Study on the use of Distributional Impact Assessment (DIA) and social checks in EU Member States

This opportunity is a call for tenders issued by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL) for a study on the use of Distributional Impact Assessment (DIA) and social checks in EU Member States. The main objective of the study is to enhance understanding of how EU Member States utilize DIA methodologies, implement amendments to Council Directive 2011/85/EU regarding budgetary frameworks, and carry out social budgeting practices.

Eligible applicants include contractors and service providers, particularly larger organizations with expertise in policy research and social analysis, as the opportunity is not suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The funding type is a service procurement contract, classified under CPV code 79400000, which pertains to business and management consultancy services. A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for participation, either as a sole tenderer or as part of a consortium.

The geographic eligibility is open to organizations based in EU Member States, with no specific country restrictions mentioned. The project is in the research stage, focusing on policy analysis and technical assistance. However, the estimated funding amount is not disclosed in the provided data.

The application process is conducted through an electronic open call, with tenders due by January 16, 2026. Key milestones include a deadline for submission questions by January 8, 2026, and a public opening of tenders on January 19, 2026. The evaluation of submissions will prioritize quality (70%) while considering price (30%).

The expected deliverables involve a comprehensive study that documents current practices of DIA and social checks across EU Member States, contributing to policy evaluation and guidance. Payment is structured as direct compensation for the services rendered, with an anticipated project duration of 12 months.

This opportunity represents a substantial research support service aimed at informing EU fiscal and social policies through evidence-based analysis and insights. The award method will be based on the best price-quality ratio, ensuring that quality considerations are balanced with competitive pricing.

This is a call for tenders with procedure identifier EC-EMPL/2025/OP/0009. The TED reference is 219/2025 754190-2025. The call is for a "Study on the use of Distributional Impact Assessment (DIA) and social checks in EU Member States". The study aims to provide a clearer understanding of the use of DIA, the implementation of the new amendment to Council Directive 2011/85/EU, and the use of social budgeting in Member States.

The procedure type is open. The estimated total value is not specified. The TED publication date is 13/11/2025. The lead contracting authority is the European Commission, DG EMPL - Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion. The main classification (CPV) code is 79400000, which refers to business and management consultancy and related services. The nature of the contract is for services. The maximum contract duration is 12 months. The award method is the best price-quality ratio. There is no framework agreement.

Key milestones include:
TED publication date: 13/11/2025
Date and time of public opening: 19/01/2026 10:00 Europe/Brussels
Deadline for receipt of tenders: 16/01/2026 11:59 Europe/Brussels
Deadline for submitting questions: 08/01/2026 07:00 Europe/Brussels

The following documents are available for download:
EN01. EN-Invitation letter EC-EMPL2025OP0009 VT2025016Invitation letter, published on 13/11/2025, Version 1, No translations available
EN02. Tender specifications - VT2025 016 - D1 - Study on distributional impact assessments v2 (1), Tender specifications, published on 13/11/2025, Version 1, No translations available
EN03. Declaration-on-honour VT2025016 EC-EMPL2025OP0009Declaration on honour (tender), published on 13/11/2025, Version 1, No translations available
EN04. contract-direct-service-VT-2025-016Draft contract, published on 13/11/2025, Version 1, No translations available
EN05. VT-2025-016-Annex III VATDraft contract annex, published on 13/11/2025, Version 1, No translations available
EN06. VT-2025-016-Annex IV - statement-ipr-rightsDraft contract annex, published on 13/11/2025, Version 1, No translations available
EN07. VT-2025-016-Appendix 2 Security requirements en 2025-draft (1)Draft contract annex, published on 13/11/2025, Version 1, No translations available

Submissions must be sent exclusively via electronic submission.

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

How to proceed if the system is slow or doesn’t work while uploading/downloading documents?
Make sure you use the latest versions of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. If the issue persists, try the following steps: 1. Clear the cache and cookies on the Internet browser. Published on 13/02/2025 21:52

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. You can access this link. Published on 13/02/2025 21:52

Is it possible to view the details of the submission after the deadline?
The content of the submission is not accessible after submitting the tender as the system encrypts all attachments upon upload. Thus, the system will not allow decryption after the upload. Published on 13/02/2025 21:50

Where can I find my submissions in Manage My Area, in the Funding & Tenders portal?
Depending on the type or step of procedure, you can find the submissions in one of these sections: In ‘My Submission(s)’: tenders in response to open calls for tenders, requests to. Published on 17/10/2024 21:40

