(CLOSED) Request for Proposal – Study on Living Income Gap in Global Natural Rubber Value Chains – Myanmar
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Introduction & Background
The Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR), is an international Multi-Stakeholder, voluntary membership initiative seeking to lead improvements in the socioeconomic and environmental performance of the natural rubber value chain. Development of the GPSNR was initiated by the CEOs of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Tire Industry Project (TIP) in November 2017. Members of the platform include tire manufacturers, rubber suppliers and processors, vehicle makers and NGOs. Representatives from each of these stakeholder groups have contributed to the development of the Singapore-based platform and the wide-reaching set of priorities that will define GPSNR strategy and objectives.
Through a process led by the Equity Working Group, the Platform has begun an investigation into how value can be equitably distributed across the entire natural rubber value chain. To achieve this aim, it is important for the Platform to gather information about the following metrics in different countries:
i) the prevailing net household income of rubber smallholders;
ii) the detailed cost of production for rubber (input costs, labor etc);
iii) the living income for rubber smallholders;
iv) the living income gap and v) the living income reference price for rubber (the price at which the living income benchmark can be reached).
The Platform has decided to limit the focus of this initial study to Ivory Coast, Indonesia, Thailand, and Myanmar and the consultant is expected to collect information on the aforementioned metrics in Myanmar for this study.
Given that living income data is not readily available for each country, alternative benchmarks should be used where relevant and applicable. A list of potential benchmarks and preliminary data are illustrated in the attached document. To facilitate cross-country comparisons of income data and living income levels, the consultant is expected to use consistent units of measurement (per household / per workforce / per person) throughout this study.
The consultant will collect the information via desktop study, interviewing of GPSNR members, research institutes, social NGOs, governmental organizations, etc. A primary list of stakeholders will be provided by the Secretariat together with the Equity Working Group members. A complementary list will be developed by the consultant. Regular contact and updating to the Equity Working Group together with the Secretariat will be required. Travel plans shall be made by the consultant where possible and necessary.
Submission Guidelines & Requirements
The following submission guidelines & requirements apply to this Request for Proposal:
Proposals will only be accepted from individuals or firms with experience relevant to this project.
Examples of previous relevant work should be provided as well.
A technical proposal must be provided that is not more than 4 pages. This technical proposal must provide an overview of the proposed solution as well as resumes of all key personnel performing the work. In addition, the technical proposal should provide a proposed schedule and milestones, as applicable.
A price proposal must be provided that is not more than 1 pages. This price proposal should indicate the overall fixed price for the project as well as hourly rates and an estimated total number of days.
Proposals must be signed by a representative that is authorized to commit bidder’s company.
Proposals must be received prior to 19th August 2020 to be considered. Proposals should be submitted to stefano.savi@gpsnr.org for consideration.
GPSNR anticipates shortlisting at least two individuals or firms to have more in-depth discussions with, and will make an award to one of these “down-selected” individuals or firms.
Budget
The Platform is anticipating that a total budget of no more than 10,500 Euros be allocated to this engagement
Payment terms shall be:
50% at the signing of the contract
50% on delivery of the final report
Evaluation Factors
GPSNR will rate proposals based on the following factors, with cost being the most important factor:
Responsiveness to the requirements set forth in this Request for Proposal;
Relevant past performance/experience;
Samples of work;
Cost, including an assessment of total cost of ownership;
Technical expertise/experience of bidder and bidder’s staff;
The ability to collect information at the global and local level.
GPSNR reserves the right to award to the bidder that presents the best value to GPSNR as determined solely by GPSNR in its absolute discretion.
The Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR) is an international multi-stakeholder, voluntary membership initiative seeking to lead improvements in the socioeconomic and environmental performance of the natural rubber value chain. Members of the platform include tire manufacturers, rubber producers and processors, vehicle makers, NGOs, and smallholder natural rubber producers.
