1. Buyer
1.1.
Buyer
Official name: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Legal type of the buyer: Public undertaking, controlled by a central government authority
Activity of the contracting authority: General public services
2. Procedure
2.1.
Procedure
Title: 10021316-Lot 1: Strengthening MSME Competitiveness, Market Access and Business Environment Reform in Benin
Description: Benin's economy has experienced strong growth in recent years, with GDP growth estimated at around 6-7% annually. Nevertheless, this growth has not translated sufficiently into sustainable employment and income opportunities for the majority of the population. Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which represent more than 95% of registered businesses in Benin, continue to face major structural constraints limiting their competitiveness, productivity and job creation potential. These constraints include limited access to finance and markets, low levels of innovation and digitalisation, weak managerial and technical capacities, insufficient quality infrastructure, and a mismatch between labour market needs and available skills. The project "Employment-oriented promotion of the competitiveness of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises" (ProPME 2) aims to improve the competitiveness of MSMEs in selected sectors and regions in Benin with a strong employment impact. The project focuses particularly on enterprises operating in the agri-food sector, renewable energies, crafts and services, as well as on strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems and labour market intermediation structures. Particular attention is given to women-led enterprises and young entrepreneurs. The project contributes to Benin"s National Development Plan 2018-2025, the national SME promotion strategy and the national employment promotion strategy. It is implemented as part of the wider programme "Improvement of income and employment situation in Benin", jointly supported by German Development Cooperation through GIZ and KfW. In addition, the project supports the implementation of the Alliance for Product Quality in Africa (AfPQ), a multi-actor initiative implemented by GIZ and PTB to improve product quality and market access under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The module is structured around three main outputs: - Output 1 aims to strengthen the entrepreneurial, technical and market integration capacities of MSMEs through tailored training, coaching and quality management support. - Output 2 aims to improve the business environment and strengthen support institutions involved in MSME development, quality infrastructure and public-private dialogue. - Output 3 aims to improve labour market intermediation and the alignment between vocational training and the skills needs of MSMEs.
Procedure identifier: bca672f1-1664-4b94-b607-3572f113754b
Internal identifier: 10021316
Type of procedure: Restricted
The procedure is accelerated: no
2.1.1.
Purpose
Main nature of the contract: Services
Main classification (cpv): 79000000 Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
2.1.2.
Place of performance
Country: Benin
Anywhere in the given country
2.1.4.
General information
Additional information: #Bekanntmachungs-ID: CXTRYY6DYR0YSMQ9# All communication takes place in English via communication tool in the project area of the procurement portal.
Legal basis:
Directive 2014/24/EU
vgv -
2.1.6.
Grounds for exclusion
Sources of grounds for exclusion: Notice, Procurement Document
Breaching of obligations set under purely national exclusion grounds: In accordance with §§ 123,124 GWB, § 22 LkSG
5. Lot
5.1.
Lot: LOT-0001
Title: 10021316-Lot 1: Strengthening MSME Competitiveness, Market Access and Business Environment Reform in Benin
Description: Benin's economy has experienced sustained economic growth in recent years, with GDP growth estimated at approximately 6.4% in 2023 and 7.5% in 2024. Despite this positive trend, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which represent more than 95% of registered enterprises in Benin, continue to face major structural constraints limiting their competitiveness and job creation potential. These constraints include limited managerial and technical capacities, weak market integration, insufficient access to finance and qualified labour, low levels of digitalisation, and limited access to quality infrastructure and certification services. The Government of Benin has identified private sector development, employment promotion and economic transformation as key priorities through the National Development Plan 2018-2025, the national SME promotion strategy and the national employment promotion strategy. In parallel, the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) creates new opportunities for regional and international trade, while increasing the need for enterprises to comply with quality and certification requirements. In this context, the project "Employment-oriented promotion of the competitiveness of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises" (ProPME 2), implemented by GIZ, aims to strengthen the competitiveness of MSMEs with employment impact. The project focuses particularly on MSMEs operating in sectors with high employment potential, including agri-food processing, renewable energies, crafts and services. Special attention is given to women-led enterprises, young entrepreneurs and enterprises located in northern regions of Benin. The overall objective of the module is: "The competitiveness of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in selected regions and sectors in Benin has been improved with employment impact." In addition, the project contributes to the implementation of the Alliance for Product Quality in Africa (AfPQ), jointly implemented by GIZ and PTB, which supports African enterprises in improving product quality and compliance with regional and international market requirements under the AfCFTA framework. The project is structured around three main outputs: - Output 1: Strengthening the entrepreneurial, technical and market integration capacities of MSMEs. - Output 2: Strengthening the institutional environment for MSME promotion, including quality infrastructure and public-private dialogue. - Output 3: Improving labour market intermediation and the alignment between vocational training and MSME needs. The mission of the contractor is to contribute in an integrated manner to strengthening the competitiveness of MSMEs in Benin. The contractor contributes in particular to the achievement of: - Output Indicator 1.1: Improvement of entrepreneurial and technical capacities of MSMEs in selected sectors and value chains. o Contractor target: support to 150 MSMEs, including women-led, youth-led and northern-based enterprises, in product quality management and market access. - Output Indicator 2.1: Measures implemented to improve the business environment for MSMEs, including quality infrastructure. o Contractor target: contribution to one measure related to quality infrastructure and SME support systems. The contractor will implement three complementary work packages: Work package 1: Product quality and market access The contractor will support 150 MSMEs through training and coaching on quality management, food safety, traceability, hygiene practices and agroecological standards. In addition, 15 SMEs will receive tailored support to obtain regional or international certifications and approvals, including ECOWAS/UEMOA accreditations and private certifications such as Global G.A.P., Fairtrade or EU Organic. Work package 2: Quality infrastructure and compliance The contractor will support 50 MSMEs in obtaining Marketing Authorisations (MA) or Beninese Standards (NB) certification, in close cooperation with national quality infrastructure institutions such as ABSSA and ANM. Activities include diagnostics, training, coaching, audit preparation and support for compliance measures. Work package 3: Institutionalisation of the SME Loop The contractor will support national MSME support institutions, particularly ADPME and CCI Benin/IRAE, in institutionalising the SME Loop entrepreneurial support methodology. This includes the development of national quality standards, certification frameworks, monitoring and evaluation tools, and capacity development measures for national stakeholders. All activities will be implemented in close collaboration with GIZ and relevant public and private partners to ensure sustainability, institutional ownership and improved competitiveness of MSMEs in Benin.
