Evaluation of the existing E-procurement platform and comparison to other potential solution for E-procurement in Lebanon service

1. 1. General objective

       The Public Procurement Authority (PPA) has established its own Portal as the central platform for publishing procurement opportunities and related information. In parallel, the Authority has acquired an e-Procurement Platform (DELTA), which is not yet live and lacks several critical features required to support the full procurement lifecycle. To ensure alignment with international best practices, the PPA seeks to assess Delta versus regionally and internationally similar solutions.

• 2. Specific objectives
• Assess the current Delta platform for technical readiness.
• Assess full integration between Delta and the live PPA Portal.
• Provide possible gaps between Delta and regionally and internationally recognized similar eProcurement platform.
• Strengthening procurement processes through digitalization, transparency, and accountability

1. 3. Anticipated results

Delivery of the required needed evaluation by May 23rd , 2026

1. 1. Scope of Work

The selected service provider shall undertake a comprehensive technical and functional assessment of the Delta Platform and its integration with the live PPA Portal  ensuring alignment with the Public Procurement Law 244/2021 , OCDS (Open Contracting Data Standard), and the best practices for eProcurement systems. The scope will include the following activities:

Technical Readiness Assessment

• Review the current Delta platform architecture, infrastructure, and scalability.
• Evaluate performance, security, and compliance with industry standards.
• Assess data quality, system reliability, and user experience.
• Identify any technical risks or limitations that may impact long-term sustainability.

Integration Assessment

• Assess the depth and reliability of integration between Delta and the live PPA Portal.
• Map data flows between the two systems and identify potential bottlenecks.
• Validate synchronization of procurement processes, audit trails, and reporting.
• Recommend improvements for seamless interoperability and data consistency.

Gap Analysis Against Regional and International Standards

• Benchmark Delta against similar regionally and internationally recognized eProcurement platforms.
• Identify missing features or functionalities with regards to law 244/2021 requirements (e.g., eTendering, eAuction, contract management, supplier performance evaluation).
• Provide a detailed report of gaps, ranked by priority and impact on transparency, efficiency, and compliance.

Digital Transformation Recommendations

• Propose enhancements to strengthen procurement processes through automation.
• Recommend tools and features to promote transparency, accountability, and auditability.
• Suggest phased implementation and change management approaches to minimize disruption.
• Develop a roadmap with quick wins (“low-hanging fruits”) and long-term initiatives.

1. 2. Functional Requirements

System Assessment Requirements

• Ability to review and document Delta’s:
  • System architecture, database design, APIs, and integrations.
  • Compliance with international IT standards (ISO 27001 for security, ISO 9001 for quality).
  • Infrastructure scalability for future growth (e.g., number of concurrent users, transactions).
  • Current disaster recovery and business continuity capabilities.

Integration Requirements

• Perform a full data mapping between Delta and PPA Portal modules.
• Test and document:
• API endpoints, data exchange frequency, and error-handling mechanisms.
• Consistency of procurement information across both systems (tenders, bids, contracts).
• Recommend solutions for:
  • Automating data synchronization.
  • Reducing manual intervention and duplication of effort.

Benchmarking & Gap Analysis Requirements

• Compare Delta with leading eProcurement platforms such as SAP Ariba, Oracle Procurement Cloud, or regionally recognized equivalents.
• Assess key functional domains, including:
  • Vendor registration and prequalification.
  • E-tendering, bid submission, and evaluation.
  • Contract management and compliance tracking.
  • Analytics and reporting dashboards.
  • Produce a gap analysis report that highlights:
  • Missing features or underperforming modules.
  • Opportunities for automation or simplification.
  • Risks related to data integrity or auditability.

Deliverables

• Technical Readiness Report – documenting current state and risks.
• Integration Assessment Report – detailing findings and recommendations.
• Gap Analysis Report – benchmarked against global standards.
• Digitalization Roadmap – with short-, medium-, and long-term initiatives, cost estimates, and priorities.

1. 3. Agile Methodology and Sprint Delivery requirements

                         PPA requires the selected vendor to utilize Agile methodology for the assessment process. Agile methodology promotes iterative collaboration, and flexibility, allowing for rapid adaptation to changing requirements and stakeholder feedback. Additionally, the vendor is expected to adhere to a two-week sprint delivery cycle, where each sprint spans a duration of two weeks. This approach enables incremental delivery of functionality, early validation of features, and continuous improvement throughout the assessment lifecycle.

Agile Methodology Implementation

The vendor shall adopt Agile principles, practices, and processes for the assessment report and its deliverables.

Two-Week Sprint Delivery

       The vendor shall commit to a two-week sprint delivery cycle. Sprint planning sessions shall be conducted at the beginning of each sprint to select and prioritize features for assessment.

1. 4. Assessment Plan 

As part of the technical proposal submission, we require from the selected vendor to include a detailed assessment plan outlining the approach, timeline, milestones, and deliverables for assessment of the Delta Platform. The assessment plan serves as a roadmap for execution, providing clarity on scope and dependencies. The following requirements apply to the submission of the assessment plan.

  Comprehensive Overview

•     The plan shall provide a comprehensive overview of the assessment, including the objectives, scope, and high-level requirements.

Timeline and Milestones

•     The assessment plan shall include a detailed timeline with specific milestones, deliverables, and dependencies identified for each phase of the assessment.

Communication and Reporting

•     The assessment plan shall define communication channels, frequency of communication, and reporting mechanisms for assessment updates, progress tracking, and issue resolution.

•     It shall identify key stakeholders and their respective roles in assessment communication and decision-making processes.

 Submission Requirement

•     The vendor shall submit the detailed assessment plan as part of the technical proposal.

•     The assessment plan shall be reviewed and evaluated by the evaluation committee comprised of EF and PPA representatives to ensure alignment with assessment objectives, requirements, and timelines.

Evaluation Grid:

The best value for money is established by weighing technical quality against price          on a 60/40 basis. The quality of each technical and financial offer will be        evaluated in accordance       with the following award criteria and the weighting:

Quality /60

Vendor Experience & References/20

Proposed Assessment Methodology/30

Proposed delivery timeline/10

Price (including TCO)/40

Tenders will be appraised and given a score of up to 100 points according to these criteria.

NB:

• Only tenders with scores of at least 45 points on technical evaluation qualify for the financial evaluation.
• No other award criteria will be used. The award criteria will be examined in accordance with the requirements indicated in the Terms of Reference
• 1. Confidentiality

• The entire evaluation procedure is confidential, subject to Expertise France’s legislation on access to documents. The Evaluation Committee’s decisions are collective, and its deliberations are held in closed session. The members of the Evaluation Committee are bound to secrecy. The evaluation reports and written records are for official use only and may be communicated neither to the tenderers nor to any party other than Expertise France.

   

• 2. Non-Disclosure Agreement

• The selected vendor, its employees, consultants, and any subcontractors shall be bound by a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) with Expertise France and the Public Procurement Authority (PPA).

   

  Under this agreement:

   

  Confidential Information

  All information, data, documents, and materials, whether written, electronic, or verbal—shared or accessed during the course of the assignment shall be treated as strictly confidential. This includes, but is not limited to, any technical specifications, architectural diagrams, datasets, procurement records, source code, system credentials, and internal communications related to the Delta platform or the PPA Portal.

   

  Use of Information

  The vendor shall use such information solely for the purposes of fulfilling its contractual obligations under this engagement and shall not, under any circumstances, disclose, reproduce, or use such information for personal, commercial, or third-party benefit.

   

  Access Control

  The vendor shall ensure that only authorized personnel directly involved in the assessment and covered by this NDA shall have access to confidential materials. Such personnel must be informed of their confidentiality obligations in writing.

   

  Duration of Obligation

  The confidentiality obligations shall remain in effect throughout the duration of the contract and for a period of three (3) years after its completion, unless otherwise extended in writing by Expertise France or PPA.

   

  Return or Destruction of Materials

  Upon completion or termination of the assignment, the vendor shall return all confidential materials or securely destroy them, upon written confirmation by Expertise France or PPA.

   

  Breach of Agreement

  Any breach of this NDA shall be considered a material violation of the Terms of Reference and may result in immediate termination of the contract, in addition to any legal remedies available to Expertise France or PPA under applicable laws.

   

• 3. Disqualification criteria
• Incomplete Proposals: Proposals that do not fully address all the requirements outlined in the Terms of Reference (TOR), including both technical and financial aspects, will be rejected.
• Lack of Understanding: Proposals that demonstrate a lack of understanding of the assessment’s objectives, scope, and deliverables.
• Insufficient Experience: Service vendors that do not have proven experience in similar engagements.
• Lack of Relevant Portfolio: Proposals lacking a portfolio of similar assignments or case studies that demonstrate the vendor’s capability to deliver an assessment of this nature and scale.
• Inadequate Project Management Plan: Proposals that do not include a robust project management approach, including clear milestones, deliverables, and quality assurance processes.

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• Alternative Solution

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  While the primary objective of this TOR is to assess, enhance, and operationalize the Delta e-Procurement Platform, vendors are permitted to propose an alternative solution under the following conditions:

   

  Justification

  The service provider must demonstrate, with clear evidence, that the proposed solution provides significant advantages over Delta in terms of functionality, security, scalability, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability.

   

  Compliance

  Any alternative solution must comply with the core objectives and scope of work outlined in this TOR, including full integration with the live PPA Portal and interoperability with government system.

   

  Hardware & Software Requirements

  For any alternative system, the vendor shall specify the necessary HW and SW infrastructure and demonstrate that it meets national hosting, security, and data protection requirements.

   

  Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

  The vendor must present a clear cost comparison between enhancing Delta and implementing the proposed alternative, including development, licensing, maintenance, training, and support costs over a 5-year period.

   

  Evaluation

  Expertise France reserves the right to assess the alternative solution against Delta enhancement based on functionality, compliance, integration feasibility, cost, and sustainability, and to select the option that best serves the PPA’s objectives.

   

• Place, duration, and terms of performance.

• Hybrid with weekly visit and follow up at Public Procurement Authority (PPA)

   

• Start date: 23 March 2026
• Delivery date: 23 june 2026

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