Invitation to tender

Date of publication Simap: 21.06.2018

1. Contracting authority

1.1 Official name and address of the contracting authority

Contracting authority/Authority of assignment: Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
Procurement authority/Organizer: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
Eurasia Division/OZA, Freiburgstrasse 130,  3003  Berne,  Switzerland,  E-mail:  eurad_oza@eda.admin.ch

1.2 Offers should be sent to the following address

PLEASE DO NOT OPEN
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
Eurasia Division/OZA,  attn Ms Placella Enrichetta, Freiburgstrasse 130,  3003  Berne,  Switzerland,  E-mail:  eurad_oza@eda.admin.ch

1.3 Desired deadline for questions in written form

20.07.2018

Remarks: No information is given by telephone. Any question can be made by 20.07.2018 anonymously in the forum space at www.simap.ch. Questions submitted late cannot be answered. Answers will be published on www.simap.ch by 30.07.2018. Bidders are themselves responsible for downloading the answers from SIMAP and for taking them into consideration in the preparation of the bids.  

1.4 Deadline for submitting offers

Date: 10.09.2018, Specific deadlines and formal requirements:  Bids contain all documentation in accordance with Section 6 Contents of Bid and are to be submitted as follows:
The “Technical Proposal” and “Financial Proposal” shall be submitted in one envelope and shall contain:
a. One original signed hard copy of the Technical and Financial Proposal labelled “Original”
b. Two signed copies of the Technical and Financial Proposal labelled, “Signed Copy”
c. One data storage device (e.g. CD, DVD or Memory Stick) of all Technical Proposal and all Financial Proposal Documents.
Language for offers: English

1.5 Date of the opening of bids:

17.09.2018, Remarks:  The bids are not opened publicly. In accordance with PPA Art. 8 para. 1d, the contracting authority safeguards the confidential character of all information provided by the bidder. The information to be published after the award of the mandate and the information to be disclosed in the framework of the FAPP Art. 23 para. 2 and 3 remain subject to reservation.

1.6 Type of contracting authority

Confederation (Central federal administration)

1.7 Type of procedure

Open procedure

1.8 Type of order

Order for services

1.9 Scope of international treaties

No

2. Objects of procurement

2.1 Service category CPC:

[27] Other services

2.2 Project title of the acquisition

Moldova: Engaged People - Strong Municipalities (EPSM), 2019-2023

2.3 Reference / project no.

7F-09815.99

2.4 Division into lots?

No

2.5 Common Procurement Vocabulary

CPV:	98300000 - Miscellaneous services

2.6 Subject and scope of the contract

The winning bidder/implementing partner (IP) will be in charge of program preparation (Preparatory Phase) and implementation (Phase I). It will propose and implement interventions that contribute to better quality services provided at the local level and an increased satisfaction of the population. During program preparation the IP will set up operations and conduct a detailed stakeholder analysis in order to map and identify the most promising drivers of change and design the different mechanisms and components of the interventions. Further it will identify strategies and approaches for civil society to hold LPAs accountable for ensuring participation and delivering affordable and quality services. It will assess the needs and initiate a participatory program planning/design process involving key stakeholders. Finally, the IP will adapt plans, based on a more in-depth analysis of strengths and weaknesses of key partners.

2.7 Location where service is to be delivered

Republic of Moldova

2.8 Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system

Start: 01.02.2019, End: 31.10.2023

This contract is subject to renewal: Yes

Description of renewals: The option of directly awarding follow-up mandates is reserved.

2.9 Options

No

2.10 Award criteria

AC1: Qualification and experience of the bidder and nominated team  Weighting 30% 
AC2: Understanding of the mandate and general approach  Weighting 35% 
AC3: Procedure and project organisation  Weighting 10% 
AC4: Financial Proposal  Weighting 25% 

2.11 Will variants be accepted?

Yes

Remarks: Variants are to be indicated expressly as such and to be submitted separately in addition to the basic bid. Bidders must give reasons in writing for the advantages and equivalence of the variants in relation to the achievement of objectives. Otherwise they will not be taken into consideration.

2.12 Are partial offers permitted?

No

2.13 Implementation date

Start 01.02.2019 and finish 31.10.2023

Remarks: Preparatory phase: 01.02.2019-31.10.2019
Phase 1: 01.11.2019-31.10.2023

3. Conditions

3.1 General conditions of participation

None

3.2 Deposits/guarantees

None

3.3 Conditions of payment

None

3.4 Costs to be included

None

3.5 Consortium of bidders

Consortium of bidders are permitted. Should SDC conclude the Contract with several Contractors (consortium), all parties must sign, having first designated a person to represent the consortium vis-à-vis SDC. The representative is expressly authorized to act for and on behalf of the consortium members. The consortium members shall be jointly and severally liable. Consortium members are allowed to participate exclusively in one bid. The bidder lists all members and their respective roles.

3.6 Subcontractor

Subcontractors are permitted. If the bidder engages a subcontractor to provide certain services, the bidder bears full responsibility for the provided services. He lists all subcontractors involved with their assigned roles according to annex 2 Declaration of bidder. Subcontractors are allowed to participate in different bids.

3.7 Eligibility criteria

Based on the criteria given in the documentation

3.8 Evidence required

Based on the evidence required in the documentation

3.9 Conditions for obtaining the tendering documentation

Costs: none

3.10 Languages

Languages for offers: English

3.11 Validity of offers

180 days after deadline for receipt of offers

3.12 Supplying source of the tendering documentation

at www.simap.ch
Documents of the invitation to tender are available from: 21.06.2018  until  10.09.2018
Languages of documents: English
Further information for obtaining the tendering documentation: The documentation on the public call to tender for the project mentioned can be downloaded from the platform www.simap.ch under: Running procedures, Confederation, Invitations to tender. In order to do so, you first have to register in the mentioned Program. You will then be able to log in and use the password that you will have been sent by e-mail to download the documentation desired.

4. Other information

4.1 Conditions for tenderers from Non-Member States of the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement

None

4.2 Terms of business

General Conditions of Business (GCB) for Project Implementation Mandates – Version December 2015 (for phase 1) and General Terms and Conditions for FDFA Mandates Type A and B (for preparatory phase)
These General Conditions of Business (GCB) shall be deemed accepted by the Contractor on submission of the offer.

4.3 On-site visit

remain reserved

4.4 Essential requirements

The contracting authority awards public contracts for services provided in Switzerland only to bidders who ensure compliance with the health and safety regulations and employment conditions for employees, as well as equal pay for women and men.
If the service is provided abroad, the bidder must ensure at least compliance with the International Labour Organization’s fundamental conventions in accordance with Annex 2a PPO.
The self-declaration form “Compliance with working conditions, workplace health and safety regulations and requirement of equal pay for men and women: Declaration by the supplier” has to be signed and is to be submitted with the offer.

4.6 Additional information

The contracting authority reserves the right to award subsequent mandates to the successful bidder of this tender procedure if a change of bidder is not possible for economic or technical
reasons, or would cause significant difficulties or incur disproportionate costs for the contracting authority.

4.7 Official organ of publication

www.simap.ch

4.8 Procedures for appeal

The tender proceeds in accordance with Section 3 of the Federal Ordinance on Public Procurement (PPO). There is no right of appeal.