This open call aims to support the future integration of gut microbiome data into food safety risk assessment of dietary xenobiotics. The project will systematically appraise existing evidence and identify microbiome-relevant biomarkers and respective in vitro models and assess the feasibility of future experimental validation. The outcome will support future regulatory decisions and progress towards microbiome-informed risk assessments.
See the official notice for the place of performance.
The tenderer must have generated an overall annual turnover of at least 300.000,00 € in each of the last 2 closed financial years (2023 and 2024).
The tenderer overall must have extensive and demonstrable experience in: a) Systematic reviews and evidence synthesis methodologies in the context of food safety, toxicology, microbiome research, or related regulatory science domains; b) Microbiome research including characterisation of host-microbiome interactions, microbiome-mediated health effects, microbiome metabolic functions, biomarker development and/or validation, and/or in vitro models for gut microbiome research; c) Toxicology/chemical risk assessment in the context of food safety or related regulatory science domains; d) Regulatory science or applied research with regulatory science relevance, including: reviewing and synthesising data and information from various sources, interpreting findings in regulatory science contexts, understanding of regulatory frameworks for food safety, chemical risk assessment, or microbiome-related assessments, writing scientific reports and publications in English for regulatory and scientific audiences.
Profile a) Systematic Review Expert: One expert with at least 5 years of working experience in systematic review methodology and evidence synthesis. Relevant experience may include for example: Developing and implementing systematic review protocols; Conducting literature searches and managing scientific databases; Applying quality-assessment and evidence-synthesis approaches (e.g., meta-analysis, structured narrative synthesis); Using systematic review software and tools; Applying review methodologies in research or regulatory science contexts.
Profile b) Microbiome Research Expert: One expert with at least 5 years of working experience in microbiome research. Relevant experience may include for example: Host-microbiome interactions and microbiome-mediated health effects; Microbiome functional/metabolic capacity; Biomarker development, validation, or application in microbiome research; In vitro models for gut microbiome research (e.g., dynamic gut models, organoid systems, or equivalent platforms); Analytical methods for biomarker measurement and microbiome characterisation.
Profile c) Toxicology/Chemical Risk Assessment Expert: One expert with at least 3 years of working experience in toxicology/chemical risk assessment. Relevant experience may include for example: Toxicological endpoints, adverse outcome pathways (AOPs), and mechanistic interpretation; Chemical risk assessment principles (including toxicokinetics and dose-response concepts); Toxicological evaluation of chemicals in food, feed or relevant health related safety contexts.
Profile d) Regulatory Science Expert: One expert with at least 5 years of working experience in regulatory science. Relevant experience may include for example: Knowledge of regulatory frameworks for food safety or other health-related domains; Experience in interpreting scientific evidence for regulatory purposes; Understanding of data requirements and assessment processes used by European or international scientific bodies.
Profile e) Project Leader: One expert acting as project leader with at least 5 years of working experience in project management. The project leader must have experience coordinating complex scientific work, ensuring efficient task planning, internal communication and timely delivery.
The following experts listed in section 2.4.B.2 must each have a very good level of spoken and written standard UK English, of at least C1 level according to the CEFR: Systematic review expert (profile a); Regulatory science expert (profile d); and Project leader (profile e). For non-native speakers, this shall be demonstrated by: (i) a minimum two years in international projects where English is the working language; OR (ii) at least two years of work/study in an English-speaking environment; OR (iii) certificate of English proving at least a C1 level; OR (iv) at least 3 publications/reports authored or co-authored in English.
The tenderer must demonstrate that it has the technical resources and infrastructure necessary to perform systematic-review and evidence-synthesis work. This includes: a) Access to appropriate bibliographic databases and library services enabling comprehensive literature searches relevant to the subject of the contract (e.g., PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, or other equivalent sources). b) Use of systematic review management tools or workflows for literature screening, data extraction and quality assessment (e.g., Covidence, Rayyan, EPPI-Reviewer, DistillerSR, or other equivalent solutions ensuring systematic and traceable processes). c) Digital collaboration infrastructure, including access to teleconference platforms (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Zoom or equivalent), a document sharing solution enabling collaborative drafting, and secure data storage and backup systems for project documentation.
Signed declaration on honour.
Signed declaration on honour confirming resources and absence of professional conflicting interest.
Environmental protection is an integral part of EFSA's governance. EFSA has established, implemented and maintains a certified environmental management system in accordance with the international standard ISO 14001 and the European EMAS regulation. Environmental impacts of EFSA's activities are identified, managed and monitored in order to improve environmental performance. This commitment to environmental sustainability requires us to consider a life-cycle perspective when purchasing our services. For this reason we are asking you some information on the environmental management of your activities, to be provided filling in Annex 6 (Information on environmental management). To be completed by the tenderer or leading partner. The answers will not be considered under any criteria, neither selection nor award criteria.
Published 3 April 2026 · rebuilt nightly from the official notice.