Request for Proposal - BrightSpyre. PYWD 012 .pdf · the Subcontracts Administrator, M. Ather Aslam (through email [email protected]), in accordance with Section 2 of this RFP

Request for Proposal (RFP) Louis Berger Page 1 of 16

Request for Proposal

Invitation of Concept Papers/ Proposals

Summary of Solicitation

Solicitation Number: PYWD/Prog/012

Solicitation issued by: Louis Berger – Punjab Youth Workforce Development Project

Solicitation Issuance Date: September 10, 2018

Submission of Concept Papers:

Rolling Basis Solicitation

Address for submission of Concept Papers or correspondence:

The Award Committee

Louis Berger – Punjab Youth Workforce Development Project

House 164-A, Ahmed Block, New Garden Town, Lahore

For additional information/ questioning/ clarification:

M. Ather Aslam, Subcontract Administrator

Email: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


Dear Applicants, Louis Berger has been awarded Punjab Youth Workforce Development (PYWD) Project by United States Agency for International Development. PYWD is a three-year project (May 2016- Sep 2019) that aims to train and provide employment for youth, currently in Multan, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh and Bahawalpur districts in South Punjab. The project head office is located in Lahore. The PYWD project, in coordination with public and private institutions, will provide vocational training and create employment opportunities for youth in focus districts of Punjab; build the capacity of youth-serving institutions for skill training and mobilize local communities for youth development. The PYWD project also support the overarching goals of Punjab Youth Policy. Louis Berger welcomes the submission of Concept Papers or Proposals through this Request for Proposal (RFP), aligned with the intended objective of PYWD Project. This RFP document lay down the framework and guidance for the ideas and services that PYWD Project would like to see being addressed in Concept Papers/ Proposals. Louis Berger – PYWD Project will review and select innovative Concept Papers/ Proposals for further engagement, collaboration, co-creation and co-funding. Please be aware that addendums to this notice may be issued and will be posted on same internet site from which you downloaded this RFP document. We anticipate awarding Service Agreements or Fixed Price subcontract(s) for execution of the approved innovative ideas submitted through this solicitation. The PYWD Project will also retain the organizational profile, other information and concept papers/proposals in her database and may also award Subcontracts or Service Agreements in future. This solicitation document is comprised of Four (04) sections as listed below:

Section 1: Summary Information Section 2: Instructions to the offerors Section 3: Scope of Work Section 4: Evaluation Criteria and Process

Issuance of this solicitation notice does not constitute an award commitment on part of Louis Berger or PYWD Project or USAID and/or any other organization or associated agency. Nor does Louis Berger shall pay for any costs incurred in the preparation or submission of a concept paper or a detailed proposal. Louis Berger reserves the right to accept or reject any offer or to cancel the solicitation process at any time, without thereby incurring any liability to offerors or any obligation to inform applicants of the grounds for such action. Due to shortage of processing and implementation time, only shortlisted entities will be contacted for further processing, evaluation and final selection. Requests for additional information, clarifications or other questions must be submitted in writing to the Subcontracts Administrator, M. Ather Aslam (through email [email protected]), in accordance with Section 2 of this RFP document. The concept papers/ proposals along with a cover letter should be submitted in line with the Scope of Work given in Section 3 of this document. The PYWD Project will review the received concept papers and will make decisions to solicit a full-blown proposal on Concept Paper or rejecting the submitted concept. The PYWD Project may ask for additional information or a detailed proposal based on concept paper submitted. Louis Berger - PYWD Project will accept concept papers on rolling basis. The evaluation of the concept papers will be made as per the evaluation criteria as specified in Section 4 of this solicitation document. The Project look forward for making awards to the most advantageous offers and individual enquiries may not be entertained for determination of status of applications and feedback on the process. Best Regards The Awards Committee Louis Berger – PYWD Project House 164-A, Ahmed Block, New Garden Town, Lahore



SECTION 1 - SUMMARY INFORMATION 1.1 Background:

Louis Berger has been awarded Punjab Youth Workforce Development (PYWD) Project by United States Agency for International Development (USAID). PYWD is a three-year project (May 2016- Sep 2019) that aims to train and provide employment for youth, currently in Multan, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh and Bahawalpur districts of South Punjab. The project head office is located in Lahore. The PYWD project, in coordination with public and private institutions, will provide vocational training and create employment opportunities for youth in focus districts of Punjab; build the capacity of youth-serving institutions for skill training and mobilize local communities for youth development. The PYWD project also supports the overarching goals of Punjab Youth Policy.

