CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE SECOND EDITION

About the Specialized Academic Network for Technical Cooperation of the IACHR

The IACHR, in advancing its Strategic Plan 2017–2021, which will be in effect until the publication of its new Strategic Plan 2023–2027, has decided to issue a call for proposals for the second edition of the Specialized Academic Network for Technical Cooperation (hereinafter, the "Academic Network" or "Network"). The purpose of the Network is to strengthen ties and cooperation partnerships between the Executive Secretariat of the IACHR and academic institutions throughout the region and to contribute to the dissemination of the standards and principles of the Inter-American Human Rights System (IAHRS).

Object of the call for proposals

The Executive Secretariat of the IACHR invites Universities and Academic Centers specializing in human rights (hereinafter, "Academic Institutions") to submit proposals for studies, research, and other activities in response to this call for proposals for the second edition of the Specialized Academic Network for Technical Cooperation with the IACHR, intended to provide technical support for the work of its thematic rapporteurships and special rapporteurships, as well as with the Recommendations and Impact Monitoring Section and the Promotion, Training and Technical Cooperation Section of its Executive Secretariat.

The Specialized Academic Network for Technical Cooperation seeks to build closer ties with universities in the countries of the Americas, so that they can contribute to studies, research and other joint activities with the Executive Secretariat of the IACHR to deepen knowledge and generate information for the promotion and protection of human rights in the region. The Network also seeks to support the IACHR in the implementation of Program No. 5 of Strategic Objective No. 2 of the Strategic Plan, which aims to enhance the scope and impact of the activities of the Commission in monitoring human rights in countries under a thematic approach by linking its various functions and mechanisms. A further aim is to generate inputs to support Special Program 21, which monitors IACHR recommendations.

The new edition of the Academic Network takes up the objectives established in the 2017–2021 Strategic Plan, which will remain in effect until the new Strategic Plan (2023–2027) is approved. On this occasion, too, it aims to link the work of Academic Institutions with strategic objectives envisaged in the IACHR Annual Operational Plan for 2022, and in some cases also for 2023.

The proposals for studies, research, and/or activities from the selected Academic Institutions will, on the one hand, provide input to the IACHR and, on the other, contribute to the dissemination of the standards and principles of the IAHRS on different issues, thus helping the Commission to fulfill its mandate of advancing and protecting human rights. In that regard, the IACHR has selected specific themes and outputs to meet these objectives, which are the focus of this call for proposals. In addition, the IACHR has identified a number of relevant issues for strengthening the human rights protection work it carries out in the Caribbean region, which falls under Program 5 of its current Strategic Plan (2017-2021).

Proposals submitted by Academic Institutions in response to this call for proposals must be based only on the topics and outputs described in Annex 1.

Instructions for submitting proposals

The eligibility criteria of the Academic Institutions and the minimum requirements for their proposals to be included in the Academic Network are described in Annex 2, which is an integral part of the call for proposals.

Proposing Academic Institutions may choose one or more topics, in accordance with their area of interest and the academic work that they and their experts carry out. In the event that an Academic Institution wishes to participate in more than one topic, they should submit separate applications, completing one form per topic, in order to facilitate the selection process by the Executive Secretariat.

An Academic Institution may submit a proposal either independently or jointly, confirming joint and several responsibilities. Therefore, working proposals submitted by one or more Academic Institutions acting as a consortium will be accepted. It should be clarified that Academic Institutions submitting joint proposals may belong to different countries or geographical areas. Without prejudice to joint and several liability, consortium proposals must indicate which consortium members will act as representative of the consortium and as focal point both in the selection process and in the cooperation relationship, if their proposal is selected. In addition, another Academic Institution should be established as alternate, in case the lead institution is unable to perform its functions.

The Academic Institutions must submit the following with their proposal:

• Registration form that meets the requirements contained in Annex 2 which is an integral part of the call for proposals.
• Statement of Acceptance of the Model Agreement of the Specialized Academic Network for Technical Cooperation of the IACHR using the format contained in Annex 3 which is an integral part of the call for proposals.

Conditions of participation

By submitting a proposal in response to this call for proposals, the Academic Institution declares and gives express assurance to the Executive Secretariat of the IACHR that:

