Expression of Interest (EoI) 

for 

IVA (Independent Verification Agent), SEE-Clean Cooking (Strengthening the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem for Clean Cooking) Bangladesh 

1. Background 

SNV is a not-for-profit international development organisation that makes a lasting difference in the  lives of people living in poverty by helping them raise incomes and access basic services. We focus  on only three sectors (Agri-food, Energy and Water) and have a long-term, local presence in around  24 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Driven by the Sustainable Development Goals, we  are dedicated to a society in which all people are free to pursue their own sustainable development,  and no one is left behind. This commitment to equity directs us to focus on gender and youth. For  more information, please refer to our website: www.snv.org. 

The IVA (Independent Verification Agent) is engaged to authenticate sales reports from companies  or local SMEs using a call centre. Their responsibilities include checking the SNV-provided buyer  information for e-cookers, confirming the purchase date, product brand, and location, gathering  user reviews of e-cookers, and submitting a verification report in accordance with templates  provided by SNV. 

The Strengthening the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem for Higher-Tier Clean Cooking (SEE-CC) as  financed by European Union (EU) and jointly implemented in Bangladesh by Practical Action and  SNV. aims to support the growth and sustainability of a commercial (high tier – 3 upwards) clean  cooking sector. In order to contribute to a conducive entrepreneurial ecosystem for the clean cooking  sector SEE-CC targets three areas of intervention:  

1. Pipeline development  
2. Access to finance, for innovation and for scale  
3. Strengthening an active and ambitious enabling environment  

Under access to finance component, the RBF is intended to provide payments to private sector  players upon the verified delivery of pre-defined results by recipients for selling 35000 e-cookers  following the Product list 1 table. The SEE-CC RBF is availed to 10-15 enterprises/companies/SMEs as a cash incentive aiming to advance the development of local markets currently underserved by  quality clean cooking products and services. The incentive is earned by enterprises on a per e cooking unit sold basis to end users in select peri-urban and rural markets in Bangladesh. Once  sales are verified and payment is released, enterprises receiving their RBF incentive payment are  free to use the funds in any manner they see fit for the continued development and scaling of their  business except for end price discounts/subsidies to consumers (to limit unsustainable market  distortions). 

The SEE-CC Fund in Bangladesh will operate from Q2.2023 through Q4.2025 and is intended to  provide financial based rewards to the private sector in response to evidenced growth and  strengthening of clean cooking supply chains.  

The IVA's responsibility in the SEE-CC project is to verify the customer databases that the businesses  or local SMEs have submitted by quarterly, depend upon agreement between IVA. This validation  aids in settling the RBF claim amount. Furthermore, it helps understand the demand and supply of  e-cookers in the project areas, namely Gazipur, Faridpur, and Jhenaidah. In the project, below  electric -cookers are considered the Electric – 

Product list 1

2. Brief description of assignment  

The IVAs objectives are: 

• To verify and validate the information provided by SNV through the call centre
• To ensure the data accuracy, quality and complete data authentication of provided  information. Such as: sellers’ information, date of purchase, product brand, and location of  sale, SNV provided template (Online/offline) 
• To collect customer feedback on e-cookers and compile a report on their satisfaction levels
• Endorse the data validation of SNV partners information by third party/IVA for maintaining  the data privacy, security, unbiased, and transparency. 

3. Scope of Work 

The IVA's scope of work will include the following: 

• Reviewing the sales report provided by the SNV and verifying the accuracy of the  information provided through phone calls. 
• Checking the customers information provided by SNV in approved templates, including  name, address, and contact details, to ensure it is complete and accurate. 
• Verifying the date of purchase, product brand, and location of sale through phone calls  relevant parties along with feedback to the customer product experience 
• Providing independent and objective findings of the customer that are summarized in a  report following SNV submitted templates. 
• Maintaining confidentiality of all information obtained during the verification process and be  provided on a case-by-case base to recipients upon agreement with SNV. 
• Maintain Data validation live documents to monitor by SNV team. 

4. Experience requirements 

• Must have minimum 2 to 3 years’ experience in relevant field. 
• Experience on communication and customer service orientation 
• Experience on market survey through call center 
• Experience on technology proficiency (software, hardware, other call center relevant  soft and hard skill) 
• Stress management, teamwork and collaboration 

5. Submission of Expression of Interest (EoI) 

Interested firms/organisations are invited to set out a summary of their organisation and relevant  experience in a short Expression of Interest (EoI) for the task. The EOI should include a summary  of the organisation’s legal documents, capacities and areas of expertise; a short description of  experience in data collection; list of renowned clients (Development partners/ INGOs, Government,  Companies) with at least one contact name and email; organisational structure and profile of key  personnel relevant to the task. 

6. Selection Criteria: 

7. General instruction 

Carefully read the instructions before completing the questionnaire and compiling your bid. Note  that submission of false information will lead to automatic disqualification.  

• Responses to this EOI must be in accordance with the requirements for information in the  document. 
• Applicants must fill all sections and provide all requested documents.
• As per the criteria listed above, in selection of Consultancy Firms, SNV will short-list only  those firms/ organizations that are able to demonstrate clearly their capacity and  competence to conduct the work by achieving more than 70 points in the EOI. Applicants  are encouraged to apply only if they can demonstrate clear expertise and past performance.  
• The application document must be signed by the authorized representative of the Firm/  Company and under the registered Company Seal / Stamp  
• Please note that by responding to the SNV Due Diligence Self-Declaration and signing on  behalf of your company, you accept that all answers provided are legally binding and should  the need arise, may be used as evidence in a court of law  
• Applicants should note that this call for EOI does not amount to any contractual obligation. 
• Applicants will meet all cost associated with preparation and submission of their applications 
• SNV has the right to split the work, if necessary  
• Any and all canvassing will lead to automatic disqualification of the applicant.
• The SNV Due Diligence Self-Declaration form and annexes which are NOT filled out  completely and submitted in the prescribed manner with all requested  attachments and certificates will not be considered.  

8. SNV Due Diligence Data Instructions  

• It is understood and agreed that the pre-qualification data on prospective bidders is to be  used by SNV in Bangladesh in determining, according to its sole judgment and discretion,  the qualifications of prospective bidders to perform in respect to tender category as  described. SNV follows the EU GDPR data protection guidelines and will maintain data in  secure electronic and hard copy for a period no longer than 7 years  
• Prospective bidders will not be considered qualified unless in the judgment of SNV in  Bangladesh they possess capability, experience, and qualified personnel to satisfactorily  executed the contract for services  
• Should a condition arise between the time the firm is pre-qualified to bid and the bid opening  date which in the opinion of SNV in Bangladesh could substantially change performance and  qualification of the bidder or his/her ability to perform, such as but not limited to  bankruptcy, change in ownership or new commitments, SNV in Bangladesh reserves the  right to reject the tender from such a bidder even though the bidder was initially pre-qualified through the EOI 

9. Submission REQUIREMENTS  

• Applications must be in ENGLISH.  

Electronic copy of the EoI along with the SNV Due Diligence Self-Declaration form and annexes,  duly signed should be submitted to bangladesh@snv.org with the subject line: “IVA  (Independent Verification Agent- SEE-Clean Cooking Bangladesh” no later than 5 p.m.  (local time) on 10 January 2024. Late bids will be disqualified. 

• Any submissions made after this date and time will be disqualified. The bidder is responsible for  obtaining an electronic receipt.
• For any query related to the EoI, please email to nfatema@snv.org and keep CC to bangladesh@snv.org.  

Click here- SNV Due Diligence Self-Declaration form and annexes