Request for Offer (RFO) for Framework Agreement for Legal retainership for a period of three (3) years
Job Description
Request for Offer (RFO) for
Framework Agreement for Legal retainership for a period of three (3) years
Ref. FRT-No CC-47911
| GOAL is completely against fraud, bribery and corruption. GOAL does not ask for money for offers. If you have any serious concern over wrongdoing please report it at www.safecall.co.uk/report or email goal@safecall.co.uk . All information is treated confidentially by Safecall and you may remain anonymous if you wish. |
About GOAL
GOAL has been operating in Sierra Leone since the late 1980s, initially in emergency response, with a permanent presence since 1999 response, with a permanent presence in country since 1999. GOAL operates from its main office based in Freetown, with other sub operational offices in Kenema, Kambia, Bombali, and Moyamba Districts. GOAL implements programmes in 8 of Sierra Leones 16 districts: Western Area Urban, Kambia, Kenema, Bombali, Port Loko, Koinadugu, Karene, Moyamba, and hires over 165 staff across the country. Our programmes focus on the WASH and Health sectors including urban and rural WASH programmes, health system strengthening, social and behaviour change; Blue Economy and FSL; and emergency response programming.
Timelines
| Line | Item | Date, year, time, and time-zone |
| 1 | RFO published | 9th April 2026 |
| 2 | Closing date and time for enquiry | 20th April 2026 at 16:00GMT |
| 3 | Closing date of receipt of offer | 24th April 2026 at 14:00GMT |
| 4 | Date contract is expected to be signed | 25th May 2026 |
3 Overview of Requirements
3.1. Provide Legal advice as requested – 20 hour per quarter to be included in a bid with a rate for additional hours and /or specific services as appropriate.
3.2. To assist GOAL Sierra Leone in interpreting laws Policies and practice of Sierra Leone and to provide proactive updates on Legislative or Policy changes that may affect GOAL activities, stakeholders or beneficiaries with a minimum requirement of quarterly summary report on legislative and regulatory changes and development in Sierra Leonean law, particularly those relating to the NGO/Charity sector:
3.3. The fulfilment of Organizational registration and renewal requirement in Sierra Leone. This will include providing advice on such requirements, submitting documentation and liaising with relevant authorities on behalf of GOAL Sierra Leone and its necessary registration as required.
3.4. Drafting and submitting Landing permit documentation, Visa Immigration and Work Permit support documentations to the relevant Sierra Leonean Authorities.
3.5. To provide an annual statement on GOAL Sierra Leone’s legal status as part of Audit requirements with necessary documentation.
3.6. Conduct Legal Review of Memorandums of Understanding, works, Services, sub grants, Human Resources/employment, Contract/Employment queries contract between GOAL and Vendors for review and advice for all contract above 322,000,000 and other as required
4 Conditions of Offer Submission
4.1 Offers must be completed in English.
4.2 Vendors must respond to all requirements set out in this RFO and complete their offer in the format requested
4.3 In the event of a contract being awarded to a vendor that has knowingly withheld relevant information or otherwise misled GOAL in the evaluation process in any way, then that contract will be rendered null and void.
4.4 Any conflicts of interest involving a vendor must be fully disclosed to GOAL particularly where there is a conflict of interest in relation to any recommendations or proposals put forward by the vendor.
4.5 GOAL is under no obligation to accept the lowest or any other offer received in response to this RFO and reserves its right to reject any or all the offers (part/full) including incomplete offers without assigning reason whatsoever.
4.6 Information supplied by vendors will be treated as contractually binding.
4.7 GOAL’s standard payment terms are by bank transfer within 30 days after satisfactory implementation and receipt of documents in order.
4.8 This document is not construed in any way as an offer to a contract
4.9. The vendor shall seek written approval from GOAL before entering into any sub-contracts for the purpose of fulfilling this contract. Full details of the proposed subcontracting company and the nature of envisioned engagement of sub-contractor/s into this contract shall be included in vendor’s offer.
