Trade in services- COMESA

The European Commission, specifically the International Partnerships (INTPA), is launching a call for tenders, identified as EC-INTPA/LUN/2025/EA-RP/0097, aimed at procuring Technical Assistance services to support the COMESA secretariat. This initiative is intended to facilitate the liberalization of services in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), enhancing the region's competitiveness and fostering sustainable economic growth, investment attraction, job creation, and consumer benefits.

The total estimated value of the contract amounts to 8.2 million EUR and has a maximum duration of 48 months. The procurement process is categorized as a restricted procedure, which involves a two-stage submission process: a request to participate and a subsequent full tender submission for those pre-selected. The deadline for submitting requests to participate is July 1, 2025, at 11:00 Africa/Lusaka time, with electronic submissions being mandatory.

Eligible applicants for this tender are economic operators capable of delivering the necessary technical assistance services. This includes consulting firms and specialized service providers, with no explicit restrictions on the entity type beyond standard procurement qualifications. The tender emphasizes that both single entities and consortia can apply, as evidenced by the requirement for a PIC (Personal Identification Code) for participation.

The target sector for this tender involves trade in services. It aims specifically at service liberalization within the context of economic development and consultancy. While no specific countries are mentioned, the broader benefitting region is Sub-Saharan Africa, specifically under the COMESA mandate. The services are expected to be implemented in the development phase, aimed at executing already established interventions.

Award criteria will prioritize quality and price, with an allocation of 80% weight for quality and 20% for price. There are no co-funding requirements for participants, and monetary compensation will be provided for the services rendered.

In summary, the European Commission is seeking to engage operators for a contract valued at 8.2 million EUR focused on enhancing trade services in Sub-Saharan Africa with a deadline for applications set for July 1, 2025. Electronic submissions are required, reinforcing a transparent and efficient competitive process for ensuring the provision of essential technical assistance services.

The European Commission, INTPA - International Partnerships is offering a call for tenders, EC-INTPA/LUN/2025/EA-RP/0097, to procure Technical Assistance services to support the COMESA secretariat. The goal is to deliver an intervention aimed at contributing to the liberalization of services to increase Sub-Saharan Africa’s (SSA) competitiveness, boost sustainable economic growth, attract investment, create decent jobs, and benefit consumers.
 
 This is a restricted procedure with an estimated total value of 8,200,000 EUR. The contract is for services, with a maximum duration of 48 months. The award method will be based on the best price-quality ratio. There is no framework agreement.
 
 The place of delivery or performance is Sub-Saharan Africa, specifically under programmes 31085111 - Sub-Saharan Africa and 44995760 - Sub-Saharan Africa.
 
 Key milestones include a TED publication date of 19/06/2025 and a deadline for receipt of requests to participate on 01/07/2025 at 11:00 Africa/Lusaka time.
 
 Submissions must be sent exclusively via electronic submission at the address provided.
 
 One document is available for download: ENa5f additional information contract notice enInvitation to submit a request to participate, published on 19/06/2025, Version 1, with no translations available.
 
 There are currently no public Q&A available.
 
 Some frequently asked questions (FAQ) are answered:
 
 How to proceed if the system is slow or doesn’t work while uploading/downloading documents: Use the latest versions of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. If issues persist, clear the cache and cookies on the Internet browser. Published on 13/02/2025 20:52
 
 Which Internet browsers does eSubmission support: Use the latest versions of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. For the most up-to-date technical recommendations, click on the link System Requirements. Published on 13/02/2025 20:52
 
 Is it possible to view the details of the submission after the deadline: No, the content of the submission is not accessible after submitting the tender as the system encrypts all attachments upon upload. Thus, the system will not allow decryption after the upload. Published on 13/02/2025 20:50
 
 Where can I find my submissions in Manage My Area, in the Funding & Tenders portal: Depending on the type or step of procedure, you can find the submissions in one of these sections: In ‘My Submission(s)’: tenders in response to open calls for tenders, requests to. Published on 17/10/2024 20:40
 
 Which size should attachments have: eSubmission accepts files that are less than 50 MB in size. Any larger sizes will not be accepted by the system. Published on 17/10/2024 20:36
 
 How should I name attachments in eSubmission: Follow the System Requirements. With regards to all attachment names, please see the following conditions: The. Published on 03/10/2024 16:39
 
 Can I submit a video in eSubmission? Which formats are supported: Check the System Requirements of eSubmission. Published on 03/10/2024 16:37
 
 I received an invitation from the F&T Portal but cannot view the procurement documents: Invited candidates can only see the procurement documents after having selected an organisation. Go to F&T Portal, “My Invitations”. Click on “Select Organisation” from the “Action”. Published on 03/10/2024 16:37
 
 Do I need to validate my PIC in order to submit a tender in eSubmission: The Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory to participate in a call for tenders as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium). For subcontractors PIC i. Published on 03/10/2024 16:36
 
 I have an issue uploading a file in eSubmission and it’s giving me an error. What do I do: Make sure it follows the technical requirements of the system. A) For procurement procedures: B) For req. Published on 03/10/2024 16:36
 
 How many attachments can I upload per submission: The maximum number of documents the system will allow you to upload per tender is 200 files. You are able to check the eSubmission System Requirements in the documentation by clicking. Published on 03/10/2024 16:35
 
