Call for expression of interest of municipalities for small grants

Location: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” and Kosovo^[1]

Estimated Contract duration: Until December 2016

Estimated Contract start date: mid December 2014

Call for tender issued: 1 August 2014

Deadline for applications: 15 September 2014

More info can be found here: ENG

ALB, BIH, CRO, MKD, MNE, SER

[1] “This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence”

Call for Tender for the provision of services of consultancy on human rights and minority protection (assistance to support selected municipalities in grant applications and implementation)

Location: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” and Kosovo[¹]

Framework agreement duration: Until April 30th 2016

Contract estimated start date: 1 October 2014

Tender Notice issued: 15 July 2014

Deadline for tendering: 15 September 2014

More info can be found here

[1] “This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence”

Questions and Answers: TENDER NOTICE for the provision of services of consultancy on human rights and minority protection (assistance to support selected municipalities in grant applications and implementation )2014/AO/39

 

APPLICATION FORM LOOKS VERY COMPLICATED. HOW DO I KNOW THAT I FULFIL ALL THE REQUIREMENTS?

1. Please read the whole document.
2. Go back to the Expected deliverables (page 5) and decide which deliverables you consider relevant to your expertize.
3. After the selections of deliverable/es you can bid for (can do), go to the page 30-31 and give your estimated maximum fee (in Euros) for deliverable (the bid).

For example: you chose deliverable 2.3. Coaching and support, monitoring of the project implementation. 5-10 pages report (in English) on undertaken activities;  8 days (2 days x 4 visits). Indicate in the table (page 30) under the point 2.3 what is you maximum fee in Euros for writing 5-10 pages report and what is your estimated maximum fee in Euros for 2 days x 4 visit to municipality (page 31).

4. Fill in the Act of engagement paper with your personal details.

 

HOW MANY DELIVERABLES CAN I CHOSE?

You can choose one or more deliverables.  Also, if you feel confident, you can place your bid for all deliverables.

IF I CHOSE TO FORWARD BID FOR 2.3 (DELIVERABLE FOR TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING SEMINAR) SHOULD I PAY LUNCH FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS, RENT A CONFERENCE ROOM AND PAY ALL TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT?

Your bid is only valid for the expert/intellectual services provided.  All logistical services (room, coffee, meals) are prepared by other parties.

 

IF I HAVE TO TRAVEL TO MUNICIPALITIES HOW CAN I CALCULATE MY TRAVEL COSTS WITHOUT KNOWING WHICH MUNICIPALITIES WILL BE SELECTED?

Your calculations should take into account the average distances between the place where you live and the most remote municipality in the beneficiary.

 

IS THERE ANY LIMIT FOR THE FEES?

No, there is no any limit. However, it is in your interest that the fees  are rational and in accordance with the assignment.

 

CAN A CONSULTANT WORK WITH MORE THAN ONE MUNICIPALITY?

It can happen, considering the expertise and the knowledge of the expert. This will be decided upon an agreement between CoE Secretariat and the consultant.

 

MY ENGLISH IS NOT PERFECT. CAN I PROVIDE SERVICE OF CONSULTANCY?

We encourage you to apply. The working language during the implementation of the project in the field will be the language of the beneficiary. You will use English only while reporting to the CoE Secretariat.

 

I DO NOT HAVE UNIVERSITY DEGREE IN SOCIAL SIENCES BUT I HAVE A LOT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MINORITY PROTECTION AND FULFILL ALL OTHER CRITERIA?

Applicants who satisfy the proposed criteria will have an advantage but we encourage you to apply and will consider your application in cases where no other bids are made.

 

WHICH LANGUAGE SHOULD BE USED TO FILL IN THE APPLICATION?

The application form must be filled and submitted in English.

Call for Tender for a baseline and final survey of a project on human rights and minority protection

Location: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” and Kosovo[¹]

Estimated Contract duration: Until November 2017

Estimated Contract start date: 1 November 2014

Call for tender issued: 15 July 2014

Deadline for bids: 12 September 2014

More info can be found here

[1] “This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence” 

Questions and Answers: Tender (2014AO36 / Carrying out a baseline research and final survey in selected municipalities through participatory action research

 

QUESTION:

I would ask you for several clarifications regarding the Tender from Subject:

1. I can’t conclude do you require quantitative or qualitative research technique for this survey? Actually, does the Bidder need to develop approach and methodology completely independently or you have some specific conditions about data collecting, sample size and methodology in general?

2. Does the bid need to contain names of municipalities that would be included in the Project or selection will be done later?

3. If I understood, proposed experts should be part of the research team, their CVs will certainly be included as annex to the Technical Proposal so I’m confused about Profiles of the experts, what should that section contain?  

4. Given the fact that application’s sending & arriving by post may take several days, in the case of its delay, would the copy sent by e-mail be valid?

ANSWER:

1. The survey should include both quantitative and qualitative research technique. The Bidder is expected to develop the methodological approach for carrying out the baseline research based and adapted from the provisions of the Framework convention for the protection of national minorities (FCNM) and the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages (ECRML) and tailored to the:

a. needs and context of the project and the region and

b. main findings of the COE monitoring bodies (Advisory Committee Opinions on implementation of the FCNM and Committee of Experts’ reports on implementation of the ECRML).

