The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung (the “Client”) intends to award the services specified in the enclosed Service Description in a Call for Proposals.

Please note the following dates:

• End of the tender submission period: 24.06.2022 12:00 o’clock CET
• End of the award and binding period: 30.06.2022
• Contract period: 01.07.-30.09.2022

Terms and conditions:

The contractual conditions of the Client shall apply exclusively. The terms and conditions of the tenderer are excluded. Side offers are excluded!

The present Call for Proposals shall not be construed as an offer, and the bidder shall not have any rights arising thereof.

To participate in the Call, please submit your Application digitally before the end of the offer period. Documents can be submitted in English or German language.

With kind regards

Eva Wuchold, Programme Director Social Rights

Annexes:

1. Terms of reference
2. Conditions of participation
3. Price sheet
4. Standard tender form
5. Self-declaration form
6. Self-declaration on rate loyalty, minimum wage, and social security contributions
7. Qualified references form

Annex 1: Terms of reference

Awarding of a service agreement for:

Policy paper with recommendations for the international policy level with regard to the social, economic and political impact of the Ukraine war on Lebanon, Syria and Iraq

1.1. About Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung

Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung e.V. (RLS) is one of the six major political foundations in the Federal Republic of Germany, tasked primarily with conducting political education both at home and abroad. The Stiftung’s work adheres to the legacy of its namesake, German socialist leader Rosa Luxemburg, and seeks to represent democratic socialism with an unwavering internationalist focus. The Stiftung is committed to a radical perspective emphasizing public awareness, enlightenment and social critique. It stands in the tradition of the workers' and women's movements, as well as anti-fascism and anti-racism. Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung e.V. is a registered non-profit organization in Germany. The Stiftung is closely linked to Die Linke, the German Left Party.

The aim of the work of Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung is to promote a critical analysis of society and foster networks of emancipatory political, social and cultural initiatives around Germany. Internationally, it will participate in cooperative development projects and advocate for a dialogue between the Global North and South conducted on equal footing. Like other political foundations, Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung seeks to develop and expand the concept of political education by emphasizing a critical analysis of society as our central task, further underlined by our namesake.

Based on the firm belief that social change requires a reflective confrontation with today's capitalist society as a whole, the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung strives to develop alternative concepts and approaches for a comprehensive process of social transformation enabling the creation of a more united and just society. Education and training in democratic socialist politics, analysis, information and policy advice are therefore the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung’s basic tasks.

1.2. Background

The Geneva office of Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung was founded in 2019. It serves as the liaison office to the UN institutions in Geneva, but as well works thematically towards the issues of global social rights, socio-ecological transformation and transnational organizing.

This call for proposals for a policy paper with recommendations for the international policy level with regard to the social, economic and political impact of the Ukraine war on Lebanon, Syria and Iraq is published within the framework of the RLS Geneva office, which wishes to continue its work on social rights and here explicitly on the right to food and the right to peace.

1.3. Aim of the service

The Geneva office of the RLS is looking for a researcher for a three-month research project on the social, economic and political impact of the Ukraine war on Lebanon, Syria and Iraq.

The aim of the project is to go beyond the analytical framework that looks at the Russian-Ukrainian war primarily in terms of its direct impact on Europe. The policy paper therefore aims to examine the social, economic and political impact of the war on three countries in the Middle East: Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. For all three countries, the war has both short-term and long-term implications, some of which are already apparent, while others depend on how the war develops. What is clear, however, is that for these countries, which have faced major social, economic and political challenges in recent years, the direct impact, such as the lack of grain exports to the region, holds great potential to further weaken these countries and make positive developments impossible for a long time to come.

Economically, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq are currently going through one of the most difficult periods in their modern history. Their convoluted economic crises have been exacerbated by the Corona pandemic and a global economic recession. The sharp increase in the prices of commodities such as wheat, oil/gas and fertilisers as a result of the Ukraine war will therefore have all the more drastic effects in these countries. Already today, three quarters of the population of Lebanon live below the poverty line and are dependent on direct humanitarian aid. As the humanitarian emergency in the wake of the war in Ukraine shifts the humanitarian agendas of donor organisations, the provision of aid to people in Lebanon, but also in Syria and Iraq, threatens to deteriorate.

