Call for proposal: Addressed to Consulting Agency, International or National NGO - Developing a feasibility study and framework for the potentiality of a referral network on post-training support services

As part of the ILO’s response to the Syrian refugee crisis as well as the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan by the UN and the Government of Lebanon, the ILO is implementing several projects addressing the need for improving quality, relevance, and inclusiveness of market based technical and vocational education and training (TVET), together forming the Lebanon TVET portfolio. The TVET portfolio aims to enhance access of Lebanese and refugee youth to the labour market by improving access to and capacities to deliver marketbased Vocational and Technical Education and Training (TVET) for Lebanese and refugee youth.

The ILO is providing technical support to NGOs and government institutions to improve their services in terms of vocational training programme as well as in terms of post-training support services. A series of trainings are being provided that aims at improving the capacities of non-formal vocational training providers to design and deliver training packages that are based on market needs and can address the immediate skills training needs and increase the employability of low-skilled and unemployed youth.

With support from the Italian Agency Development Cooperation and UNICEF, the ILO seeks to enhance the capacity of NGOs (VT providers) in the provision of post-training support services to training graduates in terms of frequency and adequacy of these service provisions with the aim to increase options and pathways towards employment.  

Skills training being a key component of the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan (LCRP)’s livelihoods sector since the beginning of the response to the Syrian refugee crisis, numerous NGOs offer vocational training programmes. Despite this continuous increase in the provision of non-formal skills training, only a few livelihoods sector partners are providing post-training support services. A lack of collaboration and cooperation among the livelihoods sector partners and with the government is hindering information exchange on post-training services to be shared systemically and efficiently in order to ultimately refer beneficiaries to appropriate service providers when needed.

Post-training services cover a wide range of support activities that may include career guidance, employment and job placement services, mentoring, support in job search tools and techniques, coaching for job interviews, but also include non-employment-related support such as psychological support, child care services etc. There is a range of post-training service providers, but most NGOs operating under the umbrella of the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan do not know how to identify the needs of the beneficiaries or where to locate relevant service providers.

Most of these NGOs serve disadvantaged groups. In its broader sense, the term ‘disadvantaged’ in the labour market context encompasses the range of distinct or overlapping barriers preventing some people or groups from fully participating in employment. While some barriers may relate to core competencies or work ability, these are often coupled with non-employment-related challenges. Groups facing disadvantage in the job market often need to overcome several barriers affecting their capacity not only to seek and find employment but also to stay and progress in employment to which non-employment-related support services may be required (i.e. psychological support, child care services etc.). The strong interconnections between economic and social factors affecting the ability of vulnerable groups to find and take up jobs are shown in Annex 2 (Figure 1).

Referral Information Management System (RIMS)

RIMS was developed by Danish Refugee Council (DRC) Lebanon in response to the need for more accountable, timely and effective multi-sector referral processes. It satisfies the call for stronger cross-sector and cross-agency systems for coordination and referral to address service gaps observed within the Lebanon response. Modelled on the Inter-Agency ‘Minimum Standards and Procedures for Individual Referrals, RIMS operates as an online and offline platform. It enables field staff to facilitate referrals for beneficiaries predominately to the best placed humanitarian service provider (e.g. basic assistance, education, child protection, GBV, shelter, WASH) in a systematic manner and track and follow up on the status of the referral after it is initiated. The System also enables analysis of inputted data and generates information on referral trends that are essential to further enhancing referral pathways and accountability. RIMS generates regular data reports on type of referrals made, successful referrals, frequency of referrals conducted, speed, efficiency, accuracy; it also look at the enabling environment and factors influencing the referrals; as well as the infrastructure factors affecting the process effectiveness and efficiency. These data are analysed to provide recommendations for improvements. RIMS is currently being used within the livelihood sector as a referral mechanism for humanitarian assistance available among partners. RIMS includes a total of 70 partners. 

