Intend to Bid (ItB) – BASATINE Endline and Final Evaluation 2025

The Bolstering Agriculture Systems’ Ability to Invest, Nourish, and Employ (BASATINE)k Consortium is seeking to contract an international or national consultancy firm to carry out the Endline and Final Evaluation of the BASATINE program. The recruitment process will be managed by Mercy Corps, which serves as the lead agency for the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, Learning, and Accountability (MERLA) components. This phase represents the initial stage of the recruitment process, during which eligible consultancy firms are invited to express their interest in conducting the BASATINE Final Evaluation by submitting the following completed forms: – Intent to Bid – Supplier Information Form Consultancy firms that meet the eligibility criteria, namely being legally registered and demonstrating proven expertise in evaluation within the Livelihoods and Agriculture sectors in Lebanon or a comparable context will be considered for the next phase of the recruitment process. This tender will be advertised widely including: (i) in the free accessible website in Lebanon Daleel Madani, and (ii) on the AFD procurement portal at www.afd.dgmarket.com

Background Information:

The BASATINE consortium funded by Agency France de Development (AFD), and implemented by CARE International as a consortium lead, with Mercy Corps, Al Majmoua, George N. Frem Foundation (GNFF), Berytech, and The Lebanese Organization for Studies and Training (LOST). It a 47 – month (October 2021- August 2025) intervention to support farmers and other market actors in Lebanon, particularly in the areas of Bekaa and Akkar, focused on the production of wheat and vegetables, with a total budget reaching 17,700,000 euro. This design aims to address the needs of the most vulnerable communities, particularly farmers affected by the ongoing economic crisis, while simultaneously strengthening the agricultural sector through a twofold approach. In the short term, BASATINE provides financial and technical support, improves access to inputs and markets, and sustains agricultural livelihoods, ensuring food security and employment. At the same time, it strengthens market systems, promotes sustainable farming practices, and enhances sectoral capacities to ensure long-term productivity and stability. By adopting a national approach and fostering linkages with other value chains, the program enhances the resilience of the sector. The national approach in BASATINE focuses on the specific needs, resources, and dynamics of Bekaa and Akkar, tailoring interventions to local agricultural conditions, labor markets, and socio-economic challenges rather than applying a one-size-fits-all solution. By integrating local stakeholders, strengthening value chains, and enhancing regional coordination, BASATINE fosters sustainable development within these agricultural communities.

The program’s overall objective is to help sustain the capacity of Lebanese agriculture to produce food for the local market and create and maintain jobs, in an effort to contribute to the prevention of tensions between host communities and Syrian refugees. This is done through five specific objectives. BASATINE has a target of 3,395 farms in the Bekaa and Akkar, including of 13000 adult male and adult women as well seasonal farm workers. In addition, the program has a target of 400 public extension officers and vocational students, 14 local input producers, 30 input distributors, 156 agrifood processor micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and over 30 agri-sector key stakeholders (including development actors, donors, local and national government). Overall, the program maintained and improved over 19,000 jobs and created 700 jobs for male and female value chain actors.

1. Purpose of the Consultancy:

The selected consultancy firm will be responsible for leading the following three exercises: – Endline Study – to measure performance indicators against the baseline and midterm data. – Final Evaluation of the Program – to conduct an in-depth analysis based on the OECD DAC criteria: relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability. – Evaluation of Sustainable Development Impact and the Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP).

2. Eligibility Criteria

The Consultancy firms must submit the below documents as part of the eligibility criteria: – Valid legal registration of the consultancy firm, confirming its status as a legally recognized entity composed of more than one individual. The firm must have a defined organizational structure and a multidisciplinary team with clearly assigned roles. The team should include at least three members covering management, technical, and operational functions. – Proven expertise in evaluation within the Livelihoods and Agriculture sectors in Lebanon or a comparable context, and similar experiences relevant to the required services (i.e. similar services performed, in the same technical sector and in comparable geographical contexts) through submission of motivation letter. This procurement is funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and is subject to the AFD Procurement Guidelines (Version 2024). All interested firms must meet AFD’s eligibility criteria, including those related to nationality, absence of conflict of interest, and non-involvement in prohibited practices. Applicants must not be listed under any international sanctions regimes (UN, EU, or French), and must submit a signed Statement of Integrity, Eligibility, and Environmental and Social Responsibility as part of their application.

Mercy Corps will establish an evaluation report on the Applications based on the elements set out in the scoring matrix in the AFD ‘Request for Expressions of Interest’ guidance document.

3. Biding and Submission Timeline:

The ITB process phase will remain open for at least three weeks from the date of advertisement, to comply with AFD procurement requirements. Mercy Corps will review all eligible submissions and establish a shortlist of 4 to 6 qualified firms, in accordance with AFD’s Procurement Guidelines for Consulting Services. In case of insufficient bidding received the period will be extended for an additional two weeks. Following the review of Intent to Bid submissions and eligibility checks, Mercy Corps will shortlist 4 to 6 qualified consultancy firms, who will then receive the full Request for Proposals (RFP) package. The estimated start date for the assignment is August 2025, and the duration of the assignment is approximately 60 working days over a 3-month period. The deadline for the final deliverables is set for October 2025.

3.1 Scoring Criteria Overview:

Evaluation criteria and detailed scoring matrix will be shared with shortlisted applicants during the RFP stage. A detailed evaluation matrix will be shared with shortlisted eligible applicants.

– Application Process

How to apply:

If you are interested in submitting a bid, you will need to complete an Intent to Bid Form and supplier information form attached with this Ad and submit them according to the guidelines below. Completed Forms must be submitted to Mercy Corps via email to lb-itb@mercycorps.org with the tender reference number in the email subject on or before 25 June 2025 at 4:00 PM Beirut Time. The consultancy firms shortlisted following the Intent to Bid phase will receive the following: Submission guidelines and the detailed evaluation criteria. – Terms of Reference (ToR) which provides details of the program and proposed methodology details and considerations. – Relevant program and MERLA annexes to the ToR such as the logframe and some references. – Submission guidelines and the detailed evaluation criteria – Clarification timeline and contact points.

Mercy Corps and AFD reserve the right to conduct reference checks and request additional clarifications during the evaluation process. AFD may conduct prior or post reviews of the procurement process. Consultancy firms must comply with AFD’s Environmental, Social, Health and Safety (ESHS) requirements. The selected provider will be required to sign the ESHS Statement of Commitment (Appendix 3 of AFD Guidelines).” Security conditions relevant to the location of fieldwork must be considered. A Security Statement of Commitment (Appendix 4 of AFD Guidelines) will also be signed where applicable.

RELATED DOCUMENTS:

supplier_information_form_-_basatine_endline_and_final_evaluation.pdf intent_to_bid_form-_basatine_endline_and_final_evaluation.pdf Statement of Integrity Security Statement of Commitment