Service Provider for the Administration of Cognitive Ability Tests for the Selection of the Administrative and Prosecutorial Positions in the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO)

1. General background

The EU Anti-Corruption Initiative in Ukraine (EUACI) is the European Union’s technical support programme in the area of anti-corruption in Ukraine, financed by the European Union, the United Kingdom International Development, and co-financed and implemented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. Its overall objective is to achieve significant progress in preventing and combating corruption, ensure coherent and systemic anti-corruption action by state and local self-government bodies, and empower civil society and citizens to contribute to anti-corruption efforts and Ukraine’s recovery. The programme runs until April 2027.

One of the key beneficiaries of the EUACI is the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). Established in 2015 and reconstituted as a separate legal entity in 2024, SAPO is a prosecutorial agency with a primary mandate to prosecute top-level corruption, including criminal offences committed by senior public and local officials and cases that threaten national security. The Law “On the Prosecution Service” determines SAPO’s status, mandate, powers, and organization, while the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine defines its investigative jurisdiction.

Under Article 29-1 of the Law of Ukraine ‘On the Prosecutor’s Office’, the competition for the positions of Head, First Deputy Head and Deputy Head of SAPO is conducted by a six-member Selection Commission. Three members are appointed by the Prosecutor General on the proposal of the Council of Prosecutors of Ukraine, and three are appointed on the proposal of qualifying international and foreign organisations. SAPO prosecutors are appointed through a separate competition, which is conducted by Selection Commission consisting of six members: three appointed by the Head of SAPO and three appointed by the Head of SAPO from among candidates nominated by international and foreign organisations that provide Ukraine with technical assistance in preventing and combating corruption under international or intergovernmental agreements.

Cognitive ability testing is used across these competitions as one of the stages for assessing candidates and eliminating those who do not meet the minimum threshold. This assignment covers three such competitions, described below.

1) Deputy Head of SAPO

Following the vacancy in the position of Deputy Head of SAPO, the Selection Commission adopted the document governing the rules and stages of the competition on 19 March 2026 and officially opened the application period. Under the approved framework, cognitive ability testing constitutes an eliminatory stage: based on the test results, up to 30 highest-performing candidates will be admitted to the subsequent stage of the competition.

2) SAPO prosecutors

During January–February 2026, the SAPO Selection Commission, supported by the EUACI, successfully completed the final interview stage for candidates competing for 19 vacant prosecutorial positions, resulting in the appointment of 7 new prosecutors. A new competition to fill 10 vacant positions is expected in October–November 2026. In the previous competition, SAPO received 260 applications, of which 108 candidates proceeded to general cognitive skills testing — covering verbal, numerical and abstract-logical reasoning — and 55 candidates successfully passed the threshold. For the upcoming competition, no more than 200 candidates are expected to sit the general cognitive testing.

3) Head of SAPO

The future selection process for the Head of SAPO is expected to commence in early 2027, as the mandate of the incumbent Head of SAPO runs until July 2027. This process is also expected to require professionally administered cognitive ability testing. Based on the 2021 competition, no more than 150 candidates are expected to advance to general skills testing.

Taken together, these three competitions are expected to generate a combined total of up to 500 candidates requiring cognitive ability testing between the second half of 2026 and mid-2027. Engaging a single qualified service provider under one contract ensures the timely availability of validated methodology, platform and trained personnel; promotes consistency and comparability of results across competitions; and avoids the administrative burden of running a separate procurement procedure for each selection process.

Article 29-1 permits the financing and logistical support of the Selection Commissions and their Secretariat through international technical assistance. The EUACI therefore intends to engage a specialised service provider to support the Selection Commissions in administering cognitive ability testing across all three competitions described above — for the Deputy Head, for SAPO prosecutors, and for the Head of SAPO.

2. Objective of the assignment

The objective is to engage an experienced service provider to administer and technically support secure, standardised and anonymous computer-based cognitive ability testing for up to 500 candidates in total, admitted by the relevant Selection Commission to the testing stage across the three SAPO selection processes described in Section 1 (Deputy Head of SAPO, SAPO prosecutors, and Head of SAPO) within the contract period.

The testing must produce reliable, comparable and auditable results while protecting test content, candidate data and the integrity of each selection process. The exact number of candidates and the testing date for each competition will be confirmed by the respective Selection Commission after completion of the preceding competition stages.

