Punjab Skills Development Fund
Punjab SKills Development FundEXPRESSION OF INTEREST
Big Push for Rural Economy (Agriculture Sector)
June, 2016
Contents
FOREWORD 2
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) 3
Description of Scheme 4
INTRODUCTION 5
DATA SHEET / BRIEF SUMMARY OF SCHEME 8
PART A: INFORMATION ABOUT LEAD ORGANISATION 12
PART B: INFORMATION ABOUT CONSORTIUM PARTNER/S, IF ANY. 12
PART C: ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS 13
PART D: INDICATIVE COURSES 15
PART E: PAST EXPERIENCE OF THE ORGANISATION 16
F: CAPACITY OF THE ORGANISATION 22
PART G. MANAGEMENT TEAM PROFILE 24
PART H. APPLICANT DECLARATION 25
PART I: EOI CHECKLIST 25
Annexure A: INDICATIVE LIST OF COURSES 26
Annexure B: LIST OF IDENTIFIED VILLAGES 31
Annexure C: CV Format Sample 33
FOREWORD
Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) is a section 42, not-for-profit Company, established under the Companies Ordinance 1984 by the Government of Punjab, with the objective to provide funding to Training Service Providers (TSPs). PSDF funds vocational training and intends to improve income generation capacity of the residents of Punjab. PSDF uses competitive bidding method for engaging Vocational Training Service Providers through inviting proposals from shortlisted organisations and assessing these on the basis of quality and cost.
Big Push for the Rural Economy (BPRE) is part of a larger Skills Development Program (SDP). SDP is a program of the Government of Punjab in partnership with the Department for International Development (DFID), Government of UK. BPRE aims to alleviate poverty and create inclusive growth in the province by increasing the employability and earnings of poor and vulnerable families of rural areas through vocational training schemes.
It has been observed that while progressive farmers and private agro-livestock companies have demonstrated great success in utilizing frontier skills and practices in the pilot districts of PSDF intervention (Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Lodhran and Muzaffargarh), the majority of farmers in adjacent or similar areas have failed to adopt best practices. The BPRE intervention intends to narrow this disparity through trainings on frontier agricultural / livestock practices and skills along the value chain to take advantage of economies of scale and production complementarities. The intervention is unique in its aim to offer a menu of context-relevant trainings throughout the value chain and to offer a strong market linkage component linking farmers with private firms which have a vested interest in higher productivity.
Under BPRE, PSDF intends to engage an organisation as training service provider to provide all skills trainings (hereinafter referred to as “Vocational Training Services”) as required for the value chain of agriculture sector to the residents of 60 selected villages of Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Lodhran and Muzaffargarh Districts of Punjab province..
This document provides general information and basic eligibility requirements of Training Service Providers for provision of vocational training services. Interested Vocational Training ServiceProviders who meet the eligibility requirements are invited to submit Expression of Interest (EOI).
EOI must reach the following address by July 4, 2016 on the address given below. Incomplete/ hand written or late EOIs will not be evaluated.
Chief Operating Officer/
Convener Bids Evaluation Committee (BPRE- Agriculture Sector)
Punjab Skill Development Fund,
House No. 125, Abu Bakar Block,
New Garden Town, Lahore
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI)
SECTION / CONTENTS / SCOREDESCRIPTION OF SCHEME / DEFINITIONS
INTRODUCTION
DATA SHEET / BRIEF SUMMARY OF SCHEME
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FORM / PART A: INFORMATION ABOUT THE LEAD ORGANISATION
PART B: INFORMATION ABOUT CONSORTIUM PARTNER/S
PART C: ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
PART D: COURSES AND NUMBERS TO BE TRAINED
PART E: PAST EXPERIENCE OF THE ORGANISATION / 80
PART F: CAPACITY OF THE ORGANISATION
PART G: MANAGEMENT TEAM PROFILE / 20
PART H: APPLICANT DECLARATION
PART I: EOI CHECKLIST
TOTAL / 100
Note:
· It is mandatory to achieve minimum 65 score to qualify for shortlisting.
· All aspirants are advised not to submit hand written EOI, only typed version is acceptable.
