‘Tajikistan, Backstopping for Projects with a focus on Water and Sanitation — implemented by the Swiss Cooperation in Tajikistan’ for the period 1.2.2018 to 31.1.2022.

The objective of the mandate is to provide technical assistance: give strategic advice at project implementation and national policy levels, support the quality assurance of the technical components of the projects, facilitate the peer learning among SCO staff, Program Officers in Berne and the staff of implementing partners. The following outcomes are to be expected: Capacities of the SCO Program staff, Program Officers in Berne and the staff of implementing partners are strengthened through provision of learning and exchange sessions on IWRM, urban and rural water supply and sanitation and corporate development of public utilities. The technical quality of Swiss-funded projects is assured through targeted quality assessments of project documents and of project implementation in the field. Partner organisations and key stakeholders are trained on and apply cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analysis in the elaboration and implementation of the projects.

The planning and execution of the mandate is the responsibility of the Backstopper. The assignment will be executed abroad and in Tajikistan. In Tajikistan, approximately 3 field missions per year are foreseen to Dushanbe and the projects' sites in Rasht Valley, Khatlon Oblast, GBAO and Sugd Region as well as remote support from abroad via E-Mail, phone and skype. In case of urgent needs, additional missions might be accordingly planned.

The objective of the mandate is to provide technical assistance: give strategic advice at project implementation and national policy levels, support the quality assurance of the technical components of the projects, facilitate the peer learning among SCO staff, Program Officers in Berne and the staff of implementing partners. The following outcomes are to be expected: Capacities of the SCO Program staff, Program Officers in Berne and the staff of implementing partners are strengthened through provision of learning and exchange sessions on IWRM, urban and rural water supply and sanitation and corporate development of public utilities. The technical quality of Swiss-funded projects is assured through targeted quality assessments of project documents and of project implementation in the field. Partner organisations and key stakeholders are trained on and apply cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analysis in the elaboration and implementation of the projects.

Main Mandate: 1.02.2018 to 31.1.2020

Additional/Optional Services: 1.2.2020 to 31.1.2022.

The bids are not opened publicly.

In accordance with PPO Art. 8 para. 1d, the contracting authority safeguards the confidential character of all information provided by the bidder. The information to be published after the award of the mandate and the information to be disclosed in the framework of the PPA Art. 23 para. 2 and 3 remain subject to reservation.

Partial offers are not permitted.

Conditions for countries not party to the WTO agreement: None.

Terms of business: General Terms and Conditions of Business (GTC) of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) for Mandates (Type A for employed persons and Type B for legal persons and institutions). These General Conditions of Business (GTC) shall be deemed accepted by the con-tractor on submission of the offer.

Negotiations: remain reserved.

Basic procedural principles: The contracting authority awards public contracts for services provided in Switzerland only to bidders who ensure compliance with the health and safety regulations and employment conditions for employees, as well as equal pay for women and men. If the service is provided outside Switzerland, the participant must ensure at least compliance with the International Labour Organisation's fundamental conventions in accordance with Annex 2a PPO. The self-declaration form ‘Compliance with working conditions, workplace health and safety regulations and requirement of equal pay for men and women: Declaration by the supplier’ has to be signed and is to be submitted with the participant application.

Additional information: The option of directly awarding follow-up mandates is reserved.

Procedures for appeal: No, the tender proceeds in accordance with Section 3 of the Federal Ordinance on Public Procurement (PPO). There is no right of appeal.

Deadline / Remarks: Bids contain all documentation in accordance with Section 5 Structure and content of the bid and are to be submitted in a sealed envelope as follows: a. 1 original signed hard copy labelled ‘Original’ b. 1 signed copies labelled, ‘Signed Copy’ c. 1 data storage device (e.g. CD, DVD or Memory Stick) of all requested documents. Language(s) for bids: English.

Remarks (Desired deadline for questions in written form) No information is given by telephone. Any questions must be addressed by the date indicated in Section 7 Timetable of the tender procedure in the forum space on www.simap.ch in anonymised form (i.e. without disclosing any information that could reveal the identity of the questioner). Questions submitted late cannot be answered. The answers are published on SIMAP by the date indicated in Section 7 Timetable of the tender procedure. Bidders are themselves responsible for downloading the answers from SIMAP and for taking them into consideration in the preparation of their bids.

National reference publication: Simap of 8.8.2017, doc. 979781

Desired deadline for questions in written form: 18.8.2017.

Documents of the invitation to tender are available from 8.8.2017 until 20.10.2017

Conditions for obtaining the tendering documentation: The documentation on the public call to tender for the project mentioned can be downloaded from the platform www.simap.ch under: Running procedures, Confederation, Invitations to tender. In order to do so, you first have to register in the mentioned project. You will then be able to log in and use the password that you will have been sent by e-mail to download the documentation desired.