Consultancy services for strengthening of Child Protection policy and legal frame work

Request for Proposal:                       2018/Supply/9140585               

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

 

UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN’S FUND (UNICEF) seeks to engage the services of an institution to strengthen Child Protection policy and legal frameworks at decentralized level in FCT, Plateau,  Cros River and Lagos.

 

Technical and Financial proposals should be forwarded to UNICEF Nigeria supply section mail box  : ngrsupply@unicef.org and or hard copies in sealed envelopes and should be dropped in the bid box placed in the reception room at the entrance hall of UNICEF, or be sent through courier service.

Address to: Supply Manger, UNICEF, Old CBN Building, Area 11, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria.

IMPORTANT – ESSENTIAL INFORMATION

The reference RFP - 2018/Supply/9140585 must be shown on your offer.

 

The proposal format should align with the technical evaluation criteria when replying to this invitation. Failure to submit your bid in this format, or failure to complete the details as requested, will result in invalidation.

 

Offers MUST be received on or before 14:00hours Nigeria local time on 2nd July, 2018 and will be publicly opened at 14:30hours Nigeria local time same day. Proposals received after the stipulated date and time will be invalidated.

Please visit our website www.unicef.org and download our supplier profile form (SPF) and fill same with necessary information to evaluate you

This request for proposal is approved by:

Christopher Adomati

Chief, Supply & Logistics Section

 

Terms of Reference (TOR) – Institutional contract

Strengthening child protection legal and policy framework for quality service provision to children victims of violence in Nigeria

Provide technical support in reviewing and drafting social welfare policy, amending state Child Rights Laws, developing secondary legislation to the Child Rights Law, develop inter-agency case management protocols at state and local government level in three federal states (Plateau, Gombe, Cross River and Lagos)

Locations : FCT, Plateau, Cross River and Lagos

Duration : 1 July 2018- 28 February 2019 – subject to changes

Background

Children have the right to be protected from all forms of abuse, violence, exploitation and neglect. The challenge is how to best support Governments to realize this right. In recent years, the global community has increasingly recognized that (i) the number of children experiencing abuse, violence, exploitation and neglect is significant, and is rising in some areas (2008 Secretary-General’s Study on Violence Against Children) (ii) efforts to address child protection issues have been poorly coordinated and resourced, with a focus on stand-alone / single issue based projects (such as on sexual exploitation, child trafficking, street children, child labor etc) with limited sustainability; and (iii) children face multiple risks – abuse can be combined with exploitation and/or abandonment, for example, yet many programs are designed to address a single risk.  Such single issue programmes have been ineffective at producing sustained change. There is now a recognition that children’s issues must be addressed holistically with preventive and response programmes dealing with the array of poverty, protection and rights issues in tandem, rather than in isolated silos, and that in order to achieve sustained change a systems-building approach to reform is essential.

A child protection systems-building approach focuses on the establishment of a system with a set of linked and coherent structures, functions and capacities that can prevent and respond to all child protection concerns. A system integrates the actions of families (and children themselves), communities, formal and informal laws and practices, state and non-state actors across all sectors, to work together to protect children. It looks at all the actions needed to protect children along a continuum, from promotion of a safe environment for the child, to prevention through to response and restorative services for children at risk of, or experiencing, violence, exploitation and abuse. When all parts of the system are established and function effectively and in a coordinated manner, children will be protected from abuse.

To build a sustainable system, an effective child protection programme must include legal and policy reforms, institutional capacity development, enhanced service delivery, social norms change and the creation of fiscal space for child protection. In addition, for National and State Governments to programme and budget effectively and target services and resources, as well as monitor the establishment of system components and the impact of the system and reforms, a robust M&E system must be in place.

 

While Nigeria Child’s Rights Act 2003 establish a framework for child protection and 24 states in Nigeria have domesticated the law, implementation remains limited.