 Why do tenderers need a PIC: It is mandatory to register for a PIC if you intend to submit a tender or a request to participate. Only one PIC per organisation must be used. Therefore, if your organisation alread. Published on 23/04/2024 17:14
 
 How do I register my organisation and get a Participant Identification Code (PIC): First, check if the organisation is already registered using the Search PIC tool under 'How to Participate' > Participant Register. If your organisation is a bigger. Published on 23/04/2024 16:07
 
 What is the validity period of a PIC: A PIC is unique and its validity is not limited in time. Published on 22/04/2024 22:55
 
 How many languages does the system support: The system is multilingual and supports all 24 official EU languages. Published on 01/04/2024 19:56
 
 Which is the character set encoding in the system: The character set encoding is UTF-8. Published on 22/02/2024 23:58
 
 Does the system use encryption to ensure the integrity and the confidentiality of the information: Yes, the system encrypts all uploaded documents, using an asymmetric key as an encryption mechanism. Published on 22/02/2024 23:57
 
 Which file types does the system support: The supported file types depend on the type of submission you want to make. The allowed file types are specified within the system requirements linked to the procedure in question. M. Published on 21/02/2024 23:55
 
 Can I view and edit my draft submission: Until the deadline for the submission has been reached, submissions in the draft status can be edited, viewed and deleted. Published on 24/03/2023 21:32
 
 In the submission report, under the name of our entity, "Legal form: UNKNOWN" is displayed while in the system, our legal form was correctly displayed. Is this a problem for the submission: No, it is just a display issue. This is not blocking for you: you can submit. Published on 03/08/2021 22:07
 
 I sent my submission on time and a few days later, I received an automatic email informing me that the deadline for the reception of submissions had been reached. Does this mean that my submission was not correctly sent: No, this is an auto-generated notification sent when the time limit of receipt defined for the call for tenders has been reached. Until then, you had the possibility of withdrawing. Published on 03/08/2021 22:05
 
 In summary, this call for tenders is an invitation for organizations to submit proposals for providing technical assistance to the COMESA secretariat. The aim is to support the liberalization of services within Sub-Saharan Africa, ultimately boosting economic growth, investment, and job creation in the region. The European Commission is managing the tender process, and submissions must be made electronically through the designated portal. A key requirement for applicants is to have a valid PIC (Participant Identification Code). The tender follows a restricted procedure, meaning that there will be a pre-selection phase based on the requests to participate, followed by a full proposal submission for those who are pre-selected. The deadline for submitting the request to participate is July 1, 2025.

Eligible Applicant Types: The content does not explicitly state the eligible applicant types. However, given the nature of the call for tenders for technical assistance services, it can be inferred that eligible applicants could include consulting firms, research institutions, and other organizations with expertise in trade liberalization, economic growth, and related areas. The requirement for a PIC (Personal Identification Code) suggests that the applicants should be registered organizations.

Funding Type: Procurement. This is a call for tenders, indicating a procurement process where the European Commission is seeking to purchase services. The nature of the contract is services.

Consortium Requirement: The content mentions that a PIC is mandatory to participate in a call for tenders as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium). This suggests that both single applicants and consortia are eligible.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is focused on Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), as the project aims to increase SSA's competitiveness. The place of delivery or performance is specified as Sub-Saharan Africa.

Target Sector: The target sector is trade in services, with a focus on liberalization of services to increase Sub-Saharan Africa’s competitiveness, boost sustainable economic growth, attract investment, create decent jobs, and benefit consumers. Related sectors include economic development, international partnerships, and consultancy services.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the region of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is explicitly mentioned.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on implementation and delivery of technical assistance services. The call aims to procure services to support the COMESA secretariat in delivering an intervention, suggesting a move beyond the research or development phase and into the implementation phase.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the contract is 8,200,000 EUR.

Application Type: Open call. The submission method is electronic and the call is described as "Open For Submission". The procedure type is a restricted procedure.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for providing technical assistance services. This is a service contract where payment is made upon delivery of the agreed services.

Application Stages: The procedure type is a restricted procedure, which typically involves two stages: a request to participate and a full tender submission for those who are shortlisted.

Success Rates: The content does not provide information on success rates.

Co-funding Requirement: The content does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

This is a call for tenders issued by the European Commission, INTPA - International Partnerships, to procure technical assistance services for the COMESA secretariat. The goal is to support the liberalization of trade in services within Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), aiming to enhance the region's competitiveness, foster economic growth, attract investment, create employment, and improve consumer benefits. The procedure is a restricted procedure, meaning there are likely two stages: an initial request to participate, followed by a full tender submission for shortlisted candidates. The estimated total value of the contract is 8.2 million EUR, and the maximum contract duration is 48 months. The submission method is electronic, and the deadline for receipt of requests to participate is July 1, 2025, at 11:00 Africa/Lusaka time. The call is open to both individual organizations and consortia. The lead contracting authority is the European Commission, specifically INTPA. The place of performance is Sub-Saharan Africa. Tenderers must register for a PIC (Personal Identification Code) to participate. The eSubmission system supports various file types and has specific requirements for attachment sizes and naming conventions. The system supports all 24 official EU languages and uses encryption to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of information.