Appel à consultation – FHI360 Retour vers les opportunités

Attachment A
Scope of  Work

Program Background

ACEA Tunisia (Action Collaborative pour les Exportations Artisanales, or “Collaborative Action for the Export of Handicraft Products”) is a 6-year project funded by the U.S. Department of State and implemented by FHI 360. Its goal is to help artisans, especially those who are socially or geographically marginalized, to commercialize their products, and hence promote greater social and economic equity. Where possible, the project places a special emphasis on assisting artisans to export.

This project is helping to empower artisans and local communities by guiding and advising them using a cluster approach. Members of the Cluster (beneficiaries) meet in workshops and work in groups to learn and share various skills, in conjunction with relevant support entities and technical experts. To date, ACEA has launched cluster development activities in two sectors in Tunisia: The Wiki PAM cluster in Northwest Tunisia, for essential oils and related natural products and Olive wood kitchenware and tableware cluster (in Sfax and Sidi Bouzid). Recently, ACEA has identified a third handicraft sector, Margoums and Kilims Carpets of the region of Dkhilet Toujane in the governorate of Gabes.

The typical Carpets and rugs of Toujane region are famous for their unique design of ancient Amazigh culture. Although the sector exhibits an opportunity to regional economy, the local products remain under-valued.

As this sector remains poorly investigated, ACEA is seeking a consulting firm to conduct an in-depth market analysis and design and implement a capacity building program in clustering approach.

Objectives of Consultancy

The  supplier or consultant will conduct an international market analysis and a detailed market segmentation strategy for carpet’s value chains in Tunisia. The goal is to scan the current carpet market, at the local and international level, and to gather as much data as possible in order to have an overview of the Tunisian carpet handicraft sector positioning at the global scale, as well as to provide a list of recommendations for upgrading efforts needed to achieve export growth in the targeted segment.

1. defining the relevant product categories,
2. describing the global value chain,
3. identifying the most attractive market segments
4. conducting a detailed competitive analysis of the selected cluster
5. providing recommendations.

Besides the market segmentation study, the supplier/consultant will support FHI360 in building project staff (up to 10 persons) capacities in clustering methodologies which includes a high-level review of project methodology and a 3-day training in clustering for project staff that would include :

1. Origin and objectives of the approach, how to ensure success of a cluster
2. Cluster’s role in rural development, cooperatives development and handicraft sector
3. Internal benchmarking experiences
4. Tools for building, organizing, managing, and internationalizing clusters
5. How to recruit members and build long-term sustainable business and financial models for cluster initiatives

Detailed Tasks and Deliverables

In-depth international market analysis. It aims to review and assess demand for production and competitiveness in the international handmade carpet market. The international consulting firm will work to characterize the industry in which the cluster is globally competing. This will include an analysis of channels and end markets in handicrafts. General competitive analysis, trying to include most information possible to understand the degree of attractiveness of industries of main market segments identified:

• Global supply:
  • Global production
  • Main producing countries (names, production capacity, etc.) and evolution.
  • Export rate of main countries
  • Ranking of the country in compared to the global panorama
  • Main international players: who are the main companies at a global level? Short description about them (activity, turnover, employees, recent evolution)
  • All the information necessary to understand the industry globally
• Global demand:
  • The global markets: what countries are consuming the most? Why?
  • Evolution of the demand (of the main markets)
  • What are the main distribution channels?
  • What are the main distributors as companies?
  • What kind of products /services are sold today?
• Main trends
  • MARKET TRENDS: Trend and evolution of the consumption during the last years: what criteria impact the demand/purchase, how the consumption is evolving, predicted consumption for the future, etc.
  • Impact on the INDUSTRY (how does the industry change to respond to the trends):
  • How is the sector evolving?
  • Main factors that might affect the future of the sector, if the demand is increasing or not, etc.
  • Characterize the industry (business) in which the cluster is globally competing (turnover, business growth, major markets and attractiveness, major global players, identifying local sophisticated demand, regional and global list “competitors” existing, etc. …)
• Provide recommendations regarding the suggested positioning of Tunisian handmade Margoum and Kilims Carpets

Alongside the carpet’s trends and identification of competitors, the supplier/consultant will also investigate the cultural, traditional trends and events related to the handmade carpet market.

The supplier/consultant shall provide recommendations regarding the suggested positioning of Tunisian Handicraft Carpets.

• Detailed market segmentation study: This part is necessary to better identify purchasers’ needs in order to conceive business strategy for the targeted sector.
  • The supplier/consultant will conduct an international benchmarking study and analysis of international cases is expected.
  • All gathered Data will be examined to identify feasible strategic options for the cluster.
  • The supplier/consultant will provide recommendations for upgrading pathways to improve and develop Tunisian artisans.
  • The study will also include an analysis overall technology and consumer trends, benchmarking of international competitors, purchasing criteria in the most attractive segments for Tunisian producers, and strategic options, Key Success Factors and recommendations for upgrading efforts needed to achieve export growth in the targeted segments.

All along, the supplier/consultant shall provide recommendations for linkages between inclusive tourism and handicrafts at a global scale.