Politically, too, the effects of the war are manifold. While the Syrian Assad regime explicitly supports Putin's war, the Syrian opposition is reeling from the fact that the war there has not elicited anything like the current solidarity with Ukraine in the West. The people of Iraq show compassion, but not pity. For the Iraqis have not forgotten that Ukraine was part of the 2003 war alliance alongside the USA. And the Iraqi government did not clearly oppose Vladimir Putin either and abstained from the UN resolution that condemned Russia's attack on Ukraine by a large majority. Lebanon shows what consequences states that were already in crisis before the war can expect. Not only are immediate supplies affected, but entire conflicts can flare up again as a result. If the international community wants to cushion the consequences of the war for the populations, it must not reduce its support despite increased costs due to the Ukraine war. And it must take into account the sensitivities of the people in the respective countries.

The crises outlined above and the necessary responses to them by international organisations and donors recommend a detailed analysis of the different dynamics and - based on this - policy demands and resulting recommendations for international actors, but also European left parties, to support these demands at the international level.

The research project will support the work of the Social Rights Programme Office on a human right to food and a human right to peace and also contribute to the assessment of the fulfilment of SDG 2 and SDG16 in the context of the war against Ukraine.

Depending on the results, we would like to use the project to assess the impact of the war as such and develop alternative policy options for the international community for future conflict scenarios.

It is crucial to approach these questions from a left perspective that at least questions the necessity of military operations by starting from the best possible solution to the respective conflict and developing adequate options for action on this basis. These should aim at a peaceful development of the respective conflict region and focus above all on overcoming structural causes of conflict.

The proposal must include a review of research methods, preferably focusing on a literature review and a series of possible interviews with representatives of international organisations, civil society organisations and/or political experts as well as local actors.

1.4. Tasks, contract duration and scope

Sub-project I: Mapping of the social, economic and political impact of the Ukraine war in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq

A) Issues and Questions

The analysis should aim to examine the political, economic and ideological impact of the war on three Middle Eastern countries: Lebanon, Syria and Iraq.

The analysis should answer the following questions:

• What are the short-term and long-term effects of the war on the three countries that are already visible and foreseeable depending on how the war develops?
• Against the background of the deep economic crises in the three countries, what are the foreseeable effects of the sharp rise in prices for raw materials such as wheat, oil/gas and fertiliser due to the war in Ukraine? What reactions can be seen in the three countries?
• What political effects are already visible in the three countries to which the international policy level would have to react?
• To what extent has the international humanitarian agenda already changed due to the new humanitarian emergency situation in the wake of this "new" war?

B) Deliverables

• Literature Review I.I: A review of the state of the academic, sectoral, media and policy literature on the issues
• Interview guide and list of interviews I.II: A list of questions and a list of possible interview partners
• Report I.III: A final mapping report based on the literature review and interviews
• Visualisations I.IV: A series of graphics in a cohesive style to communicate the fundamental findings and conclusions of the report.

The outputs must be produced in either German or English. The scope of the mapping should be about 50 pages.

C) Time Horizon

This sub-project forms the foundation on which the rest of the project rests. As most of the work on this sub-project runs parallel to the second sub-project, it should take a total of 2.5 months in the period from 01.07.-15.09.2022.

The literature review I.I and the interview guide and list of interviews I.II would be available in draft form by 31.07.2022, the first results from the combination of literature and interviews by 15.08.2022 and the final report I.III and visualisations I.IV by 31.08.2022.

Sub-project II: Developing alternative policy options for future conflict scenarios

A) Issues and Questions

Based on the research results, conclusions will be drawn with regard to mitigating the effects of the Ukraine war on the d on the one hand and alternative policy options on the other.

B) Deliverables

• Policy brief II.I: Based on the experience gained in analysing the impact of the Ukraine war on the three countries, a brief presentation of demands on and recommendations for action at the international policy level and alternative policy options for future conflict scenarios.
• Visualisations II.II: A series of graphics in a cohesive style to communicate the fundamental findings and conclusions policy brief, complementing the visualisations of sub-project I.

