Calls for expressions of interest
AO 241334
Support to strengthen the competitiveness and compliance of the horticultural industries of the target countries to regulatory and/or private requirements of domestic, regional, and international markets through training and technical assistance in the areas of food safety and plant health
Post date: 13/05/2024
Please complete the application form below:
Support to strengthen the competitiveness and compliance of the horticultural industries of the target countries to regulatory and/or private requirements of domestic, regional, and international markets through training and technical assistance in the areas of food safety and plant health.
Ref: COLEAD/AO/241334
The required interventions may require travel within the target countries. The target countries are those on the list of low-income, lower-middle-income and upper-middle-income economies of the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), with particular emphasis on the member countries of the Organisation of ACP States (OACPS). Depending on the case, the experts may be invited to visit the various COLEAD offices if necessary (Brussels, Rungis, Nairobi, etc.).
Agri-food sectors
COLEAD
3, Avenue du Viaduc – Bât B3A
CP 90761
94550 Chevilly Larue
France
Internet address of the contracting authority: https://www.colead.link
The publication of this Contract Notice launches the first phase of the procedure and is intended to allow candidates to express their interest in bidding. An initial evaluation based on an analysis of the expressions of interest will result in the establishment of a shortlist of candidates deemed suitable to submit tenders.
Stages of the procedure:
Phase 1
Phase 2
The service providers selected following the consultation will be offered a framework contract, specifying a maximum daily remuneration rate per proposed expert. This rate of remuneration may differ from the financial proposal made by the tenderer.
In general, the services of the successful tenderer may start from the day of the signature of the framework contract. The interventions of the successful tenderers may extend until the full consumption of the budget allocated.
COLEAD
COLEAD is a non-profit interprofessional association created in 1973. Its purpose is to facilitate and implement all actions allowing, directly and/or indirectly, to increase the contribution of the agricultural sector, and horticulture in particular, to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
From an operational perspective, COLEAD is organised into several departments corresponding to COLEAD’s internal areas of expertise: Technical Assistance, Training, Research and Innovation Brokerage, Market Insights, Information and Communication, Regulation and Standards, Access to Finance, and Networks and Alliances.
FFM Plus programme
Fit For Market Plus: Mitigating the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic by strengthening the sustainability of the ACP horticultural sector
In November 2021, the EC and COLEAD signed a five-year grant contract, “Fit For Market Plus: mitigating the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic by strengthening the sustainability of the ACP horticulture sector”, with a total budget of €25 million funded by the 11th EDF.
FFM+ is part of the intra-ACP cooperation programme between the EU and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), formerly the ACP Group of States. It forms part of European support for medium and long-term policies aimed at strengthening productive capacities, stimulating innovation and improving the sustainability and competitiveness of the private sector in ACP countries.
The overall objective of the FFM+ programme is to contribute to poverty reduction and improved food security and nutrition, by supporting the construction of a fairer, safer and sustainable agri-food sector in OACPS member countries. Despite a disrupted landscape, the first specific objective is to support smallholders, farmer groups and MSMEs to maintain and improve access to national, regional and international horticultural markets, while adapting to changes in the operating environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, in a context of accelerated change and paradigm shift, the second specific objective is to enable smallholders, farmer groups and MSMEs in the horticultural sector to seize new market opportunities through the development and adoption of safe and sustainable practices, skills and technologies.
Following on from previous programmes, the rationale behind FFM Plus is based on applications from companies or producer groups, as well as intermediary support structures – whether public or private – that are actively involved in the process of bringing the sectors concerned into compliance (service providers, Business membership organisations [BMOs], training centres, competent authorities, research institutes, etc.).
Other projects implemented by COLEAD (at the date of launch of this call for tenders)
As part of the diversification of its funding sources, COLEAD is involved in implementing other national or multinational programmes funded by various donors. In addition to the FFM Plus programme, COLEAD is currently involved in the implementation of several technical assistance programmes/projects in line with the association’s mission:
The list of other programmes/projects is not exhaustive. Indeed, COLEAD is involved in the implementation of several national and regional technical assistance programmes/projects, in partnership with donors working towards inclusive and sustainable agri-food production and trade. Please refer to the COLEAD website to find out more about its interventions.
Regulatory changes concerning SPS measures
One of the main changes in EU Regulation 2016/2031 is that it deals with all the pests (quarantine and non-quarantine) that will be listed following the risk assessment. This includes the so-called priority pests, i.e. the EU quarantine pests that potentially have the most serious impact on the EU. These are subject to reinforced measures, including surveys, eradication plans and contingency plans.
