COMPETITION TYPE
: 
Purchase of Intellectual Services (local consultancy)
DETAIL DESCRIPTION
: 
The Council of Europe is currently implementing a Project VC 3684 on enhancing social human rights in Armenia, with particular focus on the protection of social rights of the refugees from the Karabakh region and other vulnerable persons and groups in Armenia. The project is implemented from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2025. In that context, the Council of Europe is looking for the provision of local consultancy services in the area of social human rights, with special emphasis on the housing, employment, vocational education and training, as well as labour rights, to be requested by the Council on an as needed basis.
TENDER RULES
This tender procedure is a competitive bidding procedure. In accordance with Rule 1395 of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on the procurement procedures of the Council of Europe, the Organisation shall invite to tender at least three potential providers for any purchase between €2,000 (or €6,000 for intellectual services) and €55,000 tax exclusive.
This specific tender procedure aims at concluding a framework contract for the provision of deliverables described in the Act of Engagement (See attached). A tender is considered valid for 180 calendar days as from the closing date for submission. The selection of tenderers will be made in the light of the criteria indicated below. All tenderers will be informed in writing of the outcome of the procedure.
The tenderer must be either a natural person, a legal person or consortia of legal and/or natural persons.
EXPECTED DELIVERABLES
Background of the Project
The Council of Europe is currently implementing a Project on enhancing social human rights in Armenia, with particular focus on the protection of social rights of the refugees from the Karabakh region and other vulnerable persons and groups in Armenia. In that context, it is looking for a maximum of 10 Provider(s) for the Lot 1, and 5 Providers per lot for the Lots 2 and 3 respectively, for provision of local consultancy services in the area of the social human rights, with special emphasis on the housing, employment, vocational education and training, labour rights as provided by the provisions of the European Social Charter vis-à-vis the national legislation of Armenia, reporting to the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) on the implementation of the ESC requirements, and other tasks, to be requested by the Council on an as needed basis, in compliance with the ordering procedure defined in the Framework Contract.
In order to support Armenia in enhancing the protection of the social human rights of the refugees from the Karabakh region, other vulnerable persons and groups, as well as public at large, the activities are proposed under three main project components, as follows:
To Support the strengthening of Armenia’s legal and policy framework in the sphere of social rights in line with the Council of Europe standards, particularly in the area of housing, employment, including vocational education and training, and labour rights.
To strengthen the capacities of national authorities, the Armenia’s Human Rights Defender’s Office and the CSOs in order to enhance the protection of social rights of the refugees of the Karabakh region, other vulnerable persons and groups and public at large, and to implement and monitor the observance of social rights in accordance with the European Social Charter and the case-law of the European Committee of the Social Rights; to sensitize the decision-makers of the procedure for accepting new provisions of the European Social Charter, as well as of the Collective Complaint procedure.
To reinforce the awareness of refugees from the Karabakh region on their rights and entitlements in the area of social rights, as well as of the provision of social services at national and local levels.
This Contract is currently estimated to cover up to 20 (twenty) activities, to be held by 31 December 2025. This estimate is for information only and shall not constitute any sort of contractual commitment on the part of the Council of Europe. The Contract may potentially represent a higher or lower number of activities, depending on the evolving needs of the Organisation.
For information purposes only, the total budget of the project amounts to 600,000 Euros and the total amount of the object of present tender shall not exceed 55,000 Euros tax exclusive for the whole duration of the Framework Contract. This information does not constitute any sort of contractual commitment or obligation on the part of the Council of Europe.
Lots
The present tendering procedure aims to select Provider(s) to support the implementation of the project and is divided into the following lots:
Lot 1 concerns Consultancy services in the area of social rights as provided by the European Social Charter, with a specific focus on the treaty system of the ESC and its monitoring and follow-up mechanisms, social cohesion, including legal analysis, needs assessments, desk and field research, developing gap analysis, recommendations, training modules and Round Table discussions to further strengthen the Armenia’s legislative and policy framework, particularly in the area of housing, employment (including vocational training), and labour rights.
Lot 2 concerns Consultancy services in the area of social human rights, with a particular expertise in legal writing, editing and proofreading of legal texts to adapt them to and for the Armenian context to further enhance relevant authorities and NGO’s capacity to submit reports to the European Committee of Social Rights, as well as to implement and monitor the observance of social rights.
Lot 3 concerns Consultancy services in the area of social rights with a specific focus on communication and visibility for raising awareness on social rights, with a focus on the representatives of vulnerable communities, national and local authorities on provision of social services at national and local levels.
All the other details regarding this local consultancy can be found in the files attached below the announcement.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
: 
Tenders shall be submitted by email only (with attachments) to:
tender.armenia-BH9198@coe.int with the following reference in subject: Tender – BH9198-2024-01. Tenders addressed to another email address will be rejected.
The general information and contact details for this procedure are indicated on the files attached below the announcement. You are invited to use the CoE Contact details indicated below for any question you may have. All questions shall be submitted at least 5 (five) working days before the deadline for submission of the tenders and shall be exclusively addressed to the email address indicated below with the following reference in subject: Questions - Tender – BH9198-2024-01.
Email for questions:
emma.mkrtchyan@coe.int
Please clearly mention in your application letter that you learned of this job opportunity through Career Center and mention the URL of its website - www.careercenter.am, Thanks.
ATTACHMENTS:
Detials for the Announcement.docx - Details
BH9198-2024-001 AE - National Consultancy 2788-6718-7209.docx - National Consultancy
BH9198-2024-01_TF_- National Experts 2788-8396-4425.docx - National Experts
ABOUT COMPANY
: 
The Council of Europe is the continent's leading human rights organisation.
It includes 47 member states, 28 of which are members of the European Union. All Council of Europe member states have signed up to the European Convention on Human Rights, a treaty designed to protect human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
Official languages: English and French.
Headquarters: Palais de l'Europe in Strasbourg, France, designed French architect Henry Bernard.
Budget: The Council of Europe is financed by member states. Contributions are based on population and wealth.
The European flag: twelve gold stars in a circle on a blue background, represents the union of Europe's peoples. The number of stars does not change, twelve symbolising perfection. Chosen as the Council of Europe's official emblem in 1955, the European flag was subsequently adopted by the European Community as well, in 1986. With the passage of time, it has come to symbolise Greater Europe.