As of June 2022, GPSNR has 135 smallholder members from 10 countries. Smallholder members on the Platform have consistently advocated for the Platform to implement initiatives on agroforestry and were a catalyst for GPSNR’s commitment on agroforestry announced at COP26 in Glasgow[1].
To advance engagement with smallholders on agroforestry, GPSNR is seeking to hire a consultant to develop coaching materials on rubber agroforestry systems, and to conduct a pilot series of “Introduction to Agroforestry” workshops for smallholders in two to three countries in 2022.
Proposed programmes should be implemented in line with GPSNR environmental and social commitments and values, based on the GPSNR Policy Framework[2].
To collate and prepare global, country, and region-specific peer-reviewed evidence and best-practice materials on agroforestry for natural rubber systems
Content on environmental, economic feasibility of rubber agroforestry systems
Where feasible, collated material to be disseminated to GPSNR smallholder members and their communities even where workshops are not planned for in 2022
Materials would be translated by GPSNR under a separate budget
To conduct pilot workshops for GPSNR smallholder members and their communities, including active integration of women, youth, and minority representation, to introduce agroforestry concepts and practices, and provide guidance and answers for the following questions:
What is possible to grow in your region or specific location, and how can this be achieved? Possible considerations include:
Appropriate farm design
Cultivation practices
Cost estimation
What is the market availability, demand, and potential economic/financial model and value chain of recommended crops, or of particular products, in your region?
How can agroforestry investments benefit smallholders economically, environmentally, and socially?
Deliverables
GPSNR has identified the following countries where materials, and workshops, should be prioritised in 2022:
Cambodia: strong enthusiasm from smallholders, NGOs, and other partners to organise and kickstart agroforestry in the country, where little to none have been implemented at present
Indonesia: agroforestry possibilities and practices would vary widely across the country’s major rubber-producing regions; there is strong interest from smallholders as well; critical to blend or merge more traditional concepts such as jungle rubber with evidenced-based and structured forms of agroforestry
Thailand: a well-organised and budding agroforestry movement is taking root especially in southern Thailand (termed “sustainable natural rubber” by smallholders and the Rubber Authority of Thailand); workshops could further provide a boost to smallholders in the region and country
Next tier of countries: Cote d’Ivoire, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Myanmar
The consultant may propose other priority countries in their proposal and justify their choice of countries based on metrics of their own construction.
The proposal should include key details such as the following:
Methodology of content and curriculum development
Proposed teaching or coaching pedagogy and approach for the workshops
List of local partners or experts, if any, that could be engaged for the workshops
Target number of smallholders in each country
Future Plans
In addition to the pilot series of workshops in 2022 in at least two countries, the consultant should present an outline to consider how the series of pilot “Introduction to Agroforestry Workshops” can be expanded (in terms of countries, content, level of engagement etc.) beyond 2022.
3. TENDER EVALUATION FACTORS
GPSNR will rate proposals based on the following factors:
Responsiveness to the requirements set forth in this Request for Proposal
Relevant past performance/experience/accreditation of the bidder on agroforestry and agricultural production
Samples of work (e.g., previous training or coaching programmes in target countries)
Technical expertise/experience of bidder and bidder’s staff
Proposed timeline of operations
GPSNR reserves the right to award to the bidder that presents the best value to GPSNR as determined solely by GPSNR in its absolute discretion.
4. Expected Timelines
The work shall begin by July 2022 and the various phases shall be completed in accordance with the approximate timeline below:
Activity
Due Date
RFP publication
3 June 2022
Submission deadline for proposals
1 July 2022
Contract Award
8 July 2022
First Workshops Conducted
September 2022
Second Workshops Conducted
October 2022
If Proposed: Third Workshops Conducted
November 2022
Final Review and Project Conclusion
December 2022
Consultants should detail a project timeline with milestones that are approximately in line with the above timeline.
Consultants will also provide fortnightly or monthly progress updates to the GPSNR Capacity Working Group, or on an as-needed basis.
