European Union CO-funded under the Progress programme of the. Department of Justice and Equality Request for Tenders (RFT) for an Evaluation of the REACH Project Closing Date: 12 noon on 9 December 2014
1. INTRODUCTION The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) [hereinafter referred to as the Contracting Authority] invites tenders from suitably qualified providers for an independent evaluation of the method of delivery of an EU funded Project entitled REACH the purpose of which is to: Raise awareness of the issue of human trafficking among victims and potential victims; Promote a message of zero tolerance of human trafficking as a form of violence against women and girls, among men and boys; Develop innovative training and supports for frontline staff/professionals, including the development of a mobile app. 2. CONTEXT The Contracting Authority submitted a proposal to the European Commission under the PROGRESS Action Grants on Violence to Women in which it sought funding to run targeted campaigns and develop training and supports for frontline actors. The application was submitted in conjunction with Ruhama, the Health Services Executive, The Child and Family Agency and the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland. This project aims at achieving the objective of ending violence against women as defined at EU level in terms of targeting female victims of human trafficking. In particular the project will seek to achieve the threefold purpose set out above (in the Introduction) by means of: Developing information and communication activities focused on identifying victims of human trafficking, encouraging victims of human trafficking to come forward and informing persons at risk of human trafficking of the supports that are available; Developing information and communication activities focused on promoting a zero tolerance of human trafficking and the use of services of victims of human trafficking; and Developing practice models of training of relevant professionals in identifying and supporting victims of human trafficking and the development of a mobile app. 3. SPECIFICATION OF REQUIREMENTS What is sought is an independent evaluation of the method of delivery of the Project with particular reference to the third strand of the Project. This strand of
the Project concerns the development of innovative approaches to the training of frontline professionals who may be in a position to identify and support victims of trafficking. The evaluation should focus on the following specific areas:- The level of interaction and partnership working between the State Organisations and NGOs, between NGOs amongst each other on the island of Ireland during the development and roll out of the project and the effectiveness of the structures in place to oversee the development of the project. The development of models of best practice in terms of training and awareness raising aimed at frontline professionals who may be in a position to identify and support victims of trafficking, including software applications. The practicality and relevance of the material produced during the training module of the Project. Levels of satisfaction with training materials and dissemination of same. In terms of measuring these outcomes, a mixed methods approach incorporating data analysis, surveys and qualitative interviews and/or focus groups should be used. Qualitative and quantitative measures may include but are not limited to: Qualitative interviews/focus groups with relevant stakeholders concerning development, implementation and outcomes of the REACH project. Levels of satisfaction with training as measured through surveys. Qualitative interviews/focus groups with relevant stakeholders following implementation of the training programme. The Evaluation Report must be concluded in draft form by mid October 2015 for consideration by the Steering Group prior to publication by early November 2015. To facilitate an understanding of this task, details about the project including its context, general and specific objectives along with the expected results are set out in Appendix A. 4. TENDER CONTENT QUALIFICATION CRITERIA The tender must contain specific responses to each of the following items:
a) A statement confirming the Provider s understanding of the requirements of this RFT, and confirming their ability to meet these requirements. This overview should also cover the outcomes the Provider would envisage and the mode by which these can be achieved; b) To demonstrate proven experience and track record of successfully undertaking similar requirements and specifications including the experience of nominated key staff (where appropriate), the following detail must be provided: Details of experience of undertaking the task of evaluating similar projects/interventions and producing independent reports over the last two years and outline the nature of such reports. Please provide contact details for 2 referees. The Contracting Authority reserves the right to contact such persons by way of obtaining reference material in the context of the services provided under any contract. Details of the person(s) [including current CV(s)] who will undertake the tasks set out in this Request for Tender with an outline of his/her involvement and experience in other similar projects. Provide evidence of commitment as to the continuity of the person(s) assigned. Guarantees of undertaking with regard to the service standard. 5. COST The Contracting Authority intends to award a contract for the REACH Project Evaluation on the basis of a fixed price contract amounting to no more than 10,000 (exclusive of VAT). Providers must provide cost details and other information as follows: (a) An itemised breakdown of all the costs (in Euros) it is proposed to incur including the cost of: all labour (including secretarial services); each element of the mechanism to conduct the Evaluation; overheads; daily rates (to include any travel expenses) and number of days being charged in respect of the individual(s) involved in the task. (b) The quotation/quoted fee shall be exclusive of all taxes including VAT. VAT and other appropriate taxes shall be quoted separately