4.10. GOAL reserves the right to refuse any subcontractor that is proposed by the vendor.
4.11. GOAL and all contracted suppliers, and their subcontractors, associates or partners must act in all its procurement and other activities in full compliance with donor requirements and the highest ethical standards. GOAL has zero tolerance for fraud, bribery or corruption in any form and will reject any offers if the organization determines that the vendor, any of its personnel, or its sub-contractors, has, directly or indirectly, engaged in corrupt, fraudulent, collusive, coercive, or obstructive practices in competing for the contract in question.
4.12 Terrorism and Sanctions: GOAL does not engage in transactions with any terrorist group or individual or entity involved with or associated with terrorism or individuals or entities that have active exclusion orders and/or sanctions against them. GOAL shall therefore not knowingly purchase supplies or services from companies that are associated in any way with terrorism and/or are the subject of any relevant international exclusion orders and/or sanctions. If you submit an offer based on this request, it shall constitute a guarantee that neither your company nor any affiliate or a subsidiary controlled by your company are associated with any known terrorist group or is/are the subject of any relevant international exclusion order and/or sanctions. A contract clause confirming this may be included in an eventual purchase order based on this request.
Quality Control
3rd party companies may be contracted by GOAL to carry out random quality inspections of work carried out by the contracted party. The cost of the quality control inspections will be covered by GOAL.
Submission of Offers
This competition is being conducted under GOAL’s Request for Offer procedure. The Contracting Authority for this procurement is GOAL. Under this procurement process, we expect all offers received and analyzed to be the best and final offer.
Any queries about this RFO should be addressed in writing to GOAL via email on procurementfreetown@sl.goal.ie Please include the reference number < FRT-No CC-47911-Framework Agreement for Legal Retainership > and words “clarification required” in the subject line.
Offers must be delivered in the following way:
By email to RFO@sl.goal.ie and in the subject field state:
- FRT-No CC-47911- Framework Agreement for Legal Retainership
- Name of your company with the title of the attachment
- Number of emails that are sent e.g. 1 of 3, 2 of 3, 3 of 3.
(Proof of sending does not equal proof of receipt. GOAL is not responsible for any technical faults that may prevent reception of your email.)
All documents submitted must be in scan or PDF format. Any excel or word documents must be accompanied by a PDF or scan version of the document.
Links to share drives will not be accepted unless it is necessary due to file size. All documents submitted via links to shared drive must not be modified after the closing date and time for the receipt of offers (timestamp must clearly indicate that they haven’t been modified). Documents submitted via links to a shared drive that have been modified after the closing date and time will not be accepted.
OR
- Physical submissions delivered to:
Procurement team
6 The Maize, Off King Street Freetown between the hours 9:00am to 16:00pm from Monday to Thursday and 9:00am – 14:00pm on Friday as per the timelines given above.
The offer envelope must be labelled with your company name and the reference “Request for Offer ref. FRT-No CC-47911-Framework Agreement for Legal Retainership”
Important: Offers transmitted in any other manner or offers received after the deadline date and time will not be considered.
Submission checklist
Documents required to be submitted as response to this RFO are:
| Line | Item | How to submit | Tick attached |
| 1 | Appendix 1- Company Information | Complete, sign, stamp and submit titled ‘Company Information’. | |
| 2 | Appendix 2.1- Terms of Reference | Complete, sign, stamp and submit titled ‘Terms of Reference’. | |
| 3 | Business Registration documents Company Registration, Memorandum and Articles of Association, Power of Antoney, Tax Clearance Certificate) | Submit copies of certificate of business registration / certificate of incorporation. | |
| 4 | Letters of recommendation from at least three INGOs or corporates who have been previous clients | Submit copies of letters of recommendation from at least three INGOs or corporate companies who have been previous clients | |
| 5 | Financial Offer | Submit your financial offer in your own template and format. |
7 Evaluation Process
| Phase # | Evaluation Process Stage | The basic requirements with which proposals must comply with |
| The first phase of evaluation of the responses will determine whether the offer has been submitted in line with the administrative instructions and meets the essential criteria. Only those offers meeting the essential criteria and do not fall under any of the listed exclusion criteria will go forward to the second phase of the evaluation. | ||
| 1 | Administrative instructions |
Proposals must have met the deadline stated in section 2 of this RFO, or such revised deadline as may be notified to vendors by GOAL. Vendors must note that GOAL is prohibited from accepting any offers after that deadline.
