Request for Proposal (RFP): National funding landscape analysis and strategies to enhance ERICs involvement and visibility
06 May 2025
Issued by: BBMRI-ERIC on behalf of the ERIC Forum
Project Name: Second Implementation Project for the ERIC Forum (ERIC Forum 2)
Grant Agreement Number: 101124559
Budget: Up to €22,700€
Submission Deadline: 21 May 2025
1. Introduction
The ERIC Forum invites proposals from qualified parties to support a landscape analysis of national funding across Europe to contribute to Work Package 6 of the ERIC Forum 2 project. The goal is to identify and evaluate national funding opportunities for projects involving ERICs, and to conduct selected case studies from ERIC headquarters. The outcomes will help develop strategies to enhance ERICs’ involvement in and visibility within nationally funded projects.
2. Project Background
ERICs are vital to the European Research Area, promoting scientific collaboration and addressing societal challenges. Despite their contributions, information on ERICs is often fragmented. The ERIC Forum 2 project seeks to consolidate data and enhance transparency through a user-centric platform that integrates existing datasets.
3. Scope of Work
The scope of Work is defined as followed, but not limited to:
Key objectives include:
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- Identify and analyse national funding landscapes for projects using ERICs’ services.
- Survey ERICs’ headquarters and conduct national case studies and online research.
- Strengthen the dialogue with strategic partners like ESFRI national delegates, Horizon Europe RI Programme Committee national representatives, ERIC Regulation.
- Implementation Committee and Group of Senior Officials (GSO) on Global Research Infrastructures.
The contributing party is expected to provide support until the completion of Work Package 6 of the ERIC Forum 2 project. This contribution will span a period of 27 months, concluding on 31 August 2027.
4. The Services
Tasks include:
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- Participation in the relevant Work Package 6 meetings of the ERIC Forum 2 project.
- Contribution to the delivery of deliverable 6.2 “Identified sustainable information channels with the national funding bodies and on performed activities to enhance ERICs visibility in National arenas”.
- Contribution to the completion and publication of the report “National fundings’ landscape analysis”.
- Contribution to the specific case-studies focusing on newly established ERICs will be prepared to gain the exact knowledge of obstacles in early implementation.
5. Timeline
Opening of the procedure – publication 06 May 2025
Closing of the procedure 21 May 2025
Award of RFP & Communication of the results 28 May 2025
Signature of the contract 31 May 2025
Start of the service 01 June 2025
6. Budget and Payment Terms
The total available budget is €22,700. Payment will be released on the completion of Work Package 6 of the ERIC Forum 2 project, on 31 August 2027.
7. Proposal Requirements
Proposals should include:
1. An organisation profile and relevant experience, namely participation in INFRA projects with (national nodes of) other Research Infrastructures, in particular ERICs. The applicant has extensive experience coordinating and participating in European Commission-funded initiatives supporting the development, integration, and sustainability of Research Infrastructures, particularly through INFRADEV, INFRASERV, and INFRATECH schemes.
2. A detailed approach and project plan, including:
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- Engagement with Strategic Multiplier Institutions.
- Preparation of Case Studies on Newly Established ERICs.
- Identification and Analysis of National Funding Landscapes.
- Strategic Dialogue and Sustainability Planning.
- Reporting and Deliverables.
3. Cost breakdown:
The service will be executed within the available budget of €22,700. The cost will be allocated primarily to expert personnel time dedicated to data collection, national landscape analysis, preparation of case studies, engagement with strategic partners and reporting activities. Travel and meeting expenses will be minimised by utilising online platforms wherever feasible. The applicant’s established operational structure allows the efficient and cost-effective delivery of all tasks identified above.
8. Evaluation Criteria
The proposals received by the 21 May 2025 & 18:00 CEST will be evaluated by 3 people (the evaluation committee).
Every criterion will be scored individually by every member of the evaluation committee.
The criteria are scored between 1 and 3 (1 being the lowest and 3 the highest score):
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- Criteria 1 – Experience of the contributing party in the different typologies of Horizon Europe INFRA collaborative projects. mentioned above: 40%
- Criteria 2 – Knowledge and experience of ERICs financial management and governance, namely of their funding structure: 20%
- Criteria 3 – Knowledge of the ESFRI Roadmap and related documents as well as relevant documents from the OECD and the European Commission: 20%
- Criteria 4 – Understanding of challenges and context: 20%
The proposal(s) received after the set deadline will not be evaluated.
The tenderer with the higher score will be awarded.
9. Submission Instructions
Proposals must be submitted electronically to info@eric-forum.eu.
Late submissions will not be considered.
For inquiries, contact: info@eric-forum.eu.