The length of the policy recommendations should be about 10 pages.

C) Time Horizon

The policy brief should be available as a draft by 15.09.2022 and in its final version by 30.09.2022.

Sub-project II: Launch of the strategy paper in Geneva and presentation in a Webinar

A) Deliverables

The dates for this still have to be agreed. The exact circumstances are also still being agreed with the contractor. In general, the willingness to travel to Geneva to present the results of the research and to participate in a webinar on the results of the study must be declared. We assume 3 working days including preparation.

1.5. Expected qualifications and review criteria

In your application, please specify how you plan to approach the project (2 pages max).

Please also submit a CV, cover letter, relevant work samples, references and complete the price sheet.

We are particularly keen to receive applications from individuals or agencies who can identify with the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung’s values and goals and have relevant experience in working on political or social issues.

The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung expects the following qualifications, on which the selection will be based:

• In-depth knowledge of the social, economic and political situation in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq
• Knowledge of and/or interest in development and peace policy issues
• Relevant experience carrying out mixed methods research for expert and lay audiences
• Proven track record in creating narrative reports based on original research with strong graphic elements
• Creative and detail-oriented
• Excellent communication skills
• Fluency in English and/or German

The following points are defined as evaluation criteria for the selection of the offer:

Review criteria	Weighting
B1 Price (Inclusive price for all basic services according to terms of reference)	50%
B2 Performance (Work experience and expertise with regard to the advertised performance, knowledge of the subject area)	50%

 

1.6. Travel expenses of the contractor

The travel expenses are covered according to the internal guidelines of the client, after prior approval. This means that the client bears the travel and accommodation costs, regardless of the fee rate. Other costs such as expenses for telephone charges, use of public transport, etc. incurred in connection with the performance of the task will be reimbursed on presentation of appropriate receipts insofar as they are unavoidable and appropriate in the circumstances.

1.7. Applications

Applicants submit an offer specifying prices. For this purpose, the price sheet (Annex 2) must be used and submitted with the offer. Furthermore, we request a tabular CV with details of the work experience (in English, French or German language), at least three qualified references and a signed Self-declaration Form (Annex 3). The time availability during the contract period must be guaranteed.

If the applicants are subject to VAT, this must be communicated with the application together with the amount of the applicable VAT. If no communication is made, the price is the gross amount.

If you have any questions regarding the call for applications or your application, please send an e-mail to Jeanne Planche, Project Manager Social Rights (jeanne.planche@rosalux.org).

Please always use the subject line: Policy paper with recommendations for the international policy level with regard to the social, economic and political impact of the Ukraine war on Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. For reasons of transparency and equal treatment, all possible tenderers will be provided with the answers to questions.

Please send your written application (by e-mail) to

Jeanne Planche, Project Manager Social Rights (jeanne.planche@rosalux.org)

by 24.06.2022 12:00 o’clock CET.

The receipt of applications will not be confirmed.

Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung
Chemin de Balexert 7-9
1219 Châtelaine
Switzerland

1.8. Award and contract process / time frame

Negotiations are not allowed in this procurement procedure.

• Publication: 06.2022
• End of the tender submission period: 06.2022 12:00 o’clock CET
• End of the award and binding period: 06.2022
• Contract period: 07.-30.09.2022

Annex 2: Conditions of Participation

1. General

1.1. No costs will be reimbursed for processing the tender.

1.2. Terms and conditions of the tenderer are excluded. In case the tenderer declares his own terms and conditions as part of the contract, this constitutes an inadmissible amendment or addition to the contract and leads to the exclusion of the tender.

1.3. The information distributed in connection with this Call for Proposals may only be used for the preparation of the tender. Any use for other purposes is prohibited.

2. Content of the tender

CV and/or Work samples (in English or German) and the following evidence/documents must be submitted with the tender (Annexes 3 to 7):

2.1. Completed and signed Price Sheet

2.2. Completed and signed Standard Tender Form

2.3. Signed Self-declaration Form

2.4. Signed Self-declaration on rate loyalty, minimum wage, and social security contributions

2.5. Completed and signed Qualified References Form

3. Exclusion of tenderers

3.1. The Service Agreement will be concluded with knowledgeable, efficient and reliable tenderers only who are professionally carrying out the tendered services.

