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 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.

In 2021, GPSNR’s Capacity Building Working Group has identified that a digital knowledge sharing platform (KSP) is crucial to GPSNR’s future operations.  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 called Rubber Wiki. 

Rubber Wiki will serve as a centralized digital hub, enabling smallholder rubber producers worldwide to access to technical information on relevant global news, latest sustainability best practices and Good Agricultural Practices, daily natural rubber prices, weather forecast and recommended activities, communication features and others. It will also facilitate peer-to-peer exchange of best practices, working conditions, and experiences, fostering coordination and collaboration within the global natural rubber production community.

GPSNR successfully completed the initial phase of the project, which involved conducting a comprehensive assessment of existing digital tools and evaluating the digital capabilities and needs of smallholder rubber producers. Currently, GPSNR is in the midst of the second phase, focusing on the development of multi-lingual mobile application features for the KSP. The second phase is expected to be completed in mid-December 2023.

To fully realize the Rubber Wiki’s potential, GPSNR is now seeking proposals to strengthen the critical third phase, which centers on content development for Rubber Wiki. 

This is a crucial phase as it will enable the KSP to achieve its core objectives by facilitating effective knowledge exchange and collaboration among smallholder rubber producers worldwide. Through the development of high-quality and tailored content, GPSNR aims to address the specific challenges and requirements faced by smallholders. 

To ensure the content’s relevance and effectiveness, interested bidders should undertake comprehensive adaptations for the contents that take into consideration of both the global nature of the industry and the unique contexts of smallholder rubber producers in different regions. 

Objectives

 

1.        Inventory & Develop Materials/Modules
Conduct a comprehensive inventory of content related to GAP, disease fighting, agroforestry, tapping qualities, etc., addressing smallholders’ challenges. Ensure that this content aligns with GPSNR’s values and guidelines. Incorporate resources from members/partners and develop new content if there’s no suitable materials available (subject to discussion and approval by the KSP Task Force) to cater to specific and diverse needs of smallholders.

2.      Consistency & Adaptability
To ensure all materials/modules are consistent and adaptable across regions. Bridge regional requirements through research and suitable content, style, and languages for effective knowledge sharing.

3.      Ownership & Compliance
Secure rightful ownership of acquired/developed content, duly registered with GPSNR. Address copyright/licensing concerns for content protection.

4.     Integration & User-Friendly
Evaluate materials/modules for seamless integration into the KSP platform. Implement adaptations (formatting, language localization, and technical optimization) for easy access and navigation.

5.      Functional Implementation
Ensure operational efficiency and functionality of the KSP platform, encouraging active user engagement in knowledge sharing.

 

Activities Required

The proposed studies/activities required for Phase 3 – Content Development for the KSP are as follows:

1.        Identify, Adapt and Develop Materials/Modules

–         Conduct a comprehensive inventory of existing materials/modules related to Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), disease fighting, agroforestry, tapping qualities, and other relevant topics specifically tailored for smallholder natural rubber producers. The determination of relevant topics will involve discussions with the KSP Task Force to ensure alignment with the specific needs and challenges faced by smallholders in the natural rubber production sector.

–         Identify and collaborate with members or partner organizations to access relevant content resources and incorporate them into the KSP.

–         Conduct research and develop new content materials/modules to fill identified gaps and cater to the specific challenges faced by smallholders in different regions.

–         Evaluate the identified content materials/modules for consistency across different regions to ensure alignment with local regulations, best practices, and specific challenges faced by smallholder rubber producers in each respective region.

–         Implement strategies to ensure that content is consistent and adaptable to the local context.

–         Determine and incorporate the necessary adaptations, such as adapting the materials’ content to comply with local requirements, formatting, language localization, and more.

2.      Testing & Adjustment / Quality Control
Conducting acceptance testing and review of the modules/materials to ensure accuracy, reliability, and adherence to industry best practices. This includes verifying information, checking for inconsistencies or errors and engaging subject matter experts for peer review. Necessary adjustments should be made based on feedback and evaluation to ensure high-quality and user-friendly content.

3.      Ownership Rights and Copyright Compliance

–         Ensure all content materials/modules acquired or developed are rightfully obtained, and their ownership is registered with GPSNR.

–         Address any copyright or licensing concerns to secure the intellectual property rights of the content.

4.     Integration and Implementation

–         Evaluate and adapt the identified content materials for seamless integration into the KSP platform.

