REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS - Expert Consultant on EU Directive on the recognition of professional qualifications 

Please note: the timeline for this posting has been extended until 16 December 2024

About ICM   

The International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) supports, represents and works to strengthen professional associations of midwives throughout the world. There are currently 137 Members Associations (MAs), representing 119 countries across every continent and over 1 million midwives globally. In the Europe Region, ICM has members in 29 of 31 EU/EEA countries. ICM has its Head Office in the Netherlands.   

With a unique and vital role as the only organisation specifically focused on supporting associations of midwives and their midwife members around the world, ICM is an expert in creating, advising, influencing, and enabling the profession of midwifery globally. ICM also adds value to the regional health landscape by advocating for the improvement of the status of midwifery, sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn and adolescent health across the regions and globally. 

Scope of Work   

The EU Commission has commissioned a study as part of preparatory works for possible future update of the minimum training requirements for the profession of midwife under the Professional Qualifications Directive. The study aims at mapping the existing training requirements in EU/EFTA states, and at providing information about the national health systems and views of stakeholders on the possible update. 

The International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) is seeking suitably qualified consultant or an agency to support ICM in participating in the advocacy process, with the goal of ensuring that updates to the EU Directive on the recognition of professional qualifications are in alignment with scientific and technological updates to the profession and ICM Standards. The consultant or agency must have proven experience successfully supporting professions in similar processes. 

Activities and Deliverables   

Between December 2024 and December 2025, the chosen consultant will work closely with the ICM Advocacy and Communications Team to collaborate on the work described in the Scope of Work Section, and include the following deliverables:  

1. Collaborating with ICM staff members and key stakeholders to get background on the issue, and to create an advocacy action plan 
2. One 60-minute online educational presentation to ICM member associations and stakeholders, describing the Commission’s process, what it includes (and does not include) 
3. Ongoing advocacy support, 8 hours per month from February to December 2025 (with the possibility of rolling over from month to month). 

Budget   

Proposed budgets will be reviewed with respect to the suitability of the methodology, work plan and activities for deliverables in a cost-effective manner.  

Timeline   

Please submit your proposal specifying methodology, work plan for deliverables, fees and experience of undertaking similar assignments to [email protected] no later than 12:00 noon CET on 16 December 2024.   

Commencement date and location   

The targeted kickoff meeting date is set for 20 December 2024, with commencement of deliverables in January 2025.   

Location: Remote; interactions with ICM staff and other relevant stakeholders are expected to take place virtually.   

Procurement procedure   

ICM is using an open procurement procedure, meaning that any suitably qualified consultant may submit a proposal to ICM during the submission timeframe. Please see next section on exclusion criteria and selection criteria.  

Indicative Timetable   

Set out below is the proposed procurement timetable. This is intended as a guide only, and can potentially be more flexible:   

How to apply   

Please apply by sending a fully costed proposal that includes all the elements in the “Activities and Deliverables” section, including VAT or a statement that your company does not charge VAT.  

In addition to the proposal, please submit a portfolio of similar work as an example, as well as two references. If you have worked with ICM previously, one reference is sufficient.  

Your entire proposal including all supporting documentation, which should be no longer than eight A4 pages in length, should be emailed as a single document, to [email protected] per the Indicative Timetable (above).  

Please ensure you use “Expert Consultant on EU Directive” in the subject line of your email submission.   

If you have a specific question not answered either above or in the Annex to this RfP, please email [email protected].    

Exclusions, Selection and Award Criteria   

Evaluation Process   

ICM will run this competitive procurement process in a manner which is open and transparent and ensures equal treatment of applicants in the process. Decisions will be made based on the stated criteria. Applicants must respond to all questions set out below at the time of submission in response to this RfP.   

Exclusions   

The exclusion process involves evaluating whether the applicant has committed any offences that would lead them to be excluded from the procurement process, including:   

• Blacklisting   
• Bankruptcy and insolvency   
• Conflict of Interest   
• Distortion of Competition   
• Not meeting the criteria of or being in violation of ICM’s Position Statement on Sponsorship and Commercial Partnerships   

Selection Criteria   

Proposals will be evaluated against the criteria below. ICM may request additional information or seek clarification from applicants if necessary.   

Contract Award Criteria   

Only the highest scoring applicant will be invited by the Assessment Panel to enter into contract negotiations. Being invited to participate in contract negotiation does not obligate ICM to enter into any agreement, contract, or representation but only to negotiate exclusively to arrive at a possible agreement. Negotiations will be based on a draft contract prepared by ICM. The selected applicant will be expected to sign the Declaration of Conflict of Interest statement found in Annex 2.