Calls for expressions of interest

CONTRACT NOTICE ISSUED BY COLEAD

In the context of the implementation of its programmes, COLEAD has developed a large network of experts rigorously selected through tendering procedures. COLEAD regularly publishes contract notices requesting service providers to express their interest in the form of an online application file. Service providers are advised to regularly consult this page to check current Calls for Expression of Interest (CEI).

OPENED CALLS FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

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AO 251393 – Support for strengthening the competitiveness of the agri-food sector – with a 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 the areas of agricultural production/processing and environmental management – (post date 04/09/2025)

You will find below all information related to this service procurement notice, including the terms of reference (paragraph 8. Market description).

Please note that only successful candidates in this first phase will be invited for the tender which will follow. It is therefore imperative to respond to this call for expressions of interest by sending your application (paragraph 14) if you wish to have the opportunity to appear on the short list.

The deadline to receive the applications for this tender is Wednesday, October 08th, 2025, at 23:59 Brussels time (CEST).

Tip: to avoid any problems with transmission, time zones, computer bugs or connection problems, applicants are strongly advised to complete their applications well in advance. Applications received after the deadline will be rejected.

Terms of references

Application form

None yet.

TENDERS LAUNCHED WITHOUT PRIOR CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

AO 251386 – Study on the bottlenecks affecting the competitiveness and sustainability of Ethiopian horticultural exports – (post date 07/07/2025)

Subject: Invitation to tender
Service contract entitled: “Study on the bottlenecks affecting the competitiveness and sustainability of Ethiopian horticultural exports”
Ref: COLEAD/AO/251386

COLEAD is launching a new call for tenders concerning the provision of a Study on the bottlenecks affecting the competitiveness and sustainability of Ethiopian horticultural exports.

You will find below the link, to download all the documents that form the tender file, including the invitation to tender, the instructions to tenderers and the list of documents to be completed. The documents will automatically download to your computer, so please check your download folder.

We invite you to pay careful attention to the following information:

  1. The Tenderer is required to complete Document D.3. Legal entity form AND attach the supporting document, i.e. a copy of a document proving the official registration of the tendering structure or the activity of the independent consultant with the local authorities; CONSORTIUMS* ARE NOT PERMITTED IN THIS CALL FOR TENDERS [*Consortium: an agreement, combination, or group (as of companies or independent consultants) formed to undertake an enterprise beyond the resources of any one member]
  2. Your technical and financial offers must be received by expert@colead.link no later than 23:59 Brussels time (CEST) on Wednesday 06th of August 2025 The date and time of receipt of the message by COLEAD is considered the authentic date and time. Emails received after the deadline will be rejected and offers will not be evaluated.
  3. This assignment demands comprehensive knowledge, proven experience, and a deep understanding of Ethiopian horticultural exports, as well as the ability to conduct a qualitative impact assessment. Please do not apply unless you are fully capable of delivering the required services, as detailed in document B.1: Terms of Reference.

Failure to comply with one or more of these rules constitutes an element of administrative non-compliance and could result in the rejection of the defaulting tenders.

Please refer to document A.2. Instructions to Tenderers for compiling your tender documents so that they meet the administrative compliance criteria required by this procedure.

Thank you for your attention.

Tender file

CALLS FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST UNDER REVIEW

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) – (Shortlist 23/07/2025).

Shortlist

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PAST CALLS FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

