Up-Scaling Portfolio Management

DEG under its "Up-scaling Programme" finances early-stage SMEs to scale innovative business models with high development impact. The funding is repayable once the companies reach predefined success criteria, such as a certain revenue, gross profit or amount of new funding raised. The programme is part of the "Partners in Transformation" …

CPV: 66171000 Finansiell rådgivning
Plats för avrättning:
Up-Scaling Portfolio Management
Plats för tilldelning:
DEG Impulse gGmbH
Tilldelningsnummer:
024/2025

1. Buyer

1.1 Buyer

Official name : DEG Impulse gGmbH
Legal type of the buyer : Public undertaking, controlled by a central government authority
Activity of the contracting authority : Economic affairs

2. Procedure

2.1 Procedure

Title : Up-Scaling Portfolio Management
Description : DEG under its "Up-scaling Programme" finances early-stage SMEs to scale innovative business models with high development impact. The funding is repayable once the companies reach predefined success criteria, such as a certain revenue, gross profit or amount of new funding raised. The programme is part of the "Partners in Transformation" initiative by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Since 2013, it has invested approximately EUR 55 million in 88 innovative young businesses. Since 2024 the active investment phase of the Up-scaling Programme has come to an end. This means, no new companies are financed but the existing portfolio still has to be actively monitored. In 2025, DEG has entrusted DEG Impulse with the management of the remaining Up-Scaling Programme on behalf of DEG. At the beginning of 2026, the portfolio will consist of approx. 50 companies, with two-thirds based in Sub-Saharan Africa and the remainder in South and Southeast Asia, Mexico and Peru. The agreements with these portfolio companies and their obligation to repay usually extends over a period of five years and has been occasionally extended. The number of portfolio companies will decrease each year by on average 12 companies per year as the monitoring phase for the investments ends and final reports are being prepared. DEG Impulse intends to hire a consultant to support the management of the Up-Scaling Progamme. The consultant will conduct a proactive portfolio monitoring with the key goal to ensure maximum repayment of the approx. EUR 24,5 million in outstanding commitments at the beginning of 2026. The role also involves ensuring the programme"s positive impact on the companies and the wider start-up ecosystem, supporting the growth of portfolio companies, and exploring potential follow-on financing opportunities with DEG or the broader DFI ecosystem.
Procedure identifier : 1e7ba70d-9f8d-4b77-ab74-8e39c499a7bb
Internal identifier : 024/2025
Type of procedure : Negotiated with prior publication of a call for competition / competitive with negotiation
The procedure is accelerated : no
Justification for the accelerated procedure :
Main features of the procedure :

2.1.1 Purpose

Main nature of the contract : Services
Main classification ( cpv ): 66171000 Financial consultancy services

2.1.2 Place of performance

Postal address : Kämmergasse 22
Town : Köln
Postcode : 50676
Country subdivision (NUTS) : Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt ( DEA23 )
Country : Germany
Additional information : Services can be provided at the consultant"s office, using the DEG Impulse IT infrastructure, as well as at the DEG Impulse offices in Cologne.

2.1.3 Value

Estimated value excluding VAT : 1 500 000 Euro
Maximum value of the framework agreement : 2 000 000 Euro

2.1.4 General information

Additional information : Bekanntmachungs-ID: CXP4DR85KLT
Legal basis :
Directive 2014/24/EU
vgv -

2.1.6 Grounds for exclusion

Sources of grounds for exclusion : Notice, Procurement Document
Participation in a criminal organisation :
Terrorist offences or offences linked to terrorist activities :
Money laundering or terrorist financing :
Fraud :
Corruption :
Child labour and including other forms of trafficking in human beings :
Breaching obligation relating to payment of taxes :
Breaching obligation relating to payment of social security contributions :
Breaching of obligations in the fields of environmental law :
Breaching of obligations in the fields of social law :
Breaching of obligations in the fields of labour law :
Insolvency :
Assets being administered by liquidator :
Business activities are suspended :
Analogous situation like bankruptcy, insolvency or arrangement with creditors under national law :
Grave professional misconduct :
Agreements with other economic operators aimed at distorting competition :
Conflict of interest due to its participation in the procurement procedure :
Direct or indirect involvement in the preparation of this procurement procedure :
Early termination, damages, or other comparable sanctions :
Misrepresentation, withheld information, unable to provide required documents and obtained confidential information of this procedure :

