Helen Keller International
Introduction
Helen Keller International (Helen Keller Intl) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving and improving the sight and lives of the world’s vulnerable by combatting the causes and consequences of blindness, poor health and malnutrition. Helen Keller Intl invites all eligible Bidders to submit proposals to support Helen Keller to develop a kit of tools and guides to support staff in implementing vitamin A supplementation (VAS) programs. These products will serve as the foundations for an e-learning training platform. The platform will consist of videos and interactive material with appropriate content to serve as a training system and resource for all existing and new Helen Keller employees involved in VAS programming. The consultants should therefore combine public health experts and experts in development of curriculum and online learning platforms.
The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to select a vendor that will provide best value to Helen Keller Intl, when both technical and cost factors are combined.
Program Background
For several decades, Helen Keller International has been supporting governments in multiple countries to provide vitamin A supplements (VAS) every 6 months to children between aged 6 to 59 months. In Sub Saharan Africa, Helen Keller International supports VAS services in 13 countries through two approaches:
- Vitamin A supplementation provided to children 6-59 months through mass campaigns organised twice a year. Teams of distributors visit all households in the country over a five-day period to supplement children. In some cases, caregivers are asked to bring their children to the nearest distribution post for supplementation.
- The integration of Vitamin A supplementation into the routine health system. This approach uses various opportunities for reaching children as they are brought to health facilities, such as the expanded program of immunization vaccination contact points. Vitamin A supplements are distributed to all eligible children attending the facilities.
Typical support provided by Helen Keller includes the following components:
- Situational assessment / analysis
- Planning for distribution
- Training of distributors and health workers
- Sensitization / mobilization of communities
- Logistics and supply chain management for vitamin A supplements and other items
- Implementation of the delivery models
- Monitoring, evaluation and learning
As Helen Keller continues to expand its support to VAS services to more countries and regions, it is essential that technical teams be equipped with standardized guides and tools that will provide a framework for action to existing country teams and will help train and onboard new teams and countries. Each of these components requires a set of tools and guides that will constitute minimum program standards for VAS. These standards also ensure that VAS services are provided consistently across countries and that they are designed and implemented with the highest level of quality. The tools, guides, templates, videos, and online training will be developed in the form of a self-paced online program and toolkit to be hosted on Helen Keller International’s learning management system (provider: NetDimensions). This online program is intended to be interactive, employ adult learning techniques, and utilize activities and exercises to test and reinforce the learning objectives. The program should also be simple to navigate and organized in a way that allows learners to quickly access links, templates, tools, videos, online trainings, and resources
Helen Keller International is seeking consultants to lead the development of this online program on VAS Minimum Program Standards between July 2022 and March 2023.
Scope of Work, Key Objectives and Activities
To develop the VAS Minimum Program Standards online program, consultants will be expected to:
- Collaborate with the VAS team to identify learning objectives and create a preliminary list of the tools, guides, and knowledge products that are necessary for country teams to ensure quality standardised approaches to the design, implementation and monitoring of VAS services in countries
- Align the content with the ProjectDPro curriculum to ensure the training compliments the materials and does not unnecessarily replicate guidance, tools, or templates.
- Outline a proposed program design sequencing the tools, job aids, videos, and online trainings with their respective learning objectives and proposed knowledge assessments. Tools and videos should consider a microlearning approach and online trainings should not exceed 30 – 45 minutes,
- From the comprehensive list of products needed and the proposed design, identify which ones already exist and propose a timeline for updating the ones which need adjustments, and developing the ones which need to be created.
- Develop all missing guides, tools, videos, and/or online trainings for each component of the VAS program. Utilize Articulate Storyline and Rise 360 to develop and produce videos, tests, and/or online trainings.
- Collaborate with the Director Learning and Development to structure, set up, and test the online program in the learning management system.