National Employment Office (NEO)

Since NEO’s status of having a supervisory role for all employment-related services in Lebanon, as intended through a reform process, is yet to be in place, formal collaboration for any proposed referral network for employment services is not a viable option. There is, however, a need for a referral services network for providing employment plus other support services and that also complements the services provided by RIMS. Such a network is envisaged to fully support graduates in accessing suitable employment opportunities. The existence of such a network should consider a leading government agency eventually being in a position to manage and sustain it (i.e. NEO).  

The main objective is to assess the feasibility and develop a framework of a referral platform for post- training support services and to serve as a complementary service to RIMS and any other similar platforms that exist within the country and internationally. 

This platform will be used as a mapping tool of service providers (offering physical and online post training support services) to form a network of service providers and will be used as a channel to facilitate beneficiaries to services in a coordinated and systematic manner in order to ultimately improve accountability and effectiveness while also avoiding duplication.

Some characteristics of the platform

This platform will also serve as a system that captures basic data on referral activities and potential job placement to generate reports to inform decision-making for improved job placement services. The data generated through this system will help:

• Analyse spatial disparities in services and address them through increased coverage of the service 
• Analyse skills supply and demand trends and employment challenges in different sectors and occupations.

Data generated from referral network of post training support services should help to produce information on school to work transition and transition within the work.  

• Conduct a feasibility analysis of a referral network system which will encompass a wide range of posttraining services skills training graduates may need access to. This will include employment-related support such as career guidance, job matching, job search support, further skills training in cases where career guidance identified skills gaps, etc. 
• Development of a framework for a referral network system (“blueprint”) including implementation scenarios and risk analyses given the current context of the country
• Review how the system can serve as a complementary service to other existing services and platforms in order to expand the referral options to non-employment-related support services and ensure linkages for addressing both the economic and social barriers
• Conduct a mapping exercise of physical and online service providers/organisations for skills development and employment-related services, and their coverage taking into consideration national representation and inclusiveness of services (i.e. Lebanese, PWD, non-Lebanese)
• Explore building on work that ILO had done in 2015 when employment service providers received training and support in addition to templates for referral. These need to be reviewed and possibly updated
• Review the role of National Employment Office (NEO)  and propose recommendations in its potential involvement both in the short- and long-term as it’s the legal sole provider of employment services
• Explore the possibility of a greater regional/international network in order to expand the options available to skills training graduates.

• An inception report with detailed action plan, methodology of implementation, benchmark of best practices
• Detailed map of skills development and post training support services accessible online and offline that will be made available in the form of Excel or PDF document that can be uploaded and downloaded from relevant ministries’ websites
• A descriptive report of the overall framework of the proposed referral system including functionality, features, analysis of potential linkages with existing platforms, sustainability, involved stakeholders and relevant role, analysis of potential expansion to a regional/international network
• Referral and cooperation mechanisms and tools reviewed, adapted, and validated with key stakeholders
• Draft presentation reviewed by ILO and a workshop with ILO/stakeholders to present draft final report findings and proposed framework
• Final consolidated report detailing next steps, challenges, risks, mitigation approaches, implementation scenarios etc.

• Engage key stakeholders in discussions and consultations to capture useful insights and needs for such a system, challenges faced, and to gain a good understanding of the required work
• Map existing platforms and providers of skills development and post training support services ensuring inclusiveness of all vulnerable groups (focus should be on local online/offline platforms and providers but also includes relevant references to international online platforms and providers which have potential to be integrated into the network)
• Explore potential linkages with existing referral systems and tools
• Review of existing referral templates
• Update and/or design relevant referral and cooperation mechanisms and tools (building on existing materials), including ToR/MoU for participation
• Explore feasibility for a regional/international referral network
• Review potential involvement of relevant ministries including possible integration with their websites and platforms
• Conduct workshop for ILO/stakeholders to present draft final report findings and proposed framework for the referral network
• Update and finalize final report based on ILO/stakeholder feedback.

Work Plan: The work will take place between 1st September and 30th November 2021 covering the work from inception to actual implementation and development of all deliverables.

Supervision: The consultant will perform work as per ILO terms and conditions applicable to ILO contracts under the supervision of the national TVET programme coordinator and the overall guidance of the Chief Technical Advisor for Skills Portfolio in coordination with the Senior Skills and Employability Specialist.

