Beratungsrahmenvereinbarung für die Formulierung, Bewertung und Überprüfung dänischer Entwicklungszusammenarbeitsprogramme und -projekte

In Part IV.B of the ESPD, the economic operator must fill in its specific yearly turnover from assignments related to official development assistance programmes or projects in the three most recent financial years for which annual accounts are available. The economic operator is required to meet the following requirement: Total specific turnover of at least DKK 25,000,000 from assignments related to official development assistance programmes or projects in the three most recent financial years for which annual accounts are available (i.e., the total specific turnover in the three most recent financial years, and not the specific yearly turnover). An economic operator requesting to participate in both lots is required to meet the requirement only once.

In Part IV.C of the ESPD, the economic operator must fill in a list of no more than 10 references for each lot. The references must concern consultancy services actually performed within the five most recent years preceding the time limit for receipt of requests to participate. Where a reference concerns a contract or framework agreement that commenced before that period, only the consultancy services actually performed within the five most recent years preceding the time limit for receipt of requests to participate may be included. Where a reference concerns a contract or framework agreement that is ongoing, only the consultancy services actually performed at the time limit for receipt of requests to participate may be included. The maximum number of references applies separately for each lot. For each lot, the number of references will be determined across all ESPDs submitted with the request to participate (i.e., from all involved economic operators in a group of economic operators and/or other supporting entities). If more than 10 references are submitted for a lot, the contracting authority will read and assess only the 10 most recent references, determined first by the end date and then by the start date. Each reference should include the following information: Description: A concise and precise description of the consultancy services actually performed by the economic operator which should be described under the following headings: (1) Role of the economic operator, (2) Type of consultancy services and the main deliverables, (3) Percentage of the consultancy services performed by subcontractors, (4) Forms of bilateral development cooperation modalities covered, (5) Geographic coverage, and (6) Area(s) of expertise. The description should not exceed 2,000 characters, including spaces, and should avoid unnecessary information that is not relevant to the assessment. Amount: The total contract value received by the economic operator for the consultancy services covered by the reference, net of value-added tax (VAT). Start date: The date when the consultancy services covered by the reference began. End date: For completed consultancy services, the date when the consultancy services covered by the reference were completed. For ongoing consultancy services, the time limit for receipt of requests to participate. Recipient: The name and contact information of the client or donor financing the consultancy services. Where the economic operator has been a subcontractor and only performed parts of the consultancy services, only the subcontracted consultancy services actually performed by the economic operator may be included in the reference. Where a reference concerns a framework agreement, the description and amount may summarise the contracts for consultancy services performed under that framework agreement within the five most recent years preceding the time limit for receipt of requests to participate. The contracting authority encourages economic operators to also meet the criteria for choosing the selected candidates to the greatest extent possible. A reference may be relied upon for more than one type of consultancy services and/or area of expertise where the description of the consultancy services actually performed demonstrates performance in each area for which the reference is relied upon. If a reference is not relevant to the required services (e.g., the reference is an evaluation), it may be relied upon to demonstrate performance in other areas (e.g., an area of expertise, or related to the criteria for choosing the selected candidates). A reference may also be relied upon for both lots where the description of the consultancy services actually performed demonstrates relevant performance for each lot. Economic operators are encouraged to provide information in Part IV.C of the ESPD as shown in the Instructions to Tenderers.

The economic operator must demonstrate that, within the five most recent years preceding the time limit for receipt of requests to participate, it has: (1) Acted as the lead contractor (i.e., the contractor identified as the lead party under the framework agreement and responsible for coordinating the performance of the consultancy services delivered under it) or framework manager (i.e., the contractor responsible for the overall administration and coordination of the framework agreement, including the coordination of assignments awarded under it) under at least one framework agreement for consultancy services related to official development assistance (ODA) under the applicable OECD DAC rules. (2) Performed the following consultancy services relating to development cooperation programmes or projects (where the definition of an appraisal and a review is aligned with the definitions provided by OECD/DAC: https://one.oecd.org/document/DCD/DAC/EV(2022)2/en/pdf): Formulation (i.e., preparation of the project or programme documentation that serves as the basis for approval and subsequent implementation), Appraisal (i.e., impartial assessment of a project or programme prior to final approval), and Review (i.e., quality assurance assessment of the progress, implementation, performance, results, risks or continuing relevance of a project or programme during its implementation). (3) Performed consultancy services in each of the following areas of expertise: (a) Climate change (e.g., consultancy services concerning climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, or development assistance with climate change as a principal or significant objective, consistent with the OECD DAC Rio-marker terminology, including locally-led adaption, renewable-energy, energy efficiency, climate finance, and climate-investment), (b) Environment and/or sustainable natural-resource management (e.g., consultancy services concerning environmentally sustainable development conservation or restoration, or the sustainable management and use of natural resources, including biodiversity, protection, sustainable forest or land management, integrated water-resources management, sustainable agriculture and food systems, fisheries or aquaculture, and food security), (c) Private sector development (e.g., consultancy services concerning the role of enterprises, entrepreneurs, or markets in inclusive and sustainable development, including private-sector development, the development of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), access to finance for MSMEs, inclusive business models, value-chain development, market access, trade facilitation, employment generation, vocational education and training, public-private partnerships, economic diplomacy, and the development of insurance markets), and (d) Financing and/or mobilisation of finance for sustainable development (e.g., consultancy services concerning development finance, financial instruments, financial-sector development or the mobilisation of additional finance for sustainable development, including blended finance, the strategic use of development finance to mobilise additional finance for sustainable development, financing structures combining development finance with commercial finance, the mobilisation of private finance, guarantee schemes, engagement with multilateral development banks (MDBs), development finance institutions (DFIs) or development-finance facilities, and financing instruments intended to accelerate impact investment). The economic operator must demonstrate performance of consultancy services in each area of expertise specified, but the economic operator is not required to demonstrate performance of consultancy services concerning every example listed under an area of expertise.

