Maintenance, update and further development of EFSA's Chemical Hazards Database OpenFoodTox 3.0.

What is procured:maintenance, continuous updating, interoperability work and further development of EFSA’s Chemical Hazards Database OpenFoodTox 3.0 (IUCLID 6 based), plus AI-assisted data extraction pilots, dissemination (Power BI, machine-readable exports, i6z dossiers) and training/documentation.

Estimated value and duration:Estimated total procedure value €1,500,000; maximum contract duration up to 48 months implemented as yearly order forms under a single framework contract.

Key dates:deadline for receipt of tenders 10/12/2026 14:30 (Europe/Rome). Public opening 11/12/2026 14:30 (Europe/Rome). Contract notice and procurement documents published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

How to apply and submission:Submit electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal eSubmission; EU Login and PIC registration required; follow tender specifications, draft contract and financial template published with the call F&T Portal - OpenFoodTox tender 1

Selection and award:offers are checked against exclusion and selection criteria (financial and technical capacity, team CVs, conflict of interest). Quality scoring has minimum thresholds; only bids within the available budget and meeting quality thresholds will be ranked by price-quality formula.

Title:Maintenance, update and further development of EFSA's Chemical Hazards Database OpenFoodTox 3.0. Reference / Call identifier: EFSA/2026/OP/0024. Lead contracting authority: European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Via Carlo Magno 1/A, 43126 Parma, Italy. Procedure type: Open procedure (call for tenders). Submission method: Electronic via eSubmission on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal (EU Login account required). TED reference: 206/2026 735227-2026. Main CPV: 72320000 - Database services. Nature of contract: services. Estimated total value (ceiling for the framework over up to 4 years): €1,500,000 (includes a 10% contingency and possible indexation). Maximum contract duration: 48 months (framework of 12 months renewable up to 3 times). Award method: best price-quality ratio. Framework agreement type: framework agreement without reopening of competition. Place of performance: contractor's premises. Submission deadline (local time Europe/Rome): 10/12/2026 14:30. Virtual public opening session: 11/12/2026 14:30 (Europe/Rome). Contract signature estimated: March 2027. All procurement documents (Invitation to tender, Tender specifications and Draft contract) published 23/10/2026.

Purpose:EFSA seeks a contractor to maintain, update and further develop OpenFoodTox (OFT) version 3.0, EFSA’s chemical hazards database, ensuring high-quality curation, IUCLID 6-based storage and interoperability with OECD Harmonised Templates (OHTs), the EU Common Data Platform on Chemicals (EU CDPC) and the EU Repository of Health-Based and Environmental-Based Limit Values (HEBLVs). The contract is a framework to be implemented by yearly order forms / specific contracts covering ongoing monthly updates, periodic data releases, dashboards, AI-assisted extraction pilots and interoperability work.

Background and rationale:EFSA’s OpenFoodTox provides structured (eco)toxicological, toxicokinetic, physicochemical and regulatory risk-assessment information extracted from EFSA scientific outputs. OFT 3.0 is produced in IUCLID 6 (i6z) format and mapped to OECD OHTs. OFT includes over 7,800 chemicals from ~2,600 EFSA outputs and is a planned contributor to the EU CDPC and the EU Repository of HEBLVs. The contract directly supports EFSA Strategy 2027 objectives on digital transformation, data interoperability and collaborative data governance.

Objective 1 — Maintenance and continuous update:Tasks: extract, curate and quality-assure hazard and risk-assessment data from new EFSA outputs and legacy outputs; operate directly in IUCLID 6 or via IUCLID-integrable workflows; maintain harmonised substance identifiers (EFSA PARAM codes, CAS, EC, IUPAC, SMILES, InChI); prepare and deliver IUCLID 6 i6z packages and machine-readable exports. Deliverables: monthly curated data increments with change logs (D1.1), updated IUCLID 6 dossier package including i6z and machine‑readable exports (D1.2), mapping to CDPC UTIs if requested (D1.3), interim report (D1.4) and consolidated annual report (D1.5).

Objective 2 — Data dissemination and access:Tasks: support, maintain and develop interactive dashboards (Power BI), searchable repositories and downloadable datasets in agreed formats (Excel, CSV, JSON etc.). Deliverables: dashboard data refreshes (monthly), new dashboard-ready datasets and metadata packages (every 6 months), downloadable repositories (every 6 months), consolidated annual dissemination report.

Objective 3 — AI-assisted extraction pilot:Tasks: design, test, validate and maintain human-in-the-loop AI workflows for extracting and structuring risk-assessment data from EFSA outputs; benchmark against expert-curated datasets; ensure traceability, quality assurance and expert validation prior to IUCLID ingestion. Deliverables: interim report describing use cases and workflow design (D3.1), consolidated annual performance report and benchmark dataset (D3.2) and final AI pilot report including SOPs and recommendations (D3.3 — required only in specific contract years noted in tender specifications). All AI use must comply with GDPR/EUDPR and the AI Act and EFSA requires clear description, risk mitigation and human oversight plans if AI is proposed.

