2025 Request for Tender for Lead Consultants: Strategic Planning and Impact Management

AI-generated analysis of the documents. Check the official notice and any amendments for current submission details.

1. At a glance

2. Scope of Work

Rethink Ireland seeks qualified consultants to provide strategic planning and impact management support to its awardees. The contractor will engage in various activities aimed at enhancing the capacity of social enterprises to achieve their goals. The scope includes:

• Strategic Planning: Develop and facilitate workshops and one-on-one support for awardees in creating strategic/business plans and Theory of Change (ToC) documents.
• Implementation Support: Provide ongoing assistance to awardees in implementing their strategic plans, ensuring deliverables are met within specified timeframes.
• Impact Management: Collaborate with Fund Managers to achieve fund-specific impact targets and manage the quality of supports provided to awardees.
• Capacity Building: Lead workshops/webinars as part of Rethink Ireland’s Capacity Building programme, providing training and guidance to awardees.
• Consultant Coordination: Potentially lead a consortium of consultants to address additional capacity-building needs identified by Rethink Ireland Fund Managers.
• Engagement with Awardees: Offer an average of 5-10 days of support per awardee, with a total availability of 75 days required from the commencement of the contract.

The contractor must ensure that all activities align with Rethink Ireland's Impact Management Framework and meet the expectations of both the organization and its awardees.

3. Background & buyer context

Rethink Ireland, formerly known as Social Innovation Fund Ireland, is focused on supporting innovative non-profit organizations across Ireland. This tender is being issued to enhance the strategic planning and impact management capabilities of its awardees, particularly in light of the increasing demand for effective social enterprise solutions. The procurement aligns with Rethink Ireland’s commitment to fostering social innovation and maximizing the impact of funded projects. The organization has a history of collaborating with various stakeholders, including the Government of Ireland, to create funds aimed at addressing pressing social and environmental issues.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following eligibility and selection criteria:

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Public Liability: not specified
• Employer's Liability: not specified
• Product Liability: not specified
• Professional Indemnity: not specified
• Cyber: not specified
• Motor: not specified
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Must have worked with Rethink Ireland within the past year (from 1st October 2023 to 1st October 2024) and received positive feedback from Fund Managers and awardees.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

Bids will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

The evaluation will follow a Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) approach, balancing price and quality.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders must submit the following documents:

• Method statement / response document: Limited to 5 pages, including a proposed methodology.
• CVs: For the lead consultant and any supplementary personnel involved.
• Pricing schedule: Financial proposal including VAT, with day rates inclusive of travel and subsistence.
• Case studies: Two relevant previous projects, detailing approach, outputs, and outcomes.
• Declarations: Statement of tax and insurance compliance, including a copy of insurance and tax certificate.
• Conflict of Interest: Highlight any potential conflicts; if none, state ‘no conflict of interest’.
• Submission portal: Tenders must be submitted via email to Florencia Saluzzo at [email protected] by 18th October 2024 at 5pm.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

The contract will be for a fixed term of 12 months, with the possibility of extension based on performance and funding availability. Key terms include:

• Payment terms: Day rates must be inclusive of travel, subsistence, and all other expenses.
• SLA/KPI: Consultants must meet deliverables within specified timeframes.
• Liquidated damages: Not specified.
• Termination clauses: Not specified.
• IP ownership: Not specified.
• Sub-contracting rules: A lead consultant may subcontract work to other consultants in consultation with Rethink Ireland.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

Several factors may pose risks for bidders:

• Incumbent Preference: Only consultants who have worked with Rethink Ireland in the past year are eligible, potentially limiting competition.
• Availability Requirement: A commitment of 75 days is required, which may not guarantee work availability from Rethink Ireland.
• Limited Financial Disclosure: The estimated value of the contract is not disclosed, which may complicate financial planning for bidders.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is suitable for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with expertise in consultancy for social enterprises. Viable bidders should possess:

• Experience in strategic planning and impact management within the non-profit sector.
• A proven track record of working with both start-ups and established organizations.
• The ability to manage multiple clients and consultants effectively.

Consortium or subcontracting arrangements are permitted, allowing for collaborative bids. Preparation for this tender may require several days of effort to compile the necessary documentation and proposals. The incumbent's strength and the requirement for recent experience with Rethink Ireland may signal a competitive environment.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: 2025 Rethink Ireland Lead Consultant IM and Strategic Planning.pdf
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified
• Contact email: [email protected]
• Important attachments: None specified.