1.2 Activity Name and objective:

Louis Berger under Punjab Youth Workforce Development (PYWD) Project intend to receive and shortlist innovative concept papers or brief but comprehensive proposals based on given goals, purpose and scope of work as defined in Section 3 of this RFP document. The concept papers should be in line with the objectives and goals of PYWD Project. In addition, the concept papers should be relevant to the geographical areas of PYWD Project. This solicitation is being issued to partner with market actors including private sector firms, SMEs, industry associations, and training providers. The idea of issuing this RFP is to open an opportunity for working with traditional & non-traditional actors like private businesses, commercial entities, chamber of commerce and industry, industry associations, social entrepreneurs including educational institutions, researchers. The collaboration approaches would be co-creating, financing and co-financing interventions. This solicitation process will utilize the potential partnership platforms and alliances to work across multiple sectors (covered in our Scope of Work) and combine traditional and non-traditional actors. Another aspect of the open avenue would be to establish innovative and successful interventions that meet PYWD Project’s objectives.

1.3 Solicitation Number: PYWD/Prog/012 Please mention the given solicitation number in all applying and all subsequent

correspondence with PYWD project. 1.4 Requests for information, clarifications, or questions:

Requests for additional information, clarifications, or other questions must be submitted in writing through email to Subcontract Administrator, Muhammad Ather Aslam (Email: [email protected]). Verbal requests/ telephone calls will NOT be entertained.

1.5 Last date for submission of Concept Papers: This solicitation is being open based on rolling basis. Which means that PYWD project will

access and review the submitted concept papers through PYWD Project’s Award Committee. Therefore, interested applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Please submit the concept paper/ brief proposal in soft and hard copy. Hard copy of concept papers or proposals should be addressed to The Award Committee – PYWD Project, at street address mentioned hereunder:

The Award Committee Louis Berger Punjab Youth Workforce Development (PYWD) Project House 164-A, Ahmed Block, New Garden Town Lahore

Louis Berger reserves the rights to reject any or all submitted concept papers /proposals at its



discretion and is under no obligation to award. Similarly, the issuing authority may cancel the solicitation process and reject all concept papers/ proposals/ applications at any time prior to award, without thereby incurring any liability to applicants or any obligation to inform applicants of the grounds for such action.

1.6 Amendment in Solicitation Document:

Louis Berger – PYWD Project reserves the right to amend this solicitation document. In such case, a revised RFP document will be advertisement on the internet site on which it has been advertised for public intimation i.e. www.brightspyre.com.

1.7 Basis of Award:

(A) Louis Berger will base the potential award of a Service Agreements or Subcontract

resulting from this solicitation to the Offeror/ applicant organization whose offer conforming to the solicitation and the offer is the most advantageous to the project and due to shortage of processing and implementation time, only shortlisted entities will be contacted for final selection.

(B) The selection criteria for awards includes but not limited to sustainability, inclusion, scalability, quality, impact on poverty, innovation and leverage and other factors. The basic selection criteria and associated covenants are mentioned in Section 4 of this solicitation document.

(C) This solicitation does not constitute commitment at part of Louis Berger or PYWD

Project or USAID or any associated agency/ partner organization to make a contract award. The Award Committee of Louis Berger may (a) reject any or all concept papers, (b) accept other than the defined thematic areas; and (c) waive condition(s), formalities or regularities in concept papers / proposals received.

(D) There is no predefined minimum or maximum number of awards USAID will support

through this RFP. The Award Committee may make an award on the basis of submitted concept paper/ proposal, without further discussion and/or additional information. Therefore, each concept paper/ proposal should contain the organizational best pen picture of technical standpoint; coherence with desired goals, and suitability as per evaluation criteria. An organization may apply for one or more concepts/ ideas/ proposals, as mentioned in Scope of Work of this document.

