The Council of Europe announces the tender for purchase of consultancy services in the field of Media and Freedom of Expression in Georgia. The tender is announced for consultants with international expertise. The tender involves 5 lots:

Additional information, including, detailed list of topics; expected services; eligibility and award criteria and the list of expected documents can be found in the Tender file.

The deadline for submission of tender is 14 September 2021.

The applications should be submitted in English language to the e-mail address [email protected]

Act of Engagement International Expertise 

Tender File International Expertise

How to Participate in a Restricted Consultation Procedure?

Question 1: Can several experts from one and the same organisation apply for different lots?

A: Yes, they can apply for different lots

in their individual capacity (as natural persons).

OR

as the organisation. In this case the organisation will be the applicant.

Please, note that multiple tendering is not authorised. Hence, either the organisation applies in its capacity as a legal person OR the experts apply in their individual capacity (as natural persons).

Question 2: Can organisations apply and if so, are there any limitations?

A: Yes, organisations can apply. Please, check Section A (legal status of applicants) and F (requested documents) of the Tender File. The organisation shall provide the CVs of experts, who will provide intellectual services to the Council of Europe. The latter will assess all CVs presented by the organisation for respective lot and give a single score to the applicant organisation for the purpose of the lot.

Question 3: What should be the daily fee? No threshold is indicated.

Answer: There is no threshold fixed for this tender procedure. Hence, the consultants are free to indicate their respective daily fees.

However, please, note that each tender will be assessed with two-fold award criteria: 60% quality of the offer and 40% financial offer (see more in the section E of the Tender file). Please, note as well that only those Providers whose score, following the assessment of the Award Criteria, is equivalent to or higher than 3,5 will be selected under each Lot.

Question 4: Are NGOs with the number of field-related experts/consultants eligible to participate in this tender?

Answer: Tenders from legal persons, including NGOs are authorised to apply. Please, check Section A (legal status of applicants) and G (requested documents) of the Tender File.

The organisation shall provide requested documents listed in section G for all consultants listed in its offer. For example, the Council expects that the organisation provides CVs as well as list of drafted documents of each and every consultant offered in its tender. The organisation may also supply its portfolio, but this is not obligatory as it is not mentioned in the list of requested documents.

Please, note that each consultant should satisfy eligibility and award criteria listed in section E of the tender file. Non-eligible consultant(s) listed in the tender of the organisation will be dismissed from the procedure. The Council of Europe will assess profiles of all eligible consultants presented by the organisation and give a single score to the applicant organisation.

Please, note that, if contracted, the Council of Europe reserves the right to request provision of services from specific consultant(s) suggested by the organisation.

Question 5: Do I understand correctly that a pool of ten experts or consultants will be set up for each lot on the basis of the applications, who can then be involved in the further course of the project on the initiative of the Council of Europe?

Answer: yes, this is correct. You may find more information about what happens after establishment of the pool of consultants in the section D of the Tender File. Please, note as well that the Council will depend on the needs as they arise through the Project duration. It may happen that not all consultants involved in the pool will be requested to provide services.

Question 6: Must travel and accommodation costs - of course in accordance with the rules of the Council of Europe - be stated separately in the application?

Answer: No, only consultancy fees i.e. the daily fee for your intellectual services should be indicated in the Act of Engagement.

If travel and accomodation needs will arise, these costs will be calculated based on the Council of Europe standard rates. These rates are not mentioned in the current Framework Contract.

Question 7: The same question concerns the Act of Engagement - should it be signed by the organization representative or each expert suggested by the organization?

A: The Act of Engagement should be signed by the representative of the organisation.