Request for Proposal Page | 13
For Surge Business Development Services
Request for Proposal Page | 13
For Surge Business Development Services
Table of Contents
1. Project Background 1
2. Cardno Overview 1
3. Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest Statement 1
4. Submission Details 2
4.a. Submission Deadlines and Details 2
4.b. Questions and Clarifications 2
4.c. Validity of the proposal: 2
5. Detailed Scope of Work 3
A. Proposal Manager 3
B. Technical Writer 4
C. Technical Writer – Environmental Compliance 4
D. Technical Writer – Monitoring & Evaluation 5
E. Technical Writer – Integrating Writer 5
F. Writer – Resumes/Personnel 6
G. Recruitment/Staffing Specialist 6
H. Proposal Communications Specialist 7
I. Pricing Specialist 7
J. Color Team/Technical Reviewer 7
K. Editor 8
L. Production Specialist 8
M. Graphic Designer 8
N. Marketing and Social Media Communications Specialist 9
O. Translator 9
P. Special Project Manager 9
Q. Videographer/Photographer 9
6. Offeror Qualifications and Experience 10
7. Contents and Structure of Proposal 10
8. Selection Criteria 12
9. Assumptions & Constraints 12
10. Terms and Conditions 13
11. Type of Resulting Contract 14
12. Disclaimer 14
cARDNO EMERGING MARKETS USA, LTD. / CCONFIDENTIALRequest for Proposal Page | 13
For Surge Business Development Services
1. Project Background
Cardno’s growth and burgeoning pipeline of opportunities will require, from time to time, supplemental firms with expertise and experience across our specific service lines, with our donor base, and with business development-related scopes of work. As a result of this RFP, we anticipate making multiple Framework Services Agreements (FSAs), and without further competition, to quickly award initial work orders, and (during the course of the period of performance) to award additional Work Orders. Resulting FSAs will be valid for one base period year with option periods. Quality of performance during the base period year will be a critical factor for exercising the option periods. However, Cardno has no obligation to issue work orders, any minimum business to any offeror with whom Cardno issues a FSA, nor any obligation to exercise the option periods of the FSA. Cardno also reserves the right to cancel any FSA at its sole discretion.
Offerors can respond to one or more of the requested scopes of work (see Section 5).
2. Cardno Overview
Cardno’s International Development division has a 40-year history of working in partnership with developing countries to deliver solutions for sustainable development. Through the expertise of professionals operating in more than 100 countries, we investigate the causes of poverty and focus on improving the physical, economic and social infrastructure that sustains communities. We are proud to partner with our clients, including USAID, CDC, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, other US Government agencies, the UK’s Department for International Development, Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Global Fund, World Bank, and private clients.
Specific service lines are varied and include:
· Agriculture and Food Security / · Climate Change· Disaster Preparedness and Recovery / · Economic Growth
· Education / · Environment
· Funds Management / · Gender and Social Inclusion
· Governance and Human Rights / · Health
· Law, Justice and Security / · Physical Infrastructure
· Private Sector Development / · Public Finance Management
· Social and Environmental Impact Management / · Stabilization and Reconstruction
· Trade and Investment / · Workforce and Skills Development
3. Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest Statement
This document and its attachments may contain confidential and/or privileged information for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). If you are not the intended recipient, any use, distribution or copying of the information contained in this document and its attachments is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please email or mail back to the sender and immediately delete and destroy any copies of this document and any attachments. Where no notice is given, all information contained herein is confidential information of Cardno Emerging Markets USA, Ltd.
The offerors should not have an existing or potential conflict of interest in making the offers to Cardno.
4. Submission Details
4.a. Submission Deadlines and Details
All submissions responding to this request must be submitted via email to no later than:
May 17, 2017
No later than 2:00 pm EST
4.b. Questions and Clarifications
All questions or requests for clarification must be submitted in writing via email to no later than
May 8, 2017
No later than 2:00 pm EST
No questions will be answered by phone. If any questions are submitted, a written response will be circulated on or before May 11 to all Offerors who have expressed interest.
Contact Person: Nicholas Tsotakos
Contact person title: International Recruiter
Email:
4.c. Validity of the proposal:
Proposal must be valid for 60 days from the closing date for submission.
