Description
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The objective of this procurement is to engage a qualified service provider to deliver a comprehensive Investment Readiness Programme for 10 companies focused on Digital Social Innovation (DSI). The programme aims to enable these companies to attract investment from Europe and/or Africa and scale their operations effectively across the continent. HAUS Finnish Institute of Public Management Ltd, as the Contracting Authority, has developed the “Think Like an Investor” programme in collaboration with the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV). Commissioned by the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Union, the programme is part of the European Union-African Union (EU-AU) Data Flagship (2022–2026), which fosters an inclusive, data-driven economy in Africa. This programme supports 10 African data-driven startups and SMEs delivering societal value through scalable DSIs. By promoting African-European partnerships and facilitating investment opportunities, the programme drives data-driven innovation, inclusive growth, and sustainable social and economic development in the region. DSIs leverage technology to address critical challenges such as poverty, inequality, education, healthcare, and environmental sustainability, providing scalable, impactful solutions that empower communities and contribute to sustainable development, particularly in underserved regions. The selected service provider will design, implement, and report on the Investment Readiness Programme, offering tailored support to help DSIs secure investments and achieve sustainable growth. Key services include developing a results-oriented curriculum, providing customized coaching and mentoring, facilitating investor matchmaking and networking, conducting progress monitoring, and delivering a comprehensive final report on activities and outcomes. The programme is tentatively scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2025, incorporating on-site check-up sessions aligned with existing events to optimize resources. Training sessions, conducted online or in small groups, will be tailored to participants' needs and include one-on-one mentoring. The key objectives of the programme are to deliver investment readiness services tailored to 10 DSI companies located in South Africa, Botswana, Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia, Namibia, and Senegal. It also aims to provide comprehensive training and mentorship to enhance their ability to secure investments. Additionally, the programme seeks to facilitate the scaling of these companies across Africa and establish strategic partnerships with investors from both Europe and Africa. The contract period will commence upon signing and remain in effect until all obligations have been fulfilled. Tenderers will not receive any compensation for preparing, presenting, or participating in the tender process. Tender documents are available in English, and all offers must also be submitted in English. Translation of tender documents into other languages is the responsibility and cost of the tenderer. The Contracting Authority will award the contract to one (1) supplier as a result of this procurement.
Main features of the procedure
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The procurement is subject to the Finnish Act on Public Procurement and Concession Contracts (the ‘Procurement Act’, 1397/2016). The procurement constitutes an above-EU-threshold procurement as referred to in Section 26 of the Procurement Act. Procurement procedure is carried out according to the open procedure stated in the section 32 of the Finnish Act on Public Procurements and Concession Contracts (1397/2016). In an open procedure, all interested parties may review the tender materials and submit their tenders. The procurement procedure will progress in the following steps: 1. Opening of the tenders 2. Verifying the suitability of the tenderers. The tenderers that do not fulfill the suitability criteria, will be excluded from the tendering process. 3. Verifying that the tenders fulfill the requirements of the Call for Tenders; the tenders that do not fulfill the requirements will be excluded from the tendering process. 4. If more than one (1) Tenderer fulfill the requirements of the Call for Tenders for each area, the Tenderers of that area will be compared based on the comparison criteria specific to that area. 5. Selecting one Tenderer for each area based on the comparison results 6. Verifying the supporting documents and references about the suitability of the winner/winners. 7. Contract award decision and notification. 8. Concluding and signing the Contract with the selected Service Provider.