Objective 4 — Interoperability:Tasks: maintain and document mapping between OFT (IUCLID 6), OHTs and EU CDPC data structures; support EFSA on HEBLV data element definitions and export requirements; support EFSA exchanges with ECHA, EMA, JRC, OECD, FAO/WHO as requested. Deliverables: updated mapping tables, vocabulary and data model documentation (D4.1) and consolidated annual interoperability report (D4.2).

Objective 5 — Documentation, training and stakeholder support:Tasks: deliver SOPs, user guides, training materials, training sessions and technical support; provide at least one training/support session per year to EFSA staff/experts and yearly stakeholder knowledge-transfer summaries. Deliverables: updated SOP package and user manuals, training materials and recordings, training sessions, user support logs and annual knowledge-transfer summaries.

Contract type:Framework Service Contract (single FWC) to be implemented by order forms / specific contracts. Framework duration: 12 months initial period renewable up to three times for a total maximum of 48 months (one year + three renewals). Maximum procedural envelope: €1,500,000 for the overall maximum period of 4 years (includes 10% contingency and indexation). EFSA may, under Financial Regulation rules, award repeated similar services by negotiated procedure to the same contractor if the envelope is at risk of being consumed (up to 50% additional increase of envelope). Unit prices in the financial offer underpin specific contracts. Place of performance: contractor's premises; working language: English. Award method: best price-quality ratio with formula: 30 * (cheapest price / tender price) + 70 * (quality score / 100).

Estimated timetable (procurement milestones):Contract notice & documents published 23/10/2026. Deadline for clarification requests: 02/12/2026. EFSA to reply to clarifications by 04/12/2026. Deadline for receipt of tenders: 10/12/2026 14:30 (Europe/Rome). Virtual public opening: 11/12/2026 14:30. Notifications of evaluation results estimated February 2027. Contract signature estimated March 2027.

Access to the tender and eligibility:Only economic operators established in eligible countries may proceed to evaluation. Processing of personal data under the contract is allowed only for tenderers established in EU and EEA countries or in countries with an EC adequacy decision for personal data protection. Subcontractors are not subject to the same access rules. Tenderers must complete and sign the required Declaration on Honour (exclusion/selection sections) and provide administrative forms and evidence as requested.

Selection criteria:Economic and financial capacity minimum: consolidated annual turnover at least €500,000 in each of the last three closed financial years (2023, 2024, 2025) (Declaration on Honour required). Professional and technical capacity: documented experience in project management of complex multidisciplinary projects; database and evidence management for chemical hazard data; cheminformatics and computational chemistry workflows; access to IUCLID 6, Power BI, AI tools and literature databases; provision of CVs for proposed team (Project Leader with ≥10 years experience, key experts with relevant academic degree(s) and experience levels specified in tender specifications). English language proficiency required for all team members (very good written and spoken UK English; non-native speakers to show 3 years’ experience in English-speaking environment or a B2 certificate).

Exclusion and conflicts of interest:Tenderers must not be in exclusion situations listed in Article 138 of the Financial Regulation and must declare absence of professional conflicting interests. EFSA may request individual Declarations of Interest for team members with influence over scientific outputs as a condition of contract signature and during implementation.

Eligible applicant types:SMEs and large enterprises, research organisations, universities, research institutes, nonprofit organisations and specialised service providers, consultancies and digital/data companies, public bodies and other economic operators established in eligible countries. Joint tenders and subcontracting are allowed. Individual natural persons are not the primary applicant type expected (organisational capacity, turnover and resources are required).

Funding type:This is a service procurement (tender) resulting in a paid service contract / framework agreement. Nature of support to beneficiaries: monetary payment to the contractor for service delivery (services contract).

Consortium requirement:Single contractor (single FWC) is sought but joint offers (consortium) are permitted; if a joint tender is submitted one member must act as lead/contracting partner. Subcontracting is allowed for all tasks. Application type: Open call for tenders (electronic submission via eSubmission on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal).

Geographic eligibility:Applicants must be established in eligible countries. Processing of personal data under the contract is allowed only for tenderers established in EU and EEA countries or in countries that have received a European Commission adequacy decision for personal data protection. EFSA is an EU agency based in Parma, Italy; the time zone and deadlines use Europe/Rome local time.

Target sector:Chemicals risk assessment, environmental and toxicological data management, data platforms, data engineering, cheminformatics, digital services, and AI-assisted data extraction for regulatory science. Project stage expected: mature operational dataset and ongoing maintenance; activities expect development, validation and demonstration of AI-assisted extraction workflows and continuous database curation and dissemination (development, validation, demonstration and routine maintenance).

Funding amount:Maximum framework ceiling €1,500,000 over up to 4 years. Tenderers must present a financial offer broken down into yearly specific-contract prices (OF/SC1 to OF/SC4). The financial offer must be within the maxima indicated per year in annexes of the tender specifications. The evaluation uses the total all‑inclusive price (sum of yearly amounts) as the price component in the best price-quality ratio formula. Prices must be quoted in euros and be all-inclusive (no VAT to be charged to EFSA).