Additional submission requirements are provided in Section 7.
5. Detailed Scope of Work
Scopes of work (A-Q) follow, including illustrative deliverables. Timelines are often tight, with firm deadlines. Deliverables, listed in any resulting work order, must be provided to the satisfaction of the Cardno Work Order Point of Contact (POC) and in accordance with work order-specific terms. Resulting work orders likely will be specific to one or more of the service lines (listed above in Section2).
A. Proposal ManagerB. Technical Writer
C. Technical Writer – Environmental Compliance
D. Technical Writer – Monitoring & Evaluation
E. Technical Writer – Integrating Writer
F. Writer – Resumes/Personnel
G. Recruitment/Staffing
H. Proposal Communications Specialist
I. Pricing Specialist / J. Color Team/Technical Reviewer
K. Editor
L. Production Specialist
M. Graphics
N. Marketing and Social Media Communications Specialist
O. Translator
P. Special Project Manager
Q. Videographer/Photographer
A. Proposal Manager
· Review the solicitation
· Meet with each proposal stakeholder to review roles and responsibilities
· Create, manage, and enforce a compliance matrix and/or draft proposal outline
· Create, manage, and enforce a proposal calendar
· Lead Proposal kick-off meeting
· Organize and lead brainstorming/win themes/solution mapping session
· Lead/support proposal graphics preparation and production
· Support/coordinate M&E plan efforts
· Manage author assignments – email reminders and coach as needed
· Organize routine check-in meetings for key proposal stakeholders to review progress against calendar
· Aid in incorporation of identified win themes, competitive discriminators, and proof points, based on review of Client materials and interviews
· Write or tailor past performance, key personnel resumes, and management sections, as needed – or coach staff providing these services
· Coordinate recruiting efforts
· Communicate with and manage Cardno’s subcontractors – or coach staff providing these services
· Provide input for cost narratives and supporting documentation; participate in cost discussions
· Organize, facilitate, and participate in Pink, Red, and Platinum (Gold) proposal draft reviews; participate in Blue proposal draft review if requested
· Incorporate comments (or review comment incorporation) into master documents after draft reviews
· Verify and advise on overall compliance with solicitation requirements
· Provide quality control of technical proposal and annexes
· Create or support final submission packages (electronic or hard copy), including a page by page “book check”
· Provide updates to Cardno Managing Director or President as required
· Conduct or participate in lessons learned and client debrief sessions
· Share best practices learned from Shipley or other proposal management in international development settings.
· Other duties as assigned
· Deliverables: proposal outline, compliance matrix, color team comments, and proposal for timely submission.
B. Technical Writer
· Conduct relevant background reading and research
· Compile industry best practices for use in the technical approach and other sections of the proposal
· Support development of win themes
· Produce detailed technical outline (before release of the solicitation), or build out a technical outline (post-solicitation), based on provided compliance matrix
· Review the solicitation
· Participate in drafting questions to the client about the technical approach
· Write draft of the technical approach proposal, including executive summary, background/challenge section, and individual components as assigned
· Integrate Cardno win themes and client’s core concepts and strategies into draft
· Participate in any/all Color Team reviews
· Revise drafts of the technical approach based on Color Team comments
· Review all final drafts
· Provide comments on drafted work plan and performance management/monitoring plan (PMP) to ensure that they are in line with the technical approach
· Deliverables: Annotated outline, first draft of technical approach, revised drafts of technical approach, comments on drafts of other sections.
C. Technical Writer – Environmental Compliance
· Review the solicitation
· Participate in and contribute to technical brainstorming sessions
· Research, develop, and draft technical approaches to environmental compliance
· Deliverables: First draft of environmental compliance section, second draft, final draft of section.
D. Technical Writer – Monitoring & Evaluation
· Complete draft M&E Plan per solicitation requirements
· Develop and draft Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP)
· Develop Return on Investment (ROI) or similar cost/benefit framework (as part of M&E Plan), if required
· Develop and draft explanations of custom indicators, if required
· Conceptualize, develop, and draft narrative of the M&E approach for the body of the technical proposal, which may include:
· General description of the Draft Monitoring and Evaluation Plan and how it will effectively measure progress/results
· Discussion of impact design methodology (randomized controlled trial or alternative), mixed-method evaluation.
