(CLOSED) Request for Proposal – GPSNR Assurance Models Review

Through a process led by the Strategy and Objectives Working Group the Platform has developed stated goals with a strong focus on developing a framework that supports and sustains responsible supply chain . Important among the information needed to undergo these developments of is a better understanding of the social risks including (but not limiting to) Human Rights and Labour Rights in the Natural Rubber value chains, globally.

Each country has its own governance and social structure which contributes to different social risks from country to country. While these risks are associated to the wider population, there are specific characteristics of social risks that are particularly associated to agricultural production. For the countries where law enforcement is weak, there is a risk that the workers are exposed to poor work conditions without any access to a fair complaint mechanism.

Although the initial focus of this project is on human rights and labour rights (including migrant workers), the consultant is expected to elaborate how human and labour rights are associated to other social risks (i.e. land acquisition, community health, safety and security, etc.) in order to recommend risk mitigation methods to the Strategy and Objectives Working Group.

The consultant is expected to develop generic risk profile at a global level, and specific risk profile at a regional level. The tentative regions for specific risks study are proposed as following:

• – Production Unit and Rubber Block Processing Unit- Southeast Asia (Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam), Africa (Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana) and Latin America (Brazil, Guatemala);
• – Tyre Manufacturing Unit – China, Southeast Asia, Europe and US.

The list of regions above is tentative and can be adjusted upon the discussion between the consultant and the Strategy and Objectives Working Group members. After the risk profiles are developed, the consultant is expected to come up with recommendations for risk mitigation strategies for each region.

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 Strategy and Objectives Working Group members. A complementary list will be developed by the consultant. Regular contact and updating to the Strategy and Objective Working Group together with the Secretariat will be required. It is estimated that there will be the need for a series of face to face meetings in South East Asia over the course of the project. Travel plans shall be made by the consultant

The following submission guidelines & requirements apply to this Request for Proposal:

1. Proposals will only be accepted from individuals or firms with experience relevant to this project.
2. Examples of previous relevant work should be provided as well.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Proposals must be signed by a representative that is authorized to commit bidder’s company.
6. Proposals must be received prior to 10th January 2020 to be considered. Proposals should be submitted to stefano.savi@gpsnr.org for consideration.
7. 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

Download full Request for Proposal here

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 2018. Members of the
platform include tire manufacturers, rubber suppliers and processors, vehicle
makers, smallholder rubber growers, 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 strategies and objectives.

Through a process led by the Policy
Toolbox and Implementation Guidance Working Group (WG1), the General Assembly
approved a Policy Framework in September 2020 that outlines the specific
commitments to sustainable natural rubber that GPSNR company members must
include in their public policies or other relevant documents.  GPSNR ordinary member companies are required
to create new or update existing policies to align with the Policy Framework by
March 2021 (companies will have a possibility to request an extension provided
they can demonstrate progress in developing or updating their policies).

WG1 is finalizing Baseline
Reporting Requirements (BRRs) for ordinary member companies to assess where
they are in their sustainability journey. 
Once WG1 finalizes the BRRs, it will send them to the GPSNR Executive
Committee (EC) for review and approval. 
Company members will be expected to provide the GPSNR Secretariat with
their baseline reporting data in 2021 (date to be confirmed).

The next step is for GPSNR to
develop the Implementation Guidance and future Reporting Requirements
as they pertain to the specific commitments laid out in the GPSNR policy
components.  The Implementation Guidance
and Reporting Requirements will vary depending on where a member company sits
within the natural rubber supply chain, so this work will be organized by the
following stakeholder categories: 
natural rubber producers/processors and traders, tire makers and other
natural rubber product manufacturers, and auto makers and other end users. 

In order to achieve this, the
Platform is seeking a fixed term consultancy to facilitate the development of
the Implementation Guidance and Reporting Requirements for each of the 3
stakeholder categories.  While WG1 will
provide oversight to this process, GPSNR will invite the creation of focus
groups for each of the three stakeholder categories to enable broader participation
of members from each of the stakeholder groups (although focus groups can also
include members from other stakeholder categories).  The consultant first will facilitate the
development of the Implementation Guidance for each of the 3 categories by
reviewing guidance and requirements from other initiatives, such as the
Accountability Framework, as well as certification schemes such as RSPO, FSC,
PEFC, Cocoa Forests Initiative, and others to prepare draft guidance.  The consultant will gather input from the WG1
Co-chairs and the GPSNR Secretariat on the draft, and will then facilitate
various rounds of discussion with the focus groups to finalize the guidance for
each stakeholder category.   All comments
will be recorded in a spreadsheet and the decision-making process for
incorporating or rejecting comments will be clearly documented.  The Implementation Guidance will include a
corresponding Action Plan template for companies to submit to GPSNR on an
annual basis to indicate which activities they intend to focus on in the coming
year.

Once the focus groups have agreed on the language for the Implementation Guidance and the Action Plan template, they will be submitted to the broader WG for approval.   Meanwhile, the Consultant will develop the Reporting Requirements for each stakeholder category.  The Reporting Requirements will build off of the BRRs and will align with the Implementation Guidance.  The consultant will also review other reporting schemes that members report into, such as ZSL Spott, Global Reporting Initiatives, CDP Forests, and Ecovadis to identify where GPSNR requirements are similar and to align wherever possible.  The Consultant will work with the appropriate focus groups to further design the Reporting Requirements for each stakeholder category.  Once approved by the focus groups, the Reporting Requirements will go to the broader WG1 for approval, and then on to the EC.

Submission Guidelines & Requirements

The following submission guidelines & requirements apply to this Request for Proposal:

1. Proposals will only be accepted from individuals or firms with experience relevant to this project.
2. Examples of previous relevant work should be provided as well.
3. A technical proposal must be provided that is not more than 6 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.
4. A price proposal must be provided that is not more than 1 page. This price proposal should indicate the overall fixed price for the project as well as daily rates and an estimated total number of days.
5. Proposals must be signed by a representative that is authorized to commit bidder’s company.
6. Proposals must be received prior to 5th February 2021 to be considered. Proposals should be submitted to aidan@gpsnr.org and stefano.savi@gpsnr.org for consideration.
7. GPSNR anticipates shortlisting at least two individuals or firms with which to have more in-depth discussions, and will make an award to one of these short-listed individuals or firms.
8. GPSNR reserves the right to amend the scope of this RFP in order to get the most suitable consultant.

RFP & Project Timelines

The Request for Proposal timeline is as follows:

Budget

The Platform is anticipating that a total budget of no more than 35,000 SGD be allocated to this engagement.

Payment terms shall be:
● 20% at the signing of the contract
● 30% at the midpoint date to be agreed upon and memorialized in the contract based on the submitted work plan
● 50% on delivery of the final report

Evaluation Factors

GPSNR will rate proposals based on the following factors:

1. Responsiveness to the requirements set forth in this Request for Proposals
2. Relevant past performance/experience
3. Samples of work
4. Cost, including an assessment of total cost of ownership.
5. Technical expertise/experience of bidder and the bidder’s staff

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.

View and download full RFP here

Proposals should be submitted to stefano.savi@gpsnr.org and aidan@gpsnr.org for consideration