Proposals must be delivered in the method specified in section 6 of this document. GOAL will not accept responsibility for offers delivered by any other method. Offers delivered in any other method may be rejected.
Offers must conform to the Submission of Offers format laid out in section 6 of this RFO or such revised format and structure as may be notified to Vendors by GOAL. Failure to comply with the prescribed format and structure may result in your offer being rejected at this stage.
The vendors must confirm that the period of validity of their proposal is not less than 30 (thirty) days. |
| 2 | Exclusion criteria | N/A |
| 3 | Essential Criteria | Minimum mandatory requirements of specification or contract performance.
|
| Each proposal that conforms to the Exclusion and Essential Criteria will be evaluated according to the Award Criteria given below by GOAL. | ||
| 4 | Award Criteria | Offers will be awarded marks under each of the award criteria listed in this section to determine the best value for money bids.
b) Price (35%): Indicate your best and final offer . |
| 5 | Due Diligence Checks | Successful offers will be screened in line with Anti-Terrorism and Sanction checks. GOAL will not contract with vendors who do not pass those checks as per clause 4.12 of this document. |
Appendix 1- Company Information
| Company Name | ||
| Registered address of the vendor | ||
| Year Established | ||
| Please state the name of any other persons/organisations (except your company) who will benefit from this contract (GOAL compliance matter) | ||
| Parent company | ||
| Ownership | ||
| Do you have associated companies? Tick relevant box. If YES – provide details for each company in the line below. | Yes/No | |
| Associated company details (if applicable) | ||
| If successful, do you agree to work under GOAL’s Terms and Conditions of contract (attached as Appendix 4). | Yes/No | Comments/Attachments |
| If successful, do you agree to sign the contract as per GOAL’s contract template (attached as Appendix 5) | Yes/No | Comments/Attachments |
| If successful, do you agree to abide by GOAL’s Supplier code of conduct for the delivery of goods/services/works? (attached as Appendix 6) | Yes/No | Comments/Attachments |
Note that wining vendor/s will be required to submit further information as part of supplier registration process before the finalisation of contract award.
| By submitting an offer under this Request For Offer (RFO) FRT-No CC-47911-Framework Agreement for Legal Retainership, the vendor hereby asserts that the following statements are correct at the time of submission; and further undertakes to inform GOAL of any changes in status of these matters. |
| The vendor is not bankrupt or is being wound up, neither are its affairs are being administered by the court nor has entered into an arrangement with creditors or has suspended business activities or is in any analogous situation arising from a similar procedure under national laws and regulation. The vendor is not the subject of proceedings for a declaration of bankruptcy, for an order for compulsory winding up or administration by the court or for an arrangement with creditors or of any other similar proceedings under national laws and regulations. Neither the vendor, a Director or Partner, has been convicted of an offence concerning his professional conduct by a judgement which has the force of res judicata nor been guilty of grave professional misconduct in the course of their business. The vendor has fulfilled all its obligations relating to the payment of taxes or social security contributions in Ireland or any other state or country in which the vendor is located or doing business. Neither the vendor, a Director or Partner has been found guilty of fraud, money laundering, corruption; convicted of being a member of a criminal organisation; nor of serious misrepresentation in providing information to a public buying agency The vendor has not contrived to misrepresent its Health & Safety information, Quality Assurance information, or any other information relevant to this application. That all data subjects have specifically consented to the use and storage of their data by GOAL for the purpose of analysing the offers and awarding a contract under this RFO; and further understood that the personal data may be shared internally within GOAL and externally if required by law and donor regulations; and may be stored for a period of up to 7 years from the award of contract. |
I confirm that my offer has a validity of <insert number> of days. If your offer does not have this validity, please state what the validity of your offer will be.
