Training in Product Development

Subject: Request for Proposal

TechnoServe Inc (TNS) - KENYA, invites your firm/institution to participate in this competitive solicitation for pricing, delivery and terms of potential sale on the following: Product Development sector wide training for TechnoServe in Kenya.

Introduction: TechnoServe works with enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses and industries. We are a non-profit organization that develops business solutions to poverty by linking people to information, capital and markets. 

Our work is rooted in the idea that given the opportunity, hardworking men and women in even the poorest places can generate income, jobs and wealth for their families and communities. With more than four decades of proven results, we believe in the power of private enterprise to transform lives. Background: Solutions for African Food Enterprises (SAFE) is a TechnoServe (TNS) program in partnership with USAID and Partners in Food Solutions, with the aim of increasing the competitiveness of the African food processing sector and expanding availability of affordable and nutritious foods.
Partners in Food Solutions (PFS) is a non-profit organization formed by General Mills to link the technical and business expertise of volunteer employees from General Mills, Cargill, Royal Dutch DSM and Bühler. This program provides knowledge and technology transfer to build the capacity of African food processors, improving availability of nutritious foods and creating market opportunities for small holder farmers.
The ability of food processors to adopt to changing consumer needs in terms of product demand and specifically demand in certain product attributes have been singled out as a hindrance to the growth of their businesses. It is for this reason that SAFE has identified training in Product Development as a gap worth closing in the knowledge base on food processors in Kenya.

1. General Requirements
 

1.1. Topic: The training services requested is on Product Development to contain but not limited to the topics below:

1.2 Introduction to New Product Development

1.2.1 What is NPD?
1.2.2 Why does one need a product development process?

1.3 Formation of a Product Development team

1.4 Product Development process

1.4.1 Market research
1.4.2 Ideation phase
1.4.3 Feasibility assessment
1.4.4 Development
1.4.5 Product testing
1.4.6 Product roll out
1.4.7 Product evaluation
1.4.8 Maintenance phase

1.5 Practical activity- typical product development exercise

1.6 Number of Trainees and Duration

Trainees will be drawn from food processing companies and food processing related organizations. The plan is to have two 2-day workshops in Nairobi and Kisumu as depicted in the table below:

2.0 Period of Performance

The period of performance of any contract resulting from this solicitation is anticipated to begin on or about 1st July 2014 and last through 30th September 2014.  Proposals shall detail the estimated length of time required to accomplish all requirements, with detail on individual activity implementation dates, as referenced in the Scope of Work.

3.0 Criteria for Selection

The evaluation of each response to this RFP will be based on the requirements set out in the solicitation and any addenda thereto. At the sole discretion of TNS, the top proposals may be selected for follow-up questions or to provide an oral presentation.

The following weighting and points will be assigned to the proposal for evaluation purposes:

  Project Team Structure and Internal Controls  Staff Qualifications/Experience      

TechnoServe reserves the right to award the contract to the organization whose proposal is deemed to be in the best interest of TNS and the Donor.

The Organization with the winning proposal will be notified in writing.  

Those who were not selected may or may not be notified, at the sole discretion of TNS.

4.0 Scope of Work
 
Submissions should include:

4.1. Statement of Competence

Profile – Lead Consultant and OrganizationProject Resource Persons4.2 Methodology

(Please note that the training materials/manuals/design/ownership/copyright and original source files must remain with TechnoServe and that all work product created as part of this engagement will be the sole property of TechnoServe.

4.3 Timeline and Financial Proposal

Costs for Development of the Training Modules, Review of the Modules, Delivery of Training, Data Collection & Report Preparation, Contain detailed cost in Kenya shillings with applicable Tax/Charges clearly identified. Provide requested payment terms and conditions.(Assumptions have been made that TechnoServe will bear the cost of the following: transport of the participants to and from the training venue, hire of training venue, meals & teas, training venue for the delegates, stationery- writing pads & pens and production of training Materials)

4.3 Training Scheduling

For 4 days, 8 hours a day

5.0 Project Outcomes

Power Microsoft Point Presentation of training modules covering the above topicsDetailed Microsoft Word training modules covering the above topics Presentation of the modules during workshop Raw data on the effectiveness of the training in the form of filled questionnaires Final report after the trainingThe Request for Proposal is not and shall not be considered an offer by TechnoServe.All responses must be received on or before the date and time indicated on the RFP.  All late responses will be rejected.All unresponsive responses will be rejected.All proposals will be considered binding offers.  Prices proposed must be valid for entire period provided by respondent.All awards will be subject to TNS contractual terms and conditions and contingent on the availability of donor funding. TNS reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal or cancel the solicitation process at anytime, and shall have no liability to the proposing organizations submitting proposals for such rejection or cancellation of the request for proposals. TNS reserves the right to accept all or part of the proposal when award is provided.All information provided by TNS in this RFP is offered in good faith. Individual items are subject to change at any time, and all bidders will be provided with notification of any changes.TNS is not responsible or liable for any use of the information submitted by bidders or for any claims asserted therefrom.TNS reserves the right to require any bidder to enter into a non-disclosure agreement.The bidders are solely obligated to pay for any costs, of any kind whatsoever, which may be incurred by bidder or any third parties, in connection with the Response. All responses and supporting documentation shall become the property of TNS, subject to claims of confidentiality in respect of the response and supporting documentation, which have been clearly marked confidential by the bidder.7.0 Form / Content of Response