• It knows and accepts the terms and conditions of this call for proposal and the terms and conditions governing the selection process. This includes being fully familiar with the technical and contractual specifications contained in this call for proposals and its annexes, with the result that the proposing Academic Institution accepts responsibility, is prepared to execute the study, research and/or activity contained in its proposal, and will perform all the obligations described in the Agreement of the Specialized Academic Network for Technical Cooperation of the IACHR (hereinafter, the Network Agreement) concluded with the Executive Secretariat of the IACHR, the model for which is contained in Annex 4 which is an integral part of the call for proposals.
• All information it submits in this selection process is reliable and trustworthy; therefore, it takes full responsibility for any errors with respect to its proposal.
• It is aware that its proposal does not create any right or expectation of an agreement or contract with the Executive Secretariat of the IACHR or the General Secretariat of the OAS.
• It will assume any and all costs or expenses associated with or incurred in the formulation or development of a proposal in response to this call for proposals and agrees that the cost of any amendment of the proposal or of the terms of the Agreement with the Executive Secretariat of the IACHR based on the Academic Institution's error in the information it has provided with its proposal shall be borne solely by the Academic Institution.
• It will be responsible for any improper or incorrect use of data collected or information disclosed to the proposing Academic Institution by the Executive Secretariat of the IACHR during the selection process and any exchanges or negotiations between the IACHR Executive Secretariat and the Academic Institution regarding its proposal.
• It will assume all costs and expenses necessary for the development and implementation of its proposal if selected. In this regard, it understands and accepts that neither the Executive Secretariat of the IACHR nor the General Secretariat of the OAS will be responsible for providing funds.

Evaluation of applications

Proposals will be admitted for evaluation only if they comply with the mandatory basic requirements set forth in this call for proposals, particularly in Annex 2. Once admitted, the Executive Secretariat of the IACHR will analyze and grade the proposals.

During the evaluation, the IACHR Executive Secretariat may choose to have written or oral discussions and/or negotiations on the terms and conditions of the proposal (such as deliverables and work schedule) with some of the proposing Academic Institutions. During the negotiations, the Executive Secretariat of the IACHR may request the proposing Academic Institutions to revise or modify their proposals.

The Executive Secretariat of the IACHR reserves the right to reject any and all proposals.

Selection of winning proposals

After evaluating the proposals, the IACHR Executive Secretariat will notify the selected Academic Institutions in writing and publish the results of the call for proposals in a press release on the IACHR website.

Neither the aforementioned notification nor the publication should be construed as an agreement or contract with the Executive Secretariat of the IACHR or with the General Secretariat of the OAS. To be part of the Academic Network, it is an indispensable condition that the selected Academic Institution accept the terms and conditions of the Network Agreement and that it is signed by the duly authorized representatives of both parties.

About the Agreement of the Specialized Academic Network for Technical Cooperation of the IACHR

The Model Network Agreement (Annex 4) contains the terms and conditions governing the cooperation relationship between the selected Academic Institution and the Executive Secretariat of the IACHR for the development and implementation of the winning proposal.

Academic Institutions should be aware that the IACHR Executive Secretariat will not accept any changes to the Model Network Agreement after the selection of the Academic Institution. Once notified of its selection, the Academic Institution shall be bound by the terms and conditions of said Agreement, as set forth in Annex 4 of this call for proposals.

Likewise, they should keep in mind that the selection of any Academic Institution that proposes changes to the Model Network Agreement should not be construed as an acceptance of such changes. At all times, the IACHR Executive Secretariat reserves the right to accept or reject any change in the language of the Network Agreement that the selected Academic Institution proposes or requests.

The Network Agreement will be drafted by the IACHR Executive Secretariat based on the Model Agreement (Annex 4), the winning proposal, and such dialogue as may have taken place between the specialists of the rapporteurships and sections of the IACHR Executive Secretariat and the selected Academic Institution. The Executive Secretariat of the IACHR reserves the right to open such a dialogue should it deem it necessary to come to an agreement with the selected Academic Institution on details concerning the implementation of the winning proposal.

General terms and conditions

Nothing in call for proposals constitutes an express or implied waiver of the privileges and immunities of the OAS, its organs, their personnel, and their assets, in accordance with the OAS Charter, relevant agreements, applicable national law, or general principles and practices of international law.

The Academic Institutions participating in this selection process shall not be entitled to any of the exemptions, privileges, or immunities of the OAS General Secretariat as an international organization of a public nature.

Timeline of the selection process

Opening of the call for proposals	April 8, 2022
Close of the call for proposals	May 8, 2022
Finalization of the selection process	May 22, 2022
Announcement of the Academic Institutions selected	May 27, 2022
Period of negotiation with Academic Institutions	May 30 – June 10, 2022
Network start date	June 13, 2022
Network end date	June 16, 2023

Annexes

• Annex 1 - Information on the topics and outputs on which proposals can be submitted in the second edition of the Academic Network
• Annex 2 - Eligibility criteria for Academic Institutions and the minimum requirements for their proposals for the new edition of the Academic Network,
• Annex 3 - Statement of Acceptance of the Model Agreement of the Specialized Academic Network for Technical Cooperation of the IACHR
• Annex 4 – Template Agreement of the Specialized Academic Network for Technical Cooperation of the IACHR
• Access the registration form