I-MESA-EAS

The "Evaluation and Studies" component of the scheme aims to establish institutionalized mechanisms for achieving transparency and accountability, generating lessons learned for real-time program improvement, and ensuring effective knowledge dissemination among stakeholders and targeted beneficiary.

The scheme "Information, Monitoring, Evaluation and Social Audit (I-MESA)" was launched by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India. The "Evaluation and Studies" component of the scheme aims to establish institutionalized mechanisms for achieving transparency and accountability, generating lessons learned for real-time program improvement, and ensuring effective knowledge dissemination among stakeholders and targeted beneficiaries. The scheme provides for evaluation studies to be undertaken at regular intervals, preferably every two years, by reputed Agencies/Organizations or other Institutes.

##### For the Organization/Agency/Institute

• The applicant must have requisite qualifications to undertake evaluation studies of schemes and programmes of the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• The applicant must not have been blacklisted.
• The applicant must accept all the terms and conditions of the Notice Inviting Tender, including commercial and general terms and conditions.
• The applicant must be willing to undertake the assignment in the given timeframe.

##### For the Project Director/In-charge of the Project

• The applicant should have the necessary experience in the use of statistical tools.
• The applicant should have experience in the social sector.
• The applicant should have at least 5 years’ experience of evaluation of studies on the social sector.

##### Financial Assistance/Funding

Funds are sanctioned by the Ministry for approved evaluation projects covering a specified period.

> Items Covered under Funds (Costs met by the Ministry)

• Salaries and allowances of the project staff of the study and honorarium for the Project Director.
• Travel expenses undertaken in relation to the project.
• Consultancy charges.
• Printing costs.
• Equipment and books.
• Computer and tabulation costs.
• Contingency and Overhead charges (Overhead charges are calculated up to 5% of the total cost of Personnel, Travel, Printing, Equipment and books, Computer and machine tabulation costs, and Contingency).

##### Fund Disbursal Installments

The funds are released in three installments

• First Installment: 20% (released after the receipt of Performance Security).- Second Installment: 50% (released on submission and presentation of the draft report).- Third Installment: 30% (released after acceptance of the report by the Department, along with submission of 8 copies of the final report, 20 copies of the summary report and its soft version, audited Statement of Accounts, and Utilization Certificate).

##### Conditions

• The successful bidder must submit a Performance Bank Guarantee issued by any scheduled commercial bank for 8% of the contract value.
• The Organization must execute a bond in favor of the President of India to abide by the terms and conditions attached to the funds.
• The Organization must maintain separate accounts for this fund, which will remain open to inspection by representatives of the Government of India, including the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
• The Organization must refund any unspent balance out of the fund within 30 days from the date of completion of the Project.
• Any unspent balance not refunded within 30 days, or funds required to be refunded due to failure to abide by conditions, will attract a penal interest of 15% per annum thereon.