Refining the Process: Improving EIGE’s Step-by-Step Estimation on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Risk in the European Union

The European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) is announcing a forthcoming procurement opportunity aimed at refining their methodology for estimating the risk of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) among women and girls in the European Union. This service contract is titled "Refining the Process: Improving EIGE's Step-by-Step Estimation on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Risk in the European Union," with the classification code CPV 73200000, indicating it concerns research and development consultancy services.

The anticipated contract duration is 11 months, and the deadline for expressions of interest is set for October 1, 2025. The project aims to refine an existing methodology initially developed in 2015 and updated in 2017, incorporating both quantitative data and real-life testimonials to provide a comprehensive risk estimation. The necessity for this update arises from evolving socio-economic factors such as new migration routes and humanitarian issues that affect demographic risk profiles.

Eligible applicants are likely to include large enterprises, research institutes, universities, consultancies, and organizations with proven expertise in gender equality research and statistical analysis. While specific consortium requirements are not mentioned, bids are expected to focus on the qualifications and experience of the applicants. Applicants must demonstrate capability within the EU context, as the focus is on assessing risks pertaining specifically to the EU population.

The funding amount is not explicitly provided, but the project is characterized as a low or middle value contract, suggesting a budget potentially under or around €200,000. The procurement process is described as a negotiated procedure, suggesting an initial expression of interest followed by an invitation to a select number of applicants to submit detailed proposals.

Overall, this opportunity represents a significant initiative by EIGE to enhance their FGM risk assessment methodologies, contributing to more effective preventive strategies and policy development aimed at protecting vulnerable individuals from FGM across the EU. Interested parties should prepare to submit their expressions of interest electronically by the specified deadline. The launch of the tender process is anticipated to occur shortly after that date.

This is a publication announcing the European Institute for Gender Equality's (EIGE) intention to publish a future negotiated low or middle value procedure. This is not a call for tenders. The procedure identifier is EIGE/VNO/2025/MVP/0011-EXA. The title of the planned call for tenders is "Refining the Process: Improving EIGE’s Step-by-Step Estimation on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Risk in the European Union".

The aim of this tender is to relaunch a procurement procedure to contract the most suitable proposal for the study to refine and improve EIGE’s guide to assess FGM-risk among women and girls in the EU. The main objective of this contract will be to update EIGE step-by-step methodology in estimating women and girls at risk of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the EU. The guide was first launched in 2015 and refined in 2017. It combines data and information gained from real life testimonials. The inclusion of both quantitative and qualitative data enables a more accurate estimation of FGM-risk.

Given the evolving socio-economic landscape including new migration routes, humanitarian factors, displacement and conflicts, there is a pressing need to update EIGE’s step-by-step methodology, to provide a more robust and up-to-date methodology to estimate the number of women and girls at risk of FGM in the EU. The study will contribute to EIGE’s efforts to undertake regular FGM risk estimations and, consequently, contribute to more effective policies and services to prevent FGM and protect women and girls at risk.

The procedure type is a planned negotiated procedure for a middle/low value contract. The lead contracting authority is the European Institute for Gender Equality. The main classification (CPV) code is 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services. The nature of the contract is for services. The maximum contract duration is 11 months. There is no framework agreement.

The start date for expression of interest is 2025-09-08 Europe/Brussels. The deadline for expression of interest is 2025-10-01 04:59 Europe/Vilnius. The indicative date of launch of the negotiated procedure is 2025-10-01 Europe/Vilnius.

Submissions must be sent exclusively at the address for submission given below. The method of expression of interest is electronic. The address for expression of interest is "Express interest".

A question was asked: Where can I find the procurement documents for calls for tenders with ‘ExA' in the reference? The answer is: References that feature an ‘ExA’ are not calls for tenders. They are a publication announcing the contracting authority’s intent to launch in the future a low or middle negotiated procedure. This was published on 2024-10-03 17:32.

In summary, this is a pre-announcement of a future tender by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE). The tender aims to find a contractor to update EIGE's methodology for estimating the risk of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) among women and girls in the EU. The project involves refining a guide that was initially launched in 2015 and updated in 2017, incorporating both quantitative data and real-life testimonials. The update is necessary due to changes in the socio-economic landscape, including migration patterns and conflicts. The selected contractor will contribute to EIGE's efforts to provide more effective policies and services for preventing FGM and protecting at-risk individuals. The procedure will be a negotiated one for a low or middle value contract, with a maximum duration of 11 months. Parties interested in this future opportunity should express their interest electronically, with a deadline of October 1, 2025. The actual call for tenders is expected to be launched around the same date.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated, but given the nature of the contract as a "planned negotiated procedure for middle/low value contract" and the CPV code "73200000 - Research and development consultancy services," it is likely that eligible applicants could include research institutions, consultancy firms, and other organizations with expertise in research and development, gender studies, and data analysis. The contracting authority, the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), will likely select the "most suitable proposal," implying that the selection will be based on the applicant's qualifications and experience.

Funding Type: The funding type is a service contract, as indicated by "Nature of the contract: services". The contracting authority will procure services to conduct a study.

Consortium Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. However, the description mentions contracting "the most suitable proposal," which suggests that both single applicants and consortia could be eligible, with the selection based on the overall quality and suitability of the proposal.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is focused on the European Union (EU), as the study aims to refine and improve EIGE's guide to assess FGM-risk among women and girls in the EU. Therefore, applicants should have the capacity to conduct research and data analysis within the EU context.

Target Sector: The target sector is gender equality, specifically focusing on the prevention of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and the protection of women and girls at risk. The project also targets research and development consultancy services.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the project focuses on the European Union (EU) as a region.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on refining and improving an existing methodology, which suggests a development or validation stage. The aim is to update EIGE's step-by-step methodology, which was first launched in 2015 and refined in 2017, indicating that the project builds upon previous research and aims to provide a more robust and up-to-date methodology.

Funding Amount: The funding amount is not explicitly stated, but the procedure type is described as a "planned negotiated procedure for middle/low value contract," suggesting that the funding range is likely to be in the range of under €200k, possibly even under €50k, but this is speculative.

Application Type: The application type is a planned negotiated procedure. This means that after the expression of interest, the contracting authority will likely invite a select number of applicants to submit full proposals and negotiate the terms of the contract.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for services rendered. The contract is for services, specifically research and development consultancy services.

Application Stages: The application process appears to involve at least two stages: an expression of interest and a subsequent negotiated procedure for selected applicants. It is possible that there could be more stages within the negotiated procedure itself.

Success Rates: The success rates cannot be determined from the provided information. As this is a negotiated procedure, the success rate will depend on the number of applicants invited to submit full proposals and the quality of those proposals.

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

Summary: This opportunity is a planned negotiated procedure for a middle/low value service contract to refine and improve the European Institute for Gender Equality's (EIGE) guide to assess Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) risk among women and girls in the EU. The main objective is to update EIGE's step-by-step methodology, which combines quantitative and qualitative data to estimate FGM-risk. The study aims to provide a more robust and up-to-date methodology, considering the evolving socio-economic landscape, including new migration routes, humanitarian factors, displacement, and conflicts. The contracting authority is the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), and the maximum contract duration is 11 months. The indicative date of launch of the negotiated procedure is 2025-10-01, with the deadline for expression of interest on 01/10/2025. This is not a call for tenders but a publication announcing the contracting authority’s intention to publish a future negotiated low or middle value procedure.