Innovation that scales start-up ecosystems in Mediterranean countries

Terms of References (ToR) for Implementing Partnership

Contracting authority: Stichting SPARK

Programme title: Innovation that scales start-up ecosystems in Mediterranean countries

Components: Innovation, start-up, scale-up, advocacy

Country– Region: Jordan

Duration: 12 months

About SPARK:

SPARK develops higher education and entrepreneurship to empower young, ambitious people to lead their fragile and conflict-affected societies into prosperity. SPARK is a dynamic and growing, international not-for-profit development organisation with 100+ staff members, in more than 14 offices around the world.

SPARK supports refugees in the Middle East by providing them with scholarships in universities and higher education institutions in the region. SPARK also supports young entrepreneurs in fragile states, to start or grow their own businesses.

Summary:

SPARK with the support of the European Commission is looking for partners who can support on providing existing and emerging innovation support organisations (tech hubs, accelerators, incubators, university hubs, etc.) with capacity building to enhance and diversify start-up services provided. The programme specifically aims to work with organizations working on green entrepreneurship, tech and digitalization and social entrepreneurship. Furthermore, we specifically encourage organizations aimed at women entrepreneurship and empowerment to apply. Interested organizations can apply to support on one or more sectors or components.

Overall Objective

The overall objective of this programme is to strengthen the local start-up ecosystems and its actors in Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Tunisia in order to support innovation, employment and economic growth.

Scope of the Work

Services will be implemented through a local partner who will be responsible for the delivery and monitoring of the following activities:

• Mapping high potential innovation support organisations (tech hubs, accelerators, incubators, university hubs, etc.)
• Cooperate with SPARK and its existing partners to design training modules and materials to enhance existing services and tailor services to new emerging markets and trends
• Provide training and coaching to local innovation support organisations to enhance existing services and tailor services to new emerging markets and trends
• Support local innovation support organisations on identifying new beneficiaries and expand their database of high potential start-ups and SMEs
• Link organisations to foster a local/regional network of innovation support organisations
• Facilitate and contribute to regular coordination meetings linking relevant stakeholders to share best practices and inform the policy agenda
• Monitor delivery of services

Target Group:

• Innovation support organisations (tech hubs, accelerators, incubators, university entrepreneurship centers, etc.), operating in Jordan.

Overall Objectives and Main Targets:

• By providing at least 10 innovation support organisations with 8 training and capacity building support activities, benefiting at least 18 local trainers and subject matter experts, we expect to increase the competitiveness, internationalisation and financial resilience of at least 100 startups and scalable SMEs.
• Direct technical support to high potential and innovative startups and scalable SMEs with 12 grants
• Facilitate 18 policy events with start-up ecosystem actors to have an active role in changing policy and legislative framework based on best regional and EU practices in order to enhance the effectiveness of the start-up ecosystem Jordan

Selection and Evaluation Criteria:

The tender evaluation committee will evaluate and award the contract on the basis of the following selection criteria:

• Technical analysis

• Financial analysis

• Selection method (selection criteria evaluation):

Evaluation method (selection criteria evaluation):

• Financial Offer

• Criteria weight is 50 %

• Formula: (Best Tenderer Price/Evaluated Tenderer Price) * Criterion Weight

• Price shall be quoted in EURO

• Technical Offer

• Criteria weight is 50%

Point evaluation (weighted points):

Criterion will obtain between 0 and 5-point, 5 points being the maximum, 0 points the minimum and the points obtained will be multiplied by criterion weight. An analysis will include assessing the proposals’ methodology, expertise, background, etc.

PIN expert evaluation committee will assign up to 5 points for the best quality of the sample, based on the following evaluation grid:

Score

Benchmark for Services/Works

5 – Excellent response with no weaknesses shown and exceeds the requirement – also provides comprehensive, detailed, and convincing assurances that the services will be delivered to an excellent standard

4 – A response that demonstrates real understanding and fully meets the requirements – offers assurances that the service delivered will be of a high standard

3 – A satisfactory response which demonstrates a reasonable understanding of the requirements and gives reasonable assurance of delivery of services to an adequate standard, but does not provide sufficiently convincing assurance to be able to award them a higher mark

2 – A response where reservations exist – lacks full credibility/convincing detail, and there is a significant risk that the response will not deliver/be successful

1 – A response where serious reservations exist, for example, insufficient detail is provided and the response has fundamental flaws, or seriously lacks credibility with a high risk of non-delivery

0 – Response completely fails to address the criterion under consideration

Bidders who get less than 3 for the capacity of the bidder shall not be accepted or considered and their offer will be automatically rejected.

For each bid, points from all evaluation criteria will be added up and the winning bid will be the bid with the highest number of points. In case of equal number of points, the winning bid will be the one with the lowest price. However, SPARK retains the right to select any bidder who they deem as most suitable to produce the highest quality deliverables within a reasonable budget.

Conditions:

1. The partner must meet the following criteria:

i. Have actual operations in Jordan but having the ability to work regionally is preferred

ii. Have experience supporting businesses in one or more of the following sectors (digital, tech, green or social entrepreneurship)

iii. Be responsible for the preparation/ management/ implementation of the project in collaboration with related local partners and institutions

iv. Be experienced in delivery of innovative business support services

v. Deliver tangible and efficient results

vi. Be able to efficiently budget and contribute to the success of the activities

vii. Have the ability to link with key players within the innovation and startup ecosystem

1. The partner will comply with any legal obligations it is bound by under national law

2. The partner will adhere to SPARK’s General Terms and Conditions for partnership agreements

Application:

The proposal (in English) must detail the following:

1. Objectives, results/outcomes & indicators/outputs

2. Proposed duration for implementing the program

3. Detailed project activities and methodology

4. Monitoring and evaluation plan and description of the monitoring system

5. Project team structure, roles and responsibilities

6. Communication plan and activities

7. A brief description of the expertise/portfolio for the applying agency as well as CV’s of all experts involved in the programme

8. Details why the applicant agency is a suitable partner for this project

9. Track record within the entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem in Jordan

10. Full budget in EURO (including HR and other admin costs)

11. Share company registration information and other due diligence documents

Annexes: Activity plan and budget breakdown per activity

Any bidders with questions must address their questions within a maximum of 5 days prior to the submission date deadline.