Article 7 The role of the Responsible Authority as awarding body

As a general rule, the Responsible Authority shall award grants for projects under the national programme on the basis of open calls for proposals.

The Responsible Authority may award grants for projects on the basis of a restricted call for proposals.

Restricted calls for proposals are open only to selected organisations because of the specific nature of the project or the technical or administrative competence of the bodies invited to submit proposals.

The grounds justifying the use of a restricted call for proposals shall be set out in the call for proposals.

The Responsible Authority may award grants directly where the specific nature of the project or the technical or administrative competence of the relevant bodies leaves no other choice, such as in the case of de jure or de facto monopolies.

The grounds justifying the use of a direct award shall be set out in the award decision.

In duly justified cases, including continuation of multiannual projects which were selected after a previous call for proposals or in emergency situations, grants may be awarded without a call for proposals.

The grounds justifying that the grant was awarded without a call for proposals shall be set out in the award decision.

When the Responsible Authority acts as an awarding body, neither the Responsible Authority nor any Delegated Authority may be a beneficiary of a grant awarded in accordance with this Article.

The Responsible Authority shall determine who awards grants and shall ensure that conflicts of interest are avoided, in particular when the applicants are national bodies.