tenders and grants

partnership

In accordance with the Council Decision of 22 December 2000 concerning the adoption of a programme to stimulate the development and use of European digital content on the global networks and to promote linguistic diversity in the information society (hereinafter referred to as the eContent programme) the European Commission hereby invites proposals for indirect actions to be financed under the programme.
The eContent programme is based on three action lines referred to under point 3 of this call:
(a) improving access to and use of public sector information;
(b) enhancing content production in a multilingual and multicultural environment;
(c) increasing dynamism in the digital content market.
In conformity with Article 4 of the Council Decision, a work programme (www.cordis.lu/econtent), specifying detailed objectives and priorities and an indicative timetable for their implementation, was drawn up by the European Commission to serve as the basis for implementing the programme up to 17 January 2005. The objectives, priorities, indicative budget and types of indirect actions referred to in this call notice correspond to those set out in the work programme.

1. This call relates to:
- proposals, specified under parts 1 of point 3 of this call, called by a fixed deadline following which evaluation will take place. Proposals not having met this deadline will not be considered under this call notice,
- proposals, specified under parts 2 of point 3 of this call, called under a continuous submission scheme, under which proposals may be submitted at any time. Proposals will be evaluated at intervals that depend on the number received, but which will not exceed four months. Proposals under this scheme may be submitted at any time up to the date of closure of the scheme.

2. The eContent programme is implemented through indirect actions as provided for in Annexes I and III to the Council Decision. Evaluation and selection criteria and modalities are given in the point 4 of this call. All the information on how to prepare and submit proposals is given in the ‘Guide for proposers’ (www.cordis.lu/econtent).
Details of the evaluation process are given in the Evaluation Manual (www.cordis.lu/econtent). This documentation can be obtained, along with the work programme and any other information relating to this call, from the European Commission using one of the following addresses:
European Commission
Directorate-General Information Society
eContent Help Desk
Jean Monnet Building, Office EUFO 1181
L-2920 Luxembourg.
E-mail: eContent@cec.eu.int Fax (352) 4301-349 59
Web: www.cordis.lu/econtent/calls.htm

3. Those eligible to participate in indirect actions under the eContent programme are hereby invited to submit proposals that address those parts of the work programme given below.
Proposals submitted must correspond to the eContent 2003 to 2004 work programme.
The indicative total budget available for this call is EUR 29 million of Community contribution (Of this amount, around EUR 27 million is allocated on the 2003 budget, the remainder will be committed under the 2004 budget for Part 2.
).

Part 1 — Fixed deadline (Call part identifier: EC-Y03-C3-P1)
Deadline for receipt of proposals: 21 March 2003 at 17.00 (Luxembourg local time).
Action line 1: Improving access to and use of public sector information
Sub-line 1.2: Establishment of European digital data collections
Identifier: AL 1.2 - DM
Action line 2: Enhancing content production in a multilingual and multicultural environment
Sub-line 2.1: Partnerships for multilingual and multicultural content
Identifier: AL 2.1 — DM
Action line 3: Increasing dynamism in the digital content market
Sub-line 3.1: Exchange of good practices
Identifier: AL 3.1 — AM
Sub-line 3.3: Management of rights for digital content
Identifier: AL 3.3 — AM
Sub-line 3.4: Dissemination of results
Identifier: AL 3.4 — AM

Part 2 — Continuous submission scheme (Call part identifier: EC-Y03-C3-P2)
Deadline for receipt of proposals: 28 May 2004 at 17.00 (Luxembourg local time).
Action line 1: Improving access to and use of public sector information
Subline 1.1: Cross-border information services based on public sector information
Identifier: AL 1.1 — FP
Subline 1.2: Establishment of European digital data collections
Identifier: AL 1.2 — FP
Action line 2: Enhancing content production in a multilingual and multicultural environment
Subline 2.1: Partnerships for multilingual and multicultural content
Identifier: AL 2.1 — FP
Subline 2.2: Strengthening the linguistic infrastructure
Identifier: AL 2.2 — FP

4. In the evaluation process, the different criteria used are as follows:
Eligibility criteria
Eligibility criteria are minimum conditions to be met by all proposers.
(a) Applicants will have to provide a declaration that they are not in any of the situations described below:
— they are bankrupt or being wound up, are having their affairs administered by the courts, have entered into an arrangement with creditors, have suspended business activities, are the subject of proceedings concerning those matters,
— they have been convicted of an offence concerning their professional conduct by a judgment which is not open for appeal,
— they have been guilty of grave professional misconduct proven by any means which the contracting authority can justify,
— they have not fulfilled obligations relating of the payment of social security contributions or taxes,
— they are guilty of serious misrepresentation in supplying the information required by the authorising department.
(b) Timely delivery. Project proposals not meeting the deadline specified shall not be considered.
(c) Signatures. Proposals must carry signatures by all consortium partners.
(d) Consortium composition. Minimum requirements for each type of projects are indicated in the eContent 2003 to 2004 work programme and in the guide for proposers.
(e) Proposal completeness. Proposals should provide all the information required in the guide for proposers in the format indicated therein.
Selection criteria
These criteria aim at demonstrating that proposers possess stable and sufficient sources of funding to maintain their activity throughout the period during which the action is being carried out. Proposers should also demonstrate the professional competencies and qualifications required to complete the proposed project.
Financial and operational capacity to carry out the project
— capacity to co-finance the proposed project as demonstrated by the company accounts,
— capacity to allocate adequate human resources to carry out the project in question.
Professional competencies and qualifications
Documented relevant experience in the field of the proposed action (e.g. academic qualifications or previous projects).
Award criteria
These criteria are aimed at evaluating the quality of the proposal submitted in response to the call. The award procedure is further detailed in the evaluation manual.
- Quality, relevance, innovation and impact 35 %
- Partnership, resources and management 35 %
- European added value and contribution to relevant policies 15 %
- Contribution to economic development and social objectives 15 %
The Commission may request the support of external experts for the evaluation and the application of the various criteria.

5. All proposals responding to this call must be sent to the Commission at the address indicated below in this notice by registered post, or delivered by hand or by courier.
To be receivable, proposals must be submitted on paper signed by the proposing organisations and be received by the Commission at the following address:
European Commission
Directorate-General Information Society
The eContent programme
Jean Monnet Building, Office EUFO 1181
L-2920 Luxembourg, before the applicable deadline (For courier services that require a telephone number for the recipient, please use (352) 4301-382 24.).
Further information is available in the guide for proposers.
Reminder notice: Please note that deadlines apply to receipt by the Commission. In addition, failure to use the above address exactly as it is reproduced here could lead to delays in having your proposal received by the eContent programme, and could lead to your proposal not being received before the deadline.

6. 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 proposers 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 Community pursues an equal opportunities policy and, in this context, women are particularly encouraged to either submit proposals or to be involved in their submission.