List of past CEI

  • AO 251366 – Support to the COLEAD team for the implementation and monitoring of COLEAD programme activities in Tanzania – NOTIFIED
  • AO 251365 – Support to the COLEAD team for the implementation and monitoring of COLEAD programme activities in Uganda – NOTIFIED
  • 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 – NOTIFIED
  • AO 241319 – Support to the COLEAD team for the implementation and monitoring of COLEAD programme activities in Cameroon – NOTIFIED
  • AO 241317 – Support to the COLEAD team for the implementation and monitoring of COLEAD programme activities in Malawi – NOTIFIED
  • AO 231289 – Support to design, supervise and implement research on integrated crop production, digital technologies and environmental footprinting in ACP horticulture to support transition toward sustainable agriculture and facilitate compliance with SPS requirements of domestic and international markets – NOTIFIED
  • AO 231269 – Support to the COLEAD team for the implementation and monitoring of COLEAD programme activities in Ethiopia – NOTIFIED
  • AO 231280 – Support to the COLEAD team for the implementation and monitoring of COLEAD programme activities in Ghana – NOTIFIED
  • AO 231264 – Support services for the communication and visibility of COLEAD and its programmes – Production of information and communication material Videos and/or audio-visual animations – NOTIFIED
  • AO 231274 – Support to strengthen the competitiveness of the agri-food sector (with an emphasis on ACP horticultural sector) and compliance with the regulatory and private requirements of national, regional and international markets through training and technical assistance in the areas of business management, and sustainable commercial and social practices – NOTIFIED
  • AO 231258 – Pedagogical support services in the development and digitalisation of COLEAD’s training offer and its programmes – NOTIFIED
  • AO 221265 – Support services for the communication and visibility of COLEACP and its programmes – Graphic design – NOTIFIED
  • AO 221266 – Support services for the communication and visibility of COLEACP and its programmes – Editing, proofreading and production of written communications – NOTIFIED
  • AO 221270 – Support the COLEACP Team in the provision of technical information on new EU policies, regulatory and non-regulatory measures and their implications for developing and emerging countries – NOTIFIED
  • AO 221268 – Support to the COLEACP Team to evaluate the impact of EU policies, regulatory and non-regulatory initiatives on developing and emerging countries – NOTIFIED
  • AO 221261 – Support to COLEACP and its partner-beneficiaries to strengthen the competitiveness of the agri-food sector in national, regional and international markets (with a specific emphasis on the EU27/UK) through market intelligence services) – NOTIFIED
  • AO 221241 – Support to the COLEACP team for the implementation and monitoring of COLEACP programme activities in the Caribbean Region (except Dominican Republic) – NOTIFIED
  • AO 211223 – Support to the COLEACP team for the implementation and monitoring of COLEACP programme activities in Pacific Island Countries – NOTIFIED
  • AO 211222 – Support to the COLEACP team for the implementation and monitoring of COLEACP programme activities in Guinea-Bissau – NOTIFIED
  • AO211218 – Support to strengthen the competitiveness and compliance of the ACP horticultural industry 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 – NOTIFIED
  • AO211217 – Support to strengthen the competitiveness and compliance of ACP horticultural sectors with the regulatory and private requirements of national, regional and international markets through training and technical assistance in the areas of agricultural production/processing and environmental management) – NOTIFIED
  • AO 211205 – Communication support services for COLEACP and its programmes – Simultaneous interpretation/translation, on-site and remote – NOTIFIED
  • AO 211196 – Support to the COLEACP team for the implementation and monitoring of COLEACP programme activities in Rwanda (post date 13/04/2021) – NOTIFIED
  • AO 211195 – Support to the COLEACP team for the implementation and monitoring of COLEACP programme activities in Dominican Republic (post date 13/04/2021) – NOTIFIED
  • AO 211194 – Support to the COLEACP team for the implementation and monitoring of COLEACP programme activities in Zimbabwe (post date 13/04/2021) – NOTIFIED
