Notice of call for expressions of interest

Notice of call for expressions of interest - Scientific and Technical Support - Various Scientific and Communication Profiles Notice of Call for Expressions of Interest Scientific and Technical Support in the area of the assessment of Animal Health and Animal Welfare, Biological Hazards and Chemical contaminants, Pesticides, Plant health, Genetically Modified Organisms for food and feed uses, Food Additives, Food Contact Materials, Food Enzymes, Food Flavourings, Feed additives, Novel Foods, Nutrition and Social Science 1. INTRODUCTION TO EFSA AS CONTRACTING AUTHORITYCONTRACTING AUTHORITY: European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Via Carlo Magno 1AParma43126 2. LIST OF INDIVIDUALS FOR SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT SCHEME 2.1 OBJECTIVE OF THE CALL The objective of this call for expressions of interest is to establish a list of individuals (natural persons) with scientific expertise to assist EFSA in carrying out preparatory work (including data related activities) in support of EFSA’s scientific and risk communication activities with the main focus on the areas of generic risk assessments and the assessment of applications for the authorisation of regulated products, in particular in the areas of Animal Health and Animal Welfare, Biological hazards and Chemical contaminants, Pesticides, Plant health, Genetically Modified Organisms for food and feed uses, Food Additives, Food Contact Materials, Food Enzymes, Food Flavourings, Feed additives, Novel Foods, Nutrition and activities in the area of Social Sciences. The delivered preparatory work will be reviewed by EFSA staff and/or ad hoc experts for its use in EFSA scientific outputs and communications. This call will replace the previously published calls (EOI/EFSA/NUTRI/2019/01) and (EOI/EFSA/SCIENCE/2020/01). Please refer to article 2.3 for further instructions. Many food and feed related products require a scientific assessment to evaluate their safety and/or efficacy before risk managers can authorise them for the EU market. EFSA carries out these assessments to support EU risk managers in their decision-making. These so-called regulated products include substances used in food and feed (such as additives, enzymes, flavourings, novel foods and nutrient sources), food contact materials and pesticides, genetically modified organisms for food and feed uses, food-related processes and processing aids. EFSA also carries out hazard (biological and chemical) and risk assessments on non- regulated products and hazard monitoring activities in the area of food and feed safety/efficacy, animal health and welfare, plant health and human nutrition. A detailed description of all our activities can be found on EFSA’swebsite. Information on the data requirements and the activities performed in a risk assessment within each of the areas can be found in the various guidance documents on EFSA’s website (RESOURCES and APPLICATIONS). EFSA activities in the realm of social sciences for risk communication are summarised in itsSocial Science roadmap and theFuture directions for risk communication editorial. 2.2FIELDS OF EXPERTISE SOUGHT & EXAMPLES OF TYPICAL TYPES OF EXPECTED TASKS Individuals are required to indicate their area of expertise using the list of knowledge areas in Annex V . The following list contains examples of tasks that EFSA can entrust to selected candidates (1) : • Provide preliminary completeness check of dossiers, in compliance with EFSA administrative and scientific guidance documents and guidance from other organisations (eg OECD) that apply to EFSA risk assessment • Perform specific activities to provide advice in relation to risk assessment (e.g. literature analysis, systematic review, supporting an expert knowledge elicitation, data validation, data extraction, data appraisal, collation and processing, summarising and analysis) • Provide specific support on data collections from EU Member States (MSs) and other stakeholders via preparations for the annual opening of data collection and providing support during the data collections and after closure • Prepare summaries and formulate key findings (uncertainties, preliminary conclusions, gaps,...) of submitted data/information • Provide specific support in the preparation of drafts for specific parts of a risk assessment • Perform specific activities in support of risk assessment (eg modelling, geospatial information analysis and processing, assessment of traceability data,...) • Perform peer review activities on draft EFSA scientific outputs at different phases of risk assessment to adoption (focusing on the quality, completeness, consistency and accuracy) • S upport the preparation of public and/or targeted consultations and the preparation of related outcomes (e.g., technical reports) • Provide ad-hoc support in specific cases (e.g. in relation to the preparation of input data to launch calls-for-data, in relation to specific meetings and/or scientific events). • Provide expert advice in defining the project idea • Provide expert advice on specific elements of the tender specifications • Provide expert advice during the communication phase of the call, e.g. contribution at explanatory webinars, expert contribution to Q/As; prepare presentations and FAQ documents • Provide an expert opinion about tenders or proposals received, but limiting the opinion to their field of expertise • Providing expert opinion about the material submitted by the contractor/beneficiary for meetings; provide expert opinion/contribution during the contract/grant implementation meetings • Provide expert advice/opinions during the re portingphaseoftheproject, contributing with expert knowledge to preparing the presentations for internal and external stakeholders • Provide expert advice / opinions on the project deliverables (intermediate/final), contributing with expert knowledge to preparing presentations for internal and external