Which size should attachments have?
For attaching files to your tender submission, eSubmission accepts files that are less than 50 MB in size. Any larger sizes will not be accepted by the system. For the latest information. Published on 17/10/2024 21:36

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In eSubmission, you must name the attachments for your tender draft following the System Requirements. With regards to all attachment names, please see the following conditions: The. Published on 03/10/2024 17:39

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You can check the System Requirements of eSubmission. Published on 03/10/2024 17:37

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”. Published on 03/10/2024 17:37

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). For subcontractors PIC. Published on 03/10/2024 17:36

I have an issue uploading a file in eSubmission and it’s giving me an error. What do I do?
When uploading a file in eSubmission, you must first make sure it follows the technical requirements of the system, which are as shown below. A)For procurement procedures: B)For req. Published on 03/10/2024 17:36

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The maximum number of documents the system will allow you to upload per tender is 200 files. You are able to check the eSubmission System Requirements in the documentation by clicking. Published on 03/10/2024 17:35

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. Only one PIC per organisation must be used. Therefore, if your organisation alread. Published on 23/04/2024 18:14

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How many languages does the system support?
The system is multilingual and supports all 24 official EU languages. Published on 01/04/2024 20:56

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The character set encoding is UTF-8. Published on 23/02/2024 00:58

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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. M. Published on 22/02/2024 00:55

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Until the deadline for the submission has been reached, submissions in the draft status can be edited, viewed and deleted. Published on 24/03/2023 22:32

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. Published on 03/08/2021 23:07

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. Published on 03/08/2021 23:05

In summary, this EU call for tenders seeks a study to analyze the use of Distributional Impact Assessment (DIA) and social checks within EU member states. The European Commission's DG EMPL is managing this open procedure, and they are looking for a contractor to provide a clearer understanding of how DIA is used, how the amendment to Council Directive 2011/85/EU is being implemented, and how social budgeting is applied across the EU. Interested parties must submit their tenders electronically by 16/01/2026, following the guidelines and requirements detailed in the tender specifications and related documents. A key requirement for participation is having a valid Personal Identification Code (PIC). The contract has a maximum duration of 12 months, and the award will be based on the best price-quality ratio.

Eligible Applicant Types: The content does not explicitly specify the eligible applicant types. However, based on the nature of the call for tenders and the requirement for a PIC (Personal Identification Code), it can be inferred that eligible applicants are likely to be organizations such as businesses, research institutions, or other entities capable of providing business and management consultancy services. This includes the possibility of single applicants or consortia.

Funding Type: The funding type is procurement, specifically a service contract. The call is for tenders, and the nature of the contract is described as services.

Consortium Requirement: The content mentions that a PIC is mandatory for participation as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium), suggesting that both single applicants and consortia are eligible.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The content does not explicitly define geographic eligibility. However, given that it is an EU funding opportunity, it is highly likely that the geographic eligibility includes EU member states.

Target Sector: The target sector is business and management consultancy and related services. The call for tenders is specifically for a study on the use of distributional impact assessment and social checks in EU Member States, indicating a focus on employment, social affairs, and inclusion.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity explicitly mentions EU Member States.

Project Stage: The project stage is research, specifically a study. The call is for a study on the use of distributional impact assessment and social checks, implying a research-oriented project.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value is not specified in the provided content.

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

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for services rendered, specifically for conducting the study.

Application Stages: The number of application stages is not explicitly stated, but it can be inferred that there are multiple stages, including submission of the tender, evaluation, and contract award.

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

Co-funding Requirement: The co-funding requirement is not explicitly mentioned in the provided content.

Summary:

This opportunity is a call for tenders issued by the European Commission, DG EMPL (Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion), for a study on the use of Distributional Impact Assessment (DIA) and social checks in EU Member States. The goal of the study is to provide a clearer understanding of the use of DIA, the implementation of the new amendment to Council Directive 2011/85/EU, and the use of social budgeting in Member States. The procedure type is an open procedure, and submissions must be sent electronically. The main classification of the contract is business and management consultancy and related services. The maximum contract duration is 12 months. The award method is based on the best price-quality ratio. The TED publication date was 13/11/2025, and the deadline for receipt of tenders is 16/01/2026. A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory for participation, whether as a single tenderer or as part of a consortium. The eSubmission system supports various file types and has specific requirements for attachment sizes and naming conventions. The system is multilingual and supports all 24 official EU languages. The call is aimed at organizations capable of providing business and management consultancy services, and the selected tenderer will receive a service contract to conduct the study.