Request for Proposals – Technical Curriculum Developer (STAGES)

Position description

Request for Proposals – Technical Curriculum Developer (STAGES)

PartnersGlobal seeks a consultant (or firm) to develop a technical financial and operational curriculum for a project funded by the Department of State—Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. This Request for Proposals (“RFP”) defines the consultant's work and outlines the application process.

• Duration: The contract implementation period will be from 23 September to 15 November 2024.
• Application deadline and Point of Contact: Applicants should direct any questions to Julianyth Bravo at [email protected]. Proposals must be received by 11:59 PM EST via BambooHR on 13 September 2024. After that date, the selection committee will notify the selected offeror upon final internal approval.
• Geographic Location: Remote consultancy.

1. BACKGROUND:

1.1. Project Summary

The project “Specialized Training and Assessment for Grantees to Enable Success (STAGES)” is an initiative that aims to empower non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in difficult environments. It is designed to help these organizations operate effectively, prudently, and safely by increasing their financial, administrative, and program management capacities. STAGES will achieve this goal by delivering training for individual NGO representatives in financial management, administrative, and program management and assessing NGOs' organizational financial and operational capacities. STAGES will support nascent United States Government (USG) grantees or grantees that have not yet received federal assistance.

1.2. Organizational Background

For 35 years, PartnersGlobal has been forging more resilient communities by working with our network of local sister organizations (the Partners Network) and with other CSOs worldwide to support local leaders and create partnerships that transform conflict, strengthen democratic institutions, and achieve sustainable development.

The most common belief in all of our collective work is that ‘process matters’ and that impartial, skilled facilitators, mediators, coaches, and trainers have an important role in bringing about peaceful change. PartnersGlobal’s international network, which brings over 240 local experts in the field of democracy and peacebuilding, emphasizes a multi-stakeholder approach to help effect positive change and good process in all activities.

2. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

2.1. Proposal/Letter of Interest

Interested applicants should submit a proposal of no more than Six (6) pages (not including the budget) in PDF or MS Word format that meets the following guidelines: a) Cover page (not included in page count) with relevant contact information of the applicant; b) All pages are numbered and formatted in letter paper size.

All proposals should detail: 1) how the offeror will meet the requirements of the scope of work; 2) professional qualifications including experience developing technical financial and operational documents; and 3) familiarity and knowledge of USG policies and procedures applicable for federal funds as the 2 CFR 200 and 2 CFR 600.

2.2. Budget

As this is a USG-funded project, all federal procurement regulations will apply. The budget should include standard costs associated with the consultancy. The budget should be submitted in MS Excel format with a budget summary tab and a detailed line-item breakdown. An accompanying budget narrative may be written in Excel or PDF/Word format that details the total number of working days.

PartnersGlobal will reimburse travel costs, including, but not limited to, airfare, local transport, visas, and inoculations, as well as per diems (at the appropriate USG rates) and lodging up to the appropriate USG rate (if applicable). Please include these travel-related expenses in the proposed budget.

2.3. Required Attachments

• Resume (or CV) of Consultant or Team Lead (if submitting as an organization);
• List of three references, including contact information for work performed for each reference, within the last three years;
• A sample document from your portfolio of past consultancies.

3. SCOPE OF WORK:

The objective of the consultancy is to develop the material and methodology for training sessions. The consultant will develop content structure, sequencing, instructional methods, strategies, and learning resources for training focused in detail on 2 CFR Part 200 (From Subpart A-F) and 2 CFR Part 600 compliance. As a part of the material to be developed, the consultant will also elaborate instructional materials, including presentations, handouts, activities, exercises, case studies, assessments, and resources, to support the learning objectives and engage participants.

The primary audience for this training includes USG first-time grantees or those without extensive experience executing federal assistance.

Partners is seeking to develop a robust, conflict-sensitive, inclusive, and modularized training program on financial, administrative, and program management based on the policies mentioned above. The illustrative subject topics are:

Module A: Introduction to Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200

Module B: Nonprofit Financial Management – 2CFR 200.300

Module C: Budgeting and Financial Planning

Module D: Cost Principles - 2 CFR 200 Subpart E

Module E: Internal Controls and Risk Management – 2 CFR 200. 303

Module F: Procurement Standards and Procedures 2 CFR 200 Subpart D

Module G: Financial Reporting and Analysis 2CFR200.327

Module H: Subrecipient Monitoring and Management

Module I: Introduction to Nonprofit HR (Human Resources) Management

These modules are illustrative, so they can be strengthened with other suggested topics. If you need further information, please contact the Partner Point of Contact.

