For: Consultancy in higher education leadership development in Myanmar.

Transcription

1 Request for Proposal (RFP) For: Consultancy in higher education leadership development in Myanmar. Date: deadline 7 September 2015 (midday, UK time) 1 Overview of the British Council The British Council is the United Kingdom s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. Its purpose is to build engagement and trust for the UK through the exchange of knowledge and ideas between people worldwide. It seeks to achieve its aims by working in education, science, governance, English and the arts. In , its programmes reached a total audience of 550 million people worldwide and we engaged directly with 10.8 million. The British Council was established in 1934 and incorporated by Royal Charter in It is registered as a charity in England and Wales (charity no ) and Scotland (charity no. SCO37733). It is also an executive non-departmental public body, with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as its sponsoring department. Its primary charitable objects are set out in the Charter and are stated to be:- Promote cultural relationships and the understanding of different cultures between people and peoples of the United Kingdom and other countries; Promote a wider knowledge of the United Kingdom; Develop a wider knowledge of the English language; encourage cultural, scientific, technological and other educational co-operation between the United Kingdom and other countries; Otherwise promote the advancement of education. In 2012 to 2013, the British Council had a total turnover of 781 million. Its income included a grantaid of 171 million from the UK government, 490 million from fees and income from services such as English teaching, exams administration and the management of client-funded contracts, and funding from a wide range of public and private sector partners. The British Council works in more than 110 countries around the world and employs over 7000 staff worldwide. It has its headquarters in the UK, with offices in London, Manchester, Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh. Further information can be found at 1

2 2 Introduction and background The higher education sector in Myanmar is poised on the brink of significant reform. There is a critical need to build the capacity of university leaders and senior managers in higher education institutions to respond to these reforms and lead change in their institutions. This consultancy will provide vital information and insight into the needs of higher education leadership in Myanmar, which will feed into the design and development of a future leadership training programme in cooperation with the UK higher education sector. Background to reforms in higher education in Myanmar Since the official dissolution of the ruling military junta in 2011, the government of Myanmar has launched an extensive programme of liberalisation and democratisation. One of the government s important initiatives towards this democratisation is the launch of a Comprehensive Review of the Education Sector in Myanmar (CESR), including higher education. The purpose is to deepen socioeconomic reform and further development of in-country human resources. The CESR is led by the Ministry of Education in August 2012 together with international implementing partners and education related ministries and is being implemented in three phases: Phase 1 Rapid Assessment, Phase 2 Indepth Analysis and Phase 3 Development of a costed plan, now being rebranded as the National Education Sector Plan. The international implementation partners who sit on the CESR working group consist of key international donors, UN and development agencies and the British Council. CESR is currently embarking on its third phase with the plan currently being in a draft form laying out 5 year across-the- board education plan for Myanmar from The reports of the first two phases can be found on official CESR website at The National Education Law was passed by Parliament in June The law, which includes higher education as a sub-sector, calls for the current highly centralised public universities to become autonomous each operating under their own charters. Currently there are 168 universities under the jurisdiction of 13 ministries. The law has a 5 year transition period which will involve these universities falling under Ministry of Education to begin with and then being given full autonomy once the universities have built full capacity. Both the CESR and the plan for higher education reflected within the National Education Law, call for transformational changes in universities in Myanmar across multiple dimensions, moving from a highly centralised system to one based on institutional autonomy. This includes (but is not limited to) aspects such as developing university charters and missions, human resource management and restructuring, research and teaching, quality assurance, student admissions, internationalisation and funding. This consultancy has three main activities: 1. to develop and deliver an initial needs analysis/training workshop in Myanmar with key higher education leaders to identify priority needs in university leadership development 2. to develop an appropriate data collection tool and to conduct a survey with a wider set of senior university leaders (e.g., Rectors, Pro-Rectors, Department Heads) in order to add to the identification of leadership development needs obtained in to produce an analytical report, which will be used by the British Council to inform the design and development of a leadership capacity building programme. The outputs of the consultancy are described in more detail in section 5. 2

