Call for tenders: Knowledge Communities

About the Green European Foundation 

The Green European Foundation (GEF) is a European-level political foundation funded by the European Parliament. GEF is affiliated to but independent from the European Green Party and Green movement in Europe. Our mission is to encourage European citizens to participate in European political discussions and in particular when it comes to envisioning what a more green and social Europe would look like.  

 

About the Flagship Initiative Knowledge Communities 

The Green European Foundation (GEF) is looking for a service provider to cooperate within its Knowledge Communities, on the topic of a European well-being economy. 

The battle of ideas is a key field of interest of the Green European Foundation and, as stated in its Work Programme 2022-2024, this requires research, reflection and proposals to bring new and forward looking and cutting-edge concepts and ideas to European debates – within both the Green movement and beyond. GEF therefore seeks to create communities of experts that constitute pools of expertise and collaboration, that will help new political ideas to ultimately shape tomorrow’s politics and policies. ca 

In particular, GEF’s Knowledge Communities are aimed at advancing political and public debates towards a green, socially just Europe, through establishing lasting networks of knowledge production, exchange and dissemination. They are structured around and with (a group of) GEF core experts, who deliver a political stock-take as well as new proposals and ideas for discussion with a wider group of actors (i.e. the Knowledge Community).  

 

Purpose and Mission of Tender 

From March 2024, GEF will run one of these Knowledge Communities on the topic of the well-being economy, closely related to one of the Foundation’s Work Programme 2022-2024 thematic priorities: the “social dimension of the Green Deal”. The foundation has been active in fostering the reflection on the creation of a society and the functioning of an economy beyond GDP growth. It has done so through several projects, supporting the coming to light of alternative models and ideas across Europe, as well as through its organising partner-role in the 2023 European Parliament’s Beyond Growth Conference. GEF wants to build on this in 2024 through its Knowledge Communities flagship. 

The EU has, with its Green Deal, taken significant steps towards a just and green transition – and in that sense towards well-being of its citizens. Nevertheless, contradictions between goals of different legislative initiatives remain. The goal of well-being is present in various EU official documents, but a comprehensive approach for advancing towards a well-being economy where human and planetary well-being is put at the heart of EU decision making is lacking.  

Through this Knowledge Community, we aim to advance the European public and political debates on the well-being economy, identifying political ideas and proposals – as well as disseminating them – to ultimately enable the introduction of a strong EU policy framework on well-being. We are looking for an organisation with a large network and solid expertise and experience that can function as our service provider to deliver this large project. The service provider is asked to produce (a) political brief(s) on the topic, putting forward concrete political proposals, and in parallel to organise several Knowledge Community meetings, following different phases, as specified below.  

 

Concrete Tasks and Timeline 

The project is to be realized between March 2024 and 31 December 2024. It will include the following tasks, taking shape during different phases: 

Phase 1: March-April:  

During this “kick-off’ phase, a first version of a political brief which proposes new ideas regarding the European well-being economy is developed by the service-provider and in close collaboration with GEF. This political brief is structured along the lines of the Knowledge Communities format, and includes a state of play, reflections on the state of play (what is missing), political proposals (how to advance the well-being economy’s agenda at EU level).  

In the same period, a first Knowledge Community meeting is organised by the service provider, with at least 20 participants. During this event, a draft political brief is presented, with the aim to spark conversation/discussion among experts. The input and exchanges are reflected in a new version of the brief. 

Phase 2: April-October:  

During this second phase, the service provider delivers a new version of the political brief, and possibly develops more briefs, including input and exchanges from the first Knowledge Community meeting.  

The service provider organises at least 3 additional Knowledge Community meetings during this time, with the aim to deepen the ideas and proposals of the political brief(s) further, as well as to build a network – a community– of exchange and dissemination around these political ideas.  

Phase 3: October-December:  

During this concluding phase, the service provider finalises the political brief(s), reflecting the input and exchanges from all the Knowledge Community meetings (conducted during phase 1 and 2) and in close collaboration with GEF. 

A final event with at least 30 participants is organised by the service provider, during which the outcomes (the political brief(s)) are presented. 