where appropriate and at the appropriate rate. Where VAT is not applicable this should be explicitly stated. (d) The terms and conditions of this contract cannot be altered. (e) Please provide confirmation that the tender holds good for at least 90 days after the closing date for the receipt of tenders. The Contracting Authority reserves the right to withhold payment where a Provider has failed to meet his/her contractual obligations in relation to the delivery of goods/services to an acceptable level of quality. 6. AWARD CRITERIA The contract will be awarded from the qualifying tenders on the basis of the most economically advantageous tender using the following criteria, listed in order of importance: a) Quality of proposed method and approach (35% weighting) b) Understanding of the issues and tasks involved (35% weighting) c) Timeframe for delivery guaranteed (10% weighting) d) Cost and value for money (20% weighting) During the evaluation period, clarification may be sought in writing from respondents. Responses to requests for clarification may not materially change any of the elements of the tenders submitted. No unsolicited communications from respondents will be entertained during the evaluation period. The Contracting Authority reserves the right to terminate the competition process at any stage prior to a contract being entered into and the Contracting Authority reserves the right not to accept the lowest or any tender. No commitment of any kind contractual or otherwise shall exist unless and until a formal written contract has been executed by or on behalf of the Contracting Authority. 7. REJECTION OF RESPONSES Tenders are to be submitted in accordance with the requirements set out in this Request for Tender. In the event of this tender process not generating a suitable Provider, the Contracting Authority reserves the right to seek additional proposals and/or to make alternative arrangements, as deemed fit. 8. TAX CLEARANCE Before a contract is awarded, the successful Provider will be required to produce a valid current Tax Clearance Certificate or letter from the Revenue Commissioners, confirming suitability on tax grounds.
9. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION Providers are advised that the Contracting Authority is subject to the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 1997. If a Provider considers that any of the information supplied in their tender response is either commercially sensitive or confidential in nature, this should be highlighted and the reasons for its sensitivity specified. In such cases the relevant material will, in response to a request under the FOI Act, be examined in the light of the exceptions provided for in the Act. The Contracting Authority undertakes to use its best endeavours to hold confidential, information provided by you in this tender, subject to the Contracting Authority s obligations under prevailing EU and Public Procurement regulations, policies and law. The Contracting Authority will consult with you regarding this sensitive information before making a decision on any FOI request received. 10. SUBMISSION OF TENDERS Tenders must be submitted to the following email address: ahtudivision@justice.ie Submissions must be received before 12 noon on 9 December 2014. Please allow sufficient time to send your document. Tenders received after the deadline will be rejected. 11. QUERY HANDLING Queries relating to the Request for Tender and any of the requirements specified therein will only be dealt with by email to ahtudivision@justice.ie. All requests for clarification in respect of this document must be received on or before 12 noon on 27 November 2014. 12. AWARD OF CONTRACT The Contracting Authority does not bind itself to accept the lowest or any tender. It reserves the right to reject in whole, or in part, any or all tenders received. 13. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Any conflicts of interest involving a Provider must be fully disclosed to the Contracting Authority, particularly where there is a conflict of interest in relation to any recommendations or proposals put forward by the Provider. 14. REGISTERABLE INTEREST Any registerable interest involving the Provider and employees and/or relatives of employees of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, Ruhama, the HSE, the Child and Family Agency and/or the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland must be fully disclosed in the response to this RFT or, in the event of this information only coming to their notice after the submission of a bid and prior to the award of the contract, it should be
communicated to the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit immediately upon such information becoming known to the Service Provider. The terms registerable interest and relative shall be interpreted as per Section 2 of the Ethics in Public Office Act, 1995. 15. DISCLAIMER This Request for Tender contains no contractual offer of any kind. Any submission will be regarded as an offer by the Provider and not as an acceptance by the Provider of an offer made by the Contracting Authority. No contractual relationship will exist except pursuant to a written contract signed by the Contracting Authority and any successful Provider for specific services. The Contracting Authority is under no obligation to appoint any Provider as a result of this competition. Providers should note that receipt of an offer does not guarantee appointment as a Provider even if that offer contains what appears to be an acceptable proposal. 16. TERMINATION OF APPOINTMENT AS SERVICE PROVIDERS The Contracting Authority reserves the right to terminate the contract at any time following one months notice to do so. However, a Provider appointed as a result of this tender competition may be removed at any time where, in the opinion of the Contracting Authority, the Provider demonstrates incapacity to effectively discharge the duties for which they were appointed. Before carrying out such action, the Contracting Authority will serve, or cause to be served, a notice on the company/person at its registered address, stating the reasons for the proposed removal and affording the Provider an opportunity to respond in advance of reaching a decision. 17. ANY OTHER INFORMATION Providers are free to furnish any additional information which they so wish in support of this tender.
APPENDIX A Context of the Project Trafficking in Human Beings is a severe form of exploitation and violence primarily affecting women and girls. Based on data collected by the EU Commission, there has been an 18% increase in the total number of victims of human trafficking between 2008 and 2009 with 68% accounted for by women and 12% by girls. Anti-human trafficking legislation, policies and actions at national and EU level have sought to address this issue through the development of a robust framework of rights and entitlements for the protection of victims of human trafficking. However, such protection measures may be undermined if; persons vulnerable to trafficking are unaware of their rights or how to access them, there is a lack of awareness amongst sex buyers of the potential harm caused by the demand for sexual services provided by persons vulnerable to human trafficking, professionals likely to come into contact with trafficked persons are unable to recognise the indicators of human trafficking and are unsure of what action to take if they encounter a victim of human trafficking. The evolution of sex trafficking from an on-street to an off-street internet based model of exploitation has meant that it has become increasingly difficult for the anti-human trafficking actors, whether State Agencies and/or NGOs, to access these vulnerable persons. Given their increased isolation such persons are far less likely to be aware of their rights and are therefore also far less likely to be able to access supports and protections available to victims of human trafficking. This is reflected in the small, but notable, reduction in the number of persons being identified by State authorities and NGOs in the 2011 and 2012 Annual Reports of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit and in the multidisciplinary trafficking in human beings working group structures put in place as part of Ireland s National Referral Mechanism. Conversely, victims/potential victims of human trafficking are likely to encounter persons seeking to purchase sexual services. However such persons may have limited awareness of sex trafficking and about the damage caused by their behaviour in terms of the violence and exploitation of women. Professionals, working for State organisations, such as social workers may happen upon victims/potential victims of human trafficking during the course of
their duties. However such persons may lack the appropriate training to recognise the indictors of trafficking or know what to do when they encounter a person who they believe to be trafficked. It is vital that awareness be raised amongst the three aforementioned groups in order to help ensure that victims have access to rights and supports, that the purchasers of sex desist from behaviour harmful to women and girls and that professionals likely to come into contact with victims can recognise the indicators of human trafficking and are able to refer victims to the appropriate providers of anti-trafficking services. General and Specific Objectives of the Project General objectives The purpose of the project is to contribute to efforts to combat the trafficking of women and girls through the following means; increasing access among hard to reach victims/potential victims of human trafficking, especially women and girls to supports available to them and to equip such persons with sufficient information to allow them to assert their rights guaranteed under national and EU law, encouraging zero tolerance of this form of violence against women and girls by raising awareness of the harms caused by the demand for sexual services amongst potential buyers of sex, raising greater awareness of the indicators of human trafficking among professions likely to encounter victims/potential victims of human trafficking and setting out the appropriate course of action to be taken should they encounter a victim of human trafficking. Specific objectives Increase access by anti-trafficking actors to hard to reach victims/potential victims of human trafficking, especially women and girls through the development an innovative and focused awareness raising approach to informing victims/potential victim of human trafficking, especially women and girls, in difficult to reach circumstances of their rights and of the supports available to them. Increase the levels of service used by hard to reach victims/potential victims of human trafficking, especially women and girls, through encouraging such persons to come forward and avail of the existing supports through targeted communications activities utilising these newly developed approaches. Help foster an atmosphere of zero tolerance amongst males engaging in behaviour that places women and girls in danger of being exploited and coerced by human traffickers through developing and implementing
awareness raising approaches targeted at the buyers of sex, informing them of the exploitation and violence towards victims/potential victims of human trafficking, especially women and girls, that is caused by the demand for sexual services. Increase the likelihood that professionals likely to encounter victims/potential victims of human trafficking will successfully recognise victims/potential victims of human trafficking in the course of their work through the development of training materials including software applications. Increase the number of referrals of victims/potential victims of human trafficking by professionals to the appropriate anti-human trafficking actors for the purpose of accessing their rights and the available supports on foot of having received anti-human trafficking training. Expected Results Higher levels of access to hard to reach victims/potential victims of human trafficking. Increased understanding of the make-up of these hard to reach groups in terms of demographics. Increased understanding of the barriers to services encountered by such persons. Increased levels of understanding among victims/potential victims of human trafficking of the avenues for reporting and seeking support and redress. Increased levels of services used as a result of the awareness raising activities. Decreased tolerance amongst males for behaviour contributing to the exploitation of and violence against women and girls. Increases in the number of victims of human trafficking recognised and referred by professionals likely to encounter victims/potential victims of human trafficking. Development of models of best practice in terms of training and awareness raising. Increased levels of cooperation between State Organisations and NGOs, between NGOs amongst each other on the island of Ireland.
Increased interaction between the State Organisations, NGOs in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and academic and EU experts on the issue of human trafficking, especially the exploitation of and violence against women and girls. Development of a range of innovative awareness raising and training approaches, including software applications, aimed a numerous different actors which can be easily replicated in other EU Member States.