Call for proposals

COSME Programme, “Training for SME-friendly Policies in Central Purchasing Bodies”- COS-TSMFRIEND-2017-2-01

 

Objective and description

A new call for proposals has been published by the Executive Agency for SMEs (EASME) under the COSME programme, within the pillar of Improving Access to Markets for “Training for SME-friendly Policies in Central Purchasing Bodies”- COS-TSMFRIEND-2017-2-01.

 

Central purchasing bodies (CPBs) are among the largest buyers at national level since they launch and manage large calls used by all relevant public authorities to procure certain goods or services. By aggregating demand, CPBs may reduce SMEs access to PP markets and therefore it is essential that CPBs buying practices allow for SMEs access to public procurement markets.

 

The action aims at ensuring participation in a specialised university programme on public procurement to have personnel better trained on Public Procurement within CPBs. Specifically it aims to contribute to the professionalisation of staff working for large public buyers (called central purchasing bodies, cpbs) covering in particular SMEs' access to public procurement (pp) markets and increase their knowledge of public procurement.

 

Funding will be given to one or two universities in order to cover tuition fees for the training programme, travelling cost, and accommodation. The university(ies) beneficiary of the grant will take care of managing travelling and accommodation of participants. The university(ies) will organise a conference at the end of the course, where the cohort would meet with best practitioners in public procurement in the EU.

 

The proposal contributes to the COSME objectives by establishing:

·         A training programme that seeks to enhance the professionalisation of CPB personnel will provide detail on how to access and aggregate markets for public procurement;

·         A professionalisation programme will also help personnel to manage markets, and in particular to assist with the inclusion of SMEs in public procurement competitions.

·         The centralisation of public procurement functions may impact on the broader market, at a local, regional and European level. Training of personnel to understand and manage is imperative.

 

The priority of the training programme will be on newly or to be established CPBs in the EU and/or COSME participating countries , e.g. CPBs in countries whose procurement systems are structurally weak and/or new or to be established such as Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

 

Eligible activities

The scope of activities to be carried out by the beneficiary shall include:

·         Organisation and management of a training programme for staff working in CPBs (in the EU Member States and/or COSME participating countries).

·         Selection of suitable trainers teaching CPB personnel.

·         Promotion and communication of the training programme.

·         Selection of the participants in the training programme.

·         Support for selected participants.

 

Eligible applicants

The following types of organisation are eligible:

·         Central Purchasing Bodies;

·         International organisations;

·         Universities or educational institutions.

 

Applicants must be legal entities established in an EU Member State, or a COSME participating country.

 

Applicants must form a consortium of at least 2 organisations. The consortium must include at least one university or educational institution and an established Central Purchasing Body operating at national level.

 

Budget

The total budget earmarked for the co-financing of projects is estimated at EUR 350.000,00.

 

EASME expects to fund one proposal.

 

The grant is limited to a maximum reimbursement rate of 90 % of eligible costs.

 

The project's duration must be between 6 months and 12 months.

 

Deadline for proposals’ submission

The deadline of this call is 3 October 2017.

Applicants are requested to go to http://ec.europa.eu/easme/en/cosme-eu-programme-competitivenessenterprises-and-small-and-medium-sized-enterprises-smes and follow the procedure for submitting an application.

 

Further information

Please find attached the call documents.

 

More information: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/opportunities/cosme/topics/cos-tsmfriend-pp-2017.html

 

 

Kind regards,

 

Flora Stavropoulou
Intern

European Office of Cyprus

Rue du Luxembourg 3, 2nd floor

B-1000, Brussels

Tel/Fax: +32 (0) 2 280 22 85

E-mail: eoc.brussels2@ucy.ac.cy

 

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE GREEK TRANSLATION IS PROVIDED AT REQUEST OF ANY INTERESTED MEMBER (based on the decision of 22.12.2016 of the EOC Administrative Council).