EU solidarity with Ukraine

Call for tenders' details

Title:
Senior entrepreneurs: best practices exchange.
Contracting authority:
European Innovation Council and Small and Medium-sized EnterprisesExecutive Agen...
TED publication date:
03/09/2014
Time limit for receipt of tenders:
08/10/2014
Status:
Closed
Status
29/09/2014
03/10/2014
English (en)
Question details
Clarifications concerning the CALL FOR TENDER for the project Senior entrepreneurs: Best practices exchange EASME/COSME/2014/002 TENDER SPECIFICATIONS - Evaluation Award Criteria
We understand that the criteria of price (low cost) in the evaluation of this tender is very high (at 50%), carrying an equal rating to the quality criteria. Page 29 of Tender specifications (Cheapest Price/Price for tender X) * Total score of tender X. In this regard it will be important that all tenderers are interpreting the requirements of this tender in the same way and therefore preparing costs in the same way. In particular we note that on page 7 the tender specifies that the range of attendance of participants could be between 50 and 90, while other references specify only a possible maximum number of 90 for accommodation/travel. This differential alone would be enough to significantly disadvantage a tenderer planning for maximum attendance over one planning for a minimum number- or leaves the option to present an average. Nowhere in the technical offer is this information required to be specified. In addition, as a requirement of cost preparation, clarity would be appreciated in terms of how many participants might reasonably be expected to come from the host city of the laboratory, (requiring no travel and likely no overnight accommodation), the host country, (requiring cheaper travel costs by train) or neighboring countries. A bid which would consider a significantly high percentage of attendees flying from neighboring countries would therefore be at a cost evaluation disadvantage than one targeting for less. Similarly, nowhere in the technical offer is this information required. In summary a cost ratio of 50% is extremely high and could easily result in a winning score for a tenderer taking advantage of this perceived ambiguity.
03/10/2014
As specified in the tender specifications (ToR) 1.4 - Scope and description of tasks, number of participants for each Laboratory is minimum 50 and maximum 90. Please note, that all the tasks described under Work package 3 (including travel and accommodations) refers to a maximum of 90 participants per each Laboratory. As mentioned in point 1.4.1. - Geographical scope, the two laboratories "should ideally be located in different geographic area of the EU so as to facilitate as varied and representative participation". One of the objectives of the 2 transnational laboratories is indeed to foster cooperation and possible joint projects between participating organizations, especially cross-country and on a European level. (see ToR point 1.3). Concerning the financial offer, in section 2.9.3 of the tender specifications, it is clearly specified that the estimation for travel, accommodation, conference facilities and catering has to be made by the tenderer but it will not be taken into consideration in the total price for the award procedure. The cost ratio cited in page 29 will be applicable only for work packages 1 and 2.