· Discussion of ROI
· Verify synergy of M&E Plan with technical approach
· Deliverables: Annotated outline of section, first draft, second draft, third draft – if requested.
E. Technical Writer – Integrating Writer
· Review solicitation, other proposal documents, and other materials provided by Cardno
· Review and suggest revisions to compliance matrix and technical outline provided by Cardno, if requested
· Review and provide comments and suggestions on Cardno win themes
· Write the executive summary with inputs/research supplemented by Cardno team
· Participate in Pink and Red Team reviews
· Participate in brainstorming calls with Lead Technical Writer, Management Plan Writer, and others, as requested
· Discuss technical approach with Lead Technical Writer and/or writers of other proposal sections
· Collaborate on and coordinate drafts of the technical approach via email, Skype, and office visits; contribute to iterative proposal development/writing process with technical writer
· Synthesize draft technical contributions and components during the writing process and for internal reviews
· Review technical drafts to provide comments on areas for improvement, such as providing further details/clarifications, strengthening proposal language, highlighting win themes/past performance, etc.
· Provide detailed comments on Key Personnel and proposal write up
· Provide written comments for Pink and Red Team review
· Have follow up phone call with proposal team (or Lead Technical Writer and Proposal Manager) to review comments and discuss strategy for incorporation after Pink and Red Team review
· Review and/or write final executive summary after Red Team
· Fully integrate and revise all sections (technical approach, personnel, management, past performance, etc.) of the final technical proposal, so the document reads with one voice and incorporates all win themes
· Deliverables: Redlined (track changes) comments on early drafts, redline of final version.
F. Writer – Resumes/Personnel
· Review solicitation, other proposal documents, and other materials provided by Cardno
· Tailoring or spinning CVs according to Cardno guidance, as required
· Draft section of personnel/qualifications for key components of the proposal, including the personnel section, bioblurbs, CVs, and Letters of Commitment
· Deliverables: drafts of CVs, drafts of sections.
G. Recruitment/Staffing Specialist
· Analyze personnel requirements/needs based on the solicitation
· Draft position descriptions
· Draft, post, and update job ads to key websites, in collaboration with Cardno recruiters
· Identify potential candidates through formal and informal networks, e.g. LinkedIn and Devex, etc.
· Introduce promising candidates to Cardno for consideration
· Contact and encourage qualified candidates to apply; request referrals through own and Cardno’s networks
· Develop appropriate candidate assessment mechanisms and scoring criteria, e.g. writing tests and interview questions, in alignment with solicitation qualifications and Cardno job descriptions
· Screen received resumes against scoring criteria to meet equal employment opportunity needs
· Interview approximately 4-10 qualified candidates per position
· Vet top two candidates per position
· Check and record official and unofficial references of the top candidates.
· Create and maintain candidate tracker in Excel
· Format resumes and present finalists for approval by Cardno.
· Verify biodata, including current/previous employment, pay, education, etc., providing documentation to Cardno Contracts Department or Work Order POC
· Develop suggested employment offers for top two candidates per position.
· Develop salary scales/ranges for expatriate and local staff, based on available sources, e.g. Contractor Employee Biographical Data Sheet (Form 1420), salary histories, and local market information.
· Develop write ups selected personnel (biographies, qualifications, etc.) for key components of the proposal, including the personnel section, the management section, CVs, and Letters of Commitment
· As Cardno grants approval, facilitate quick communication with proposed candidates and introduce to Cardno Work Order POC.
H. Proposal Communications Specialist
· Review the solicitation
· Listen to/participate in Cardno brainstorming and/or win themes sessions
· Conceptualize, develop, and draft Branding and Marking Plans and/or other communications plans for proposals, as required
· If required, work with lead technical writer to draft communications strategies to be woven in to the technical proposal
· Participate in Pink/Red/Gold (or Platinum) Team review
· Update the draft Branding and Marking Plans and/or other communications plans with comments from Color Team Reviews
· Deliverables: draft communication strategy, draft Branding and Marking Plans.