Description of Scheme
Definitions
a. “Board” means Board of Directors of Punjab Skills Development Fund, a company incorporated under section 42 of the Companies Ordinance 1984.
b. “CERP” means Center for Economic Research in Pakistan, a company incorporated under section 42 of the Companies Ordinance 1984.
c. “Client” means Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF).
d. “Contract” means the contract signed by PSDF and Training Service Provider along with all attached documents thereto.
e. “Data Sheet” means such part of the Instructions to Training Service Providers used to reflect specific conditions.
f. “Day” means calendar day.
g. “Eligible Person” means any trainee who falls within the category defined in the data sheet.
h. “Financial Proposal” means that part of the proposal which provides details about cost of the proposed training.
i. “Government” means the Government of the Punjab.
j. “Instructions to Training Service Providers” means the document which provides shortlisted Training Service Providers with all information needed to prepare their proposals.
k. Letter of Invitation “LOI” means a letter included as a section in the RFP to be sent to the shortlisted Training Service Provider.
l. “Personnel” means temporary or permanent staff employed by the Training Service Provider and assigned to perform the Services or any part thereof.
m. “Professional Staff” includes management team, training and/or monitoring staff of Training Service Provider.
n. “Proposal” means the entire set of documents consisting of Technical and Financial Proposals submitted by an organisation.
o. “RFP” means the “Request for Proposal” prepared by PSDF for submission of Technical and Financial Proposals by Training Service Providers.
p. “Services” means one or more of the services specified in the Data Sheet and ancillary activities performed by the Training Service Provider in pursuance of the Contract.
q. “Target Group” refers to potential candidates for admission who fullfil the eligibility requirements defined in the Data Sheet.
r. “Technical Proposal” means that part of the proposal which provides information about the technical aspects of the proposed training.
s. “Terms of Reference” (TOR) means the part of EOI / RFP which explains the scope of work, activities, tasks to be performed, respective responsibilities of the Client & the Training Service Provider and expected results and deliverables of the assignment.
t. “Trainee” means any eligible person who is selected for training by the Training Service Provider.
u. “Training Service Provider (TSP)” means an organization meeting the eligibility conditions as mentioned in Data Sheet and selected in accordance with the criteria set forth for the purpose.
INTRODUCTION
1. PSDF wishes to shortlist interested training service provider who will be invited to submit proposal for training services in the Agriculture sector.
2. Training service providers (TSP’s) will be responsible for providing training for all skills related to the agriculture value chain at the village level. An indicative list of courses is at annexure – A. However, TSP’s may propose additional courses / modules based on need assessment and past experience. The final list of courses will be provided at the RFP stage.
3. The TSP would offer enrollment to applicants based on an enrollment protocol set by CERP.
4. TSP’s will be engaged following Quality and Cost Basis Selection (QCBS) methodology.
5. The purpose of this document is to provide orientation to enable training service providers to evaluate their interest in tendering and conducting training and is not a guarantee of the actual conditions under which the training services will be tendered or executed. Furthermore, it contains forms and list of required documents to be submitted.
6. This Expression of Interest is governed by the procedure approved by PSDF Board of Directors.
7. Only short-listed applicants who meet the eligibility requirements and have capacity as well as experience of imparting training in the relevant skills will be invited to submit Proposal.
8. All documents and information received by PSDF from applicants will be treated in confidence.
9. The documents submitted to PSDF will not be returned.
10. All expenses related to participation in this Expression of Interest shall be borne by the applicants.
11. Documents shall be submitted in hard form in a sealed envelope marked as “EXPRESSION OF INTEREST – Big Push for the Rural Economy (Agriculture Sector)”. It must have proper binding, submission of papers in loose form will lead to rejection of Expression of Interest.
12. The envelope containing hard copy of EOI shall be received in the PSDF office at Lahore.
13. The closing date and time for receipt of Expression of Interest and required documents is July 4, 2016 3:30 PM. PSDF reserves the right to request submission of additional information from applicants in order to clarify aspects of Expression of Interest, if required.
14. If a Training Service Provider wishes to form a consortium by engaging one or more organizations, they may do so once the consortium partner is endorsed by CERP and PSDF.