1.8 Timing and Duration of the Procurement/ Solicitation:

The proposed subcontracts or Service Agreements are expected to be awarded after the solicitation and award process is completed by the Award Committee. The evaluation process will be done on rolling basis. Which means, PYWD Project will review and select on a regular interval. The award process is subject to implicit administrative procedures and approvals from competent authorities.


SECTION 2: INSTRUCTIONS TO THE OFFERORS/APPLICANTS

2.1 General

Eligible offerors are invited to submit concept papers/ proposals under no obligation to do so. Offerors/applicants will NOT be reimbursed for any costs incurred in connection with the preparation and submission of their concept papers/ proposals.

2.2 Contract Agreement

Louis Berger contemplates awarding a Fixed Price Subcontract or Service Agreements with one or multiple fixed price deliverables. Payments terms will be decided in collaboration with the shortlisted firm/ offeror/ applicant. The Offeror shall follow the instructions contained herein and supply all information as required.

2.3 Preparation of Concept papers/ Proposals The offeror/ applicant organizations may submit one or more concept papers/ proposals, required in Section 3 of this document. The submitted documentation must be signed by an individual authorized to commit the offer on behalf of your organization.

2.4 The Concept Papers The applicant organization are encouraged to submit a brief concept paper that demonstrate a complete pen picture of the proposed idea. Typically, a concept paper should not exceed 5 to 6 pages. The applicant organization may attach relevant documents to substantiate the stated facts. The concept paper should be submitted with a cover letter stating name of applicant organization, name and contact details for example full legal name, address, telephone & e-mail of the organization and the focal person. The Concept papers and cover letters should be written in the English language, typed, on white paper, single-spaced, with each page numbered consecutively. The application package may also contain organizational profile and/or relevant document that you may deem necessary and appropriate. The Offerors are requested to submit concept papers directly responsive to the terms, conditions, and clauses of this document. Proposals not conforming to this solicitation document may be categorized as unacceptable, thereby eliminating them from further consideration. Louis Berger - Award Committee intend to award a subcontract on the basis of offers received without further discussions. Therefore, each offer should contain the Offeror’s/ applicant’s best terms from the cost or price.

Please note that identification and selection of beneficiaries should be carried out on following criteria:

a. Age shall be between 18 to 29 years.

b. The candidates who have already received training in the same course in any organization shall not be preferred.

c. Candidates shall be the resident of PYWD focused project district (Multan, Muzaffargarh, Bahawalpur and Lodhran) and willing to complete training and placements.

d. Belong to marginalized families preferably BISP beneficiaries.


The concept paper/ brief proposal should incorporate the following:

# Major contents Information Required

1. Situation analysis Geographical area - district/ tehsil/ union council for the proposed intervention.

The need analysis and what are perceived needs and challenges. Please describe the demand driven solution(s) of the identified need(s).

maximum one page

2. Objective: Please state what would be the objective of proposed intervention

Not more than 4-5 lines

3. Target group and Beneficiaries

Please identify the list of target groups beneficiaries (both direct & indirect) and also their gender distribution. Please specify their relevance of project design to the need fulfillment. The relevance of the project to the organization’s vision, mission and operations is also required.

Not more than half page

4. Implementation approach

Please describe implementation approach/ strategies and their rationale. Where applicable, mention networking and interfacing of project activities with other partners including govt. facilities in the project area; indicate purpose, activity and nature of partnership. In case of partnership, specify key implementers and their roles in the project

Maximum one page

5. Major Activities and expected outcomes

Specify major activities that contribute in achieving the envisaged objectives. Please mention how these activities will contribute in achievement of desired objectives.

6. Sustainability Please state how the sustainability of proposed intervention will be ensured in preview of desired outcomes/ objectives.

7. Monitoring & Evaluation

Please identify the monitoring strategy and key performance indicators. Where applicable, state how the intervention will be monitored and evaluated; what monitoring tools & indicators will be used and in which frequency.

