Verfahrensangaben

The contract concerns the provision and management of technical assistance services to support the implementation of the programme "Improved Service Delivery for Citizens in Cambodia II (ISD II)", a multi-donor initiative jointly financed by Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg.

The overall objective of ISD II is to improve inclusive, climate-sensitive and digital public service delivery at District and Municipal level (DMs) in selected provinces of Cambodia, in the context of the National Programme for Sub-National Democratic Development (NP-2).

Under Cambodia´s NP-2, numerous functions have been transferred to subnational administrations. Despite progress, significant implementation gaps remain in operational service delivery, planning and budgeting, accountability mechanisms, and the legal and financial framework conditions. Additional challenges include gender inequality, limited participation of disadvantaged groups, climate risks, digital transformation gaps, and pressures resulting from border-related tensions and internal displacement.

ISD II follows a systemic, multi-level approach and works with 18 competitively selected "champion DMs" in four partner provinces. The programme combines operational improvements in selected administrative and sector services (e.g. waste management, small-scale irrigation, social services) with institutional strengthening in organisational development, local planning and budgeting, and leadership. Furthermore, the programme strengthens participation and social accountability mechanisms, promotes peer-learning and knowledge exchange among DMs, and supports the development of improved legal, financial and strategic framework conditions at national level. Evidence generated at local level will inform national reform processes in a bottom-up manner.

The project is structured around five interlinked programme outputs:
- Output 1: Improved operational capacity of selected DMs for inclusive, climate-sensitive and digital delivery of administrative and selected sector services (e.g. optimisation and digitalisation of One Window Service Offices, development of service improvement plans, implementation of demonstration measures).
- Output 2: Strengthened institutional capacities of selected DMs to perform steering and management functions, including organisational development, planning and budgeting systems, gender-responsive human resource management and leadership strengthening.
- Output 3: Strengthened mechanisms for meaningful citizen participation and accountability in service provision at DM level, including improvement of participation and social accountability frameworks at local and national levels.
- Output 4: Improved access of DM practitioners to relevant knowledge, peer-learning and institutionalised training formats to support sustainable service delivery and scaling of tested approaches.
- Output 5: Improved legal, financial and strategic framework conditions for inclusive, climate-sensitive and digital service provision through technical advisory support to national partner institutions and structured multi-level dialogue processes.

Cross-cutting principles include gender equality, the Leave No One Behind (LNOB) principle, climate sensitivity, digitalisation ("Digital by Default"), and conflict sensitivity ("Do No Harm").
By combining pilot implementation, scaling mechanisms and structured policy dialogue, ISD II aims to contribute sustainably to improved subnational governance and enhanced access of the population to quality public services.?

The contractor shall provide flexible, demand-driven technical assistance services to support the implementation of the programme "Improved Service Delivery for Citizens in Cambodia II (ISD II)" during the project´s implementation period. Services will be delivered through the mobilisation and management of predominantly short-term national and international experts as well as one senior international long-term advisor. Assignments will be agreed with GIZ under a defined mobilisation procedure and aligned with the programme"s annual operational planning. The scope of services is structured along the following indicative work packages aligned to the output structure of ISD II:

WP1.1 - OWSO Service Innovations
Provision of technical advisory services to assess, modernise and introduce innovations in One Window Service Office (OWSO) service delivery processes. This includes process diagnostics, development and piloting of digital and administrative innovations (e.g. workflow optimisation, digital tools, mobile services), change management support, and documentation of lessons learned for scaling.

WP1.2 - Service Improvement Planning and Demonstration Projects
Advisory support to selected Districts and Municipalities (DMs) for the development, endorsement and implementation of participatory, evidence-based and climate-sensitive service improvement plans in selected sectors (e.g. waste management, irrigation, social services). This includes design and implementation support for demonstration measures and documentation of results for replication.

WP2.1 - Organisational and HR Strengthening
Technical and process advisory services to strengthen organisational structures, internal processes, leadership and human resource management of selected DMs. This includes organisational diagnostics, implementation of improvement measures, gender-responsive HR approaches, and support to women"s leadership.