Sample of products expected:
- Situational assessment / analysis
- Guide on how to conduct a situation and needs assessment specific to VAS and to the local context
- Specific components should include health system building blocks assessment
- Planning for distribution
- Micro online training on planning tools: how to conduct quality planning for VAS at national and sub-national levels, identifying minimum contents of quality planning tools
- Training of distributors and health workers
- Training videos and toolkits for all types of actors involved in VAS
- Supportive supervision checklists and guides
- Sensitization / mobilization of communities
- Social mobilization guides for various types of delivery models
- Examples of mobilization materials
- Logistics and supplies chains for vitamin A supplements and other items
- Guidance on how to organise supply chain for VAS
- List of essential items required for VAS
- Implementation of the delivery models
- Guidance on the various delivery models for VAS, how to design and implement them
- Guidance on transition from campaign approaches to routine delivery
- Guidance on how to integrate health system strengthening approaches to VAS
- Monitoring & Evaluation
- List of indicators to consider in VAS services and how to collect them and analyse them
- Guidance on strengthening of health information systems for VAS
Deliverables and Illustrative Timeline
- Preliminary list of the tools, guides, and knowledge products that are necessary for country teams to ensure quality standardised approaches to the design, implementation and monitoring of VAS services in countries
- 20 days
- September 2022
- Draft program learning objectives and outline of proposed program design sequencing the tools, job aids, videos, and online trainings with their respective learning objectives and proposed knowledge assessments. Includes front-end analysis, design, and lesson outlines
- 5 days
- October 2022
- Development of all missing guides, tools, videos, and/or micro online trainings for each component of the VAS program utilizing Articulate Storyline and Rise 360 as applicable. Materials should be delivered in standard file formats so they can be migrated across different platforms. This includes content pages, text, graphics, perhaps liberal use of mutli media, interactive exercises. Elearning modules should be delivered in Articulate Storyline and Rise 360 files as well as the published versions in SCORM
- 120 days
- February 2023
- Structure, set up, and test the online program in the learning management system (in collaboration with the Director of Learning and Development)
- 15 days
- March 2023
The number of days proposed may be subject to adjustments and only consists in an initial estimation to guide bidders in pricing. It represents the number of days for one person.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS and EXPERIENCE
- Demonstrated experience in instructional design, facilitation, and adult learning, including experience in the development of public health related trainings.
- Experience developing learning materials for a multi-cultural target audience.
- Knowledge and experience designing courses according to the ADDIE model or its derivatives and incorporate best Learning and Development practices for the adult learner.
- Experience working with INGOs a plus.
- Experience collaborating with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to bring their content to life, and to transmit own knowledge of training best practices to SMEs.
- Experience working with emerging virtual learning and collaboration platforms, functions, and tools.
Generally, under this scope of work, expertise and experience is required in two areas: instructional design and public health. A consultant may elect to submit a proposal with demonstrated experience in one or both areas. Helen Keller International reserves the right to select up to two consultants to partner together in each area of expertise. If you are submitting a proposal under one area of expertise, please share how you have partnered with others to develop similar deliverables.
How to apply
The Full Call for Proposal should be consulted and downloaded from the following link:
It is imperative that bidders consult the full proposal as it provides all necessary details for submission of applications, including the proposal evaluation criteria.
Application should be sent to [email protected]
SECTION 3: Proposal Instructions
The Bidder’s proposal will consist of two separate documents:
Part 1 – Technical Offer
Part 2 – Financial Offer
The Technical Offer and the Financial Offer (altogether “proposal”) must be submitted separately. The Bidder should not include any cost data in the Technical Offer.
The proposal should be concisely presented and structured, and should explain in detail the Bidder’s availability, experience and resources to provide the requested services.
Proposals that are incomplete or do not address these criteria may not be considered in the review process. All proposals can be submitted in French or in English**.**
Both the Technical Offer and Financial Offer must be submitted with a Cover Letter which must include the following information and must be signed and stamped by an authorized representative of the Bidder organization:
- Date of Submission of the Proposal
- Term of proposal validity (minimum {90} days)
- Name of the company/organization
- Name and title of authorized representative of organization
- Type of company/organization
- Address
- Telephone
- Taxpayer Identification Number
- Other required documents that shall be included as attachments to the cover letter:
- Copy of registration or incorporation in the public registry, or equivalent document from the government office where the bidder is registered.
- Copy of company tax registration, or equivalent document.
- Copy of trade license, or equivalent document.
Bidders must also submit a signed Conflict of Interest Declaration Form. This form will be assessed to establish whether the Bidder has any present or potential future conflict of interest according to the definition in Annex A. If the conclusion is reached that any conflict of interest declared by the Bidder could have a negative impact on the Bidder’s ability to perform the Service, Helen Keller Intl may decide to reject the submitted proposal. Failure to accurately complete the Conflict of Interest Declaration Form may also lead to the rejection of the submitted proposal.
Part 1: TECHNICAL OFFER
The Technical Offer should be in the English language, typed in Microsoft Word, single-spaced, with each page numbered consecutively. A maximum number of pages for each component of the Technical Offer is given below.