Candidates will be selected on the basis of the references concerning the performance of consultancy services within the five most recent years preceding the time limit for receipt of requests to participate (provided in Part IV.C of the ESPD). The selection will not be based on a renewed assessment of whether the requirements are met, but on an assessment of the relevance of the submitted references for the lot in question. The assessment of relevance will prioritise the following considerations: (1) Experience with framework agreement management for development cooperation services. (2) Experience with the services required, namely the formulation, appraisal and review of development cooperation programmes and projects. The required services that will be prioritised do not include studies, evaluations and services linked to implementation such as monitoring, evaluation, learning and accountability (MEAL) assignments. (3) Performance of consultancy services related to different forms of bilateral development cooperation modalities (e.g., thematic, global, regional, and country programmes and projects), and contributions to multilateral organisations (multi-bi) and non-governmental organisations (NGO) at global, regional or country level. (4) Performance of consultancy services related to development cooperation for clients comparable to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (e.g., a ministry or any other national or federal authority, or a national or federal agency/office, working with development cooperation). (5) Geographic experience from Africa, Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Asia, and/or EU’s Eastern neighbourhood, including conflict affected and/or fragile contexts. (6) Broad and deep thematic expertise in the areas specified for the relevant lot, covering as many of the examples listed under the areas of expertise as possible. The assessment will also emphasise that the submitted references collectively demonstrate relevant experience across as many types of consultancy services, bilateral development cooperation modalities, comparable clients working with development cooperation, countries/regions and contexts, and areas of expertise as possible.

In Part IV.B of the ESPD, the economic operator must fill in its specific yearly turnover from assignments related to official development assistance programmes or projects in the three most recent financial years for which annual accounts are available. The economic operator is required to meet the following requirement: Total specific turnover of at least DKK 25,000,000 from assignments related to official development assistance programmes or projects in the three most recent financial years for which annual accounts are available (i.e., the total specific turnover in the three most recent financial years, and not the specific yearly turnover). An economic operator requesting to participate in both lots is required to meet the requirement only once.

In Part IV.C of the ESPD, the economic operator must fill in a list of no more than 10 references for each lot. The references must concern consultancy services actually performed within the five most recent years preceding the time limit for receipt of requests to participate. Where a reference concerns a contract or framework agreement that commenced before that period, only the consultancy services actually performed within the five most recent years preceding the time limit for receipt of requests to participate may be included. Where a reference concerns a contract or framework agreement that is ongoing, only the consultancy services actually performed at the time limit for receipt of requests to participate may be included. The maximum number of references applies separately for each lot. For each lot, the number of references will be determined across all ESPDs submitted with the request to participate (i.e., from all involved economic operators in a group of economic operators and/or other supporting entities). If more than 10 references are submitted for a lot, the contracting authority will read and assess only the 10 most recent references, determined first by the end date and then by the start date. Each reference should include the following information: Description: A concise and precise description of the consultancy services actually performed by the economic operator which should be described under the following headings: (1) Role of the economic operator, (2) Type of consultancy services and the main deliverables, (3) Percentage of the consultancy services performed by subcontractors, (4) Forms of bilateral development cooperation modalities covered, (5) Geographic coverage, and (6) Area(s) of expertise. The description should not exceed 2,000 characters, including spaces, and should avoid unnecessary information that is not relevant to the assessment. Amount: The total contract value received by the economic operator for the consultancy services covered by the reference, net of value-added tax (VAT). Start date: The date when the consultancy services covered by the reference began. End date: For completed consultancy services, the date when the consultancy services covered by the reference were completed. For ongoing consultancy services, the time limit for receipt of requests to participate. Recipient: The name and contact information of the client or donor financing the consultancy services. Where the economic operator has been a subcontractor and only performed parts of the consultancy services, only the subcontracted consultancy services actually performed by the economic operator may be included in the reference. Where a reference concerns a framework agreement, the description and amount may summarise the contracts for consultancy services performed under that framework agreement within the five most recent years preceding the time limit for receipt of requests to participate. The contracting authority encourages economic operators to also meet the criteria for choosing the selected candidates to the greatest extent possible. A reference may be relied upon for more than one type of consultancy services and/or area of expertise where the description of the consultancy services actually performed demonstrates performance in each area for which the reference is relied upon. If a reference is not relevant to the required services (e.g., the reference is an evaluation), it may be relied upon to demonstrate performance in other areas (e.g., an area of expertise, or related to the criteria for choosing the selected candidates). A reference may also be relied upon for both lots where the description of the consultancy services actually performed demonstrates relevant performance for each lot. Economic operators are encouraged to provide information in Part IV.C of the ESPD as shown in the Instructions to Tenderers.