All proposals shall:

Be in the English language. Contain detailed cost in Kenya shillings with applicable Tax/Charges clearly identified. Provide requested payment terms and conditions.Include a contact name, email address, and telephone number to facilitate communication between TNS and the submitting organization. Questions regarding this request may be addressed to kenyaprocurement@tns.org and safe-info@tns.org, and must be received no later than 19th June 2014.  Responses to questions will be distributed to all interested parties no later than 24th June 2014.

Responses to the RFQ should be addressed to, kenyaprocurement@tns.org no later than 1st July 2014. 

Curriculum Design Consultants

Strengthening Rural Youth Development through Enterprise (STRYDE) Regional

General Information

TechnoServe (TNS) is a nonprofit international development organization founded in 1968. Its mission is to help entrepreneurial men and women break the cycle of poverty by building businesses that create jobs, income, and economic opportunities for their families, their communities, and their countries.

Our work focuses on identifying promising business opportunities with a positive economic role for and impact on the rural poor. Our approach is based on hiring high-performing people who share our vision of private sector solutions to generate sustainable solutions to poverty. We believe in hard work, creativity, and leveraging the dynamism of talented people.

We are committed to innovation, learning, and results, with a global team drawn from world-class industry and management consulting firms. We are currently working in more than 20 countries in Africa, Latin America, and Asia.

Purpose

Develop training modules for the Strengthening Rural Youth Development through Enterprise (STRYDE) program, a regional youth enterprise development program designed to enable 15,000 rural youth aged 18 to 30 to have a more successful transition into economically independent adulthood, increasing their opportunity, ability and motivation to engage in income-generating activities.

The training modules created will be part of a 3 month training program delivered to rural youth by rural youth trainers across East Africa.

TechnoServe is seeking applications from interested and qualified consultants to design individual modules, which will be 12-16 hours in total and delivered as 3-4 hour sessions. All finalized modules need to include facilitator’s guides, participant workbooks and appropriate learning materials including interactive activities and games.

The purpose of the 3 month’s training is to help youth develop skills and abilities that improve their income-generation potential over the long term, increase their ability to adapt and respond to ever-changing economic conditions with confidence, and ultimately help them to become active contributors and financially independent members of society.

The specific knowledge, behaviors and skills that each module will have are currently being identified in a needs assessment process which will be completed by November 30th 2011.

We are targeting to develop training for the following modules:

Personal Finance/Financial EducationCareer SkillsEntrepreneurshipFarming as a BusinessCurriculum Designers who are contracted for the work will participate in an initial 3 day design workshop, which will be facilitated by an Accelerated Learning Master Practitioner.

They will have the opportunity to enhance their curriculum design skills and to receive coaching from the lead STRYDE curriculum designers on the accelerated learning methodology, which leverages current research about the brain and learning, and will be used to develop the STRYDE training program.

During the workshop, as the accelerated learning design cycle and fundamental concepts are explored, designers will have the opportunity to apply this learning directly to the STRYDE modules they are developing. A rough outline of at least one module will be completed by the end of the workshop.

Activities and Deliverable Timeline

December 6-9, 2011- active participation in 3 day TechnoServe facilitated training design workshop in NairobiJanuary 15th - submission of rough draft of first training module8 hours of distance coaching and feedback by lead designersFebruary 10th -submission of all final materials for first training module. This includes facilitator’s guides, participant workbooks and appropriate learning materials including interactive activities and games.Note: Depending on the STRYDE program timeline the precise due dates of the draft and final module may shift. The final deadlines will be agreed with the consultant upon signing of the contract.

Requirements

Degree qualifications in business or agricultural-related studies requiredAt least 5 years of experience in education, adult learning, or working on capacity building projects;Experience in designing training curricula for young adults aged 18-30;International development experience, entrepreneurship skills, and experience working with youth training and/or mentorship programs preferred;Excellent oral and written communication skills a must;Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills required;Ability to conduct effective training sessions;Fluency in English and Kiswahili required;Proven ability and experience working with teams will be an added advantage.Willingness to travel internationally and ability to travel to remote rural locations in East Africa.Qualified candidates are encouraged to submit their applications to ekamau@tns.org indicating the posting title in the subject line.

Applications should be sent as ONE ATTACHMENT or as a zip file and need to include:

1) CV and company profile(if applicable)

2) Cover letter specifying which module/s you are interested in designing, experience in these area/s and stating desired compensation rate

3) A sample of a training module/curricula that you have developed

4) Three professional references

Deadline for application is Tuesday 22nd of November 2011

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted

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