3.1. Deliverables

• A written curriculum framework: providing a detailed guideline on curriculum module structure, including but not limited to an outline of topics, learning objectives, instructional methods, sequencing, standard lesson components, assessment, and success criteria. Estimated delivery date: One week after signing the contract.
• Curriculum First Draft: The first draft of the curriculum framework includes details of content structure, sequencing, instructional methods, strategies, and learning resources for training. It is focused in detail on 2 CFR Part 200 (From Subpart A-F) and 2 CFR Part 600 compliance. Estimated delivery date: Three weeks after signing the contract.
• Final Curriculum Package: Final package with the final version of content structure, sequencing, instructional methods, strategies, and learning resources for training focused on 2 CFR Part 200 (From Subpart A-F) and 2 CFR Part 600 compliance. This final package will also include instructional materials, presentations, handouts, activities, exercises, case studies, assessments, and resources to support the learning objectives. The final package will incorporate the Partners' feedback shared in the first draft. Estimated delivery date: Six weeks after signing the contract.

3.2. Logistical Support

PartnersGlobal will provide preparatory and logistical assistance to the selected Consultant/Organization, including:

• Background information on the project, including desk review materials;
• Meetings, phone/email communication

PartnersGlobal will not cover any costs other than those provided by the applicant in the budget. Please refer to section 2.2.

3.3. Role and Competencies

The Consultant will coordinate regularly to define and agree on key deliverables with the PartnersGlobal staff. The Consultant is expected to have the following competencies:

Education

Minimum bachelor's degree in international development, finance, social sciences, law, or related fields. Master's degree preferred.

Work Experience

• 10 years of experience developing technical financial and programmatic documents
• Demonstrated experience conducting evaluations focused on the USG policies and procedures.
• Experience in conducting training or managing USG funds preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Languages

• Strong writing skills (list of publications desirable);
• Strong research and communicational skills;
• High level of organization and ability to meet tight deadlines, accuracy and attention to detail when completing tasks;
• Fluency in spoken and written English required (another language as Spanish preferred).

4. PROCUREMENT OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES:
4.1. Selection Process

All submissions will be evaluated by the PartnersGlobal selection panel based on the following criteria:

• Maximum possible score: 100 points
• Curriculum Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives – 25 points

Applications should clearly articulate how the team will jointly plan and undertake the proposal. The plan should demonstrate the consultant or team's technical understanding and logistical capacity.

• Technical Team Capacity and Record – 50 points

Applications should demonstrate at least 10 years of experience developing technical financial and programmatic documents and experience conducting evaluations focused on the USG policies and procedures. Applicants should also provide evidence that they have conducted training or developed capacity development documents about managing USG funds.

• Cost Effectiveness and Justification of Costs– 25 points

PartnersGlobal strongly encourages applicants to demonstrate cost-effectiveness in their application. If the applicant is a firm, applications should include budgets with reasonable overhead and administration costs and provide clear explanations and justifications for these costs to the work involved. If the applicant is an individual consultant, the daily rate of said individual needs to be supported by the level of experience and history of the daily rate for other comparable assignments. All budget items should be clearly explained and justified to demonstrate their necessity, appropriateness, and link to the program objectives.

4.2. Negotiations

Upon completion of the selection process, PartnersGlobal may negotiate with the Consultant/Organization deemed most competitive to establish a final scope of services and an appropriate budget for such services. PartnersGlobal reserves the right to move straight to award and budget negotiations based on evaluation.

5. MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION:

• PartnersGlobal reserves the right to accept or reject, in whole or in part, any and all submissions in response to this request, waive irregularities, or take whatever action is deemed necessary in the organization's best interests.
• All material submitted regarding this RFP becomes the property of Partners.
• PartnersGlobal is not responsible for any costs incurred by Consultant prior to awarding a contract or its rights, title, or interest therein, or Consultant’s authority to execute a subcontract with any other person, company, or corporation with the prior written consent of the Partners.
• PartnersGlobal reserves the right to conduct reference checks with any client listed in the documents for further information and verification of the Consultant’s qualifications.
• PartnersGlobal complies with U.S. Sanctions and Embargo Laws and Regulations including Executive Order 13224 on Terrorist Financing, which effectively prohibit transactions with persons or entities that commit, threaten to commit, or support Any person or entity that participates in this bidding process, either as a prime or sub to the prime, must certify as part of the bid that he or it is not on the U.S. Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List and is eligible to participate. PartnersGlobal will disqualify any bid received from a person or entity that is found to be on the List or otherwise ineligible.

Application instructions

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