REFERENCE NUMBER: SADC/SHD&SP/03/2016 – DEVELOPMENT OF A REGIONAL FRAMEWORK AND ACTION PLAN ON INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

SELECTION OF INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANTS

REFERENCE NUMBER: SADC/SHD&SP/03/2016

REQUEST FOR SERVICES TITLE:

DEVELOPMENT OF A REGIONAL FRAMEWORK AND ACTION PLAN ON INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

  1. The SADC Secretariat is inviting Individual Consultants to submit their CV and Financial Proposal for the following services:

DEVELOPMENT OF A REGIONAL FRAMEWORK AND ACTION PLAN ON INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

The Terms of Reference defining the minimum technical requirements for these services are attached as Annex 1 to this Request for Expression of Interest.

2. Only Individual Consultants are eligible for this assignment provided that they fulfil the following eligibility criteria:

a)they are not bankrupt or being wound up, are having their affairs administered by the courts, have entered into arrangements with creditors, have suspended business activities, are being subject of proceedings concerning those matters, or are being in any similar situations arising from similar procedures provided for in the national legislation or regulations of the SADC member states;

b)they have not been convicted of offences concerning their professional conduct by a judgment which has the force of res judicata; (i.e. against which no appeal is possible);

c)they have not been declared guilty of grave professional misconduct proven by any means which SADC Secretariat can justify;

d)they have fulfilled obligations related to the payments of social security contributions or the payment of taxes in accordance with the legal provisions of the country in which they are established or with those countries where the contract is to be performed;

e)they have not been the subject of a judgment which has the force of res judicata for fraud, corruption, involvement in a criminal organisation or any other illegal activity detrimental to the SADC Secretariat' financial interests; or

f)they are not being currently subject to an administrative penalty.

3.The maximum budget for this contract is US$ 11,100.00 for expert service/consultants fees only. Proposals exceeding this budget will not be accepted.

4.Your Expression of Interest must be presented as per Standard Expression of Interest Forms attached as Annex 2 to this REOI, in the English language and be accompanied by copies of all the indicated supporting documents. If the supporting documents are not in English, these shall be accompanied by a certified translation into English.

5.Your proposal clearly marked “REFERENCE NUMBER: SADC/SHD&SP/03/2016 – DEVELOPMENT OF A REGIONAL FRAMEWORK AND ACTION PLAN ON INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER” in a sealed envelope, should be submitted in our tender box located at the following address:

Secretary to the Tender Committee

SADC Secretariat

Plot 54385 CBD

Private Bag 0095

Gaborone

Botswana

Attn: Mr Snowden Mmadi

Copy: Ted Peter Luka

6.The deadline for submission of your proposal, to the address indicated in Paragraph 5 above, is:

29 MARCH 2016 at 15:00 hours

7.Proposals submitted by Fax or E-mail are acceptable.

8.Your CV will be evaluated against the following criteria.

Criteria / Maximum points allocated
1 / Education and Training / 30
2 / Specific Experience / 60
3 / General Skills / 10
Total / 100

9.You proposal should be submitted as per the following instructions and in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of the Standard Contract attached as Annex 3 to this REOI:

(i) PRICES:

The financial proposal shall be inclusive of all expenses deemed necessary by the Individual Consultant for the performance of the contract.

(ii)EVALUATION AND AWARD OF THE CONTRACT:

Expressions of Interest determined to be formally compliant to the requirements will be further evaluated technically.

An Expression of Interest is considered compliant to the requirements if:

  • It fulfils the formal requirements (see Paragraphs 2,3,4,5,6 and 7 above),
  • The financial proposal does not exceed the maximum available budget for the contract.

The award will be made to the applicant who obtained the highest technical score. Expressions of Interest not obtaining a minimum score of 70% will be rejected.

(iii) VALIDITY OF THE EXPRESSION OF INTEREST:

Your Expression of Interest should be valid for a period of 90 days from the date of deadline for submission indicated in Paragraph 6 above.

