Netherlands – Miscellaneous business and business-related services – Marketconsultation Subsidy advisory consultancy European grants

WUR regularly engages commercial companies for support in securing European project funding. One key area of support is provided by grant consultants, who assist with tasks such as co-writing project proposals for grant applications. For the coming years, WUR aims to establish fixed contract partnerships, primarily for supporting our researchers in the set-up and submission of successful European grant applications. Focus areas-of-interest are Horizon Europe – ERCs, MSCA, Research Infrastructures, Societal Challenges (RIAs, IAs, Flagships, CSAs), Missions, Partnerships and EIC (Pathfinders, Transitions, Accelerators, Scale-ups); Erasmus+, Digital Europe, COST, LIFE, Cohesion Funds (Interreg, EFRO). The procurement will be conducted either through a Multiple Private Tender Procedure (“meervoudige onderhandse aanbesteding”), a European Restricted Tender Procedure (“Europese niet-openbare aanbesteding”) or via a European Public Tender Procedure (“Europese openbare aanbesteding”). The final goal is to select five contract partners under a Framework Agreement. Depending on the specific support need, WUR will either contract one of the selected partners directly (small support requests < 25 k€) or will organise a mini-competition between all interested partners (larger support requests > 25 k€). With the intended procurement process Contracting Authority wants to achieve the following goals: • Flexibility in Expertise: The selected Contractors should have a proven track-record, i.e. broad range of expertise with grant programmes and grant applications. • High-Quality Advisory Services: The selected Contractors should deliver high quality services with the aim of increasing the success rate of grant applications. Efficiency in Collaboration: The collaboration under the Framework Agreement should ensure a streamlined and efficient process for assigning tasks. • Competitive Pricing: The mini-competitions should encourage competitive pricing for each specific advisory need. • Long-Term Partnership: Contracting Authority aims to establish a stable and reliable long-term partnership with contracted partners. • Proactive and Innovative Approach: Contractors should proactively suggest innovative funding application strategies and solutions. • Strong Communication Skills: Effective communication, instruction and coordination throughout the proposal development and submission process.