# Consultancy framework agreement for formulation, appraisal and review of Danish development cooperation programmes and projects

- **Source:** TED · `742558-2026`
- **Buyer:** Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark
- **Published:** 2026-10-27
- **Deadline:** —
- **Estimated value:** 92,500,000 DKK
- **CPV codes:** 75211200, 79000000, 71314000, 77110000, 77230000, 79311000, 79311100, 79311200, 79311300, 79311400, 79313000, 79330000, 79410000, 79412000, 79421000, 79421100, 79421200, 80500000, 80530000, 90710000, 75130000, 79430000, 98200000
- **Place-of-performance NUTS:** —
- **Buyer-address NUTS:** DK011
- **Notice type:** cn-standard / 16

## Procedure details

Source lists may span several lots; list positions do not establish relationships.

### Procedure Types

- restricted

### Award Criterion Names

- Organisational and Management
- Mobilisation of Specialists for Assignments
- Quality Assurance
- Thematic Specialists
- Financial Management Specialists

### Award Criterion Descriptions

- Please refer to the Criteria and Method of Evaluation and Appendix 1 Scope of Services for a more detailed description of the award criterion.

### Selection Criterion Descriptions

- In Part IV.B of the ESPD, the economic operator must fill in its specific yearly turnover from assignments related to official development assistance programmes or projects in the three most recent financial years for which annual accounts are available. The economic operator is required to meet the following requirement: Total specific turnover of at least DKK 25,000,000 from assignments related to official development assistance programmes or projects in the three most recent financial years for which annual accounts are available (i.e., the total specific turnover in the three most recent financial years, and not the specific yearly turnover). An economic operator requesting to participate in both lots is required to meet the requirement only once.
- In Part IV.C of the ESPD, the economic operator must fill in a list of no more than 10 references for each lot. The references must concern consultancy services actually performed within the five most recent years preceding the time limit for receipt of requests to participate. Where a reference concerns a contract or framework agreement that commenced before that period, only the consultancy services actually performed within the five most recent years preceding the time limit for receipt of requests to participate may be included. Where a reference concerns a contract or framework agreement that is ongoing, only the consultancy services actually performed at the time limit for receipt of requests to participate may be included. The maximum number of references applies separately for each lot. For each lot, the number of references will be determined across all ESPDs submitted with the request to participate (i.e., from all involved economic operators in a group of economic operators and/or other supporting entities). If more than 10 references are submitted for a lot, the contracting authority will read and assess only the 10 most recent references, determined first by the end date and then by the start date. Each reference should include the following information: Description: A concise and precise description of the consultancy services actually performed by the economic operator which should be described under the following headings: (1) Role of the economic operator, (2) Type of consultancy services and the main deliverables, (3) Percentage of the consultancy services performed by subcontractors, (4) Forms of bilateral development cooperation modalities covered, (5) Geographic coverage, and (6) Area(s) of expertise. The description should not exceed 2,000 characters, including spaces, and should avoid unnecessary information that is not relevant to the assessment. Amount: The total contract value received by the economic operator for the consultancy services covered by the reference, net of value-added tax (VAT). Start date: The date when the consultancy services covered by the reference began. End date: For completed consultancy services, the date when the consultancy services covered by the reference were completed. For ongoing consultancy services, the time limit for receipt of requests to participate. Recipient: The name and contact information of the client or donor financing the consultancy services. Where the economic operator has been a subcontractor and only performed parts of the consultancy services, only the subcontracted consultancy services actually performed by the economic operator may be included in the reference. Where a reference concerns a framework agreement, the description and amount may summarise the contracts for consultancy services performed under that framework agreement within the five most recent years preceding the time limit for receipt of requests to participate. The contracting authority encourages economic operators to also meet the criteria for choosing the selected candidates to the greatest extent possible. A reference may be relied upon for more than one type of consultancy services and/or area of expertise where the description of the consultancy services actually performed demonstrates performance in each area for which the reference is relied upon. If a reference is not relevant to the required services (e.g., the reference is an evaluation), it may be relied upon to demonstrate performance in other areas (e.g., an area of expertise, or related to the criteria for choosing the selected candidates). A reference may also be relied upon for both lots where the description of the consultancy services actually performed demonstrates relevant performance for each lot. Economic operators are encouraged to provide information in Part IV.C of the ESPD as shown in the Instructions to Tenderers.
- The economic operator must demonstrate that, within the five most recent years preceding the time limit for receipt of requests to participate, it has: (1) Acted as the lead contractor (i.e., the contractor identified as the lead party under the framework agreement and responsible for coordinating the performance of the consultancy services delivered under it) or framework manager (i.e., the contractor responsible for the overall administration and coordination of the framework agreement, including the coordination of assignments awarded under it) under at least one framework agreement for consultancy services related to official development assistance (ODA) under the applicable OECD DAC rules. (2) Performed the following consultancy services relating to development cooperation programmes or projects (where the definition of an appraisal and a review is aligned with the definitions provided by OECD/DAC: https://one.oecd.org/document/DCD/DAC/EV(2022)2/en/pdf): Formulation (i.e., preparation of the project or programme documentation that serves as the basis for approval and subsequent implementation), Appraisal (i.e., impartial assessment of a project or programme prior to final approval), and Review (i.e., quality assurance assessment of the progress, implementation, performance, results, risks or continuing relevance of a project or programme during its implementation). (3) Performed consultancy services in each of the following areas of expertise: (a) Climate change (e.g., consultancy services concerning climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, or development assistance with climate change as a principal or significant objective, consistent with the OECD DAC Rio-marker terminology, including locally-led