2.5 Arbitration and Grievances:

The Chief of Party (COP) of Punjab Youth Workforce Development Project will be the sole and final authority for arbitration. Any grievance or complaint regarding procurement process or decision should be addressed to the COP – PYWD Project.

2.6 Source and Nationality Requirement All services offered in response to this solicitation and RFP document must meet USAID Geographic Code 937 in accordance with the United State Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), 22 CFR 228. The cooperating country for this procurement is Pakistan.

2.7 Important Note:

In cooperation with the Office of the Inspector General, USAID/Pakistan established the “Anti-Fraud Hotline” to provide an avenue for the reporting of fraud, waste, and abuse potentially


associated with USAID-funded projects in Pakistan. The Anti-Fraud Hotline handles complaints with complete confidentiality and individuals are encouraged to report when corruption, fraud, waste or abuse may exist in the USAID/Pakistan activities. Reports can be filed anonymously via the easy-to-use Hotline (toll free number 0800 84700); e-mail at [email protected]; fax at 021-35390410; postal address at 5-C, 2nd Floor Khayban-e-Ittehad, Phase VII, DHA, Karachi, Pakistan; and on the website www.anti-fraudhotline.com.



SECTION 3: SCOPE OF WORK

Project Introduction: The USAID-Punjab Youth Workforce Development (PYWD) Project is investing in underprivileged youth by providing them with skills, entrepreneurship, and employment opportunities to help better their livelihood and economic opportunities while also helping to meet the needs of industry. This 3-year program complements the Government of Punjab’s policy to provide skill development and employment opportunities for 10,000 youth, including 35 percent of whom are women age 16 to 29 from selected districts of South Punjab. The PYWD Project’s focus districts are Multan, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh and Bahawalpur. Goal: To create economic opportunities and supporting social empowerment in focus areas through developing socially constructive attitudes and behaviors amongst the male and female youth. Purpose: To empower male and female youth through constructive community engagement and the provision of robust employment and entrepreneurship opportunities to counteract the dynamics that potentially harbor extremism and instability among at-risk communities. Background: The PYWD Project recently validated and/or assessed seven skill gap studies conducted by prominent TVET organizations in Pakistan. The purpose of this analysis was to assess and prioritize those trades currently being demanded along with the available training facilities, their preparedness, and their current offerings to respond to the market requirements in the targeted intervention areas of Multan, Bahawalpur, Lodhran, and Muzaffargarh. Call for Proposals: Using adaptive programming, the PYWD Project has already started to incorporate the recommendations of the skill gap analysis in its prioritized activities (see Annex I). To continue to do so, the PYWD Project seeks to partner with market actors including private sector firms, SMEs, industry associations, and training providers to equip more Pakistani youth with productive and equitable vocational skills aimed at higher wages and improved working conditions. Informed by analysis, the partnerships will work to kick start high-impact, innovative skills development models in collaboration with the private sector. Louis Berger, USAID’s PYWD Project implementing partner, is seeking partnerships for a number of models, learning channels, and wrap-around support services that can generate both economic and social benefits. These include employer-led training, apprenticeships, mentoring/job shadowing, management skills, soft skills, in-person and on-the-job, mobile-based and career counselling and placement services. Key sectors of interest to the PYWD Project includes but not limited to:

• Commercial Agriculture – Area-wise need-based workforce • Tourism – Quality workforce for the increased tourism and hospitality • Construction – Workforce preparedness for the new dams, housing projects, infrastructure, and

reconstruction projects • Transportation – Licensed driving including services • Light Engineering – Manufacturing – trend of new technology & skilled manpower • Others – To be determined