10. The assignment is expected to commence within two (2) weeks from the signature of the contract.

11.Additional requests for information and clarifications can be made until 10 working days prior to deadline indicated in the paragraph 6 above, from:

The Procuring entity: SADC Secretariat

Contact person: Ted Peter Luka

Telephone: 3951863

Fax:3972848

E-mail:

Copy:

The answer on the questions received will be sent to the Consultant and all questions received as well as the answer(s) to them will be posted on the SADC Secretariat’s website at the latest 7 working days before the deadline for submission of the proposals.

ANNEXES:

ANNEX 1: Terms of Reference

ANNEX 2: Expression of Interest Forms

ANNEX 3: Standard Contract for Individual Consultants

Sincerely,

______(signature)______

Name: Ted Peter Luka

Title: Procurement Officer

Date: 01 MARCH 2016

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REFERENCE NUMBER: SADC/SHD&SP/03/2016 – DEVELOPMENT OF A REGIONAL FRAMEWORK AND ACTION PLAN ON INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

ANNEX 1: TERMS OF REFERENCE

Terms of Reference for a consultancy to develop Regional Framework and Action Plan on Innovation and Technology Transfer

  1. Background

1.1 The main purpose of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is to improve economic growth and development, alleviate poverty, enhance the quality of life of the people of the Region, support its socially disadvantageous areas through productive systems, deeper cooperation and integration so that the region emerges as a competitive and effective player in international trade and world economy. In seeking to meet both its social and economic aspirations, SADC recognises the important role and contribution of science, technology and innovation (STI) in political, economic and social development of the Region inorder to inter alia facilitate industrial development, competitiveness, regional integration and cooperation. Thus promoting science, technology and innovation is one of the broad strategic objectives of the SADC regional integration and cooperation agenda.

1.2 The immediate outcome for science, technology and innovation is support the industrialization strategy and other priorities of regional integration. The areas of focus include STI policy support and development, promotion of Public Private Partnerships (PPP) investment in STI and Research and Development Infrastructure, development and promotion of research, innovation and technology transfer, promotion and awareness of STI, enhancing and strengthening the protection of Intellectual Property Rights, promotion of women and youth participation in science, engineering and technology and promoting and strengthening regional cooperation partnerships to support the development of science, technology and innovation.

1.3 Strategies for achieving these and other areas of focus are the domestication of the Protocol on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI); establishment of collaborative regional Research, Development and Innovation (R&DI) programmes in priority areas; setting-up and strengthening regional Centres of Excellence as well as networks in priority areas of STI and developing and strengthening regional STI capacities. The Africa Union Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2024 (STISA), recognises “innovation as one of the major drivers and enablers for achieving development goals of the African Union and its Member States”. The African Union Agenda 2063 “articulates that Africa’s sustained growth, competiveness and economic transformation will require sustained investment in new technologies and continuous innovation in areas such as agriculture, clean energy, education, health and bio-sciences”.[1]

1.4 In 2015, the SADC region developed and approved the regional Industrialization Strategy and Road Map (2015-2063) which underscores science, technology and innovation as one the important enabling factors for Industrialization[2]. The Industrialization Strategy and Roadmap (2015-2063) is anchored on three pillars:

(i) Industrialization as champion of economic and technological transformation.

(ii) Competitivenes as an active process to move from comparative advantage to competitive advantage.

(iii) Regional integration and geography as the context for indistrial development and economic prosperity.

The Industrialization Strategy outlines fourteen (14) essential elements or prerequisites for industrialization among these being:

  • Technological upgrading and innovation as enablers and creators of employmemt and competitivenes.
  • The recognition of possible impact of the emerging global technological evolution and trade patterns.

The primary focus of the Strategy is to facilitate structural transformation of trhe SADC region by way of industrialization, modernization, upgrading and closer regional integration. The Strategy emphasis that industrialization should be seen as long-term process of structural transformation and enhanced competitveness of the entire SADC region.

1.5The Strategy identifies both quantative and qualitative strategic goals in order to facilitate transformation of the region’s economies and creating the knowledge economies of the future. The increase of regional GDP from 4 percent annually to a minimum of 7 percent a year and development of viable regional value chains capable on interacting with global value chains is among the identified quantitative and qualitative goals. The need to provide a framework for technological and industrial catch-up, export diversification, natural resources beneficiation, enhanced value-addition and increased regional trade and employment generation is also one of the identified qualitative goals.

