Integration of New Approach Methodologies in Chemical Risk Assessment: case studies addressing nanoplastics in food (NAMs4Nanoplastics)

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has announced an open tender for the project titled "Integration of New Approach Methodologies in Chemical Risk Assessment: case studies addressing nanoplastics in food (NAMs4Nanoplastics)." The purpose of this tender is to integrate new methodologies for assessing the risk of nanoplastics within the food chain. The estimated budget for this project is €500,000, and it is expected to last for a maximum of 24 months.

Eligible applicants for this grant include research institutions, universities, and private entities specializing in the areas of chemical risk assessment and nanotechnology. Notably, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are not eligible for this particular tender, as indicated by the absence of a suitable indicator for SMEs. The geographic scope for participants is primarily centered within EU member states and associated countries, reflecting the overall EU funding framework.

This tender requires a single applicant; there is no explicit requirement for a consortium. The expected outcomes of the project include conducting a pilot study that tests the integration of new approaches to assess risks from nanoplastics. The focus will be on adapting guidance for nano-specific assessments and proposing Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment (IATA) that are suitable for micro and nanoplastics in food and feed.

The application process is an open call whereby interested parties must submit their proposals electronically via the Funding and Tenders Portal by June 12, 2025. The evaluation for submissions will weigh technical quality at 70% and cost at 30%. The success rates for previous EU tenders are not specified in the current documents.

Submissions require a Personal Identification Code (PIC), which must be registered to participate in the tendering process. All documents must be submitted electronically, ensuring encryption for confidentiality and integrity. Tender documents, including specifications and a draft service contract, have been made available for potential applicants.

Overall, this opportunity emphasizes the importance of addressing chemical risks related to emerging contaminants in the food supply, specifically targeting the challenges posed by nanoplastics. It aligns with EU priorities focusing on food safety and environmental health.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has launched an open call for tender with procedure identifier EFSA/2025/OP/0006. The call, titled "Integration of New Approach Methodologies in Chemical Risk Assessment: case studies addressing nanoplastics in food (NAMs4Nanoplastics)", aims to address specific cases of nanoplastics in food. The overall objective of the NAMs4NANOPlastics project is to test the integration of new approach methodologies (NAMs) data with a pilot case study addressing the hazard/risk assessment of nanoplastics in food. The main goal is to conduct a pilot study regarding the application of new approach methodologies (NAMs) to assess possible risks arising from the presence of micro/nanoplastics in the food chain. The focus should be on adapting the generic guidance on nano-specific assessment to the risk assessment of micro/nanoplastics in food/feed and on proposing suitable NAM-based Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment (IATA).

The TED reference for this call is 74/2025 245776-2025. The estimated total value of the tender is 500,000 EUR. The TED publication date is 15/04/2025. The maximum contract duration is 24 months. The award method is based on the best price-quality ratio. No framework agreement is associated with this tender.

The selection criteria include:
1. Suitability to pursue the professional activity (consult the procurement documents).
2. Economic and financial standing (consult the procurement documents).
3. Technical and professional ability (consult the procurement documents).

Key milestones include:
TED publication date: 15/04/2025
Date and time of public opening: 13/06/2025 14:30 Europe/Rome
Deadline for receipt of tenders: 12/06/2025 14:30 Europe/Rome
Deadline after which the contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions: 04/06/2025 05:00 Europe/Rome

The main classification (CPV) is 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services. The nature of the contract is for services.

The following documents are available for download:
1. Tender Specifications EFSA_2025_PO_0006 (Tender specifications), published on 15/04/2025, Version 1, no translations available.
2. Annex 2 - DRAFT_Direct_Service_Contract (Draft contract), published on 15/04/2025, Version 1, no translations available.
3. Annex 4 - Declaration on confidentiality and data protection-service contract (Other invitation to tender document), published on 15/04/2025, Version 1, no translations available.
4. ENOC Invitation to tender_EFSA_2025_PO_0006 (Invitation letter), published on 15/04/2025, Version 1, no translations available.

Submissions must be sent exclusively via electronic submission.