  • AO 211193 – Support to the COLEACP team for the implementation and monitoring of COLEACP programme activities in Nigeria (post date 13/04/2021) – NOTIFIED
  • AO 211181 – Support to COLEACP and its beneficiary partners to strengthen the competitiveness of the ACP agri-food sector in national, regional and international (with a specific emphasis on the EU27/UK) markets through business/market intelligence and enhanced up-to-date information and communication (post date 16/02/2021) – NOTIFIED
  • AO 201176 – Support services for the communication and visibility of COLEACP’s programmes – Graphic design and production of information and communication materials (post date 24/11/2020) – NOTIFIED
  • AO 201175 – Support to strengthen the competitiveness of the ACP horticulture sector and compliance with the regulatory and private requirements of national, regional and international markets through training and technical assistance in the areas of business management, and sustainable commercial and social practices (post date 09/11/2020) – NOTIFIED
  • AO 201173 – Support to strengthen the competitiveness of the ACP horticulture sector and compliance with the regulatory and private requirements of national, regional and international markets through training and technical assistance in the areas of SPS, agricultural production/processing, and environmental management (post date 10/11/2020) – NOTIFIED
  • AO 201170 – Support to the COLEACP team for the implementation and monitoring of COLEACP programme activities in Tanzania – NOTIFIED
  • AO 201169 – Support to the COLEACP team for the implementation and monitoring of COLEACP programme activities in Ethiopia – NOTIFIED
  • AO 201168 – Support to the COLEACP team for the implementation and monitoring of COLEACP programme activities in Pacific Island Countries – NOTIFIED
  • AO 201167 – Support to the COLEACP team for the implementation and monitoring of COLEACP programme activities in Dominican Republic – NOTIFIED
  • AO 201166 – Support to the COLEACP team for the implementation and monitoring of COLEACP programme activities in Uganda – NOTIFIED
  • AO 201164 – Support services for the communication and visibility of COLEACP’s programmes and the association’s members and partners: Development, support, and front-end and/or back-end maintenance of websites and platforms – NOTIFIED
  • AO 201153 – Support for the development of training and monitoring tools in areas related to sanitary and phytosanitary quality, sustainable production systems and responsible social practices – NOTIFIED
  • AO 201147 – Support to the COLEACP team for the implementation and monitoring of COLEACP programme activities in Ghana – NOTIFIED
  • AO 191135 – Communication support services and visibility of COLEACP and its programmes – Production of Information and Communication material Photos and/or Videos and/or Audio-visual animations – NOTIFIED
  • AO 191134 – Analytical and technical information support services in crop production and crop protection to facilitate compliance of the ACP horticultural industry with the requirements of domestic and international markets – NOTIFIED
  • AO 191132 – Support to the COLEACP team for the implementation and monitoring of COLEACP programme activities in Guinea (Conakry) – NOTIFIED
  • AO 191131 – Support to the COLEACP team for the implementation and monitoring of COLEACP programme activities in Madagascar – NOTIFIED
  • AO 191130 – Support to the COLEACP team for the implementation and monitoring of COLEACP programme activities in Sierra Leone – CANCELLED (Post date 05/11/2019 – unsuccessful procedure)
  • AO 191129 – Support to the COLEACP team for the implementation and monitoring of COLEACP programme activities in Benin and Togo – NOTIFIED
  • AO 191128 – Support to the COLEACP team for the implementation and monitoring of COLEACP programme activities in Côte d’Ivoire – NOTIFIED
  • AO 191127 – Support to the COLEACP team for the implementation and monitoring of COLEACP programme activities in Suriname – NOTIFIED
  • AO 191126 – Support to the COLEACP team for the implementation and monitoring of COLEACP programme activities in Brukina Faso and Mali – NOTIFIED
  • AO 191125 – Support to the COLEACP team for the implementation and monitoring of COLEACP programme activities in Cameroon – NOTIFIED
Terms of Reference - CEI 251393

