Request for Proposals (RFP): Improving the image and value proposition of the Excellence Center and assigned institutions through communication and marketing instruments

Section 1:  Introduction and Instructions to Offerors

 

1.1       Acronyms and Definitions

ADA Austrian Development Agency

ADC Austrian Development Cooperation

ANACIP National Agency for Quality Assurance in Professional Education

API Application Programming Interface

ATIC Moldovan Association of ICT Companies

BPO Business Process Outsourcing

EC PRO DIDACTICA Educational Center PRO DIDACTICA

EMIS Education Management Information System

ICT Information and Communication Technologies

IT Information Technology

IDC International Data Corporation

K12 primary and secondary education (grades 1-12)

MITC Ministry of Information Technology and Communications

MoE Ministry of Education

MoU Memorandum of Understanding

TUM Technical University of Moldova

USAID U.S. Agency for International Development

VET Vocational Education and Training

 

1.2       Introduction

The National Association of Private ICT Companies (ATIC) is soliciting proposals for services on improving the image and value proposition of the Excellence Center and assigned institutions through communication and marketing instruments, as described below in Section 2 (Scope of Work and Deliverables).  The services will be provided within the “Partnerships for quality and relevance in ICT vocational education in Moldova” Project, implemented by the Educational Centre PRO DIDACTICA in partnership with National Association of ICT Companies (ATIC) and with the financial support of the Austrian Development Cooperation

 

The project “Partnerships for quality and relevance in ICT vocational education in Moldova” aims at assuring the quality and relevance of ICT vocational education for local, regional and national economy in Moldova, through the support in launching and in qualitative functioning of the Centre of Excellence for the VET ICT education thus advancing the harmonization of ICT education in Moldova with labour market demands, and to support the initial activity and functioning of the National Agency For Quality Assurance in Professional Education as an independent, functional and professional body.

The overall objective of the project is:

To contribute to an enhanced quality and relevance of ICT vocational education for the economy in Moldova.

The project purpose is:

To advance capacity of VET institutions offering ICT specializations in Moldova to a level that educational offers meet labor market needs and recognized quality standards.

 

 

The expected results of the project are:

Result 1. An ICT Centre of Excellence for Professional Education established and functions as a resource hub for teachers and an attractive education provider to students in cooperation with the ICT sector.

Result 2. Training offers at VET institutions offering ICT specializations in Moldova are modernized in terms of contents according to market needs and reflect state-of-the-art teaching methods.

Result 3. Information about career paths in ICT relevant professions that can be obtained in VET institutions made available to the public in a sustainable manner.

Result 4. Basic standards, organizational procedures and work processes of the National Agency for Quality Assurance in Professional Education (ANACIP) developed to create the basis for ANACIP to fulfill its public mandate.

The project aims at improving several aspects in the sphere of vocational education and training in Moldova by supporting:

• a functional ICT Centre of Excellence that will serve as model for other VET institutions;
• a functional National Agency for Quality Assurance in Professional Education with development of organizational procedures and regulations;
• the creation of new opportunities for VET students;
• a more inclusive presence of students in the ICT field (by attracting more females to technical specialties and by attracting representatives of vulnerable groups such as minorities and persons with disabilities);
• the development of market driven curricula, with involvement of ICT companies;
• sustainable cooperation models with the private sector to decrease the shortage in the ICT field.

Offerors are responsible for ensuring that their offers are received in accordance with the instructions stated herein.  Failure to adhere with instructions described herein may lead to disqualification of a proposal from consideration. This RFP does not obligate ATIC to execute a subcontract nor does it commit ATIC to pay any costs incurred in the preparation and submission of the proposals.

 

 

1.3       Questions and Requests for Clarifications

Questions regarding the technical or administrative requirements of this RFP may be submitted no later than March 25, 2016, 17:00, local Chisinau time by email ONLY to executive@ict.md. Questions must be submitted in writing; phone calls will not be accepted. Questions and requests for clarification—and the responses thereto—that ATIC believes may be of interest to other offerors will be circulated to all RFP recipients who have indicated an interest in bidding.

 

Only the written answers issued by ATIC will be considered official and carry weight in the RFP process and subsequent evaluation. Any verbal information received from employees of ATIC or any other entity should not be considered as an official response to any questions regarding this RFP.

 

 

1.4       Offer Deadline

Offerors shall submit their offers in hard-copy and electronically.

 

Hard-copy offers must be received no later than April 13, 2016, 17:00 at the following address:

 

In attention of Mrs. Ana Chirita,

Executive Director

Moldovan Association of ICT Companies

Str. Maria Cibotari 28, of 1B

 

Emailed offers must be received by the same time and date at the following address:

 

In attention of Mrs. Ana Chirita,

Executive Director

executive@ict.md

 

Offerors are responsible for ensuring that their offers are received in accordance with the instructions stated herein. Late offers may be considered at the discretion of ATIC.    