The service provider and GEF will additionally work together to disseminate the ideas and proposals brought forward in the political brief(s), through at least one published op-ed on a European media outlet, as well as by organising and presenting the proposals at bilateral meetings, etc. 

 

Selection Criteria  

We are looking for a service provider/ an organisation that fulfills the following criteria: 

• Based in the European Union; 
• In geographical proximity of or willingness to travel to Brussels; 
• Affinity to GEF’s mission and vision; 
• Demonstrated expertise and experience on EU politics, and its policymaking processes; 
• Demonstrated expertise and experience on the broader GEF thematic priority “social dimension of the Green Deal”; 

• Demonstrated expertise and experience on the topic of well-being economy; 
• Strong network and presence in the debates on both the social dimension of the Green Deal and the well-being economy; 
• Delivers a proposal that includes all of the above tasks in a realistic and impactful manner; 
• Applicants must be able to work in the English language. 

Additionally, in case of receiving multiple offers by service providers fulfilling all criteria above, GEF will take into account the following: 

• Proposed level of ambition regarding the delivery of the tasks; 
• Level of estimated impact of the proposal; 
• Costs relative to the proposal.  

 

Practical Information 

All applications should be submitted by 8 March 2024, at 23h59 via the application form.  

The results of the tendering procedure will be communicated on 18 March 2024. 

 

• The project is set to start as soon as possible after the selection process is concluded by 31 December 2024.  
• A contract for the entire cooperation will be signed with GEF and intermediate invoicing can be discussed.  
• To work with GEF on these tasks, please send an offer including the following elements: 

• A proposal with planning and timeline of concrete activities, along the line of the listed phases; 
• A global offer for the listed tasks in EUR, broken down as follows: 

• Costs for development of political brief(s); 
• Costs for organising first Knowledge Community meeting (first phase); 

• Costs for organising at least 3 Knowledge Community meetings (second phase); 
• Costs for organising final closing event (third phase); 
• Additional costs for dissemination efforts of final output; 
• Overhead costs; 

• References to your website/portfolio/previous works. 

Please, present the prices as fixed amounts in Euros, and make sure that the amount of VAT is indicated separately on the price offer presented. 

By presenting an offer, the tenderers accept that any costs occurred in the preparation and submission of the tender are borne by themselves and will not be reimbursed by GEF. 

 

Confidentiality 

Tenderers accept to not disclose nor communicate in any way and at any time confidential information regarding their relationship and work with GEF. This commitment remains valid after the termination of the service, permanently. 

The winning tenderer will commit to sign a declaration to certify the absence of conflict of interest in relation to the tasks and mission contracted by GEF and will make sure to inform the organization of any changes in this status. 

 

Terms and Conditions 

GEF retains the right to reject any or all proposals, either wholly or partially, initiate a new call for proposals if deemed necessary, cease the requirement for services, or amend or terminate this call for tender before the written contract is finalized. Moreover, GEF maintains the discretion to waive certain formalities in the tender process. Additionally, GEF may respond to inquiries or furnish information to specific tenderers, without being bound to provide such responses or information to all other tenderers. 

The completion of the tendering process does not oblige GEF to grant the contract.  

If the tender encompasses multiple items or lots, GEF maintains the right to award a contract for only a portion of them. GEF will not be held responsible for compensating tenderers whose proposals have not been accepted, nor will it be liable if it chooses not to award the contract. 

By submitting an offer, the tenderers authorize GEF to safely and privately archive the offers received for auditing purposes and agrees to not advance any claim or cause of action against GEF based on any misunderstanding on the information provided relatively to the tender, or any eventual failure to provide pertinent information as intended by this call for tender. 

 

Contracting Party 

Green European Foundation (GEF) 

Legal and billing address: Rue du Fossé 3, 1536 Luxembourg, Luxembourg. 

VAT: LU24419770 

Headquarters: Avenue des Arts 7-8, 1210 Brussels, Belgium. 

 

Contacts 

For any questions regarding this call for tender, please refer to Yasemin.arpag@gef.eu.