TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR) FOR CONSULTANT UNDER DIGITIZING FORTIFICATION QUALITY AND STRENGTHENING ENABLING ENVIRONMENTS (DFQS) PROJECT FOR TECHNOLOGY AND SYSTEM SUPPORT

Organization Background:

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is a Swiss-based foundation launched at the UN in 2002 to tackle the human suffering caused by malnutrition. Working with both governments and businesses, we aim to transform food systems so that they deliver more nutritious food for all people. We aim to make healthier food choices more desirable, more available, and more affordable. GAIN’s mission is to advance nutrition outcomes by improving the consumption of nutritious and safe food for all people, especially the most vulnerable to malnutrition.

Project Background:

The main objective of the project “Digitizing fortification quality and strengthening enabling environments (DFQS)” is the digitization of the food fortification process and the development digital QA/QC system for edible oil including capacity building of relevant industries and government stakeholders. The project will be establishing a digital, field-friendly solution that enables refineries to produce accurate and traceable data on food fortification quality focusing on the “Fortification of Edible Oil with Vitamin A” within factories and transmit the data digitally to government regulators, especially to Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institute (BSTI) under the Ministry of Industries (MoInd). The project is in line with the vision of “Digital Bangladesh”.

Currently, all 44 refineries and packers operating in Bangladesh have signed MoUs with MoInd and are fortifying edible oil with Vitamin A (soybean, palm and rice bran oil). In the current phase GAIN is closely working with the Ministry of Industries (MoInd) and other stakeholders for the formation of the National Fortification Unit (NFU), phasing out of drum oil, and web-based MIS. GAIN is supporting the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) and Ministry of Industries (MoInd) to monitor the quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) of fortified edible oil in Bangladesh.

There is an established system named FortifyMIS which is a Management Information System (MIS) for Food Fortification Compliance and Program Performance Monitoring and inspection. It seeks to efficiently and effectively enable automated data compilation of key indicators for accelerated reporting and decision-making at various program levels. This is done with the objective to reduce the resource burden and improve the performance of government inspectors, food producers, lab personnel, and program managers by assisting with data entry, interpretation, and usage through digital forms and dashboards with easy entry rules, drop-down selection options, and customizable data views. The FortifyMIS Bangladesh was launched on a trial basis in July 2018, when GAIN provided capacity-building training to BSTI Officials to operate the system. In December 2019, the FortifyMIS was officially handed over to the Respected Director General (DG) of BSTI, since when GAIN has been extending ongoing technical support to the BSTI officials operating the system. A support engineer at BSTI is required to provide hands-on support to the BSTI officials in the effective handling of the system, data entry, and troubleshooting.

Purpose of Consultancy:

The Consultant will be mainly responsible to manage and support the MIS system – FortifyMIS for the continuation and development of the project DFQS. As the development partner of the project GAIN, Bangladesh must continue all sorts of business and technical support to the FortifyMIS. S/he will maintain a working relationship with the BSTI, MoInd and other relevant consortium and technical partners who have higher engagement in the project. S/he will report to the Project Manager, Digitalization, Large Scale Food Fortification (LSFF) initiative of the GAIN Bangladesh Team.

Scope of Work:

  • IT and Technical support, monitoring, and evidence generation (60%)
    • Being based in BSTI, act as the key point of support on behalf of GAIN Bangladesh, to extend technical support on FortifyMIS to BSTI Officials, especially Field Officers, as and when necessary.
    • Provide hands-on troubleshooting support and training on FortifyMIS to solve issues in real-time (apart from exceptional circumstances when higher-level intervention is required)
    • Enhance customization of FortifyMIS Data grid, export page data, and make necessary corrections for database columns where it is still required.
    • Update the application and redesign the monitoring dashboard with guidance from the DQAQC project team members.
  • Communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management (20%)
    • Act as the key point of contact to solicit support from GAIN to BSTI, on matters pertaining to FortifyMIS.
    • Ensure proper communication and coordination with the stakeholders at BSTI, Ministry of Industries (MoInd), and other consortium partners to facilitate the requirement analysis of the digital quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) system in alignment with FortifyMIS.
  • Digital quality assurance and quality control (DQAQC) system development (20%)
    • Assist in the implementation activities of the DQAQC system and develop requirement analysis documents for the producers, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders.
    • Collaborate and coordinate with the project team regularly and effectively to ensure the proper integration of the FortifyMIS system with the digital QA/QC system.
    • Facilitate the DQAQC project team members to gather the full knowledge, information, and expertise of FortifyMIS and provide hands-on assistance to them to use and manage the system.
    • Assist in the regular coordination and collaboration of BSTI and MoInd personnel for requirement analysis, specifications, development, and testing of the DQAQC system during the pilot implementation and in the scale-up of the project.