4. Conditions for submitting a tender

4.1. The signed tender documents must be in English or German language. All required additional documents, statements, and samples must be submitted within the tender submission period. Correspondence with the tendering authority must also be conducted in English or German language.

4.2. The Standard Tender Form attached to the tender documents is to be used exclusively for the preparation of the tender. The tender has to be submitted document proof, legible, and unequivocal.

4.3. The tenderer is obliged to provide all explanations required in the tender documents and to provide all other required information. Incomplete or incorrect tenders are excluded from the evaluation.

4.4. Changes to the tenderer’s entries must be unequivocal; otherwise, the tender is excluded. An incorrect entry should be crossed out and the correct entry should be added above or beside it. The tenderer’s signature or initials should mark changes.

4.5. The tender and any other required documents and explanations should be signed by stating the date of conclusion at the given place. The name of the signatory must be recognizable, e.g. full name in block capitals below the signature. Tenders that are not properly signed at the specified place are excluded from the evaluation.

4.6. The signed tender form must be submitted with the tender as the included contract conditions are legally binding.

5. Corrections, changes, or withdrawal of the tender

5.1. The tender may be amended, corrected, or withdrawn in writing until the expiry of the tender submission period.

5.2. Corrections, or changes, or the withdrawal of tenders is to be made in writing.

5.3. The award period begins with the expiry of the tender submission period. Until the end of the award period, the tenderer is bound to her / his tender. During this period, the tender can no longer be changed, or withdrawn.

6. Prices

6.1. The prices valid for the tender are indicated in the Price Sheet (Annex 4).

6.2. Prices are to be offered in EUR and stated without VAT (net).

7. Award criteria

The award criteria are set out in the Terms of Reference (Annex 1).

Annex 3: Price sheet

Call for Proposals: Policy paper with recommendations for the international policy level with regard to the social, economic and political impact of the Ukraine war on Lebanon, Syria and Iraq

Dear Madam or Sir,

We offer you the execution of the services described in the call for application documents at the prices listed below. The application conditions and instructions in the invitation to submit the application (cover letter) are taken into account. We understand that the terms of reference will be part of the contract to be concluded. In such event, the offer encompasses these terms without restriction. In the case of incompleteness, the Client categorically excludes the offer from the evaluation.

Subproject	Offer in accordance with the above mentioned terms of reference	Amount in EUR (net amount)
I		EUR
II		EUR
		EUR
	TOTAL	EUR

If the applicants are subject to VAT, this must be communicated with the application together with the amount of the applicable VAT. If no communication is made, the price is the gross amount.

The prices are fixed prices. The inclusive price contains all expenses of the contractor excluding travel expenses. Until the expiration of the award and binding period on 30.06.2022, I am/we are bound by this offer.

 

Company name /-address (company stamp if available)               ________________________________ Date	The incorrectness of the above information leads to the exclusion of the award procedure. The Client in the event of incorrectness without notice can terminate an awarded contract.
________________________________ Signatures (possibly. digital)       ________________________________ (Name of the signatory in block capitals)	If the signature is missing, the tender is considered not submitted and will not be taken into account in the evaluation!     Incomplete offers will be automatically excluded from the award procedure!

 

Annex 4: Standard Tender Form

Name of the tenderer (company name): Postal address of the tenderer:       represented by:

 

To Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung Chemin de Balexert 7-9 1219 Châtelaine Switzerland

Email:
Phone No.:
Contact person:
Place and date of issue:

 

Dear Madam or Sir,

We offer you the execution of the services described in the tender documents at the prices indicated in the Price Sheet (Annex 3). The application conditions and instructions are taken into account. The tender contains all required information, explanations, and proofs. We accept the terms and conditions according to the tender documents without restriction.  The price information in the Price Sheet (Annex 3) are fixed prices for the period mentioned in the Terms of reference. Price changes are only possible based on legal requirements.

Until the expiration of the award period on 30.06.2022, this tender binds us.