1. Title of contract

Support for strengthening the competitiveness of the agri-food sector – with a 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 the areas of agricultural production/processing and environmental management

Ref: COLEAD/AO/251393

 

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.

European Green Deal

The Green Deal aims to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050 and proposes an action plan to stimulate the efficient use of resources, transition to a clean and circular economy, restore biodiversity and reduce pollution. It will be implemented through a wide range of policies and instruments, as well as legislative and non-legislative measures.

The Farm to Fork Strategy promotes a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system and recognises that food and agriculture are important drivers of climate change and environmental degradation. The strategy aims to reduce the environmental and climate footprint of the EU food system, reverse the trend of biodiversity loss, ensure food security, reduce dependence on pesticides and excessive fertilisation, and develop organic farming. It aims to lead a global transition towards competitive sustainability from farm to fork.

The support provided to EU farmers by the CAP will contribute to this transition, in particular through the following measures:

  • Capping and better targeting income support to farmers who need it and to the achievement of the green ambition;
  • A significant flow of funding for new ‘eco-schemes’ that encourage sustainable practices;
  • Investments, advisory services and support for practices aimed at reducing pesticide use;
  • A favourable regulatory environment that will facilitate (among other things) the marketing of organic pesticides; implement strict phytosanitary rules to strengthen vigilance on imports; and provide the legal framework necessary to support the transition to organic farming.

The EU aims to promote a global transition to sustainable agri-food systems, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It will achieve this by including a chapter on sustainability in all EU bilateral trade agreements. This will be accompanied by enhanced cooperation with third countries on pesticide use, animal welfare and antimicrobial resistance. The EU also intends to play a leading role in developing international standards for sustainability and methods for calculating the ecological footprint. This is why pressure is being exerted on importers to also comply with the relevant European environmental standards in order to be allowed onto the European market.

New EU organic regulation and related implementing and delegated acts

After several years of intense negotiations, on 28 June 2017 the European Parliament and the Council reached a preliminary agreement to overhaul the existing European rules on organic production and labelling. The stated objectives of the new regulation (Regulation (EU) 2018/848) are to encourage the sustainable development of organic production in the EU, ensure fair competition for farmers and operators, prevent fraud and unfair practices, and improve consumer confidence in organic products.

The first draft of the new regulation was introduced by the European Commission (EC) in 2014 but was not finally published in the Official Journal until 2018. This lengthy process reflects the often contentious negotiations and the wide range of opinions and positions within the European institutions, Member States and the organic sector. The EU sought to strike a balance between respecting the fundamental principles of organic production and the need to maintain a degree of flexibility for operators. However, there were (and still are) several issues on which it is difficult to find a compromise acceptable to all parties.

The date of entry into force of this new regulation, initially scheduled for 1st of January 2021, has been delayed to 1st of January 2022. At the time of writing, the transition period is coming to an end and all operators will have to have transitioned to the new regulation by 15th of October 2025.

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 topics covered by this call for tenders are as follows:

  • Agricultural production and food processing: Organic farming, Crop protection, Integrated production and pest control, Biological pest control, Technical itineraries, Good phytosanitary practices, Integrated pest management, Food processing techniques, Value added creation, etc.
  • Environmental management: Influence of abiotic/biotic factors on plant growth, sustainable air management, sustainable water management, sustainable soil management, sustainable biodiversity management, sustainable energy management, sustainable waste management, life cycle analysis, carbon footprint, climate change, etc.

Any other sub-theme or new issue that could limit the compliance of ACP horticultural production with local, regional or international regulations and trade constraints and/or impact the competitiveness of ACP horticultural operators is included in this contract.

Bidders must demonstrate sufficient skills and experience in at least one of the areas covered by this market to enable them to carry out any tasks that may be assigned to them.

Beneficiaries / target audience

The beneficiaries/target audiences are stakeholders in the horticultural sector, namely: company directors and technical managers, extension workers from smallholder support structures, agents from intermediary structures in the horticultural sector, public and private service providers, and public service agents.

Type of activities

The planned activities will be carried out taking into account the digital transformation process at COLEAD and that of the beneficiaries/partners of its programmes. Thus, the planned activities may be carried out either in person, entirely remotely using the digital tools available, or in a hybrid manner with one part in person and another 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 on the various topics covered by this market. The various actions to be carried out under this call for tenders will be as follows, depending on the category of beneficiary and their needs:

  • Preparation (e.g. review and/or preparation of a training course) and delivery of technical and pedagogical training, whether leading to a qualification or not (in person or remotely using digital means);
  • Training follow-up (coaching, training advice, evaluation, adjustments to training courses, etc.);
  • Improvement of training courses in vocational training centres and/or within the structures benefiting from the programmes;
  • Support for the implementation of internal training systems (and training monitoring) among beneficiaries;
  • Supervision of distance learning through the COLEAD training platform and/or a third-party platform (where applicable).