The regulation also introduces specific measures concerning imports and movements within the EU of certain high-risk products. This is a new level of precaution. Annexes III and IV of Directive 2000/29 ** linked to the current rules remain valid, and an additional list of high-risk plants or plant products has been adopted.
Lastly, the regulation makes significant changes to the requirements for phytosanitary certificates, registration of professional operators, traceability of basic products, plant passports (planting material), export, re-export and pre-export certificates.
The stricter application of SPS standards and the increasing role of market requirements in determining access to certain parts of the EU market are exacerbating the trade challenges faced by exporters. Strengthening compliance with SPS measures and simplifying market entry conditions is an important area that is receiving increasing attention from public authorities in many third countries.
Regulatory changes concerning plant protection products
In the EU, active substances are approved for a maximum period of 10 years under EC Regulation 1107/2009, after which the approval must be reviewed. The review process involves the detailed assessment of existing (and sometimes new) data against a series of criteria, many of which have changed since the substance was first approved.
When an active substance is submitted for review, the manufacturer must submit a dossier containing the required data. In some cases, perhaps due to a lack of commercial interest, or in the knowledge that certain substances will not pass the evaluation processes, manufacturers decide not to invest in re-evaluation. This is all the more critical for minor crops in exporting countries, representing a relatively small market, so manufacturers and input suppliers are less inclined to invest in new solutions.
Following the expiry/non-renewal of EU authorisations, maximum residue limits (MRLs) are generally lowered to the limit of determination (LOD), i.e. 0.01 mg/kg. In most cases, this means that these substances can no longer be used on crops intended for export to the EU.
The revision of EC Regulation 1107/2009, leading to an effective loss of plant protection products (PPPs) affecting the viability and competitiveness of certain ACP exports, has also been taken into account as a focus for analysis, in order to identify the value chains most impacted by the effective loss of PPPs, thereby informing the Research and Innovation Brokerage department’s trials programme and priority issues for crop protection.
Gender equality
As part of COLEAD’s mission and commitment to sustainability, interventions in the countries with which we engage are expected to raise awareness of the importance of gender equality in achieving sustainable development. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) places the empowerment of women at the core of its concerns and recognises their contribution as a key driver of progress towards all goals and targets.
Women make a significant contribution to agriculture and the rural economy in all regions of the world. However, despite progress, women continue to face challenges that limit their access to economic opportunities. COLEAD’s commitment to promoting women’s economic empowerment in the agricultural sector, and horticulture in particular, will hopefully help foster inclusive growth and improve the effectiveness of the assistance it provides.
Type of market
This market concerns the provision of support services for the technical implementation of all of COLEAD’s current and future projects/programmes.
All successful tenderers will be offered a framework contract, which will specify the names of the selected experts and the maximum daily fee per expert. In certain cases, and following evaluation of the proposed CVs, the fees mentioned in the contract may differ from the fees proposed in the tenderer’s financial offer.
The objective of this call for tenders is to create a pool of experts with the required expertise, as described in the “type of activities”, who can be mobilised by COLEAD’s technical team if necessary. Services will therefore be required on an as-needed basis and through ordering letters specifying the terms of the assignments.
As a result of the above, it is important to note that in the context of this call for tenders, although the signing of a framework contract is a prerequisite for working with COLEAD, this does not guarantee that all service providers will be invited to carry out assignments.
Principles of interventions
In continuity with previous programmes, the intervention logic of COLEAD’s programmes is based on the expression of requests for support from MSMEs or producer groups in partner countries, but also from intermediate support structures – whether public or private – which are actively involved in the process of compliance and the development of value chains concerned (service providers, BMOs, training centres, inspection services, etc.). It also adopts the following modalities and principles of actions that have contributed to their success:
COLEAD will preferentially involve service providers with consultants based in partner-countries[1], from which the partner-beneficiaries of the programmes are requesting support, in order to ensure that the characteristics of the operators concerned and their environment are considered rapidly and effectively. This concern for the increasing involvement of local expertise is an integral part of COLEAD’s intervention logic.
Topics covered by the market
The themes covered by this call for tenders are as follows:
Food safety: Hygiene, risk analysis, traceability, health quality management systems, self-checking, etc.
Plant health: Safe use of pesticides and compliance with MRLs, Management of quarantine organisms, Plant protection product approval mechanisms, Plant health regulations (local, regional, national, European), National inspection, monitoring, control and sanitary and phytosanitary certification systems, etc.