adaption, renewable-energy, energy efficiency, climate finance, and climate-investment), (b) Environment and/or sustainable natural-resource management (e.g., consultancy services concerning environmentally sustainable development conservation or restoration, or the sustainable management and use of natural resources, including biodiversity, protection, sustainable forest or land management, integrated water-resources management, sustainable agriculture and food systems, fisheries or aquaculture, and food security), (c) Private sector development (e.g., consultancy services concerning the role of enterprises, entrepreneurs, or markets in inclusive and sustainable development, including private-sector development, the development of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), access to finance for MSMEs, inclusive business models, value-chain development, market access, trade facilitation, employment generation, vocational education and training, public-private partnerships, economic diplomacy, and the development of insurance markets), and (d) Financing and/or mobilisation of finance for sustainable development (e.g., consultancy services concerning development finance, financial instruments, financial-sector development or the mobilisation of additional finance for sustainable development, including blended finance, the strategic use of development finance to mobilise additional finance for sustainable development, financing structures combining development finance with commercial finance, the mobilisation of private finance, guarantee schemes, engagement with multilateral development banks (MDBs), development finance institutions (DFIs) or development-finance facilities, and financing instruments intended to accelerate impact investment). The economic operator must demonstrate performance of consultancy services in each area of expertise specified, but the economic operator is not required to demonstrate performance of consultancy services concerning every example listed under an area of expertise.
- Candidates will be selected on the basis of the references concerning the performance of consultancy services within the five most recent years preceding the time limit for receipt of requests to participate (provided in Part IV.C of the ESPD). The selection will not be based on a renewed assessment of whether the requirements are met, but on an assessment of the relevance of the submitted references for the lot in question. The assessment of relevance will prioritise the following considerations: (1) Experience with framework agreement management for development cooperation services. (2) Experience with the services required, namely the formulation, appraisal and review of development cooperation programmes and projects. The required services that will be prioritised do not include studies, evaluations and services linked to implementation such as monitoring, evaluation, learning and accountability (MEAL) assignments. (3) Performance of consultancy services related to different forms of bilateral development cooperation modalities (e.g., thematic, global, regional, and country programmes and projects), and contributions to multilateral organisations (multi-bi) and non-governmental organisations (NGO) at global, regional or country level. (4) Performance of consultancy services related to development cooperation for clients comparable to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (e.g., a ministry or any other national or federal authority, or a national or federal agency/office, working with development cooperation). (5) Geographic experience from Africa, Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Asia, and/or EU’s Eastern neighbourhood, including conflict affected and/or fragile contexts. (6) Broad and deep thematic expertise in the areas specified for the relevant lot, covering as many of the examples listed under the areas of expertise as possible. The assessment will also emphasise that the submitted references collectively demonstrate relevant experience across as many types of consultancy services, bilateral development cooperation modalities, comparable clients working with development cooperation, countries/regions and contexts, and areas of expertise as possible.
- The economic operator must demonstrate that, within the five most recent years preceding the time limit for receipt of requests to participate, it has: (1) Acted as the lead contractor (i.e., the contractor identified as the lead party under the framework agreement and responsible for coordinating the performance of the consultancy services delivered under it) or framework manager (i.e., the contractor responsible for the overall administration and coordination of the framework agreement, including the coordination of assignments awarded under it) under at least one framework agreement for consultancy services related to official development assistance (ODA) under the applicable OECD DAC rules. (2) Performed the following consultancy services relating to development cooperation programmes or projects (where the definition of an appraisal and a review is aligned with the definitions provided by OECD/DAC: https://one.oecd.org/document/DCD/DAC/EV(2022)2/en/pdf): Formulation (i.e., preparation of the project or programme documentation that serves as the basis for approval and subsequent implementation), Appraisal (i.e., impartial assessment of a project or programme prior to final approval), and Review (i.e., quality assurance assessment of the progress, implementation, performance, results, risks or continuing relevance of a project or programme during its implementation). (3) Performed consultancy services in each of the following areas of expertise: (a) Stabilisation, conflict prevention and peacebuilding (e.g., consultancy services concerning conflict prevention, dialogue and reconciliation, institution-building, Women, Peace and Security, Climate, Peace and Security, security sector reform, countering/preventing violent extremism, and maritime security), (b) Migration management (e.g., consultancy services concerning migration governance or management, the protection of migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, or internally displaced persons, assisted voluntary return and sustainable reintegration), (c) Democratic governance (e.g., consultancy services concerning public sector reform and development, decentralisation, inclusive political processes and accountability), (d) Human rights and civil society (e.g., consultancy services concerning the capacity development of civil society and human rights organisations, civic space, and grant mechanisms for civil-society organisations), (e) Gender equality and inclusion (e.g., consultancy services concerning women’s empowerment, sexual and reproductive health and rights, the prevention of and response to gender-based violence, or the rights, protection, meaningful participation and inclusion of persons in marginalised and vulnerable situations, such as Indigenous Peoples, religious minorities, LGBT+ persons, and persons with disabilities), (f) Resilience and recovery (e.g., consultancy services concerning resilience, early recovery in crisis-affected and/or displacement-affected settings including livelihoods, employment or local economic recovery, protection and access to services). The economic operator must demonstrate performance of consultancy services in each area of expertise specified, but the economic operator is not required to demonstrate performance of consultancy services concerning every example listed under an area of expertise.

