request for proposal - unicef · request for proposal: abuja/2016/pme/001 request for proposal...

United Nations Children’s Fund Telephone 234-9 4618538

UN House, 3rd Floor Facsimile 234-9 461 8578

Central Area, Diplomatic Zone www.unicef.org

Abuja

Date Issued: 31st March, 2016

Request for Proposal:

Abuja/2016/PME/001

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN’S FUND (UNICEF) seeks to a Long Term Agreement (LTA) with one or

more Institutions that would be interested in providing quality review and assurance of key

deliverables in the Nigeria Country Office (NCO) Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (IMEP)

approved researches, evaluations, and surveys

Technical and Financial proposals should forwarded to UNICEF Nigeria supply section (hard copies

only) in sealed envelopes and should be dropped in the bid box placed in the reception room at the

entrance hall of UNICEF, or be sent through courier service to: Supply Manager, UNICEF Abuja,

Old CBN Building, Area 11, Garki, Abuja.

IMPORTANT – ESSENTIAL INFORMATION

The reference RFP 9124599 - 2016/PME/001 must be shown on your offer.

The proposal form must be used when replying to this invitation. Failure to submit your bid in the

attached proposal form, or failure to complete the details as requested, will result in invalidation.

Offers MUST be received on or before 14:00hours Nigeria local time on 5th May, 2016 and will

be publicly opened at 14:30hours Nigeria local time same day. Proposals received after the

stipulated date and time will be invalidated.

Please visit our website www.unicef.org and download our supplier profile form (SPF) and fill same

with necessary information to evaluate you

This request for proposal is approved by:

Matloob Malik

Chief, Supply & Logistics Section

http://www.unicef.org/

http://www.unicef.org/

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Background

UNICEF is the agency of the United Nations mandated to advocate for the protection of children's

rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.

Guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child UNICEF strives to establish children's rights as

international standards of behaviour towards children. UNICEF's role is to mobilize political support

and material resources to help countries ensure a "first call for children". UNICEF is committed to

ensuring equity and special protection for the most disadvantaged children. Monitoring and Evaluation

(M&E) are critical components of programme preparation, implementation, and generating evidence

about whether or not the program is working, and to feed the evidences based advocacy activities.

To underpin its programs, policy and advocacy work, UNICEF Nigeria invests substantially in

conducting as well as commissioning research, studies, surveys, and evaluations. In 2015-16

Nigeria IMEP value was above USD $11 M. A solid quality assurance (QA) system for

research, studies, surveys, and evaluations is critical to UNICEF’s mandate for enhancing our

reputation as a knowledge leader on children; ensuring scarce resources are not wasted; and

protecting the children, women, and others who participate in our research, and whose lives are

affected by its outcomes.

Purpose

UNICEF Nigeria seek to have a Long Term Agreement (LTA) with one or more Institutions/Firms

that would be interested in providing quality assurance of key deliverables of the Nigeria Country

Office (NCO) Integrated Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (IMEP) for the approved research,

evaluation studies, and surveys. The key deliverables are: TORs, Survey Plans, Evaluation Plan &

strategy, inception reports describing the approach and methodology, Draft Final report.

The IMEP items (Key Researches, Studies Evaluation and Surveys) are delimited with timelines and

prioritized using the UNICEF Guidance on the Prioritization of Major Evaluation at the Decentralized

Level. The CO has an IMEP committee tasked to discuss and propose an order of priority for Country

Management Team (CMT) consideration, reviewing which activities should be prioritized based on:

1- The most critical information needs;

2- Relative importance of the planned budget for the activity;

3- Long period without being evaluated or lack of knowledge about an issue;

4- If in a context of emergency response;

5- Which decision that needs to be taken;

6- Accountability and reporting purpose especially given scarce resources;

7- Coherence and integrating across programmes and sectors wherever feasible to reduce costs

and increase opportunities;

8- Planned realistically in terms of timing of activities given end use, practical implementation

requirements and capacities of proposed partners to conduct the activities.

In addition, the IMEP has a knowledge management function and it supports organization-wide

understanding of the functions of research and evaluation; improved accessibility to knowledge

products in databases and other management performance information systems; and improved quality

assurance efforts across UNICEF and partners.

Once completed, the IMEP serves as management tool that indicates how and when the country

programme will get the critical information needed for results-based management in a timely manner.

It is thus important to timely quality review the items and deliverables associated with the IMEP, and

to ensure that quality of research, studies, evaluation, and surveys. Because of the potential use and

effect on advocacy and policy making and programming, it is primordial that the research & studies,

and evaluation studies supported by UNICEF are of highest quality.

The work to be undertaken under the LTA is to be guided by the five following principles*:

Principle 1: UNICEF is accountable for the quality of its research, evaluation and surveys

UNICEF is accountable to donors, partners, policy-makers, development practitioners, research

participants – and other parties influenced by its research – and most importantly to the world’s

children, to ensure that its research is of high quality. Research/Evaluation questions need to be

timely and relevant, and the methods used need to appropriately match the questions and context

and be implemented using a high quality protocol. Research, survey and Evaluation proposals,

drafts and dissemination products need to be reviewed to ensure that rigor is applied throughout

the entire process and accurate messages reach key stakeholders, as need be.

Principle 2: UNICEF research, evaluations, and surveys needs to be relevant and address and

examine the critical issues affecting children

UNICEF research/study and evaluations need to ask well-defined questions that have the potential to

positively impact the lives of children and their families. They need to address new and emerging

national, regional, and international development challenges, and advance knowledge on children.

Within this context, a clear “theory of change” and/or a rationale for the research that directly links

research and evaluation findings with specific results for children and their families is necessary.

Consequent to this imperative, UNICEF research may need to examine vital issues that are politically

sensitive, yet important from a child rights and well-being point of view, particularly in the case of

research efforts that address structural inequalities, both nationally and sub-nationally.