The economic operator must demonstrate that, within the five most recent years preceding the time limit for receipt of requests to participate, it has: (1) Acted as the lead contractor (i.e., the contractor identified as the lead party under the framework agreement and responsible for coordinating the performance of the consultancy services delivered under it) or framework manager (i.e., the contractor responsible for the overall administration and coordination of the framework agreement, including the coordination of assignments awarded under it) under at least one framework agreement for consultancy services related to official development assistance (ODA) under the applicable OECD DAC rules. (2) Performed the following consultancy services relating to development cooperation programmes or projects (where the definition of an appraisal and a review is aligned with the definitions provided by OECD/DAC: https://one.oecd.org/document/DCD/DAC/EV(2022)2/en/pdf): Formulation (i.e., preparation of the project or programme documentation that serves as the basis for approval and subsequent implementation), Appraisal (i.e., impartial assessment of a project or programme prior to final approval), and Review (i.e., quality assurance assessment of the progress, implementation, performance, results, risks or continuing relevance of a project or programme during its implementation). (3) Performed consultancy services in each of the following areas of expertise: (a) Stabilisation, conflict prevention and peacebuilding (e.g., consultancy services concerning conflict prevention, dialogue and reconciliation, institution-building, Women, Peace and Security, Climate, Peace and Security, security sector reform, countering/preventing violent extremism, and maritime security), (b) Migration management (e.g., consultancy services concerning migration governance or management, the protection of migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, or internally displaced persons, assisted voluntary return and sustainable reintegration), (c) Democratic governance (e.g., consultancy services concerning public sector reform and development, decentralisation, inclusive political processes and accountability), (d) Human rights and civil society (e.g., consultancy services concerning the capacity development of civil society and human rights organisations, civic space, and grant mechanisms for civil-society organisations), (e) Gender equality and inclusion (e.g., consultancy services concerning women’s empowerment, sexual and reproductive health and rights, the prevention of and response to gender-based violence, or the rights, protection, meaningful participation and inclusion of persons in marginalised and vulnerable situations, such as Indigenous Peoples, religious minorities, LGBT+ persons, and persons with disabilities), (f) Resilience and recovery (e.g., consultancy services concerning resilience, early recovery in crisis-affected and/or displacement-affected settings including livelihoods, employment or local economic recovery, protection and access to services). The economic operator must demonstrate performance of consultancy services in each area of expertise specified, but the economic operator is not required to demonstrate performance of consultancy services concerning every example listed under an area of expertise.

Candidates will be selected on the basis of the references concerning the performance of consultancy services within the five most recent years preceding the time limit for receipt of requests to participate (provided in Part IV.C of the ESPD). The selection will not be based on a renewed assessment of whether the requirements are met, but on an assessment of the relevance of the submitted references for the lot in question. The assessment of relevance will prioritise the following considerations: (1) Experience with framework agreement management for development cooperation services. (2) Experience with the services required, namely the formulation, appraisal and review of development cooperation programmes and projects. The required services that will be prioritised do not include studies, evaluations and services linked to implementation such as monitoring, evaluation, learning and accountability (MEAL) assignments. (3) Performance of consultancy services related to different forms of bilateral development cooperation modalities (e.g., thematic, global, regional, and country programmes and projects), and contributions to multilateral organisations (multi-bi) and non-governmental organisations (NGO) at global, regional or country level. (4) Performance of consultancy services related to development cooperation for clients comparable to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (e.g., a ministry or any other national or federal authority, or a national or federal agency/office, working with development cooperation). (5) Geographic experience from Africa, Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Asia, and/or EU’s Eastern neighbourhood, including conflict affected and/or fragile contexts. (6) Broad and deep thematic expertise in the areas specified for the relevant lot, covering as many of the examples listed under the areas of expertise as possible. The assessment will also emphasise that the submitted references collectively demonstrate relevant experience across as many types of consultancy services, bilateral development cooperation modalities, comparable clients working with development cooperation, countries/regions and contexts, and areas of expertise as possible.