–         Implement, test, and make necessary adaptations, such as formatting, language localization, and technical optimization, to ensure easy user access to the developed contents.

5.      Monitoring, Evaluation, and Continuous Improvement
Monitor platform usage, evaluate its effectiveness, and continuously update and enhance the platform based on feedback and evaluation.

6.      Progress reporting
Provide a brief summary of the activities undertaken during the reporting period. 

The proposed durations for each activities stated above are:

Expected Deliverables

1. Identify, Adapt and Develop Materials/Modules

a.      Development of a minimum of 50 materials/modules covering:

                                                              i.      Proposed topics of Materials/Modules:

1)       Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)

2)     Disease Fighting

3)     Agroforestry

4)    Tapping Qualities

5)     Improving yields through approved rubber clones

6)     Others relevant topics addressing specific challenges faced by smallholders (subject to discussion and approval by the KSP Task Force)

                                                            ii.      Regional Coverage: Indonesia, Thailand, Côte d’Ivoire, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Liberia, India, Brazil, Ghana

                                                          iii.      Languages:  Bahasa Indonesia, English, Thai, French, Khmer, Bahasa Malaysia, Vietnam, Sinhalese, Burmese, Spanish, Portuguese, Tamil

                                                          iv.      Format: text-based materials, audio-visual contents (such as movies, videos, animations, cartoons, infographics) and other suitable formats.

1. 2. Creation of a guidance document for users and a content inventory system for content managers, providing detailed information on modules/materials and relevant content resources. 

2. Testing & Adjustment / Quality Control
   1. Submission of a quality control report on the developed modules/materials, inclusive of language localization and formatting testing to ensure adaptability for different regions.
   2. Implement feedback mechanisms allowing users to provide input on the content’s usefulness and effectiveness.

3. Ownership Rights and Copyright Compliance

●       Provide copyright/licensing documents demonstrating the rightful acquisition or development of materials/modules and registration of intellectual property rights with GPSNR.

4. Integration and Implementation

●       Demonstration of the complete integration and implementation of developed modules/materials into the KSP, ensuring accessibility and usability within the platform.

5. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Continuous Improvement

●       Collection and submit report on of data on user interactions, time spent on modules, user feedback, and other relevant usage statistics, along with lessons learned or findings. 

6. Progress Reporting

●       Submission of a mid-term report containing project summary, key milestones, module/materials development summary, quality control details, intellectual property rights information, challenges and recommendations.

●       The final report and presentation will document the project’s process and outcomes, providing a roadmap for future Knowledge Sharing Platform enhancements.

 

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. Examples of previous relevant work should be provided, as well as resumes of all key personnel performing the work. We welcome joint-organizations to submit proposals for this RFP.
2. A detailed technical proposal must be provided. The technical proposal should include, but is not limited to, the following:

●       A workplan that outlines proposed methodology to carry out all key activities stated above. Interested bidders are welcome to propose additional activities that are deemed important in ensuring successful executive of this project.

●       Key outputs align with the expected deliverables stated above.

●       Timeline and key operational stages.

●       Price proposal (budget), detailing an overall fixed price and a breakdown of expected costs for manpower, logistics, and other project-related expenses.

●       Description of past work and technical expertise that is relevant to this RFP.

●       A list of project team members with their roles in the project and associated qualifications.

3. Proposals must be signed by a representative that is authorised to commit the bidder’s company.
4. Proposals must be received prior to the 24^th November 2023 to be considered. Proposals should be submitted to cheewei@gpsnr.org for consideration.
5. GPSNR reserves the right to amend the scope and budget of this RFP in order to get the most suitable consultant for each topic.

 

Project Timelines

 

RFP publication	8 November 2023
Submission deadline for proposals	24 November 2023
Evaluation of proposals and follow up	24 November – 7 December 2023
Contract Award and Notification to Unsuccessful Bidders	8 December 2023
Proposed Project commencement date	15 December 2023
Mid-term review	March 2024
Final review	August 2024

The above timeline is open to further adjustments based on discussions with the interested bidder(s) and GPSNR’s ongoing key milestones.

 

Budget

The Platform is anticipating that a total budget of no more than 80,000 EUR be allocated to this RFP.

The proposed payment terms are as follows:

●       20% at the signing of the contract

 

●       30% at the Mid-term Review (the date will be agreed upon and documented in the contract)

●       50% on Final Review

These payment terms are subject to further adjustments based on discussions with the interested bidder(s) and the project timeline. 