Principle 2: UNICEF research, evaluations, and surveys need to be carefully prioritized and

resourced

A well-planned and strategically oriented IMEP will not only contribute to ensuring that relevant,

unanswered and forward-looking questions are addressed, but also prevents duplication of efforts and

wastage of funds on unnecessary research. A review of literature should be done to ensure that the

research/evaluation findings or survey data are not already available in a similar study, evaluation

study or other survey, so the research are coherent and do not reproduce what is already available.

It is important that planning processes are used to narrow down focus areas and prioritize the most

critical topics for research and evaluation. Practical matters such as the cost of research and evaluation

studies, timelines, availability of the seek knowledge from other and similar study and capacity to

carry out the required work need to be carefully considered when setting the IMEP. Requests from

donors and other stakeholders to conduct research, survey and evaluation activities within a tight

timeframe need to be realistically assessed, and where a strict deadline poses a risk to the quality of the

researches/studies and evaluations, re-negotiated. It is more beneficial to carry out fewer strategically-

focused, high-quality research/study and evaluation, than a large number of research/studies and

evaluations which may not have sufficient resources to have an impact or indeed meet the minimum

quality assurance standards.

Principle 4: UNICEF research, evaluations, and surveys must do no harm and must explicitly

consider ethical issues

UNICEF’s primary responsibility is to the world’s children. All UNICEF research, studies, surveys

and evaluations should have a clear approach that explicitly considers ethical issues throughout the

research and evaluation process and minimizes risks to children and other stakeholders impacted by

the activity. It is better to do no research and evaluation than risk doing it that may harm children or

their families and/or tarnish UNICEF’s reputation.

5- UNICEF is accountable to appropriately use, share, and act on the results of researches,

evaluations, and surveys

As is the case for UNICEF evaluations, management should be accountable for sharing and acting on

the outcomes of research. Appropriate dissemination and advocacy strategies need to target key

stakeholders in the most direct and effective ways and follow-up is necessary to record how the

research/study and evaluation was used. Researches, evaluations, and surveys that has direct

implications for UNICEF programming and policy advocacy need to be strategically shared and acted

upon internally. All UNICEF research/study and evaluation should be stored on the Evaluation and

Research Database and in other formats that increase knowledge sharing, learning, and collaboration

across the organization.

Quality Criteria

The Institution(s) contracted under this LTA for the duration of the Country program 2014-17 is

expected to provide quality assurance of the deliverables that are related to the Implementation of the

IMEP. They should develop quality assurance processes, criteria and tools to support their work and

reviews. This should be based on the below criteria or additional and more suitable as to be

demonstrated in the proposals.

Research:

The systematic process of the

collection and analysis of data

and information, in order to

generate new knowledge, to

answer a specific question or to

test a hypothesis. Its

methodology must be

sufficiently documented to

permit assessment and

replication. Research in

UNICEF should examine

relevant issues and yield

evidence for better programme

and policy advice.

Study – an initiative to

establish current knowledge

around a specific topic through

the summarization,

interpretation or assessment of

information and data. Studies

are generally descriptive in

nature and address immediate

needs of a particular UNICEF

sectoral intervention

(programmatic, policy and

advocacy) primarily at national

or sub-national level. Examples

include rapid assessments,

situation analyses,

literature/desk reviews,

mapping exercises, and sector-

specific surveys.

Conceptualization

Is the research question well-defined?

Does the research report present a clear and relevant conceptualization of

the issue?

Is the research piece relevant to improving the work of UNICEF?

Potential for Impact

Does the research demonstrate potential for impact? E.g. stimulate policy

debate, improve effectiveness of interventions?

Does the research/study bring attention to a neglected area deserving of

further inquiry?

If relevant, does the research/study show potential for scaling up and

replicability?

Methodology

Are the methods employed appropriate? Has the right type of information

and data been assembled to address the issue?

Innovation and Originality

Does the issue concern new or emerging national, regional or

international development challenges or present them in a novel way?

Does the research/study contribute to advancing work in and adding

knowledge to this field?

Writing and Presentation

Is the research/study report well-organized and clearly and succinctly

written? Are the conclusions based squarely on the paper’s findings? Are

recommendations concrete and sufficiently detailed to be operationally

applicable?

Evaluation – An assessment,

as systematic and impartial as

possible, of an activity, project,

programme, strategy, policy,

Impact Evaluation Studies

While there are several type of Evaluations that can be commissioned

and/or conducted, NCO will prioritize as per the Evaluation strategy

topic, theme, sector,

operational area or institutional

performance. It focuses on

expected and achieved

accomplishments examining

the results chain, processes,

contextual factors and

causality, in order to

understand achievements or the

lack thereof. It aims at

determining the relevance,

impact, effectiveness,

efficiency and sustainability of

the interventions and

contributions of the

organizations of the United

Nations system. An evaluation

should provide evidence-based

information that is credible,

reliable and useful, enabling

the timely incorporation of

findings, recommendations and

lessons into the decision

making processes of the United

Nations system and its

members.

2016-17, Impact Evaluation Studies for their advantage of generating

knowledge about what works where, why and how? And feeding

effectively the advocacy activities.

For Quality of Impact Evaluation, in addition of the UNEG norms and

standards, it is defined and understood as consisting of “fitness for use”,

which embraces 1- Relevance for programming needs, 2- Accuracy, 3-

Statistical conclusion validity, and 4- Construct validity, 5- Internal and

6- External validity.

Statistical conclusion validity is concerned with whether the presumed

cause of the intervention and the presumed effect (the impacts as per the

Logic model) are related. Measures of effect size and their associated

confidence intervals should be calculated. Statistical significance (the

probability of obtaining the observed effect size if the null hypothesis of

no relationship were true) should also be calculated.

Construct validity refers to the adequacy of the operational definition

and measurement of the theoretical constructs that underlie the

intervention outcomes and impact. We need to ensure that we indeed

measure what we had intended to change.

External validity refers to the generalizability of causal relationships

across different persons, places, times, and operational definitions of

interventions, outcomes and impacts.

