Supplemental Questions and Answers: EVALUATION SERVICES for the programme GETTING READY FOR SCHOOL: A CHILD TO CHILD
APPROACH.
We have received the following questions from prospective bidders. In order to ensure that the information is equally available to all prospective bidders, we are posting our responses on the web.
The following answers respond to all questions received as of October 18, 2007
Question 1: Is there a page limit for proposal?
Answer 1: There is no page limit for the proposal. It is suggested that the sections of the technical proposal addressing : proposed methodology, expanding on the outline provided in the RFP, including study questions, data collection and analysis, and reporting not exceed 30 pages.
Question 2: Is there an upper limit for budget?
Answer 2: The proposals will be scored primarily on their technical merit (team profile, methodology, ethics of conducting research and sample reports). If proposed budgets of the finalists exceed stipulated funds, a budget negotiation process will be undertaken. In this case, a formal invitation to submit a best and final offer will be made to the finalists.
Question 3. Could bidders have access to sample funded proposals?
Answer 3: UNICEF is reluctant to posted funded proposals as they might limit the innovativeness and creativity of bidders and bias the proposed applications. Insofar as the proposals remain within the structure of the RFP they will be considered. Also, if there is incomplete information in the proposal for which further information or clarification is required, the bidders will get an opportunity to respond to questions before final decisions are made.
Question 4: Is there a daily accepted rate for UNICEF consultants?
Answer 4: Yes, please see the policy that is attached separately. Please note that persons hired within institutional contracts—as would be the case here if the award goes to a consulting firm or university unit—are not required to stay within that range. However, the further from the suggested range, the more likely that the bid will be non-competitive.
Note that the negotiating range is given with respect to salary levels (P-1, P-2). Based on past experience, we would expect that the lead person would fall within the P-5 range, with others at P-4 or lower. There may be exceptions: for example, short term specialist expertise such as for sampling may equal or exceed the rate of the lead person; in short, market forces will be influential too.