With funding from USAID and the European Union (under the Promoting Women’s Engagement in Peace and Security), UNICEF is supporting a groundbreaking initiative to ‘model’ the child protection system. This 9-state initiative, brings together Federal and State line ministries responsible for social welfare and child development, Child Protection Networks and PEPFAR partners in a Child Protection Systems Strengthening Learning Group. The group has developed the vision for child protection, identified essential and desirable components of the system and is developing model regulations, working protocols, training materials and M&E tools for the system. Four of the nine States are UNICEF focus states (Lagos and Cross River (USAID) and Gombe and Plateau (EU)) for which both technical and financial assistance is provided to model the system at State level and in two-three selected Local Government Areas.

A key aspect of a well-functioning child protection system is the provision of comprehensive minimum package of response services to child victims of violence, abuse and exploitation. Minimum package of services should include primary, secondary and tertiary services. Response services should have a special focus on secondary and tertiary services ensuring linkages and integrated services both from the social welfare and justice system. Critical services should include parenting skills training/education, counselling, home visits, interim child care/emergency shelter, financial support, family mediation, child risk and needs assessment, child psychological assessment, social protection support, birth registration, medical treatment, psychosocial support, removal of the child from the family’s custody and placement in alternative care, case management, social protection support, birth registration, family reunification. Legal services including legal aid and prosecution also play a critical role at the level of tertiary services. In order to determine and coordinate response services needed to restore a child victim’s wellbeing, case management has to be systematically carried out by trained social workers under government supervision if not under direct management.

As the four Focus States of Plateau, Gombe, Lagos and Cross River with UNICEF support are embarking in reviewing their government led case management services and have developed frameworks to strengthen both case management and provision of response services, there is a need to further review the policy and regulatory framework to ensure mandates, service and procures are clear to guide inter agency work in coordinating quality services. 

The three focus States of Plateau, Lagos and Cross River have requested UNICEF Nigeria, through their Ministries of Women Affairs and Ministries of Social Welfare, to provide technical assistance to 1) review and support drafting of social welfare policy, 2) amend the existing Child Rights Laws (CRL) where required, 3) review and further finalize existing draft secondary legislation to the CRL in Lagos and Cross River states and contextualize it to Plateau state (including child protection regulations and family court rules) 4) review and finalize existing draft inter-agency case management protocols and 5) develop harmonized guidelines to the functioning of child protection/social welfare government units at state and local government level.

To provide systematic technical leadership and expertise, UNICEF is looking for an institution with experience in strengthening child protection legal and policy frameworks with familiarity with Nigeria’s legal framework and context.

Specific Tasks for the International Consultant Institution

Under the supervision of the Child Protection System Strengthening Specialist and in coordination with the Child Protection Specialist (social welfare), the international consultant institution is expected to:

 

1. Review and support drafting of federal social welfare policy (by 31 August 2018 and throughout consultancy as required by the government);
2. Provide technical support for the review and amendment of state CRL in Lagos and Cross River. Amend the existing Child Rights Laws (CRL) where required (by 30 September 2018);
3. Review and further finalize existing draft secondary legislation to the CRL in Lagos and Cross River states and contextualize it to Plateau state (including child protection regulations and family court rules) (by 31 August 2018 for Lagos, by 31 October 2018 for Cross River and by 30 January 2018 for Plateau);
4. Review and finalize existing draft inter-agency case management protocols (by 31 August 2018 for Lagos, by 31 October 2018 for Cross River and by 30 January 2019for Plateau);
5. Present and facilitate legal framework and case management deliverables in at least 1 Child Protection System Strengthening Learning Group meeting where the none modelling states are represented.

Payment schedule

Deliverables

Date

Payment

1. Review and support drafting of social welfare policy

31 August 2018

15 %

1. Provide technical support for the review and amendment of state CRL in Lagos and Cross River

30 September 2018

15%

1. Review and further finalize existing draft secondary legislation to the CRL in Lagos. Review and finalize existing draft inter-agency case management protocols in Lagos.

31 August 2018

40%

1. Review and further finalize existing draft secondary legislation to the CRL in Cross River state. Review and finalize existing draft inter-agency case management protocols in Cross River.

31 October 2018

15%

1. Review and further finalize existing draft secondary legislation to the CRL in Plateau state. Review and finalize existing draft inter-agency case management protocols in Plateau.