Finally the internal validity refers to the correctness of the key question

about whether the intervention really did cause a change in the outcome

and impact expected. Essentially is the evaluation design appropriate and

deal with a counterfactual e.g. what would have happened to the

intervention’s clients (experimental units) if the intervention had not

been applied to them ?

Evaluation studies

The UNEG standards and Norms will serve the basis for assessing the

quality of Evaluation deliverables, whether TORs, inception reports, data

collection tools and methodology and approaches, draft final report.

Surveys

While there are different type

of survey and they can be

categorised by the instruments

(household, interviews) “…the

word “survey” is used most

often to describe a method of

gathering information from a

sample of individuals1.” By

using a sample strategy and

methodology, the survey

produce statistical information

that can be inferred to a

population.

Household Survey

The quality expectations from survey is multi-dimensional and

should be guide by the following elements2:

The relevance of statistical information reflects the degree to which it

meets the real needs of clients. It is concerned with whether the available

information sheds light on the issues of most importance to users. Hence,

relevance is the most important dimension of quality. It is largely in the

domain of users of the information; it is not something that an Institution

can establish by itself. Comparatively, the other dimensions of quality are

much more within the control of the institution conducting the survey.

The accuracy of statistical information is the degree to which the

1 American Statistical Association http://www.amstat.org/sections/srms/pamphlet.pdf

2 Statistics Canada Quality Guidelines Fifth Edition – October 2009 http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/12-539-x/12-

539-x2009001-eng.htm

http://www.amstat.org/sections/srms/pamphlet.pdf

http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/12-539-x/12-539-x2009001-eng.htm

http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/12-539-x/12-539-x2009001-eng.htm

information correctly describes the phenomena it was designed to

measure. It is usually characterized in terms of error in statistical

estimates and is traditionally decomposed into bias (systematic error) and

variance (random error) components. It may also be described in terms of

the major sources of error that potentially cause inaccuracy (e.g.,

coverage, sampling, non-response, response).

The timeliness of statistical information refers to the delay between the

reference point (or the end of the reference period) to which the

information pertains, and the date on which the information becomes

available. It is typically involved in a trade-off against accuracy. The

timeliness of information will influence its relevance.

The accessibility of statistical information refers to the ease with which

it can be obtained from the Agency. This includes the ease with which

the existence of information can be ascertained, as well as the suitability

of the form or medium through which the information can be accessed.

The cost of the information may also be an aspect of accessibility for

some users.

The interpretability of statistical information reflects the availability of

the supplementary information and metadata necessary to interpret and

utilize it appropriately. This information normally covers the underlying

concepts, variables and classifications used, the methodology of data

collection and processing, and indications of the accuracy of the

statistical information.

The coherence of statistical information reflects the degree to which it

can be successfully brought together with other statistical information

within a broad analytic framework and over time. The use of standard

concepts, classifications and target populations promotes coherence, as

does the use of common methodology across surveys. Coherence does

not necessarily imply full numerical consistency.

Duty Station: Institution based. Mostly online with no or minimal travel

Supervisor: Denis Jobin. Chief PME/FC

6. Major Tasks to be accomplished:

The consultant/institutions will provide, for the approved items in the IMEP, a literature

review before the study, research, or evaluation is conducted to ensure the

questions/hypothesis being asked has not already been answered elsewhere in a way that

would be useful for the Nigeria context; (coherence)

The consultant/institutions will develop research, survey, evaluation and impact evaluation

quality assurance and quality control processes, tools, checklists using agreed upon standards

and criteria and ensure its oversight against the IMEP deliverables of NCO;

The consultant/institutions will quality review IMEP related submissions and provide

feedback into the format of an agreed upon report template with clear, cost-effective,

operationally sound3 recommendations to the Chief of M&E within 7 working days maximum;

3 Operationally sound refer, but not limited to, practical given the local context, and in respect of budget, data

and time constraints .

Review Inception reports, Work plans and key deliverables such as survey instruments and

protocol and draft final reports for research, survey, evaluation studies and impact evaluation

studies included in the approved Nigeria Country Office (NCO) IMEP.

End Product: (e.g. final report, article, document etc.)

Assessment report for each item being under review, with clear recommendations on how to

improve the Item, focusing on the:

1- Planning phase of the activity (TORs/Inception report, workplans, etc.);

2- Its implementation phase (Design of protocols, tools, data collection tools, Quality

Assurance Mechanism report and quality tables, etc.);

3- And reporting phase (draft final report and soundness and level of assurance of

findings and recommendations)

UNICEF and partners will provide the background information and any other relevant documentation

required for the consultancy. In addition, the IMEP item will be further expanded and discussed when

being submitted.

Qualifications or specialized knowledge/experience required:

Institutions with teams composed of members with a diverse mix of relevant qualifications in

social science, statistics, development studies, evaluation studies and Impact evaluation studies

(both ex-ante and ex-post).

Team members from 6-12 years (junior, medium and senior/team leaders) of experience in

International development, Knowledge of West African Countries and more particularly of

Nigeria an asset.

Excellent research, survey and evaluation data collection, analytical and report writing skills.

Proven experience on the design and implementation of quality assurance systems, preferably

with UN system, applying to a wide range of qualitative and quantitative methods with respect

of research, studies, and evaluation studies and impact evaluation studies.

Knowledge of one or more of UNICEF programs an asset: WASH, Child protection,

Education; Health and Nutrition, Children and AIDS, Communication for Development,

Social Policy and Monitoring and Evaluation.

Familiarity with UNICEF’s mission and mandate an asset.

Ethical Guideline 4

Conflict of interest

An institution/firm/consultants is not expected to quality review the NCO IMEP Item if he or she has

been involved in the design and/or contributed to the zero draft and/or plan to submit a proposal to bid

against to implement the item under a competitive process (RFP).

