4. Support early threat detection capability for emerging strains and multi-country FWD  outbreaks.  • Invite the laboratories to participate in the EQA using a letter drafted by the contractor  and approved by ECDC (see DL1). The invitation letter should indicate the rationale and  objectives of the EQA, the reporting requirements and timelines, including the minimum  requirements for obtaining an EQA certificate, the provisions for intellectual property, data  ownership and sharing, planned post-EQA activities such as reports and publications. • Collect the answers and compiles a final participant list (name of the laboratory, contact  person, address, telephone number, email) of these laboratories to be shared with ECDC  (DL 2). • In collaboration with ECDC, select the set of test strains and set of sequences suitable for  the EQA scheme (see DL3). The pool of strains used for the EQA should include the most  commonly reported as well as rare serotypes of Sal mo n e l a  e n t e r i c a and should be  regularly updated according to the changing epidemiological situation in Europe. The  selected strains should primarily be isolated from clinical cases. The set of genomes should  include manipulated raw reads of cluster and non-cluster isolates with different  characteristics;  • Provide the technical expertise and capacity to organise the EQA schemes following the  recommendations in the international guidelines and standards (ISO/IEC 17025:2005,  ISO/IEC 17043:2010, ISO 15189:2012 and ISO13528:2015). Plan the EQA scheme with  tasks and deliverables (see DL3);  GT 2. EQA preparation and material distribution  8  The EQA exercises are targeted at the national public health reference level laboratories  in the EU/EEA countries, and in the EU the enlargement countries. ECDC will cover the  costs of participation of one laboratory per country (for a maximum of 36 laboratories  and 36 countries per Lot). Additional laboratories from these countries and laboratories  from other countries can participate in the EQA at their own expense and depending on  the capacity of the contractor.  More information on participation and reported microbiological testing capacity at the  national level is available on ECDC webpage at:  External quality assessments (EQA): https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/all-topics- z/microbiology/external-quality-assessments-eqa  External quality assessments on food- and waterborne diseases:  https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/microbiology/external-quality-assessments-eqa/food- and-water-borne  2.3 Tasks, deliverables, quality requirements and timelines  2.3.1 Lot 1- EQA for  S a l mon e l a General tasks (GT) in Lot 1  GT 1. Coordination and communication 