Service contract to support circular economy enterprises with a view to enhancing their investment readiness

✓Regarding the scope of the contract (what, how much, where, when), the text defines a unit‑price services contract for “Supporting the Investment Readiness of Circular Economy Businesses” as part of the EU CERC Business Lab.

✓The contractor must design and implement an Investment Readiness Support Programme targeting at least 10 growth‑oriented circular economy businesses (SMEs), with at least 80% (≥ 8) based in African countries, within EU partner countries.

✓Tasks include: (such as) (i) outreach and SME selection using agreed criteria (circularity potential, commercial viability, scalability, management quality, minimum investment need EUR 250,000, potential for or existing business linkages with EU companies, access to finance potential); (ii) diagnostic assessments and tailored support plans per SME; (iii) tailored investment readiness support (business model refinement, financial modelling, investment documentation, pitch preparation, ESG/circularity positioning); (iv) investor engagement (mapping, introductions, meetings, matchmaking, documenting investor feedback and barriers); and (v) communication and learning (success stories, lessons learned, ecosystem recommendations).

✓The estimated quantity is 175 working days of 8 hours each, used for pricing but explicitly non‑binding; only services actually performed and accepted are paid.

✓The contract starts upon notification, has an initial duration of 18 months (with Enabel’s option to extend once for up to six additional months) and is implemented through a mix of remote work and in‑person activities in EU and EU partner countries (especially Africa).

✓Deliverables and milestones are scheduled roughly as: inception report (month 1), SME selection and diagnostics (month 6), investment readiness and investor engagement report (month 16), and final report (month 18), with payments split 25% on approval of each main deliverable.

✓On award criteria and weighting, the tender uses a “most economically advantageous tender” approach based on three criteria: Methodology and Implementation Approach (40%), Experience (40%) and Price (20%).

✓Methodology is assessed on aspects such as: the coherence and quality of the overall approach; relevance and effectiveness of SME sourcing/selection methodology and investment‑readiness assessment; added value of the technical assistance approach; credibility and feasibility of the investor mobilisation/matchmaking/follow‑up strategy; integration of circularity and ESG; soundness of the implementation plan (timeline, resources); and identification and mitigation of key implementation risks.

✓Experience looks at the proposed team’s expertise in SME investment readiness (financing, transaction preparation, financial modelling, due diligence, fundraising, investment documentation), investor and finance ecosystem work (engagement, networks, matchmaking), circular economy expertise (circular business models, resource efficiency, circularity assessment and metrics, ESG integration, especially in developing markets) and work in partner countries (preferably Africa).

✓A strict minimum applies: all team members must have excellent written and spoken English and French; if this is not demonstrated in the CVs, the bid will not be evaluated qualitatively, and Enabel may request proof where reasonable doubts arise.

✓Price is evaluated on the proposed daily rate (same rate applies whether work is done from Belgium/remote or on mission abroad), with the lowest acceptable daily rate receiving the maximum points and other bids scored proportionally using B = [P(lowest) / P(bid)] × Z (Z = 20).

✓Prices are compared including VAT, and Enabel may negotiate under a Direct Negotiated Procedure with Prior Publication but may also decide not to negotiate and simply evaluate initial tenders.

✓As to risks, special conditions and procedural aspects, the text sets out several key points.

✓There is no performance bond required.

✓Price revision is explicitly prohibited; prices are fixed for the duration of the contract (no indexation or revision under Art. 38/7 GIR).

✓The contract is purely unit‑price based (no guaranteed volume) and Enabel disclaims liability for deviations from estimated quantities.

✓Variants and options are not allowed; each tenderer may submit only one offer.

❓Subcontracting and reliance on other entities’ capacities are allowed under Article 73 RD 2017, but those entities must commit resources in writing and are subject to exclusion checks; in case of contractor failure or termination, Enabel may, without a new procedure, conclude a “contract for account” with the contractor’s existing subcontractors or the second‑ranked tenderer (or others in the ranking) by amendment, provided they meet exclusion and selection criteria and conditions remain most economically advantageous.

✓Contract management is done by a named managing official (Frederik Van den Bosch), who oversees performance but cannot change fundamental conditions (e.g. deadlines).

✓Penalties include: (such as) fines for delay at 0.1% per day of delay (maximum 7.5% of the value of the delayed services, potentially up to 10% if execution time were an award criterion, which it is not here), unilateral termination, replacement contracts or completion by Enabel at the contractor’s expense, as well as full contractor liability for deficiencies and third‑party damage.

✓Clarification questions on the tender must be submitted via the e‑Procurement “Forum” no later than 10 calendar days before the submission deadline; answers and any amendments are published on the platform and must be taken into account in the offer.

✓Tenders must be signed by an authorised person via electronic or scanned signature on the submission report only; paper or email submissions are invalid.

✓Internally, some clauses are repeated (e.g. duration in both Section 2 and Section 4 Special Provisions) but are consistent: 18‑month initial period, extendable once for up to six months by written notice.

✓The estimated volume of 175 working days is stated consistently in both the “Quantities” clause and the Tender Form – Price, always with caveats that it is indicative only.

✓Where the tender refers generally to qualitative selection criteria (including economic/financial capacity), these are concretised only as technical/professional competence in the Selection File; therefore, the specific list‑of‑references requirement in Chapter 7 is the applicable minimum technical qualification, and the general references in Chapter 3 must be read in light of that detailed provision.