Call for proposals 2011 for indirect actions under the multi-annual Community Programme on protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies ( Safer Internet )  Text with EEA relevance
Date: 2011-03-05
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU programme, Internet, child protection, information technology, public awareness campaign








C_2011071EN.01001401.xml










5.3.2011   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 71/14





Call for proposals 2011 for indirect actions under the multi-annual Community Programme on protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies (Safer Internet)
(Text with EEA relevance)
2011/C 71/05
1.   In accordance with Decision No 1351/2008/EC of 16 December 2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council adopting a multi-annual Community Programme on protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies (1) (Safer Internet), the European Commission hereby invites proposals for actions to be financed under the programme.
Safer Internet is based on four actions:






(a)


ensuring public awareness;










(b)


fighting against illegal content and tackling harmful conduct online;










(c)


promoting a safer online environment;










(d)


establishing a knowledge base.




The programme is a successor of the Safer Internet plus programme (2005-2008).
2.   In conformity with Article 3 of the European Parliament and Council Decision, a Work Programme (2) was drawn up by the European Commission to serve as the basis for implementing the programme in 2011. The Work Programme contains further information about the objectives, priorities, indicative budget and types of actions referred to in this call notice and the eligibility rules for taking part.
3.   Information on how to prepare and submit proposals and on the evaluation process is given in the Guide for Proposers (3).
This documentation can be obtained, along with the Work Programme and any other information relating to this call, from the European Commission using the following address:





European Commission




Information Society and Media Directorate-General




Safer Internet




EUFO 1194




Rue Alcide de Gasperi




2920 Luxembourg




LUXEMBOURG




Fax +352 4301-34079




E-mail: saferinternet@ec.europa.eu




Internet: http://ec.europa.eu/saferinternet




4.   Proposals may be made for the call parts identified below. Applicants wishing to make proposals for more than one call part should make separate proposals for each part.
5.   The indicative total budget available for this call under the 2011 budget is EUR 14 132 240 of EU contribution (4).
Grants to proposals submitted in response to this call will be awarded through grant agreements.
The evaluation of proposals will give rise to a list of proposals to be funded. This list may be complemented by a reserve list of proposals of sufficient quality, to be funded in case of budget availability.
6.   The call for proposals under this Work Programme is open to all legal entities established in the Member States. It is also open to participation of legal entities established in EFTA States which are contracting parties to the EEA Agreement (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein).
It is further open to participation of legal entities established in other countries under the conditions set out in Article 2 of the Programme Decision (5), provided that a bilateral agreement is signed. If proposals submitted by legal entities from these countries are selected for funding, a grant agreement will only be signed once the necessary steps have been taken for the country concerned to join the Programme through signature of a bilateral agreement. Up to date information on which countries are part of the Programme is available on the programme web site at http://ec.europa.eu/saferinternet
Legal entities established in non-EU countries other than those referred to above and international organisations may take part in all projects at their own expense.
Legal entities established in Russia may take part in Action 1.1 (Safer Internet Centres) of this call for proposals under the conditions specified in the Work Programme. Legal entities from Russia may also take part in thematic networks and knowledge enhancement projects under the same conditions as entities established in Member States (but not as project co-ordinators.
PART 1

CALL PARTS


Action 1 and action 2:   ENSURING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND FIGHTING AGAINST ILLEGAL CONTENT AND HARMFUL CONDUCT ONLINE
7.   Identifier: 1.1. INTEGRATED NETWORK: SAFER INTERNET CENTRES
The Programme promotes the set up of Safer Internet Centres all across Europe to co-ordinate activities and to bring together a variety of stakeholders to ensure action and facilitate transfer of knowledge.
All Safer Internet Centres will develop awareness raising material, organise campaigns and information sessions for children and young people, parents, carers, social workers and teachers to enable children and young people to make responsible use of on-line technologies.
The awareness actions will address issues related to harmful content, contact and conduct as defined in section 2.2. They will also address the opportunities and risks of services using new distribution forms, such as peer-to-peer services, broadband video, instant messaging, chat-rooms, social networking sites and access to content and interactive information and communication brought about by the rapid take-up of the internet, mobile phones and game consoles by children. They will take into account the related issues of protection of privacy and personal data, consumer protection, information, and network security (viruses/spam).
In addition, the Safer Internet Centres should also include (a) hotlines where the public can report illegal content and/or (b) helplines where parents and children can obtain advice on how to deal with harmful contact (grooming), harmful conduct (cyberbullying), harmful content and uncomfortable or scary experiences related to their use of online technologies.
The tasks of the Safer Internet Centres are set out in further detail in the Work Programme.
This call part (Identifier: 1.1. INTEGRATED NETWORK: SAFER INTERNET CENTRES) will be only open for proposals for setting up a Safer Internet Centre in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Spain, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, and Russia (6).
The call for proposals may also be opened for countries which have signed a bilateral agreement or where negotiations have been opened.
Funding at 50 % of eligible costs, which may be increased up to 75 % for public bodies, SMEs and non-profit organisations.
8.   Identifier: 1.2. INTEGRATED NETWORK: EUROPEAN CO-ORDINATION OF SAFER INTERNET CENTRES
To ensure maximum co-operation and effectiveness of awareness-raising, hotlines and helplines actions across Europe, the 2011 call is also open for a network co-ordinator to provide logistical and infrastructural support for the Safer Internet Centres, ensuring European-level visibility, good communication and exchange of experience so that lessons learnt can be applied on an ongoing basis.
The tasks of the network co-ordinator are set out in further detail in the Work Programme. In view of the different nature of the tasks of awareness activities, hotlines and helplines, specific tasks of each component are foreseen in the Work Programme.
In addition to the specific tasks of co-ordination of each component, the network co-ordinator will:






—


provide a single, comprehensive web portal to provide visibility for awareness activities, helplines and hotlines with a collection of relevant information and resources with content such as news services, articles, monthly newsletter,










—


disseminate statistics and information about the awareness, helplines and hotlines activities and the results of the network throughout Europe,










—


develop a governance structure for the network,










—


provide European coordination of Safer Internet Centres’ Youth Panels and organise a pan-European meeting of members of the Safer Internet Centres’ panels,










—


coordinate the organisation of regional meetings by Safer Internet Centres,










—


coordinate the exchange schemes for experts or organisations from countries outside the EU in agreement with the European Commission,










—


ensure and maintain a close working relationship with the awareness, hotline and helpline coordinators to ensure consistency and the effectiveness of overall programme operations,










—


take part in meetings organised by the Commission, the Safer Internet Forum and other relevant events, coordinating input/feedback from awareness centres, hotlines and helplines; ensure synergy between the integrated network, thematic networks and other funded projects by participating in the network coordination group.




Overall co-ordination and the specific tasks of co-ordination will be part of a single grant agreement.
A joint proposal may be made by not more than three different organisations.
Funding at 100 % of direct eligible costs (as defined in the model grant agreement), but without indirect costs (overheads).

Action 3:   PROMOTING A SAFER ONLINE ENVIRONMENT
9.   Identifier: 3.1. THEMATIC NETWORK: NGO NETWORK FOR CHILD PROTECTION ON THE INTERNET
The Programme invites proposals to set up a thematic network of European non-government organisations representing children's rights and welfare to develop a concerted approach by sharing experience and best practices, and by developing joint strategies, in order to ensure that the needs of children are taken into account in discussions about the internet and new media in Europe, as well as in relevant international fora.
Funding at 100 % of a reduced set of eligible costs (direct costs of co-ordinating and implementing the network) for thematic networks

Action 4:   ESTABLISHING A KNOWLEDGE BASE
10.   Identifier: 4.1. KNOWLEDGE ENHANCEMENT PROJECT: TESTING TRAINING PROGRAMMES FOR PROFESSIONALS WORKING WITH CHILDREN AT RISK
Proposals are invited for a pilot knowledge enhancement project with the following objectives:






1.


to identify and further develop targeted training and awareness-raising tools (eg. video clip/online game and material) for professionals working with children at risk as defined in section 6.1 of Safer Internet 2011 Work Programme (7);










2.


on the basis of the above, implement a training programme(s) on the target group;










3.


measure the effectiveness of the approach through an ex ante survey on the awareness level of the target group and surveys at 3, 6 and 12 months after the training has taken place. The assessment methodology should involve both a quantitative as well as qualitative approach.