3 3 Conditions and contractual requirements The Contracting Authority is the British Council, which includes any subsidiary companies and other organisations that control or are controlled by the British Council from time to time. The appointed supplier will be expected to travel to Myanmar for four days between October 2015 in the delivery of the services. The contract awarded will be for a number of days within a timeframe of three months, with an option for an extension for up to an additional one month under the same terms and conditions. The appointed supplier will only process personal data accessed in performance of the services in accordance with the British Council s instructions and will not use such data for any other purpose. The contracted supplier will undertake to process any personal data on the British Council s behalf in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 and ensure appropriate and legislative consent is acquired where necessary. The British Council is committed to equality and to positive action to promote this. It believes that an Equal Opportunities Policy helps to ensure that there is no unjustified discrimination in the recruitment, retention, training and development of staff on the basis of gender including transgender, marital status, sexual identify, region and belief, political opinion, race, work pattern, age, disability or HIV/AIDS status, socio-economic background, spent convictions, trade union activity or membership, on the basis of having or not having dependents, or any other relevant grounds. The appointed supplier must agree to operate in accordance with these principles while undertaking work at or on behalf of the British Council. The British Council is committed to open government and to meeting its legal responsibilities under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act ). Accordingly, all information submitted to a public authority may need to be disclosed by the public authority in response to a request under the Act. The British Council may also decide to include certain information in the publication scheme, which the British Council maintains under the Act. If suppliers consider that any of the information included in their completed documentation is commercially sensitive, it should identify it and explain (in broad terms) what harm may result from disclosure if a request is received, and the time period applicable to that sensitivity. The suppliers should be aware that, even where they have indicated that information is commercially sensitive, the British Council might be required to disclose it under the Act if a request is received. The suppliers should also note that the receipt of any material marked confidential or equivalent by the British Council should not be taken to mean that the British Council accepts any duty of confidence by virtue of that marking. The supplier will comply with all applicable legislation and codes of practice, including, where applicable, all legislation and statutory guidance relevant to the safeguarding and protection of children and vulnerable adults and with the British Council s Child Protection Policy; in addition the supplier will ensure that where it engages any other party to supply any of the services under this agreement that that party will also comply with the same requirements as if they were a party to this agreement. All relevant policies that suppliers are expected to adhere to can be found on the British Council website The list of policies includes (but it is not limited to): - Anti-Fraud and Corruption - Child Protection Policy - Equal Opportunities Policy - Fair Trading - Health and Safety Policy - Environmental Policy 3

4 - Records Management - Privacy Mandatory due diligence information will form part of your response to this RFP. You are required to complete Annex 1 (Supplier Appraisal) as part of your response. The British Council s contracting and commercial approach in respect of the required services is set out at Annex 2: Draft Contract. By submitting a tender, you are agreeing to be bound by the terms of this RFP and the Contract without further negotiation or amendment. If the terms of the Contract render the proposals in your tender unworkable, you should submit a clarification in accordance with Section 8 of this RFP (Clarification Questions) 1st September and the British Council will consider whether any amendment to the Contract is required. Any amendments shall be published via by 4th September and shall apply to all tenderers. Any amendments which are proposed but not approved by the British Council through this process will not be acceptable and may be construed as a rejection of the terms leading to the disqualification of the tender. This document does not constitute an offer to provide goods and/or services to the British Council. All costs incurred in the preparation of the proposal are the supplier s responsibility. The British Council reserves the right to request reference information. The British Council is not obliged to award a contract for these services and reserves the right to withdraw from the procurement process at any stage. 4 Payment and Invoicing The Council will pay correctly addressed and undisputed invoices within 30 days. The essential information on an invoice for the Council is: A description of the services supplied. The Council reference number/purchase Order number. Addressed to Accounts Payable. The costs including VAT (if applicable) and any other charges 5 Scope of Work/Specification/Outputs The purpose of this consultancy is to support the higher education sector reforms in Myanmar by undertaking a needs analysis of leadership training required by senior leaders in institutions in Myanmar. The findings of the needs analysis will be used to design and develop, in consultation with key stakeholders, a longer term leadership programme for higher education leaders through UK- Myanmar cooperation. The broad aim of the consultancy will be to support British Council Myanmar: To build cultural relations between the UK and Myanmar, through sharing expertise and experience in higher education leadership To explore potential for further UK-Myanmar educational cooperation in support of higher education leadership development and capacity building Activities and Approaches: In performing this assignment, the consultant(s) shall conduct the following activities and minimum approaches: 4