30 January 2018

15%

 

Governance and TOR parameters

UNICEF will manage relations between Federal and State government and the consultancy institution. UNICEF will ensure that where the fulfilment of the TOR is dependent on other deliverables outside the control of the consultancy institution, these deliverables will be provided in a timely manner. Where this is not possible, UNICEF will open negotiations with the consultancy institution to adjust the deliverable submission deadlines.

The definition of children is to be read as per the Child Rights Act -under 18s. it is expected that TOR components will be implemented with due regard paid to gender sensitivities.

Other

The institutional contract is for 230 days throughout 9 months expected to start on 1 July 2018 and end on 28 February 2019.

The consultancy team will be expected to travel to Plateau, Cross River and Lagos states (States capitals and selected Local Government Areas) to complete the assignments.

The contract will be supervised by the Child Protection System Strengthening Specialist in close coordination with the Child Protection Specialist (social welfare) under the overall guidance of the Chief Child Protection.

Minimum qualifications requirements

Institutional expertise, knowledge and experience:

• Fifteen years’ international experience of supporting government to reform child protection system;
• Eight years’ international experience of supporting government to reform child justice system;
• Expertise on international and regional child protection and child justice standards, norms and best practices;
• Expertise on international and regional child protection case management and social welfare standards, norms and best practices;
• Experience of policy and legislative drafting on child protection;
• Experience in developing national plan of actions, policies or strategies relevant to child protection;
• Track record on successful delivery of high level expert advice to governments and international organization. Previous work with UNICEF an asset. Experience on working in Nigeria is highly desirable;
• Excellent analytical and research skills;
• Excellent skills in working with governments at different levels;
• Demonstrated experience in leading multi-disciplinary teams.

 

The team is expected to be comprised of child protection and child justice reform experts, experts on legislative and policy drafting; social workers with experience on child protection case management. It must be clear to which activities each consultancy team member is assigned. It is expected that the contract will be managed by a team member with a minimum of 15 years’ experience in the fields highlighted earlier and significant experience managing institutional contracts.

 

The Consulting firm will be selected based upon the following criteria:

-       Technical proposal     -           70% maximum points, (minimum acceptable score - 49/70)

-       Financial proposal      -           30% maximum points

 

EVALUATION CRITERIA SHEET

OVERALL RESPONSE

-        Understanding of, and responsiveness to, UNICEF Nigeria Country Office requirements

-        Understanding of scope, objectives and completeness of response

-        Overall concord between UNICEF requirements and the proposals 5%

STANDARD STRATEGY/METHODOLOGY FOR EVALUATION

-        Proposal identifies key areas for CRL amendment and expands on the reasoning for amendment and why amendment is required to fully bring the CRL in line with international standards

-        Proposal describes possible alternative scope for the social welfare policy and importance of its passage to strengthen child protection systems in Nigeria

-        Proposal indicates areas where secondary legislation to the CRL are required and expands on the possible content of it and how further developing secondary legislation contributes to strengthen child protection systems in Nigeria

-        Proposal indicates possible content of the child protection case management inter agency protocols

Proposal describes in length the process for the development, consultations and validation of the different documents in a participatory manner fully involving stakeholders 30%

PROPOSED TEAM EXPERIENCE

-        Experience and qualifications based on previous evaluation project(s)

-        Experience and qualifications of proposed team 35%

 

Financial Evaluation – 30%

 

Total : 100%

 

INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS

 

Marking and returning of proposal

SEALED PROPOSALS must be securely closed in a suitable envelope, clearly MARKED on the outside with the RFP NUMBER and despatched to arrive at the UNICEF office indicated NO LATER THAN the CLOSING TIME AND DATE.

 

Proposals shall be submitted in English, and shall be sealed in 1 outer and 2 inner envelopes and all envelopes shall indicate the bidders name and address. The outer envelope shall be addressed as follows:

 

UNICEF

Attn: Supply Manager

Old CBN Building, Prefab 5, Area 11, Garki, Abuja.

