Call for proposals � Joint harmonised European Union programme of business and consumer surveys

The European Commission is launching a call for proposals (ref. ECFIN/A4/2011/014) for carrying out surveys as part of the joint harmonised EU programme of business and consumer surveys in the following countries: Luxembourg, Malta, Sweden, Iceland and Montenegro. Cooperation will take the form of a framework partnership agreement between the Commission and the specialised bodies over a period of three years.

The programme is designed to gather information on the state of the economies in the EU Member States and the candidate countries, so as to be able to compare their business cycles for Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) management purposes.
The joint harmonised EU programme involves specialised bodies/institutes carrying out opinion surveys on a joint financing basis. The Commission is looking to conclude agreements with bodies and institutes suitably qualified to carry out one or more of the following surveys for the next three years:
— investment survey in Iceland, Montenegro and Sweden,
— construction survey in Iceland and Montenegro,
— retail trade survey in Iceland, Luxembourg and Montenegro,
— services survey in Iceland, Luxembourg and Montenegro,
— industry survey in Iceland and Montenegro,
— consumer survey in Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta and Montenegro,
— ad hoc surveys on topical economic issues. These ad hoc surveys are by definition more occasional and are carried out in addition to the monthly surveys, using the same established samples as the monthly surveys, to obtain information on specific economic policy issues.

The surveys target managers in the industry, investment, construction, retail trade and services sector as well as consumers.

The call for proposals is open to bodies and institutes (legal entities) with legal status in one of the EU Member States or the candidate countries. Applicants must show that they exist as a legal entity and provide the required documentation by means of the standard legal entity form.

— The monthly surveys must be carried out in the first two weeks of each month and the results must be e-mailed to the Commission at least five working days before the end of the month in accordance with the calendar that will be included in the grant agreement; publication of results is generally on the second-last working day of the month. The deadline for the delivery of consumer survey results is seven working days before the end of the month in accordance with that calendar.
— The quarterly surveys must be carried out in the first two weeks of the first month of each quarter (January, April, July and October) and the results must be e-mailed to the Commission at least five working days working days before the end of January, April, July and October respectively and in accordance with the calendar that will be included in the grant agreement.
— The six-monthly surveys of investment must be carried out in March/April and October/November and the results must be e-mailed to the Commission at least five working days working days before the end of April and November respectively and in accordance with the calendar.
— In the case of ad hoc surveys, the beneficiary must undertake to adhere to the specific timetables laid down for them.

The body or institute is to be selected for a maximum period of three years. Three annual specific grant agreements may be concluded. The first of the specific grant agreements will concern the period from 1 May 2012 to 30 April 2013.

The total annual budget available for the period May 2012 - April 2013 for these surveys is in the region of €175,000. Amounts for the following two years could be increased, subject to budgetary resources available, by about 2 % per year.

EU funding will not exceed 50% of the eligible costs incurred by the beneficiary on each survey.

The deadline for applications is 19 December 2011.

Reference: 2011/C 330/08

(Added 2011-11-12)