Number: 9571999
Country: Belgium
Source: TED
Multiple framework service contract in 5 lots for the provision of external expertise in the field of technology options assessment and scientific foresight (STOA)
The planned “Multiple framework service contract” (and the particular studies, briefings and other services to be provided under this contract) is intended to be used as the main source of external expertise to enable the parliament to fulfill the mission and objectives of STOA.
The use of external contractors aims at providing flexibility and autonomy in this process, making technical and scientific expertise rapidly available when needed, and at the same time providing the parliament with a long-term perspective in their political work. Through the multiple framework service contract, expertise will be provided in the form of briefings and studies, but also the organization of events and the delivery of communication services, upon ad hoc requests and within a limited and defined time-frame.
Eco-efficient transport and modern energy solutions
The works will be executed in the facilities of the successful tenderers and in some regular meetings of the European Parliament in Brussels and Strasbourg.
The Commission"s “Energy roadmap 2050” was conceived to explore the challenges posed by delivering the EU"s decarburization objective while at the same time ensuring security of energy supply and competitiveness. The EU policies and measures to achieve the Energy 2020 goals and the Energy 2020 strategy are ambitious. They will continue to deliver beyond 2020 helping to reduce emissions by about 40 % by 2050. They will however still be insufficient to achieve the EU"s 2050 decarburization objective as only less than half of the decarburization goal will be achieved in 2050. This gives an indication of the level of effort and change, both structural and social, which will be required to make the necessary emissions reduction, while keeping a competitive and secure energy sector.
The contractor should have a good understanding of energy policymaking as well as transport policy in the EU, including matters relating to the development of a common policy for rail, road, inland waterway, maritime and air transport, in particular:
i) common rules applicable to transport within the EU,
ii) the establishment and development of trans-European networks in the area of transport infrastructure,
iii) the provision of transport services and relations in the field of transport with 3rd countries,
iv) transport safety,
v) relations with international transport bodies and organisations,
vi) space applications (Galileo).
Technology assessment (TA) options should encompass lifestyle changes, modal shifts, and security /safety vis-à-vis privacy issues (e.g. the use of surveillance cameras). Possible misuse, risks, threats, be it natural or terrorism, on the transport system need to be borne in mind. The impact of emerging economies on world production patterns and changes in production distribution should be taken into account, further to the impact of their increasing mobility needs.
The contractor should be able to handle the following areas:
a) the functioning of the energy market,
b) security of energy supply in the Union,
c) promotion of energy efficiency and energy saving and the development of new and renewable forms of energy,
d) energy and environment /climate,
e) promotion of the interconnection of energy networks,
f) energy infrastructures (including smart grids),
g) energy efficiency of sea vessels and in aviation,
h) road safety, environment safety and technologies ensuring passenger safety,
i) sustainable transport logistics coupled with general logistics and urban mobility, e.g. education aimed at energy saving,
j) new technologies and generation of propulsion systems: drivetrains, aerodynamics, fuel efficiency, lightweight materials, regenerative braking and CO2 emission trading,
k) technical design, e.g. triangle car windows reducing need for air-conditioning or double-skinned roofs in cars to insulate against heat /cold,
l) competition rules and state aids in relation to the promotion of technological innovation in transport.
The expertise should be able to address specific topics such as: fossil fuels issues, including oil price and security of supply, particularly transport energy and storage needs; fuel cell and hydrogen industries, for stationary, portable and transport applications; renewable electricity generation; renewable fuel production; renewable energy for heating and cooling; CO2 capture and storage technologies for zero-emission power generation; clean coal technologies; smart energy networks; energy efficiency and savings; nuclear energy, including the ITER project.
Sustainable management of natural resources
The European Union has seen a steady increase of its competencies in the area of environmental policy. The European Parliament has also seen an increase in its powers of co-decision on environmental, health and food safety matters, both in their internal and external dimensions, which at present represent a substantial part of the legislative workload of the European Parliament. The European Parliament has repeatedly called for a new agenda for future European growth with resource efficiency at its core, which would require some radical changes in our production and consumption patterns. Turning the Union into a resource-efficient, green and competitive low-carbon economy is in fact 1 of the 3 objectives of the 7th environment action programme. Moreover, the roadmap to a resource efficient Europe, as part of the Europe 2020 strategy for a smart, inclusive and sustainable economy, is expected to transform the EU"s economy into a sustainable 1 by 2050 by strengthening the green economy and tackling climate change.
In the EU, agriculture and forestry, and the food and bio-based industry sectors altogether employ 22 000 000 people and play a key role in rural development and the management of Europe"s natural heritage. European Union support for sustainable use and conservation of nature as well as for natural resource efficiency is taking place against the backdrop of high pollution levels, environmental degradation and the depletion of natural resources, whereas access to raw materials and clean water can no longer be taken for granted. Resource efficiency is the one basic principle that underpins the entire circular economy strategy and it is fundamental to green growth. By using fewer resources, in a more efficient manner, Europe can retain its competitive edge, create green growth and sustainable jobs, and better protect the environment, and develop a green, resource-efficient, low-carbon circular economy that contributes to the environmental dimension of the global sustainable development goals.