Evaluation Factors

GPSNR will rate proposals based on the following factors, with cost being the most important factor:

1.        Responsiveness to the requirements set forth in this Request for Proposal

2.      Relevant past performance/ experience

3.      Samples of work

4.     Proposed price/budget

5.      Technical expertise/experience of bidder and bidder’s staff

6.      Proposed timeline

 

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.

View RFP Document 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. Members of the platform include rubber products manufacturers, natural rubber suppliers and processors, end users and NGOs. 

Through a process led by the Strategy and Objectives Working Group (Risk Subgroup), a risk analysis document has been developed for members to identify and manage risk. In its current iteration, the document contains identified social and environmental risks reflected in the GPSNR Policy Framework, information that is required to assess the tools, characteristics of high/low risk rubber production regions and potential mitigation measures. 

GPSNR is seeking a consultant to review and revise the risk analysis document and to work with the Risk Subgroup to suggest a guidance framework for members to identify risk thresholds with suggested mitigation measures. Members need to be able to invest in making rubber supplies sustainable and to make sourcing and engagement decisions based on preliminary risk assessments. Given members’ general lack of knowledge about the details of their supplies, risk assessments in many cases would have to be done at increasing levels of resolution, starting at country level, moving to districts, and finally to the actual plantation and farm level.

Objectives     

1. Review and further complete the sourcing risks document (see below ‘Scope of Work’)
2. Propose a methodology aiming to assess risks at different levels (country, district, and plantation/farm level), and the tools that
   1) are currently available to do so, or that
   2) would need to be developed, and where possible, an indication of the costs
3. Suggest the risk thresholds at country, district, and plantation/farm level at which risks have a reasonable chance to be successfully mitigated through active interventions by members or GPSNR in general. 
4. Suggest potential risk mitigation actions at the country, district, and plantation/farm level and provide a list of recommended existing tools (if any) to mitigate potential risks
5. Suggest the risk thresholds at country, district, and plantation/farm level at which sourcing should not be considered (i.e., when risk mitigation cannot be implemented).
6. Align the recommendations with the Accountability Framework Initiative (in particular, the Supply Chain Management guidance),  and link to source documents utilised
   -The review of tools, datasets and frameworks for risk assessment and mitigation is not limited to existing tools applied for the rubber industry,  the consultant can and is encouraged to draw on the experience of other commodities (palm oil / cocoa) if applicable.

7. Work closely with the members of GPSNR’s Risk Task Force to guide the above analysis.
8. Suggest members of other tropical commodities platforms who focus on risk assessment and mitigation and whom GPSNR’s Risk Task Force may consider contacting.

Scope of Work

For each of the five GPSNR Policy Framework components listed below, the consultant is expected to recommend methods for risk assessment and risk mitigation and the tools and baseline databases available to conduct them. 

Detailed guidance is provided in GPSNR’s Risk Analysis Working Document (available to bidding consultants upon request to the stefano.savi@gpsnr.org). 

The consultant should reference and build on the following work

• Risk Analysis Working Document Draft (Risk Task Force)
• GPSNR-REP-A02-006 Review of Transparency & Traceability Tools & Solutions
• GPSNR Policy Component
• Spatial data and mapping tools for detecting deforestation and threats to HCV/S areas in rubber production landscapes

The consultant is to populate each of the listed components of the GPSNR Policy Framework detailed in the Risk Analysis Working Document. The policy subsets were developed based the following list of required information and the consultant is encouraged to use the list when doing so: 

1. Risks most likely to be encountered
2. Risk assessment methods at country level
3. Risk assessment methods at district level
4. Risk assessment methods at plantation/farm level
5. Risk level before mitigation at which rubber should not be purchased at country level 
6. Risk level before mitigation at which rubber should not be purchased at district level
7. Risk level before mitigation at which rubber should not be purchased at plantation/farm level
8. Risk mitigation methods at country level
9. Risk mitigation methods at district level
10. Risk mitigation methods at plantation/farm level
11. Risk level after mitigation at which rubber should not be purchased at country level 
12. Risk level after mitigation at which rubber should not be purchased at district level
13. Risk level after mitigation at which rubber should not be purchased at plantation/farm level

The consultant is to focus on this subset of GPSNR Policy Framework components. Detailed guidance for each component (i.e., gaps identified by the Risk Subgroup members) have been provided (See ‘Annex’). 

1. Deforestation (see GPSNR Policy Framework component 2.1.2):

Background: Most natural rubber is produced by smallholders operating plantations in multiple use mosaic landscapes.