Illustration – Some examples of actions

  • Leading a group training session on sustainable water management;
  • Leading on-site training on organic farming and organic pineapple production;
  • Reviewing and adapting the training course on sustainable biodiversity management;
  • Strengthen an expert’s technical and teaching skills through individualised coaching sessions (topics covered by this contract);

Important: COLEAD is ISO 21001 certified[1] , an international standard specifically designed for education and training organisations. ISO 21001 guarantees that COLEAD’s processes for managing/implementing its training activities meet high quality standards and meet the professional expectations of stakeholders. Service providers selected under this call for tenders must comply with the requirements and procedures related to this standard when organising training activities (in collaboration with the COLEAD team).

Technical Assistance

The services sought will aim to:

  • Support beneficiary partners in each stage of upgrading/compliance with the topics covered by this market;
  • Support beneficiary partners in their sustainability self-assessment process;
  • Support the identification and implementation of tools for controlling the systems put in place and monitoring their performance;
  • Support the improvement of services offered by intermediary structures (public and private) and service providers to their beneficiaries and/or members (businesses, small producers, etc.) and to their customers (businesses and/or consumers);
  • Validate the compliance of the systems put in place with current national or international standards, private/regulatory standards (e.g. pre-audits and certification audits);
  • Facilitate the establishment 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 issues common to horticultural operators under the themes covered by the market.

Illustration – Some examples of actions

  • Supporting producers and MSMEs in each stage of setting up systems that meet local, regional and/or international market requirements (regulatory or private standards), with a view to certification where appropriate;
  • Assessing a company’s production and processing system with a view to implementing an organic production system;
  • Analysing a company’s production planning in order to optimise yields;
  • Supporting the management of small producers who supply companies to help them integrate into the systems put in place;
  • Evaluating, characterising and proposing solutions for the recovery of waste from a company’s activities;

Logistics

The services sought will help to facilitate the logistical organisation of COLEAD’s technical assistance and training activities under this market:

  • Obtain and analyse service offers for training rooms, catering services, accommodation services and/or transport services. Submit the best offers and their analyses to COLEAD for validation;
  • Ensure that the selected service providers and companies/participants understand and accept COLEAD’s payment terms and conditions and COLEAD’s terms and conditions of coverage;
  • Confirm the exact number of reservations to be made (catering and accommodation) based on the actual number of participants registered. Ensure that the rooms have the necessary equipment (video projector, flipchart, etc.) and, if not, take the necessary steps to equip them;
  • Collect the registration forms from the invited companies and register them. Follow up with the companies that have received invitations to confirm their participation, assist them in selecting their participants and explain COLEAD’s terms and conditions of coverage to them;
  • Support participants and/or experts coming from abroad with administrative procedures and organising their transport to the activity/training venue.
  • Obtain the necessary equipment for the smooth running of the training after discussing requirements with the experts and COLEAD. Receive and, if necessary, clear customs for the equipment sent by COLEAD for the activity/training. Deliver the training equipment sent by COLEAD to the experts for distribution to participants.
  • Ensure that, each day, participants and/or experts sign the documents required by COLEAD (attendance lists, accommodation lists, teaching material delivery sheets, list of people trained, etc.);
  • Check the final invoices from service providers and ensure they comply with the services booked, attendance lists and accommodation lists. Send scans of the documents completed by participants and/or experts during the training to COLEAD and, after verification and validation by COLEAD, send the originals by registered post.

This list is not exhaustive and certain services may be added or removed depending on the logistical requirements of the activities to be organised.

 

9. Budget

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

 

10. Provisional timetable

Date of publication of this Contract Notice: 04/09/2025

Deadline for receipt of applications (expressions of interest): 08/10/2025

Deadline for publication of the shortlist: 04/11/2025

Expected date for sending invitations to tenders: 04/11/2025

Deadline for submission of tenders: 13/01/2026

Date of notification to the successful bidders: 31/03/2026

Expected start date of the contract: 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 to this document. 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 (legal entity, 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, October 08th, 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/251393 in the title of your email when communicating with COLEAD.

 

[1] This certification establishes rigorous criteria for management systems in educational organisations, emphasising continuous improvement in learning services, alignment with beneficiary needs, and stakeholder satisfaction.

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