1. Project Overview

As a Team Europe Initiative (TEI) on Digital Connectivity, Connectivity for Central Asia (C4CA) programme aims to bridge the digital divide across the Central Asian region by enabling affordable satellite-based connectivity for remote and underserved communities.

The initiative promotes safe and inclusive access to digital services, particularly benefiting women, youth, and other marginalised groups.

Launched in January 2025 with a total budget of 20 million EUR, C4CA programme seeks to achieve the following specific objectives:

• SO1: Foster the development and use of ICT connectivity through the development of policies and regulations, designed and validated in a multi-stakeholder approach.
• SO2: Improve transparent and inclusive access to public and private connectivity services, focusing on rural areas, gender equality and marginalised right-holders.
• SO3: Promote the use of satellite-enabled technologies to foster local digital innovation and tackle local challenges.
• SO4: Build cybersecurity capacity and awareness among stakeholders and establish comprehensive cybersecurity frameworks.

The programme is funded by the European Commission, and HAUS Finnish Institute of Public Management is implementing activities under SO1 and SO2.

As part of the SO2, HAUS is now launching a procurement for a feasibility study providing an assessment of market gaps, market and investment opportunities, and potential investors and projects to support operators and project developers in delivering last-mile connectivity in Central Asia.

The study will provide evidence and recommendations to inform national governments, regional stakeholders, and financing partners, contributing to an enabling environment for sustainable digital infrastructure development. Its findings will directly support the next steps under the C4CA activities under SO2, including:

• the development of a regional Public–Private Partnership (PPP) model,
• the selection of pilot projects for targeted technical assistance, and
• investor roundtables with development finance institutions and EU and Central Asian stakeholders.

The countries included in the feasibility study consist of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

2. Objectives and scope of work

The overarching objective of the feasibility study is to strengthen the enabling environment and capacity of operators and project developers to deliver last-mile connectivity.

The study will build upon and consolidate insights from previous assessments on digital infrastructure and connectivity in Central Asia (including country assessments for Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan conducted under SO1, with their tables of contents annexed to this ToR) and liaise with other partners of the C4CA programme as well as with the Digital Connectivity Hard Pillar regional project in Central Asia led by SES Satellites and the European Investment Bank.

By drawing on these existing analyses and partnerships, the study will identify concrete, actionable business opportunities and investment models in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

It will analyse infrastructure gaps, market demand, and regulatory conditions, and propose business cases that can inform future pilot projects and investment decisions.

The specific objectives of the study are:

• Conduct a gap analysis and synthesis based on available assessments, reports, and other relevant data, focusing on the policy, regulatory, and financing environment that influences last-mile connectivity deployment. The analysis should summarise and highlight the most relevant findings for decision-making and next steps, identifying institutional barriers, coordination challenges, and enabling conditions needed to attract sustainable investment and support the development of public–private partnerships.

• Assess market demand and investment opportunities to provide clear, practical information for potential investors and financing partners. The study will highlight where connectivity needs and business potential are highest, identify viable financing and partnership models, and outline country-specific opportunities that could attract funding and support sustainable digital infrastructure development. The work will also involve consultations with key public and private stakeholders — such as ministries of digital development, regulators, and operators — and draw on European networks and partnerships to identify potential investors and companies for future collaboration.
• Identify potential pilot projects or investment concepts (approx. 1-3 identified pilots/concepts per country) that demonstrate scalable and replicable approaches for last-mile connectivity. These pilots will form the basis for targeted technical assistance and serve as concrete opportunities for engagement with investors, development finance institutions, and regional stakeholders.

The study should take into account gender and inclusion considerations where relevant, particularly in analysing connectivity demand, affordability, and accessibility in underserved areas. This will help ensure that proposed solutions and pilot concepts respond to the needs of diverse user groups.

The contractor is expected to produce a comprehensive feasibility report summarizing the findings based on the data available of each country and highlighting country-specific business opportunities, potential investment cases and partnership models that can inform the subsequent project activities.

3. Deliverables and Methodology

The contractor will deliver the following outputs:

• Desk Research, Inception Report and Methodology: The concept shall provide a clear picture of how the contractor intends to structure the Feasibility Study and which data and sources are used as a basis. Furthermore, the contractor shall describe the research methods (desk research, on-site research, data gathering, etc.), timeline, logistics and potential missions to selected countries. The desk research should summarize the previous assessments and act as the base for identifying gaps and shaping subsequent study. It should also specify which information gaps will be addressed through primary data collection and how this will be done. The concept shall aim to create a unified research approach that ensures comprehensiveness and comparability throughout the full duration of the assignment.
• Feasibility Study Draft Report: Draft version of the study, following a consistent methodology and format and including draft country findings with preliminary investment opportunities and pilot concepts.
• Feasibility Study Final Report: One comprehensive study, following a consistent methodology and format, covering the aspects outlined in Objectives. The report will be delivered electronically in a specified format (e.g., PDF, Word). Relevant supporting materials (e.g., interview summaries, structured data tables, and country annexes) shall be included as part of the final delivery.

All deliverables must be submitted in English.

The study shall combine secondary and primary research methods:

• Secondary research: review of reports, statistics, policy documents, and existing assessments.
• Primary research: stakeholder interviews, including with investors and financing partners, and targeted consultations with relevant public and private actors. At least one mission to the Central Asian region is highly recommended to conduct interviews and validate findings, with travel costs included in the budget. If a mission is not included in the proposal, the tenderer must provide a clear justification and outline an alternative, feasible data-collection method.