Task: Identify methods to assess the risk that current operations or future expansion of some of these plantations harm HCV/HCS, suggest potential approaches to mitigate that risk, and suggest quantitative thresholds when risk is high enough to conduct mitigation activities, and when buyers should refrain from sourcing because mitigation has failed. Consider the applicability of available maps for use in natural rubber supply chains, taking into account its specificities. (See ‘Annex A: Deforestation for details) 

2. Supporting long term protection of natural forests, restoration of degraded rubber landscapes (see GPSNR Policy Framework component 2.2):

Task: In a rubber smallholder context, the consultant is expected to suggest ways how the downstream supply chain can help to protect remaining HCV/HCS areas and other natural ecosystems and help restore at least those crucial to re-establish connectivity between remaining blocks. (See ‘Annex B: Supporting long term protection of natural forests, restoration of degraded rubber landscape’ for details)

3. Fire use + Land Prep, Fire use + Land Management (see GPSNR Policy Framework component 2.3)

Task: Assess and refine current characteristics of High/Low risk at a country or region level depending on available information and standards. The consultant is advised to focus on defining and quantifying thresholds for the density of alerts to characterize areas of high and low risk. An example could be X instances of fire reported in a specified area over a year would be considered a high-risk area. 

4. Labour (see GPSNR Policy Framework Components 3.6)

Task: Identify methods to assess the risk of poor labour practices (e.g., poor working conditions and health and safety risks, child labour/forced labour) or practices and suggest potential approaches to mitigate that risk, and suggest quantitative thresholds when risk is high enough to conduct mitigation activities, and when buyers should refrain from sourcing because mitigation has failed. (See ‘Annex C: Labour’ for details)

A suggested focus on but non-exhaustive list:

Health and Safety
Working conditions (hours worked, rest days)
Child labour/Forced labour

5. Human Rights (see GPSNR Policy Framework component 3.6)

Task: Identify methods to assess the risk of human rights infringement (e.g., low income/wages, IPLC rights), suggest potential approaches to mitigate that risk, and suggest quantitative thresholds when risk is high enough to conduct mitigation activities, and when buyers should refrain from sourcing because mitigation has failed. (See ‘Annex D: Human Rights’ for details)

A suggested focus on but non-exhaustive list:
Income (farm owners) and wages (farm workers)
IPLC Rights with appropriate context for Natural Rubber supply chain

Expected Deliverables

GPSNR expects the consultant to:

1. Complete and finalize the risks assessment drafted in order to define a comprehensive set of questions to assess and mitigate risks based on the:
   1. Objectives listed above, (including the reviewing of tools in Objective 4, see ‘Objectives’) 
   2. Tasks for each policy component listed in the Scope of Work and their detailed guidance in the Annex
2. Consultant to pitch their findings, recommendations and opinion on our risk assessment and approach.

Proposal Format and Contents

The proposal should include the following:

1. A workplan that outlines all key activities of the deliverables (as outlined in Expected Deliverables above)
2. Timeline and key stages of operations (based on Expected Timeline below)
3. Budget, including detailed breakdown of expected manpower, logistics, and costs (based on Budget below)
4. Description of past work and technical expertise that is relevant to this RFP
5. A list of project team members with their roles in the project and associated qualifications
   

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 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 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 the 7th of October 2022 to be considered. Proposals should be submitted to stefano.savi@gpsnr.org for consideration. 
7. GPSNR reserves the right to amend the scope and budget of this RFP in order to get the most suitable consultant for each topic. 

Project Timelines

RFP Publication Note: Consultants should email cheryl@gpsnr.org to share any indicative or prospective interest to submit a proposal. This would allow GPSNR to share updates to the tender (where any) directly with the consultant.	26 August 2022
Proposals submitted by consultant to stefano.savi@gpsnr.org	7 October 2022
Selection of Top Bidders / Notification to Unsuccessful Bidders	27 October 2022
Contract Award / Notification to Unsuccessful Bidders	28 October 2022
Phase I – Review 1 of Deliverable 1: Complete and finalize the risks assessment drafted in order to define a comprehensive set of questions to assess and mitigate risks.	November 2022
Phase 2 – Review 2 (if needed)/Completion of Deliverable 1: Complete and finalize the risks assessment drafted in order to define a comprehensive set of questions to assess and mitigate risks.	December 2022
Phase 3 – Completion of Deliverable 2: Consultant to pitch its findings, recommendations and opinion on our risks assessment and approach	December 2022
Presentation to and discussion with GPSNR Executive Committee for feedback (via digital meeting)	December 2022
Phase 4 – Delivery of Deliverable 1 and 2 to GPSNR	Jan 2023

Budget

The Platform is anticipating that a total budget of no more than €25,000 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

The allocation of the payment shall be based on the net amount after travel expenses, if deemed necessary by both the consultant and Secretariat, are incurred, and documented.

