Negotiated procedure for the low value contract: Research input for a feasibility assessment of studying online algorithms and fundamental rights

The contract falls into the framework of FRA’s research in the area of artificial intelligence, big data and fundamental rights. The objective of the contract is to provide research input to FRA for a feasibility assessment on the extent to which online services can be used to collect data that exemplify and can test for algorithmic bias and other fundamental rights challenges. The results of the contract should provide FRA with the necessary information to make an informed assessment of the feasibility of and opportunities for carrying out online data collection, online experiments and simulation studies on the impact of the use of algorithms.

The contractor is expected to provide three short reports covering (1) accessibility assessments of major online platforms for research purposes, (2) possibilities and ideas for simulation studies that exemplify potential problems with algorithms used online, and (3) possibilities for online tests/experiments of how algorithms work for selected services.

The contractor is also expected to participate in at least three meetings with FRA staff, one of which should be in person at FRA premises in Vienna.

Technical and professional capacity

Candidates must present, at least, the CV of a key expert who meets the following minimum selection criteria:

• University degree;
• At least four (4) years of proven experience of research in machine learning, or statistics, or computational social science or related fields;
• Good programming skills in the area of machine learning and/or statistics, for example using Python, R or similar programming languages, proven by two (2) publications or projects involving computer code (this could include a scientific analysis using programming, or the publication of computer code, or unpublished sample code). Candidates will be requested to share at least one (1) sample of their computer codes at the time of submitting their tenders;
• Proven experience of collecting and analysing online data (e.g. from social media or testing of algorithms), or carrying out simulation studies of algorithms, proven by at least one (1) publication on the results of the research or completion of one (1) project.
• Excellent knowledge of English (Common European Framework of Reference [CEF] level C1).

No documents proving the fulfilment of these criteria are requested at this stage.

Participation in this negotiated procedure for a low value contract is open to natural and legal persons falling within the scope of the EU Treaties (this includes all economic operators established in the European Union) and to all natural and legal persons established in a third country which has a special agreement with the Union in the field of public procurement on the conditions laid down in that agreement. FRA is not part of the Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) concluded within the World Trade Organisation. Therefore, the procurement procedure is not open to candidates from GPA countries.

If you would like to participate in this negotiated procedure, please register your interest by e-mail to procurement@fra.europa.eu, including your contact details (name, organisation, address, country and e-mail) before Thursday 18/07/2019 (17:00 CEST [GMT +02:00]).

Please note that registration of interest to participate in the above-mentioned procedure does not give rise to any legitimate expectations to be invited.