Tender Summary: Supply and Delivery of ILO Evaluation Services

1. Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to appoint a service provider to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the technical assistance provided by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to the national component of South Africa's Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). The evaluation aims to determine the impact, value, and effectiveness of the ILO's support to inform decisions on potential future collaboration for Phase V of the EPWP (April 2024 – March 2029).

The evaluation will specifically assess the ILO's technical assistance against the OECD-DAC criteria of effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, impact, and sustainability. It will also determine the ILO's comparative advantage over other entities such as consultants, NGOs, and other government bodies, and identify lessons, challenges, and good practices to inform future collaboration.

2. Scope of Services

The evaluation covers the ILO's technical assistance to the EPWP national component, with a specific focus on the following:

• Geographical Scope: National reach, including a sample of at least 15 public bodies supported across different provinces and spheres of government, plus interviews with key EPWP branch officials.
• Timeframe: A detailed evaluation of the period from January 2020 to March 2025, and a long-term overview evaluation covering January 2005 to December 2024.
• Key Evaluation Questions: The assessment will address major achievements, contribution to sustainability, alignment with national priorities (employment creation, poverty reduction, gender inclusion), effectiveness of interventions, resource optimisation, cost comparison with other providers, skills transfer, and unique value proposition of the ILO.

3. Technical Requirements

The service provider is required to deliver the following:

• Inception Report: Detailing the evaluation framework, methodology, and work plan.
• Draft Evaluation Report: A comprehensive draft for review by the Project Steering Committee.
• Final Evaluation Report: A complete report incorporating comments, including an abstract and an executive summary (max 3 pages). This must be submitted in electronic format and as five (5) hard copies.
• PowerPoint Presentation: A presentation covering consolidated findings and recommendations, submitted with the final report.
• Methodology: A mixed-methods approach using both quantitative and qualitative methods, including document review, interviews with stakeholders (public bodies, consultants, contractors, ILO staff), and analysis of good practices.

4. Skills and Qualifications Requirements

The selection will be based on the quality of the proposed team. The core team must comprise at least three members with a combination of qualifications in Economics, Statistics, Social Sciences, and Public Management. Specific requirements include:

• Team Leader: Must hold at least a Master's degree in Social Science or Economic Management Sciences and have a minimum of 8 years' experience in evaluation and research within the government sector, specifically Public Employment Programmes.
• Team Members: Each must possess a minimum of 5 years' post-qualification experience in conducting evaluation and research projects.
• Company Experience: The bidding company must demonstrate proven existence and experience for a minimum of 8 years in research and evaluation studies, supported by a company profile and two reference letters.
• Functionality: Bidders must score a minimum of 60% on functionality criteria, which include company experience, technical quality of the proposal, Team Leader's experience and qualifications, and team composition and qualifications.

5. Important Tender Conditions

• Preference System: The 80/20 preference point system will apply, with 80 points for price and 20 points for specific goals (e.g., at least 51% owned by black people, black women, black youth, or black people with disabilities).
• Mandatory Submissions: Bidders must be registered on the Central Supplier Database (CSD) and submit various completed forms including PA-32 (Invitation to Bid), PA-11 (Bidder's Disclosure), and PA-16 (Preference Points Claim Form).
• Validity Period: Quotations must remain valid for 84 days.