5 Preparation: Desk research to become fully conversant with the background and current landscape of Higher Education sector in Myanmar particularly relating to the need for the leadership skills in driving Myanmar HEIs towards autonomy. Submission of a brief work plan, including key activities and tools in carrying out/delivering the project outputs, to be agreed with British Council staff in Myanmar to enable them to arrange activities appropriately and on time; Development of the programme for two day initial needs analysis/training workshop to be delivered in Myanmar with selected higher education leaders. Initial preparation for the consultation meetings in Myanmar with officials and agencies in higher education. This to include possible lines of questioning, areas for discussion etc. NB. British Council anticipates that these will be further informed by the findings of the workshop Initial preparation for the design of a tool and draft set of questions to collect data and conduct a needs analysis from a wide range of senior higher education leaders (rectors, pro-rectors and senior administrators) in universities across the country. The aim is to identify specific needs and priorities for university leadership training. We anticipate this will be done as a questionnaire. During the preparation phase, British Council Myanmar, where possible, will provide relevant information on the Comprehensive Education Sector Review, previous workshops and consultancies on higher education in Myanmar and draft government plans for higher education (the National Education Sector Plan, sub sector Higher Education) Myanmar Visit: 4 working days and two days of travel Deliver a two-day initial needs analysis/training workshop in Myanmar with selected higher education leaders. Consultation meetings with appropriate officials and agencies in higher education in Myanmar to discuss findings and to develop the needs analysis. This will include identifying their priorities and perspectives. Debrief meeting with British Council colleagues to discuss progress to date, planning for the needs analysis and emerging key priorities. Follow up needs analysis: Finalise a data collection tool and refine questionnaires where necessary after findings from the two-day workshop and consultation meetings with university officials to collect data and conduct a needs analysis from a wide range of senior higher education leaders (rectors, pro-rectors and senior administrators) in universities across the country. This should identify specific needs and priorities for university leadership training. The British Council in Yangon will assist in providing advice of the approach, the distribution, and if required, the translation, of the questionnaire. Report and recommendations: Production of a draft needs analysis report. This will include findings and observations from the workshop and the consultation meetings, as well as analysis of the data collected from the survey of the wider set of senior university leaders. The report should identify training needs and priorities for higher education leaders in Myanmar, and provide recommendations for the design and development of a future, longer-term leadership training programme (possibly over two years, although this will depend on the findings of the needs analysis) involving the UK higher education sector, including options for models and approaches relevant and appropriate to Myanmar s context. In addition, the report should include: 5

6 o o o An executive summary: specifically designed to be shared by the British Council with key stakeholder in Myanmar and the UK, a clear two page summary bringing out the major findings and recommendations from the report. Annexes: including definitions, data sources, and other necessary documents to support the findings of the study. Power point presentation to be used to address and inform the UK sector on Myanmar s needs in leadership in higher education at a meeting to be held in the UK early in Presentation of the draft report to the British Council Myanmar and other relevant stakeholders. Revision of the report based on the recommendations from the initial output presentation, and Finalisation and submission of the final report and presentation. The consultant must possess the following: Knowledge of, and a proven track record in, leadership development in higher education and curriculum development of leadership programmes. Experience of conducting similar analyses in other countries, particularly in those with similar development challenges and contexts; Substantial and up-to-date knowledge of the higher education sector globally, regionally (ASEAN) and in the UK; Availability and willingness to travel in Myanmar in October 2015; and with at least six months validity remaining on their passport; Ability to submit the final report within two months following the visit. 6 Timescales Our proposed timeline takes into account the planned national elections in Myanmar scheduled for 8 November It is likely that senior stakeholders will have more availability before the election than in the weeks after it. Activity Date RFP Released 4 August 2015 Clarification / Questions from suppliers (includes T&Cs queries) 1 September 2015 Midday UK time Clarification Responses from the British Council (includes T&Cs responses) 4 September 2015 RFP Return Date 7 September 2015 Midday UK time Evaluation and selection of consultant 9 September 2015 Confirmation of contract for selected consultant 14 September 2015 Initial briefing teleconference w/c 14 September 2015 Visit to Myanmar to conduct an initial needs analysis/workshop, plus meetings mid October 2015 with key stakeholders (4 days plus 2 days travel) Design and conduct the questionnaire needs analysis October - November 2015 Submission of final report 11 December 2015 Note: Timescales are estimated and may be subject to change. 6

