RFP Details

Terms of Reference

Brief Overview

Revenue Mobilisation, Investment and Trade (REMIT) programme is a nine-year (2019–2028) technical assistance programme funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), United Kingdom, to support Pakistan in implementing strategic reforms in the realm of economic development, trade, investment and revenue mobilisation.

As part of its trade policy support workstream, REMIT is commissioning a rapid firm-level perception survey to generate early, directional evidence on how tariff rationalization measures under the National Tariff Policy (NTP) 2025–30 are being perceived and responded to at the firm level.

Background

The Government of Pakistan is implementing tariff rationalization measures under the National Tariff Policy (NTP) 2025-30 with the objective of improving industrial competitiveness, reducing input costs, and supporting export-oriented growth. Evidence from research and analysis by many studies confirm that reduction in duties on imports has a positive impact on exports. 

A recent available data on imports and exports, after the implementation of tariff measures for the first year of the NTP 2025-30, shows increase in export of output goods where tariff on their input goods is reduced. Even though the time period to assess the impact of tariff rationalization on exports is too short yet, there are some signs of positive impact of tariff rationalization on value added exports like CRC, Galvanized and Color Coated Steel Coils/Sheets, pneumatic tires, transformers, sacks and bags of Jute and shrimp meal. However, it is not clear how tariff rationalization has impacted firm level productivity and exports. REMIT intends to conduct a small sample, questionnaire-based survey of manufacturers-come-exporters to assess the impact of tariff rationalization on production and exports.

A representative sample of 200 small, medium and large exporters from Karachi, Lahore, Sialkot and Faisalabad will be selected. The survey will primarily target firms with meaningful exposure to imported inputs and export markets, including:

• export-oriented firms,

• firms dependent on imported inputs/intermediate goods,

• industrial/manufacturing firms operating in sectors affected by tariff rationalization measures.

The findings from the perception survey will contribute to a broader analytical exercise being led by the REMIT technical tariff team, particularly through triangulation with PSW/PBS trade data and ongoing tariff policy analysis.

The technical dimensions of the exercise, including questionnaire design, sampling framework, training and technical guidance, data oversight, and downstream analysis, will be led by the REMIT technical team. Accordingly, the scope of this assignment will be limited to field execution, survey administration, quality assurance during data collection, and submission of a cleaned and validated dataset for subsequent analysis. 

Given the limited scale, compressed implementation timeline, and operational nature of the exercise, a limited procurement approach for engaging a small survey firm capable of rapid mobilization and deployment across the target locations is considered the most feasible option. Under this modality, proposals/quotations will be solicited from a limited number of firms and evaluated through a competitive assessment process. This approach balances the need for maintaining competitive procurement principles while ensuring operational efficiency and timely deployment within the compressed implementation timeline. The selected firm would be expected to undertake streamlined digital field implementation through efficient coordination of enumerators, supervisors, and data management processes.

Objectives of the Assignment

The primary objective of this assignment is to support the collection of high-quality firm-level primary data through a questionnaire-based survey of selected firms in key industrial and export-oriented sectors. Specifically, the assignment aims to:

• Conduct structured firm-level interviews using a questionnaire provided by the REMIT technical team;

• Generate reliable and timely primary data reflecting firm perceptions and early responses on impact of tariff rationalization on production and exports;

• Support real-time monitoring and quality assurance during field implementation;

• Compile, clean, and submit a complete dataset for downstream analysis by the technical team.

Scope of Work

The selected survey firm will be responsible for the operational and field execution aspects of the survey, including the following tasks:

Task 1: Enumerator and Supervisor Deployment

• Deploy enumerators across each designated city (Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Sialkot) along with one city-level supervisor;

• Ensure enumerators are locally based to minimize travel and logistical costs;

• Manage all operational coordination and field deployment arrangements.

Task 2: Participation in Training / Technical Orientation

• Participate in technical orientation and training sessions conducted by the REMIT technical team;

• Ensure enumerators and supervisors fully understand the questionnaire, survey protocols, and data quality requirements.

Task 3: Digital Data Collection

• Conduct firm-level interviews using digital data collection tools;

• Ensure accurate, complete, and timely digital submission of survey responses;

• Adhere strictly to the sampling framework and firm lists provided by the technical team.

Task 4: Field Coordination and Quality Assurance

• Supervise day-to-day field implementation across assigned cities;

• Undertake routine quality checks, back-checks, and monitoring of survey submissions;

• Maintain regular coordination with the REMIT technical team regarding field progress and implementation issues.

Task 5: Data Compilation and Cleaning

• Compile all survey submissions into a consolidated dataset;

• Undertake initial data cleaning, validation, and removal of duplicate/incomplete entries;

• Submit a final cleaned and well-documented dataset in agreed formats (Excel/CSV/SPSS/Stata compatible).