 

1.5       Protocol for Submission of Offers

 

1.5.1. Contacts and Procedures

Interested Vendors/ Consultants are requested to express interest in responding to this proposal as soon as possible to the contracting contact below, by confirming via electronic mail that they have received the RfP documents and that they intend to submit a proposal by the deadline specified below. The electronic mail should state the name of the Prime Contractor and provide contact details for any future correspondence in relation to this RfP. Please note that this correspondence will not be used as part of the evaluation process.

 

Organizers contracting contact:

Ms Ana Chirita

Executive Director

Moldovan Association of  ICT companies (ATIC)

28, Maria Cibotari, of 1B, Chisinau MD 2012, Republic of Moldova

Phone/Fax: +373 22 887000,

E-mail: office@ict.md

Website: www.atic.md

 

1.5.2. Vendor Information to be included in the proposal

All interested vendors must include in their proposals:

1. Corporate overview – legal name, year of creation, number of employees, other information they might find relevant;
2. Services – description of all services and products supplied;
3. Markets served – description of geographic/industry markets served;
4. Partners – list of current event-related suppliers and partners;
5. Customer & Activity References – a list of other similar activities previously done.

 

1.5.3. Offer

Individual consultants should submit:

1. CV
2. Proposal including overview of vision on implementing and achieving the above mentioned tasks, references to other similar activities completed.
3. Other relevant information

 

1.5.4. Submission procedures

An electronic copy of the Proposal document in English, clearly marked Name/Surname/VET Project, should be sent by electronic mail not later than March 15, 2015 to the contact noted above.

Proposals submitted by any other method and/or in any other way or beyond the specified deadline will be rejected.  

 

Section 2.  Scope of Work,  Deliverables

 

2.1. Scope of work

2.1.1. Evaluate the communication and marketing tools used by VET institutions (the list of the institutions is enclosed);

2.1.2. Develop recommendations for the improvement of websites’ performance (20 institutions). The recommendations refer, but are not limited to:

• Higher visibility and exposure;
• Increase usability;
• Efficient and focused web content;
• Increased conversions;
• More prominent placement in Google search results;
• Increase of the repeat visits and visitor retention

2.1.3. Develop recommendations for the improvement and efficiency increase of the marketing and communication tools used by the institutions;

2.1.4. Collaborate with institutions on the implementation of the proposed solutions and recommendations;

2.1.5. Preparation and implementation of promotion campaign aiming at increasing the visibility of VET institutions websites;

2.1.6. Deliver training for the VET institutions on the effective communication and marketing instruments;

2.1.7. Other tasks determined additionally during the assignment.

    

2.2. Deliverables:

2.2.1. 1 evaluation report containing recommendations for Improving the image and value proposition of the Excellence Center and assigned institutions through communication and marketing instruments

2.2.2. 20 improved websites of the institutions created

2.2.3. 1 evaluation study of the level of improvements created

2.2.4. 20 promotion campaign run by the institutions launched

 

Section 3. PAYMENT AND FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS

 

3.1.      Payment Terms

ATIC will pay the total price through a series of installment payments after Subcontractor’s completion of the corresponding deliverables and ATIC’ acceptance thereof.  The Subcontractor may submit invoices for deliverables that have been accepted and approved by the authorized ATIC representative.  ATIC will pay the Subcontractor’s invoice within fifteen (15) days after the following conditions have been fulfilled:

a) the Subcontractor has delivered a proper invoice;

b) ATIC has issued an inspection certificate.

 

Payment will be made in MDL, paid via wire transfer to the account specified in the Subcontractor’s invoice.  Payment of unpaid balances will be made upon completion and final acceptance of all works and deliverables by ATIC.  Any invoices for services rendered and deliverables submitted—but not accepted by ATIC—will not be paid until the Subcontractor makes sufficient revisions to the deliverables such that ATIC may approve the deliverables and thus the invoice.

      

3.2.      Invoice Requirements

The Subcontractor shall present an invoice to ATIC only for services and/or commodities that have been accepted by ATIC.  The invoice must be an original invoice, submitted to:

 

ATIC

Attention:  Nona Cojocaru, Accountant

“Partnerships for quality and relevance in ICT vocational education in Moldova” Project

 

To constitute a proper invoice, the Subcontractor’s invoice must include the following information and/or attached documentation.  This information will assist ATIC in making timely payments to the Subcontractor:

 

1. Subcontractor legal name, subcontract number, invoice date, and invoice number;
2. Deliverable(s) number, description of approved deliverable(s), and corresponding value;
3. Bank account information to which payment shall be sent.