3. Scope of work

The service provider shall perform the following tasks in respect of each of the three competitions covered by this assignment:

1. Provide a validated Ukrainian-language cognitive ability assessment suitable for high-stakes professional selection and capable of measuring verbal reasoning, abstract-logical reasoning and mathematical reasoning.
2. Apply, consistently across all three competitions, a three-block structure comprising 30 verbal-reasoning questions, 30 abstract-logical-reasoning questions and 30 mathematical-reasoning questions for each candidate. The indicative time limits are 8 minutes, 20 minutes and 20 minutes respectively, subject to confirmation with the relevant Selection Commission before each testing session.
3. Generate unique candidate test forms. Where adaptive testing is used, explain the item-selection and score-equating methodology and demonstrate comparability. Where fixed forms are used, ensure equivalent content coverage and difficulty.
4. Operate an automated standardised scoring system, applying the same validated scale across all three competitions to ensure comparability of results over time. Results should be presented on the provider’s validated scale, including the 55–145 scale where applicable, with a clear explanation of score interpretation, reliability and comparability.
5. Provide the relevant Selection Commission, before each testing session and before access to individual results, with the methodological information reasonably required to determine the passing threshold and interpret the scores.
6. Deliver anonymous computer-based testing through a secure local environment without access to the Internet, external applications, electronic devices or additional materials, except for any reasonable accommodation expressly approved by the relevant Selection Commission.
7. Provide and maintain the testing platform, item database, servers, licences and technical configuration necessary for the assignment.
8. Integrate these components with the workstations or other equipment provided or procured by the EUACI or another authorised party.
9. Conduct a full technical dry run before each of the testing sessions described in Section 8, including verification of devices, local network, user accounts, candidate identifiers, timing, automated scoring, backup procedures and export of results.
10. Provide one testing coordinator, appropriate technical support and three to five trained test administrators per session, depending on the number of candidates and room configuration.
11. Brief candidates consistently on the testing rules, sequence, time limits, permitted conduct, technical-support arrangements and consequences of non-compliance.
12. Administer and invigilate each test, maintain room discipline, monitor the testing environment and resolve technical issues promptly without compromising anonymity or equal treatment.
13. Process results in real time or immediately after each session and securely provide candidate-level score sheets, summary results and relevant information directly to the relevant Selection Commission.
14. Maintain audit logs sufficient to verify candidate authentication, test start and finish times, interruptions, question delivery, scoring and any authorised intervention, without unnecessarily disclosing protected test items.
15. Provide prompt written technical clarifications and supporting records in connection with candidate complaints or Commission review, for up to 60 calendar days after publication of the results of each competition.

The service provider shall not be responsible for supplying the testing premises, furniture, candidate workstations, local network equipment, interpretation services or security arrangements unless expressly included in the contract. The EUACI or another authorised party will provide or procure these inputs based on the technical specifications supplied by the service provider.

4. Team composition and organisation

The service provider shall propose a team sufficient to deliver 500 tests safely and within the agreed timetable. At a minimum, the team shall include:

• one Project Coordinator / Senior Assessment Specialist responsible for methodology, coordination with the EUACI and the Selection Commission, quality assurance and consolidated delivery;
• one Technical Specialist responsible for platform configuration, security, dry runs, troubleshooting, audit logs and results export; and
• a pool of three to six trained Test Administrators responsible for venue preparation, candidate briefing, monitoring, incident recording and closure of the testing session.

The Project Coordinator may also perform the role of Technical Specialist where the proposed individual demonstrably meets both sets of requirements. The service provider remains fully responsible for staff training, consistency of administration, confidentiality and replacement of unavailable personnel.

5. Confidentiality, integrity and data protection

The test database, scoring methodology, candidate information, results and audit records are confidential and security sensitive. The service provider shall:

• limit access to authorised personnel on a need-to-know basis and maintain an up-to-date access list;
• use the materials solely for this assignment and not copy, publish, transmit or store them in unauthorised systems, cloud services, devices or personal repositories;
• immediately notify the EUACI and the Selection Commission of any actual or suspected loss, disclosure, unauthorised access, system compromise or scoring error;

The service provider may protect proprietary test items, algorithms and commercially sensitive methodology. However, this shall not prevent the Selection Commission from receiving sufficient methodological information, candidate results, audit records and technical explanations to make and defend its decisions. The EUACI and/or the Selection Commission may request replacement of personnel where a conflict of interest, confidentiality risk, security concern or insufficient performance is identified.

6. Deliverables

1. Testing methodology briefing. A written note and online briefing for each relevant Selection Commission explaining the three test blocks, standardisation, score scale, comparability, reliability and matters relevant to setting the passing threshold, provided before the first testing session and updated as necessary before each subsequent session.
2. Administered cognitive tests. Secure and standardised administration of the cognitive ability test to every candidate appearing for the relevant stage, delivered as up to three discrete testing sessions — for the Deputy Head of SAPO competition, the SAPO prosecutorial competition, and the Head of SAPO competition — in accordance with the indicative timetable in Section 8, including staffing, candidate briefing, invigilation, technical support and incident management for each session.
3. Candidate results package. Individual score sheets, a consolidated results table and relevant audit records for each competition, securely delivered directly to the relevant Selection Commission immediately after the corresponding testing session or within the timeframe agreed in the inception note.
4. Session incident report, if applicable. A factual report on any technical, procedural or security incident that could affect a candidate or the validity of results, submitted on the day of the relevant testing session and supplemented as necessary.
5. Final consolidated implementation report. A report in English of no more than five pages, covering all testing sessions delivered under the contract and describing, for each: the testing date and venue, number of scheduled and tested candidates, services delivered, staff deployed, technical performance, incidents, data transferred to the relevant Selection Commission, and completion of confidentiality obligations. Candidate-level scores shall not be included unless expressly authorised by the relevant Selection Commission.
6. Complaint-support note(s). Technical clarification and relevant audit extracts requested by a Selection Commission in connection with complaints or review of results, during the 60-calendar-day support period following each competition.

