Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Abercrombie House, Eaglesham Road
East Kilbride
G75 8EA
Contact
Susan Lynch
Telephone
+44 1355843620
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM95 - South Lanarkshire
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign-commonwealth-development-office
Buyer's address
https://fcdo.proactisportal.com
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://fcdo.proactisportal.com
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://fcdo.proactisportal.com
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority
one.5) Main activity
Other activity
Diplomatic Services and International Development
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
PROJ10091 Evaluation Quality Assurance and Learning Services (EQuALS 2)
Reference number
DN1270
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 75211200 - Foreign economic-aid-related services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
This service, Evaluation Quality Assurance and Learning Service 2 (EQUALS 2), will provide support and assurance in a range of sectoral and methodological areas, with the responsiveness and quick turn-around times that countries and teams require. It will build on our experience of the current EQUALS (Evaluation Quality Assurances and Learning Service) which is due to end in March 2022.
The main objective of the programme is to contribute to the ongoing improvement of evaluative activities and products and their use across FCDO and Other Government Departments (OGD's). The programme will enable FCDO evaluations to continue to be high quality, where high quality is defined as: strategic, used for learning and improvement; independent and objective, with a robust methodology and the right expertise; following transparent processes; safe and ethical; and delivered in partnership with stakeholders. Better evaluation management, together with a more joined up approach, will allow for better synthesis and learning from the evaluation portfolio. FCDO evaluation evidence will continue to be a trusted source that can be used confidently in decision making.
EQUALS2 will retain the core functions of the current programme. It will:
• Establish a panel of evaluation consultants with expertise covering the range of ODA and non-ODA thematic areas and evaluation methodologies.
• Manage an online helpdesk that provides an overarching administrative function for the programme, and through which staff submit their requests for support.
• Ensure there is a strong relationship between the management of the service and evaluation structures in the FCDO; enabling the service to be strongly aligned to FCDO’s changing needs, to contribute to and support data collection and use of evaluation and monitoring management information and to the ongoing improvement of evaluative skills and capabilities in FCDO.
Through the Panel, EQUALS2 will provide the three core services of short term (a) technical advice, (b) quality assurance, and (c) evaluation insights.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £5,580,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM95 - South Lanarkshire
Main site or place of performance
The main place of performance will be in the UK.
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
FCDO is seeking a supplier to deliver an 38-month contract of up to 3915000 GBP exclusive of UK VAT from February 2022 until 31 March 2025 for the Evaluation Quality Assurance and Learning Service 2 (EQUALS 2) programme.
There is provision to scale up by up to an additional 1665000 GBP exclusive of UK VAT in cases where the programme has demonstrated a strong impact and has the potential to yield additional results. The estimated value includes all applicable local government taxes.
Please note that the estimated total value of 5580000 GBP represents a maximum, including scale up options, and FCDO expects competitive tenders based on the full Terms of Reference (Volume 3 of the ITT Pack) within the original budget of 3915000 GBP exclusive of UK VAT.
The main recipients of the services will be FCDO and Other Government Departments who can commission up to £208,000 exclusive of UK VAT of the 3915000 GBP contract budget.
EQUALS2 will retain the core functions of the current programme. It will:
• Establish a panel of evaluation consultants with expertise covering the range of ODA and non-ODA thematic areas and evaluation methodologies.
• Manage an online helpdesk that provides an overarching administrative function for the programme, and through which staff submit their requests for support.
• Ensure there is a strong relationship between the management of the service and evaluation structures in the FCDO; enabling the service to be strongly aligned to FCDO’s changing needs, to contribute to and support data collection and use of evaluation and monitoring management information and to the ongoing improvement of evaluative skills and capabilities in FCDO.
Through the Panel, EQUALS2 will provide the three core services of short term (a) technical advice, (b) quality assurance, (c) evaluation insights. These activities are outlined in detail in ITT Volume 3 Terms of Reference. As EQUALS2 is designed to be a flexible and responsive service, the supplier should be prepared that these core services may evolve within the objective of improving and assuring the FCDO’s evaluative capabilities and products.
A hybrid payment by results model will be used for effective implementation of the EQUALS2 Contract and will link achievement of agreed KPI's and milestones to an agreed payment schedule.
An FCDO standard service contract will be awarded.
Scale up/down is provided for in ITT Volume 3 Terms of Reference and contract clauses to allow flexibility to respond to emerging needs.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Core Team Personnel and Panel Experts / Weighting: 19
Quality criterion - Name: Methodology for Providing Service / Weighting: 31
Quality criterion - Name: Social Value: Fighting Climate Change / Weighting: 5
Quality criterion - Name: Social Value: Tackling Economic Inequality / Weighting: 5
Cost criterion - Name: Commercial / Weighting: 40
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £3,915,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
38
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The contract includes an extension of up to an additional 24 months beyond the original term of 38 months. The contract includes an option for additional services of the same type to be provided.
There is an option to increase the contract by up to an additional 1665000 GBP excluding UK VAT over and above the original financial limit of the contract up to a maximum financial limit of 5580000 GBP excluding UK VAT.
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
List and brief description of conditions
List and brief description of conditions:
Available via https://fcdo.proactisportal.com
Mandatory and discretionary exclusion, economic and financial standing, technical and professional ability, modern slavery Act 2015 requirements, minimum insurance requirements, tenderers past performance, duty of care, international aid transparency initiative, acceptance of FCDO Terms and Conditions and FCDO Supplier Code of Conduct and safeguarding measures as outlined in the procurement documents. Technical and commercial ability to deliver as per the published award criteria.
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
three.2) Conditions related to the contract
three.2.3) Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract
Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing the contract
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
29 October 2021
Local time
2:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 8 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
29 October 2021
Local time
2:00pm
Place
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.3) Additional information
The authority expressly reserves the right:
(i) not to award any contract(s) as a result of the procurement process commenced by publication of this notice; and, (ii) in no circumstances will the authority be liable for any costs incurred by the Bidders.
Procurement documents can be accessed through the FCDO Supply Partner Portal https://fcdo.proactisportal.com
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Abercrombie House, Eaglesham Road
East Kilbride
G75 8EA
Country
United Kingdom