Open Call for Tenders: Development of Training Courses for the European Raw Materials Sector

1. Overview

1.1 European Raw Materials Academy and European Advanced Materials Academy

The European Raw Materials Academy (RM Academy) and the European Advanced Materials Academy (AM Academy) are flagship initiatives funded by the European Commission to support the upskilling and reskilling of Europe’s raw and advanced materials workforces. In response to growing demands for sustainability, digitalisation, and industrial resilience, the Academies aim to close critical skills gaps across the entire materials value chain — from exploration and processing to recycling and circularity, and substitution using advanced materials. Designed to serve professionals, SMEs, large enterprises, and public authorities alike, the Academy projects will offer a portfolio of high-quality, future-oriented learning programmes aligned with evolving labour market needs and EU policy priorities, such as the Critical Raw Materials Act, the Pact for Skills, the Net Zero Industry Act, and the Green Deal Industrial Plan.

1.2 EIT RawMaterials

EIT RawMaterials is a Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) created by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), aimed at promoting innovation in the raw materials sector across Europe. Established in 2015, EIT RawMaterials works to secure the sustainable supply of raw materials to the European industry by driving innovation, education, and entrepreneurship along the entire raw materials value chain.

We are a knowledge-driven business and a catalyst for industrial progress. Our offerings leverage our expertise and that of our network – the world's largest network in the raw [and advanced] materials sector – which includes companies at every stage of evolution, from start-ups to market leaders, along with leading international universities, research organisations, and top experts and future talent from the sector.

Our activities span from mining and mineral processing to material recycling and substitution, focusing on increasing resource efficiency and fostering a circular economy. We inform policy, apply knowledge, accelerate innovation, create opportunity, and unlock commercial value – for our partners and customers throughout the raw materials value chain to develop the raw materials sector as a strategic strength and foundation for a secure, sustainable future for Europe.

Our offerings are designed to help our partners and industry to be part of Europe’s strategic agenda to ensure supply chain security and make the ‘Green New Deal’ a reality that benefits the people of Europe and partner nations.

For more information about our company please visit the following website:
https://eitrawmaterials.eu/

2. Purpose

The procurement will support the development of training that:

• Translates sector-specific technical requirements across the raw and advanced materials value chains into accessible, practical professional learning.
• Strengthens professionals’ ability to apply the relevant methods, technologies and processes in real industrial, laboratory and supply-chain contexts, not general awareness-level instruction.
• Uses real European industry cases, applied reasoning, and validation by named materials practitioners.
• Produces accessible, reusable, and updateable digital learning assets.

The primary target audience is working professionals (such as workshop employees, technicians, engineers, and leadership), with graduates entering the sector and professionals in adjacent engineering or digital roles defined as secondary audiences, and policy makers as tertiary audiences.

2.1 Scope of Work

Each lot addresses a distinct set of identified skill gaps. Detailed skill codes, requirements, and lot-specific Statements of Work are provided in the full tender documents on the DTVP procurement platform.

2.2 Applied Course Design and Delivery

Every course must provide practical, case-based learning grounded in adult learning principles, with clear learning objectives, realistic industry scenarios, practical activities, structured feedback, and appropriate summative assessment. Expected learner effort in hours must be stated and justified.

Courses must be:

• Produced in British English
• Delivered as SCORM 1.2-compatible packages
• Tested for deployment on the Academy learning platform
• Designed in accordance with WCAG 2.2 accessibility standards and inclusive design principles, incorporating the gender dimension
• Delivered with complete, transferable source files
• Inclusive of at least one Starter Pack (as described in the full tender documents)

Preferred production tools include the Articulate Suite (Storyline and Rise) and, where appropriate, Synthesia. Technical content must be supported by authoritative sources and validated by named Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) through a formal quality assurance process.

2.3 Contract and Eligibility

• Proposals are capped at €100,000 excluding VAT per contract. Up to two contracts may be awarded per lot to the same proposing entity, for a maximum of €200,000 per lot.
• A tenderer may bid on and be awarded contracts across all 8 lots.
• Development, testing and acceptance must be completed within six months of contract signature.
• Applications are open to organisations in EU Member States, EEA countries and Horizon Europe-associated countries. Consortia may apply if one organisation acts as the lead contracting party.

2.4 Post-launch Maintenance and Update Cycle

• All lots except AI/ML (Lots 1–3 and 5–8): one 12-month review and update cycle, capped at 10% of the course development price.
• AI/ML (Lot 4): two 6-month review and update cycles, each capped at 5% of the course development price.

2.5 Required Capabilities and Experience

Applicants must demonstrate relevant technical expertise in the subject matter of the lot(s) applied for; experience in developing professional digital learning; and the capacity to deliver accessible, case-based, SCORM-compatible courses. Strong quality-assurance capabilities, expert validation procedures, and robust project management are also required.

2.6 Submission and Evaluation

This is now a single EU-wide open procurement procedure. All communication and submissions take place exclusively via the DTVP procurement platform. Email submissions and email communication with suppliers are no longer accepted.

• Deadline for requesting additional information: 16 October 2026, 23:59 (CEST)
• Submission deadline: 23 October 2026, 12:00 (CEST)
• Procurement documents and submission portal: https://www.dtvp.de/Satellite/notice/CXP4DM2MVHK

Award criteria: Price (10%) and Quality (90%). The quality score is assessed against 8 sub-criteria per lot: alignment with the identified skill gap; audience identification and demand justification; technical content and instructional design quality; SCORM/tool selection; certification proposal; accessibility, inclusive design and gender dimension; evaluation design (Kirkpatrick L2 vs. L2+L3); and team.

Applicants are not required to be partners of the EIT RawMaterials network; all eligible proposals are evaluated solely on their technical and financial merits. Full submission requirements are set out in the tender documents on the DTVP platform.