stakeholders • Provide expert advice/opinions on the project close artefacts, contributing with expert knowledge to preparing the final project closure documentations for internal and external stakeholders • Provide expert advice and support in developing training materials and/or training programmes and/or to deliver training courses as tutors, in scientific topics under the remit of EFSA. Specifically in the area of social science the following are examples of tasks that EFSA can entrust to selected candidates: • Support the design of social research and generation of insights to ensure quality throughout EFSA risk communication (audience-first approach) • Participate in the design of EFSA communication activities based on insights gathered • Support the development of didactic materials and targeted services for stakeholders (e.g. small and medium enterprises) • Provide expert advice and support on the analysis of groups and organisations’ behaviour to propose effective community management and knowledge management initiatives • Provide expert advice and support in the collection and analysis of data that can inform knowledge/change management processes • Provide expert advice and support in the preparation of drafts for reports, toolkits, user guides and any relevant informative material in relation to knowledge management and community management. (1) General tasks provided by way of example, the list is non exhaustive. 2.3 PROCEDURAL ASPECTS OF THE LIST HOW THE LIST IS ESTABLISHED AND MAINTAINED • The procedure has its legal basis in Art 237 of the EU Financial Regulation. • Individuals submit an expression of interest in accordance with the rules set out in this notice. • EFSA as the contracting authority will draw up a list of individuals who meet the criteria set out at point 3. • Individuals included in the list do not act or speak on behalf of EFSA and EFSA cannot be held responsible for their actions and expressions. • Staff in service at EFSA is not eligible for inclusion in the list and cannot be selected for appointment for specific assignments. LIST DURATION The list resulting from this call for expression of interests and any further updates are valid for maximum 5 years from the first publication of the open call for expressions of interest (CEI). The list is intended to cover the period of activity of the EFSA mandate in the areas of Animal Health and Animal Welfare, Biological Hazards, Chemical contaminants, Pesticides, Plant health, Genetically Modified Organisms for Food and Feed uses, Food Additives, Food Contact Materials, Food Enzymes, Food Flavourings, Feed additives, Novel Food and Nutrition as well as Social Sciences in the realm of EFSA’s risk communication mandate. EFSA retains the right to close the open call for expressions of interest (CEI) at any time. The list resulting from this call for expression of interests will be used exclusively for execution of the tasks such as those described at point 2.2 above. I nclusion on the list entails no obligation on the part of EFSA to award a contract. With this new call EFSA envisages to classify all candidates according to knowledge areas that are aligned with the ones used for EFSA experts and staff. Therefore EFSA will invite (written communication within 2 months of the launch of this call) all candidates that have been deemed eligible for the two previous calls (EOI/EFSA/NUTR/2019/01) and (EOI/EFSA/SCIENCE/2020/01) to apply to this new call. To ensure continuity a six-month transition period (starting from the launch of this new call) will be granted to the eligible candidates of the previous calls to apply to this new call. A period during which they can still be contracted by EFSA under the previous calls. If a previous eligible candidate applies to the new call, he/she will automatically be deemed eligible. The valid lists with experts from calls EOI/EFSA/NUTRI/2019/1 and EOI/EFSA/SCIENCE/2020/01 will expire six months after the launch of this new call. Maximum amount that can be paid to an individual during the whole duration of the call (5 years) is 140.000 € , including remunerations and possible reimbursements. HOW INDIVIDUALS ARE SELECTED FOR PARTICULAR ASSIGNMENTS Where a particular task described at point 2.2 is to be performed by an individual, EFSA as the contracting authority will assign individuals to the task on the basis of the skills, experience and knowledge necessary and in accordance with the principles of non- discrimination, equal treatment and absence of conflict of interests. The tasks will be formalised in a service request sent to the individual selected and via a specific contract. The specific contract will define the exact duration of the tasks. DECLARATION OF INTEREST (DoI) AND DECLARATION ON PREVIOUS WORK IN EU INSTITUTIONS The Individual DoI form is availablehere . EFSA will also request a Declaration on previous work in EU institutions to be submitted prior to the signature of the contract, where applicable. The declaration of previous work in EU institutions is available as annex IV of this Notice of call for expressions of interest. Current EFSA/EU staff member (statutory staff (2) ) : should not be awarded contracts. Former EFSA (statutory staff (3) ) : should not be awarded ISA contracts if they are in receipt of unemployment allowance from the Union Budget. Retired EFSA staff member (statutory staff (4) ) : the value of signed contracts in a given year (i.e. the year in which new ISA contract will be signed) may not exceed the difference between the total annual gross income from the last full year of employment and the annual gross pension for the calendar year in which a new ISA contract will be signed. 2.4 CONDITIONS OF APPOINTMENT FOR A PARTICULAR ASSIGNMENT REMUNERATION Individuals shall be remunerated at a fixed fee of 360 euros per day worked. The individuals shall commit to respect applicable national legislation, including taxation, social security and labour law with regard to any