Tender 162 - Intaj 2.0: Market Research

TENDER NOTICE With funding from the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), Mercy Corps has initiated INTAJ (Improved Networks, Training and Jobs), a program to support vulnerable communities in the Beqaa and the North governorates in addressing their economic needs. Mercy Corps has identified crosscutting constraints to jobs growth in Lebanon that affect market actors at the individual, business and market levels of economic production. Interventions at the business level will include a significant portfolio of sub-grants and technical assistance to an expected 60 small and medium enterprise (SME) beneficiaries per year, in order to reduce risk and strengthen the ability of beneficiaries to grow their workforce. Technical assistance will be geared towards improving management and operations, enhancing competitiveness and assisting companies to access new markets, and/or market segments, with the ultimate aim of creating more jobs. INTAJ business beneficiaries are expected to vary in size and by industry, ranging from small service sector companies to larger industrial firms. Mercy Corps has identified a lack of adequate market knowledge and market research as a major factor in SME performance in Lebanon, both domestically and in International Markets. Mercy Corps is seeking qualified professionals to assess domestic and international market opportunities of selected INTAJ SME beneficiaries, and deliver a market study based on a specific sector or product and to identify specific opportunities for intervention. Research Objectives: The objective of the research is to support the INTAJ program team in assessing and understanding the market of relevant sectors or products. The firm/researcher will deliver either an international and/or local market overview on selected sectors or products with deep understanding on potential applications and opportunities to be applied in the selected market. The duration of the research will vary based on the number of sectors or products allocated to the firm/researcher and scope of work for each, and will be discussed and coordinated with the program team. Interested parties may participate in the tender by sending an email to majineh@lb.mercycorps.org (cc:hsalhab@lb.mercycorps.org) requesting the tender documents in soft copy, between May 19, 2016 and May 31, 2016 at 04:00PM. Bids must be submitted back in sealed envelopes to Mercy Corps Beirut office on June 09, 2016 at 04:00 PM to Mercy Corps Beirut office (3rd Floor, Bee Center, Alfred Naccache Street, Achrafieh Lebanon). All sealed bids should be labeled Tender 162 INTAJ 2.0 – Market Research consultancy. Only tenders submitted in prescribed form and deadlines will be considered