The Technical Offer should include the following:
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Bidder past performance record/relevant experience– {2} pages maximum
Information related to Bidder’s past performance/prior experience in conducting work in the country/region similar in nature and volume to the services requested (brief description, deliverables, date, client etc.).
Bidders must also provide contacts for at least three (3) professional references for previous work and/or experience under similar SOWs. Contact information should include, at a minimum: name of individual, name of company, brief information on relationship to Bidder, address, email, and phone number. Helen Keller Intl reserves the right to contact any and all references provided. Contact information for references is not subject to the page limitation for this section.
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Technical approach – {7} pages maximum
The technical approach must describe the proposed approach to achieving the program objectives and must address the following:
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Information as to whether the Bidder currently has a presence in the country/region, and the nature of this presence.
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A brief description of the Bidder’s understanding of the objectives and scope of work for the consultancy.
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A description of how the bidder will collect information with Helen Keller global, regional and country teams
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An overview as to how the Bidder would propose to complete the requested services indicated in this RFP.
- How will consultants identify the gaps and the needs of the global, regional and country teams in terms of knowledge products, guides and tools
- What methodology will be used to develop the guides and tools?
- How will the products be transformed into online learning solutions and how will the platform be developed?
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Team Structure requirements – {3} pages maximum, excluding CVs
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Team structure: Bidders must describe the structure of the team that will deliver against the objectives and scope of work described in this RFP. Team structures must identify the project manager (or Team Leader) and other team members and the roles and responsibilities that each will have over the duration of the consultancy.
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If any members of the proposed team do not currently reside in one of Helen Keller countries, the Bidder must state how the personnel would travel to the country to perform such Services, and the estimated travel time.
At a minimum, the Bidder should provide the following information:
- A current CV for the proposed personnel in a format provided in Annex C. The CV must not exceed three pages in length and shall be in chronological order starting with the most recent experience and summarizing relevant experience and qualifications.
- The country of residence for all persons proposed for the provision of this Service (meaning the country in which the person or persons resides and from which they would be flying from in order to reach the Place of Performance to undertake this consulting work).
- If any of the Bidder’s personnel do not reside in the country in which they are assigned to perform the required Services, the Bidder must state how these personnel would travel to perform such Services, and the estimated travel time. The Bidder should specify how many trips might be required, and which team members would join these trips.
The Bidder must notify Helen Keller Intl if it intends to replace a key member of the Bidder’s team (with an explanation for doing so) prior to the award date and provide Helen Keller Intl with the information required for the approval of a replacement proposal. Any replacement shall be subject to the approval of Helen Keller Intl. This is also valid for any replacement taking place during the contract duration.
Helen Keller Intl may choose to contact the Bidder prior to making a final decision. Please confirm whether this would be possible, ensuring that full contact details are also included in the resume (email, telephone number).
Part 2: FINANCIAL OFFER
This contract will be issued as a firm fixed price contract with payment made against deliverables against services/products. Helen Keller Intl will only issue payment via electronic payment methods and all bank accounts must be in the name of the company/organization only.
As part of the Financial Offer, Bidders must include a detailed budget, submitted in Microsoft Excel, expressed in usd, with an accompanying budget narrative, submitted in Microsoft Word, describing the basis for the listed cost elements. Supporting information should be provided in sufficient detail to allow a complete analysis and determination of reasonableness of each cost element. Bidders are required to include and clearly label all costs deemed necessary to complete the work called for hereunder.
The Financial Offer template can be found in Annex D and must include the following:
1. Labor Cost: The Bidder must provide information related to team structure, daily rates and Level of Effort (LoE) (measured in days) for the deliverables listed. Please state assumptions made when submitting the cost information including any additional options, and stating all conditions.
2. Other Direct Costs: The Bidder should provide a breakdown estimate of other main direct costs which are considered necessary for completion of the work. Other direct costs will cover transportation costs, visa, and per diem. Any other direct costs shall be agreed prior with Helen Keller Intl.
3. Indirect Rates and Fixed Fee: If it is an Bidder’s regular practice to budget indirect rates, e.g. overhead, fringe, G&A, administrative, or other rate, Bidders must explain the rates and the rates’ base of application in the budget narrative. Helen Keller Intl reserves the right to request additional information to substantiate an Bidder’s indirect rates. Proposed fixed fee must also be explained in the budget narrative and represented as a separate line item in the budget.