### Documents Urls

- https://www.ethics.dk/ethics/eo#/3a4cea8c-f9d4-46a9-a6f8-01dd08ba587d/publicMaterial

### Submission Urls

- https://www.ethics.dk/ethics/eo#/3a4cea8c-f9d4-46a9-a6f8-01dd08ba587d/homepage

## Description

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (MFA) is in the process of streamlining the management of its development cooperation. Part of this effort concerns the simplification of the procurement process of key consultancy services relating to development cooperation. Consultancy contracts are currently procured individually by the case worker responsible for the programme or project. Case workers are MFA staff from MFA Services at Home and Services Abroad. They are responsible for the procurement process of individual contracts which is often lengthy, and can have implications on programme and project implementation timelines. Moreover, the fragmentation of the process makes it difficult to use the feedback from case workers on the fulfilment of the assignments. This makes it challenging to harvest learning from past performance and ensure a sustained quality of services. It is in this context that the MFA wishes to consolidate the procurement of consultancy services through a framework agreement with multiple contractors. The streamlining of the management of Danish development cooperation entailed a revision of the Danida – Aid Management Guidelines (AMG). This foresees a delegation of key tasks to external consultants, primarily appraisals, and thereby an expected rise in the number of consultancy services to be requested. It is therefore an opportune time to seek a more streamlined procurement process of consultancy services. The AMG’s Bilateral Guidelines (https://amg.um.dk/bilateral-cooperation/guidelines-for-programmes-projects-country-strategic-frameworks-and-hard-earmarked-multilat-support) and Financial Management Guidelines (https://amg.um.dk/bilateral-cooperation/financial-management) constitute the basic set of procedures for all Danish bilateral development cooperation. The guidelines outline the processes and requirements for the preparation, formulation, quality assurance, approval, implementation, completion and closure of Danish bilateral programmes and projects. The purpose of the framework agreement is to make the MFA procurement of key consultancy services relating to Danish bilateral development programmes and projects more effective and efficient by ensuring quick access to relevant specialists, reducing the procurement time for assignments, and improving the quality of services provided. The objective of the framework agreement is to have a contractual set-up between the MFA and a number of contractors who can provide, upon demand and in a timely manner, the required expertise and service quality for the formulation, appraisal and review of Danish bilateral development programmes and projects. The objective of each assignment and the required outputs will be described in the Terms of Reference, which will be part of the Delivery Contract for the individual assignment. The Framework Agreement solely covers Denmark’s bilateral development cooperation programmes and projects. Therefore, the scope of work of consultancy services solely pertains to Official Development Assistance (ODA) funds. The framework agreement is divided into two lots that reflect the thematic areas and priorities of Denmark’s Strategy for Development Cooperation: Lot 1: Climate, environment, private sector and financing. Lot 2: Governance, fragility, and migration. The framework agreement will require the provision of the following services pertaining to the design and implementation phases of bilateral development cooperation programmes, namely: Formulation of bilateral programmes and projects. This may include preparatory work in the formulation process if and as needed. Appraisal of the design of bilateral programmes and projects as a quality assurance milestone prior to approval. This includes external appraisals led by the consultant and early appraisals of larger or high-risk programmes/projects led by LÆRING. Review of bilateral programmes and projects under implementation. This can span inception, midterm and technical reviews covering the full implementation period of the programme/project as part of the MFA unit’s monitoring and reporting cycle. Reviews do not have the same scope of work, methodology and methods as an evaluation. The MFA’s definition of appraisal, review and evaluation services is aligned with the definitions provided by OECD/DAC (https://one.oecd.org/document/DCD/DAC/EV(2022)2/en/pdf). The content of the services will vary and be defined by the MFA in the specific Terms of Reference for each individual assignment. The following themes and types of services will not be part of the framework agreement: Research and university partnerships. Training programmes and tracer studies. Culture. NGO strategic partnership agreements with the MFA (SPA agreements). Core support to multilateral organisations as described in Danish Organisation Strategies. Strategic Sector Cooperation. Audit assignments. Legal assessments. Monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) unit contracts and multi-year MEAL technical assistance. Evaluations. Tender process consultancies. Please refer to the Consultancy Framework Agreement and Appendix 1 Scope of Services for a more detailed description of the object of the procurement.

## Original notice

https://ted.europa.eu/da/notice/-/detail/742558-2026