Applicable to all reviews and quality assurance expected; in order to ensure that all IMEP related

activities ensure the protection of, and respect for, human and child rights within all research,

evaluation and data collection processes undertaken or commissioned by UNICEF, this procedure is

designed to achieve the following objectives:

To establish minimum and binding standards for ethical research, evaluation and data

collection and analysis processes in UNICEF globally; and

To ensure effective processes and accountability for ethical oversight of these processes.

Although not applicable in all cases, however, the following Best Practices should be respected:

On Harms and Benefits:

4 Strategic Guidance Note on Institutionalizing Ethical Practice for UNICEF Research

• Be able to justify why the research is being done and why children or specific groups of

children are being included in or excluded from the research.

• Consider, as widely as possible, any potential harms and/or benefits for child participants,

their families or wider community groups.

• Work to ensure that children are not harmed as a consequence of their participation in research

from the outset of the project through to its completion.

• Employ strategies to minimize any stress for children participating in the research.

• Have child protection protocols in place to safeguard children from abusive or incompetent

researchers.

• Have an agreed upon plan for responding to child safety concerns.

• Consult locally when planning the research and developing protocols, without jeopardizing

children’s safety or well-being.

• Ensure that support for children, if needed during and after the research process, has been

planned for.

• Take measures to ensure that harm is not caused to children, families or communities in them

dissemination of the research findings.

On Informed Consent:

• Obtain consent from all children participating in research.

• Make sure children are fully informed as to the purpose of the research and what their

involvement will be;

• Respect children’s decision about participating in research, including their dissent or

unwillingness to participate.

• Design the consent process to take into account the evolving capacities of the child as well as

the overall research context.

• Carefully consider the strengths and limitations of obtaining parental consent.

• Ensure that children (and others) understand that consent is negotiable and that children can

withdraw at any point.

• Consult locally to ascertain if informed consent needs to be obtained from community

leaders or representatives.

On Privacy and Confidentiality:

• Respect children’s right to privacy and ensure that their information remains confidential.

• Securely store, protect and dispose of information/data that has been collected.

• Be mindful that any assurance about confidentiality also includes explicit mention of the

limits to this, and always be prepared to act sensitively on safety concerns.

On Payment and Compensation:

• Ensure that any payment is not used to coerce, pressure or bribe children or parents to

participate in research, or influence the nature of their responses.

• Take social and cultural contexts into account and consult locally about payment and other

forms of reciprocity in research.

• Work to ensure that payment does not, directly or indirectly, raise unrealistic expectations or

cause disappointment.

• Also Refer to UNICEF Procedure For Ethical Standards In Research, Evaluation, Data

Collection And Analysis-CF/PD/DRP/2015-001 for more details.

10. Estimated time of consultancy and deadline for submission of end product:

Long term agreement is valid upon signature and for the duration of the country programme which

ends December, 31 2017.

Official Travel involved

No travel is expected for this consultancy.

Budgeted cost of consultancy:

The bidders are to proposed consultancy fees based on the IMEP items that needs to be reviewed. The below

table is suggested for guidance. The fees should be based on quality reviewing a given IMEP item, and the

related deliverable: a report.

The consultancy fees per deliverables and per category of IMEP items (research, surveys and evaluation and

Impact evaluation) are as follows:

PROPOSED IMEP ITEM Fees per units

Quality assurance system, tools for Research and

Studies

$

Research and Studies – Draft TORs $

Research and Studies – Draft Inception reports $

Research and Studies – Draft Data tools/survey

instrument

$

Research and Studies – Draft final report $

Quality assurance system and tools for Survey S

Survey – Draft Survey plan and protocol( sampling

frame and sampling procedure, Quality assurance

system (training enumerators, supervision and

monitoring), etc.

$

Survey – Draft Survey instruments and questionnaires $

Quality assurance system and tools for Evaluation

Studies

Evaluation – Draft TORs $

Evaluation – Draft Inception report $

Evaluation – Draft Survey instruments and

questionnaires and or data collection tools

$

Evaluation – Draft Final report $

Quality assurance system and tools for Impact

Evaluation Studies

$

Impact Evaluation – Draft TORs $

Impact Evaluation – Draft Inception report $

Impact Evaluation – Draft Survey instruments and

questionnaires and or data collection tools

$

Impact Evaluation – Draft Final report $

Bi-annual (2 per year) IMEP quality analysis of trends,

key weaknesses and strengths informing whether

UNICEF is meeting the IMEP Quality requirements and

criteria as set out within the context of the LTA

$

The total fee will depend on the actual number of completed quality reviews of IMEP item multiplied by the

unit cost. This is due to the uncertainty over the total number of IMEP items that will be provided for quality

assurance. All billing would be based on actual work (number of IMEP items reviewed) done so as to minimize

cost if expected levels of activity did not materialize for any reasons.

Terms of payment:

Before payment can be processed, Institutions must submit for approval the following documents:

- Assessment report, detailing the methodology used including review of literature, the tools, criteria used to

review the IMEP item, with key recommendations, if any;

- An bi-annual report on IMEP quality analysis of trends, key weaknesses and strengths informing whether

UNICEF is meeting the IMEP Quality requirements and criteria as set out within the context of the LTA

- Invoice for payment.

How to Apply

Organizations/Institutions and firms interested in the above LTA should submit application,

accompanied by profile, expression of interest, detailing which area of UNICEF programs has

expertise and wishes to provide the required services as per table 1 below, a cover letter, on or before

28th April 2016. Please indicate your ability and availability to undertake the terms of reference

above.

Table 1: Program components of the Country Program 2014-17 (indicate with a X)

Program areas5 Surveys Researches/

Studies

Evaluation

Studies

Impact

Evaluation

Studies

1. Child Survival

1.1 WASH

1.2. Children and AIDS

1.3 Health and Nutrition

2. Quality Basic Education

3. Child Protection

4. SPARC- Social policy,

analysis, research and

communication.