1.5 It is recognised world wide that science, technology and innovation plays a key role in improving the quality of life, contributes to economic growth and increased productivity, increased employment and contributes to sustainable development. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), “science, technology and innovation is essential to meeting global and societal challenges, such as enviornmental sustainability, climate change, developing new sources of energy, food security and healthy ageing, inorder to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals agree by United Nations”.[3]

1.6 In order to realise the SADC regions common agenda and to achieve the goals of the Industrialization Strategy and Roadmap of developing innovation driven economies characterized by advanced technologies and increased business sophistication by 2063, the region and its Member States will have to invest in research, development and innovation and create an enbaling enviroment for technology development, adoption, diffusion, and transfer.

2. Objectives of the Assignment

The objective of the assignment is to produce a comprehensive Regional Framework and Action Plan on Innovation and Technology Transfer. The Framework should outline the appropriate economic, social and political enviornment required to facilitate the creation of knowledge, innovation and technology in order to realise the goals of the Revised RISDP (2015-2020) and Industrialization Strategy and Roadmap (2016-2063).

3Scope of the Assignment

In order to deliver on the above objective, the assignment will consist of the following tasks:

(i) Review SADC legal instruments; Protocols and policy/strategic frameworks in relation Innovation and Technology Transfer;

(ii) Conduct inventory of Member States Innovation Policies and Technology Transfer Frameworks, institutional frameworks and arrangements;

(iii) Undertake lietrature review of good and best practices of Regional Innovation and Technology Tranfer Frameworks in other regions in the continent (COMESA, ECOWAS, EAC, etc) ; ASEAN region and other continental and international multilateral organizations such as the United Nations, OECD (e.g OECD Innovation Strategy) and European Union; and

(iv) Develop Regional Framework and Action Plan on Innnovation and Technology Transfer which will provide guidance on issues of innovation and technology transfer at regional and national levels. in relation to the following issues (not limited):

  1. Science, Technology and Innovation Policies, Trade and Industrial Policies ; and Education Policies;
  2. National and regional systems of innovation (public, private sector, eduction systems, research and development etc);
  3. Intellectual Property Rights policies and frameworks;
  4. Legal and Requlatory Framework for Innovation and Technology Transfer;
  5. Financing and funding instruments for innovation;
  6. Innovation capacities of the region (public & private sectors);
  7. Framework conditions of markets, competitions and standards;
  8. Culture of innovation;
  9. Identification of barriers to innovaton; and
  10. Recommend policy tools at regional and national levels for the creation of an enabling enviroment to support innovaton and technology transfer.
  1. Description of Tasks

In order to perform the above tasks the consultant shall:

4.1 Undertake extensive desktop study collecting data and information and including electonic communication with Member States involving e-mails, internet searches but not limited to the national institutions; Authorities and Bodies in the SADC region, but also as well other organisations, regional, continentally and internationally dealing with Innovation and Technology Transfer. In addition, the consultant will communicate with relevant Directorates and sectors in the SADC Secretariat to be facilitated by responisble Officer.

4.2 Undertake literature review on regional, national and international policies, frameworks,and strategies on Innovation and Technology Transfer.

4.3 Prepare and present the Draft Regional Literature Review Report and draft Framework to a regional validation workshop of Member States and experts for comments and inputs. Prepare Final Report with inputs and comments from the validation workshop.

4.4 The Literature Review Report to inform the development of the Regional Framework and Action Plan on Innovation and Technology Transfer.

4.5 Expected Outputs/Deliverables:

The main outputs and deliverables will be:

  1. Inception Report , including the conceptualization, work plan/Gant Chart

and methodology to be used to undertake the assignment;

  1. Literature Review Report on Innovation and Technology Transfer

national, regional, continental and international good and best practices;

  1. Regional Framework and Action Plan on Innovation and Technology

Transfer; and

  1. Consultancy Report.
  1. Duration of the Assignment and Timelines

5.1 Duration: This is a 30 person days that will be spread over a three month period from April 2016 to June 2016. The assignment is expected to be completed within three months of commencement of work. The Indicative Timeframe is as follows:

  1. Start date of consultancy: April 2016;
  2. Submission of Inception report to SADC Social and Human Development and Special Progrmmes 30 April 2016;
  3. Submission of the Literature Review report mid May 2016;
  4. Draft Framework and Action Plan on Innovation and Technology Transfer 30 June 2016; and
  5. Consultant Report 30 June 2016.

