The Enterprise and Industry DG, Directorate D — Innovation Policy, published on August 13th a call for tender for the development of European e-competence guidelines, with a maximum budget of 300,000 EUR. Applicants should present their offers by September 26th.

The objective of this service contract, which has already been published in the OJEU on August 13th  is to develop European e-competence guidelines. The focus will be on ICT practitioners' skills and e-business skills (according to the definition of the European e-skills forum).

Works will involve two phases:

1. First phase will be dedicated to the delivery of a detailed roadmap for the study (to be released no later than 1 month after the kick-off meeting), the collection and the analysis of the most recent information on ICT education and curricula, interviews of key stakeholders, the identification of major trends and developments, and the preparation of a synthesis report.This synthesis report will present 'the situation of ICT curriculum in higher education in Europe' (with a focus on ICT practitioners' skills and e-business skills). It will be released 6 months after the signature of the contract;
2. The second phase will concentrate on the analysis of best practices and the development of European e-competence curriculum guidelines. A final report on 'European e-competence curriculum guidelines' including best practices and recommendations for European e-competence curriculum guidelines will be released 11 months after the signature of the contract. The final report must provide a solid basis for future actions at the EU as well as national level including recommendations concerning the promotion of the guidelines.

The project is covered by the Commission Decision of December 10th 2007 establishing the Entrepreneurship and Innovation work programme for 2008 pursuant to European Parliament and Council Decision No 1639/2006/EC establishing a Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (2007–2013).

The maximum budget envisaged for the contract will be of 300,000 EUR, with a duration limit of the contract established in 12 months, from the date of the award of the contract.

The deadline for submission of offers is September 26th, by 16:00, and the opening of tenders will take place on October 3rd.