Application method:Open for electronic submission only via eSubmission (Funding & Tenders Portal). EU Login account and Participant Identification Code (PIC) required. Tenderers must upload administrative forms, Declaration(s) on Honour, technical offer and financial offer using the EFSA templates. The portal encrypts attachments and does not allow access to submitted files after the deadline. System requirements and accepted file formats are published in the eSubmission guidance and quick guides.

Number of stages:4 major evaluation stages (compliance/selection → technical quality evaluation → price evaluation → award and pre-contract checks). Additional pre-award administrative checks and requests for clarifications may occur. Specific contract(s)/order forms are then issued yearly.

Success rates:EFSA does not publish a tender-specific success rate. As an open EU-level procurement for a niche technical service (chemicals database, IUCLID expertise and AI-assisted extraction), competition is expected among specialised vendors, research organisations and consortia. Success depends primarily on meeting mandatory selection criteria, achieving the mandatory quality thresholds and offering a competitive all-inclusive price within the published maximum envelope.

Co-funding requirement:No co-funding from the tenderer is required beyond the service price. The contractor must perform services as set out in the contract for the agreed all-inclusive price. Subcontracting is permitted but the tenderer remains fully responsible. Pre-financing is not applicable. Payment terms: EFSA to pay within 60 days of receipt of an approved invoice for the balance after acceptance of deliverables; invoicing rules and documentation required are specified in the draft contract. Price-indexation provisions and possible increases are covered in the framework contract (indexation formula specified).

Required templates and documents (available on the F&T Portal):Invitation to tender, Tender specifications (with annexes), Draft framework contract, Financial offer template (Annex 1), Declaration on Honour templates (sections for exclusion, selection and professional conflict of interest), Annex 3 (environmental management information). EFSA strongly recommends submitting CVs in the EU CV format. The financial offer must use the provided Annex 1 template and show yearly breakdown OF/SC1 to OF/SC4 that add to the all-inclusive total price. The technical offer must address all award criteria and include methodology, workplan, team composition and CVs, details on proposed AI usage (if any), risk mitigation and quality assurance, IUCLID 6 and interoperability approach and evidence of access to required tools (IUCLID 6, Power BI, literature databases).

Structure to prepare the technical offer (recommended outline):1. Executive summary and understanding of objectives. 2. Detailed methodology mapped to each objective and task. 3. AI strategy and safeguards (if applicable): intended AI tools, stages of use, human-in-the-loop approach, validation and traceability, compliance with GDPR/EUDPR and AI Act. 4. Workplan, milestones and deliverable schedule. 5. Project organisation and quality assurance framework (roles, responsibilities, internal review). 6. Risk identification and mitigation plan. 7. Interoperability approach: IUCLID 6 handling, OHT mapping, CDPC/HEBLV readiness. 8. Dissemination and dashboards approach (Power BI and export formats). 9. Training, documentation and stakeholder support plan. 10. Team CVs and evidence of relevant tools and access. 11. References and list of relevant past projects/publications (max 5 major projects).

Assessment, thresholds and scoring:Quality score: three blocks: Methodology (60 points; min 36), Project organisation & QA (25 points; min 15), Risk management & timely delivery (15 points; min 9). Minimum quality overall: at least 70% of maximum quality score and at least 60% per criterion. Price score: after passing quality thresholds, price evaluated and combined with quality using 30/70 weighting (price/quality) to compute total score.

Explicit countries mentioned in documentation:Italy (EFSA headquarters in Parma) and Hungary (reference to Council Implementing Decision 2022/2506 that affects certain Hungarian entities). Geographic scope for processing and eligibility: EU, EEA and countries benefitting from an EC adequacy decision for personal data protection. Overall beneficiary scope: EU-level procurement with expected service delivery to EFSA (Parma, Italy) and support to EU and international partners.

Title:Maintenance, update and further development of EFSA's Chemical Hazards Database OpenFoodTox 3.0

Contracting authority:European Food Safety Authority, commonly referred to as EFSA. The precise procuring organisational unit and contracting address should be confirmed in the procurement documents.

Opportunity type:Tender and public procurement contract. The opportunity should not be treated as a Horizon Europe grant, operating grant, cascade funding call, or other non-repayable funding programme.

Reference:The portal record is identified by the reference UUID 4ac545e5-2ad3-4c5e-82bc-ec2c57078293.

Authoritative notice:The official procurement record is available at EU Funding and Tenders Portal notice.

The title indicates a continuing service requirement with three connected workstreams:operational maintenance of the database, incorporation and updating of chemical hazard information, and further technical or functional development of OpenFoodTox 3.0.

The supplied metadata contains two date-time entries:1 January 2026 at 13:30:59 UTC and 10 December 2026 at 14:30:59 UTC. Their function is not identified in the available material. They should not be interpreted automatically as a submission deadline and contract end date.