Annex 1: SKILL GAP ANALYSIS - KEY FINDINGS BY SECTOR

In order to capture updated industrial demand, the PYWD Project expanded its study through engagement with major stakeholders operating in the agriculture, manufacturing, and service sectors in the PYWD-focused districts and incorporated their inputs to the study. In addition, soft skills and self-employment were examined given their growing demand. Below is the outcome and conclusion of the work performed as part of this validation exercise: Agriculture Sector Agriculture is the main economic activity in the four target districts, employing a large portion of the labor force and providing livelihoods to the rural population. However, traditional and non-professional techniques are commonly used for sowing, growth, disease prevention, and harvesting and preservation of crops. As part of this analysis, detailed interactions were held with stakeholders from the sector including researchers, businesses, farm owners and day workers to better understand the situation. Data was collected through secondary and primary research, engaging stakeholders using FGDs and interviews. It was found that there are limited opportunities within TEVTA, PVTC, and private sector institutes for specific, demand-driven short courses (1-4 weeks) in the targeted vocations that form part of the agriculture sector. Specifically, in the Project’s focus districts, there is just one agriculture-specific training institute in Multan (i.e., Pak-German Institute of Cooperative Agriculture (PGICA)) offering courses but its courses are 6+ months. Courses Offered by Pak German Polytechnic Institute for Agriculture Technology (PGICA)

# Course/Trade Duration Diploma/Certificate

1. Agriculture Sciences 3 Years Diploma

2. F.SC Pre-Agriculture 2 Years Certificate

3. Welder 6 Months Certificate

4. Auto Mechanic (Diesel/Petrol) 6 Months Certificate

5. Motor Cycle Mechanic 6 Months Certificate

6. Farm Manager 6 Months Certificate

7. Pest Manager 6 Months Certificate

8. Tunnel Manager 6 Months Certificate

In addition to PGICA, there are a number of universities1 offering higher education in the agriculture sector, but they do not offer short courses for agriculture workers. Thus, it is clear there is a large demand for a number of short-term courses that can be offered on the farm or at more accessible training institutes for the following vocations:

1These include: Baha Uddin Zakariya University, Multan; Nawaz Sharif University, Multan; National Fertilizer Corporation (NFC) Institute of Engineering & Technology, Multan; The Islamia University of Bahawalpur; and Agriculture Machinery Training Institutes in Multan and Bahawalpur offers Tractor Operator Courses.


Demanded Short-Term Agriculture Courses

Agronomic Crops Horticulture Livestock Tractor Driver, Laser Level Operators, Farm Equipment Mechanics, Farm Machine Welders, Farm Equipment Electricians, Tube well / Turbine Mechanics, Pesticide Application Workers, Combine Harvester Operators, Gur Making Labor, Farm Accountants, Tunnel Farming (One roof tunnel structure with drip irrigation

Nursery Workers and Budders, Nursery Supervisors, Nursery Input Suppliers, Seed Production Workers, Seed Handling Workers, Drip Irrigation Technician, Tree Pruning & Canopy Management Workers, Post-Harvest Techniques (management and services) Workers, Fruit & Vegetable preservation Assistants.

Livestock Extension Technicians, Dairy Farm Workers Dairy and Cattle farming, Biogas Plant Technicians, Cooling Plant / Chiller Technicians, Artificial Insemination, Butchery, Meat Production & Processing, Cold Chain Management, Hatcheries Workers, Poultry Disease & Nutrient Management Assistants, Pond Management. Poultry Farm management, Fish processing.

In addition, a few unique, yet demand-driven trades currently available in Universities that can be immediately promoted by the PYWD Project among businesses and trainees include:

➢ Training on Mango production, harvesting, post-harvesting, packaging and polishing techniques,

➢ Seed Testing,

➢ Sowing of seed, fertilization, irrigation, pesticide application, harvesting and threshing,

➢ Mushroom Culture,

➢ Hydroponics,

➢ Nursery raising for Kitchen Gardening,

➢ Pest & Disease Monitoring,

➢ Open & covered vegetable growth,

➢ Crop Storage and Health Aspects,

➢ Post-Harvest Losses Prevention Training,

➢ Natural/organic techniques for Preservation,

➢ Boiler Operator, and

➢ Fiber Optic Network Technician.

To address the above gaps identified in the agriculture sector, the following required actions have been identified by the PYWD Project:

• Shortlisting of the few high-demanded trades, coupled with the laying down of the areas of intervention to make the same accessible,

• Finalization of topics/areas of training, based upon requirements analysis of the PYWD Project and research conducted by the Institute/University,

• Development of entire course plan, including course outlines, curricula, training duration and assigning faculty for training implementation,

• Finalization of the mode for conducting training programs, which will be trade/topic-specific:

o Within the Institute/Universities – through classroom training along with practical training by utilizing institute/university-based nurseries, farms and demonstration plots,

o On-field training – at farmers’ place through university’s visiting faculty; group formation of farmers at local-level for imparting training programs at village level,

o Exposure visits – of farmers to Universities for demonstration purposes; and,

• Training Assessment & Certification to be done by the Institute/University.