5.1 Social Policy

5.2 Evaluation studies

5.3 Impact Evaluation studies

5.4 Communication for

development (C4D)

Technical and Financial proposals should forwarded to UNICEF Nigeria supply section (hard copies

only) in sealed envelopes and should be dropped in the bid box placed in the reception room at the

entrance hall of UNICEF, or be sent through courier service to: Supply Manager, UNICEF Abuja,

Old CBN Building, Area 11, Garki, Abuja.

Applications submitted without a rate and sample of similar previous work will not be considered.

Bidding documentation is as follow: 1- Cover letter explaining the value added of the proposed institution/firm/team,

presentation of the institution, CVs of the project team leader to be nominated for this contract,

as well as of the specialists who will perform the reviews.

2- Technical proposal describing how the institution will equip itself to ensure the deliverables as

described in the TORs above, including a description of the internal quality assurance system.

3- Financial proposal, with the following details:

Unit cost of reviewing IMEP item.

Unit of a bi-annual country analysis of trends, key weaknesses and strengths of IMEP as

per Item reviewed.

5 http://www.unicef.org/about/execboard/files/2013-PL7-Nigeria_CPD-final_approved-English.pdf

http://www.unicef.org/about/execboard/files/2013-PL7-Nigeria_CPD-final_approved-English.pdf

Please in drafting your proposal respond to the five mandatory questions below in a narrative not

exceeding 4 pages, excluding attachments.

1 - Provide information which will enable us to determine whether your

company/organization has the capacity to carry out the review of IMEP item as

described in the TORs above. Information should include:

a) organizational structure and infrastructure in place to support the quality reviews, including an overview of company/organization financial profile;

b) staff capacity, both technical and support staff (to the extent possible, attach CVs of prospective team members, pending confirmation of their availability); and,

2. Provide information which will enable us to determine whether your

company/organization has relevant quality review of research, surveys, evaluation

studies and impact evaluation studies experience. Information should include:

a) a description of the technical competencies of proposed team members, and the number of years of quality review of research, surveys, evaluation studies and impact evaluation studies;

b) a description of the type of quality review of research, surveys, evaluation studies and

impact evaluation studies the organization/team has carried out, related quality review

experience (quality review of research, surveys, evaluation studies and impact evaluation studies ) of individual team members; and,

c) Quality review of research, surveys, evaluation studies and impact evaluation studies

commissioned by UN agencies and other comparable organizations that the

company/organizations conducted, or proposed individual team members participated in capacity that is being proposed.

3. Provide information which will enable us to determine whether your team or

organization has relevant specialized knowledge on issues covered by the current Nigeria

Country Program. Information should include;

a) a description of sector related experience; and,

b) a description of the work done (study, monitoring system, research, facilitating a seminar;

relevant consultancy assignment).

4. Provide any additional experience that may be critical to the success of the proposed

LTA.

5. Confirm that the organization/proposed team or any team member:

a) has no on-going litigation with the UN;

b) is not currently removed/invalidated or suspended by the United Nations or UN system

organizations

All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and that UNICEF will be free to

adapt and modify them in the future

SCORING METHODOLOGY FOR THE PROPOSALS

Criteria for Evaluation of bidder’s Proposals

Responses will be rated in accordance with the criteria described in the following tables. The rated

criteria address 2 general areas:

1) Experience and qualifications of senior quality review members/team members

http://www.unicef.org/nigeria/resources_8471.html

http://www.unicef.org/nigeria/resources_8471.html

2) Understanding of the RFP and its objectives;

3) Proposed approach and methodology;

4) Approach is feasible: recognition of direct as well as risks/peripheral problems and methods to

prevent and manage risks/peripheral problems.

Table 1: Mandatory Criteria - identification of team members

Evaluation Criteria Bidder’s Response (Specify Below- “Meets Requirement” or

“Does Not Meet Requirement”)

The Bidder must identify all

proposed senior team

members resources by name.

Bidders must also identify

number of proposed team

members, their role and

location

MEETS □

DOESN’T MEET □

For each proposed senior

team member the bidder must

include, within the proposal,

a detailed Curriculum Vitae

(CV):

The CV shall be up-to-date

and shall be submitted as an

Appendix in alphabetical

name sequence.

MEETS □

DOESN’T MEET □

EVALUATION SHEET

CATEGORY MAX.

POINTS

MIN. MIN.

POI

1. MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS (PASS OR FAIL)

2. OVERALL RESPONSE

- Understanding of, and responsiveness to, UNICEF Nigeria Country Office

requirements

- Understanding of scope, objectives and completeness of response

- Overall concord between UNICEF requirements and the proposals

10 0

3. STANDARD STRATEGY/METHODOLOGY FOR QUALITY

REVIEW

- Experience and qualifications of senior quality review members/team

members

- Understanding of the RFP and its objectives;

- Proposed approach and methodology;

- Approach is feasible: recognition of direct as well as risks/peripheral

problems and methods to prevent and manage risks/peripheral problems;

-

92 36

4. PROPOSED TEAM

- Experience and qualifications based on previous similar project(s)

- Experience and qualifications of proposed team

18 10

5. PRICE 40

0

TOTAL MARKS

160 46

Criteria 1: Experience and qualifications of senior quality review members/team members, by

submitting relevant project report or sample of quality review (two maximum). This could be peer

review comments as part of a Journal Review Committee.

The project should be reported using the following format:

1. Title of project/activity:

2. Why and how the experience is relevant to this TORs/ LTA? (max 500 words)

3. What was the level of effort required in term of days (max 500 words)

4. What was the end result of the activity (max 500 words)

5. Others relevant comments (max 500 words)

Description of Criteria 1 Scoring Maximum

points

Response/

Reference

1 The Bidder must demonstrate

that the proposed resource has

experience in quality reviewing

researches.

A maximum of two projects will

be considered and rated.

Up to 9 points per project:

18 (2 projects max)




surveys.




18 (2 projects max)




evaluation studies.




18 (2 projects max)




impact evaluation studies.