15. Responsibilities of finally selected Training Service Providers for delivering vocational / skills training will be to:
a. Mobilize the communities and collect applicantions for the offered courses from individuals who are local residents of the 60 selected villages, out of the list of 90 villages given in annexure B, in the four districts of Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Lodhran and Muzaffargarh. The final requirements will be shared at the time of the RFP.
b. Develop the curricula covering all the modules as per Annexure A including any additional course or module and receive its approval.
c. Develop Trainer and trainee manuals and any other training material required for successful impart of training.
d. Arrange the provision of training material required usch as machinery, equipment, tools, furniture and other physical facilities (e.g. washrooms, back-up power, drinking water etc.)
e. Engage competent and qualified instructors and support staff.
f. Ensure provision of vocational training in all skills related to the value chain. In case of external certification, the curriculum must be approved by relevant certification authority or agreed testing organization.
g. Provide all learning aids, teaching materials, consumables and additional facilities, as per demand of curricula, free of cost to the trainees (all costs on account of these items will be included in training fee which will be paid by PSDF).
h. Conduct training in selected villages and locations approved by PSDF.
i. Make timely stipend payments (where applicable) to trainees according to the notified rates.
j. Establish a system for providing reports to PSDF within stipulated time through email or on a web-based data management system.
k. Arrange on-farm and field-based trainings, as proposed in the technical proposal.
l. Act as a downstream buyer for the product of farmers who are trained as part of this scheme. Exact details will be shared in the RFP stage.
m. Establish linkage of the trained persons with employers, buyers of the products or business clients. Certain commitment would be required from Training Service Provider in this regard which may include employment of trained persons. Exact details will be shared at the RFP stage.
n. TSP’s will be required to provide trainees need based advisory services and problems-solving advice for the duration of the scheme. The final requirement will be shared at the time of the RFP.
o. Facilitate and provide access to PSDF monitoring team.
p. Maintain separate bank account and financial record relating to the assignment.
q. Assist any PSDF partner in carrying out a tracer study / evaluation of the trained persons.
r. Arrange testing and certification from relevant certification body or organization as agreed.
s. Arrange a simple graduation ceremony and distribute certificates to successful graduates.
t. Display banners / sign boards relating to the training.
u. The training service provider will be responsible for certain deliverables as per requirement of the project.
v. Any other obligation agreed in the contract.
16. PSDF reserves the right to verify any information provided by prospective bidders. False information will lead to disqualification.
17. PSDF reserves the right to cancel the call of EOIs without stating any reason.
18. PSDF will evaluate the Expressions of Interest and will notify the short-listed Training Service Providers. Request for proposal (RFP) documents will be made available only to the short-listed entities.
19. Any organization interested to provide training services or consortium partner can be part of only one EOI. The person authorized to submit EOI must hold any position in the lead organisation.
20. Any clarification requests must be in writing or through e-mail and to be received not later than, June 24, 2016. For the purpose of clarification, the contact person is:
Aftab Ahmad
Manager Programme Development,
Punjab Skill Development Fund,
House No. 125, Abu Bakar Block,
New Garden Town, Lahore
Cell #: 0300 841 3578; Tel # : 042-35857780-81
Email:
DATA SHEET / BRIEF SUMMARY OF SCHEME
Features / Proposed Parameters /Name of the scheme / Big Push for Rural Economy (Agriculture Sector)
Time Schedule of the Training Services / It will be a twelve month scheme. Expected start of training is October 2016.
Training Target / Total training target is approx 10,000. PSDF may increase / decrease the set targets. Training will be provided to both males and females.
Target Area / 60 selected villages of the 4 Target Districts i.e. Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Lodhran and Muzaffargarh will be selected from the list of 90 villages detailed in Annexure – B. Training will be provided in all 60 selected villages. However followed maketlinkage will be carried out only in 30 villages. There will be no intervention in the remaining 30 villages.
Target Group
(Eligibility for Admission) / · Age 15 & above
· Resident of the selected villages
· Must have CNIC (B-Form for under 18 age-group)
· Must meet the entry requirements of the courses specified at the time of the RFP.
· Must be already engaged or willing to be engaged or interested in agriculture value chain.
· Must not have previously attended any course funded by PSDF and registered in PSDF database.
· Must not be enrolled in any other PSDF funded course at the same time.
Training Service Provider / Legal status of the public / private lead organisation may be one of the following:
· Section 42 Company
· Limited Company
· The enterprise must be engagedin Agriculture value chain as a business.