Competencies:

  • Experienced in the relevant field.
  • A dynamic individual with good interpersonal and communication skills in multicultural, multi-lingual environments, and development fields especially in Information Technology (IT), Business Analysis, and IT support.
  • Proficient in using modern technology and analytical with the ability to effectively liaise and facilitate with government offices, and other agencies.
  • Experience in using data analysis software, tracking indicators, developing and/or strengthening MIS and quality reporting.
  • Ability to use prioritize, and work well independently under pressure to meet deadlines.
  • Self-motivated and solution-oriented and flexible, willing to travel as and when required.

Education:

  • B.Sc/ M.Sc/ Honours/ Masters in Computer Engineering/ Computer Science/ Information, Communication and Technology (ICT)/ Management in Information System (MIS) or equivalent in a relevant field.

Confidentiality:

All information provided as a part of the proposal/application evaluation process and the ToR is considered confidential. Proposal/Application discussions and all the information received in responses to this ToR will be held strictly confidential.

Timeline:

The ToR will be effective from December 1, 2022, till May 31, 2023, for Digitizing fortification quality and strengthening enabling environments (DFQS) project.

Consultancy Fee:

The monthly consultancy fee BDT 100,000 will be paid to the consultant. GAIN will deduct VAT and TAX as per Government rules and regulations if applicable.

Payment Schedule:

Monthly payment will be based on deliverables. The consultant shall submit an Invoice to GAIN. The invoice will give details of the amount and time worked and the work status report. GAIN will pay the fees in the invoice upon completion of the required task to GAIN’s satisfaction within 30 days of receipt of the invoice submitted in accordance with the TOR.

General Terms and Conditions:

  • Notice of non-binding solicitation: GAIN reserves the right to reject all bids/applications received in response to this solicitation and is in no way bound to accept any proposal.
  • Limitations about third parties: GAIN does not represent, warrant, or act as agent for any third party because of solicitation. This solicitation does not authorize any third party to bind or commit GAIN in anyway without GAIN’s express written consent.
  • Intellectual property: Subject to the terms of the contract to be concluded between GAIN and the applicant, the ownership of the intellectual property related to the scope of work of the contract, including technical information, know-how, processes, copyrights, models, drawings, and specifications developed by the applicant concerning the activities shall vest exclusively and entirely with GAIN.
  • Scope of change: Once the contract is signed, no increase in the liability of GAIN or the fees to be paid by GAIN for the services resulting from any change, modification, or interpretation of the documentation will be authorized or paid to the applicant, unless such change, modification or interpretation has received the express prior written approval of GAIN.
  • Zero-tolerance: GAIN follows the zero-tolerance policy for any form of Bribery, Fraud, Corruption, Terrorism, or Money Laundering. All applicants undertake to comply with all applicable laws to ensure that it does not engage in any kind of criminal activity including but not limited to bribery, fraud, corruption, terrorism, money laundering, and maintaining ethical business practices as well as not to commit any Prohibited Acts.
  • Indemnity/Release of Liability: All liabilities arising from or relating to the work associated with this project shall be the responsibility of the respective applicant and no liability of any nature shall be passed to GAIN.
  • Entitlement: Respective applicant shall safeguard the interest of GAIN on its confidential information under the laws of the Government of Bangladesh. The organization will not use any documents or output from this project for any other projects without written approval from GAIN. This clause shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the expiry or termination of the assignment.
  • Non-Transferability: Respective applicant should not assign sub-contract, delegate, or otherwise transfer or dispose of any of its rights or obligation under this contract.

Interested candidate please send your EOI to GAIN.Bangladesh@gainhealth.org

Closing Date: 09 November 2022