Consultancy Services for Communications and Public Tender - 28551650

Procurement Summary

Country: Liberia

Summary: Consultancy Services for Communications and Public Relations

Deadline: 29 Nov 2018

Posting Date: 19 Nov 2018

Other Information

Notice Type: Tender

TOT Ref.No.: 28551650

Document Ref. No.: 4A1508/CA/008

Competition: ICB

Financier: Millennium Challenge Account (MCA)

Purchaser Ownership: -

Tender Value: Refer Document

CPV Classification

79416000 - Public relations services

Purchaser's Detail

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Tender Details

Tenders are invited for Consultancy Services for Communications and Public Relations.
Further to the Pre-Solicitation Notice (PSN) released by MCA-Liberia, in September 2018, requesting interested and qualified consulting firms to express interest in receiving the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) when it becomes available, the purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to obtain comments and suggestions on the scope of services and associated costs to assist MCA-Liberia to finalize the Terms of Reference before releasing the RFQ.
MCA-Liberia is seeking responses to the questions outlined in this RFI. MCA-Liberia is not presently seeking technical or financial proposals. Response to this RFI is voluntary. Responders are free to address any or all the questions, as well as provide additional information they consider relevant to this RFI. MCA-Liberia will not pay for any information provided in response to this RFI. Additionally, the issuance of this RFI does not commit MCA-Liberia to pay any costs associated with preparing your response.
1. Background

The United States of America, acting through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (“MCC”) and the Government of Liberia (the “Government” or “GOL”) have entered into a Millennium Challenge Compact dated October 2, 2015 to help facilitate poverty reduction through economic growth in Liberia (the “Compact”) in the amount not to exceed Two Hundred Fifty-Six Million Seven Hundred Twenty-Six Thousand United States Dollars (US$256, 726, 000) (“MCC Funding”). Liberia’s Compact entered into force on January 20, 2016.
The goal of the Compact is to reduce poverty through economic growth. Specifically, the Compact seeks to address two binding constraints to economic growth currently existing in Liberia:

a) lack of access to reliable and affordable electricity, and

b) inadequate road infrastructure.
Under the Energy Project, the Compact includes funding for the rehabilitation of the Mt. Coffee Hydropower Plant, development of a training center at the Liberia Electricity Corporation (“LEC”) to fulfill the enterprise-level training needs of the company, support for the creation of an independent energy sector regulator, rehabilitation of a raw water pipeline, funding to support a management services contract (“MSC”) to operate LEC for three years. The Energy Project will be implemented by the Millennium Challenge Account Liberia (“MCA-L”) and LEC for a period of five (5) years from the date of entry into force of the Compact.
The Roads Project consists of the National Roads Maintenance Activity, to fund periodic road maintenance works through an incentive-matching fund; and the Roads Sector Reform Activity, to build capacity and provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Public Works (MPW) and the National Road Fund at the national level, as well as to regional levels.
The Compact can be accessed at http://www.mca.gov.lr/images/PDF/libcompact.pdf
2. Summary Scope of Services

MCA-L seeks a Communications & Public Engagement firm (or “Consultant”) to assist the MCA-L Director of Communications (DOC) to effectively achieve the following strategic communications and outreach objectives in support of the MCA-L Compact.

1) Develop and assist MCA-L implement a strategic communications plan that extends through the remaining two years of the Compact.

2) Produce a task level work plan for implementing the communications plan, and to update the work plan on a monthly frequency, as may be needed.

3) Advise MCA-Liberia on compliance with MCC’s branding and outreach guidelines.

4) Assist MCA-L effectively communicate compact administration and project implementation progress to various stakeholders using cost-effective channels specific to Liberia

5) Assist MCA-L effectively promote and publicize its projects and activities, including providing support for up-to date contents for MCA-Liberia website and social media engagements

6) Submit timely reports to MCA-L Communication team regarding deliverables achieved consistent with the goals, objectives and tasks described in the communications and work plans
The desired outcome of this effort is that MCA-Liberia’s stakeholders are well-informed about the Compact, progress of the Energy and Roads Projects, and related activities and goals, and that MCA-Liberia responds quickly and appropriately to all requests for information and press inquiries.
3. Indicative Tasks

The tasks to be performed by the Consultant shall include, but not limited to the, following:

1) Develop and Assist MCA-L Implement a Strategic Communications Plan (see Annex A for further details)

2) Press Relations –Assist MCA-L develop and maintain relationships with appropriate media houses and journalists.