5. Budget
The Platform is anticipating that the total budget of no more than 35,000 EUR be allocated to the project. The approximate expected breakdown for each Stage is as such:
Bidders should outline their expected budget expenditure in the proposal.
Payment terms shall be proposed by the bidder and discussed with GPSNR, in line with each Stage of the project.
6. Evaluation Factors
The proposal should include the following:
A workplan that outlines all key activities in line with the stated Objectives and Deliverables
Timeline and key stages of operations
Budget, including detailed breakdown of expected manpower, logistics, and costs
Description of past work and proof of technical expertise on natural rubber agroforestry systems is highly critical for this RFP
A list of project team members with their roles in the project and associated qualifications
The Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR) is an international multi-stakeholder, voluntary membership initiative seeking to lead improvements in the socioeconomic and environmental performance of the natural rubber value chain. Development of GPSNR was initiated by the CEOs of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Tire Industry Project (TIP) in 2019. Members of the platform include tire manufacturers, rubber suppliers and processors, vehicle makers and NGOs. Representatives from each of these stakeholder groups have contributed to the development of the Singapore-based platform and the wide-reaching set of priorities that define GPSNR strategy and objectives.
The GPSNR Secretariat and the GPSNR Capacity Building Working Group, through the GPSNR Knowledge Sharing Platform Task Force, are jointly overseeing the development and eventual operations and maintenance of a digital GPSNR Knowledge Sharing Platform.
This digital platform is envisaged to be an easily accessible, multi-lingual and expandable knowledge platform for smallholders and other actors based on quality-controlled information. Besides providing technical information on the latest sustainability best practices and Good Agricultural Practices, it will provide access to live market conditions on natural rubber such as prices on key exchanges, projected supply, and demand shifts, as well as overall global market developments. The digital platform will also incorporate communication functions such as live chat and forum with built-in translation tools to allow smallholders to share and communicate seamlessly across different countries. Another crucial aspect will be to safeguard data security and ownership.
GPSNR is seeking proposals to build the above digital platform in mobile application form, and to maintain the application for GPSNR for a trial period of 3-6 months. Details are provided below.
Key Requirements for the Digital Platform
GPSNR has completed an initial Assessment of Status Quo and Evaluation of Knowledge Sharing Platforms for Rubber Smallholders. This included an extensive needs review of smallholders and other key players in the natural rubber value chain with regard to digital applications. Interested bidders can approach the GPSNR Secretariat for a copy of the Report.
The main target user of the platform are natural rubber smallholders and other players in the natural rubber value chain globally.
GPSNR is open to proposals based on the following:
Adopting and adapting an existing platform that is already on the market and accessible to natural rubber smallholders in whatever capacity
In this option, the service provider of the existing platform should provide a template that can be adaptable to suit GPSNR’s stated requirements
Developing a customised platform specifically for GPSNR and its requirements
The custom solution can be hosted and operated either on GPSNR’s IT infrastructure or by the app provider (i.e., delivered as a Software as a Service).
Based on the initial Status Quo Assessment Report, the Platform should have the following key characteristics:
Be an (expandable)multi-lingual open information exchange platform with the following language options:
Minimum from the start: Bahasa Indonesia, English
Ideally including: French, Thai
Expandable in the future: Khmer, Vietnamese, Sinhalese, Burmese, Spanish, Portuguese, Tamil
Host quality-controlled technical information on natural rubber issues that will be first reviewed and endorsed by GPSNR members
Be free-to-use and respecting users’ data privacy
Allow for easy access by smallholders using simple or commonly available tools such as smartphones
Data security and privacy to be safeguarded at all times
The platform should be built such that it can be expanded or further customisable to incorporate more features in the future
System architecture and infrastructure: it should be possible to use the app via the iOS and Android app system
Building on the above, the Platform should be able to host, at minimum, the following content and functions (multi-lingual):
Daily natural rubber prices, automated to reflect live updates based on local, regional and global prices
Information on local or global sustainability best practices, in the most accessible digital formats (pdf, video, ppt, text, etc.)
