Calls for expressions of interest

AO 251382

Support for strengthening the competitiveness of the agri-food sector – with particular emphasis on the horticultural sector in ACP countries – and compliance with the regulatory and private requirements of national, regional and international markets through training and technical assistance in business management and sustainable commercial and social practices

Post date: 19/05/2025

Terms of references

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Terms of Reference - CEI 251382

1. Title of contract

Support for strengthening the competitiveness of the agri-food sector – with particular emphasis on the horticultural sector in ACP countries – and compliance with the regulatory and private requirements of national, regional and international markets through training and technical assistance in business management and sustainable commercial and social practices

Ref: COLEAD/AO/251382

 

2. Location

Interventions may require travel to partner countries (with particular emphasis on ACP countries). Depending on the case, experts may be asked to visit COLEAD offices (Brussels, Rungis, Nairobi, Lomé, etc.).

 

3. Main object (CPV code)

Agri-food sectors

 

4. General address of the contracting authority

COLEAD

3, Avenue du Viaduc – Bât B3A
CP 90761
94550 Chevilly Larue
France

 

5. Publication of detailed Contract Notice

Internet address of the contracting authority:

https://www.colead.link

 

6. Procedure

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

  1. Publication of the Contract Notice and submission by candidates of their expression of interest
  2. Establishment of the longlist
  3. Pre-selection based on the application file
  4. Establishment of the shortlist

Phase 2

  1. Launching of the call for tenders (sending of tender documents to short-listed candidates)
  2. Selection based on the files provided by those tendering
  3. Establishment of framework contract with the selected tenderer

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.

 

7. Background information

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 Networking 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 horticultural sector”, with a total budget of €25 million funded by the 11thEDF.

The overall objective of FFM+ 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. Simultaneously, 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.

Other projects implemented by COLEAD (at the date of launch of this call for tenders)

As part of its drive to diversify its sources of funding, COLEAD is involved in implementing other national or multinational programs financed by various donors. In addition to the FFM Plus programme, COLEAD is currently involved in the implementation of several technical assistance programs/projects in line with the association’s mission:

  • “AGRINFO – Towards a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system: Examining compliance with EU regulatory and non-regulatory measures” (FOOD 2021/427-777) funded by the EC for a total budget of 7 million euros. The AGRINFO program focuses on identifying and monitoring EU policies, regulatory and non-regulatory measures, standards and market trends that have a potential impact on competitiveness, market access and trade dynamics at national, regional and international levels for agricultural operators in partner countries and the EU.
  • “EDFI-AgriFI“: COLEAD was retained in July 2024 by EDFI Management Company (EDFI MC) for consulting and technical assistance services on the AgriFI facility. The overall aim is to provide technical assistance to private sector companies active in agri-food value chains in low- and middle-income countries. The technical assistance services provided by COLEAD, among others, should thus enhance the performance and resilience of AgriFI’s investment portfolio, and contribute to the facility’s sustainability and long-term impact, through improved risk management, portfolio diversification and financial returns.
  • “PASA – Programme d’Appui à la Sécurité des Aliments pour la République de Côte d’Ivoire”, funded by the European Union (DUE Côte d’Ivoire), aims to strengthen the contribution of the Ivorian agri-food sector to economic growth, food security and sustainable development in Côte d’Ivoire by improving the competitiveness, resilience, inclusiveness and sustainability of agri-food value chains.
  • “MAHEBER – Mobilizing Horticulture Stakeholders for Entrepreneurship and Strengthening Ethiopia’s Resilience” funded by the European Union (DUE Ethiopia), aims to strengthen the Ethiopian horticultural sector’s contribution to economic growth, food security, nutrition and sustainable development, by improving the competitiveness, resilience, inclusiveness and sustainability of the country’s horticultural value chains.

The list of other programs/projects is not exhaustive. Indeed, COLEAD is involved in the implementation of several national and regional technical assistance programs/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.

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.

 

8. Market description

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:

  • Local ownership ;
  • No substitution of local stakeholders ;
  • Investment in local expertise and human resources;
  • Pooling of problems / economies of scale/intra-inter regional approach favoured;
  • Demand-driven approach;
  • A participatory approach and cost sharing;
  • South-South cooperation;
  • Technical, scientific and financial partnerships to avoid duplication, optimise synergies and upscale impact;
  • A cross-cutting framework on youth and women.

COLEAD will preferentially involve service providers whose consultants are based in partner-countries, 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.

Note: Partner countries are defined as low-income, lower-middle-income and upper-middle-income economies, classified according to the DAC list of ODA recipients.

Themes covered by the market

The experts mobilised within the framework of this contract will be able to intervene in the following 4 areas, depending on the needs expressed by the supported organisations.