Budget and Payments schedule:

Payments will be made in installment against submission of deliverables as per ILO satisfaction. Deliverables shall be submitted in line with the requirements explained in the agreed upon TOR and proposal within the deadlines. The deliverables are subject to the approval of the ILO:

• First payment: 20% of overall total cost upon signature of contract
• Second payment: 50% of overall total cost upon submission of detailed map, descriptive report with proposed framework, referral and cooperation mechanisms and tools
• Final payment: 30% of the final report detailing next steps and implementation scenarios, workshop presentation and summary of feedback and points agreed upon and incorporated in the final report and submission of all deliverables to the satisfaction of ILO.

For interested bidders, please see annex 1 on requirements for submission of proposals Annex 1- Submission of proposals

Interested entities must submit the following detailed proposal made up of documentation to demonstrate the qualifications of the prospective service provider, to enable appraisal of competing bids. This should include technical and financial proposals, details of which are listed below.

1. Technical Proposal

1. Institution’s information – Name of bidder (and details of registration and accreditation, description of past and present activities; if the service provider is not same as the bidder, the same information will have to be provided accordingly including profile and past experience)
2. Relevant Experience – Description of experience in services of a comparable nature, with specific description of technical specialization on the delivery of such service and list of current and past assignments of the service provider;
3. Process - The Technical Proposal needs to contain a detailed description of the process the provider intends to follow to complete each of the tasks listed above including a detailed work plan (plus proposed deliverables for each activity) and time schedule for completion/delivery of the final product which, after selection of the service provider, will be agreed upon by ILO; the description should cover each activity on the workplan while providing evidence based of proposed strategy/methodology where and when necessary.
4. Human Resources - The Technical Proposal needs to provide a list and detailed information on the proposed Human Resources which will be utilized for the task including their respective qualifications and relevant experience/exposure and required expertise/skills to complete the tasks; detailed CVs of each should be provided as annexes.
5. Tools and Methodologies - The Technical Proposal must detail tools and methodologies that will be used to ensure quality, relevance, and targeted results of the service (M&E + quality assurance).  

2. Financial Proposal (including logistical fees, travel costs, and other relevant expenses) 

1. The Financial Proposal shall specify a detailed budget amount (in USD) including, capital costs (premises, equipment, furniture etc.); running costs, including direct costs (salaries), indirect costs (developing curricula, staff development, tools and raw materials etc.), and overhead (administration staff, transport, maintenance, utility bills, printing costs etc.)
2. In order to assist ILO in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposals will include a detailed breakdown of this amount in line with activities planned.

Required capacity of the local institution

The ILO invites technical and financial proposals from qualified organizations/firms/entities having relevant experience in delivering similar services as mentioned in this Terms of Reference (TOR). One national/international partner technically responsive and financially viable organization/entity will be chosen following ILO procurement rules/procedure on evaluation by an ILO team of professionals. 

Cumulative Evaluation Method will be used for this procurement exercise and Contract will be awarded to highest scorer(s) in cumulative analysis considering Technical and Financial Evaluation. The Technical proposal will contain 70% and financial proposal will contain 30% weight whereas Technical Evaluation passing score is 70%. Any bidder that score less than 70% in Technical Evaluation shall not be considered for financial evaluation. The Technical proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the criteria stated below:

Description

1. Relevant Experience of the organization 

2. Process of implementation (brief description on proposed occupation with evidence-based selection, outreach strategy, proposed PPP, etc.) 

3. Human Resources proposed for the assignment (qualification and experience) + detailed CV

4. Tools and Methodologies (relevant to each activity)

Clarity of the proposal, provision of all required documentation, and innovative delivery are considered as a cross cutting measurement criteria

The financial proposal will be evaluated based on accuracy with requested details, clarity, price reasonableness and overall cost. The bidders shall submit a detailed activity-based budget using an excel sheet and submit both the Excel version and the Pdf version. 

The cost of preparing a proposal and of negotiating a contract, including any related travel, is not reimbursable as a direct cost of the assignment.