Internal identifier: 10021316
5.1.1.
Purpose
Main nature of the contract: Services
Main classification (cpv): 79000000 Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
Options:
Description of the options: GIZ may optionally commission contract amendments and/or increases based on the criteria in the tender documents to the successful bidder of this tender. For details, please see the terms of reference.
5.1.2.
Place of performance
Country: Benin
Anywhere in the given country
5.1.3.
Estimated duration
Duration: 24 Months
5.1.4.
Renewal
Maximum renewals: 2
Other information about renewals: GIZ may optionally commission contract amendments and/or increases based on the criteria in the tender documents to the successful bidder of this tender. For details, please see the terms of reference.
5.1.6.
General information
Reserved participation:
Participation is not reserved.
The names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to perform the contract must be given: Not required
Procurement Project not financed with EU Funds.
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA): yes
This procurement is also suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): yes
Additional information: #Besonders auch geeignet für:selbst#, #Besonders auch geeignet für:other-sme#
5.1.7.
Strategic procurement
Aim of strategic procurement: Reduction of environmental impacts
Description: Please see the tender documents
Aim of strategic procurement: Fulfilment of social objectives
Description: Please see the tender documents.
Approach to reducing environmental impacts: The protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems, The transition to a circular economy, Climate change adaptation, Climate change mitigation, Pollution prevention and control
Social objective promoted: Ethnic equality, Gender equality, Human rights due diligence in global supply chains, Employment opportunities for the long-term unemployed, disadvantaged and/or for persons with disabilities, Fair working conditions, Other
5.1.9.
Selection criteria
Sources of selection criteria: Notice, Procurement Document
Criterion: Other economic or financial requirements
Description of selection criterion: EN-A1: Principles for the execution of orders (Mit dem Teilnahmeantrag; Mittels Eigenerklärung): The eligibility criteria are not from the same category as stipulated above, as there is no suitable category. 1. Self-declaration: name of company and address, tax ID, registration and commercial register number or equivalent register in accordance with the legal provisions of the country of origin. 2. No grounds for exclusion pursuant to § 123, § 124 GWB, § 22 LkSG, EU-Russia sanctions 3. Declaration of bidding consortium and/or declaration of subcontractors (if applicable)
Criterion: Other economic or financial requirements
Description of selection criterion: EN-A2: Conditions for the reduction of candidates (Mit dem Teilnahmeantrag; Mittels Eigenerklärung): If we receive more than 5 requests to participate, we will make a selection on the basis of the criteria laid out in the procurement documents and invite tenders only from the 5 candidates with the highest scores. We reserve the right to cancel the procurement procedure if we receive fewer than 3 requests to participate. If it is not possible to make a clear selection of up to 5 candidates for the phase of submitting the tenders on the basis of the criteria listed in the procurement documents (e.g. if a number of candidates achieve the same overall eligibility score), we reserve the right to increase the maximum number of 5. Weighted criteria for the selection of candidates: 1. Technical experience (50%): 1. Two reference projects in supporting MSMEs in product quality improvement or quality management capacity development (15%) 2. Two reference projects in supporting MSMEs through regulatory compliance, product certification, private certification or market access processes (20%) 3. Two reference projects in leading the implementation of a full SME Business Training and Coaching Loop (15%) 2. Regional experience (30%): Regional experience in Francophone Western Africa 3. Experience of development projects (at least 50% ODA-financed) (20%)
Criterion: References on specified services
Description of selection criterion: EN-B1: Technical and professional ability (Mit dem Teilnahmeantrag; Mittels Eigenerklärung): 1. The technical assessment is only based on reference projects with a minimum commission value of 300.000 EUR (net). 2. At least 3 reference projects in the technical field MSME promotion and at least 2 reference projects in Western Africa in the above-mentioned technical field in the last 36 months (deadline: date of publication of invitation to tender).
