The contractor carries out the monitoring and evaluation of the structural policy measures to be implemented in the Rhenish mining area in the period 2020 to 2026 (first funding period) and develops recommendations for action for the strategic

Further development of structural support in the Rhenish mining area.

In addition, the contractor prepares reports on the implementation of the district contract, expert opinions or studies on the topics of CO2 effects, international comparisons of opencast mining regions and skilled workers. He accompanies and supports the client in terms of content. Optionally, the preparation of special evaluations can be commissioned.

1.) Work package (WP) 1 - Monitoring of the funding measures:

The task of the contractor is to measure the progress in the economic and structural program of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia with regard to its implementation with efficient monitoring.

The aim is to generate information for direct programme control by providing needs-based, systematic and up-to-date information.

- present the progress of the programme in aggregated form via the respective indicators, specific to future fields and funding priorities for the Rhenish mining area and the neighbouring municipalities,

- use a traffic light system to identify implementation problems at an early stage, e.g. if cash outflows fall short of plans,

- the regional location of the specifications and their outputs, and

- demonstrate the success of the program by means of examples.

The results are to be evaluated by the contractor and presented in the form of annual implementation reports and citizen information.

2.) WP 2 - a) Evaluation of the structural change process and b) Development of strategic recommendations for action

a) The task of the contractor is to carry out an evaluation of the structural change process for the period 2020 to 2026. The short-, medium- and long-term effects of the measures envisaged as part of the programme implementation on the economic, social and ecological development of the Rhenish mining area are to be presented and evaluated.

b) On the basis of the results of the monitoring and evaluation, the contractor shall develop strategic recommendations for action for the further development of the economic policy strategy, the four future fields of energy and industry, resources and agribusiness, innovation and education, and space and infrastructure and their funding priorities. The recommendations for action are intended to support the client in aligning and accelerating structural change in a targeted manner in order to take into account the phase-out of coal-fired power generation, which has been brought forward to 2030. In particular, they should address the safeguarding of existing jobs and value creation as well as the creation of new, good jobs in harmony with environmental protection and sustainability by clearly identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats and deriving development options

3.) WP 3 - Preparation of reports, expert opinions or studies

a) Reports: The contractor must submit two reports on the implementation of the strategic goals and milestones for the years 2024 and 2026 derived from the district contract. The strategic goals and milestones derived from the future fields and funding priorities and adopted by the state government are to be taken as a basis in thematically summarized report chapters.

b) Expert opinions: The following expert opinions or studies have been submitted by the contractor in the first year of commissioning:

B1.) CO2 Effects of Structural Funding in the Rhenish Mining Area (working title), b2.) International comparative study of opencast mining regions (working title), b3.) Skilled Worker Development (working title)

The reports, expert opinions or studies should each have a length of approx. 40 pages (including graphics, without pictures). The offer must calculate 20 person-days per report, expert opinion or study as an expense.

4.) WP 4 - Supporting the client in the following tasks:

a) Ongoing reporting obligations to the Confederation

b) Ad-hoc support in answering thematically narrowly defined questions from day-to-day business

c) Support in questions related to the evaluations of the Federal Government and other federal states.

5.) Documentation/Presentation

a) Documentation: Final draft reports in the corresponding scopes must be submitted to the client with a reasonable amount of time for review after consultation. The results are to be prepared in writing, graphically and cartographically in report form and handed over to the client in digital form.

In addition, written summaries must be prepared for the client upon request.

b) Presentation: The contractor is available for up to three presentation appointments per report at the client's premises in Düsseldorf. Accompanying documents are to be prepared in accordance with the client's specifications as a textual elaboration or as a designed presentation and coordinated in advance of the appointments.