CALL FOR TENDERS: Purchase of hardware and software for the Armenian E-Notary Information System (AENIS) 1. Within the framework of the Joint Programme between the Council of Europe and the European Union on “Support for Access to Justice in Armenia”, the Council of Europe is organising a call for Tenders with a view to awarding a contract for the supply of hardware and software for the AENIS. The object of the contract concerns the supply of hardware and software, and their delivery to the Ministry of Justice of Armenia, as specified in the Appendix, in order to equip notaries in all regions in Armenia with hardware and software (modules). 2. The Council of Europe is an international organisation with 47 member states, enjoying privileges and immunities under a General Agreement on Privileges and Immunities. Any dispute between the Council of Europe Secretariat and the contractor concerning the interpretation or execution of the contract in respect of which the parties cannot arrive at a friendly settlement will, in accordance with Article 21 of the above-mentioned General Agreement, be submitted to arbitration under the conditions laid down in the Secretary General’s Rule 481 of 27 February 1976, as approved by the Committee of Ministers. 3. All bidders are required to meet the followingcriteria: · be registered in a member state of the Council of Europe; · have at least two years of experience in the field of IT. This experience has to be proved by recommendations from a third party providing a detailed description of the work carried out by the bidder for a project of a similar type. · have experience in importing IT equipment to Armenia or being an Armenian registered company; · be able to organise regional delivery of the goods and complete delivery within 12 weeks after receiving the order. · The bid should comply with the technical specifications and general and specific purchasing conditions - precondition: no further consideration will be given to offers which do not meet this requirement. 4. Selection Criteria Bidders will be assessed, according to the following weighing factors, on: · Price · Warranty conditions · Availability of online support and provision for 24/7 availability of relevant driver suites · Proven experience of implementing projects of a similar scale. 5. Exclusion Criteria (a) General exclusion criteria Bidders shall be excluded from participating in the tender procedure where they: a. have been sentenced by final judgment on one or more of the following charges: participation in a criminal organisation, corruption, fraud, money laundering; b. are in a situation of bankruptcy, liquidation, termination of activity, insolvency or arrangement with creditors or any situation arising from a procedure of the same kind, or are subject to a procedure of the same kind; c. have received a judgment with res judicata force, finding an offence that affects their professional integrity or serious professional misconduct; d. do not comply with their obligations as regards payment of social security contributions, taxes and dues, according to the statutory provisions of their country of incorporation; All bidders shall deliver, when submitting their tender, a declaration on their honour certifying that they are not in any of the above-mentioned situations. The Council of Europe reserves the right to ask successful bidders to supply the following supporting documents: a. for the items in a), b) and c), produce an extract from the record of convictions or failing that an equivalent document issued by the competent judicial or administrative authority of the beneficiary country, indicating that these requirements are met; b. for the items in d), a certificate issued by the competent authority of the beneficiary country.” (b) Exclusion criteria specific to this particular tender Bidders shall be excluded from participating in the tender procedure if they: · Do not have sufficient company capital to cover the scope of the tasks envisaged; · Do not have an annual turnover equivalent to two times the annual value of the market to be awarded; · Do not submit a proposal in full conformity with the technical specifications of the tender; · Are not prepared to complete delivery within 10 weeks of the signature of the contract (or receipt of prepayment if applicable); · Are not prepared to deliver products which are in a conformity with relevant CE regulations/norms if applicable; · Are not prepared tomeet technical documentation requirements; · Do not possess all the permits and licenses required by applicable laws in Armenia in the area of technical information protection; · Are not prepared todeliver equipment to the locations indicated in the documentation; · Do not accept the general purchasing conditions of the Council of Europe; · Do not accept technical specifications, qualification and delivery requirements applicable to this tender as indicated in the Annex I to the call for tenders. 6. Submission of bids Bids accompanied by a duly completed checklist (the model checklist and other necessary documents can be found under http://www.coe.int/t/CallForTenders/default_en.asp)must be submitted, no later than18 May 2012, in a sealed envelope with the following indication: « A n’ouvrir que par la Commission des Marchés» JP Support for Access to Justice in Armenia - contract for the e-notary in Armenia and should be enclosed within another one addressed to: CONSEIL DE L’EUROPE 2011AO17 á l’attention de la Commission des Marchés BP7 F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex France They must also be sent by e-mail to the address of the Tenders Board: [email protected]. Bids submitted to another address or e-mail account, as well as bids submitted by e-mail only will be excluded from the procedure. The decision of the Council of Europe, and its Tenders Board, to accept or reject a bid is not subject to appeal. TheCouncilofEuropereservestherightnottocontactyouconcerningthiscallfortendersifthebiddoesnotsatisfythespecifiedcriteriaorfails tosupplysomeoftheinformationrequested. The contract is expected to be awarded in June2012based on a recommendation by the Council of Europe’s Tenders Board, and the planned starting date for the execution of the contract is 13 July 2012.

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