Request for Proposal (RFP)
For: Next Generation Ireland research
Date: 15 December 2017
1 Overview of the British Council
1.1 The British Council is the United Kingdom’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. Its purpose is to promote a friendly knowledge and understanding between the people of the UK and people worldwide; making a positive contribution to all the countries we work with; and making a lasting difference to the UK's security, prosperity and influence. It seeks to achieve its aims by working in education, science, governance, English and the arts. In 2014-15, its programmes reached a total audience of 647 million people worldwide, up by 43 million from the previous year. The British Council also had a total turnover of £973 million, which was 13% higher than the previous year. Its income included a grant-in-aid of £155 million, £637 million from fees and income from services such as English teaching, exams administration and £164 million from contract activity, such as the management of client-funded contracts, and funding from a wide range of public and private sector partners.
1.2 The British Council was established in 1934 and incorporated by Royal Charter in 1940. It is registered as a charity in England and Wales (charity no. 209131) and Scotland (charity no. SCO37733). It is also an executive non-departmental public body, with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as its sponsoring department.
1.3 Its primary charitable objects are set out in the Charter and are stated to be to:
· Promote cultural relationships and the understanding of different cultures between people and peoples of the United Kingdom and other countries;
· Promote a wider knowledge of the United Kingdom;
· Develop a wider knowledge of the English language;
· Encourage cultural, scientific, technological and other educational co-operation between the United Kingdom and other countries; and
· Otherwise promote the advancement of education.
1.4 The British Council works in more than 110 countries around the world and employs over 7000 staff worldwide. It has its headquarters in the UK, with offices in London, Manchester, Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh. Further information can be viewed at www.britishcouncil.org.
2 Introduction and Background to the Project / Programme
2.1 Next Generation is a research programme that gathers data to explore the needs, potential, and aspirations of young people (18-30) globally. The overall aim of Next Generation is:
· Understanding youth attitudes and aspirations
· Amplifying youth voice
· Supporting better youth policy-making
The study seeks to analyse the conditions that support young people and allow them to reach their potential as fulfilled, productive and active citizens. Research is initiated in countries that are experiencing a period of significant change, with the purpose of ensuring that young people’s voices are heard and their interests properly represented in decisions that will have lasting implications for their lives. The research is always completed with a series of recommendations based on supporting policy change.
We look to see how one or more significant changes or periods of activity – particularly when a number of events or circumstance come together – affects young people’s view of themselves and their place in the world. The UK research was sparked by the Brexit referendum; in South Africa, by the sense that the ‘born free’ (post-apartheid) generation are coming of age and are dissatisfied with the post-apartheid social contract; in Colombia, by a young generation coming to terms with the new peace settlement.
Following the UK’s decision to leave the European Union, we are commissioning new reports to examine the impact on young people. The UK research was launched in 2017; we are now looking to commission Next Generation Ireland, to encompass the while island of Ireland, to examine how young people across the island are reacting to ongoing change.
Critical Conjuncture
In 1973 Britain and Ireland joined the EU together. The decision the UK made in June 2016 to start the process of leaving the European Union has presented a number of challenges to the island that will contain the UK’s only land border with Europe. This decision has serious implications for the movement of goods and people over the border, as well as potential ramifications to the hard-won peace in the North. The position Ireland finds itself in is not one of its own making. However, the decision will impact people across the island or Ireland.
For a younger generation, who have lived all or most of their lives as Europeans, and with their nearest neighbours also in the EU, Brexit is likely to mean a radical change. They are accustomed to the free movement of people, goods and services across the border and to giving little thought to how and when they move between north and south. As well as there being no physical border, marked out by customs posts and check-points, there is no ‘mental’ border. Many would argue that this has also been central to supporting the peace process.
2018 marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, ratified in north and south, and underpinned by common recourse to European courts. This young generation has also always broadly known peace in Northern Ireland. The prospect of Brexit also casts a shadow over that peace process – the prospect of a physical border between the north and south viewed as a potential outcome of a ‘hard’ Brexit.
So, Ireland’s next generation face major change and challenge, not helped by political upheaval. There is a minority government in place in Dublin, which at the time of writing has narrowly avoided the breakdown of the government and the prospect of a snap general election. In Belfast, the devolved government broke up in January 2017 following a breakdown of trust between the two main parties (Sinn Fein and the DUP); an election in March 2017 did not result in the formation of a new power-sharing Executive. At the time of writing, funding allocations remain in the hands of the Northern Ireland Civil Service with a budget bill going through the UK Parliament.
The themes
This research we will also examine young people’s sense of their lives – what are their experiences? Do they feel their voices are being heard by their elders, by leaders, by the media and opinion formers? What is their engagement in the civic, economic, social and democratic life of their country and what are their aspirations on influencing their community, country and wider world?
With the referendum result in mind, we would like to explore young people’s attitudes toward other countries, their experience of other countries and cultures (through education, travel etc.) and their sense of nationalism/internationalism. In particular, how they see the relationship, now and in the future, between the Irish Republic, Northern Ireland, the UK as a whole, and Europe.
Finally, the report will examine what policies are needed to support young people across the island of Ireland in achieving their potential as creative, fulfilled and active citizens. We would be interested also in exploring their view of the peace process in Northern Ireland, and gauge views from across the island of Ireland as to how they view their role in fostering positive relations across the island, and with their neighbours.
2.2 The purpose and scope of this RFP and supporting documents is to explain in further detail the requirements of the British Council and the procurement process for submitting a tender proposal.
