Request for Proposal – Oversight

FEBRUARY 2026 

ISSUED BY 
Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber 

Introduction & Background 

The Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR) is an international, multi-stakeholder, voluntary membership initiative seeking to lead improvements in the socioeconomic and environmental performance of the natural rubber value chain. Members of the platform include tire manufacturers, rubber suppliers and processors, vehicle makers and NGOs. Representatives from each of these stakeholder groups have contributed to the development of the Singapore-based platform and the wide-reaching set of priorities that will define strategy and objectives.

The GPSNR Assurance System, designed by Assurance Services International (ASI) and for GPSNR members, is a risk-based framework that supports credible and independent assurance processes. It enables companies to identify and mitigate human rights and environmental risks within their supply chains, undergo third-party verification, and report transparently on their progress through credible claims.

As part of its Assurance System, GPSNR operates an oversight mechanism to ensure that approved Assurance Service Providers (ASPs) deliver assessment and assurance services in conformity with GPSNR requirements. This oversight function is a critical component of maintaining the credibility, consistency, and integrity of the GPSNR Assurance System.

GPSNR is therefore seeking proposals from qualified and experienced individuals or organizations to provide GPSNR Oversight Assessor services in accordance with GPSNR oversight procedures and requirements.

The Engagement 

The GPSNR Secretariat is seeking one or more qualified Oversight Assessors to support GPSNR in planning, conducting, and reporting on oversight assessments of Assurance Service Providers. The selected provider(s) will support GPSNR in ensuring that ASPs continue to meet approval requirements and effectively implement GPSNR assurance procedures.

Scope of Work

The Oversight Assessor(s) shall perform oversight activities in line with the GPSNR Oversight Procedure. The scope of work may include, but is not limited to, the following activities:

Oversight Assessment Activities

• Conduct 5-10 desk reviews of applicant or approved Assurance Service Providers, including review of documented procedures and records.
• Conduct 5-10 office assessments (remote or on-site, as required) to evaluate conformity with GPSNR requirements and the effectiveness of ASP management systems.
• Conduct 5-10 witness assessments by observing ASP assessors or assessor teams during GPSNR field assessments.
• Apply appropriate oversight assessment techniques, including document review, interviews, and witnessing of audit activities.

Assessment Preparation and Planning

• Support GPSNR Secretariat in defining the scope, type, and objectives of oversight assessments.
• Prepare assessment agendas and support logistical planning as required.
• Review background documentation prior to assessments, including previous oversight reports and ASP records.

Reporting and Follow-up

• Identify, document, and grade nonconformities in accordance with GPSNR procedures.
• Prepare clear, accurate, and well-justified oversight assessment reports.
• Participate in opening and closing meetings with Assurance Service Providers.
• Submit assessment reports to the GPSNR Secretariat for technical review within agreed timelines.
• Support clarification or revision of reports where requested following technical review.

Professional and Ethical Requirements

• Act in accordance with GPSNR assessment principles, including ethical conduct, impartiality, confidentiality, and due professional care.
• Declare and manage conflicts of interest in line with GPSNR requirements.
• Comply with all applicable health, safety, and confidentiality requirements during oversight activities.

Assessor Qualification and Competence Requirements

Proposals must demonstrate that the proposed Oversight Assessor(s) meet the following minimum requirements:

• Relevant tertiary academic qualification in agriculture, environmental management, or a related field, or equivalent demonstrated professional experience.
• At least three (3) years of professional experience in the management and/or delivery of certification or accreditation services.
• Successful completion of a five-day ISO lead auditor training course based on ISO 19011.
• Qualification as a lead auditor for the GPSNR programme or a comparable certification scheme in a related industry.
• Successful completion (or commitment to complete) GPSNR-specific training on assurance procedures, assessment requirements, and relevant templates and tools.
• Familiarity with GPSNR and the natural rubber industry

Submission Guidelines & Requirements

The following submission guidelines & requirements apply to this Request for Proposal:

1. Proposals will only be accepted from individuals or organisations with experience relevant to this project.
2. Examples of previous relevant work should be provided as well.
3. A technical proposal must be provided that is not more than 4 pages. This technical proposal must include understanding of the assignment and proposed approach, indicative schedule and availability as well as resumes of all key personnel performing the work.
4. A price proposal must be provided that is not more than 1 pages. This price proposal should indicate daily or hourly rates and an estimated number of days by activity.
5. Proposals must be signed by a representative that is authorized to commit bidder’s company.
6. Proposals must be received prior to the 20th of February to be considered. Proposals should be submitted to natalie.low@gpsnr.org for consideration.
7. GPSNR reserves the right to amend the scope of this RFP in order to get the most suitable consultant.
8. Bidders must ensure that all external personnel involved in preparing and executing this proposal are under exclusive agreements specific to this RFP. These agreements must obligate the external personnel to exclusively dedicate their services to the bidder’s proposal, prohibiting their engagement in any other proposals for the same RFP. This measure is to maintain the integrity of the bidding process and prevent conflicts of interest.

Project Timelines

Proposals submitted by consultant to natalie.low@gpsnr.org	February 20, 2026
Selection of Top Bidders / Notification to Unsuccessful Bidders	February 27, 2026
Contract start date	Tentatively March 2026

Budget

The Platform invites consultants to submit a competitive price proposal, and the proposed budget will be factored into selection of the consultant. The total contract value shall be calculated based on the daily rate and actual number of days worked per month. Invoicing shall be submitted on a monthly basis and must include a breakdown of days worked and activities performed for the relevant period.

Evaluation Factors

GPSNR will rate proposals based on the following factors:

1. Responsiveness to the requirements set forth in this Request for Proposal
2. Relevant past performance/ experience
3. Cost and overall value for money
4. Technical expertise/experience of bidder/bidder’s staff

GPSNR reserves the right to award to the bidder that presents the best value to GPSNR as determined solely by GPSNR in its absolute discretion.

Note: The award of this contract will only be considered complete upon completion of the contract signing.

Updated 6 May 2022

Introduction

The Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR) is an international multi-stakeholder, voluntary membership initiative seeking to lead improvements in the socioeconomic and environmental performance of the natural rubber value chain. Members of the platform include tire manufacturers, rubber producers and processors, vehicle makers, NGOs, and smallholder natural rubber producers. 

GPSNR is seeking to hire a consultant to develop the GPSNR Policy Equivalent for Smallholders, which will put forth commitments for economic, environmental, and social sustainability for GPSNR smallholder members.

Relevant Background

GPSNR Policy Framework for Member Companies

In September 2020, the GPSNR General Assembly endorsed the GPSNR Policy Framework for natural rubber production and sourcing for GPSNR ordinary member companies.

The GPSNR Policy Framework provides a framework for GPSNR member companies to align their natural rubber purchasing policies on all aspects of sustainability: economic, environmental, and social. Modelled around the Platform’s 12 Principles of Sustainable Natural Rubber, the GPSNR policy framework sets out eight overarching themes that include commitments to legal compliance, community livelihoods, healthy, functioning ecosystems (including no deforestation), and respecting all human rights.

In line with the GPSNR Policy Framework, the GPSNR Secretariat has prepared guidance on the Policy Evaluation Procedure to support members in aligning their corporate policies with the GPSNR Policy Framework.

GPSNR Smallholders Policy Equivalent for Smallholder Members

As of March 2022, GPSNR currently has 112 smallholder members across 10 countries: Brazil, Cambodia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.

While this represents a small percentage of the millions of smallholder producers globally, GPSNR is committed to developing the mechanisms, tools, and processes to support smallholders globally in adopting best practices for natural rubber production in terms of economic, environmental and social outcomes. 

To advance this, the Platform is developing the GPSNR Smallholders Policy Equivalent. GPSNR is seeking to hire a consultant to make recommendations on the objectives, content, function, and roadmap of this new document, the Smallholders Policy (or similar equivalent), relative to the needs, interests, and capacities of the Platform’s smallholder members.

The consultant is expected to collect relevant information via desktop study and information provided by the GPSNR Secretariat and the GPSNR Smallholders Policy Task Force.

The consultant would also be expected to conduct a number of stakeholder engagement sessions (e.g., interviews, focus group discussion; including but not necessarily limited to GPSNR smallholder members, and GPSNR NGO and private company members with direct interactions with smallholder, such as natural rubber processers) based on the criteria set out below. The GPSNR Secretariat will provide a preliminary list of contacts and the consultant will be expected to propose additional contacts to interview, with a particular focus on external schemes / platforms that engage with smallholders.

Regular contact and provision of updates to the Task Force together with the Secretariat will be required.

Further Context

To become a Smallholder Member of GPSNR, the following criteria must be met:

1. The primary source of income for the smallholder is the farm (not only Natural Rubber)
2. The Natural Rubber production unit size is not more than 50ha (although the farm may be larger)
3. Profits from the farm accrue primarily to the owner of the farm and their family

Deliverables

Objectives, Content and Function of the Smallholders Policy Equivalent

The consultant should put forth recommendations covering the objectives, substantive content, function, and roadmap (e.g., propose normative documents to be developed later on) of the Smallholders Policy Equivalent, considering the responses of key stakeholders to the following questions:

1. What are the objectives of the Policy Equivalent for GPSNR and GPSNR smallholder members?
2. What are the sustainability commitments and standards put forth in the Policy Equivalent?
3. How detailed should the commitments in the Policy Equivalent be? 
4. How binding should the Policy Equivalent be for smallholder members (e.g., level of adoption requirements)?
5. What would the Policy Equivalent entail or mean for smallholder members upon its completion and endorsement?
6. What are the expected costs and benefits of implementing the Policy Equivalent for member and non-member smallholders?
7. How would the content, form or function of the Policy Equivalent compare to existing equivalents (e.g., participatory guarantee systems) in other commodities (e.g., coffee, cocoa, palm oil etc.), if any? 
8. Follow-up Questions: What mechanisms can GPSNR put in place to assist farmers in managing the costs of adhering to implementing sustainability best practices?

This should be conducted through a needs review comprising a representative set of stakeholders (smallholders, NGOs, processers, and producers). GPSNR will facilitate virtual access and engagement with GPSNR smallholder and company members where applicable and requested by the consultant.

This RFP is also not limited in scope to smallholders or stakeholders in any specific geographical region, given that the output is expected to be globally applicable.

Submission Guidelines & Requirements

The following submission guidelines & requirements apply to this Request for Proposal:

1. Proposals will only be accepted from individuals or firms with experience relevant to this project.
2. Examples of previous relevant work should be provided as well.
3. A technical proposal must be provided that should be around 4 pages in length. This technical proposal must provide an overview of the proposed methodology as well as resumes of all key personnel performing the work. In addition, the technical proposal should provide a proposed schedule and milestones, as applicable.
4. A price proposal must be provided that is not more than 1 page. This price proposal should indicate the overall fixed price for the project as well as daily rates and an estimated total number of days.
5. Proposals must be signed by a representative that is authorized to commit bidder’s company.
6. Proposals must be received prior to 10 June 2022 to be considered. Proposals should be submitted to yeo.siyuan@gpsnr.org for consideration. You may also reach out to this contact for any questions or clarifications.

Project Timelines

The Request for Proposal timeline is as follows:

Request for Proposal Issuance	6 May 2022
Proposal submitted by consultant to yeo.siyuan@gpsnr.org	10 June 2022
Selection of Consultant / Notification to Unsuccessful Bidders	24 June 2022
Contract Award	1 July 2022
Work to commence no later than	8 July 2022
First Review	August 2022
Second Review	September 2022
Delivery of Recommendations to GPSNR	End-September 2022

The above timeline is open to further adjustments based on discussions with the consultant and GPSNR’s ongoing key milestones.

Budget

The Platform is anticipating that a total budget of no more than 25,000 GBP. If the consultant deems that travel plans are required to execute this project, these should be included in the proposal (along with any additional budgetary requirements).

Payment terms shall be:

●       20% at the signing of the contract
●       30% at the midpoint date to be agreed upon and memorialized in the contract based on the submitted work plan
●       50% on delivery of the final report

Evaluation Factors

GPSNR will rate proposals based on the following factors:

1. Costs and expected timeline
2. Responsiveness to the requirements set forth in this RFP
3. Methodology for developing the Policy Equivalent 
4. Technical expertise/experience, including past performance/experience

GPSNR reserves the right to award to the bidder that presents the best value to GPSNR as determined solely by GPSNR in its absolute discretion.