REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS – ONLINE LEARNING EXPERT (STAGES)

PartnersGlobal seeks a consultant or firm to develop the online structure for a course focused on compliance with federal regulations for USG-funded projects. This Request for Proposals (“RFP”) defines the consultant’s work and outlines the application process.

• Duration: The contract implementation period will be from December 9, 2024, to March 3, 2025.
• Application deadline and Point of Contact: Applicants should direct any questions and submit proposals by 11:59 PM EST on December 4, 2024, via email to Julianyth Bravo at [email protected]. After that date, the selection committee will notify the selected offeror upon final internal approval.
• Geographic Location: Remote consultancy (No travel required)

1. BACKGROUND

1.1. Project Summary

The project is an initiative that aims to empower non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in difficult environments. The project will achieve this goal by delivering training for individual NGO representatives in financial management, administrative, and program management and assessing NGOs’ organizational financial and operational capacities.

1.2. Organizational Background

For 35 years, PartnersGlobal has been forging more resilient communities by working with our network of local sister organizations (the Partners Network) and with other CSOs worldwide to support local leaders and create partnerships that transform conflict, strengthen democratic institutions, and achieve sustainable development.

The most common belief in all of our collective work is that ‘process matters’ and that impartial, skilled facilitators, mediators, coaches, and trainers have an important role in bringing about peaceful change. PartnersGlobal’s international network, which brings over 240 local experts in the field of democracy and peacebuilding, emphasizes a multi-stakeholder approach to help effect positive change and good process in all activities.

2. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

2.1. Proposal/Letter of Interest

Interested applicants should submit a proposal of no more than Six (6) pages (not including the budget) in PDF or MS Word format that meets the following guidelines: a) Cover page (not included in page count) with relevant contact information of the applicant; b) All pages are numbered and formatted in letter paper size.

All proposals should detail: 1) how the offeror will meet the requirements of the scope of work; 2) professional qualifications including experience developing online courses or sessions related to operational and financial topics; and 3) familiarity and working knowledge on explaining policies and procedures.

2.2. Budget

As this is a USG-funded project, all federal procurement regulations will apply. The budget should include standard costs associated with the consultancy. The budget should be submitted in MS Excel or Word format with a budget summary tab and a detailed line-item breakdown. An accompanying budget narrative may be written in Excel or PDF/Word format that details the total number of working days.

2.3. Required Attachments

• Resume (or CV) of Consultant or Team Lead (if submitting as an organization);
• List of two references, including contact information for work performed for each reference within the last three years;
• A sample document or web link from your portfolio of past consultancies.

3. SCOPE OF WORK

The objective of the consultancy is to support with the digital design, development of online material, and publishing of an e-learning program focusing on the application of federal regulations for USG-funded projects.

Partners is seeking to develop a robust, culturally sensitive, inclusive, and modularized online training program focusing on the application of federal regulation, more specifically on 2 CFR 200 and 600. Based on its advanced experience in developing e-learning programs, the contractual will create the structure of an online training program and support documentation material and activities for it. The contractual will create the online program structure based on the technical material to be delivered by PartnersGlobal, which already has a basic e-learning structure.

The online program will be developed in English and consist of approximately 9-12 modules focused on different subparts of 2 CFR 200.

The scope and activities are detailed as follows:

• Design and develop e-learning modules and their lessons from existing material PartnersGlobal and thematic experts created.
• Convert existing PowerPoint presentations or other printed training materials to e-learning training modules.
• Create or modify existing graphic elements.
• Create interactive quizzes and knowledge checks based on e-learning objectives and material.
• Improve existing ones or develop instructional methods, strategies, learning materials, presentations, handouts, activities, exercises, assessments, and resources for learning objectives in a way that could be adapted into an online format.
• Present a document with suggestions for an online learning platform for disseminating the online program.
• Monitor and coordinate the process of uploading the information and documents on the selected online learning platform.

This training’s primary audience includes USG first-time grantees or those without extensive experience executing federal assistance, so it is crucial to present the information in a comprehensive way.

In addition to the activities mentioned above, the contractual party is expected to perform, within its capabilities, any complementary activity that guarantees the successful development of the online program. If you need further information, please contact the Partner Point of Contact.