3 Tender Conditions and Contractual Requirements
This section of the RFP sets out the British Council’s contracting requirements, general policy requirements, and the general tender conditions relating to this procurement process (“Procurement Process”).
3.1 Contracting requirements
3.1.1 The contracting authority is the British Council which includes any subsidiary companies and other organisations that control or are controlled by the British Council from time to time (see: http://www.britishcouncil.org/organisation/structure/status).
3.1.2 The appointed supplier will be expected to deliver the goods and/or provide services at the British Council offices in the UK.
3.1.3 The British Council’s contracting and commercial approach in respect of the required goods and/or services is set out at Annex [1] (Terms and Conditions of contract) (“Contract”). By submitting a tender response, you are agreeing to be bound by the terms of this RFP and the Contract without further negotiation or amendment.
3.1.4 The Contract awarded will be for a duration of 6 months with an option for an extension for up to an additional 2 months.
3.1.5 In the event that you have any concerns or queries in relation to the Contract, you should submit a clarification request in accordance with the provisions of this RFP by the Clarification Deadline (as defined below in the Timescales section of this RFP). Following such clarification requests, the British Council may issue a clarification change to the Contract that will apply to all potential suppliers submitting a tender response.
3.1.6 The British Council is under no obligations to consider any clarifications / amendments to the Contract proposed following the Clarification Deadline, but before the Response Deadline (as defined below in the Timescales section of this RFP). Any proposed amendments received from a potential supplier as part its tender response shall entitle the British Council to reject that tender response and to disqualify that potential supplier from this Procurement Process.
3.2 General Policy Requirements
3.2.1 By submitting a tender response in connection with this Procurement Process, potential suppliers confirm that they will, and that they shall ensure that any consortium members and/or subcontractors will, comply with all applicable laws, codes of practice, statutory guidance and applicable British Council policies relevant to the goods and/or services being supplied. All relevant British Council policies that suppliers are expected to comply with can be found on the British Council website (https://www.britishcouncil.org/organisation/transparency/policies). The list of relevant policies includes (but it is not limited to): Anti-Fraud and Corruption, Child Protection Policy, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy, Fair Trading, Health and Safety Policy, Environmental Policy, Records Management, and Privacy.
3.3 General tender conditions (“Tender Conditions”)
3.3.1 Application of these Tender Conditions – In participating in this Procurement Process and/or by submitting a tender response it will be implied that you accept and will be bound by all the provisions of this RFP and its Annexes. Accordingly, tender responses should be on the basis of and strictly in accordance with the requirements of this RFP.
3.3.2 Third party verifications – Your tender response is submitted on the basis that you consent to the British Council carrying out all necessary actions to verify the information that you have provided; and the analysis of your tender response being undertaken by one or more third parties commissioned by the British Council for such purposes.
3.3.3 Information provided to potential suppliers – Information that is supplied to potential suppliers as part of this Procurement Process is supplied in good faith. The information contained in the RFP and the supporting documents and in any related written or oral communication is believed to be correct at the time of issue but the British Council will not accept any liability for its accuracy, adequacy or completeness and no warranty is given as such. This exclusion does not extend to any fraudulent misrepresentation made by or on behalf of the British Council.
3.3.4 Potential suppliers to make their own enquires – You are responsible for analysing and reviewing all information provided to you as part of this Procurement Process and for forming your own opinions and seeking advice as you consider appropriate. You should notify the British Council promptly of any perceived ambiguity, inconsistency or omission in this RFP and/or any in of its associated documents and/or in any information provided to you as part of this Procurement Process.
3.3.5 Amendments to the RFP – At any time prior to the Response Deadline, the British Council may amend the RFP. Any such amendment shall be issued to all potential suppliers, and if appropriate to ensure potential suppliers have reasonable time in which to take such amendment into account, the Response Deadline shall, at the discretion of the British Council, be extended.
3.3.6 Compliance of tender response submission – Any goods and/or services offered should be on the basis of and strictly in accordance with the RFP (including, without limitation, any specification of the British Council’s requirements, these Tender Conditions and the Contract) and all other documents and any clarifications or updates issued by the British Council as part of this Procurement Process.
3.3.7 Format of tender response submission – Any documents requested by the British Council must be completed in full. It is, therefore, important that you read the RFP carefully before completing and submitting your tender response.
3.3.8 Modifications to tender response documents once submitted – You may modify your tender response prior to the Response Deadline by giving written notice to the British Council. Any modification should be clear and submitted as a complete new tender response in accordance with Annex [3] (Supplier Response) and these Tender Conditions.
3.3.9 Rejection of tender responses or other documents – A tender response or any other document requested by the British Council may be rejected which:
· contains gaps, omissions, misrepresentations, errors, uncompleted sections, or changes to the format of the tender documentation provided;
· contains hand written amendments which have not been initialled by the authorised signatory;
· does not reflect and confirm full and unconditional compliance with all of the documents issued by the British Council forming part of the RFP;
· contains any caveats or any other statements or assumptions qualifying the tender response that are not capable of evaluation in accordance with the evaluation model or requiring changes to any documents issued by the British Council in any way;
· is not submitted in a manner consistent with the provisions set out in this RFP;
· is received after the Response Deadline.
3.3.10 Disqualification – If you breach these Tender Conditions, if there are any errors, omissions or material adverse changes relating to any information supplied by you at any stage in this Procurement Process, if any other circumstances set out in this RFP, and/or in any supporting documents, entitling the British Council to reject a tender response apply and/or if you or your appointed advisers attempt: