Call for proposals for indirect actions under the multi-annual EU programme on protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies ( ‘Safer Internet’ )  Text with EEA relevance
Date: 2013-04-13
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU programme, Internet, child protection, invitation to tender








C_2013107EN.01000701.xml










13.4.2013   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 107/7





Call for proposals for indirect actions under the multi-annual EU programme on protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies (‘Safer Internet’)
(Text with EEA relevance)
2013/C 107/06






1.


In accordance with Decision No 1351/2008/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 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 2013. 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




Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology




Media and Data




Inclusion, Skills and Youth




EUFO 2268




2920 Luxembourg




LUXEMBOURG




Fax +352 4301-34079




E-mail: CNECT-SAFERINTERNET@ec.europa.eu




Internet: https://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/news/safer-internet-programme-call-proposals-2013














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 2013 budget is EUR 2 275 600 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.





Part 1 —   Call parts

Action 1 and action 2:   EUROPEAN NETWORK OF ‘SAFER INTERNET’ CENTRES
 (6)







7.


Identifier: 1.1. PILOT PLATFORM FOR ‘SAFER INTERNET’ CENTRES

The programme invites proposals for ‘a pilot project’ with the following objectives:






(a)


to plan, develop and test a pilot platform to share resources, services and good practices for ‘Safer Internet’ centres;










(b)


to establish a pilot database which enhances the network of hotlines' capacity to identify child pornography and analyse child abuse images and videos. The results of the project must be made accessible to INHOPE member hotlines and law enforcement agencies beyond the end of the project.




The specific conditions and requirements for this pilot project are set out in further detail in the work programme.
The potential end users/target group of the pilot platform shall be at least 10 ‘Safer Internet’ centres.
The pilot should end indicatively by October 2014.
The pilot project will be carried out as an integrated network and the coordinators will receive up to 100 % of direct eligible costs (as defined in the model grant agreement) excluding indirect costs (overheads).





Action 3:   PROMOTING A SAFER ONLINE ENVIRONMENT







8.


Identifier: 3.1. THEMATIC NETWORK: NGO NETWORK FOR CHILD PROTECTION ON THE INTERNET

The programme invites to set up a ‘thematic network’ for child protection on the Internet to ensure that protection and children’s rights will be included on the agenda when issues to do with Internet governance, cybercrime and Internet and online security/safety are discussed by the relevant national and international actors.
The specific conditions and requirements for this thematic network are set out in further detail in the work programme.
The costs of the network coordinator for coordinating and implementing the network are covered at a rate of up to 100 % of direct eligible costs (as defined in the model grant agreement), excluding indirect costs (overheads). Network members cover their own running costs except travel to network meetings, which may be reimbursed under the network budget.





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.
9.   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.
10.   Award criteria

In order to evaluate the relative merit of proposals received, each means to implement the programme (integrated networks, targeted and knowledge enhancement 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’ 2013 work programme (7).
11.   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’ 2013 work programme.

Part 3 —   Administrative details and deadline






12.


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 for Communications Networks, Content and Technology




Media and Data




Inclusion, Skills and Youth




EUFO 2268




2920 Luxembourg




LUXEMBOURG














13.


Deadline for receipt of all proposals: 23 May 2013 at 17.00 (Luxembourg local time).

Proposals arriving later than the deadline, or sent by fax or e-mail will be excluded.










14.


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 (tentatively in September) and the grant agreement will be signed by the end of 2013. The timing of some new projects will take account of existing grant agreements so as to ensure absence of overlapping with similar activities as well as continuity of activities. In such cases applicants may request that the action starts between the submission date of their proposal and the signature of the grant agreement.










15.


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 confidentiality.
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 C(2013) 1954 of 11.4.2013, https://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/news/safer-internet-programme-call-proposals-2013

(3)  https://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/news/safer-internet-programme-call-proposals-2013

(4)  Under the condition that the draft budget for 2013 is adopted without modifications by the Budgetary Authority.

(5)  See footnote 1.

(6)  Action 1 of the Decision No 1351/2008/EC is ‘ensuring public awareness’; Action 2 is ‘Fighting against illegal content and harmful contact and conduct online’.

(7)  See footnote 2.