Call for Expression of Interest (“EoI”) to select potential
participating SMEs Groups in the National Workshops in
West Bank and the Gaza Strip for training and coaching
on the Cluster Concept for the Private Sector
Development – Cluster Project (PSDCP).
Reference number: Call for EoI No. CDP-AwC1
1. Definitions and Interpretation
In this Call for Expression of Interest, capitalized terms and expressions shall have the
meaning attributed to them below, unless otherwise defined above or the context requires
otherwise:
Applicant
an SME Group applying to this Call for Expression of Interest;
Business Day
a day during which MNE and FPCCIA office is open;
Deadline
30 October 2012;
Eligibility Criteria
the criteria with which the Expressions of Interest and the Applicants must
comply with;
Expression of
Interest
a form filled by an Applicant in response to this Call for Expression of
Interest, within the Deadline, to be drafted in accordance with the
template attached hereto annexed;
PSDCP
The Private Sector Development Cluster Project;
Donor
l’Agence Française de Développement (AFD);
AwC
Awareness Campaign implemented by the FC
Ministry of National Economy;
MNE
FC
Federation of Palestinian Chambers of Commerce, Industry, and
Agriculture
France Cluster - a networking association gathering 100 French clusters
AwC Team
The team comprised by MNE, FPCCIA, and FC representatives
Assessment Criteria
Assessment criteria applied by PSDCP to the suitability of the Applicant
and/or the proposed SME Group according to the standards designed by
the project;
Small and Mediumsized Enterprises or
SMEs
micro, small and medium-sized enterprises as defined by the PA;
FPCCIA
PSDCP – Expression of Interest – September 2 012
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2.
The Private Sector Development – Cluster Project
The PSDCP’s objective is to strengthen the competitiveness of local companies, and
especially SMEs, in order to increase their market share on local market and/or explore new
markets for export through (1) a support to the structuration of productive sectors/subsectors with high potential, by the creation of linkages between the stakeholders of the same
value chain on a defined territory through the cluster approach and (2) an improvement of
public-private dialogue.
The PSDCP should obtain the following results:
1. Several clusters will reach a high level of maturity and coordination between all relevant
private and public stakeholders, allowing them to sustainably struggle for their own
competitiveness in front of external challenges.
2. The collective projects of these clusters will be supported, financed and implemented
successfully, resulting in a significant improvement of competitiveness and employment
generation, both at firm level and at local and national business environment level.
3. The model approach of cluster promotion will be facilitated, monitored, and capitalized
by the MoNE-PA, through capacity development of MoNE, in a way to support the
public/private dialogue, the business environment improvements and the policy making
process.
3.
Description of the activities performed with the selected Groups of SMEs
The proposed cluster development approach, implemented by the PSDCP in collaboration
with the selected groups’ initiatives will consists of:
PSDCP – Expression of Interest – September 2 012
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
Stimulating organization, cooperation and partnerships between all the enterprises
belonging to the same value chain and the same geographical area, among themselves,
and in relation with their local public environment, through a professional coordination
function

Coaching and facilitating the collective elaboration, among clusters stakeholders, of a
collective vision, strategy and action plan, in order to face with mutual tools and
initiatives the competitiveness common challenges and threats,

Supporting the implementation of collective projects, launched by enterprises’
consortium and/or by the cluster as a whole, aiming at short, medium and long term
improvements of productivity and competitiveness in depth factors

