Request For Proposals at Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan)
Empowerment through Skills ProgramREQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Assessment of ICT Infrastructure at Partner Folk Development Colleges
Date RFP Issued: December 20, 2023
Date RFP Closes: January 12, 2024
Bids are to be returned by email to info@tz.collegesinstitutes.ca by January 12, 2024
Contact for queries on the RFQ:
- Email: info@tz.collegesinstitutes.ca
- Subject Line: ESP RFP – ASSESSMENT OF ICT INFRASTRUCTURE AT PARTNER FDCs
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Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) is implementing the Empowerment through Skills Program (ESP) in Tanzania. The ESP is a 7-year program (2021-2028) implemented by CICan in close collaboration with the Tanzanian Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) through the Department of Technical and Vocational Training (DTVET). The ESP is funded by the Government of Canada.
ESP’s ultimate outcome is: Improved economic participation by women and adolescent girls in Tanzania.
Refer to Annex 1 for an overview of the project and the list of partner Folk Development Colleges (FDCs), Community Based Organizations (CBOs), and Canadian colleges & institutes.
Short-term Consultancy Requirement
ESP has a short-term consultancy requirement for the services of a Consultancy Firm to
- Assess and make recommendations to CICan/ESP for the locations, teaching & learning layouts, ICT specifications, and estimated costs for the respective computer labs in each of the 12 partner FDCs.
- Assess and make recommendations to CICan/ESP for the locations, specifications, and estimated costs of a stand-alone teacher computer station, multimedia projector and projection screen in each of the workshops and classrooms in each of the 12 partner FDCs.
Kiswahili is the language of instruction in the partner FDCs and CBOs as well as the most common language used in the districts that the project is working in (English is not spoken or understood in many communities, by many students, and by some staff). Hence, the consultancy firm will need to have some Kiswahili speakers for the fieldwork.
Applications are invited from suitably qualified Consultancy firms meeting the requirements outlined in the RFP.
Proposals are encouraged from qualified firms owned or led by women.
The RFP is outlined as follows:
- Key Tasks
- Timelines and Deliverables
- Qualifications, Experience and Attributes
- Reporting
- Duration
- Submission Requirements
Key Tasks
The Consultancy Firm will:
- In consultation with the Principals of the 12 partner FDCs,
- Assess and make recommendations to CICan/ESP for the locations, teaching & learning layouts, ICT specifications, and estimated costs for the respective computer labs in each of the 12 partner FDCs.
- Assess and make recommendations to CICan/ESP for the locations, specifications, and estimated costs of a stand-alone teacher computer station, multimedia projector and projection screen in each of the workshops and classrooms at each of the 12 partner FDCs.
Note 1: One computer lab is to be installed in each of the 12 partner FDCs. It is initially projected that each computer lab will have approximately 24 stand-alone student desktop stations, 1 stand-alone teacher computer station, 1 rugged printer/scanner, a multimedia projector and screen, a few whiteboards, tables and chairs, and access to the internet via a router / modem.
The available space to house a computer lab varies by FDC and the consultancy firm will need to make FDC-tailored recommendations for the optimal teaching & learning layouts, and for the quantities, specifications and estimated costs of the ICT equipment, tables and chairs that will best fit into each of the available spaces.
The recommended layouts for the each of the computer labs will include room dimensions, the arrangement of the tables and chairs, the power points, the location of the printer / scanner, the location for the router / modem, the location of the multimedia projector (two options – ceiling mount and portable) and projection screen, the location of other whiteboards, and other overall considerations such as adequate lighting, cleanliness, cooling / ventilation and overall power requirements. It is expected that the service providers for the modems / routers will vary by FDC.
Note 2: Workshops and Classrooms: It is anticipated that the teachers will have access to a modem that can be used to connect the classroom & workshop desktops to the internet for teaching & learning purposes. Two options for the multimedia projectors in the workshops and classrooms will be provided – ceiling mount and portable.
Note 3: It is anticipated that (a) the ICT assessments outlined in Key Task 1 will take approximately 2 days per FDC, and (b) the 12 FDC assessments will be completed within a 6-week period from the date of signing the contract.
- Prepare and submit an interim report (see key task 3 for a report guideline).