5. Lot

5.1 Lot technical ID : LOT-0001

Title : Up-Scaling Portfolio Management
Description : - Directly engage with the respective portfolio companies and be the primary touch point for the communication with the clients; - monitor deadlines for reporting and repayment; - evaluate and assess progress reports and financial statements of portfolio companies especially concerning development of financial and impact KPIs; - check if repayment triggers have been met based on financial statements and implement steps for timely repayment of DEG /BMZ funds, including preparation of repayment call notice and follow up on delayed repayments; - assist in operations necessary to restructure debt repayment or discuss measures to increase probability of repayment; - support companies with sparring, investor introductions and other network support - follow up and monitor potential insolvency cases; - finalise projects, prepare project end reports; - assist in communications with various stakeholders, e.g. DEG, BMZ, and others where necessary; - Interaction with other DEG Impulse divisions and DEG financing business in order to unlock portfolio synergies and facilitate follow-on investments - assist in the planned evaluation of the program and possible evaluations of individual investments. Deliverables: - Per portfolio company, starting with 50 companies in year 1 (decreasing by approx. 12 companies per annum). a. Ensure companies comply with reporting requirements (1. Audited financial statement, 2. half-yearly progress reports) b. Annual Financial Statement summaries incl. current vs prior year comparison and check whether repayment triggers have been met c. Timely issuance of repayment call notices if triggers have been met d. Review of half-year reports prepared by the companies in DEG template e. Per company annual short report listing all value added activities such as introductions, fundraising support, in-person visits f. Written closing report on each project with lessons learned - Annual repayment report with plan vs. actual comparison until respective year end - Maintain and update dashboard to provide portfolio transparency - Min. 1 portfolio company to be presented to DEG for follow-on investment and high-quality hand-over - Suggest 3 impactful stories/highlights p.a. and prepared for internal or external publishing (e.g. full repayments, sizable follow-on rounds, exits, etc.) - Support of external evaluators with of all requested information and introductions - Best practice guide on lessons learned from 15y impact investing through UPS program until 2028 The above list does not constitute a complete list of tasks but is a guideline of the expected contribution of the respective assignment. The consultant will assume the required tasks independently and under his/her own responsibility on the basis of the operational flowcharts, the associated handbooks and organizational instructions as well as the relevant written regulations of DEG Impulse. Nonetheless, a need-base support by DEG Impulse staff does not affect performing the tasks independently. The consultant carries out his/her activities in close coordination with the DEG Impulse responsible staff and will be assigned coordinators as professional contacts.
Internal identifier : 024/2025

5.1.1 Purpose

Main nature of the contract : Services
Main classification ( cpv ): 66171000 Financial consultancy services

5.1.2 Place of performance

Postal address : Kämmergasse 22
Town : Köln
Postcode : 50676
Country subdivision (NUTS) : Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt ( DEA23 )
Country : Germany
Additional information : Services can be provided at the consultant"s office, using the DEG Impulse IT infrastructure, as well as at the DEG Impulse offices in Cologne.

5.1.3 Estimated duration

Duration : 48 Month

5.1.6 General information

The names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to perform the contract must be given : Tender requirement
Procurement Project not financed with EU Funds.
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) : yes
This procurement is also suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) : no
Additional information : The estimated total order value is EUR 1,5 million and the maximum volume of the framework agreements is EUR 2 million.