The methodology should clearly outline the work steps, milestones, and data sources to ensure comprehensiveness and comparability across all five countries.

4. Expert Resourcing and Requirements of the Tenderer

The contractor must propose a qualified expert team with:

• Relevant experience in ICT/telecom sector research and connectivity studies.
• Relevant experience in market and investment analysis
• Demonstrated experience in Central Asia or comparable regions.
• Strong analytical and report-writing skills in English

Minimum requirements of the tenderer are:

• Offer submitted on time – Yes/No
  The proposal has been submitted before the stated deadline.
• Completeness of submission – Yes/No
  All required documents are included (technical proposal, financial proposal, CVs, and references).
• Minimum experience requirement met – Yes/No
  The tenderer has at least three (3) comparable assignments completed within the last five years.
• Key experts meet minimum criteria – Yes/No
  The proposed experts have relevant experience

The team leader will hold overall responsibility for quality, deadlines, and stakeholder coordination. CVs of key experts must be included in the tender.

To verify the supplier’s legal registration and operational status, the chosen Supplier shall provide the following documents together with the signed contract:

• Certificate of Company Registration – issued by the competent authority in the country of establishment (e.g. company registry or Ministry of Law and Human Rights).
• Tax Identification Certificate (e.g. NPWP) – confirming that the company is officially registered for taxation purposes.
• Declaration of Availability of key experts.
• Signing of HAUS Supplier Code of Conduct and Data Protection Addendum.
• Proof of financial and legal standing (risk classification or equivalent). The tenderer’s financial situation must be such that, according to Suomen Asiakastieto Oy’s rating classification, it is at least “satisfactory A,” or its risk class is between 1–3, or it is considered equivalent based on financial statements or other similar evidence.

 

5. Timeline and Payment Schedule

• Implementation period: December 2025 – April 2026
• Inception report: within 2 weeks of contract signing
• Draft report: during Q1/2026
• Final report: by end of April 2026

Payment schedule will be linked to deliverables:

• Inception report – 20%
• Draft report – 30%
• Final report – 50%

 

6. Budget

The maximum available total budget is set at EUR 59,000 (including travel expenses to the region). At least one trip to region is strongly recommended, but if not possible, the tenderer must outline other reliable means of data collection in their proposal.

7. Evaluation

Tenders will be evaluated based on cost (20%) and quality (80%) on the following basis (maximum points 100). Quality criteria (max. 80 points):

Criteria	Description	Max Points
1. Quality and Relevance	The proposal demonstrates a strong understanding of the objectives, scope, and context of the assignment and presents a clear plan of conducting the feasibility study. The methodological approach is logical and well-structured, and the proposal integrates cross-cutting considerations such as gender equality, inclusion, and a human rights–based approach. Scoring is based on the technical proposal and work plan.	20
2. Completeness and Feasibility	The proposal includes realistic and clear timeline with the objectives and scope of the study. Deliverables and responsibilities are clearly defined, and the allocation of resources corresponds to the complexity of the tasks. The scoring is based on the technical proposal and work plan.	20
3. Contextual Understanding	Proven experience in conducting similar studies (e.g., ICT, broadband, or connectivity assessments) and regional experience in Central Asia or comparable contexts. The scoring is based on the proposal and three relevant examples of previous assignments.	20
4. Expertise and Qualifications	The proposed team’s qualifications and experience are well-matched to the assignment’s requirements, key experts demonstrate proven experience in the subject matter and have experience of working in Central Asia or comparable contexts. Scoring is based on the CVs of proposed experts.	20
Total Technical Score		80

 

Each of the above four criteria will be scored on a qualitative scale from 0 to 20, with corresponding point ranges applied per each criterion. The explanation of the point range is found in Annex I: Scoring criteria.

Financial criteria (max. 20 points):

• Financial proposal including daily rate, total estimated days and the total budget, incl. travel (= comparison price).
• Lowest comparison price receives 20 points.
• Rest of the proposals will be awarded using an inverse proportional formula based on the lowest comparison price: Price score = (Lowest comparison price / Supplier’s comparison price) x 20

The contract will be awarded to the bidder with the highest total score, provided that the quality score is at least 50 out of 80.

The opening and evaluation of the tenders shall be carried out by the project experts.

8. Application Process

Interested tenderers should submit a proposal for this assignment by 30 November, 2025, at 23:59 (EET/UTC +2). Proposals should be sent via email to C4CAprocurement@haus.fi.

Interested consultants should submit a technical and financial proposal including:

1. Updated CV(s) of proposed expert(s) (maximum 5 pages per CV), clearly outlining relevant qualifications and experience.
2. Technical proposal and work plan, describing the consultant’s understanding of the assignment, proposed methodology, key tasks, and indicative timeline.
3. Financial proposal, specifying the daily rate, estimated number of working days, and total budget including travel and other expenses.
4. Three relevant examples of previous assignments, preferably in the field of digital connectivity, ICT, or infrastructure feasibility studies, including a brief description of each assignment and the consultant’s role, as well as the name, organization, and contact details of references who can confirm the consultant’s performance.

 

Questions during the Procurement

During the procurement process, all interested parties are encouraged to submit any questions or clarifications regarding the procurement process via email address C4CAprocurement@haus.fi. The question period will remain open until 21 November 2025. Please ensure that all inquiries are submitted within the specified timeframe to allow for a timely response.

Annexes

Annex I: Scoring criteria

Annex II: Table of contents of previous assessments