Calls

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) is planning to launch a call for tender to support the priority area ‘physical risks and mental health’, of the Healthy Workplaces Campaign on mental health and psychosocial risks (PSR) that will be launched by the contracting authority in 2026. The contracting authority asks for the provision of expert services to analyse and synthesise evidence addressing the interactions between physical risks, psychosocial risks and mental health at work, with particular attention to high‑risk sectors characterised by high physical workload and accident rates. EU-OSHA reports are already available for PSR in the health and social care sector[1], construction[2], agriculture[3].

Within this context, the objective of this contract is to strengthen the evidence base and practical understanding of combined exposures to physical risks, psychosocial risks and environmental working conditions, and their implications for workers’ mental health, safety outcomes and prevention.

The results of the contract shall support the preparation and implementation of EU‑OSHA activities and communication products, including the Healthy Workplaces Campaign on psychosocial risks and mental health, notably the priority area “Physical risks and mental health”.

The specific objectives of the contract are to:

• analyse current scientific and institutional evidence on the interaction between physical risks, environmental working conditions and psychosocial risks, and their implications for mental health, safety outcomes and accident occurrence;

• identify and describe key pathways and mechanisms through which combined exposures (including physical workload, musculoskeletal disorders, environmental stressors, accidents and psychosocial risks) influence workers’ mental health, behaviour and safety;

• highlight sector‑specific, occupation‑specific and group‑specific vulnerabilities, with particular attention to micro and small enterprises (MSEs), migrant, temporary, seasonal and older workers;

• examine and promote integrated prevention and risk‑management approaches addressing physical, psychosocial and environmental risks in a coherent manner;

• identify, document and disseminate good practice examples illustrating effective workplace‑level prevention strategies and integrated risk management.

The maximum total budget available for the contract to be awarded will be EUR 60.000 (excluding VAT).

It is possible to express interest as an individual organisation or a consortium. However please note that invited candidates can submit a joint tender with other economic operators only if they have expressed interest in the planned procedure as a consortium. More information regarding the participation rules. 

The way, deadline and details for expressing your interest in being invited to tender are available on: EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Please find the technical and professional capacity required for this contract here:

Criterion T1

The tenderer must prove experience in the field of drafting information and practical guidance for a non-technical audience related to work-related physical health and mental health 

Minimum level of capacity

At least one similar (in scope and complexity) project completed in the last three years preceding the deadline for submission of tenders.

Basis for assessment

This criterion applies to the tenderer as a whole, i.e. the consolidated assessment of combined capacities of all involved entities will be carried out.

Evidence

A list of projects meeting the minimum level of capacity. The list shall include details of their start and end date, total project amount and scope, role and amount invoiced. In case of projects still ongoing, only the portion completed during the reference period will be taken into consideration.

As supporting documents for each project reference, the contracting authority may request statements issued by the clients and take contact with them.

Criterion T2

The tenderer must be able to prove capacity to work in English.

Minimum level of capacity

All team members delivering any of the services required need to have a good working level of English (C1 level of the Common European Framework of reference for languages (CEF or CEFR) or equivalent) being able to research, communicate and draft texts in English.

Basis for assessment

This criterion applies to the tenderer as a whole, i.e. the consolidated assessment of combined capacities of all involved entities will be carried out.

Evidence

The CVs of team members who will provide any of the services required, including, for each team member, a list of at least 3 English speaking projects, reports, or activities of a similar nature, and their role in the project, including language skills.

 Criterion T3

The tenderer must be able to prove its educational and professional qualifications in the field of work-related physical health and mental health, and the practical prevention measures and their effectiveness.

Minimum level of capacity

Relevant research skills and educational and professional qualifications of the team members, in the field of social research, in particular in the area of occupational safety and health (OSH) and psychosocial risks/mental health at international level; Demonstrated knowledge of the data sources on psychosocial risks and mental health at work in Europe. 

The team delivering the service should include, as a minimum, the following profiles: 

• At least one senior academic researcher in the field of psychosocial risks and mental health at work, with international academic research experience: relevant higher education degree and minimum 7 years' professional experience in the field of psychosocial risks and mental health at work, including analysis of quantitative and qualitative data.

• At least one project manager with minimum 5 years of adequate and demonstrable experience in project management, including overseeing project delivery, quality control of delivered service, client orientation and conflict resolution experience in projects of a similar complexity.

• At least one more team member with minimum 3 years of adequate and demonstrable experience in research and presenting good practice guidance on addressing work-related psychosocial risks, physical risks and their prevention at work.

Basis for assessment

This criterion applies to the tenderer as a whole, i.e. the consolidated assessment of combined capacities of all involved entities will be carried out.

Evidence

The CVs of the tenderer’s staff who will provide the service (educational and professional qualifications/experience and the intended function in the delivery of the service).

[1]An overview of work-related psychosocial risks and mental health outcomes in the EU health and social care sector | Safety and health at work EU-OSHA    

[2]Mental health in the construction sector: preventing and managing psychosocial risks in the workplace | Safety and health at work EU-OSHA 

[3] Mental health in agriculture: preventing and managing psychosocial risks for farmers and farm workers | Safety and health at work EU-OSHA