Empowerment through Skills Program

REQUEST FOR QUOTES – ICT Equipment, Phase 1

Date RFQ Issued: June 22, 2023                              Date RFQ Closes: July 13, 2023

Bids are to be returned by email to info@tz.collegesinstitutes.ca  by 4:00 pm on July 12, 2023.

Contact for queries on the RFQ:

    Email: info@tz.collegesinstitutes.ca

    Subject Line: ESP RFQ FOR ICT EQUIPMENTS

Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) is implementing the Empowerment through Skills Program (ESP) in Tanzania.  The ESP is a 7-year program (2021-2028) implemented by CICan in close collaboration with the Tanzanian Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) through the Department of Technical and Vocational Training (DTVET). The ESP is funded by the Government of Canada.

ESP’s ultimate outcome is: Improved economic participation by women and adolescent girls in Tanzania.

Refer to Annex 2 for an overview of the project and the list of partner Folk Development Colleges (FDCs) , Community Based Organizations (CBOs), and Canadian colleges & institutes.

Current Situation

CICan has a requirement for ICT equipment for the Empowerment through Skills Program (ESP).  The specific requirements are provided in Annex 1 – ICT Requirements

The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) has granted CICan a VAT exemption on the ICT items purchased for the Empowerment through Skills Program.  For each of the ICT items in Annex 1, bidders are to separately indicate (a) the full price of the item with VAT included, (b) the amount of VAT, and (c) the price of the item with VAT excluded.

The payment structure, including advance payment and timeline, will be discussed with the selected supplier / suppliers. Evidence of past purchase orders of a similar amount will be required to corroborate the payment structure.

Bids are encouraged from qualified businesses owned or led by women.

General Conditions:

    The selection of ICT items will be based on meeting or exceeding the minimum specifications stated in this RFQ, the best value for the price, and the available budget.

    CICan reserves the right to accept or reject proposals on each item separately or as a whole; to reject any or all proposals without penalty; to waive any informalities or irregularities therein; and to contract as the best interest of CICan and may require in order to obtain the ICT items which best meets the needs of CICan, as expressed in this RFQ.

    CICan reserves the right to negotiate the modification of terms and conditions with the bidder offering the best value to CICan, prior to the execution of a contract.

    Prices quoted will not be shared with other vendors. Payment will be made by bank transfer only.

    The specifications provided in Annex 1 – ICT Requirements are the preferred requirements. Bidders may choose to provide an option with an alternative set of specifications.

    A 1-year warranty serviceable in Tanzania is required on items supplied.

    Items must be fully tested and confirmed as working at the time of delivery to the ESP office in Dar es Salaam.

    No counterfeit or pirated products are accepted.

    Bidders must submit a formally registered business license from the Government of Tanzania, be established for a period of at least 3 years, proof of payment of taxes, tax clearance for 2 years, and evidence of past purchase orders of a similar amount.

    The business must provide evidence of sales of a similar size to other companies (3 sample receipts of large sales, no confidential information needs to be provided).

    The maximum delivery time from the date of order is 60 days negotiable. Preference will be given to guaranteed shorter timelines.

    CICan will issue a Local Purchasing Order (LPO) to the successful bidder.

    All items will be delivered to the Empowerment through Skills Program (ESP) office in Dar es Salaam (International House, Garden Avenue).

ANNEX 1

ICT Requirements, Phase 1

Note: Bidders may choose to provide an option with an alternative set of specifications.

AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE:  An authorized officer of the company or business bidding on this RFQ must sign below indicating her/his full name, address of the company, and contact details.

ANNEX 2

Overview of the Empowerment through Skills Program (ESP)

Program Description

The Empowerment through Skills Program (ESP) is a 7-year program (2021-2028) implemented by Colleges and Institutes Canada in close collaboration with Tanzania’s Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MOEST) through the Department of Technical and Vocational Education and Training. The ESP is funded by the Government of Canada.

ESP’s Ultimate Outcome is improved economic participation by women and adolescent girls in Tanzania. The ESP will strengthen alternative pathways to education, employment, self-employment and entrepreneurship for women and adolescent girls. Working with Folk Development Colleges (FDCs) and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) in 12 communities across Tanzania, ESP aims to increase rates of participation among women and adolescent girls in skills training programs and improve access to business, skills, and gender and human rights training in their communities. The Program will also expand opportunities in the informal and formal sectors through post-training support to transition to employment or self-employment.

Program Reach

Through an inclusive and participatory approach with the key stakeholders, MOEST, FDCs, CBOs, and with the support of key community leaders to influence social change, the ESP will work with 12 selected FDCs and 12 selected CBOs to:

1. Establish a network of gender teams and female mentors;
2. Engage local communities in gender equality awareness raising activities on the benefits of women’s education and economic empowerment;
3. Provide partner FDCs and CBOs with sustainable capacity building training in gender equality, human rights, pedagogy and andragogy, environmental sustainability, CBET, leadership, guidance and career counselling, occupational health and safety, marketing / recruitment, information and communication technology, labour market assessment, and demand driven program design and delivery;
4. Develop and deliver short gender responsive, environmentally sensitive and demand driven skills programs specifically targeting women and adolescent girls at the partner FDCs;
5. Develop and deliver short gender and environmentally sensitive and demand driven skills training activities at the partner CBOs targeting women’s organizations and the community;
6. Review program content and teaching methods to better integrate gender equality and human rights;
7. Support the Elimu Haina Mwisho (Education without End) and the Early Child Development programs with teaching and learning resources;
8. Ensure there are appropriate support services for women and adolescent girl students, especially young mothers at the partner FDCs.

Partnerships

The ESP supports six partnerships between Tanzanian FDCs and CBOs, in collaboration with 17 Canadian colleges.

Program Targets

It is projected that ESP will result in several lasting, sustainable, and scalable impacts.

The Program targets for the 12 partner CBOs are:

1. A total of 480 women and adolescent girls will complete short gender sensitive skills training activities offered by the CBOs in the communities.
2. A total of 36 (24F) volunteers and staff from 12 CBOs will be trained on technical and/or pedagogical skills and on delivering gender equality and human rights modules.
3. A total of 2,400 (1,200F) community members will participate in gender equality and human rights awareness activities

The Program targets for the 12 partner FDCs are:

1. A total of 720 women and adolescent girls will graduate from the gender responsive short programs developed under ESP.
2. A total of 180 (60F) staff will be trained on technical and/or pedagogical skills and on delivering the gender equality and human rights modules.
3. A total of 3,200 (1,000F) students will participate in gender equality and human rights awareness activities.