The interim report will include:
- For the computer lab in each of the 12 partner FDCs, provide a narrative supported by scale drawings for –
- The proposed location (room) for each computer lab (with pictures of the room and building);
- The proposed teaching & learning layouts (to scale) with the computers, tables & chairs, multimedia projectors and screen, printer / scanner, modem / router and power points indicated; and
- The recommended specifications, quantities and estimated costs for the items in the computer labs (i.e., desktop computers, printer / scanner, multimedia projector, screen, tables and chairs, modem / router).
- The locations and estimated costs of a stand-alone desktop computer, multi-media projector and projection screen in each of the workshops and classrooms at each of the 12 partner FDCs.
- Prepare and submit a final report. As a guide, the final report should build upon the findings and recommendations in the interim report and include the following sections:
- Executive Summary
- A summary of the final locations and final teaching & learning layouts for the computer labs at each of the 12 partner FDCs. The details can be provided in a separate Annex and organized by FDC.
- A summary of the proposed specifications, quantities and estimated costs for the stand-alone desktop computers, multi-media projectors, projection screens, other whiteboards, printer / scanner, routers / modems for students and staff to access the internet, and the tables and chairs in each of the 12 FDC computer labs. The details can be provided in a separate Annex and organized by FDC.
- A summary of the locations and estimated costs of the stand-alone desktop computer, multi-media projector and projection screen in the other workshops and classrooms at each of the 12 partner FDCs. The details can be in a separate Annex and organized by FDC
- Recommendations and conclusions.
Annexes as outlined above.
The report will be the property of CICan and can be shared freely with stakeholders at CICan’s discretion.
Timelines and Deliverables
- Using the list of key tasks as a guide, draft a workplan for completing the activities outlined in Section 1 – Key Tasks. The draft work plan will be submitted to CICan by February 2, 2024.
- Feedback on draft workplan received from CICan by February 9, 2024.
- Final workplan submitted to CICan by February 16, 2024.
- Submit a first draft of the interim report by March 29, 2024
- Feedback from CICan on the interim report by April 5, 2024.
- Submission of the final report to CICan for review by April 12, 2024.
- Submission of regular Consultant / Consultant firm consultancy activity reports, timesheets, and invoices by April 19, 2024.
Qualifications, Experience and Other Attributes of the Consultancy Firm
Qualifications – The consultants used by the Consultancy Firm will have:
- Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a field related to Information & Communication Technology, Computer Engineering, Electrical or Electronics Engineering, Telecommunications or similar expertise. A Master’s degree is preferred.
- Good understanding of the Skills and TVET sector in Tanzania.
- Excellent Information and Communications Technology (ICT) skills to include MS Teams, Zoom, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook / email.
- Excellent English and Swahili communication skills.
Experience – The Consultancy Firm will have:
- 5 years’ of related work experience in the areas of computer and software installation, technical support, and ICT training.
- Experience conducting consultations and gathering information from different project partners/stakeholders.
- Experience in working across diverse regions of Tanzania.
Reporting
The Consultant / Consultant Firm will work under the direction of the Manager, Caribbean and Anglophone Africa, CICan or his designate. The Consultant/Consultant Firm is expected to work with a high degree of independence and autonomy.
Duration
The expected duration of the consultancy is 3 months from the signing of the contract.
Submission Requirements
Submissions should be limited to 10 pages and include the following documents:
- Consultancy Firms are to submit copies of a formally registered business license or NGO Certificate from the Government of Tanzania, proof of conducting operations in Tanzania for a period of at least 3 years, proof of payment of taxes, and tax clearance for 2 years. These documents can be submitted as an annex and are not counted as part of the 10-page limit. Notarized copies will be required before a contract is awarded.
- Relevant experience and qualifications of the organization including samples of previous work (2 pages maximum).
- CV of the consulting team members that will be responsible for fulfilling the mandate (2 pages each maximum).
- Proposed workplan for accomplishing the Key Tasks outlined in Part 1 (4 pages maximum)
- Proposed budget with detailed costs (2 pages maximum).
Please download and save a copy of the budget template at the link here:
DRAFT_Budget_Template_OHS.xlsx
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