Manufacturing Sector Most of the manufacturing in the districts is based on agricultural- or livestock-related raw materials to produced goods used for further value addition in downstream operations. Larger operations include cotton ginning, spinning, weaving, and sheep/cattle casing. Other manufacturing that plays a vital role in the economy of these districts includes electric power generation, chemicals, auto assembly, food and beverage, handicrafts, and cottage industry. Given the current skills gaps in this industry, the PYWD Project expanded its assessment to include the manufacturing sector, where training institutes are unable to meet the workforce demand. Our assessment showed that the following vocations are highly demanded in the focus districts:

• Cotton Ginning Sector: Fitter maintenance mechanic, machine operators, and ginning technicians

• Spinning and weaving sector: Ring department, simplex weaving shed, sizing auto cone and folding in spinning

• Leather Tannery: Leather technicians, beam house tanning technicians, and leather machine operators

Currently there are no training institutes or curricula available in the focused districts to meet the demand of these sectors and thus, there are few skilled workers in these areas. Moreover, while new technologies are emerging in this sector to increase productivity, efficiency, and quality, there has been limited initiative in the focus districts to introduce new technologies or modernize training institutes accordingly. Instead, TVET institutions are largely providing training in the following conventional trades:

1. Electricians,

2. Machinist,

3. HVACR,

4. Mobile Repairs,

5. Computer Application; and,

6. Hand and Machine Embroidery.

While these trades also remain in high demand, the PYWD Project learned that there is high demand from the industry for on-the-job training and eventually job placement in a number of other short-tenured skill-sets as recommended by the stakeholders for the manufacturing sector. The recommended duration of these courses ranges from 1 week to 6 weeks and are typically not offered by the training providers in the project’s four districts. These trades are:

Textile:

▪ Grading & sorting of different qualities of Cotton

▪ Mechanical Fitting & Plant Maintenance – mechanical fitters and plant maintenance mechanics

▪ Press Machine Operators

▪ Fabricators - fabrication, welding & pipe work

▪ General Electrician

▪ Electronic Technicians

▪ Operators of Oil Extraction Machines

▪ Supervisors for the mill

▪ Oil Expeller operator

▪ Quality assurance and account assistant

▪ Machine Maintenance

▪ Sectional Warping

▪ Yarn Dyeing


Sheep Casing:

▪ Food Safety and Sanitation

▪ Selection and grading

▪ Salting and Preservation

Jewelry Making & Handicrafts

▪ Mutani Karhai

▪ Moakesh, Tilla, Moti, Sitara, Nug, and thread work

▪ Design and production

▪ Business management and marketing

Food & Beverage and Chemicals

▪ Production workers

▪ Quality control workers

▪ Electrical and mechanical technicians

▪ Sales staff

▪ Purchase and inventory management

▪ Supervisors

▪ Fitter

▪ Helper

▪ Accountants

Others

▪ Environment, Health and Safety workers

▪ Auto assembly workers – mechanics and supervisors

▪ Solar panel installation and maintenance workers

To address the above gaps identified in the manufacturing sector, the following required actions have been identified by the PYWD Project:

• Incorporation of above-mentioned vocations including direct training and placement with the industry in Project’s focus on training and placement for targeted youth.

• Introduction of shorter-term courses for targeted vocations.

• Introduction of training in newly-demanded training programs like solar.

• Couple with training on self-employment-related training, market linkages and provision of appropriate toolkits in these areas.

