Published date: 31 January 2017

Closed opportunity - This means that the contract is currently closed. The buying department may be considering suppliers that have already applied, or no suitable offers were made.


Closing: 1 March 2017

Contract summary

Industry

  • Foreign economic-aid-related services - 75211200

Location of contract

Any region

Value of contract

£14,500,000 to £50,000,000

Procurement reference

DFID 7890

Published date

31 January 2017

Closing date

1 March 2017

Contract start date

3 July 2017

Contract end date

2 July 2020

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Restricted procedure

A two-stage procedure, where the first stage is used to select suppliers, who are then invited to bid in the second stage.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes

Description

DFID would like to contract a service provider for the STEP programme. The programme aims to incentivise small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to expand production and create new permanent jobs for predominantly low-skilled Lebanese workers as well as - in accordance with Lebanese legislation - temporary jobs for Syrian refugees. STEP is expected to achieve this through the provision of finance and employment incentives, as well as a flexible package of technical assistance to facilitate access to Business Development Services. STEP will be delivered through three programme components. Component 1 will provide matching grants that firms can use to invest in eligible activities which enable them to expand output e.g. new equipment and business advisory services and/or eligible working capital and operating costs. The latter might also include training for new employees targeted at particular business needs. Component 2 will provide short/medium term wage subsidies to eligible SMEs and Component 3 relates to savings accounts for Syrian workers. During the pilot phase, combinations of different services (i.e. matching grants and/or wage subsidies) will be provided to individual SMEs in order to test the effectiveness of different packages of support. The approach will be agreed in advance in consultation with the independent evaluation contractor. Whilst this may provide opportunities to overcome multiple constraints that an enterprise might face, it may also present risks including that support from more than one component could provide a level of subsidies that will excessively distort the market. The SP will need to outline in their proposal, how they intend to maximise the benefits of multiple components whilst at the same time, minimising the costs and risks. Further information found at DFID Supplier Portal

More information

Attachments

Links

Additional text

All relevant information relating to this Contract Notice can be found on the DFID Supplier Portal where suppliers can register their interest directly.

If you are not already registered as a supplier on the DFID Supplier Portal please follow the guidance which can be found on the top left of the home page: https://supplierportal.dfid.gov.uk/selfservice/

About the buyer

Contact name

Samantha Ellison

Address

Department for International Development (DFID)
Abercrombie House, Eaglesham Road
East Kilbride
G75 8EA
Scotland

Telephone

+44 (0) 1355 843550

Email

s-ellison@dfid.gov.uk

Website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-international-development