Information on Good Agricultural Practices, in the most accessible digital formats (pdf, video, ppt, text, etc.)
Forum / chat / helpline for smallholders to discuss news or other issues and exchange experiences and best practices
Platform developers are welcomed to recommend other essential features or functions based on their technical and user experience expertise.
Deliverables
By the end of the project, the consultant should have completed the following:
Phase 1: Preparatory Recommendations
Recommend detailed technical requirements for the digital platform or application, including requirements for data security, ownership, back-office administration, documentation, support, maintenance and performance criteria
Prepare screen designs prior to software development
Engage with preliminary pilot calls with smallholders to gather further feedback and inputs
The above to be reviewed in discussions with the GPSNR Capacity Building Working Group
Phase 2: Software Development
Build the digital platform in line with the stated requirements, either by adopting an existing digital platform, or developing a customised platform or application for GPSNR
Continuous review with the GPSNR Capacity Building Working Group
Minimum viable product (MVP)
A final graphic design and user interface is apparent.
The core functions can be used and demonstrated.
Initial content has been input.
Beta version of the app
Final graphic design and user interface have been applied.
All functions can be used.
All content has been input.
Phase 3: Platform Pilot Period
Maintain the platform for a trial period of 3-6 months
exact costs and timeframe to be proposed, considering manpower, technical, licensing etc. needs
Work with GPSNR to engage in continuous user and quality assurance tests and feedback to further refine the digital platform or application as required
Submission Guidelines & Requirements
The following submission guidelines & requirements apply to this Request for Proposal:
A detailed technical proposal must be provided. This technical proposal must provide an overview of the proposed methodology for the three Phases of the project. In addition, the technical proposal should provide a proposed schedule and milestones, as applicable.
A detailed price proposal must be provided. This price proposal should indicate the overall fixed price or expected price range for each Phase of the project, including daily rates and an estimated total number of days for each Phase of the project.
Proposals will only be accepted from individuals or firms with experience relevant to this project. Examples of previous relevant work should be provided, as well as resumes of all key personnel performing the work.
Proposals must be signed by a representative that is authorised to commit the bidder’s company.
Project Timelines
Request for Proposal Issuance
29 August 2022
Proposal submitted by consultant to yeo.siyuan@gpsnr.org
26 September 2022
Selection of consultant / Notification to Unsuccessful Bidders
7 October 2022
Completion of Phase 1: Preparatory Recommendations
November 2022
Completion of Phase 2: Software Development
To be proposed by the bidder
Completion of Phase 3: Platform Pilot
To be proposed by the bidder
Pilot period should conclude no later than June 2023
The above timeline is open to further adjustments based on discussions with the consultant and GPSNR’s ongoing key milestones.
Budget
The Platform is anticipating a total budget of up to 140,000 EUR for all three Phases of the project.
This figure could be adjusted based on bidders’ expert recommendations on costs and timeline, and reviewed based on the outcomes put forth following each Phase of the project.
Payment terms shall be:
60% at the signing of the contract
5% upon completion of Phase 1: Preparatory Recommendations
20% upon completion of Phase 2: Software Development
15% upon completion of Phase 3: Platform Pilot
Evaluation Factors
GPSNR will rate proposals based on the following factors:
Responsiveness to the requirements set forth in this RFP
Methodology for completing all three Phases of the project
Costs and expected timeline for all three Phases of the project
Technical expertise/experience, including team composition, past performance/experience
When evaluating bids, GPSNR may request for more information as part of a full due diligence to understand bidders’ technical and commercial background, assess potential conflicts of interests and independence vis-à-vis natural rubber smallholders and the wider agricultural sector, and level of competence for the project.
GPSNR reserves the right to award to the bidder that presents the best value to GPSNR as determined solely by GPSNR in its absolute discretion.
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