WP2.2 - Planning and Budgeting Strengthening
Advisory support to improve planning and budgeting systems of DMs, including participatory and climate-sensitive investment planning, alignment between medium-term and annual budgets, and development and application of practical planning and budgeting tools.

WP3.1 - National Participation and Social Accountability Frameworks
Provision of technical and strategic advisory services to national partner institutions (e.g. NCDD-S, Ministry of Interior) to strengthen legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks for participation and accountability at DM level. This includes analysis of existing mechanisms, development of reform proposals, and facilitation of consultations.

WP3.2 - DM-Level Participation and Accountability
Operational advisory support to DMs and relevant stakeholders to strengthen the application of participation and accountability mechanisms in service delivery and planning processes. This may include methodological support to civil society organisations and piloting of integrated accountability workflows, including digital formats where appropriate.

WP4.1 - Peer-Learning Networks
Technical and process advisory services to establish and institutionalise intra- and inter-provincial peer-learning networks among DMs. This includes design and facilitation of exchange formats, documentation of good practices, and development of scaling products.

WP4.2 - Institutionalised Training and E-Learning
Support to training institutions (e.g. National School of Local Administration - NASLA) to develop, pilot and institutionalise structured, needs-based training and e-learning formats aligned with lessons generated under ISD II.

WP5.1 - Strategic and Legal Reform Advice (NP-2)
Provision of technical advice to national partner institutions (e.g. NCDD-S, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Economy and Finance) on selected implementation issues related to decentralization reform, including fiscal decentralization, non-tax revenues, and regulatory or policy adjustments.

WP5.2 - Multi-Level Dialogue and Policy Uptake
Technical and procedural support to structure and facilitate multi-level dialogue processes between subnational and national stakeholders. This includes systematisation of evidence from implementation, development of policy briefs and proposals, and documentation of follow-up actions.

WP0 - Project Implementation Support (Cross-Cutting)
Provision of cross-cutting support services to ensure effective implementation of ISD II. This includes i) Support to the operationalisation of monitoring and evaluation systems; ii) Facilitation and moderation of workshops and coordination meetings; iii) Organisational development and team support measures; iv) Quality assurance and support to results-based reporting; v) Flexible and timely mobilisation and management of short-term experts.

The list of work packages is indicative and may be adjusted in line with programme needs.

The contractor shall ensure:
- High-quality expert selection and management;
- High degree of flexibility and adaptability
- Integration of cross-cutting principles (gender equality, Leave No One Behind, climate sensitivity, digitalisation, conflict sensitivity);
- Effective coordination with GIZ and partner institutions;
- Results-based monitoring and reporting in line with contractual requirements.

GIZ may optionally commission contract amendments and/or increases based on the criteria in the tender documents to the successful bidder of this tender. For details, please see the terms of reference.

According to Article 160, Section 3 of the German Act Against Restraint of Competition (GWB), application for review is not permissible insofar as
1. the applicant has identified the claimed infringement of the procurement rules before submitting the application for review and has not submitted a complaint to the contracting authority within a period of 10 calendar days; the expiry of the period pursuant to Article 134, Section 2 remains unaffected,
2. complaints of infringements of procurement rules that are evident in the tender notice are not submitted to the contracting authority at the latest by the expiry of the deadline for the application or by the deadline for the submission of bids, specified in the tender notice.
3. complaints of infringements of procurement rules that first become evident in the tender documents are not submitted to the contracting authority at the latest by the expiry of the deadline for application or by the deadline for the submission of bids,
4. more than 15 calendar days have expired since receipt of notification from the contracting authority that it is unwilling to redress the complaint.
Sentence 1 does not apply in the case of an application to determine the invalidity of the contract in accordance with Article 135, Section 1 (2). Article 134, Section 1, Sentence 2 remains unaffected.

All communication takes place in English via communication tool in the project area of the procurement portal.

GIZ asks the applicant or bidder to submit, complete or correct documents, within the framework laid down by law.

The execution conditions result from the information given in the contract notice and the tender documents.The contractor must cmpy with the Federal Tariff Act (BTTG).