Any other sub-theme or new issue that could limit the compliance of horticultural production in the target countries with local, regional or international regulations and trade constraints and/or impact the competitiveness of horticultural operators is included in this market.
Tenderers must demonstrate that they have sufficient skills and experience in at least one of the areas covered by this market to enable them to carry out any assignments that may be entrusted to them.
Beneficiaries / target groups
The beneficiaries/target audiences are stakeholders in the agricultural industry, including, but not limited to, directors and technical managers of companies and farmers’ organisations, outreach staff of organisations supporting small producers, agents of intermediary structures in the agricultural sector, public and private sector service providers, and public service agents, in particular the competent authority for SPS inspection and certification (the National Plant Protection Organisation – NPPO), plant protection product approval services, laboratories responsible for pesticide registration, etc.
Target countries
The target countries are those on the list of low, lower-middle and upper-middle income economies of the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), with particular emphasis on the member countries of the Organisation of ACP States (OACPS).
Type of activities
The planned activities will be carried out taking into account COLEAD’s digital transformation process and that of the partner-beneficiaries of its programmes. The planned activities can be carried out either face-to-face, or entirely remotely using the digital tools available, or in a hybrid way with part face-to-face and part remotely.
The actions to be organised under this call for tenders will include the following aspects:
Training
The services sought will help to increase the technical and educational skills of the target audiences in the various areas covered by this contract. The various actions to be carried out under this call for tenders will be as follows, depending on the category of beneficiary and its needs:
Illustration – Some examples of actions
Technical Assistance
The services sought will aim to :
Illustration – Some examples of actions
Logistics
The services sought will help to facilitate the logistical organisation of COLEAD’s technical assistance and training activities under this contract:
This list is not exhaustive and certain services may be added or removed depending on the logistical needs of the activities to be organised.
COLEAD is ISO 21001 certified. This means that specific procedures linked to the TMS (Training Management System) must be followed when organising each training course.
The maximum value of this Contract Notice is € 2,500,000.
Date of publication of this Contract Notice: 13/05/2024
Deadline for receipt of applications (expressions of interest): 12/06/2024
Deadline for publication of the shortlist: 10/07/2024
Expected date for sending invitations to tenders: 10/07/2024
Deadline for submission of tenders: 11/09/2024
Date of notification to the successful bidders: 04/12/2024
Expected start date of the contract: (from) from the date of signature by the 2 contracting parties.
The final schedule will be included in the tender documents.
Participation is open, under equal conditions, to all natural persons and legal entities (participating individually or in a consortium of bidders) who are nationals of the ACP and EU States and/or listed in Annex 1. A consortium may be a permanent group with legal status, or an informal group created for the purpose of a specific call for tenders. All the members of a consortium (i.e. the lead partner and all other partners) are jointly and severally liable to the contracting authority.
A check will be carried out to ensure that none of the candidate bidders appears on any of the Financial Sanctions Lists (lists designating persons, groups or entities subject to financial sanctions by the United Nations, the EU and France).
The participation of an ineligible natural person or legal entity will result in the automatic exclusion of the application concerned. If this ineligible person is part of a consortium, the application of the entire consortium will be excluded.
Any tenders received from tenderers allied with firms other than those mentioned in the shortlisted application forms will be excluded from the tender procedure. Shortlisted candidates may neither associate nor conclude mutual subcontracting agreements in the context of the contract in question. No more associations will be allowed after the shortlist has been established.
Selection criteria relating to the technical and professional capacity of the bidder will be applied to candidates. In the case of an application submitted by a consortium, these criteria will apply to the whole consortium.
These criteria ensure that the candidate (or the consortium as a whole) has sufficient skills and experience to perform the contract.
The correct observance of the instructions for sending the application file will also be considered in the evaluation.
The bidder should indicate an interest in participating in the call for tenders by applying. If the candidate is pre-selected, the name of the structure indicated on the application file will be used in the shortlist. No further changes (name, consortium or other) will be allowed.
The form is available in French and English and must be completed in one of these languages.
It includes the following data:
The application must be received by COLEAD no later than Wednesday, June 12th, 2024.
If you have any questions regarding this Contract Notice or your application, please email expert@colead.link
Be sure to include Contract Notice reference COLEAD/AO/241334 in the title of your email when communicating with COLEAD.
[1] Partner countries are defined as low-income, lower-middle income and upper-middle-income economies, categorised according to the DAC List of ODA Recipients.
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