3.1. Deliverables

• A written Online Course framework: providing a detailed guideline on the online course module structure, including but not limited to the order of topics, online learning objectives and timeframe, instructional methods, sequencing, and assessment methods to evaluate the participant engagement and success criteria, and the recommendation of a platform for the dissemination of the course based on Partners’ needs. Estimated delivery date: Two weeks after signing the contract.
• Online Course First Draft: The first draft of the online course framework includes details of content structure with their supporting documents (ppt, scripts, etc.), modules sequencing, online instructional methods, modules implementation timeframe, strategies to disseminate the information in a practical manner, and learning resources for training. Estimated delivery date: Four weeks after signing the contract.
• Final Curriculum Package: Final version of content structure for the online program, including details of sequencing with the supporting documentation, online instructional methods, strategies, and learning resources for training. This final package will also include any update or development of instructional materials, presentations, handouts, activities, exercises, case studies, assessments, and resources to support the online learning objectives. The delivery of the final version includes uploading the content into the selected platform. The final package will incorporate the Partners’ feedback shared in the first draft. Estimated delivery date: Six weeks after signing the contract.

The deliverables and periods could be adjusted during the negotiation process.

3.2. Logistical Support

PartnersGlobal will provide preparatory and logistical assistance to the selected contractual, including:

• Background information on the program, including desk review materials;
• Meetings, phone/email communication

PartnersGlobal will not cover any costs other than those provided by the applicant in the budget. Please refer to section 2.2.

3.3. Role and Competencies

The Contractor will coordinate regularly to define and agree on key deliverables with the PartnersGlobal staff. The Contractual is expected to have the following competencies:

Education

Minimum bachelor’s degree in education, finance, social sciences, law, economics or related fields. Master’s degree preferred.

Work Experience

• 5-10 years of experience developing capacity development programs and digital learning
• Demonstrated experience conducting evaluations focused on the USG policies and procedures.
• Experience in conducting training or managing USG funds preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Languages

• Strong writing skills (list of publications desirable);
• Strong research and communicational skills;
• High level of organization and ability to meet tight deadlines, accuracy and attention to detail when completing tasks;
• Innovative and proactive problem-solving skills with the ability to exercise integrity and sound judgment in complex situations.
• Fluency in spoken and written English required.

4. PROCUREMENT OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
4.1. Selection Process

All submissions will be evaluated by the PartnersGlobal selection panel based on the following criteria:

• Maximum possible score: 100 points
• Curriculum Planning/Ability to Achieve Objectives – 55 points

Applications should clearly articulate how the team or consultant will jointly plan and undertake the proposal. The plan should demonstrate the contractual’s technical understanding and logistical capacity.

• Technical Team Capacity and Record – 25 points

Applications should demonstrate at least five years of experience developing the framework or structure for online courses on diverse platforms and with a large number of participants. Applicants should also provide evidence that they have developed capacity development programs that focus on digital learning or knowledge management.

• Cost Effectiveness and Justification of Costs– 20 points

PartnersGlobal strongly encourages applicants to demonstrate cost-effectiveness in their application. If the applicant is a firm, applications should include budgets with reasonable overhead and administration costs and provide clear explanations and justifications for these costs to the work involved. If the applicant is an individual consultant, the daily rate of said individual needs to be supported by the level of experience and history of the daily rate for other comparable assignments. All budget items should be clearly explained and justified to demonstrate their necessity, appropriateness and link to the program objectives.

4.2. Negotiations

Upon completion of the selection process, PartnersGlobal may negotiate with the most competitive contractual to establish a final scope of services and an appropriate budget for such services. PartnersGlobal reserves the right to move straight to award and budget negotiations based on evaluation.

5. MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

• PartnersGlobal reserves the right to accept or reject, in whole or in part, any and all submissions in response to this request, waive irregularities, or take whatever action is deemed necessary in the organization’s best interests.
• All materials submitted regarding this RFP become the property of
• PartnersGlobal is not responsible for any costs incurred by Consultant prior to awarding a contract or its rights, title, or interest therein, or Consultant’s authority to execute a subcontract with any other person, company, or corporation with the prior written consent of the
• PartnersGlobal reserves the right to conduct reference checks with any client listed in the documents for further information and verification of the Consultant’s qualifications.
• PartnersGlobal complies with U.S. Sanctions and Embargo Laws and Regulations including Executive Order 13224 on Terrorist Financing, which effectively prohibit transactions with persons or entities that commit, threaten to commit, or support Any person or entity that participates in this bidding process, either as a prime or sub to the prime, must certify as part of the bid that he or it is not on the U.S. Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List and is eligible to participate. PartnersGlobal will disqualify any bid received from a person or entity that is found to be on the List or otherwise ineligible.