After submission of the draft final report, ACEA will provide comments and feedback, after which a final report will be submitted in Word with a summary in PowerPoint, both in French and English.

• Capacity building in clustering methodology: The supplier/consultant will support building project staff (up to 10 persons) capacity in Clustering methodologies. This task will start with an assessment of project activities and a high-level review of the whole project methodology. A 3-day training (in French language) will be then provided for project staff with the support of project senior technical advisor.

DELIVERABLES

The supplier/consultant shall be responsible for preparing and submitting the deliverables to the Technical Monitor. ACEA will work with the supplier/consultant to finalize format and structure for key deliverables during the consultancy, and the Technical Monitor and other relevant staff will review the supplier/consultant ’s proposed drafts and provide feedback accordingly.

Location

This work will be primarily remote, due to Covid restrictions, but will require some meetings in Tunis. FHI 360 will require an Expense Authorization Form to be submitted and approved prior to travel and will reimburse allowable travel expenses.

Selection criteria

This consultancy is open for local firms. Applicants should demonstrate ability to engage the following profiles:

• Chief of mission / Trainer
  • Postgraduate degree in economics, business, statistics, public policy or related field.
  • A minimum of seven years demonstrated experience working with economic development, survey and data analysis, project monitoring, market research or related activity.
  • Demonstrated knowledge and experience of the handicraft industry, circular and rural economy.
  • Familiarity with value chain analysis or cluster development desirable.
  • Strong analytical skills and written and oral communication skills.
  • Knowledge of English and French required.
• Senior Consultant
  • Postgraduate degree in economics, marketing, statistics, data analysis, or related field.
  • A minimum of five years demonstrated experience working with economic development, survey monitoring and data analysis, project monitoring, market research or related activity.
  • Familiarity with value chain analysis or cluster development desirable.
  • Strong analytical skills and written and oral communication skills.
  • Knowledge of English and French required.
•  Junior Consultant
  • Bachelor’s degree required, postgraduate preferred in the field of the mission.
  • Familiarity with surveys and data analysis
  • Strong analytical skills and written and oral communication skills.

Criteria/Qualification for Evaluation

Applicants will be evaluated and ranked by an evaluation committee according to the conditions described in the evaluation criteria below, with a total overall maximum point value of 100. Supplier/consultants will first be evaluated and scored from a technical standpoint.  Supplier/consultants that are considered to be technically qualified shall then be evaluated in terms of price reasonableness. The contract shall be issued to the supplier/consultant with the highest combined technical and price score.

Level of Effort and Remuneration

The Consultancy will consist of a maximum of 45 working days between October 25th, 2021 to December 31^st , 2021.

The supplier/consultant will be paid the agreed rate for each deliverable within a timeframe up to but not to exceed 45 days, with reimbursement for related, budgeted expenses (e.g. travel and lodging on field trips outside of Tunis).

Attachment B

Instructions to Bidders

1. Procurement Narrative Description:

FHI 360 intends to award to a single “approved’ consultancy firm based on conformance to the listed company’s presentation, references, expert CVs to be engaged in this consultancy, technical approach, and price.  FHI 360 reserves the right to award to more than one bidder if it is advantageous to do so.     FHI 360 reserves the right to increase or decrease deliverables.

2. Proposal Requirements.

All firms will submit a proposal which should include the following documents:

• Company presentation
• A minimum of 3 written references of similar work experience
• CVs of experts to be engaged in this consultancy
• Technical approach
• Price per deliverable

Failure to submit the requested information of this RFQ may result in firm’s offer being deemed non-responsive. Firms are responsible for submitting offers, and any modifications, revisions, or withdrawals, by the date specified in the RFQ.   Any offer received after the closing date will not be considered.

3. Alternative Proposals: Firms are permitted to offer “alternatives” should they not be able to meet the listed requirements. Any alternative proposals may satisfy the minimum requirements set forth in Attachment A “Scope of Work”.
4. Evaluation and Award Process:   FHI360 intends to award an Agreement resulting from this solicitation to the responsible supplier or consultant whose proposal best conforms to the RFQ.  Award will be based on the consultancy firm’s proposal that is most advantageous to FHI360, and that which represents the best value to FHI360.  Best value will be based on firm’s presentation, references, CVs of experts, technical approach and price. FHI360 intends to evaluate offers and award an Agreement without discussions with Seller.
5. Validity of Offer. This RFP in no way obligates FHI360 to make an award, nor does it commit FHI360 to pay any costs incurred by the firm in the preparation and submission of a proposal or amendments to a proposal. Your proposal shall be considered valid for 90 days after submission.

6. Anti- Kick Back Act of 1986. Anti-Kickback Act of 1986 as referenced in FAR 52.203-7 is hereby incorporated into this Request for Proposal as a condition of acceptance. If you have reasonable grounds to believe that a violation, as described in Paragraph (b) of FAR 52.203-7 may have occurred, you should report this suspected violation to the FHI360’s Ethics Hotline at 1‑800-318-7153, reporting via website at fhi360.org/anonreportregistry or by sending an e-mail to compliance@fhi360.org. You may report a suspected violation anonymously.