Study - How to eradicate skills poverty among the most vulnerable?

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is planning to launch a procurement procedure for a study on How to eradicate skills poverty among the most vulnerable?

WHAT IS THIS PUBLICITY ABOUT?

This announcement is made pursuant to Annex I.14 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2018 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union, to award a low value contract for a study as a result of a negotiated procurement procedure. It is published ahead of the procurement procedure with basic information on the subject matter of the contract, to give economic operators the possibility to express interest in participating as tenderers in the subsequent procurement procedure.

DESCRIPTION

This study is being launched at the request of the EESC's Civil Society Organisations' Group (Group III). It is linked to the Group's focus on the fight against poverty during the 2023-2025 term of office and it will feed into Group III activities on the topic and wider EESC work.

Purpose and tasks

On 12 October 2022, the European Commission adopted its proposal to make 2023 the European Year of Skills. In a context of changing labour market needs to successfully manage the green and digital transitions and still gaping skill divides across society, the Commission proposes a number of actions to 'to give a fresh impetus to lifelong learning'. This includes 'Promoting increased, and more effective and inclusive investment in training and upskilling to harness the full potential of the European workforce, and to support people in changing from one job to another.'

In order to ensure that these measures align with the objectives of achieving a socially fair, inclusive and just transition, upskilling and reskilling opportunities should arguably also reach those who are at risk of poverty and social exclusion, those who have fallen out of mainstream learning structures or who are facing inequalities in their access to the labour market.

In this context, the study should examine the various skills divides, including digital skills, and their links to poverty and social exclusion. Examining the various characteristics, drivers and solutions to the (digital) skills divide will help reduce the mismatch between skills and the demands of the labour market but also give insights into how we can combat poverty and design effective policies to reach the most vulnerable people.

The study should provide the EESC with evidence on what would characterise skills poverty, including as regards digital skills, who is concerned, and what the drivers are.

It will examine what kind of policy initiatives such as upskilling and re-skilling, among others, successfully reach those who are affected and review a number of case studies, for instance in the care and social sectors, counting as good practice examples. These should include examples of initiatives taken by/drawn up in close cooperation with civil society stakeholders, including civil society organisations.

The study will aim to adopt an intersectional approach, paying particular attention to the layers of characteristics and determinants which can affect a person's situation (such as gender, ethnicity, migrant status, disability, age, but also geographical (urban-rural) environment) and their interactions.

The study should be based on desk research, including an analysis of existing Eurostat indicators, and a qualitative part, which may consist of interviews and case studies.

N.B.: The above description is indicative. The final list of tasks will be provided as part of the tender specifications at a later stage. Economic operators with expertise on the topic are encouraged to express their interest via the form below.

Languages/geographical area

The study should be carried out in English, and cover the European Union, with a limited number of case studies in a selection of Member States.

Indicative timeline

1. Launch of the invitation to tender: first quarter 2023.
2. Contract award: second quarter 2023.
3. The final study report is expected within 10 months following the signature of the contract.
4. Deadline for submission of tenders: approximately beginning of second quarter 2023.

WHO MAY EXPRESS INTEREST TO BE INVITED IN THE SUBSEQUENT CALL FOR TENDERS?

Participation is open on equal terms to all natural and legal persons established in the European Union (EU) or in a third country which has a special agreement with the EU in the field of public procurement on the conditions laid down in that agreement. This includes:

• All EU Member States;
• Parties to special international agreements with the EU in the field of public procurement:
  • European Economic Area agreement (EEA): Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein;
  • Stabilisation and Association Agreements (SAA): North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo.

HOW TO EXPRESS INTEREST

Entities established in a country that has access to the procurement can express interest in participating in the planned procedure by filling in and submitting the contact form (see link at the bottom of this page).

DATA PROTECTION

By submitting your contact details, you consent to the EESC processing this personal data in line with this Privacy Statement. To access, change or delete your data at any moment, please contact the data controller by sending an email to studies-eesc@eesc.europa.eu.

DISCLAIMER

Please note that this announcement does not create any obligation for the EESC to launch a procurement procedure. The EESC will take the submitted information into account only to identify potential candidates. Expressing interest to participate in this type of negotiated procedure does not create any legal right or legitimate expectation on the part of any economic operator, and the EESC has the right to cancel the procedure at any time. The documents of the actual call for tenders (invitation letter, tender specifications and draft contract) will only be provided to the identified candidates when the procedure is launched, and any tender received from a legal or natural person not invited to tender will be rejected.