Request for Proposal (RFP)

Issued on:                            July 18, 2024

Solicitation Number:              2205-BHFA-CONSLT-002

For:                                      Consultancy Services -Technical Editor

Quotes Deadline:                   August 1, 2024

Background

Pathfinder is driven by the conviction that all people, regardless of where they live, have the right to decide whether and when to have children, to exist free from fear and stigma, and to lead the lives they choose.

Since 1957, we have partnered with local governments, communities, and health systems to remove barriers to critical sexual and reproductive health services. Together, we expand access to contraception, promote healthy pregnancies, save women’s lives, and stop the spread of new HIV infections, wherever the need is most urgent.

Our work ensures millions of women, men, and young people are able to choose their own paths forward.

Project Background

The Technical Editor is a consultant position based at the Islamabad office of Pathfinder for the USAID-funded Building Healthy Families (BHF) project. BHF seeks to improve health outcomes in Pakistan by strengthening primary health care systems to encourage the use of voluntary family planning (FP) and reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH) services. The project works closely with Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial governments and private- sector providers to assist the Government of Pakistan in achieving its FP2030 goals. The project is implemented by Pathfinder and its partners, including Chemonics, Greenstar Social Marketing, and Research and Development Solutions (RADS).

The Technical Editor will play a critical role in compiling, editing, and standardizing quarterly and annual reports submitted to USAID, ensuring that all project outputs meet high standards of quality, clarity, and effectiveness in communication. The Technical Editor will also focus on ensuring the quality assurance of Social and Behavior Change (SBC) products and activities. This includes reviewing, finalizing, and maintaining the accuracy and consistency of communication materials, ensuring adherence to branding guidelines and the project’s marking plan, and aligning with project objectives. Additionally, the Technical Editor will support the integration and promotion of digital solutions to enhance community health workers’ outreach and SBC activities.

Scope of Work (SOW)

The person will be responsible for following tasks:

1.     Quality Assurance and Editing

• Review and ensure the quality of project documents, including biweekly updates, quarterly and annual progress reports, project updates, activity reports, and other communication materials, ensuring data accuracy, language consistency, adherence to branding guidelines, and compliance with the project’s marking plan.

• Edit and proofread technical content for both print publications and digital platforms, ensuring it is well-written, accurate, and aligns with project objectives.

• Develop and implement quality assurance processes for all communication products,

ensuring they meet the project’s high standards for clarity, accuracy, and effectiveness.

• Compile, write, edit, and standardize biweekly updates, quarterly and annual reports, and activity reports for donors, particularly USAID, ensuring they meet high-quality standards and compliance requirements.

2.     Production and Dissemination

• Manage the production cycle of communication materials, including copyediting, layout/design, printing, and dissemination, to ensure timely delivery of high-quality products.

• Coordinate with consultants and/or firms to produce high-quality communication products, including web design, media outreach, photography, videography, and publication design.

3.     Content Development

• Develop compelling success stories and case studies that showcase the project’s impact on individuals, communities, and systems.

• Advise on and develop content for digital platforms, including social media, blogs, and web- based platforms, to reach in-country and global audiences.

• Work closely with the SBC team to develop and refine change and communication strategies that effectively convey project outcomes and impacts to stakeholders.

4.     Coordination and Collaboration

• Coordinate with Pathfinder’s corporate communication office to ensure effective data visualization and storytelling that highlights project achievements and beneficiary gains.

• Develop and maintain relationships with donor and development partner communication staff at headquarters and field levels.

5.     Information Synthesis and Application

• Synthesize information from the BHF project to inform future policy and program development activities.

• Apply best practices and approaches to information and knowledge management across all project activities.

6.     Additional Responsibilities

• Undertake other tasks as agreed with the Supervisor.

Management and Collaboration:

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment with flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and deadlines.

• Ability to establish and maintain excellent relationships with project team members demonstrating strong interpersonal and collaboration skills.

Required Qualifications:

1)     PhD/MPhil or Master’s degree in social sciences or humanities (public health, development, sociology, communication, or related field).

2)     10 and above years of experience in health communication, SBC, social and behavioral research, or public health, with a strong  preference  for  USAID  project  and  multilateral experience.

3)     Five (05) or above years of experience with USAID branding guidance, including project brand strategies, and marking plans, and compliance requirements for media, communication, and SBC initiatives. Significant expertise in SBC strategy development, intervention design, and material development, with a proven track record in developing, editing, and managing high-quality SBC communication materials.

Required Skills:

1)     Demonstrated expertise in quality assurance processes for activities and products, particularly in the context of research, data, and evidence-led SBC strategies, interventions, and materials.

2)     10 or above years of experience in technical editing (preferably for USAID projects), including written and verbal communication skills in both English and Urdu, with the ability to develop, write, and edit technical content for print and digital platforms.

3)     Demonstrated experience in producing visual communication materials, including films, graphic designs, and other multimedia content for public health or development projects, preferably with USAID or other international organizations.

Performance Period

The scope of work will take place over approximately 9 months, from the date of contract award, with an estimated level of effort of 84 days.

Inquiries

If you have any questions/inquiries, please e-mail [email protected] no later than close of business July 25, 2024 (3:00PM) with a subject line Inquiries: 2205-BHFA-CONSLT-002 – Consultancy Services -Technical Editor. The solicitation number indicated above must be included in the subject line. Responses will be posted to all known offerors.

Proposal Deadline

All written responses to this RFP must be received by Pathfinder no later than 11:59 PM for electronic submission, (Pakistan time) on August 1,2024, with a subject line:2205-BHFA-CONSLT-002 – Consultancy Services -Technical Editor. Hardcopy submissions will not be accepted. A maximum of two files are permissible: one for technical documentation and one for financial details. The combined size of the email attachments should not exceed 10 MB.

