EU Gender Equality Competence Facility

The European Commission's Directorate-General for Research and Innovation has announced a call for tenders, referenced as EC-RTD2025-OP-0002, for the establishment of the EU Gender Equality Competence Facility. This facility aims to support the creation and implementation of Gender Equality Plans (GEPs) across the European Research Area (ERA). The project emphasizes structural change and sustainability within organizations while ensuring compliance with GEP eligibility criteria established under Horizon Europe.

The estimated contract value is €1,000,000, and the project duration will not exceed 24 months. This is an open procurement procedure requiring electronic submissions. The deadline for submission of tenders is July 7, 2025, at 16:00 Europe/Brussels time, with the public opening scheduled for July 8, 2025.

Eligible applicants can be individual entities or consortia, but all must possess a Personal Identification Code (PIC) for participation. The award will be based on the best price-quality ratio and prioritizes service providers with expertise in gender equality, consulting, and organizational change.

All submissions must be made electronically through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal, which can accommodate various file types with a maximum attachment size of 50 MB and a limit of 200 files per submission. The tender documents include an invitation letter, tender specifications, and various forms required for the application.

Overall, this procurement opportunity aims to develop a centralized capacity to advance gender equality initiatives within research organizations, thereby contributing to broader efforts for inclusiveness and compliance with EU regulations.

The European Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD), has published a call for tenders EC-RTD2025OP0002 for the EU Gender Equality Competence Facility. The TED reference for this call is 103/2025 349659-2025. This is an open procedure, and submissions must be electronic.

The call aims to establish a new service, the EU Gender Equality Competence Facility, to support the development and implementation of impactful inclusive Gender Equality Plans (GEPs) across the European Research Area (ERA). This facility intends to facilitate structural change and enhance its sustainability within organizations. A key aspect of this service is to support concerned organizations in complying with the GEP eligibility criterion introduced in Horizon Europe, as well as with other related requirements, such as striving for increasing inclusiveness.

The estimated total value of this contract is 1,000,000 EUR. The contract's nature is for services, with a maximum duration of 24 months. The award method will be based on the best price-quality ratio. This call does not involve a framework agreement.

The TED publication date is 30/05/2025. The date and time of the public opening are 08/07/2025 at 10:00 Europe/Brussels time. The deadline for receipt of tenders is 07/07/2025 at 16:00 Europe/Brussels time. The contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after 27/06/2025 at 05:00 Europe/Brussels time.

The main classification (CPV) code for this tender is 73200000, which refers to research and development consultancy services.

The following documents are available for download:

1. Invitation to tender EC-RTD2025OP0002 EU Gender Equality Competence Facility Invitation letter, published on 30/05/2025, Version 1. No translations are available.
2. RTD-2025-OP-0002-Gender-Comptence-Facility-TENDER-SPECSTender specifications, published on 30/05/2025, Version 1. No translations are available.
3. Annex-2-declaration-honour-FR Recast-en Declaration on honour (tender), published on 30/05/2025, Version 1. No translations are available.
4. Annexes 3 to 5 - Editable version Other invitation to tender document, published on 30/05/2025, Version 1. No translations are available.
5. Annex-6-Financial-Model Financial offer form, published on 30/05/2025, Version 1. No translations are available.
6. Annex-8-Assessment-Sheet Other invitation to tender document, published on 30/05/2025, Version 1. No translations are available.
7. RTD-2025-OP-0002-Contrat Draft contract, published on 30/05/2025, Version 1. No translations are available.

Submissions must be sent exclusively via electronic submission.

Some frequently asked questions (FAQ) and their answers related to the eSubmission system are:

1. How to proceed if the system is slow or doesn’t work while uploading/downloading documents? Use the latest versions of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. If the issue persists, clear the cache and cookies on the Internet browser.
2. Which Internet browsers does eSubmission support? Use the latest versions of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. For the most up-to-date technical recommendations, click on the link System Requirements.
3. Is it possible to view the details of the submission after the deadline? No, the content of the submission is not accessible after submitting the tender as the system encrypts all attachments upon upload.
4. Where can I find my submissions in Manage My Area, in the Funding & Tenders portal? Submissions can be found in ‘My Submission(s)’: tenders in response to open calls for tenders, requests to participate.
5. Which size should attachments have? eSubmission accepts files that are less than 50 MB in size.
6. How should I name attachments in eSubmission? Name the attachments for your tender draft following the System Requirements.
7. Can I submit a video in eSubmission? Which formats are supported? Check the System Requirements of eSubmission.
8. I received an invitation from the F&T Portal but cannot view the procurement documents. Invited candidates can only see the procurement documents after having selected an organisation. Go to F&T Portal, “My Invitations”. Click on “Select Organisation” from the “Action”.
9. Do I need to validate my PIC in order to submit a tender in eSubmission? The Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory to participate in a call for tenders as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium).
10. I have an issue uploading a file in eSubmission and it’s giving me an error. What do I do? Make sure it follows the technical requirements of the system.
11. How many attachments can I upload per submission? The maximum number of documents the system will allow you to upload per tender is 200 files.
12. Why do tenderers need a PIC? It is mandatory to register for a PIC if you intend to submit a tender or a request to participate.
13. How do I register my organisation and get a Participant Identification Code (PIC)? First, check if the organisation is already registered using the Search PIC tool under 'How to Participate' > Participant Register.
14. What is the validity period of a PIC? A PIC is unique and its validity is not limited in time.
15. How many languages does the system support? The system is multilingual and supports all 24 official EU languages.
16. Which is the character set encoding in the system? The character set encoding is UTF-8.
17. Does the system use encryption to ensure the integrity and the confidentiality of the information? Yes, the system encrypts all uploaded documents, using an asymmetric key as an encryption mechanism.
18. Which file types does the system support? The supported file types depend on the type of submission you want to make. The allowed file types are specified within the system requirements linked to the procedure in question.
19. Can I view and edit my draft submission? Until the deadline for the submission has been reached, submissions in the draft status can be edited, viewed and deleted.
20. In the submission report, under the name of our entity, "Legal form: UNKNOWN" is displayed while in the system, our legal form was correctly displayed. Is this a problem for the submission? No, it is just a display issue. This is not blocking for you: you can submit.
21. I sent my submission on time and a few days later, I received an automatic email informing me that the deadline for the reception of submissions had been reached. Does this mean that my submission was not correctly sent? No, this is an auto-generated notification sent when the time limit of receipt defined for the call for tenders has been reached. Until then, you had the possibility of withdrawing.