  1. Strategic and operational management of organisations (priority axis)

Overall support for the management of agricultural or agri-food organisations (SMEs, cooperatives, BMOs…), with a particular focus on investment, financial management and performance.

  • Financial and accounting management: Implementation of tools for budget monitoring, cash flow, cost analysis, reading of financial statements, audit preparation.
  • Access to financing (according to the Investment Readiness Path): Validation of business model, development of business and financial plans, preparation of applications for loans/grants/investments, referral to relevant financiers.
  • Sales and marketing development: market analysis, diversification strategies, scenario planning, digital marketing, product positioning.
  • Risk management: Identification and mitigation of financial, operational and commercial risks; development of contingency plans.
  • Human resources management: work organisation, HR function structuring, team management, recruitment and performance appraisal.
  • Governance and internal organisation: Structuring the company or cooperative, formalising procedures, clarifying roles and responsibilities, optimising operations.
  • Information management and decision support: Implementation of monitoring systems (indicators, dashboards), internal databases, data-based decision support.
  • Support for commercial negotiations: Preparation and support for B2B negotiations, management of disputes, handling of complaints.
  1. Sustainable commercial practices

Integrating social, environmental and ethical standards into governance and commercial relations.

  • Structuring responsible commercial relationships: contractualisation, formalisation of relationships with small producers, inclusive sourcing strategies.
  • Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): deployment of sustainability policies, social certifications, fair or ethical trade.
  • Integrating sustainability into management: Supporting the integration of social and environmental impacts into strategic and operational decisions.

 

  1. Inclusion, respect for people and ethical governance

Supporting organisations in implementing practices that are fair, inclusive and aligned with human rights principles.

  • Working conditions and human rights: Compliance with social standards (ILO), promotion of responsible employee practices.
  • Gender equality and youth inclusion: Integrating women and young people into economic activities, in line with the COLEAD Declaration on Gender.
  • Professional development: strengthening the skills of local teams, supporting professionalisation.
  • Ethics and transparency: Support for responsible governance, internal transparency, respect for consumers.

 

  1. Other sub-themes

Any other subject directly or indirectly related to the above themes, in particular in connection with :

  • local, regional or international regulatory constraints,
  • private market standards,
  • compliance or competitiveness requirements.

Bidders must demonstrate sufficient skills and experience, in at least one of the areas covered by the present contract, to enable them to carry out the assignments that may be entrusted to them.

 

Beneficiaries / target audience

Target beneficiaries/audiences are players in the agricultural industry, including, but not limited to, directors and technical managers of companies and farmers’ organisations, extension staff of organisations supporting small producers, agents of intermediary structures in the agricultural sector, public and private sector service providers, and agents of public services, in particular the competent authority for SPS inspection and certification (the National Plant Protection Organisation – NPPO), authorities and laboratories responsible for pesticide registration, etc.

 

Type of activities

The planned activities will be carried out taking into account COLEAD’s digital transformation process and that of the beneficiaries/partners of its programmes. Thus, the planned activities can be carried out either face-to-face, or totally 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 contribute to increasing the technical and pedagogical skills of the target audiences in the various themes covered by this contract. Service providers must demonstrate a mastery of pedagogical approaches and the ability to design, develop and run effective training courses, taking into account the different profiles and needs of partner-beneficiaries. The actions described below constitute a non-exhaustive list of activities that can be implemented as part of the support to partner-beneficiaries:

  • Design and preparation of training courses, including
  • Revision and/or preparation of a training module (content and design) ;
  • Integration of digital tools and innovative formats (classroom, hybrid or distance learning).

 

  • Leading and facilitating training courses, including
  • Technical and pedagogical training courses, leading to qualifications or otherwise (face-to-face or distance learning);
  • The use of interactive methods to promote understanding of content;
  • Adopt a rhythm and format adapted to the audience.

 

  • Post-training follow-up and support, including
  • Individual or group coaching, learning follow-up, evaluation of acquired skills and adjustment of content if necessary;
  • Tips for boosting the impact of training courses.

 

  • Strengthening training systems, including
  • Improvement of training modules in vocational training centers and/or in structures benefiting from the programmes;
  • Support for setting up internal training systems (and follow-up training) for beneficiaries.

 

  • Support for distance learning, including
  • Provide guidance for distance learning via COLEAD’s digital learning platform and/or a third-party platform (if applicable). For example, on the accessibility of materials via the platform or other communication channels;
  • Adapt teaching content for independent, accessible learning.