Services Sector The services sector also includes trades which cater to the basic needs of the population, providing value-added professional services, and creating employment opportunities for a large number of people. This sector also has potential to provide employment opportunities to skill workers in: construction and housing, health, ICT, hospitality, logistics and education. Health: The findings indicate that one of the important economic sectors and employers in the focused districts is healthcare. The demand for healthcare services has been increasing over the few years and is anticipated to continue growing further, leading to an increased demand for healthcare workers. The skills required for this sector are largely technical in nature. The most critical vocational trades identified include: health care assistants, medical equipment operators / helpers, lab assistants and


technicians, and pharmaceutical salespersons. The PYWD Project could continue exploring partnerships with the training provider and the private/public sector technical experts to improve the current available curricula for specific health courses and improve the institutional capacity to deliver health training. Hospitality: This sector comprises of hotels, food retailers, food manufacturers, travel agencies, travel guides, tour operators, and other sub-sectors providing customer service. The demand for various trades in the hospitality sector has witnessed an upward trend due to various factors – one of the most dominating factors being the increased number of flights coming into Multan (more than 90 flights in a week), thereby resulting in an increased demand for travel agents and tour operators in the targeted districts. The existing skills gap in the hospitality sector results from a lack of training providers to fulfill the needs of the services and hospitality industry. The existing skills gap also creates an opportunity cost in terms of money and time invested by all employers into the training of their employees in skills that are not being catered by the educational/training institutions. The list of trades / skills required by the sector include:

• Food & Beverages • Barista • Soft skills • Tandoorchi (bread makers) • Guest relation Officer • House keeping • Front desk manager • Food safety • Carving skill • Cabin crew (Air Hostess) • Air ticketing • Travel Management • Training manager

To address the above gaps identified in the services sector, the following required actions have been identified by the PYWD Project:

• Narrow the disconnect between academia and industry.

• Increase training and job placement in the identified vocations above.

• Identify training institutes to help in designing and providing the course contents of the identified trades/skill-sets which are currently not being offered by the training providers but are in high-demand and also plan for commencement of these training programs.

• Create better awareness of the community and inform them that hospitality sector has huge potential for jobs and career growth.

Increase soft skills training, particularly work ethics, attitude/personality building, and mental readiness to accept challenges as hospitality sector is labor intensive (standing job and lengthy timing). Construction and Housing Sector The construction and housing industry not only has great employment potential, but also has backward and forward linkages with dozens of industries as well as transport and ancillary services. Thus, it can serve as an engine of growth for the economy. It is also one of the most labor-intensive sectors. As such, well-designed, integrated and coordinated housing and construction has the potential to achieve significant labor market outcomes. However, optimal employment gains are linked with an adequately trained skilled workforce. The Project identified the following gaps/missing vocations in the focused districts:


• Skilled workers like tile fixing, aluminum fabricator, and pre-fabricated steel structure, masons, electricians, plumbers, carpenters,

• Technical foremen / in-charge, mostly educated with diplomas or degrees in some discipline,

• Operation of earth moving and other heavy machines, requiring operators and assistants,

• Mechanics of different types for maintenance of heavy machines and equipment used in the infrastructure projects, and

• Similarly, experts of emerging specialized such as: marble and synthetic tile fixers and aluminum work fabricators etc.

No institute in the targeted districts offers training programs for operators of earth moving machines. On the other hand, the employment opportunities of such jobs are continuously increasing. Tile fixing, aluminum fabricator, pre-fabricated steel structure and many other construction sector related courses are not being offered in the training institutes of the areas. The Project will explore short-tenured training programs in the construction sector for the most demanded trades. The recommended duration of these courses ranges from 1 week to 6 weeks and are typically not offered by the training providers in the project’s four districts. Soft skills An important area that was identified by the stakeholders and validated by employers (in almost all the sectors studied) was the lack of soft skills at all levels. The following are not being taught at any of the training centers:

• Time management,

• Networking skills and people management,

• Rights and responsibilities of workers,

• Basic health (and reproductive health in case of females),

• Emergency and life-saving skills, and

• Work ethics.

The Project has started implementing these types of trainings and will continue to emphasize such. Self-employment Significant potential for entrepreneurship exists in the manufacturing and trade of local agricultural products and handicrafts. However, many people lack the appropriate business experience and expertise, and there is no training institute or service provider currently providing training in entrepreneurship and/or the creation and management of small businesses. As such, this is another area, the Project can improve upon.