5.1.7 Strategic procurement

Aim of strategic procurement : No strategic procurement

5.1.9 Selection criteria

Sources of selection criteria : Notice
Criterion : Enrolment in a trade register
Description : a) (on request of DEG Impulse gGmbH) Proof of the bidder's incorporation and/or registration, as prescribed in its country of origin, on one of the professional or trade registers or provision of a certificate or an oath that is engaged in the profession in question in a specific place and a given business name b) (on request of DEG Impulse gGmbH) Proof of payment of the bidder's taxes according to the legal provisions of its country of origin c) (on request of DEG Impulse gGmbH) Proof of payment of the bidder's social security contributions according to the legal provisions of its country of origin d) Declaration of the bidder that reasons for exclusion from participation as described in Sec. 123, 124 GWB do not exist. Apart from this information the bidder has to hand in the following with the request to participate: - Signed Standard Form Russia Sanctions - Signed NDA
Criterion : Other economic or financial requirements
Description : a) (On request of DEG Impulse gGmbH) Statement of the company's overall turnover of the last three financial years available b) Proof of a current professional liability insurance for all types of liability claims. The proof of the economic and financial standing and the technical nd professional ability can be provided also by sub-contractors/"suitability lender". In this case the bidder has to submit the "formal commitment". Insofar as the bidder relies on the capacities of a third company to fulfill the economic and financial standing criteria ("suitability lending" pursuant to Section 47 para. 3 VgV), DEG Impulse gGmbH requires joint liability of the bidder and the third company for the execution of the contract in accordance with the aforementioned standard. A corresponding declaration by the third company on the assumption of joint liability must be attached to the application to participate. Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required: b) Coverage amount of at least 500,000 EUR, 2-fold maximized.
Criterion : References on specified services
Description : References and track record DEG will rate the applicant"s references concerning similar services in the last five years. The references shall show experience in implementing the scope of work as described in the ToR, particularly they shall show: (1) Extensive work experience in development finance and impact investing in emerging markets; (2) Experience with blended finance instruments such as repayable grants and with implementing donor-funded programs; (3) Experience in working with European Development Finance Institutions (EDFIs) and knowledge of their administrative processes; (4) Extensive multi-sectoral knowledge and experience in the economic and business landscape as well as the (impact) investing and Ventures Capital scene in Africa as well as Latin America and Asia; (5) Excellent skills in assessing and validating financial models and financial statements of early-stage businesses; At least two references have to be presented. The prerequisites (1)-(5) must each be fulfilled at least once; it is not necessary that all prerequisites (1)-(5) are fulfilled within one reference. The description of each reference has to include the following information: - Name and address of the client - (if possible) Client"s contact person with phone number and email-address - Rendered services - Time of performance - (If possible) Letter of reference by the respective client or proof by other means, e.g. respective reports or websites (The presence of a letter of reference or a proof by other means are not an exclusion criterion.)
The criteria will be used to select the candidates to be invited for the second stage of the procedure
Weight (percentage, exact) : 80
Criterion : References on specified services
Description : Indication of the applicant's experience working in the impact investing/entrepreneurship support eco-system. Minimum level of standards required: Minimum of 10 years of experience.
Criterion : Average yearly manpower
Description : Number of the applicant's manpower dedicated to the implementation of blended finance instruments for development finance instruments and donors. Minimum level of standards required: Minimum number of 3 persons.
The criteria will be used to select the candidates to be invited for the second stage of the procedure
Weight (percentage, exact) : 20
Information about the second stage of a two-stage procedure :
Minimum number of candidates to be invited for the second stage of the procedure : 3
Maximum number of candidates to be invited for the second stage of the procedure : 3
The procedure will take place in successive stages. At each stage, some participants may be eliminated
The buyer reserves the right to award the contract on the basis of the initial tenders without any further negotiations

5.1.10 Award criteria

Criterion :
Type : Quality
Name : Quality
Description : Quality of the bidders approach to deliver the tendered services, as demonstrated by the quality of the bidders approach in the offer.
Category of award threshold criterion : Weight (percentage, exact)
Award criterion number : 25
Criterion :
Type : Price
Name : price
Description : Price according to the daily rate.
Category of award threshold criterion : Weight (percentage, exact)
Award criterion number : 40
Criterion :
Type : Quality
Name : Organisation, team qualification and experience
Description : Organisation, qualification and experience of the bidders envisaged team
Category of award threshold criterion : Weight (percentage, exact)
Award criterion number : 25
Criterion :
Type : Quality
Name : sustainability
Description : Sustainability Concept
Category of award threshold criterion : Weight (percentage, exact)
Award criterion number : 10
Description of the method to be used if weighting cannot be expressed by criteria :
Justification for not indicating the weighting of the award criteria :