7. Required qualifications and experience

The service provider may be a legal entity or consortium represented by a lead contractor that assumes full contractual responsibility. Minimum requirements are:

1. at least five years of demonstrated organisational experience in the development, validation or administration of cognitive, psychometric or general-skills assessments;
2. a validated Ukrainian-language cognitive ability instrument covering verbal, abstract-logical and mathematical reasoning;
3. experience administering secure computer-based assessments for at least 1000 participants in total, including high-stakes recruitment, certification, competitive selection or personnel assessment;
4. a Project Coordinator with an  university degree in psychology, psychometrics, assessment, statistics, human resources or another relevant field and at least five years of relevant professional experience;
5. a Technical Specialist with at least three years of experience supporting secure testing platforms, databases, local networks or equivalent assessment technology;
6. demonstrated data-security, confidentiality, incident-management and business-continuity arrangements;
7. excellent Ukrainian-language capacity within the delivery team and sufficient English for reporting and coordination; and
8. independence and absence of actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest.
9. The following will be considered an advantage:
10. experience supporting competitive selections for prosecutors, judges, senior civil servants or anti-corruption institutions in Ukraine;
11. experience administering assessments through secure offline or local-network environments;
12. experience working with international technical assistance programmes or public institutions in Ukraine.

8. Budget, contract type, timeframe and location

Maximum available budget: EUR 23,000. The EUACI may provide the documentation required to apply the programme’s VAT exemption, where applicable.

The contract will be a fixed-price service contract covering all professional fees, platform and database use, personnel, preparation, testing administration, technical support, reporting. The financial offer shall provide a transparent breakdown while remaining within the maximum contract value.

The contract is expected to run from September 2026 to June 2027. The principal testing session is anticipated in October–November 2026 and in May 2027, but the exact date will be determined by the Selection Commission(s) based on progress of the preceding competition stages. The contractor shall maintain reasonable flexibility for rescheduling caused by security alerts, air raids, power interruptions or changes in the competition timetable.

The contract will be a fixed-price service contract covering all professional fees, platform and database use, personnel, preparation, testing administration, technical support and reporting across all three competitions described in Section 1. The financial offer shall provide a transparent breakdown while remaining within the maximum contract value.

Testing will take place in Kyiv at a venue designated by the EUACI or the Selection Commission(s). The venue is expected to include access to an appropriate shelter. The service provider shall participate in advance technical inspection of the venue and confirm whether the proposed room, workstations, local network and power arrangements meet its specifications.

Payment will be made against an invoice following acceptance of all contractual deliverables by the EUACI in consultation with the Selection Commission. Payment shall not exceed the maximum contract value.

9. Reporting and management

The service provider will report contractually to EUACI and coordinate operationally with the Secretariat of the Selection Commission. The service provider shall attend online coordination meetings as reasonably required and promptly flag any risk to timing, security, equal treatment or validity of results.

Candidate-level scores and individual testing records shall be delivered directly and securely to the Selection Commission. EUACI will verify performance of the contracted tasks, including the testing date, number of tests administered, staffing, technical support and reports provided, but will not handle individual candidate performance data unless required for contract administration and expressly authorised by the Selection Commission.

By signing the contract, the service provider agrees to hold in trust and confidence all information and documents disclosed, discovered or prepared in connection with the assignment; to use them only for contract implementation; not to disclose them to third parties; and not to retain copies beyond the authorised retention period.

10. How to apply

The deadline for submitting proposals is the end of the day on 18 September 2026.

Interested service providers shall submit:

1. a technical proposal of no more than four pages describing the proposed methodology, test architecture, scoring model, security arrangements, implementation plan, staffing and contingency measures;
2. a company or consortium profile demonstrating relevant organisational experience and at least two comparable assignments;
3. CVs of the proposed Project Coordinator and Technical Specialist, not exceeding three pages each, and short profiles of the proposed test administrators;
4. a financial offer in EUR for 500 tests, with the possibility to test 100 people per day. including a cost for test, for technical server support and supporting personnel.

Proposals shall be submitted to [email protected] with a copy to [email protected] with cc to [email protected] , indicating the subject line: Cognitive testing – SAPO selections. The bidding language is English.

Clarification questions shall be addressed to [email protected] no later than 15 August 2026 at 17:00 Kyiv time.

EUACI reserves the right to request clarifications, verify references, reject any or all proposals, cancel the procurement, or negotiate reasonable adjustments to the scope without increasing the maximum budget. Late or materially incomplete proposals may be rejected.

11. Evaluation criteria