The research should be carried out in 36 selected municipalities in seven Project’s Beneficiaries in SEE (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia, “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” and Kosovo*); collecting of data should be directed towards: persons belonging to national minorities and authorities that work and use provisions of the FCNM and the ECRML and live in selected municipalities; sample size should be proposed by the bidder.

2. The bid should not contain names of municipalities as they will be selected by the project Evaluation Committee in each beneficiary.

3. According to the bid, the bidder should submit the CVs of the experts that will work on the project.  Part 2 of the tender document (page 7) describes the profile of the Lead expert.  The bidder shall also forward the CVs of other experts, part of the team, to prove an appropriate mix of research skills and experience, to include quantitative and qualitative data analysis, drafting and editing skills. Team members should have a commitment to enhancing intercultural relations and have strong listening and interpersonal skills as well as the necessary research skills and analytical abilities.

4. All details on application’s sending / arriving of by post or email, please find on page 11 – VII Submission of bids.

 

QUESTION:

Regarding the ‘Call for tender for a baseline and final survey of a project on human rights and minority protection’ published by the Council of Europe, we would like to clarify the requested work in light of the budget mentioned. Will there be any third party of the project secretariat involved in the delivery of the participatory action research (e.g. printing, dissemination of questionnaires etc). Does the proposed budget cover both the design and full delivery of the PAR? In particular, we are interested in whether CoE staff will be available to administer the survey (printing, distributing and collecting surveys).

ANSWER:

As per this tender, the financial bid should include all costs related to the provision of the final deliverables and implementation of all the activities.

Our secretariat is very limited and can assist with advice and very modest technical assistance if and when available. I copy the part from the Tender file for your reference below.

"Part 3 - The financial offer
The financial proposal must be presented using the standard format found below and must be considered as an all-inclusive lump-sum fee, which includes all costs related to the provision of the final deliverables and implementation of all the activities. The proposal must include, for example, costs for:
· the bidder's own staff including contact person/ team leader and experts, and any other person involved in the organisation of the activities, administration, editing, telecommunications & postage, IT, overheads including bank charges, taxes, social security etc., local or international travel and subsistence, all translation and interpretation costs from/to local language/English etc.
· undertaking the activities of the assignment and producing the deliverables as described in this call for tender and in the contractor’s proposal."

 

QUESTION:

I am contacting you in the framework of the Call for Tender “PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS AND MINORITY PROTECTION IN SOUTH EAST EUROPE  - a baseline and final survey of a project on human rights and minority protection”, 2014/AO/36.

I would like to clarify one aspect regarding the pool of experts:

- On page 7 you mention that the research team should consist of “at least one researcher for each of the partner beneficiaries of this project”. Could you please clarify whether the “partner beneficiaries” are the 7 mentioned countries in SEE (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, Kosovo*)? Could you also clarify whether there is a minimum number of experts “from distinguished research communities from EU or COE countries”?

ANSWER:

You are right, the “partner beneficiaries” are the 7 mentioned countries in SEE (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, Kosovo*).

There is no minimum number of experts “from distinguished research communities from EU or COE countries”. The number. and profile/expertise will be evaluated and will contribute to the process of selection of the best bidder.

 

QUESTION:

Specifically, we understand that the scope of the project is regional, but due to the fact that most research companies in the region are pretty much limited to operate within their national boundaries, it is of great interest for us to know if the part of the research concerning a beneficiary available separately, or the bid must include the region as a whole; ie. to structure the bid as a consortia. If so, can COE help us by providing us with information or contacts about interested parties in countries other than (one beneficiary).

ANSWER:

As this is a regional project we issue the tender for one study covering the whole region with unified methodology.  We are very much aware of the situation in the field and would applaud bids by several providers that apply under one bid (one offer with clear management and leadership role).

For the sake of fair competition we cannot share names of other interested parties at this stage.  We strongly encourage you to form regional partnerships and forward the bid.

 

QUESTION:

1. If individual submit application for  TENDER NOTICE for the provision of services of consultancy on human rights and minority protection (assistance to support selected municipalities in grant applications and implementation ) 2014/AO/39  for the following services: Consultancy on joint project on Promoting Human Rights and Minority Protection in South East Europe (Assistance to support selected municipalities in grant application and  implementation)  could same individual (as consultant/expert) as a part of the Civil Society Organisation Team , participate in TENDER 2014/AO/36 -Call for Tender for a baseline and final survey of a project on human rights and minority protection. 

2.Is there any conflict or exclusion criteria for individuals or organisations to participate both tenders? (tender 2014/AO/36 and tender 2014/AO/39)

ANSWER:

There are no legal obstacles which would prevent persons who submit bids in response to 2014OA39 from participating as a team member in 2014AO36.   In our opinion,  there may be other issues which would make participation in both projects difficult,  eg.   Time-management,  or operational issues.
 

* “This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence”