Request For Proposal – RFP-A03-039 – National Risk Assessments Request for Proposals

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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.

In 2023, the GPSNR’s Risk assessment subgroup commissioned Assurance Services International (ASI) to create a risk tool that would allow GPSNR to classify risk across different geographies and scales. ASI has completed the tool and it is available at this link (not for wider distribution, only provided as a reference for this RFP). The role of this consultancy will be to fill in this tool using the most relevant and up-to-date information.

The risks that are assessed by the tool are Child Labour, Forced Labour, Freedom of Association, Health and Safety, Working Hours, Wages, Land and Community Rights, Deforestation, HCV, Fire, and Peat. The tool also includes the different risk criteria to be assessed and sources of information.

 

The Engagement

 

The GPSNR Secretariat is seeking a consultant to utilize the risk tool and complete risk assessments for 20 countries across all 11 risks. The consultant will be expected to complete the tool template at the country level for each of the 20 countries. Assessments at the regional or farm level are not required. The risk assessment scope should be limited to the natural rubber supply chain. The consultant is not required to propose mitigation measures for this exercise and risks should be assessed as-is (without factoring in any mitigating actions).

The consultant should list any additional sources of evidence and also include justification for each risk’s classification. The consultant should reference existing studies where possible and is strongly encouraged to consider previously commissioned GPSNR studies (such as the Environmental Risk Study and Social Risk Study both of which provide risk information pertaining to the Natural Rubber Supply Chain).

We require risk assessments to be conducted for:

  1. Brazil
  2. Cambodia
  3. Cameroon
  4. China
  5. Colombia
  6. Ghana
  7. Guinea
  8. Guatemala
  9. India
  10. Indonesia
  11. Ivory Coast
  12. Liberia
  13. Malaysia
  14. Mexico
  15. Myanmar
  16. Nigeria
  17. Philippines
  18. Sri Lanka
  19. Thailand
  20. Vietnam

While this is intended to be a desk-based exercise, consultants who are able to consider the perspectives of indigenous peoples and local communities will be looked upon favourably for this tender.

Consultants may propose focusing on a subset of countries from this list for risk assessment. In this scenario, consultants should specify which countries they would be covering. 

After the first drafts are available, the platform will conduct a 30-day consultation with members. This consultation with members will be facilitated by the Secretariat. Consultants should factor in the need to review and respond to members feedback after the consultation period and provide the Secretariat with a complete list of feedback, together with the consultant’s response to each piece of feedback received.  At the same time, the consultants should also review the first draft based on the feedback review.

The second version of risk assessment will be considered final, and acceptance of this version will mark the conclusion of this engagement.

 

Proposal Format and Contents

 

The proposal should include the following:

  1. Workplan that outlines a timeline and key stages of work, with a focus on the amount of time needed for the initial drafting phase and for the review of and response to members’ feedback. Consultants should ensure that there is sufficient time allocated for reviewing and responding to feedback.
  2. Budget with a breakdown of costs
  3. Description of past work and technical expertise that is relevant to this RFP
  4. List of project team members with their roles in the project and associated qualifications and expertise.
  5. (If applicable) A list of IPLC groups that the consultant is familiar with and would engage for this project if selected.

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 is not more than 4 pages. This technical proposal must provide an overview of the proposed solution 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 pages. This price proposal should indicate the overall fixed price for the project and may include a breakdown of costs if consultants consider it relevant.
  5. Proposals must be signed by a representative that is authorized to commit bidder’s company.
  6. Proposals must be received prior to the 9th of May to be considered. Proposals should be submitted to aidan@gpsnr.org for consideration.
  7. GPSNR reserves the right to amend the scope and budget of this RFP in order to get the most suitable consultant for each topic.
  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.
  9. Award of this project is subject to confirmation of financing from GPSNR members.

 

Project Timelines

 

Proposals submitted by consultant to aidan@gpsnr.org

9th May 2024

Contract Award

6th June 2024

Drafting and delivery of first draft of risk assessments

Timeline to be proposed by consultants

Members consultation

30 day period starting from delivery of first draft

Review of risk assessments, compilation of responses to feedback, and delivery of final risk assessments.

Timeline to be proposed by consultants

 

Budget

 

The Platform invites consultants to submit a competitive price proposal, the proposed budget will be factored into selection of the consultant.

Payment terms shall be:

  • 20% at the signing of the contract
  • 30% at the delivery and acceptance by the Secretariat of the first risk assessment
  • 50% on delivery and acceptance by the Secretariat of the finalized risk assessment and compiled responses to members’ feedback.

 

Evaluation Factors

 

GPSNR will rate proposals based on the following factors, in no particular order:

  1. Responsiveness to the requirements set forth in this Request for Proposal
  2. Relevant experience with risk assessment, including samples of work
  3. Relevant experience with the natural rubber supply chain including the countries relevant to this RFP
  4. Cost
  5. Technical expertise/experience of bidder and bidder’s staff
  6. The proposed timeline of work completion

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 securing full funding and completion of the contract signing.

View RFP Document here

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(CLOSED) Request for Proposal – GPSNR Compliance Panel Guidance (GPSNR-RFP-A02-014)

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

The Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber is an international, multi-stakeholder, voluntary membership initiative committed to improving the socioeconomics and environmental performance of the natural rubber value chain.  Development of the GPSNR was initiated by the CEOs of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Tire Industry Project (TIP) in 2018.  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 Statutes mandate the creation of an independent Compliance Panel to review and ensure that Members meet GPSNR membership requirements in conformance with Statutes, Code of Conduct, decisions, standards and processes, and make recommendations to GPSNR Executive Committee. The Compliance Panel will administer decisions in line with relevant GPSNR procedures. The panel shall be composed of three external experts and will operate independently from the membership and Secretariat.

GPSNR is seeking a consultant to help define procedures and guidelines required for the transparent and impartial operations and activities of GPSNR Compliance Panel.

PHASE I: OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE OF WORK

Objectives: To review GPSNR Statutes and relevant procedures, and develop recommendations and propose options available for the structure, operations and verification protocols of the Compliance Panel. 

The current GPSNR membership statutes document stipulates the following: 

10. Compliance System and Compliance Panel. The Executive Committee shall establish a Compliance System to ensure that Members meet Platform membership requirements in conformance with the Platform’s Statutes, Code of Conduct, decisions, standards and processes. The operating procedures of the Compliance System shall be defined in terms of reference to be adopted by the Executive Committee, consistent with the following core provisions: 

a. The Compliance System shall be administered by the Secretariat. 

b. Recommendations and decisions under the Compliance System shall be made by a Compliance Panel. 

c. The Compliance Panel’s functions shall include the review of whether a Member (in the period after its admission) meets the requirements for membership. 

d. The Compliance Panel shall operate independently from the Executive Committee and General Assembly. 

e. The Compliance Panel shall be composed of an independent body of three external experts that meet on a regular basis. 

f. Experts shall be nominated by an Ordinary Member and elected by a decision of the General Assembly to serve a 3-year term. 

g. A Member of the Compliance Panel may be removed by a consensus decision of the Executive Committee with a clear justification available to members upon request. 

h. Members of the Compliance Panel shall be subject to a conflict of interest policy, as adopted by the Executive Committee. 

i. The Compliance System shall ensure that Members are afforded an opportunity to be heard and an opportunity to cure any findings of non-compliance, alleged by either the Compliance System or Grievance Mechanism. 

The consultant is expected to provide an outline of relevant existing compliance models, a comparison of options that GPSNR could consider, and justified recommendations based on: 

  • Review of other existing membership and/or compliance panel models  
  • Review of GPSNR Statutes and other relevant GPSNR documents  
  • Interviews with GPSNR members and relevant external stakeholders 
  • Other relevant expert advice and guidance 

Scope of Work:

GPSNR is seeking a consultant to recommend operational procedures and guidance for the GPSNR Compliance Panel, to include: 

  • Proposed roles and responsibilities of GPSNR Compliance Panel 
  • Suggested scope of the CP’s activities 
  • Recommended qualification requirements and selection protocols for Compliance Panel members; covering necessary relevant expertise, how to avoid conflict of interests, and procedures for the appointment and removal of Panel members  
  • Options for the structure of decision-making within the panel 
  • Proposed verification procedures by the panel to assess ongoing compliance of GPSNR members with membership requirements 
  • Procedure for issuing appropriate recommendations to ensure compliance of GPSNR members, based on the submitted results of the verification process.  
  • Options for GPSNR to deal with situations where members cannot demonstrate compliance with relevant membership requirements, including steps towards potential suspension or termination in cases of major or persistent noncompliance 
  • Suggestions for appeal procedures related to the decisions/recommendations of the GPSNR CP 
  • Procedure for recording and reporting of Compliance Panel decisions/recommendations  

PROPOSAL FORMAT AND CONTENTS

  • Description of past work that is relevant to this RFP. 
  • A workplan that outlines all key activities of the pilot study, cost for each and timeline for completion. 
  • A description of deliverables and indication of accessibility to GPSNR members and/or the public.  
  • A list of project team members with their roles in the project and associated qualifications. 

TERMS

The work shall begin by 21 May 2021 and the various phases shall be completed in accordance with the dates outlined in the timeline below: 

Activity  Due Date 
Submission deadline for proposals  7 May 2021 
Contract Award  14 May 2021 
Work begins  By 21 May 2021 
Presentation of first draft to GPSNR Policy Toolbox WG (WG1)  2 June 2021 (adjustable) 
Review of draft based on WG1 feedback  3-10 June 2021 
Submission of final recommendations   11 June 2021 

BUDGET

The Platform is anticipating that the total budget of no more than 10,000 SGD be allocated to the engagement. 

Payment terms shall be: 

  • 20% at the signing of the contract 
  • 30% at the presentation of the first draft 
  • 50% upon delivery of the final recommendations. 

EVALUATION FACTORS

GPSNR will rate proposals based on the following factors, with cost being the most important factor: 

  1. Responsiveness to the requirements set forth in this Request for Proposal; 
  2. Relevant past performance/experience; 
  3. Samples of work; 
  4. Cost, including an assessment of total cost of ownership; 
  5. Technical expertise/experience of bidder and 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. 

Proposals should be submitted to stefano.savi@gpsnr.org and aidan@gpsnr.org for consideration.

GPSNR Staff April 9, 2021

(CLOSED) Request for Proposal – Study on Environmental impacts, and risks, in the global Natural Rubber value chains

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. Development of the GPSNR was initiated by the CEOs of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Tire Industry Project (TIP) in November 2018. 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 GPSNR strategy and objectives.

Through a participatory process the Platform has developed stated goals with a strong focus on developing a framework that supports and sustains responsible supply chains. To fully inform decision making the Platform needs to collate, consider, and agree, information on social, environmental and economic risks, and their causes, in the Natural Rubber Value chain, in order to be able to minimise and manage those risks. The Platform has already commissioned a social risk assessment; this call for proposals is for the provision of a parallel process covering environmental impacts and risks, with a particular focus on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.

Each country has its own natural systems, as well as its own governance and social structures which contributes to different environmental impacts and risks from country to country.  Whilst there are many impawcts on natural systems in these countries some are directly associated with the specifics of tropical forest commodity production, especially in countries where development planning and control, and law enforcement, are weak.

The study should identify potential areas of environmental impact in the natural rubber value chain, particularly at the production end of the value chain, and consider the effectiveness of how these potential impacts are managed through regulation, policies and practices, what impacts actually occur, and then consider the risks that these impacts pose. The areas of study should also be consistent with the relevant GPSNR Policy Components (i.e. HCS areas, HCV areas, peat etc; see attached Policy Components document for reference). Based on the analysis of how well current processes deliver the “Desired State” for rubber landscapes, the study should develop recommendations as to how GPSNR could most effectively support the avoidance and mitigation of potential environmental impacts and risks. This should include identifying the possibility of metrication for such risks, which will then be used to inform the development of GPSNR’s Risk Matrix.

The consultant is expected to develop generic impact and risk profiles at a global level, and specific risk profile at a regional and/or national level.  Areas of interest for GPSNR are Southeast Asia (Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, China, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Papua New Guinea, India and Sri Lanka), West Africa (Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia and Nigeria), and South America (Brazil and Guatemala).

The consultant will collect the information via desktop study, interviews with, inter alia, GPSNR members, research and other academic institutes, NGOs, and governmental organizations.  A primary list of stakeholders will be provided by the Secretariat together with the Strategy and Objectives Working Group members.  A complementary list will be developed by the consultant.  Regular contact and updating to the Strategy and Objective Working Group together with the Secretariat will be required. 

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 is not more than 4 pages. 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 27th November 2020 to be considered. Proposals should be submitted to stefano.savi@gpsnr.org and aidan@gpsnr.org for consideration.
  7. GPSNR anticipates shortlisting at least two individuals or firms to have more in-depth discussions with, and will make an award to one of these “down-selected” individuals or firms.

Project Timelines

The Request for Proposal timeline is as follows:

Request for Proposal Issuance 9/11/2020
Proposal submitted by consultant to stefano.savi@gpsnr.org or aidan@gpsnr.org 27/11/2020
Selection of Top Bidders / Notification to Unsuccessful Bidders 4/12/2020
Contract Award 9/12/2020
Specific work-plan, including geographic focus, methodology and indicative contents, agreed with Strategy & Objective Working Group 17/12/2020
Work to commence no later than     21/12/2020
The first draft report submitted to the Strategy and Objective Working Group for comments 22/01/2021
Meeting with Strategy & Objectives WG by 29/01/2021
The final draft report submitted to the Strategy and Objective Working Group 19/02/2021

Budget

The Platform is anticipating that a total budget of no more than 30,000 Euros be allocated to this engagement.

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

Proposals should be submitted to stefano.savi@gpsnr.org and aidan@gpsnr.org for consideration

GPSNR Staff November 11, 2020
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