Illustration – Some examples of actions

  • Design: Revision and adaptation of the sales negotiation training module;
  • Animation: Create and lead group training sessions on human resources management;
  • Post-training support: Individualised coaching for beneficiary partners to finalise their business plans.
  • Pedagogical coaching: Reinforce an expert’s technical and pedagogical skills through individual coaching sessions on the themes and/or sub-themes covered by this call for tenders.

Technical assistance

The services sought will include :

  • Support partner-beneficiaries/target audiences to improve their operations and/or ensure compliance with public and/or private requirements in relation to the themes and/or sub-themes covered by this contract (including project monitoring) ;
  • Support partner-beneficiaries in developing new projects
  • Support the installation of tools to monitor existing systems and track their performance;
  • Support the improvement of services offered by intermediary structures (public and private) and service providers to their beneficiaries and/or members (companies, small producers, etc.) and customers (companies and/or consumers) respectively;
  • Validate the compliance of implemented systems with national or international standards, private/regulatory standards (e.g. preliminary audits and certification audits);
  • Facilitate the setting up of consultation frameworks between private operators and public institutions, and the creation of working groups (i.e. public-private exchange forums) to address new regulatory requirements or any other issue common to agricultural operators within the framework of the themes and/or sub-themes covered by the market.

Illustration – Some examples of actions

  • Support producers and MSMEs at every stage in the installation of systems that meet the requirements of local, regional and/or international markets (regulatory or private standards), possibly with a view to certification;
  • Diagnosis of an organisation’s social and commercial practices ;
  • Support organisations in their gender strategy/action plan
  • Support MSMEs in managing financial and operational risks;
  • Support MSMEs in developing and/or revising their business plans;
  • Support organizations in their communications action plans
  • Help MSMEs identify (and communicate with) appropriate sources of external funding;
  • Support organisations in strengthening their systems of governance, financial management, operational management, etc;
  • Support organisations in their Human Resources strategy.

Logistics

The services required will facilitate the logistical organisation of COLEAD’s technical assistance and training activities:

  • Obtain and analyse bids for training rooms, catering, accommodation and/or transportation services. Submit the best offers and their analysis to COLEAD for validation;
  • Ensure that service providers and selected/participating companies understand and accept COLEAD’s payment terms and COLEAD’s conditions of acceptance;
  • Confirm the exact number of reservations to be made (food and accommodation) based on actual participant registrations. Ensure that rooms have the necessary equipment (video projector, flipchart, etc.) and if not, take the necessary steps to equip them;
  • Collect registration forms from invited companies and register them. Follow up with companies who have received invitations to ensure their participation, help them choose their participants, and explain how COLEAD will cover costs;
  • Support participants and/or foreign experts in administrative formalities and in organizing their transport to the activity/training venue;
  • Obtain the materials required for the training activity after discussing needs with the experts and COLEAD. Receive and, if necessary, clear the materials sent by COLEAD for the activity/training. Hand over the training materials sent by COLEAD to the experts for distribution to the participants;
  • Ensure that, each day, participants and/or experts sign the documents required by COLEAD (attendance lists, accommodation lists, training material handover sheet, list of participants, etc.);
  • Verify final invoices from service providers and conformity with booked services, attendance lists and accommodation lists. Send COLEAD scans of documents completed by participants and/or experts during the course, and, after verification and validation by COLEAD, send the originals by registered mail.

This list is not exhaustive, and some services may be added or removed depending on the logistical needs of the activities to be organised accordingly.

 

9. Budget

The maximum value of this Contract Notice is € 2,500,000.

 

10. Provisional timetable

Date of publication of this Contract Notice: 19/05/2025

Deadline for receipt of applications (expressions of interest): 18/06/2025

Deadline for publication of the shortlist: 17/07/2025

Expected date for sending invitations to tenders: 17/07/2025

Deadline for submission of tenders: 24/09/2024

Date of notification to the successful bidders: 10/12/2024

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 during the next phase.

 

11. Eligibility

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.

 

12. Prohibition on pre-selected candidates forming groups

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.

 

13. Criteria for selecting applications

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.

 

14. Application form

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:

  1. General information on the applicant
  2. The application file:
  • 1 detailed description of one or more recent assignments (within the previous 3 years) related to the type of activities, illustrating your competence in one or more of the areas of expertise described in the terms of reference. Highlight how the experience acquired in the context of this project demonstrates your skills in one or more of the areas covered by the terms of reference (4000 characters maximum, spaces included);
  • The names of up to 3 experts who technically meet the expertise requirements and a brief description of their respective skills and experience. In the case of an application made on behalf of an independent consultant, no other expert may be proposed.
  • At least one professional reference with an email address.

The application must be received by COLEAD no later than Wednesday, June 18th, 2025.

 

  1. Communication with COLEAD

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/251382 in the title of your email when communicating with COLEAD.

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