EU solidarity with Ukraine

Call for tenders' details

Title:
Multiple Framework Contracts with reopening of competition for the provision eva...
Contracting authority:
European Commission, DG Taxation and Customs Union (TAXUD)
TED publication date:
08/08/2018
Time limit for receipt of tenders:
27/09/2018
Status:
Closed
Status
11/09/2018
18/09/2018
English (en)
Question details
Evidence D2 “description of the review mechanism”
In relation to evidence D2 “description of the review mechanism”, the Tender Specifications mention that external reviewers should not be in a contractual relationship with the tenderer (page 24). We understand that external reviewers should not be employees of any of the consortium members, however a contractual relationship must be put in place at a later stage in order to engage them in providing their review, could you please confirm our understanding? Could you please also provide more information on whether the reviewers should have a background in evaluation and impact assessments and/or in taxation? Or whether a different set of expertise is expected from the reviewers (e.g. professional editing)? The Tender Specifications also mentions that two reviewers have to be available per study, could you please clarify whether a reviewer can be involved in several studies running in parallel and whether having access to two such reviewers for the whole framework contract would be sufficient evidence for the review mechanism criterion?
18/09/2018
1) With respect to the contractual relationship of reviewers with tenderers, your understanding is correct. 2) With respect to the background of reviewers, the tender specifications point out on p 23 that evidence required from successful tenderers after award but before signature is a description of the mechanism intended to put in place to ensure access to reviewers. In section 5.3 on quality assurance and control mechanism within the context of procedures for specific contracts, the tender specifications establish that the Contracting Authority may require up to two external reviewers for the specific study, to be chosen by the Contracting Authority based on proposals by the contractor at that point. The specifications point out that the external reviewers will have to be renowned academic or professional experts in the field. Given the setting of these requirements in the chapter on procedures for specific contracts, the reference to “in the field” has to be seen in the context of scope and focus of the respective specific contract. 3) With respect to whether a reviewer can be involved in several studies running in parallel, your understanding is correct. 4) With respect to whether having access to two such reviewers for the whole framework contract would be sufficient evidence for the review mechanism criterion, the tender specifications require as evidence to meet that specific selection criterion a description of the mechanism intended to be put in place to ensure access to two external experts. Within section 5.1 on procedures for specific contracts, the specifications point out that the Contracting Authority reserves the right to request replacements of staff (or external reviewers) considered not in line with the key areas of expertise established. Moreover, section 5.3 in the tender specifications sets out that external reviewers will be chosen by the Contracting Authority based on proposals by the contractor.