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In summary, this tender opportunity focuses on researching the risks associated with nanoplastics in food using new approach methodologies (NAMs). The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is seeking a contractor to conduct a pilot study that integrates NAMs data to assess the potential hazards and risks of nanoplastics in the food chain. The project aims to adapt existing nano-specific assessment guidance to micro/nanoplastics in food/feed and to propose suitable NAM-based Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment (IATA). The tender is open to organizations with expertise in research and development services, particularly in chemical risk assessment and nanotechnology. The selected contractor will receive a maximum of 500,000 EUR over a 24-month period to complete the project. Interested parties must submit their tenders electronically by 12/06/2025, and should consult the provided documents for detailed requirements and selection criteria. 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 with research and development capabilities, including research institutes, universities, companies (SMEs and large enterprises), and other entities with relevant expertise in chemical risk assessment, nanotechnology, and food safety. The tender requires demonstration of suitability to pursue the professional activity, economic and financial standing, and technical and professional ability, further suggesting a broad range of eligible applicants.

Funding Type: This is a procurement opportunity, specifically a service contract. The call is for tenders, indicating that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is seeking to procure services related to research and development.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. However, the FAQ section mentions that a Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory to participate as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium), implying that both single applicants and consortia are eligible.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is not explicitly mentioned. Given that it is a tender from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), it is highly likely that the opportunity is primarily targeted at entities within the EU and potentially the EEA. However, the specific call documents should be consulted to confirm any geographic restrictions or eligibility criteria.

Target Sector: The target sector is primarily focused on food safety, nanotechnology, and chemical risk assessment. More specifically, it targets the integration of new approach methodologies (NAMs) in chemical risk assessment, with a case study addressing nanoplastics in food. This includes research and development services related to the assessment of risks arising from the presence of micro/nanoplastics in the food chain.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned in the provided text. The contracting authority is the European Food Safety Authority, suggesting a focus on the European Union.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on development and validation. The call aims to test the integration of new approach methodologies (NAMs) data with a pilot case study, adapt generic guidance on nano-specific assessment, and propose suitable NAM-based Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment (IATA). This suggests that the project is beyond the initial research phase and is geared towards practical application and validation of methodologies.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the tender is 500,000 EUR.

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 service contract. The selected tenderer will be contracted to perform the specified research and development services related to the risk assessment of nanoplastics in food.

Application Stages: The number of application stages is not explicitly stated, but it can be inferred that there are multiple stages. These likely include: submission of the tender, evaluation of the tender based on selection criteria (suitability to pursue the professional activity, economic and financial standing, and technical and professional ability), and contract award.

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

Co-funding Requirement: The co-funding requirement is not explicitly mentioned.

Summary:

This is an open call for tenders issued by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) with the procedure identifier EFSA/2025/OP/0006. The tender, titled "Integration of New Approach Methodologies in Chemical Risk Assessment: case studies addressing nanoplastics in food (NAMs4Nanoplastics)", seeks to procure services related to research and development in the area of food safety and nanotechnology. The primary objective is to test the integration of new approach methodologies (NAMs) data with a pilot case study addressing the hazard/risk assessment of nanoplastics in food. The main goal is to conduct a pilot study regarding the application of NAMs to assess possible risks arising from the presence of micro/nanoplastics in the food chain. The focus is on adapting the generic guidance on nano-specific assessment to the risk assessment of micro/nanoplastics in food/feed and on proposing suitable NAM-based Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment (IATA). The estimated total value of the tender is 500,000 EUR, and the maximum contract duration is 24 months. The award method is based on the best price-quality ratio. Submissions must be sent electronically, and the deadline for receipt of tenders is 12/06/2025 at 14:30 Europe/Rome. The contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after 04/06/2025 at 05:00 Europe/Rome. The tender documents include tender specifications, a draft direct service contract, a declaration on confidentiality and data protection, and an invitation letter. Tenderers must register for a Personal Identification Code (PIC) to participate, either as a sole candidate or as part of a consortium. The eSubmission system supports various file types and has a maximum attachment size of 50 MB per file and a maximum 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.