be marked ‘Call for Proposals — ECFIN/2006/A3-02, not to be opened by the internal mail department’.

The Commission will notify candidates that their proposal has been received by returning the acknowledgement of receipt slip submitted with the proposal.

8.2   Content of proposals

8.2.1   Administrative proposal

The administrative proposal must include:

8.2.2   Technical proposal

The technical proposal must include:

8.2.3   Financial proposal

The financial proposal must include:

8.3   Address and closing date for submission of proposals

Applicants interested in these grants are invited to submit their applications to the European Commission.

Applications may be submitted:

no later than 25 September 2006 by 16h00 (Brussels time). In this case, proof of submission will be by means of a dated and signed receipt issued by the receiving official in the above mentioned department.

Applications received by the Commission after the closing date will not be taken into consideration.

9   WHAT HAPPENS TO THE APPLICATIONS RECEIVED?

All applications will be checked to assess whether they meet the formal criteria of eligibility.

Proposals considered eligible will be evaluated and given marks according to the award criteria specified above.

The process of selecting the proposals will take place during the months October/November 2006. A selection committee is to be set up for this purpose under the authority of the Director-General for Economic and Financial Affairs. It will be made up of at least three persons representing at least two different specialised units with no hierarchical link between them and will have its own secretariat responsible for handling communication with the successful candidate following the selection procedure. Unsuccessful candidates will also be notified individually.

10   IMPORTANT

This call for proposals does not constitute any sort of contractual obligation on the part of the Commission towards any body/institute submitting a proposal on the basis of it. All communication regarding this call for proposals must be in writing.

Applicants should take note of the contractual provisions which will be obligatory in the event of award.

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(1)  In compliance with articles 93 and 94 of the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

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