SECTION 4: EVALUATION CRITERIA The Project will deploy the following set of eligibility criteria and rubrics in evaluating and selecting potential models/ concept papers for partnership:

• Sustainability: How the intervention will be sustained after the completion of the project?

• Inclusion: How does the intervention consider gender and/or other disadvantaged groups?

• Scalability: To what extent is there potential for the interventions to be scaled up?

• Impact on Poverty: What is the possible impact on poor people - are there likely improvements in livelihoods and opportunities?

• Additionality: What is the likely increase in employment and income?

• Quantity: What are the proposed numbers of beneficiaries and quantifiable benefits to beneficiaries?

• Innovation: What is the level of innovation in skills development and employment approach?

• Leverage: What is the extent to which the partner is willing to invest in the program?

The Award Committee may request additional information or ask question to have an objective evaluation. The committee or any of its representative(s) may also visit the applicant organization during that process. Key Points in evaluation: 4.1 To assist in the evaluation of concept papers/ proposals, the Award Committee may, at its

discretion, ask any applicant for a clarification of its documentation which shall be submitted within a stated reasonable period of time. Any request for clarification and all clarifications shall be in writing. If applicant does not provide clarifications of the information requested by the date and time set in Louis Berger’s request for clarification, its proposal may be rejected.

4.2 Section 3 of this document provides guidance to offerors/ applicants concerning the

documentation necessary to conduct an informed evaluation of each proposal. The applicants must furnish adequate and specific information in the proposals. A proposal may be eliminated from further consideration before a detailed evaluation is performed if the proposal is considered obviously deficient as to be totally unacceptable on its face or which prices are inordinately high or unrealistically low.

4.3 Louis Berger shall use all the factors, methods and criteria defined in the evaluation criteria to

evaluate the offers of the applicants and any specialist subcontractors. Louis Berger reserves the right to waive minor deviations in the evaluation criteria if they do not materially affect the capability of an applicant to perform the contract.

4.4 The Award Committee reserves the right to award a contract under this solicitation process

based on initial offers without discussions. Similarly, the committee also reserves the right to accept or reject one or all concept papers / proposals received against this solicitation document.

4.5 Applicants shall not have a conflict of interest. Applicants shall be considered to have a conflict


of interest, if they participated as a consultant in the preparation of the design or technical specifications of the works that are the subject of this solicitation. Where a firm, or a firm from the same economic or financial group, in addition to consulting, also has the capability to manufacture or supply goods or to construct works, that firm, or a firm from the same economic or financial group, cannot normally be a supplier of goods or works, if it provided consulting services for the contract corresponding to this solicitation, unless it can be demonstrated that there is not a significant degree of common ownership, influence or control.

4.6 Louis Berger requires that Suppliers, Contractors, and Consultants observe the highest

standard of ethics during the procurement and execution of such contracts. In pursuit of this policy, Louis Berger:

(a) Defines, for the purposes of this provision, the terms set forth below as follows:

(i) “corrupt practice” means the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of anything of

value to influence the action of a public official in the procurement process or in contract execution; and

(ii) “fraudulent practice” means a misrepresentation of facts in order to influence a

procurement process or the execution of a contract to the detriment of the Borrower, and includes collusive practices among applicants (prior to or after concept paper submission) designed to establish cost/ prices/ proposal at artificial, non-competitive levels and to deprive the borrower of the benefits of free and open competition;

(b) Will reject a concept paper/ proposal for award if it determines that the offeror

recommended for award has engaged in corrupt or fraudulent practices in competing for the Contract; and

(c) will declare a firm ineligible, either indefinitely or for a stated period of time, to be

awarded a subcontract if it at any time determines that the firm has engaged in corrupt or fraudulent practices in competing for, or in executing, a Louis Berger financed contract.

4.7 Any attempt by an applicant to influence Louis Berger’s representatives in the evaluation of

the concept paper/ proposals or contract award decisions may result in the rejection of its submission.

Documents

Request for Proposal - BrightSpyre. PYWD 012 .pdf · the Subcontracts Administrator, M. Ather Aslam (through email [email protected]), in accordance with Section 2 of this RFP