Expertise in this area should cover in a detailed and comprehensive way the following main domains of environmental policies (non-exhaustive list):
a) sustainable development, climate change,
b) waste, noise, air pollution,
c) water resource management and the management of resources used for agriculture,
d) nature and biodiversity, soil protection, civil protection, agriculture and land management issues,
e) environment and health interactions,
f) environment monitoring technologies, including space technologies,
g) development of market-based instruments and indicators for sustainable development,
h) balancing the use of renewable and non-renewable resources from land, seas and oceans, transforming waste into valuable resources, and the sustainable production of food, feedstuffs, bio-based products and bioenergy,
i) eco-innovation to design smarter products, produce and consume in a more intelligent fashion, recycle and reduce waste altogether.
The contractor should be knowledgeable about the environment action programme, its principles, financing, provisions and operations. He /she should also have knowledge of the R&D activities developed by the EU in this field. He /she is also expected to have experience with technology options assessment (TA) in the broad field of environment and management of natural resources, methodologies, such as impact assessment, citizen"s participative assessments, and evaluation tools for the assessment of the potential role that scientific research, technologies, and best practices play in ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources in the EU.
Potentials and challenges of the information society
Digital networks now constitute the backbone of our societies" functions (i.e. financial systems, energy infrastructure and communication tools) and the Internet of things continues to grow and develop. Many countries have included the protection of critical information infrastructure in their national security strategies. Therefore, strengthening the security and resilience of critical infrastructure against cyber threats is a policy agenda priority. The need for a resilient ICT industry in the EU that is able to provide an acceptable level of cybersecurity to all citizens is a top priority bearing significant consequences if ignored. The problems related to online privacy, mass surveillance, cybersecurity, big data and e-privacy are seen as direct threats to national security and directly impact governments, the private and the public sector.
The contractor should be able to handle questions related to the above, and under the EU industrial policy, competition policy, trade policy, trans-European networks (TENs) and Horizon 2020, as well as the forthcoming 9th research and technological development framework programme. The topics he /she will be called upon to address are connected with the following policy priorities (non-exhaustive list):
a) the future of the Internet, Internet of things,
b) the transition to next generation networks, spectrum management,
c) audiovisual media services and management of digital rights,
d) cloud computing services, social network services,
e) use of ICT for e-government purposes, use of ICT in the health sector,
f) use of ICT in the transport sector, use of ICT in the energy sector, defence sector.
This lot covers equally the expertise needed to assess the impact of new technologies in order to avoid security /safety incidents or to attempt to reduce their impacts when incidents are unavoidable. The purpose is to evaluate the development of new technologies in view of attaining cyber resilience, in the following areas (non-exhaustive-list):
(a) data privacy protection,
(b) misuse of data collected for other purposes than the one intended,
(c) reliability concerns; misuse for illicit or illegal purposes,
(d) increase or introduction of new security risks in case of technological failure.
The analyses performed in this lot should also aim at identifying what are the possible control mechanisms (including the policy-related ones) to strike an appropriate balance between the advantages and disadvantages of these technologies (with the objective to draw conclusions concerning their overall relevance and feasibility).
Health and new technologies in the life sciences
Health policy is not simply a case of keeping people healthy. It is keeping them living, working and ageing in good health, actively engaged in society and actively contributing to the economy. Health is an integral part of most major EU initiatives and the EC regularly examines the potential impacts on health and health systems of many policy processes.
Europe"s health makes an important contribution to the EU economy and has great potential for growth, investment and innovation. The EU health sector accounts for 10 % of GDP, 15 % of public expenditure and 8 % of the EU"s workforce, and has a high potential for innovation and growth. However, it also faces important challenges with huge economic consequences if they are not adequately addressed: for example, the cost of healthcare is expected to double by 2050 if nothing is done to tackle these challenges, notably preventable chronic diseases.
The 3rd programme of EU action in the field of health (2014–2020) entitled “Health for growth”, emphasises the links between economic growth and a healthy population to a greater extent than the previous programmes. The EC strategic health plan (2016–2020) underlines that reforms are needed to help the EU health systems to improve. The EU plays an important role in this process. Better coordination and cooperation between EU countries, better use of cost-effective and efficient technologies and EU-wide health promotion initiatives are examples of ways in which the EU can provide its support.
Expertise should cover topics within the competencies entrusted to the European institutions by the European treaties in force in the broad and interdisciplinary area of public health. The list hereunder is not exhaustive and continually changes as the living conditions and the problems affecting the population change. Possible topics could be:
(a) social and ethical issues in medicine; preventive and environmental issues,
(b) ageing and geriatric medicine; clinical pharmacology; genetics,
(c) allergy and immunology diseases, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases,
(d) oncology, renal diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, haematologic diseases,
(e) endocrine diseases, infectious diseases (in particular emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases), neurologic and psychiatric diseases,
(f) rare diseases, women"s health, addiction,
(g) climate change and health, health promotion, education and prevention,
(h) interface with health and disease, physical activities and life style,
(i) inequalities in health, innovation and management of health services in Europe,
(j) innovative approaches of nutrition in advancing public health in Europe.
Science policy, communication and global networking
Main areas to be covered are (non-exhaustive list):
(a) at the global level:
— develop information systems and keep track of science and technology assessment and foresight studies worldwide, including communication and dialogue and the organisation of common events at the European Parliament,
— support and coordinate initiatives to strengthen commonly executed technology assessment activities with partners at a global level (including methodologies),
— assess the efficiency of the production and communication of evidence for policymaking related to techno-scientific issues.
(b) at the level of the European Parliament:
— organise schemes for cooperation between MEPs and scientists,
— present outcomes of STOA activities in easily accessible formats and language for laypeople and policymakers.
Potentials and challenges of the Information Society