Criterion: Average yearly turnover
Description of selection criterion: EN-C1: Economic and financial standing (Mit dem Teilnahmeantrag; Mittels Eigenerklärung): Average annual turnover for the last three years (last-but-four financial year can be included in case of tenders held within 6 months of end of last financial year), at least: 1.000.000 EUR (net).
Criterion: Other economic or financial requirements
Description of selection criterion: EN-C2: Economic and financial standing (Mit dem Teilnahmeantrag; Mittels Eigenerklärung): Average number of employees and managers in the last three calendar years, at least 10 persons.
Information about the second stage of a two-stage procedure:
Minimum number of candidates to be invited for the second stage of the procedure: 5
5.1.11.
Procurement documents
Languages in which the procurement documents are officially available: English
Deadline for requesting additional information: 08/10/2026 23:59:59 (UTC+02:00) Eastern European Time, Central European Summer Time
Ad hoc communication channel:
5.1.12.
Terms of procurement
Terms of the procedure:
Estimated date of dispatch of the invitations to submit tenders: 06/11/2026
Terms of submission:
Electronic submission: Required
Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: English
Electronic catalogue: Not allowed
Variants: Not allowed
Tenderers may submit more than one tender: Not allowed
Deadline for receipt of requests to participate: 20/10/2026 12:00:00 (UTC+02:00) Eastern European Time, Central European Summer Time
Information that can be supplemented after the submission deadline:
At the discretion of the buyer, some missing tenderer-related documents may be submitted later.
Additional information: GIZ asks the applicant or bidder to submit, complete or correct documents, within the framework laid down by law.
Terms of contract:
The execution of the contract must be performed within the framework of sheltered employment programmes: No
Conditions relating to the performance of the contract: The execution conditions result from the information given in the contract notice and the tender documents.
Electronic invoicing: Required
Electronic ordering will be used: yes
Electronic payment will be used: yes
5.1.15.
Techniques
Framework agreement:
No framework agreement
Information about the dynamic purchasing system:
No dynamic purchase system
5.1.16.
Further information, mediation and review
Review organisation: Vergabekammern des Bundes
Information about review deadlines: According to Article 160, Section 3 of the German Act Against Restraint of Competition (GWB), application for review is not permissible insofar as 1. the applicant has identified the claimed infringement of the procurement rules before submitting the application for review and has not submitted a complaint to the contracting authority within a period of 10 calendar days; the expiry of the period pursuant to Article 134, Section 2 remains unaffected, 2. complaints of infringements of procurement rules that are evident in the tender notice are not submitted to the contracting authority at the latest by the expiry of the deadline for the application or by the deadline for the submission of bids, specified in the tender notice. 3. complaints of infringements of procurement rules that first become evident in the tender documents are not submitted to the contracting authority at the latest by the expiry of the deadline for application or by the deadline for the submission of bids, 4. more than 15 calendar days have expired since receipt of notification from the contracting authority that it is unwilling to redress the complaint. Sentence 1 does not apply in the case of an application to determine the invalidity of the contract in accordance with Article 135, Section 1 (2). Article 134, Section 1, Sentence 2 remains unaffected.
Organisation providing additional information about the procurement procedure: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Organisation receiving requests to participate: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
8. Organisations
8.1.
ORG-0001
Official name: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Registration number: 993-80072-52
Postal address: Dag-Hammarskjöld-Weg 1 - 5
Town: Eschborn
Postcode: 65760
Country subdivision (NUTS): Main-Taunus-Kreis (DE71A)
Country: Germany
Telephone: +49 6196796866
Roles of this organisation:
Buyer
Organisation providing additional information about the procurement procedure
Organisation receiving requests to participate
8.1.
ORG-0002
Official name: Vergabekammern des Bundes
Registration number: 022894990
Postal address: Kaiser-Friedrich-Straße 16
Town: Bonn
Postcode: 53113
Country subdivision (NUTS): Bonn, Kreisfreie Stadt (DEA22)
Country: Germany
Telephone: +49 2289499-0
Roles of this organisation:
Review organisation
8.1.
ORG-0003
Official name: Datenservice Öffentlicher Einkauf (in Verantwortung des Beschaffungsamts des BMI)
Registration number: 0204:994-DOEVD-83
Town: Bonn
Postcode: 53119
Country subdivision (NUTS): Bonn, Kreisfreie Stadt (DEA22)
Country: Germany
Telephone: +49228996100
Roles of this organisation:
TED eSender
Notice identifier/version: c1a11616-e6e1-4cf7-8c01-f2ce4dc4f7d1 - 01
Form type: Competition
Notice type: Contract or concession notice – standard regime
Notice subtype: 16
Notice dispatch date: 18/09/2026 00:00:00 (UTC+02:00) Eastern European Time, Central European Summer Time
Languages in which this notice is officially available: English
Notice publication number: 647333-2026
OJ S issue number: 182/2026
Publication date: 21/09/2026