In addition, we confirm the following components of the tender documents, which become part of the contract in the case of the award: Terms of reference (Annex 1), Conditions of Participation(Annex 2), Price Sheet (Annex 3), Standard Tender Form (Annex 4), Self-declaration Form (Annex 5), Self-declaration on rate loyalty, minimum wage, and social security contributions (Annex 6), Qualified References Form (Annex 7). We are aware that proofs of self-declaration that (on special request of the awarding authority) are not considered as provided even if they are mentioned in the tender or in accompanying statements.By signing the tender, we confirm the content of all explanations and evidence, even if submitted in separate attachments. Further requests by the tenderer:·         In case of non-consideration of the tender, please inform us about the rejection of the tender.·         With the additionally requested tenderer declaration (see explanation in box below) signed by all tenderers it is confirmed that the lead company is authorized to represent all tenderers before the awarding authority. All tenderers are jointly and severally liable for the contractual execution of the services by their signature.

Company name / address                 ________________________________ Date

Signature(s)     ________________________________       ________________________________ Name of the signatory in block capitals

The incorrectness of forgoing or attached explanations, information, or documents leads to the exclusion from the award procedure. An already awarded contract may be terminated without notice for important cause in cases of violation of contractual secondary obligations. The adjacent signature covers all explanations, information, and evidence of this tender, even if attached in a separate Annex. An additional separate signature is required in the tenderer declaration only for joint tenderers!

If the signature is missing, the offer is deemed not to have been submitted, and is not considered in the evaluation. Incomplete offers can be excluded from the award procedures!

 

Annex 5: Self-declaration Form

1. The tenderer declares that

• no person who’s behaviour is attributable to her or his company has been issued with a final sentence for or that his company has been fined with financial penalties according to administrative offence acts;
• her or his company's obligations to pay taxes, duties, or contributions to the social security have been met, and that in this regard no judicial or administrative decision exists, or that her or his company has fulfilled its commitments by paying taxes, fees and social security contributions including interest or penalties.

2. The tenderer declares that her or his company

• did not violate environmental, social, or employment obligations in the execution of public contracts;
• is not insolvent, and that no insolvency proceedings or comparable proceedings have been initiated against her or his company and its assets, that the opening of such proceedings has not been rejected due to a lack of assets, and that the company did not enter into liquidation nor has it ceased its activity;
• has not been guilty of serious misconduct in professional matters which question the integrity of the company.

3. The tenderer declares that there are no reasons for her or his company to be excluded due to undeclared work and illegal employment.

The tenderer undertakes to ask subcontractors to comply with the above statements 1 to 3.

_________________________________________________________

Date, stamp (if available) and legally binding signature

Annex 6: Self-declaration on rate loyalty, minimum wage, and social security contributions

The tenderer agrees

• to comply with the respective statutory minimum wage.
• to commit her or his subcontractors or distributors commissioned by him to comply with the respective statutory minimum wages.

If the tenderer or one of his subcontractors violate the above-mentioned obligations culpably, the awarding authority and the tenderer agree on a contractual penalty of 1 per cent of the contract amount for every culpable violation, in several cases of up to 5 per cent of the contract amount. The tenderer is also liable for the payment of a contractual penalty in case the obligations were violated by a subcontractor appointed by her or him or a subcontractor employed by the subcontractor.

The culpable non-fulfilment of the above mentioned obligations by the tenderer or its subcontractors entitle the awarding authority to a termination without notice.

I declare / we declare

• with my / our signature(s) to comply with the specific rate loyalty, minimum wage, social security contributions as listed above;
• to pay my / our employees the same remuneration for the same or equivalent work in the execution of the services.

I am / We are aware that a violation of this statement may result in my / our exclusion from further contract awards.

_____________________________________                   ____________________________________

Place, date                                                                                        Signature, company stamp (if available)

Annex 7: Qualified References Form

Reference 1

Contracting authority with address
Contractual object
Contact person
Phone number
Contract period

 

Reference 2

Contracting authority with address
Contractual object
Contact person
Phone number
Contract period

 

Reference 3

Contracting authority with address
Contractual object
Contact person
Phone number
Contract period

 

______________________________________________________

Date, stamp (if available) and legally binding signature