Evaluation Factors

GPSNR will rate proposals based on the following factors, with cost being the most important factor:

1. Responsiveness to the requirements set forth in this Request for Proposal
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 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.

Annex

Annex A: Deforestation

Gaps that the group has identified in the Risk Analysis Working Document:

• Is it possible, and if so how, to assess this risk at a coarse grain country or province / district level, or does such an assessment have to be done at the landscape / plantation level?  
  -Which tools (e.g., publicly or commercially available HCV/HCS maps exist for which rubber growing areas? 
  -How do these existing maps need to be queried and what answers can they provide to members?  
  -Should existing tools not be sufficient, what tools would need to be developed to assess risk at a satisfactory level, sufficient to protect HCVs and HCS forests?  

• What is the likelihood of existing, known smallholders to expand into HCV/HCS?  
  -Is there a link to the distance between current plantations and blocks of HCV/HCS?  
  -Is there a link between the occurrence of fire hotspots, rubber plantations and blocks of HCV/HCS? 
  -If there is, what intensity of fire hotspots can indicate what levels of risk to HCV/HCS? 
  -What level of detail do maps have to have to identify such a link with reasonable accuracy? 
  -What is the likelihood of previously unknown smallholders to open forest for new plantations? 
  -What are the early warning signs for either? How can they be detected, analysed, and applied? 
  -At what time will it be necessary to conduct detailed plantation level surveys?  

• At what risk threshold should downstream buyers engage in on-site surveys and risk mitigation activities? 
  -Can such threshold be quantified or at least categorized into no/low versus high risk, and if so, how? 
  -What tools exist for such on-site activities and who can apply them?  
  -How can the impact of such risk mitigation activities be evaluated?  
  -At what threshold should buyers refrain from buying supplies from the assessed area? 

For more details, please click this link

Annex B: Supporting long term protection of natural forests, restoration of degraded rubber landscapes 

Gaps that the group has identified in the Risk Analysis Working Document:

• How to assess the capability of local government to exercise effective protection of legal protected areas (e.g., based on trajectory of forest loss in surrounding protected areas or based on gov budgets)? 
• How to assess the presence of effective landscape or jurisdictional initiatives in the area? 
• How can the remaining natural forests be protected and how can the restored blocks of degraded rubber landscapes be mapped and prioritized?  
• How can smallholders be integrated in this process?  
• How can the commercial supply chain join local private and government efforts?  
• How can supply chain members best join hands to financially and/or practically support them? 

Annex C: Labour

Gaps that the group has identified in the Risk Analysis Working Document:

• Is it possible, and if so how, to assess this risk at a province / district level (coarser than farm level)? 
  -Which tools (e.g., publicly, or commercially available) exist to assess these socio-economic data? 
  -How do these solutions query and (if possible) summarize data at a coarse-grained level and what answers can they provide to members?  

• At what risk threshold should downstream buyers engage in on-site surveys and risk mitigation activities?  
  -Can such threshold be quantified or at least categorized into no/low versus high risk, and if so, how?
  -What tools exist for such on-site activities and who can apply them?  
  -How can the impact such risk mitigation activities be evaluated?  
  -At what threshold should buyers refrain from buying supplies from the assessed area?   

Annex D: Human Rights

Gaps that the group has identified in the Risk Analysis Working Document:

• Is it possible, and if so how, to assess this risk at a province / district level (coarser than farm level)? 
  -Which tools (e.g., publicly, or commercially available) exist to assess these socio-economic data?  
  -How do these solutions query and (if possible) summarize data at a coarse-grained level and what answers can they provide to members

• At what risk threshold should downstream buyers engage in on-site surveys and risk mitigation activities?  
  -Can such threshold be quantified or at least categorized into no/low versus high risk, and if so, how?  
  -What tools exist for such on-site activities and who can apply them?  
  -How can the impact such risk mitigation activities be evaluated?  
  -At what threshold should buyers refrain from buying supplies from the assessed area?