I confirm that the proposal and the costs provided to accompany it are an accurate reflection of the costs that will be charged to GOAL according to the information provided in this request for offer; and that there are no other costs associated with using the service that my company offers. I also confirm that I have the authority to sign on behalf of the company that is submitting this offer.
| Signed: | |||
| Print name: | Position: | ||
| Company Name: | Date: | ||
| Address: | |||
Appendix 2- Terms of reference
TERMS OF REFERENCE: SERVICE FOR A LEGAL ADVISER FOR GOAL SIERRA LEONE PROGRAM
- General Description of GOAL’s Work in Sierra Leone
GOAL has been operating in Sierra Leone since the late 1980s, initially in emergency response, with a permanent presence since 1999 response, with a permanent presence in country since 1999. GOAL operates from its main office based in Freetown, with other sub operational offices in Kenema, Kambia, Bombali, and Moyamba Districts. GOAL implements programmes in 8 of Sierra Leones 16 districts: Western Area Urban, Kambia, Kenema, Bombali, Moyamba, and hires over 165 staff across the country. Our programmes focus on the WASH and Health sectors including urban and rural WASH programmes, health system strengthening, social and behaviour change; Blue Economy and FSL; and emergency response programming.
- Objectives of the Legal Retainership Framework Agreement
The primary objectives for this agreement with a legal retainer is to provide legal guidance/advise to GOAL in order to be in compliance with the governing rules and regulations of the country. Also providing a favourable litigation in an event a court action is ignited by the client.
- Scope Of Work/Duties:
The Agreement is a statement of intent on the part of GOAL to contract the Legal Retainership service. Due to humanitarian reasons GOAL requirement for the service fluctuate considerably over the agreement period. Consequently, this framework agreement does not guarantee a level of business to the service provider.
WHEREAS GOAL SL is desirous of engaging the services of the Solicitors as its legal advisers:
Responsibilities Of The Law Firm:
3.1. Provide Legal advice as requested – 20 hour per quarter to be included in a bid with a rate for additional hours and /or specific services as appropriate.
3.2. To assist GOAL Sierra Leone in interpreting laws Policies and practice of Sierra Leone and to provide proactive updates on Legislative or Policy changes that may affect GOAL activities, stakeholders or beneficiaries with a minimum requirement of quarterly summary report on legislative and regulatory changes and development in Sierra Leonean law, in particular, those relating to the NGO/Charity sector:
3.3. Provide advice in the fulfilment of Organizational registration and renewal requirement in Sierra Leone. This will include providing advice on such requirements, when the need arise submitting documentation and liaising with relevant authorities on behalf of GOAL Sierra Leone and its necessary registration as required.
3.5. To provide an annual statement on GOAL Sierra Leone’s legal status as part of Audit requirements with necessary documentation.
3.6. Conduct Legal Review of Memorandums of Understanding, works, Services, sub grants, Human Resources/employment, Contract/Employment queries contract between GOAL and Vendors for review and advice for all contract as required.
3.7. Review Human Resource Policies and procedures for Legal Compliance and advice on standard and best practice.
3.8. Advice on all aspect of Tax requirement/Compliance, including but not limited to PAYE, NASSIT, NHI, WHT AND GST for International and National staff, together with submitting any necessary statutory returns.
3.9. Assistance with any court proceeding, threatened or actual, including court filings, advice on responses or suspense, court orders and request for information from third parties.
3.10. Negotiate and reply notice and help GOAL Sierra Leone settle issues out of court (s) where applicable.
3.11. Represent GOAL Sierra Leone before a court of Law in any Sierra Leonean legal proceeding to which GOAL Sierra Leone for cases either filed by or against GOAL as a defendant, plaintiff or third party. Deal with matters such as trials, civil suites, bails, incidental rent, appeals, revision, transfer applications.
3.12. Support due diligence checks of partners or contractors as requested
3.13. GOAL Sierra Leone shall have access to the Solicitors at all reasonable times and shall not be required to pay for consultations.
3.14. The Solicitors shall not charge extra or bill the client for any oral advice, Writing advice, or review of any document that was drafted by the client.
3.15. The Solicitors here by also undertake not act for any other party against the interest of the client during the existence of the present retainer agreement or act in any manner prejudicial to the interest of the client.
Duration:
Three (3) YEARS