 

RFP#: RFP- 2018/Supply/9140585    

 

DUE: 14:00 am local time on 02nd July2018

 

Technical Proposal

The first inner envelope shall be marked Technical Proposal and addressed in the same manner as the outer envelope.

 

The Bidder must provide sufficient information in the proposal to demonstrate compliance with the requirement set out in each section of this Request for Proposal.

-    the Bidder General Information form and relevant supporting documentation

-    the list of management and team staff and their CV’s;

-    a detailed organization chart of the company including the location and staffing of existing and planned offices;

-    the firm financial information

-    the list of projects in Hand and their financial values (at least two)

-    a list of references (at least three) for the past five years with a particular emphasis on similar Consultancy Services

-    the list of current litigations (if any)

-    A proposed methodology, schedule of activities and staff deployment plan

 

Financial proposal

The 2nd inner envelope shall be marked Financial Proposal and addressed in the same manner as the outer envelope, and shall contain the following documentation:

-    the detailed budget

 

In ADDITION, proposal in PDF ONLY should also be send to Supply Chief ONLY by the deadline at: ngrsupply@unicef.org

 

Time for receiving proposal

Sealed Proposals received prior to the stated closing time and date will be kept unopened. The Officer of the Bid Opening Unit will open Proposals when the specified time has arrived and no Proposal received thereafter will be considered.

 

UNICEF will accept no responsibility for the premature opening of a Proposal which is not properly addressed or identified.

 

Modification to sealed Proposals already submitted in a sealed envelope, will be considered if received prior to the closing time and date.

 

Public opening of proposal

Bidders, or their authorized representative, may attend the public opening of the RFP at the time, date and location specified. The only envelope that will be opened at public bid opening is the Technical Proposal.

 

Validity

Proposals shall remain valid for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of closing of the Proposals.

 

Changes and/or Alterations

All requests for changes or alterations to the Request for Proposal or requests for clarifications must be submitted in writing by fax or e-mail to the UNICEF Construction Management Specialist. Information provided verbally will not be considered a fundamental change and will not alter this Request for Proposal.

 

Inquiries received less than three (3) working days prior to the Proposal closing date cannot be guaranteed any response.  Only written inquiries will receive an answer.  All inquiries and answers will be provided to all invitees in writing, regardless of the source of the inquiry.

 

Subcontracting

Bidders shall identify on their offer, any services, which may be subcontracted to another firm. A Technical Proposal as described hereafter must be submitted for all subcontractors and will be considered as being part of the bid.

 

Rights of UNICEF

UNICEF reserves the right to accept any proposal, in whole or in part; or, to reject any or all proposals.  UNICEF also reserves the right to negotiate with the Bidders. UNICEF shall not be held responsible for any cost incurred by the Bidder in preparing the response to this Request for Proposal. The Bidder agrees to be bound by the decision of UNICEF as to whether her/his proposal meets the requirements stated in this Request for Proposal. UNICEF reserves the right to award the agreement to one or more contractor(s).

 

Property of UNICEF

This Request for Proposal, inquiries and answers and the Proposals are considered the property of UNICEF.  All materials submitted in response to this Request shall remain with UNICEF.

 

Language of Proposal

The proposals prepared by the Bidder as well as all correspondence and documents relating to this document shall be written in the English Language. Any printed literature furnished by the Bidder written in another language will only be considered if accompanied by accurate English translation of the relevant passages for purposes of interpretation.

 

Proprietary Information

Information, which the Bidder considers proprietary, must be marked clearly "proprietary" next to the relevant part of the text, and UNICEF will then treat such information accordingly.

 

Evaluation of proposal

Following closure of the RFP, proposals will be evaluated by a UNICEF evaluation team to assess their merits. The evaluation will be restricted to the contents of the Proposals and the reference checks.

 

First, the Technical Proposals will be evaluated. The Technical Proposal was allocated a total possible value of 70 points. Technical Proposals receiving 50 points or higher, will be considered technically responsive and the Price Proposal will be opened. Proposals which are considered not technically compliant and non-responsive, will not be given further consideration.

 

The Consulting firm will be selected based upon the evaluation  criteria (technical and financial)