18 (2 projects max)

Maximum Total Points for 72 points

Minimum Acceptable Score 16 points

Criterion 2: Understanding of the RFP and its objectives


points

Response/

Reference

2.1 The proposal demonstrate a

solid understanding of the RFP

and its objectives

Up to 9 points

18 points if: The proposal

addresses the requirements

completely, exhibits outstanding

knowledge of the needs, creativity,

innovation or other factors to

justify highest rating.

14 point if: The proposal

addresses the requirements

completely and addresses some

elements of the requirements in an

outstanding manner, justifying a

high rating

10 points if: The proposal

addresses most elements of the

requirements.

6 points if; The proposal meets

some of the RFP requirements.

2 points if The proposal meets a

few to none of the RFP

requirements

18



Criterion 3: Proposed approach and methodology

The Bidder must describe their understanding of the purpose, scope and context of the quality review,

their overall approach to the project, and the methods (including quality review quality assurance) they

propose to use to carry out the quality reviews. This section of the proposal must include sufficient

detail to enable the Evaluation Review Committee to apply the criteria defined in the above table.

Table 3: Criteria for assessing the proposed methodology and approach


points

Response/

Reference 3.1 The approach and

methodology demonstrates that it

has taken into consideration the

best practices on quality assurance

and reviews of Researches,

Surveys, Evaluation Studies and

Points will be awarded as

follows (max 11):

Full points (11) if the proposal

demonstrates how the methods

and lessons learned from the 2

11

Impact Evaluation sources of best practices on

quality assurance of Researches,


Impact Evaluation have been

incorporated into the proposed

approach and methodology.

4 points if the proposal

demonstrates how the methods

and lessons learned from the

sources of best practices on



Impact Evaluation have been

incorporated into the proposed

approach and methodology.

0 points if no reference is made

to show that the bidder is familiar

with previous best practices on



Impact Evaluation recommended

in the literature.

3.2 The proposed approach and

methodology explicitly addresses

the quality criteria referred to in

their RFP for Researches,

Surveys, Evaluations Studies and

Impact Evaluation.

Points will be awarded as

follows (max 9):

Full points (9) if the proposal

demonstrates how the approach

and methodology will address the

quality criteria, and additional

criteria as per best practices for




in the literature.

7 Points if the proposal

demonstrates how the approach

and methodology will address the

quality criteria expressed in this

TORs for quality assurance of

Researches, Surveys, Evaluation

Studies and Impact Evaluation

recommended in the literature..

4 points if the proposal

demonstrates how will address

the some quality criteria

expressed in this TORs for




in the literature.

9

0 points if no reference is made

to the some quality criteria

expressed in this TORs for




in the literature.



RFP TERMS AND CONDITIONS

This RFP and any responses thereto, shall be the property of UNICEF. In submitting a proposal, the

bidder acknowledges that UNICEF reserves the right to:

(a) Visit and inspect the bidder’s premises;

(b) Contact any/all referees provided;

(c) Request additional supporting or supplementary information;

(d) Arrange interviews with the proposed project team/consultants;

(e) Reject any/all of the proposals submitted;

(f) Accept any proposals in whole or in part;

(g) Negotiate with the most favorable bidder;

(h) Award contracts to more than 1 bidder, as UNICEF considers being in its best interests.

Bidders shall bear all costs associated with the preparation and submission of proposals, and UNICEF

shall not be responsible for these costs, irrespective of the outcome of the bidding process.

GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. ACKNOWLEDGMENT COPY

Signing and returning the acknowledgment copy of a contract issued by UNICEF or beginning work under that contract shall constitute acceptance of a binding agreement between UNICEF and the Contractor.

2. DELIVERY DATE

Delivery Date to be understood as the time the contract work is completed at the location indicated under Delivery Terms.

3. PAYMENT TERMS

(a) UNICEF shall, unless otherwise specified in the contract, make payment within 30 days of receipt of the Contractor's invoice

which is issued only upon UNICEF’s acceptance of the work specified in the contract. (b) Payment against the invoice referred to above will reflect any discount shown under the payment terms provided payment is made

within the period shown in the payment terms of the contract.

(c) The prices shown in the contract cannot be increased except by express written agreement by UNICEF.

4. LIMITATION OF EXPENDITURE

No increase in the total liability to UNICEF or in the price of the work resulting from design changes, modifications, or interpretations of the statement of work will be authorized or paid to the contractor unless such changes have been approved by

the contracting authority through an amendment to this contract prior to incorporation in the work.

5. TAX EXEMPTION

Section 7 of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations provides, inter alia, that the UN, including its

subsidiary organs, is exempt from all direct taxes (including service tax) and is exempt from customs duties in respect of articles imported or exported for its official use. Accordingly, the Vendor authorizes UNICEF to deduct from the Vendor's invoice any

amount representing such taxes or duties charged by the Vendor to UNICEF. Payment of such corrected invoice amount shall

constitute full payment by UNICEF. In the event any taxing authority refuses to recognize the UN exemption from such taxes, the Vendor shall immediately consult with UNICEF to determine a mutually acceptable procedure.

Accordingly, the Contractor authorizes UNICEF to deduct from the Contractor’s invoice any amount representing such taxes, duties, or charges, unless the Contractor has consulted with UNICEF before the payment thereof and UNICEF has, in each

instance, specifically authorized the Contractor to pay such taxes, duties or charges under protest. In that event, the Contractor

shall provide UNICEF with written evidence that payment of such taxes, duties or charges has been made and appropriately authorized.

6. LEGAL STATUS.

The Contractor shall be considered as having the legal status of an independent contractor vis-a-vis UNICEF. The Contractor’s personnel and sub-contractors shall not be considered in any respect as being the employees or agents of UNICEF.

7. CONTRACTOR’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR EMPLOYEES

The Contractor shall be responsible for the professional and technical competence of its employees and will select, for work under

this Contract, reliable individuals who will perform effectively in the implementation of the Contract, respect the local customs

and conform to a high standard of moral and ethical conduct.