5.1.11 Procurement documents

Languages in which the procurement documents are officially available : English
Deadline for requesting additional information : 24/06/2025 23:59 +02:00
Ad hoc communication channel :

5.1.12 Terms of procurement

Terms of submission :
Electronic submission : Required
Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted : English, German
Electronic catalogue : Not allowed
Variants : Not allowed
Tenderers may submit more than one tender : Not allowed
Deadline for receipt of requests to participate : 01/07/2025 10:00 +02:00
Information that can be supplemented after the submission deadline :
At the discretion of the buyer, some missing tenderer-related documents may be submitted later.
Additional information : Missing documents can be requested subsequently in accordance with Section 56 VgV; excluded is the subsequent request for performance-related documents relating to the economic evaluation of the tenders on the basis of the award criteria (Section 56 (3) sentence 1 VgV).
Terms of contract :
The execution of the contract must be performed within the framework of sheltered employment programmes : No
Conditions relating to the performance of the contract : see Terms of Reference and Framework Agreement
Electronic invoicing : Required
Electronic ordering will be used : no
Electronic payment will be used : no

5.1.15 Techniques

Framework agreement :
Framework agreement, without reopening of competition
Maximum number of participants : 1
Information about the dynamic purchasing system :
No dynamic purchase system

5.1.16 Further information, mediation and review

Review organisation : Vergabekammer des Bundes beim Bundeskartellamt -
Information about review deadlines : Petition for review on grounds of alleged violations of procurement law are inadmissable according to Sec. 160 para. 3, sentence 1, No 4 of the Federal Act against Restraints of Competition (Gesetz gegen Wettbewerbsbeschränkungen - GWB) if more than 15 calendar days have passed since the economic operator has received a notification by the contracting authority that it will not remedy the economic operator's objection.
Organisation providing additional information about the procurement procedure : DEG Impulse gGmbH -
Organisation receiving requests to participate : DEG Impulse gGmbH -

8. Organisations

8.1 ORG-0001

Official name : DEG Impulse gGmbH
Registration number : DE21458531808
Postal address : Kämmergasse 22
Town : Köln
Postcode : 50676
Country subdivision (NUTS) : Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt ( DEA23 )
Country : Germany
Contact point : Claudia Oberdörster, DEG - Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH
Telephone : +492214986-1870
Fax : +492214986-931870
Roles of this organisation :
Buyer
Organisation providing additional information about the procurement procedure
Organisation receiving requests to participate

8.1 ORG-0002

Official name : Vergabekammer des Bundes beim Bundeskartellamt
Registration number : t:022894990
Postal address : Villemombler Straße 76
Town : Bonn
Postcode : 53123
Country subdivision (NUTS) : Bonn, Kreisfreie Stadt ( DEA22 )
Country : Germany
Telephone : +4922894990
Roles of this organisation :
Review organisation

8.1 ORG-0003

Official name : Datenservice Öffentlicher Einkauf (in Verantwortung des Beschaffungsamts des BMI)
Registration number : 0204:994-DOEVD-83
Town : Bonn
Postcode : 53119
Country subdivision (NUTS) : Bonn, Kreisfreie Stadt ( DEA22 )
Country : Germany
Telephone : +49228996100
Roles of this organisation :
TED eSender
Notice information
Notice identifier/version : 7da1806c-e100-4175-beb2-175ff401f5f7 - 01
Form type : Competition
Notice type : Contract or concession notice – standard regime
Notice dispatch date : 20/05/2025 17:00 +02:00
Languages in which this notice is officially available : English
Notice publication number : 00329401-2025
OJ S issue number : 98/2025
Publication date : 22/05/2025