Supporting the capacity building of local authorities in policy formulation to support the
adoption of cluster approach.4. Expression of Interest
How to participate?
A template for the Expression of Interest is enclosed herein and can also be found at the
following internet address: www.pal-cluster.ps
Until no later than 15 October 2012, the Applicants may request clarifications regarding the
Call for Expression of Interest or the nature of the expected support. Such requests must
indicate the Call for Expression of Interest reference number and the name of the Applicant
and shall be submitted in Arabic and/or English via email to:
FPCCIA
Cluster Project
info@pal-cluster.ps
Requests for clarifications from Applicants shall not receive individual replies. Instead,
answers to all requests for clarifications received within the relevant deadline will be
published together in a clarification document to be posted on the project website.
5.
Language
The Expressions of Interest, including the submitted documents, must be in English and
Arabic.
6.
Submission of Expression of Interest
The Expression of Interest shall be submitted on or before the Deadline by hard copy or
email. The Expressions of Interest delivered shall consist of a closed single package, and shall
contain the Expression of Interest, together with its attachments, in paper form.
The Deadline for the submission of Expressions of Interest is 30 October 2012.
PSDCP – Expression of Interest – September 2 012
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The Expressions of Interest shall indicate the reference number of the Call (No. CDP-AwC1)
and the name of the Applicant and shall be sent to the following address:
Address:
The Federation of Palestinian Chambers of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture
Attention: Cluster Project – AwC Unit
Baloua’, Ramallah
Palestine
The outer envelope (package) shall indicate the following:
“Expression of Interest – Reference number of the Call (No. CDP-AwC1).
E-mail Address:
Attention: Cluster Project – AwC Unit
info@pal-cluster.ps
After the Deadline, an acknowledgement of receipt will be sent to the relevant Applicants by
FPCCIA.
The acknowledgement of receipt shall not be construed as a declaration of completeness of
the Expression of Interest and the documents submitted therewith, nor any kind of
assessment of the same.
7.
Selection process
When selecting eligible SMEs Groups, AwC Team is committed to respect fundamental
principles, such as:
i)
equal treatment,
ii)
non-discrimination,
iii)
confidentiality, and
iv)
transparency.
The Expressions of Interest will be examined by AwC Team, on a comparative basis, using
professional analysis and judgment, taking into account the Selection Criteria.
PSDCP – Expression of Interest – September 2 012
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Expression of Interest Form (Template)
A. BASIC INFORMATION
1. Name of SME Group Representative:
Tel:
2. Contact Information:
Mobile:
Email:
3. Names of Participating SMEs :
Please fill the table annexed (name,
establishment name, and type of work
and/activity – indicate average production
capacity) + Contact information for each
potential actor from the SMEs.
4. Geographical presence of participating
SMEs: (Localities: City level, Governorate
level, Regional level)
5. Sector (and sub-sectors) from Which
SMEs are part of:
6. Number of SMEs operating in the Sector
(and sub-sectors) (in the specified locality):
7. Does the sector (and sub-sectors) have a
recognized Business Service Organization
(BSO)? If Yes, Please share the Name and
Address.
Name of BSO:
Address:
PSDCP – Expression of Interest – September 2 012
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B. BACKGROUND INFORMATION
8. Have you learned about the Cluster Concept before? If yes, where?
 Yes. In
 No.
_______________________________________.
9. If your answer to Q8 is yes, what is your understanding of the Cluster Concept?
10. Why is the Cluster Concept is relevant or applicable to your development as a Group?
C. CLUSTER PARAMETERS
Development Potential of the Economic Activity
11. What are the main
competitive advantages that
your sector/sub-sector
activity brings?
12. If known to you, what is
the number of
establishments or
enterprises in the different
fields of the sector in which
you operate in your locality?
(Localities: City level,
Governorate level, Regional
level)
PSDCP – Expression of Interest – September 2 012
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13. Are all firms proposed in
the SMEs Group initiated
within a geographical
proximity? (Localities: City
 Yes
 No, explain: __________________________________
__________________________________________________
level, Governorate level,
Regional level)
14. If your proposed
initiative is concentrated in
one geographical locality, do
you see the need to include
other players from other
localities? If yes, why do you
see the need?
 No
15. Are there common
threats and/or challenges of
the SMEs Group proposed?
What are they? (Why are
you coming together?)
 No
 Yes, please explain:
-
 Yes, what are they?
-
16. What are the shared
Interests and Opportunities
among the SME Group
proposed?
-
The Potential for Mobilization of Private Sector
17. Are there any existing groups, consortiums, and/or collective collaboration in the
economic activity in your area? If Yes, please identify the coordination dynamics among
them?
 No
 Yes, please elaborate:
PSDCP – Expression of Interest – September 2 012
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18. Are there already some collective actions launched by the group of SMEs, either on
mutualized basis, or within subcontracting relationships? If yes, describe? What was the
impact?
Potential for Public Sector Involvement
19. What role do you see for
the Public Institutions in
your cluster initiative?
Which ones would
participate in your cluster’s
coordination core group?
-
20. What are the
opportunity to expand the
possibility presented by your
Initiative to a national level? -
PSDCP – Expression of Interest – September 2 012
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D. INITIAL/PROPOSED CLUSTER MAP:
In this section, the Group of SMEs have a chance to specify the initial players as they see
them on the cluster map in their own locality in a bottom up approach:
PSDCP – Expression of Interest – September 2 012
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D-1. Cluster Initiative Map (from Procurement to Market):
Core Enterprises (from various parts of the
value chain)
-
Business Services Organization(s)
Financial Institutions
Business Development Services
Support Firms
Authorities
Public Services
-
Education and Research Institutions
Vocational Training
-
-
PSDCP – Expression of Interest – September 2 012
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[TABLE] Names of Participating SMEs:
No. Name of SME
Establishment
Name of
Representative
Type of
Activity
Average
Production
Capacity
1
Contact
Information
Tel:
Fax:
Mobile:
Email:
Tel:
Fax:
Mobile:
Email:
Tel:
Fax:
Mobile:
Email:
Tel:
Fax:
Mobile:
Email:
Tel:
Fax:
Mobile:
Email:
Tel:
Fax:
Mobile:
Email:
Tel:
Fax:
Mobile:
Email:
Tel:
Fax:
Mobile:
Email:
Tel:
Fax:
10Mobile:
Email:
Tel:
Fax:
Mobile:
Email:
Tel:
Fax:
Mobile:
Email:
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
PSDCP – Expression of Interest – September 2 012
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12
Tel:
Fax:
Mobile:
Email:
Tel:
Fax:
Mobile:
Email:
Tel:
Fax:
Mobile:
Email:
Tel:
Fax:
Mobile:
Email:
Tel:
Fax:
Mobile:
Email:
Tel:
Fax:
Mobile:
Email:
Tel:
Fax:
Mobile:
Email:
Tel:
Fax:
Mobile:
Email:
Tel:
Fax:
Mobile:
Email:
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
PSDCP – Expression of Interest – September 2 012
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