1.10.2004   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 244/21

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investment, construction, retail trade and services surveys in the new EU Member States, Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania,

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retail trade and services surveys in Luxemburg,

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industry and consumer surveys in Croatia.

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The Commission also organises 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.

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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 4 working days before the end of the month and in accordance with the calendar that will be included in the grant agreement.

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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 4 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.

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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 four working days before the end of May and December, respectively, and in accordance with the calendar that will be included in the grant agreement.

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In the case of ad hoc surveys, the beneficiary must undertake to adhere to the specific timetables laid down for them.

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The total annual budget available for these surveys is in the region of EUR 650 000.

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The number of beneficiaries is likely to be somewhere between 12 and 24 depending on the proposals received.

(a)

they are bankrupt or being wound up, are having their affairs administered by the courts, have entered into an arrangement with creditors, have suspended business activities, are the subject of proceedings concerning those matters, or are in any analogous situation arising from a similar procedure provided for in national legislation or regulations;

(b)

they have been convicted of an offence concerning their professional conduct by a judgment which has the force of res judicata;

(c)

they have been guilty of grave professional misconduct proven by any means which the contracting authority can justify;

(d)

they have not fulfilled obligations relating to the payment of social security contributions or the payment of taxes in accordance with the legal provisions of the country in which they are established or with those of the country of the contracting authority or those of the country where the contract is to be performed;

(e)

they have been the subject of a judgment which has the force of res judicata for fraud, corruption, involvement in a criminal organisation or any other illegal activity detrimental to the Communities' financial interests;

(f)

following another procurement procedure or grant award procedure financed by the Community budget, they have been declared to be in serious breach of contract for failure to comply with their contractual obligations;

(g)

they are faced with a conflict of interest;

(h)

they have been guilty of misrepresentation in supplying the information required or have failed to supply this information.

1.

Without prejudice to the application of penalties laid down in the contract, candidates or tenderers and contractors who have been guilty of making false declarations or have been found to have seriously failed to meet their contractual obligations in an earlier procurement procedure shall be excluded from all contracts and grants financed by the Community budget for a maximum of two years from the time when the infringement is established, as confirmed after an adversarial procedure with the contractor. That period may be extended to three years in the event of a repeat offence within five years of the first infringement.

Tenderers or candidates who have been guilty of making false declarations shall also receive financial penalties representing 2 % to 10 % of the total value of the contract being awarded.

Contractors who have been found to have seriously failed to meet their contractual obligations shall receive financial penalties representing 2 % to 10 % of the total value of the contract in question. That rate may be increased to 4 % to 20 % in the event of a repeat offence within five years of the first infringement.

2.

In the cases referred to in points 5.2(a), (c) and (d) the candidates or tenderers shall be excluded from all contracts and grants for a maximum of two years from the time when the infringement is established, as confirmed after an adversarial procedure with the contractor.

In the cases referred to in points 5.2(b) and (e), the candidates or tenderers shall be excluded from all contracts and grants for a minimum of one year and a maximum of four years from the date of notification of the judgment.

Those periods may be extended to five years in the event of a repeat offence within five years of the first infringement or the first judgment.

3.

The cases referred to in point 5.2(e) shall be the following:

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At least three years proven experience in preparing and carrying out qualitative business and consumer surveys.

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Proven experience in at least two of the following areas:

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Ability to apply the methodology of the Joint Harmonised EU Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys and to comply with the Commission's instructions: meet the monthly reporting deadlines, implement improvements and changes to the survey programme as requested by Commission services, in line with agreements reached at coordination meetings with representatives of collaborating bodies/institutes.

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the candidate's degree of expertise and experience in the areas mentioned under point 6.2,

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the proposed survey methodology including sample design, sample size, coverage rate, response rate,

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the candidate's level of competence and knowledge of the special survey features of the sector and country where they intend to carry out the survey(s),

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the efficiency of the candidate's work organisation, in terms of flexibility, infrastructure, qualified staff and facilities for carrying out the work, reporting the results, participating in preparing the surveys under the joint harmonised programme and liaising with the Commission,

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value for money.

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the standard proposal form,

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a model of the framework partnership agreement,

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a model of the specific grant agreement together with the annex setting out a detailed description of the action,

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a standard budget statement for providing estimates of the survey costs and financing plan,

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a standard financial identification form,

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a standard legal entity form,

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a standard declaration form on eligibility;

(a)

by downloading them from the following Internet address:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/economy_finance/tenders/call0406_en.htm;

(b)

In case the previous option is not possible, by writing to the Commission at:

Please mention ‘Call for proposals – ECFIN/2004/A3-01’.

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a duly completed and signed standard legal entity form and the requested supporting documentation proving the legal status of the body or institute,

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a duly completed and signed standard financial identification form,

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a duly signed standard declaration form of the applicant's eligibility,

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the organisation chart of the body or institute, showing the names and positions of the management and of the operational service responsible for conducting the surveys,

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a statement of the body or institute that it is willing to sign the standard framework partnership agreement and specific grant agreement, if selected,

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proof of sound financial situation: balance sheets and profit and loss accounts from the previous two financial years for which the accounts have been closed, should be attached.

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a description of the activities of the body or institute, enabling the assessment of its qualifications and the scope and duration of its experience in the requested areas under point 6.2. This should mean any studies, service contracts, consultancy work, surveys, publications or other work previously carried out, indicating the name of the client and stating which, if any, were done for the European Commission. The most relevant studies and/or results should be attached,

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a detailed description of the operational organization for carrying out the surveys. Relevant documentation should be attached regarding the infrastructure, facilities, resources and qualified staff (concise cv's) at the applicant's disposal,

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a detailed description of the survey methodology: sampling methods, sampling errors and confidence intervals, sample size and estimated response rate,

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a detailed description of the tasks to be subcontracted.

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a duly completed and detailed standard budget statement (in euro), covering a period of 12 months, for each survey, containing a financing plan for the action and a detailed breakdown of the total and unit eligible costs for conducting the survey, including subcontracting costs,

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a document certifying the financial contribution from other organisations, where appropriate.

European Commission

Directorate-General ECFIN

‘Call for proposals — ECFIN/2004/A3-01’

Unit ECFIN R-2

BU-1 3/13

B-1049 Brussels.

(a)

either by registered letter postmarked no later than 16 November 2004

(b)

or by delivery to the central mail service of the European Commission (personal delivery or delivery by any authorised representative of the applicant, including private delivery services) at the following address: