Ensuring EFSA’s readiness to address risk assessment needs related to food and feed innovation

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has launched a procurement tender under the identifier EFSA/2025/OP/0007 aimed at enhancing its capacity to address risk assessment needs related to food and feed innovation. The total estimated value of the contract is €500,000, with a project duration of 15 months. Eligible applicants include large enterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), research institutes, and consultancies capable of delivering specialized research and strategic planning services in food and feed innovation. The opportunity is categorized as a procurement contract, not a grant or subsidy, and is open to both individual applicants and consortia. Geographically, the tender is accessible to entities from EU and EEA member states, and possibly other associated countries, adhering to standard EU public procurement rules. The targeted sectors focus specifically on agriculture, food, biotechnological and medical services, as well as consultancy in research and development. The project's objectives include selecting priority innovation domains based on existing regulatory and scientific insights, mapping relevant stakeholders and technical expertise, and developing actionable strategic blueprints to support EFSA's future risk assessment capabilities. The application process is an open call, with submissions required to be made electronically by September 1, 2025. The award method will factor in a best price-quality ratio, where quality counts for 70% and price for 30%. In summary, this tender invites participation from qualified organizations that can contribute to enhancing EFSA's preparedness for emerging risks in the food and feed sectors. Specific criteria and detailed submission guidelines are outlined in the tender documents, which include an invitation letter and detailed specifications for applicants. The successful contractor will play a vital role in mapping innovation and developing strategic approaches to risk assessment for EFSA, with no co-funding requirements stipulated.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published a call for tenders, EFSA/2025/OP/0007, to support its readiness to address risk assessment needs related to food and feed innovation. The TED reference for this tender is 117/2025 400741-2025. This is an open procedure, and submissions must be electronic.

The main objectives of this procurement procedure are:

1) Selection of priority food and feed innovation domains based on EFSA’s regulatory-science needs and real-world scientific/technological insight.

2) Mapping of stakeholders and scientific/technical expertise in the selected domains.

3) Design of actionable strategic blueprints to support EFSA’s readiness to address risk assessment needs linked to the selected domains.

The estimated total value of this tender is €500,000. The TED publication date is 20/06/2025. The lead contracting authority is the European Food Safety Authority. The main classification (CPV) code is 73000000, which refers to research and development services and related consultancy services. The nature of the contract is for services, and the maximum contract duration is 15 months. The award method will be based on the best price-quality ratio. This is not a framework agreement.

Key milestones for this tender include:

TED publication date:20/06/2025

Date and time of public opening:02/09/2025 14:30 Europe/Rome

Deadline for receipt of tenders:01/09/2025 14:30 Europe/Rome

Deadline after which the contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions:22/08/2025 05:00 Europe/Rome

The following documents are available for download:

Invitation to tender Invitation letter, published on 20/06/2025, Version 1.

Tender specifications EFSA-2025-OP-0007, published on 20/06/2025, Version 1.

Annex 2 Draft contract, published on 20/06/2025, Version 1.

Submissions must be sent exclusively via electronic submission.

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In summary, this tender, issued by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), seeks to identify and map emerging trends and expertise in food and feed innovation to better prepare for future risk assessments. The project aims to select priority areas, map relevant stakeholders, and develop strategic blueprints for EFSA's readiness. The tender is open to any organization capable of providing research and consultancy services in the food and feed innovation sectors. The winning tenderer will be selected based on the best price-quality ratio, with a maximum contract duration of 15 months and an estimated total value of €500,000. Interested parties must submit their tenders electronically by September 1, 2025, and should consult the provided documentation, including the invitation letter, tender specifications, and draft contract, for detailed requirements and submission guidelines. A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for participation.

Eligible Applicant Types:The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated, but based on the nature of the tender, it is likely open to organizations capable of providing research and development services and related consultancy services. This could include research institutes, universities, consulting firms, and other entities with relevant expertise. The requirement for a PIC (Personal Identification Code) suggests that any legal entity can apply, either as a single tenderer or as part of a consortium.

Funding Type:This is a procurement, specifically a call for tenders. The contracting authority, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), is seeking to procure services.

Consortium Requirement:The opportunity is open to both single applicants and consortia. The documentation mentions that a PIC is mandatory whether applying as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium).

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):The geographic eligibility is not explicitly stated. However, given that it is an EFSA tender, it is likely open to entities within the EU and potentially EEA countries. Further details would be found in the tender specifications.

Target Sector:The target sector is research and development services and related consultancy services, specifically in the area of food and feed innovation. This includes regulatory science, technology insight, stakeholder mapping, and strategic blueprint design.

Mentioned Countries:No specific countries are mentioned. The contracting authority is the European Food Safety Authority, which operates at the EU level. The time zone "Europe/Rome" is mentioned for deadlines and public opening, but this does not imply any geographic restriction.

Project Stage:The project stage is focused on readiness and strategic planning. The tender aims to support EFSA in preparing for future risk assessment needs related to food and feed innovation. This includes selecting priority domains, mapping expertise, and designing strategic blueprints.

Funding Amount:The estimated total value of the procurement is €500,000.

Application Type:The application type is an open call for tenders. The submission method is electronic.

Nature of Support:Beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for services rendered, as this is a procurement contract.

Application Stages:The number of application stages is not explicitly stated, but it would typically involve at least one stage of submission and evaluation. The award method is "best price-quality ratio," suggesting a detailed evaluation process.

Success Rates:The success rates are not mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement:The co-funding requirement is not explicitly stated. As a procurement contract, co-funding is unlikely, but this should be confirmed in the tender specifications.

This opportunity is a call for tenders issued by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The purpose of this tender is to procure services that will support EFSA in preparing for future risk assessment needs related to innovation in the food and feed sectors. The selected contractor will be responsible for identifying priority areas of innovation, mapping relevant expertise and stakeholders, and developing strategic plans to address potential risks. The total estimated value of the contract is €500,000, and the maximum contract duration is 15 months. The tender is open to any organization capable of providing the required research and consultancy services, and submissions must be made electronically. The deadline for submitting tenders is September 1, 2025. The award will be based on the best price-quality ratio.