Request for Proposals: Development of Critical & Strategic Materials Training Courses for the European Raw Materials Sector

EIT RawMaterials invites proposals from qualified organisations and consortia to develop self-paced digital training courses for the European Raw Materials Academy and European Advanced Materials Academy.

The assignment addresses 10 high-priority skills gaps, spanning five industries from mining and geological exploration to semiconductor manufacturing, defence and dual-use systems, battery production, and materials recycling. Up to two providers may be appointed to develop practical, case-based training for professionals working across the European raw materials value chain.

1. Purpose

The procurement will support the development of training that:

• Translates complex technical requirements across the raw materials value chain in areas such as exploration, surveying and resource characterisation; advanced processing and materials application; circularity and recycling of critical materials; and supply chain resilience into accessible professional learning.
• Supports Europe's supply chain autonomy and the EU's CRM Act 2030 targets through policy-aligned, industry-relevant training.
• Uses real European industry cases, applied reasoning, and expert feedback from materials practitioners.
• Produces accessible, reusable, and updateable digital learning assets.

Courses must focus on practical implementation and process-specific content rather than simply providing general critical & strategic raw materials awareness. The primary target audience is working professionals (such as workshop employees, technicians, and leadership), with graduates entering the sector and professionals in adjacent engineering roles defined as secondary audiences, and policy makers as tertiary audiences.

2. Scope of Services

2.1. Raw Materials Academy Scope

The sector need focuses on the exploration, sourcing and processing of materials essential to EU strategic autonomy — rare earth elements for dual-use systems, semiconductor materials such as gallium and germanium, geological surveying for battery minerals, and sustainable mining practices.

Additionally, advanced scoping has commenced on a Data Driven Integrated Mineral Exploration learning pathway so applications around Data Processing and Machine Learning and GIS and Spatial Data Modelling for Mineral Exploration are also invited.

Detailed skill codes and requirements are provided in the full RFP. Proposals must clearly identify the skills and subject areas addressed.

3. Applied Course Design and Delivery

Every course must provide practical, case-based learning grounded in adult learning principles. Course designs should include clear learning objectives, realistic industry scenarios, practical activities, structured feedback, and appropriate summative assessments. 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
• Delivered with complete, transferable source files
• Inclusive of at least one Starter Pack (as described in the RfP)

4. Contract and Eligibility

Proposals are capped at €100,000 excluding VAT per contract. Up to two contracts may be awarded to the same proposing entity for up to a maximum of €200,000. Detailed information about the pricing is accessible in the RfP.

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.

5. Required Capabilities and Experience

Applicants must demonstrate relevant technical expertise in Critical & Strategic Raw Materials sector; 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.

6. Proposal Submission and Evaluation

Proposals must be submitted in English as a single PDF and include:

• A completed EIT RM Proposal Briefing Sheet
• The proposed course concept, target audience, learning objectives and learner hours
• The skill gaps and subject areas addressed
• The development approach, work plan, production tools, and delivery timeline
• The assessment, evaluation (Kirkpatrick framework) and certification approach
• Team details, named Subject Matter Experts (CVs), internal QA workflow, and examples of past work
• A complete financial proposal, with optional courses priced separately
• Information on GDPR compliance and liability insurance coverage
• A signed Tenderers' Declaration Form

Proposals must be submitted by email according to the instructions and deadline in the full RFP.

Proposals will be assessed by an evaluation panel against the award criteria and weightings stated in the full RfP. Applicants are not required to be partners of the EIT RawMaterials network, and all eligible proposals will be evaluated solely on their technical and financial merits.