8. INDEMNIFICATION

The Contractor shall indemnify, hold and save harmless and defend, at its own expense, UNICEF, its officials, agents, servants

and employees, from and against all suits, claims, demands and liability of any nature or kind, including their costs and expenses, arising out of the acts or omissions of the Contractor or its employees or sub-contractors in the performance of this Contract. This

provision shall extend, inter alia, to claims and liability in the nature of workmen’s compensation, product liability and liability

arising out of the use of patented inventions or devices, copyrighted material or other intellectual property by the Contractor, its employees, officers, agents, servants or sub-contractors. The obligations under this Article do not lapse upon termination of this

Contract.

9. INSURANCE AND LIABILITIES TO THIRD PARTIES

(a) The Contractor shall provide and thereafter maintain insurance against all risks in respect of its property and any

equipment used for the execution of this Contract. (b) The Contractor shall provide and thereafter maintain all appropriate workmen’s compensation and liability insurance, or its

equivalent, with respect to its employees to cover claims for death, bodily injury or damage to property arising from the

execution of this Contract. The Contractor represents that the liability insurance includes sub-contractors. (c) The Contractor shall also provide and thereafter maintain liability insurance in an adequate amount to cover third party

claims for death or bodily injury, or loss of or damage to property, arising from or in connection with the provision of work

under this Contract or the operation of any vehicles, boats, airplanes or other equipment owned or leased by the Contractor or its agents, servants, employees or sub-contractors performing work or services in connection with this Contract.

(d) Except for the workmen’s compensation insurance, the insurance policies under this Article shall:

(i) Name UNICEF as additional insured; (ii) Include a waiver of subrogation of the Contractor’s rights to the insurance carrier against UNICEF;

(iii) Provide that UNICEF shall receive thirty (30) days written notice from the insurers prior to any cancellation or change

of coverage. (e) The Contractor shall, upon request, provide UNICEF with satisfactory evidence of the insurance required under this

Article.

10. SOURCE OF INSTRUCTIONS

The Contractor shall neither seek nor accept instructions from any authority external to UNICEF in connection with the

performance of its services under this Contract. The Contractor shall refrain from any action which may adversely affect

UNICEF or the United Nations and shall fulfil its commitments with the fullest regard to the interests of UNICEF.

11. ENCUMBRANCES/LIENS The Contractor shall not cause or permit any lien, attachment or other encumbrance by any person to be placed on file or to remain on file in any public office or on file with UNICEF against any monies due or to become due for any work done or

materials furnished under this Contract, or by reason of any other claim or demand against the Contractor.

12. TITLE TO EQUIPMENT

Title to any equipment and supplies which may be furnished by UNICEF shall rest with UNICEF and any such equipment shall

be returned to UNICEF at the conclusion of this Contract or when no longer needed by the Contractor. Such equipment when returned to UNICEF, shall be in the same condition as when delivered to the Contractor, subject to normal wear and tear.

13. COPYRIGHT, PATENTS AND OTHER PROPRIETARY RIGHTS UNICEF shall be entitled to all intellectual property and other proprietary rights including but not limited to patents, copyrights

and trademarks, with regard to documents and other materials which bear a direct relation to or are prepared or collected in

consequence or in the course of the execution of this contract. At UNICEF's request, the Contractor shall take all necessary steps,

execute all necessary documents and generally assist in securing such proprietary rights and transferring them to the UNICEF in

compliance with the requirements of the applicable law.

14. CONFIDENTIAL NATURE OF DOCUMENTS

(a) All maps, drawings, photographs, mosaics, plans, reports, recommendations, estimates, documents and all other data compiled by or received by the Contractor under this Contract shall be the property of UNICEF, shall be treated as

confidential and shall be delivered only to the UN authorized officials on completion of work under this Contract.

(b) The Contractor may not communicate any time to any other person, Government or authority external to UNICEF, any information known to it by reason of its association with UNICEF which has not been made public except with the

authorization of the UNICEF; nor shall the Contractor at any time use such information to private advantage. These

obligations do not lapse upon termination of this Contract with UNICEF.

15. FORCE MAJEURE; OTHER CHANGES IN CONDITIONS

(a) In the event of and as soon as possible after the occurrence of any cause constituting force majeure, the Contractor shall give notice and full particulars in writing to UNICEF of such occurrence or change if the Contractor is thereby rendered

unable, wholly or in part, to perform its obligations and meet its responsibilities under this Contract. The Contractor shall

also notify UNICEF of any other changes in conditions or the occurrence of any event which interferes or threatens to interfere with its performance of the Contract. On receipt of the notice required under this Article, UNICEF shall take such

action as, in its sole discretion, it considers to be appropriate or necessary in the circumstances, including the granting to

the Contractor of a reasonable extension of time in which to perform its obligations under the Contract. (b) If the Contractor is rendered permanently unable, wholly, or in part, by reason of force majeure to perform its obligations

and meet its responsibilities under this Contract, UNICEF shall have the right to suspend or terminate this Contract on the

same terms and conditions as are provided for in Article 14, “Termination”, except that the period of notice shall be seven (7) days instead of thirty (30) days.

(c) Force majeure as used in this Article means acts of God, war (whether declared or not), invasion, revolution, insurrection

or other acts of a similar nature or force.

16. TERMINATION

If the Contractor fails to deliver any or all of the deliverables within the time period(s) specified in the contract, or fails to perform any of the terms, conditions, or obligations of the contract, or should the Contractor be adjudged bankrupt, or be

liquidated or become insolvent, or should the contractor make an assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or should a Receiver

be appointed on account of the insolvency of the contractor, UNICEF may, without prejudice to any other right or remedy it may have under the terms of these conditions, terminate the Contract, forthwith, in whole or in part, upon thirty (30) days notice to the

Contractor.