In summary, this tender is an invitation by the European Commission for organizations to bid on a project to establish and operate the EU Gender Equality Competence Facility. This facility will provide support and resources to organizations across the European Research Area to develop and implement effective Gender Equality Plans, ensuring they meet Horizon Europe's eligibility criteria and promote inclusivity. The project aims to foster structural change and sustainability in gender equality within these organizations. The tender is open for electronic submissions until July 7, 2025, and the contract, valued at 1 million EUR, will be awarded based on the best price-quality ratio for a duration of 24 months.

Eligible Applicant Types: The provided text does not explicitly list eligible applicant types. However, given the nature of the tender and the focus on establishing a competence facility, eligible applicants could include research institutes, universities, consulting firms, non-profit organizations, and other entities with expertise in gender equality, organizational change, and related fields. The requirement for a PIC (Personal Identification Code) suggests that any organization capable of registering for one is potentially eligible.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is procurement, specifically a service contract. The call is for tenders, indicating that the European Commission is seeking to procure services related to the establishment and operation of the EU Gender Equality Competence Facility.

Consortium Requirement: The text mentions that a PIC is mandatory for participation "as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium)." This indicates that both single applicants and consortia are eligible to apply.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The call is for an EU Gender Equality Competence Facility, and it aims to support the development and implementation of Gender Equality Plans (GEPs) across the ERA (European Research Area). Therefore, the geographic eligibility likely includes EU member states and associated countries within the ERA.

Target Sector: The primary target sector is gender equality, with a focus on supporting the implementation of Gender Equality Plans (GEPs) within organizations. Related sectors include research and innovation, organizational development, and human resources. The call specifically mentions supporting organizations to comply with the GEP eligibility criterion introduced in Horizon Europe.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the call focuses on the European Research Area (ERA), implying that the relevant geographic scope includes EU member states and associated countries participating in the ERA.

Project Stage: The project stage is the establishment of a new service, the EU Gender Equality Competence Facility. This suggests a stage of development and implementation, rather than basic research or early-stage idea development. The aim is to create a functional facility that can provide support and expertise to organizations.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the contract is 1,000,000 EUR.

Application Type: The application type is an open call for tenders, with electronic submission required.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries of this tender (i.e., the winning contractor) will receive money in exchange for providing services related to the EU Gender Equality Competence Facility. The nature of support provided by the *facility* to *other* organizations will be non-monetary services, such as support for developing and implementing GEPs.

Application Stages: The provided text does not explicitly detail the number of stages in the application process. However, as a call for tenders, it is likely to involve at least two stages: submission of the tender and evaluation of the submitted proposals.

Success Rates: The provided text does not include information on success rates.

Co-funding Requirement: The provided text does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

This is a call for tenders (EC-RTD/2025/OP/0002) issued by the European Commission, DG RTD - Research and Innovation, to establish the "EU Gender Equality Competence Facility." The goal of this facility is to support organizations within the European Research Area (ERA) in developing and implementing impactful and inclusive Gender Equality Plans (GEPs). This support aims to facilitate structural change and enhance the sustainability of gender equality efforts within these organizations. A key aspect is also to support concerned organisations to comply with the GEP eligibility criterion introduced in Horizon Europe, as well as with other related requirements, such as striving for increasing inclusiveness.

The estimated total value of the contract is 1,000,000 EUR, and the maximum contract duration is 24 months. The procedure type is an open procedure, and submissions must be made electronically. The deadline for receipt of tenders is 07/07/2025 at 16:00 Europe/Brussels. The contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after 27/06/2025 at 05:00 Europe/Brussels.

Eligible applicants can be single entities or consortia. A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for participation. The award method is based on the best price-quality ratio. The main classification (CPV) code is 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services.

The selected contractor will be responsible for establishing and operating the EU Gender Equality Competence Facility, providing services to support organizations in the ERA with their GEPs. This includes helping organizations comply with Horizon Europe's GEP eligibility criteria and other related requirements.

To apply, interested parties must submit their tenders electronically through the designated submission address. The submission system supports various file types, with a maximum file size of 50 MB per attachment and a limit of 200 files per submission. The system supports all 24 official EU languages and uses encryption to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of the information.