The Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) is seeking to retain the services of a Consultant to provide the professional and consulting services related to related to the management and implementation of the National Languages Equality Advancement Project (NLEAP) in Sri Lanka.

This project aims to reduce poverty and improve economic and social equality of Tamil and Sinhala speaking women and men throughout Sri Lanka by strengthening the implementation of the Sri Lankan Official Languages Policy and enhancing acceptance by Sri Lankan men and women of the cultural diversity and bilingual nature of their country.

Working with government and civil society organizations, the project will: 1) strengthen gender-sensitive bilingual communication skills of public servants; improve the capacity of key ministries (national and provincial) to deliver public services in both official languages (Sinhala and Tamil), especially in bilingual communities; increase the effectiveness of the Official Languages Commission; increase awareness of language diversity and language rights; and 2) increase the ability of citizens to communicate in the official languages.

The purpose of this notice is to invite formal costed proposals from eligible Consultants. On the basis of the formal proposals, one Consultant will be invited to negotiate a contract for the provision of services. DFATD reserves the right to refuse any or all proposals received. The amount allocated to this contract will not exceed ten million eight hundred fifty thousand Canadian dollars ($10,850,000 CAD) excluding applicable taxes. The anticipated contract duration is four-and-a-half (4.5) years.

WORKING LANGUAGE OF THE PROJECT

Since the recipient country requests communications with DFATD in English the working language for this project is English.

DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

The Consultant will be the overall manager, administrator and coordinator, bringing together the various resources required to execute the Project. The Consultant will be responsible for carrying out activities required for the financial and operational administration of the Project.

The Consultant will (not limited to):

• Establish and manage a Project office in Colombo, Sri Lanka
• Provide the services of a variety of technical experts to deliver a full range of appropriate managerial and capacity building activities required to reach project results.;
• Liaise and share knowledge with local and national stakeholders and further donor coordination efforts and harmonization;
• Integrate gender equality, governance and environment into all aspects of the Project as cross-cutting issues;
• Develop and manage a Locally Administered Fund;
• Complete the Performance Measurement Framework (PMF)
• Monitor the Project using the approved PMF; and
• Produce various reports to DFATD and act as the secretariat for Project committees.

CONSULTANT PROFILE

To meet the requirement of the assignment, DFATD is seeking to retain the services of a Consultant with a set of demonstrated and verifiable capabilities. DFATD is seeking a Consultant with experience in managing and implementing international development projects of similar scope and complexity.

Specific requirements are described under Section 5. Evaluation criteria of the RFP.

INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS

Proposals should be presented following the instructions provided in the Request for Proposal document to be obtained through the GETS on the Internet (https://buyandsell.gc.ca/). Please note, DFATD does not send out RFPs directly to interested Consultants.

In order to be considered, proposals must be completed and received no later than 14:00 hrs, Eastern Standard Time (EST), on closing date, at the following address:

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development

Distribution and Mail Services – AAG

Lester B. Pearson Building

125 Sussex Drive

Ottawa, Ontario

Canada

K1A 0G2

Attention: Bid Receiving Unit - SGD

PROPOSALS SUBMITTED VIA FACSIMILE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

INQUIRIES

Questions relating to this notice must be directed IN WRITING to:

Jean-François Grandmaître, Eng., MAP
Team Leader, Contracting Services
Development Complex Procurement Services- (SGCC)

Grants and Contributions Management Bureau (SGD)

Corporate Planning, Finance and Information Technology

jean-francois.grandmaitre@international.gc.ca
Facsimile : 819-953-8606