Application requirements SBogoly@fgsz.hu CEF Energy Info Day Olga Sihmane - CEF Programme and Call Coordinator, INEA 16 March 2015
Before starting the application: Action vs PCI Types of actions Content A single or multiple proposals Application form and its contents Submitting the proposal Important aspects to keep in mind Call helpdesk 2
Before the application: Action vs PCI Action: any financially and technically independent activity that has a set timeframe and is necessary for PCI implementation Evaluation concerns only the action, not the PCI Types of actions (Art. 3 CEF Regulation): Studies preparatory activities needed for project implementation Works purchase, supply and deployment of components, systems and services, or the carrying out of development and construction and installation Same proposal cannot contain elements related to both studies and works, i.e. no mixed proposals 3
Single or multiple proposals Several proposals in relation to the same PCI can be submitted throughout 2014-2020, provided they are for different activities Under one call, a single proposal especially for works on interconnectors is strongly recommended For certain clusters, common proposals can be an advantage If two proposals for actions on the same PCI are submitted under the same call, activities in each must be clearly defined and cannot overlap If both a works and a study proposal are submitted under the same call, can the works proposal be mature enough? 4
Application form: overview Part A Main characteristics of the proposal Part B Administrative information Application Form Part C Information on compliance with EU law Part D Technical and financial information 5
Application form A Essential information on the applicants and the proposal (summary of the action, activities, budget and requested funding) Must be completed in the TENtec esubmission module (Word version provided only for reference) Includes forms that require signature of the applicants (A2.2) and Member State validation (A2.3) Be complete, informative and precise, particularly on the description of the proposed action and activities -> this data is also used for the grant agreement 6
Action and activities descriptions Description of the proposed Action should mention: Link between the proposed Action and PCI/corridor/region including technical parameters of infrastructure Objective of the proposed Action and its components and technical parameters Deliverables and outputs and how the proposed Action contributes to PCI development and its maturity Activity and milestone descriptions also need to be complete and precise Better guidance as well as examples for works and studies are provided in the Guide for Applicants 7
Application form B Further administrative information on applicants and their affiliated entities Legal entity form, financial identification form, additional requirements for third country applicants Information on operational and financial capacity Member States, third countries, certified TSOs and public entities established in the EU do not need to demonstrate their operational and financial capacity Uncertified TSOs that are private undertakings must demonstrate their financial and operational capacity! 8
Financial and operational capacity check Required by Financial Regulation Financial capacity check form and financial statements for the last two financial years Financial capacity assessed regarding the proposed action only, not the PCI -> make sure only costs for the action are included If the result is 'weak financial capacity' or if the applicant has not been operating for two years, a letter of support is required together with positive financial capacity check for the entity providing support For operational capacity: organisation's activity report, CVs, reports on similar projects, etc. 9
Application form C Information to allow the assessment of compliance with EU law on environmental protection, state aid, public procurement and other sources of EU financing Required for all proposals but only as far as activities of the proposed action - and not the PCI as a whole Information on compliance with environmental law (e.g. EIA, Natura 2000, Water Framework Directive, consultation with environmental authorities) and declaration by relevant authorities needed only works or studies with physical interventions 10
Application form D Technical information describing the proposed action and its activities in detail Sequence of the questions reflects the award criteria Should provide all information needed by the evaluators for a fair and comprehensive assessment of the proposal in relation to each award criteria Responses need to be clear, well-structured, substantiated and concise -> experts have limited time to read and assess the proposals All relevant information for assessment of the proposal should be contained within the application form - don t rely on additional supporting documents 11
Improve your proposal by Being consistent in describing the objective, activities, duration and budget in your responses to different questions and parts of the application form Presenting a clear time table and planning overview, explain possible risks and delays and provide evidence that these are being addressed Showing evidence that the action can be the next logical step for PCI implementation Identifying all parties affected by the action when looking at the cross-border dimension Justifying why the financial support is needed Providing quantifiable information on positive externalities 12
Supporting documents Relating to eligibility criteria for works proposals: business plan, cost-benefit analysis and cross-border cost allocation decision (NB: CBCA is not required to electricity storage and smart grid proposals; CBA is not required but recommended for smart grid proposals) Annexes and documents required in the application forms, documents that demonstrate financial and operational capacity, Gantt charts, maps, GIS data, etc. Other additional information (e.g. executive summaries of previous studies) -> keep it to the minimum as evaluators focus on the application form and required documents 13
Submitting the application Application form Part A must be filled in TENtec esubmission module Application form Parts B, C and D must be completed in Word/Excel and uploaded as attachments All forms requiring signatures (e.g. A2.2, A2.3, Annexes B- I, B-II, B-III, C-I) must be scanned and uploaded and be clearly identifiable by their title It is responsibility of the applicant to produce any originals upon request Submission in TENtec must be done before the deadline - 29 April 2015, 17h00 (Brussels time) Don t forget to press the 'submit' button! 14
Important to keep in mind All requirements and criteria are mentioned in the work programme and call for proposals available on the call website Guide for Applicants provides step-by-step info on completing the application form Start early! (especially for MS endorsement and multiapplicant proposals) Save your proposal often and avoid loading all supporting documents and information at the last minute Visit the call website regularly as any updates will be posted there 15
In case of questions Guide for Applicants and FAQs on the call website For additional questions, contact the helpdesk: INEA-CEF- Energy-calls@ec.europa.eu Where relevant for all applicants, answers will be published as FAQs (no individual responses) Sign up for the FAQ notification service Questions must be submitted by 14 April - last FAQ update by 22 April Individual responses will be provided until the deadline on technical questions related to TENtec esubmission module
For more information inea-cef-energy-calls@ec.europa.eu http://inea.ec.europa.eu @inea_eu