Modification

If at any time prior to award Pathfinder deems there to be a need for a significant modification to the terms and conditions of this RFP, Pathfinder will issue such a modification as a written RFP amendment to all competing offerors.  No oral statement of any person shall in any manner be deemed to modify or otherwise affect any RFP term or condition, and no offeror shall rely on any such statement. Such amendments are the exclusive method for this purpose.

Resulting Award

As a result of this solicitation, Pathfinder anticipates engaging a single independent contractor/company. Pathfinder reserves the right to split the SOW and make multiple awards.

Any resulting contract will be subject to the terms and conditions contained in Annex B. Part B of this annex will only apply to USG-funded assignments.

Payment Terms

Pathfinder anticipates entering into a fixed-price contract with the selected contractor. Payment will be made according to milestones.

Proposal Guidelines and Instructions

Offerors will be required to submit two proposals, electronically, one a technical proposal and the other a cost proposal. All proposals must be signed and valid for a minimum of sixty (60) days.

Your proposal should provide basic information about your Individual and relevant service offerings. It should have a section addressing each of the following areas:

(a)   Individual Profile

(b)   Past Performance

(c)   Technical Approach (offeror will be evaluated based on their responsiveness to the Scope of Work)

(d)   References

(e)   Relationship disclosure and mitigation plan

Responses should include the following information:

1. Technical Proposal

a.     Individual Profile

• Provide a general description of the offeror in terms of domestic and international experience.

• Briefly summarize the offeror’s qualifications and experience of the activities described in the scope of work also as per criteria.

• Maximum attained education and certifications received.

b.     Past Performance

• Provide a detailed track record of previous similar work undertaken along with the names of the associated companies.

• Achievements, awards.

c.      Technical Approach

• Describe the offeror’s technical approach in responding to the scope of work.

• Describe the offeror’s experience dealing with the Technical Editor role.

• Describe the offeror’s capability in relation to the subject matter.

d.     References – pass/fail

• Submit (3) client references with complete details including contact name, designation, company name, contact number and email.

e.     Relationship disclosure – pass/fail

• Describe any current or past relationships You/your organization may have with Pathfinder, and if it is a potential conflict of interest.  If there is a potential conflict of interest, please explain how this risk will be mitigated.

• Describe any personal or familial relationships any employee of the Contractor has with any employee of Pathfinder. If there is a relationship, please explain how any conflict-of-interest risk will be mitigated.

• Disclosure does not automatically disqualify offeror.

1. Cost Proposal

Offerors pricing should be based on the following:

For Services performed during the Term, Consultant will be paid a fixed fee. Please submit your per day rate below in PKR.

Fixed per day rate in PKR________________

Evaluation Criteria

In evaluating the proposals, Pathfinder International will seek the best value for money rather than the lowest priced proposal. Pathfinder will use a two-stage selection procedure:

• the first stage will evaluate the Technical Proposal.

• the second stage will evaluate the Cost Proposal for proposals that pass the Technical Proposal evaluation.

Specifically, the selection committee will evaluate each proposal upon the following criteria:

Criteria	Weight
Bid Submission Bid submitted on time. Offeror is eligible to receive funding per background checks. Any potential conflict of interest is sufficiently mitigated. Reference checks yield positive result	Pass/Fail
Desired Qualification and Experiences: PhD/MPhil or master’s degree in social sciences or humanities (public health, development, sociology, communication, or related field). A PHD/MPhil will get full marks and master’s degree will get 08 marks.	10 marks A PHD/MPhil will get full marks and master’s degree will get 08 marks.
Number of years of experience in health communication, SBC, social and behavioral research, or public health, with a strong  preference  for  USAID  project  and  multilateral experience.	10 marks 1 mark will be given for each year of experience. Maximum 10 Marks will be given 10 years or above experience.
Strategic Communication and Quality Assurance: Number of years’ experience with USAID branding guidance, including project brand strategies, and marking plans, and compliance requirements for media, communication, and SBC initiatives. Significant expertise in SBC strategy development, intervention design, and material development, with a proven track record in developing, editing, and managing high-quality SBC communication materials. Demonstrated expertise in quality assurance processes for activities and products, particularly in the context of research, data, and evidence-led SBC strategies, interventions, and materials.	10 marks 2 marks will be given for each year of experience. Maximum 10 Marks will be given 05 years or above experience.
Technical Writing, Editing, and Visual Communication: Number of years of experiences in technical editing (preferably for USAID projects), including written and verbal communication skills in both English and Urdu, with the ability to develop, write, and edit technical content for print and digital platforms. Demonstrated experience in producing visual communication materials, including films, graphic designs, and other multimedia content for public health or development projects, preferably with USAID or other international organizations. Proven ability to build the capacity of staff and partners through workshops and training sessions, enhancing their skills in producing quality SBC written and visual materials.	10 marks 1 mark will be given for each year of experience.   Maximum 10 Marks will be given 10 years or above experiences.
Total Weight	40

Pathfinder is not bound to accept the lowest or any proposal and reserves the right to accept any proposal in whole or in part and to reject any or all proposals.

Pathfinder shall not be legally bound by any award notice issued for this RFP until a contract is duly signed and executed with the winning offeror

Terms

Pathfinder reserves the right to cancel this solicitation at any point and is under no obligation to issue a subcontract as a result of this solicitation.

Pathfinder will not reimburse any expenses related to the preparation of any proposal related materials or delivery.

Agreement

Any resulting contract will be subject to the terms and conditions contained in the annex. See Annex A

Thank you,

BHFA Procurement Team

Pathfinder International