5.2 Logistics and approach: The SADC Secretariat will:

i) provide documentation to the Consultant relevant to the assignment such as SADC legal instruments; protocols; policies; and strategies; framework;

ii) facilitate meetings with relevant SADC Secretariat Dircetorates, sectors and regional Agencies; and

iii) provide contacts for Member States and other regional, continental and international stakeholders where necessary.

  1. Reporting and Management Arrangements

6.1 The consultant shall report and perform the assigned tasks under the

guidance, supervision and report to the Director for Social, Human

Development and Special Programmes through the Senior Technical

Advisor responsible for Science, Technology and Innovation.

5.2The consultancy will be expected to work from their own offices using own facilities and have access to necessary resources to carry out the assisgnment such as computers, internet and telephone access.

  1. Expertise Required

7.1 Education and Training

A university Degree (minimim Masters level or equivalent) in Science, Technology and Innovation; Economics, or any related natural and social science discipline or field with specialisation in Innovation and Technology Transfer.

7.2 Specific Experience/Skills

Must have a minimum of 10 years relevant working experience in the field of Innovation, Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Rights. Must have good understanding regional, continental and international policy frameworks related to Science, Technology and Innovation. Must have traceable evidence of similar assignments and knowledge of the SADC regional agenda.

7.3 General Skills

Minimum of 10 years general working experience in similar or related field. Must have good networking skills, public speaking, excellent written and oral skills and computer literate.

7.Budget

The budget for the assisgnment is US$ 11,100.

The payment schedule will be as follows:

  1. 30% upon submission of Inception Report;
  2. 30% upon submission of Literature Review Report;
  3. 30% upon submission of Regional Framework and Action Plan on Innovation and Technology Transfer; and
  4. 10% upon submission of Consultants Reports.

8.Evaluation Criteria

The following evaluation criteria will be used to assess the proposal. A Proposal that scores above 70% will be accepted.

Category / Points
Education and Training / 30
Specific Experience / 60
General Skills / 10
Total / 100

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REFERENCE NUMBER: SADC/SHD&SP/03/2016 – DEVELOPMENT OF A REGIONAL FRAMEWORK AND ACTION PLAN ON INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

ANNEX 2: Expression of Interest Forms

A.COVER LETTER FOR THE EXPESSION OF INTEREST FOR THE PROJECT

B.CURRICULUM VITAE

C.FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

Page 1 of 30

REFERENCE NUMBER: SADC/SHD&SP/03/2016 – DEVELOPMENT OF A REGIONAL FRAMEWORK AND ACTION PLAN ON INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

A.COVER LETTER FOR THE EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR THE PROJECT

REFERENCE NUMBER: SADC/SHD&SP/03/2016

REQUEST FOR SERVICES TITLE: DEVELOPMENT OF A REGIONAL FRAMEWORK AND ACTION PLAN ON INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

[Location, Date]

To:SADC Secretariat

Dear Sirs:

I, the undersigned, offer to provide the consulting services for the DEVELOPMENT OF A REGIONAL FRAMEWORK AND ACTION PLAN ON INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER in accordance with your Request for Expression of Interests number SADC/SHD&SP/03/2016, dated [insert date] for the sum of [Insert amount(s) in words and figures1[4]]. This amount is inclusive of all expenses deemed necessary for the performance of the contract in accordance with the Terms of Reference requirements, and [“does” or “does not” delete as applicable] include any of the following taxes in Procuring Entity’s country: value added tax and social charges or/and income taxes on fees and benefits.

I hereby declare that all the information and statements made in my CV are true and accept that any misinterpretation contained in it may lead to my disqualification.