Key Deliverables and Timelines

Qualifications and Experience

The selected survey firm should demonstrate:

• Proven capacity for rapid mobilization and deployment of field teams across multiple cities;

• Experience in conducting firm-level or enterprise surveys, preferably in industrial, trade, or economic policy contexts;

• A qualified team of field supervisors and enumerators with a minimum Bachelor's degree in Economics, Statistics, Business Administration, Social Sciences, or a related field;

• Strong digital data collection capability, including experience with mobile data collection applications;

• Robust data management and quality assurance systems, including back-check protocols;

• Capacity to cover Karachi, Lahore, and Faisalabad within the agreed compressed timeline;

• Good understanding of basic economic and business concepts, particularly related to firms, industries, tariffs, and trade;

• Proficiency in Urdu and English for all field staff.

Risks and Mitigation Measures

Estimated Budget

The maximum budget for this engagement shall not exceed £15,000 (inclusive of all taxes). Payments will be made on a deliverable basis, and financial proposals must be structured with payments against the three core deliverable areas defined in the Key Deliverable section above. Payment disbursements will be tied to the satisfactory completion and acceptance of each defined deliverable, as verified by the ASI-REMIT team. The budget breakdown must also be presented in alignment with the three defined deliverables, with a clear and itemised cost allocation against each item.

Instructions to Bidders

Bidders should examine all instructions, terms and conditions as given in the RFP. Failure to furnish information required in the RFP or submission of bids not substantially responsive or viable in every respect will be at the bidder's risk and may result in rejection of the bids. Bidders should strictly submit the bid as specified in the RFP, failing which the bids will be held as non-responsive and will be rejected. 

Bids shall comprise a single package containing two folders:

• Technical Proposal

• Financial Proposal

Bidders should send soft copies of the Technical and Financial Proposal to: [email protected]

Proposal Weightings

Technical Proposal

Financial Proposal

Proposal Terms

Understanding of the Solicitation

Prospective contractors are responsible for understanding the solicitation in its entirety and each of its elements and should make inquiries to ASI as necessary to ensure such understanding. ASI reserves the right to disqualify any prospective vendor that it determines, at its sole discretion, does not understand the solicitation or any of its elements.

Information from ASI

All information provided by ASI in this solicitation is subject to change at any time. ASI makes no certification as to the accuracy of any item and is not responsible or liable for any use of or reliance on the information or for any claims asserted therefrom.

Communication

All communications related to the RFP must be in writing to the above-mentioned point of contact. Verbal communication shall not be effective unless formally confirmed in writing by the procurement official.

Formal communications shall include, but are not limited to the following:

• Questions concerning this solicitation must be submitted in writing to the contact person mentioned above.

• Errors and omissions in this solicitation, as well as enhancements — prospective firms should notify ASI of any discrepancies, errors, or omissions that may exist within this solicitation.

• Inquiries about technical interpretations must be submitted in writing to the contact person.

• Addenda: ASI will make a good-faith effort to provide a written response to questions or requests for clarifications in the form of written responses or addenda.

• Posting online: A copy of this solicitation will be available online at www.BrightSpyre.com.

Non-Disclosure Agreement

ASI reserves the right to require the prospective firms to enter into a non-disclosure agreement.

No Collusion

Collusion is strictly prohibited. Collusion is defined as an agreement or compact, written or oral, between two or more parties with the goal of limiting fair and open competition by deceiving, misleading, or defrauding a third party.

Companies Owned or Controlled by Government

The prospective vendor must disclose in writing with its Response if a government, its agents, or agencies, have an ownership or managerial interest in the company. Failure to disclose a government ownership or managerial interest in the company will result in the prospective contractor's offer being removed from consideration.

Subcontracting

The prospective contractor must disclose in writing with its Response any subcontracting that will take place under an award. Failure to disclose subcontracting relationships will result in the prospective contractor's offer being removed from consideration.

Costs

The solicitation does not obligate ASI to pay for any costs, of any kind whatsoever, which may be incurred by a prospective contractor/vendor or third parties, in connection with the Response.

Intellectual Property

Prospective vendors may not use any intellectual property of ASI including, but not limited to, all logos, trademarks, or trade names of ASI, at any time without the prior written approval of ASI.

Prospective Contractors' Responses

All accepted Responses shall become the property of ASI and will not be returned.

Partial Awarding

ASI reserves the right to accept all or part of the Response when awarding a contract.

No Liability

ASI reserves the right to accept or reject any Response or to stop the procurement process at any time, without assigning any reason or liability. ASI shall not be liable to any prospective contractor, person, or entity for any losses, expenses, costs, claims, or damages of any kind.

Licenses, Clearances and Approvals

Prospective vendors will include in the timeline any time needed to obtain any licenses, clearances, and/or approvals required under local legal requirements to produce or deliver the products and/or services described in the Scope of Work.