UNICEF reserves the right to terminate without cause this Contract at any time upon thirty (30) days prior written notice to the

Contractor, in which case UNICEF shall reimburse the Contractor for all reasonable costs incurred by the Contractor prior to

receipt of the notice of termination.

In the event of any termination no payment shall be due from UNICEF to the Contractor except for work and services

satisfactorily performed in conformity with the express terms of this contract.

Upon the giving of such notice, the Contractor shall have no claim for any further payment, but shall remain liable to UNICEF for

reasonable loss or damage which may be suffered by UNICEF for reason of the default. The Contractor shall not be liable for any loss or damage if the failure to perform the contract arises out of force majeure.

Upon termination of the contract, UNICEF may require the contractor to deliver any finished work which has not been delivered and accepted, prior to such termination and any materials or work-in-process related specifically to this contract. Subject to the

deduction of any claim UNICEF may have arising out of this contract or termination, UNICEF will pay the value of all such

finished work delivered and accepted by UNICEF.

The initiation of arbitral proceedings in accordance with Article 22 “Settlement of Disputes” below shall not be deemed a

termination of this Contract.

17. SUB-CONTRACTING

In the event the Contractor requires the services of subcontractors, the Contractor shall obtain the prior written approval and clearance of UNICEF for all sub-contractors. The approval of UNICEF of a sub-contractor shall not relieve the Contractor of any

of its obligations under this Contract. The terms of any sub-contract shall be subject to and in conformity with the provisions of

this Contract.

18. ASSIGNMENT AND INSOLVENCY

1. The Contractor shall not, except after obtaining the written consent of UNICEF, assign, transfer, pledge or make other

dispositions of the Contract, or any part thereof, of the Contractor's rights or obligations under the Contract. 2. Should the Contractor become insolvent or should control of the Contractor change by virtue of insolvency, UNICEF may,

without prejudice to any other rights or remedies, terminate the Contract by giving the Contractor written notice of

termination.

19. USE OF UNITED NATIONS AND UNICEF NAME AND EMBLEM

The Contractor shall not use the name, emblem or official seal of the United Nations or UNICEF or any abbreviation of these names for any purpose.

20. OFFICIALS NOT TO BENEFIT The Contractor warrants that no official of UNICEF or the United Nations has received or will be offered by the Contractor any

direct or indirect benefit arising from this Contract or the award thereof. The Contractor agrees that breach of this provision is a

breach of an essential term of the Contract.

21. PROHIBITION ON ADVERTISING

The Contractor shall not advertise or otherwise make public that the Vendor is furnishing goods or services to UNICEF without

specific permission of UNICEF.

22. SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES

Amicable Settlement

The Parties shall use their best efforts to settle amicably any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of, or relating to this

Contract or the breach, termination or invalidity thereof. Where the parties wish to seek such an amicable settlement through

conciliation, the conciliation shall take place in accordance with the UNCITRAL Conciliation Rules then obtaining, or according to such other procedure as may be agreed between the parties.

Arbitration Any dispute, controversy or claim between the Parties arising out of this Contract or the breach, termination or invalidity thereof,

unless settled amicably under the preceding paragraph of this Article within sixty (60) days after receipt by one Party or the other

Party’s request for such amicable settlement, shall be referred by either Party to arbitration in accordance with the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules then obtaining. The arbitral tribunal shall have no authority to award punitive damages. In addition, the arbitral

tribunal shall have no authority to award interest in excess of six percent (6%) and any such interest shall be simple interest only.

The Parties shall be bound by any arbitration award rendered as a result of such arbitration as the final adjudication of any such controversy, claim or dispute.

23. PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES

The privileges and immunities of the UN, including its subsidiary organs, are not waived.

24. CHILD LABOUR

UNICEF fully subscribes to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and draws the attention of potential suppliers to Article 32

of the Convention which inter alia requires that a child shall be protected from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous

or to interfere with the child's education, or to be harmful to the child's health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social

development.

25. ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES UNICEF supports an international ban on the manufacture of anti-personnel mines. Anti-personnel mines have killed and maimed thousands

of people, of whom a large proportion are children and women. Anti-personnel mines present a serious obstacle to the return of populations displaced from their residences by fighting around their villages and homes. UNICEF has, therefore, decided not to

purchase products from companies that sell or manufacture anti-personnel mines or their components.

26. AUTHORITY TO MODIFY No modification or change in this Contract, no waiver of any of its provisions or any additional contractual relationship of any

kind with the Contractor shall be valid and enforceable against UNICEF unless provided by an amendment to this Contract signed by the authorized official of UNICEF.

27. REPLACEMENT OF PERSONNEL UNICEF reserves the right to request the Contractor to replace the assigned personnel if they are not performing to a level that

UNICEF considers satisfactory. After written notification, the Contractor will provide curriculum vitae of appropriate candidates

within three (3) working days for UNICEF review and approval. The Contractor must replace the unsatisfactory personnel within seven (7) working days of UNICEF’s selection.

If one or more key personnel become unavailable, for any reason, for work under the contract, the Contractor shall (i) notify the project authority at least fourteen (14) days in advance, and (ii) obtain the project authority’s approval prior to making any

substitution of key personnel. Key personnel are designated as follows:

(a) Personnel identified in the proposal as key individuals (as a minimum, partners, managers, senior auditors) to be assigned for participation in the performance of the contract.

(b) Personnel whose resumes were submitted with the proposal; and

(c) Individuals who are designated as key personnel by agreement of the Contractor and UNICEF during negotiations. In notifying the project authority, the Contractor shall provide an explanation of circumstances necessitating the proposed

replacement(s) and submit justification and qualification of replacement personnel in sufficient detail to permit evaluation of the

impact on the engagement. Acceptance of a replacement person by the project authority shall not relieve the Contractor from responsibility for failure to meet

the requirements of the contract.

All the other terms and conditions are hereby accepted. The agency will conform to the requirements as listed out by UNICEF

request for proposal - unicef · request for proposal: abuja/2016/pme/001 request for proposal...

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