Individual consultancy: establish Devolution Training Institute, Council of Governors (COG/PROC/004/2026-2027)

What is being bought

The Council of Governors (COG) invites sealed bids from individual consultants to establish a Devolution Training Institute (DTI), a centre of excellence for governance and capacity development in Kenya's devolved system. The consultancy runs for 42 days from contract signing, and the reviewed pages do not state a physical location beyond the COG offices in Nairobi.

Key facts

Closing

Tue 3 Nov 2026, 11:00 am
Closing date and time for submission: 3 November 2026 at 11:00 (East African Time). Date and time confirmed by the portal record and the Invitation for Tenders. P

Bid / tender security

Not stated in the documents we reviewed Not stated D1 p.15

Tender fee

Non-refundable fee of Kshs 1,000.00 to obtain the tender documents, paid in cash or banker's cheque payable to Council of Governors. D1 p.3

Site visit

Not stated in the documents we reviewed Not stated D1 p.5

Pre-bid meeting

Optional
No pre-proposal conference will be held. D1 p.13

Reserved for

Not stated in the documents we reviewed Not stated P

Contract value

Not stated in the documents we reviewed Not stated D1 p.1

Tender opening

Technical proposals are opened immediately after the closing time in the presence of attending bidders, at the 11th floor boardroom, COG Secretariat, Delta Corner, off Waiyaki Way. Financial proposals are opened later in public after technical evaluation. D1 p.16

Tender validity

Proposals must remain valid for 180 days after the proposal submission deadline. The invitation also states 180 days from the closing date. D1 p.15

Who can apply

• Only individual consultants are eligible. The tender is for individual consultants, not firms. D1 p.13
• Individuals must have at least a Master's degree in Public Administration, Devolution, Public Policy, Governance, Law, Institutional Development, Organizational Development, Education Management or a related field. D1 p.16
• Consultant must demonstrate at least eight (8) years of relevant experience. D1 p.16
• Consultant must show at least four successful executions of similar assignments in the last 5 years (2021 to date), proven by contracts and reference letters from the same organisations. D1 p.16
• Consultant must demonstrate specific experience working with the devolved system of governance. D1 p.16
• Procuring entity's employees, committee members, board members and their relatives (spouse and children) are not eligible to participate. D1 p.5

Application checklist

Tick items off as you prepare. Your ticks stay on this device only.

Required from every bidder

• Individual Identity Card. D1 p.16
• Valid Tax Compliance Certificate from Kenya Revenue Authority. D1 p.16
• Proof of payment of the bid document fee: Council of Governors miscellaneous receipt of Kes.1,000 or a cheque of similar amount addressed to Council of Governors. D1 p.16
• Mandatory documentary evidence including original bid security (in the first inner envelope). Not stated D1 p.15
• Power of Attorney to sign the proposal. D1 p.15
• Technical proposal submission form, individual consultant experience, comments on Terms of Reference, methodology and work plan, work schedule and self-declaration forms. D1 p.15
• Academic certificates and testimonials must be attached to the technical proposal. D1 p.17
• Financial proposal submission form, summary of costs and breakdown of remuneration in a separate financial envelope. D1 p.15

Experience, licences and financial capacity

Technical

• Technical scoring out of 100. Working experience: 8 to below 10 years scores 5; 10 to 15 years scores 10; above 15 years scores 12. Relevant public-sector governance experience scores up to 3. D1 p.17
• Academic scoring: Masters 5 points, PhD 7 points; professional qualification or certification 3 points. D1 p.17
• Specific experience and technical competencies: five areas (institutional design, governance, training and curriculum, devolved government, business models), each up to 5 points, total 25. D1 p.19
• Added value up to a maximum of 5 points, 1 point each for innovation, partnerships, knowledge transfer or other directly relevant benefits. D1 p.20
• Minimum technical score to pass is 70% of the technical score. D1 p.20
• Assignment duration is 42 days from the date of contract signing. D1 p.44
• Consultant must have proven experience establishing or supporting centres of excellence or public sector training institutions. D1 p.44

Financial

• Prices must be in Kenya Shillings and quoted net inclusive of all taxes where applicable. Conflicting D1 p.3
• Financial proposal must list cost per milestone, cost of report production including printing, and other items needed for the services. D1 p.15
• Payments are linked to deliverables: 20% on approval of Inception Report; 20% on Benchmarking Report and Institutional Framework; 40% on Draft Institutionalization Framework; 20% on Final Report. D1 p.45

How and where to submit

• Electronic submission is not allowed. Proposals must be submitted in physical form. D1 p.15
• Submit one (1) original and one (1) copy of the Technical and Financial Proposal. D1 p.15
• Technical and financial proposals go in separate sealed envelopes, placed in an outer envelope marked DO NOT OPEN, EXCEPT IN PRESENCE OF THE OPENING COMMITTEE. D1 p.14
• Deliver sealed envelopes to the tender box at COG Secretariat, 2nd floor, Delta Corner, off Waiyaki Way, or post to The Chief Executive Officer, Council of Governors, P.O. Box 40401-00100, Nairobi. Clarification requests go to info@cog.go.ke. D1 p.3
• Clarification requests must be sent in writing; the Information to Consultants clause says up to 7 days before submission, but the Data Sheet says 3 days. Conflicting D1 p.6

Lots and categories

• No lots are stated in the reviewed material. Not stated D1 p.1

Not covered in the documents we reviewed

• Any addenda (A1, A2...) to the tender, if issued
• Bid security amount, form and validity period
• Contract value or budget
• Reserved group status (AGPO, youth, women, persons with disabilities)
• Full Terms of Reference and Appendix A details (including training component, start location)
• Technical evaluation sub-criteria on pages 18 and any criteria between pages 17 and 19
• Financial proposal standard forms (pages 22-24, 29-34)
• Clarification of the bid document fee wording in ITC 2.1.7 which reads Kshs. , 000/=
• Site visit or pre-proposal arrangements beyond what is stated
• Pages 46, 47, 49, 50 and the full Contract form
• Confirmation of the opening room location (11th floor boardroom at 2nd floor Secretariat)

Terms explained

TDS / Data Sheet

Tender Data Sheet: the tender-specific values that override the standard instructions.

QCBS

Quality and Cost Based Selection: bids are scored on technical quality and on price together.

Responsive

A bid that meets all mandatory requirements and is considered for evaluation. Non-responsive bids are rejected.

Tender security / bid security

A guarantee or declaration submitted with a bid to show it is serious, forfeited if the bidder withdraws or refuses the contract.

Tax Compliance Certificate

Certificate from Kenya Revenue Authority confirming the bidder's tax is up to date.

Power of Attorney

Written authority allowing a named person to sign the proposal for the consultant.

CV

Curriculum Vitae: a summary of the consultant's qualifications and experience.

Minimum technical score

The lowest technical score needed before the financial proposal is opened (70% here).

Addendum

A written change to the tender documents issued by the procuring entity; it overrides the original text.