Knowledge enhancement projects will be funded at 100 % of direct eligible costs (as defined in the model grant agreement), but without indirect costs (overheads).
PART 2

EVALUATION CRITERIA

The evaluation of proposals will be based on the principles of transparency and equality of treatment. It will be carried out by the Commission with the assistance of independent experts. Each submission will be assessed on the basis of the evaluation criteria, which are divided in three categories: eligibility criteria, award criteria, selection criteria. Only proposals meeting the requirements of the eligibility criteria shall be evaluated further. The description of these criteria is presented below.
11.   Eligibility criteria

On receipt, all proposals and applications will be subject to an eligibility check, to ensure that they conform to the requirements of the call, and to the submission procedure.
The following checks will be carried out:






—


Receipt of proposal by the Commission on or before the deadline date and time established in the call.










—


Proposal completeness. Proposals which are substantially incomplete — that is to say that the forms do not include sufficient information to identify the partners, their legal status and to evaluate the scope of the proposed project — will be excluded.




In addition, proposers must certify that they are not in one of the situations listed in the Work Programme which would exclude them from participation.
12.   Award criteria

In order to evaluate the relative merit of proposals received, each means to implement the programme (integrated networks, targeted projects and thematic networks) will have its specific set of award criteria, with specific weightings. The description of these award criteria is presented in the Safer Internet 2011 Work Programme (8).
13.   Selection criteria

Selection criteria will ensure that the applicants possess the resources to co-finance the project and the professional competencies and qualifications required to complete the work successfully.
Selection criteria are applied on the basis of the information supplied in the proposal. If this identifies cases of weak financial capacity or professional competence it may necessitate compensating actions such as financial guarantees or other actions. Successful proposals called to negotiations will be the subject of a formal legal and financial validation as a requirement to the issuing of a grant agreement.
The description of the selection criteria is presented in the Safer Internet 2011 Work Programme.
PART 3

ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS AND DEADLINE

14.   Proposals must be prepared using the forms in the Guide for proposers, and sent on paper in one (1) original and five (5) copies, accompanied by an electronic copy on CD-Rom, to the Commission at the following address:





European Commission




Directorate-General Information Society and Media




Safer Internet




Office EUFO 1194




Rue Alcide de Gasperi




2920 Luxembourg




LUXEMBOURG




15.   Deadline for receipt of all proposals: 4 May 2011 at 17h00 (Luxembourg local time).
Proposals arriving later than the deadline, or sent by fax or e-mail will be excluded.
16.   Indicative evaluation and selection timetable: the evaluation will take place within two months from the closing date of this call. Applicants will be informed on the results of their application after the evaluation has taken place. The timing of some new projects will take account of existing grant agreements (9) so as to ensure the most efficient use of funding.
17.   In all correspondence relating to this call (e.g. when requesting information or submitting a proposal) please make sure to cite the applicable call part identifier.
In submitting a proposal, applicants accept the procedures and conditions as described in this call and in the documents to which it refers.
All proposals received by the European Commission will be treated in strict confidence.
The European Union pursues an equal opportunities policy and, in this context, women are particularly encouraged to either submit proposals or to be involved in their submission.


(1)  OJ L 348, 24.12.2008, p. 118.

(2)  Commission Decision 2010, http://ec.europa.eu/saferinternet

(3)  http://ec.europa.eu/saferinternet

(4)  Under the condition that the draft budget for 2011 is adopted without modifications by the Budgetary Authority.

(5)  Decision No 1351/2008/EC of 16 December 2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council published in OJ L 348, 24.12.2008 p. 118.

(6)  If a Safer Internet Centre is selected for Russia, in the absence of a bilateral agreement, the funding will be limited to 100 % of direct eligible costs of taking part in the networking activities of Safer Internet Centres.

(7)  See footnote 2.

(8)  See footnote 2.

(9)  For information on existing grant agreements please refer to the programme website http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/sip/index_en.htm