3) Assist MCA-L produce Outreach materials for MCA-Liberia

4) Assist MCA-L implement Social Media Strategy

5) Organize Outreach Events

6) Assist MCA-L convene Government & Political Stakeholders Groups

7) Evaluate and assist MCA-L update the contents on the MCA-L website

8) Facilitate One Stop Interface – assist MCA-L facilitate interactions with the media.

9) Assist MCA-L organize Branding Materials

10) Coordinate with the MCA-Liberia Staff

11) Support MCA-L Records and Document Management
4. Projected Period of Engagement and Budget

MCA-Liberia has 26 months left, as of Nov 1, 2018, for implementation of the Compact; excluding a 120-day close out period. MCA-Liberia will implement the various activities in three phases:

1) First 12 months: Communicate implementation progress with description, rationale and benefits of the projects.

2) Second 12 months: Communicate Implementation progress with description, rationale and benefits of projects.

3) Closeout Period (120 days): Communicate results of the Compact.
MCA-L’s budget for carrying out the communications and public engagement activities is approximately US$ 554, 000 (five hundred fifty-four thousand). The budget for engaging a consulting firm to assist MCA-L to effectively accomplish the objectives of the assignment is approximately US$ 230, 000 (Two hundred and thirty thousand).
5. Information Requested

MCA-L is specifically interested in the following information and comments on:

1) What specific activities and number of materials the potential consultant believes can be implemented and produced given the budget and timeframe, example:
a. monthly stakeholder events for government, political parties, private sector, media, project affected people, women, youths of maximum 75 people each)

b. 30-minute monthly radio program on 5 stations

c. Support drafting of annual reports, quarterly newsletters, fact sheets, op-ed etc.

d. Production of visibility materials, including billboards, project signs

e. Graphic design, documentary/videos for each project, social media campaign

f. Production of promotional materials, including t-shirts, caps, pens, notebooks, folders, bumper stickers, Project Calendar, Coffee Table Booklet, mugs and saucers, etc.

2) What potential consultant believes is the overall target audience/size of the Liberian population that can be reached based on the budget and the time left for implementation?

3) What is potential consultant's estimated level of effort required to effectively undertake this assignment?

4) What is the number of key and support staff that the potential consultant would need to effectively implement the required services?

5) What other activities can the potential consultant propose to complement the activities above?

6) Are the timelines, work requirements, objectives, and the activities realistic and achievable, given the budget and the implementation period? If so, why? If not, why not?

7) What does the potential consultant believe would be the estimated cost to implement this assignment to achieve all the expected results of the activities? We are looking for a ballpark figure or a range as part of our market research to help prepare our cost estimate.

8) Does the potential consultant firm have, or could it reasonably find qualified staff to effectively carryout all tasks outlined in the scope of services?

9) Based on the information provided, what major risks or concerns does the potential consultant foresee to generating interest from companies to bid for this assignment? How would the potential consultant propose MCA-L mitigate those risks?

10) As indicated in this RFI, the communications and public engagement consultant will support the MCA-L Director of Communications to achieve the objectives of the scope of services. What questions, if any, would the potential consultant have about this coordination?

11) What suggestions does the potential consultant have to help draft the Terms of Reference?
6. Response Submission Guidelines

Responses to this RFI will not give any advantage to any firm or organization in this or any subsequent procurements. It will also not lead to an organizational conflict of interest. Responses will be strictly confidential.
MCA-Liberia may contact any of the responders to clarify the information provided and may use any or all information received in the final development of its terms of reference and formulation of the budget for this assignment.
To expedite this process, please limit your response to five (5) pages if possible. Responses to this RFI must be in English.
Please send responses and request for clarification of this RFI, in English, via email to [email protected] (copy: [email protected]), no later than November 29, 2018 at 5:00 pm, Liberia time.
Please be guided accordingly,
__________________

Mr. Monie R. Captan

CEO, MCA-Liberia
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ANNEX A

SPECIFIC PROJECTS TO BE INTEGRATED INTO THE

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS PLAN

The Strategic Communications Plan for MCA-Liberia shall integrate specific sub-plans for the constituent Energy and Roads Project ac

Documents

 Tender Notice