7 7 Instructions for Responding 1) Diligence and detailed Response: Please complete Annex 1 (Supplier Appraisal and Supplier Response) in order to demonstrate your capability to meet the requirement and submit it to myatlay.tint@mm.britishcouncil.org no later than 7 September 2015, Midday UK time. In addition, the following key points must be considered when responding to this RFP: Please ensure that you send your submission in good time to prevent issues with technology - late submissions may not be considered. Do not submit any additional documentation with your RFP response except where specifically requested. Supporting evidence (PDF, JPG, PPT, Word and Excel formats only - other formats should not be used) can be provided to substantiate your response please ensure that all attachments/supporting evidence is clearly labelled with the appropriate question number. It is not acceptable to submit a generic policy in answer to a question. If you submit a generic policy you must indicate the page and paragraph reference to the appropriate content. Where supporting evidence is requested as 'or equivalent' - it is the Tenderers responsibility to prove the relevant equivalence. Completion and submission of your response does not guarantee award of any contract from the British Council. Please ensure that your responses are concise, unambiguous, and directly address the requirement stated or question posed. 8 Clarification Questions Any questions should be submitted via to myatlay.tint@mm.britishcouncil.org no later than 1 September 2015 Midday UK time. 9 Evaluation Criteria Supplier responses will be assessed using the following criteria and weightings. A score will be given for each part of the information submitted that is to be assessed. The qualitative aspects of your response will be evaluated entirely on your response submitted. Criteria Weighting Section 1 Mandatory and Discretionary Rejection Section 2 Knowledge, experience and understanding of leadership in higher education, including experience of working in relevant contexts Section 3 Expertise in conducting needs analysis, information analysis, report writing and action planning Section 4 Response to the brief including detailed approached in carrying out the proposal Section 5 - Understanding of British Council aims and objectives in Higher Education work in East Asia or in the region Pass/Fail Section 6 - Costing 20% 25% 20% 25% 10% 7

8 The responses under each sub category will be scored based on the following matrix: Points 10 Interpretation Excellent - A comprehensive and strong answer indicating the provider is fully capable and experienced to deliver the required outcomes. A detailed response that directly responds to all requirements with no ambiguity and relevant examples provided. 7 Good - There are slight concerns that the organisation will not be able to achieve all the outcomes required and response lacked details of relevant experience. A less detailed response that broadly responds to the requirement with some ambiguity and few relevant examples provided. 5 Adequate - There are concerns that the organisation will not be able to achieve the outcomes required and response significantly lacks details of relevant experience. A less detailed response that broadly responds to the requirement with some ambiguity and no/irrelevant examples provided. 3 Poor Response/Limited Evidence - There are serious indications that the organisation will not be able to achieve the outcomes required and has not provided appropriate evidence of experience to successfully deliver the outcomes required. A response that is not entirely relevant to the requirement, with ambiguity and lacking specific detail. 0 Unacceptable - The answer is non-compliant and/or no relevant information has been received to demonstrate the organisation can achieve the required outcomes. No response or a response that is entirely irrelevant. Please note that all your responses to the tender requirements and the pricing schedule will be incorporated into a contractual document. The successful tender will be the tender with the highest score awarded at the end of the evaluation process outlined in this RFP. 8