ABOUT IREX 

IREX is a global development nonprofit organization dedicated to building a more just, prosperous, and inclusive world by empowering youth. We strive for a more just, prosperous, and inclusive world—where individuals reach their full potential, governments serve their people, and communities thrive. With a projected annual portfolio of more than $100 million and more than 600 staff worldwide, we work with partners in more than 100 countries in four areas essential to progress: cultivating leaders, empowering youth, strengthening institutions, and increasing access to quality education and information.  

BACKGROUND AND GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT FORSAH PROGRAM 

Forsah TVET supports technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions to better prepare Palestinians graduates for the labor market, and to productively engage in local and regional economies. By enhancing TVET institution’s capacity to respond to the needs of the private sector, creating partnerships between TVET institutions, private sector firms, and youth in specific sectors, and increasing enrollment in TVET program, Forsah TVET will help supply skilled TVET graduates and create an enabling environment for sustainable supply-demand associations and meaningful youth participation.    

Through partnership with non-governmental Palestinian TVET institutions, Forsah TVET will collaboratively develop new or upgraded training programs. These programs will support Palestinian career paths and link students to employment opportunities, or help them start their own businesses, in increasingly in-demand sectors. Through partnerships, Forsah TVET supports TVET institutions’ responsiveness to the needs of the private sector and the effects of climate change; creates new partnerships between the TVET institutions and the private sector; and increases the number of skilled graduates. In addition, Forsah TVET will support enhanced career development services and mentorships for students. Forsah TVET activities will work with youth to improve awareness of TVET programs and increase student enrollment in partner institutions. 

Through Forsah TVET, partner TVET institutions across the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem will work collaboratively to enhance the quality, relevance, and access of their training programs, building their capacity to respond to the needs of the private sector and build partnerships with private sector firms and youth in specific sectors. Through Forsah TVET, partner TVET institutions will have improved performance, accessible green facilities, and well-established relationships with private sector actors, enabling them to sustainably respond to and predict workforce demand and the effects of climate change. 

To focus Forsah TVET activities on developing new or enhanced training programs in alignment with market needs, Fosah TVET conducted “Shared Value Meetings” and identified five in-demand TVET programs/courses to be co-developed during 2024 at five partner TVET institutions in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Forsah TVET will support the partner TVET institutions to implement required infrastructure renovation to accommodate the newly developed TVET programs and equip the program workshops, labs, and classrooms with the needed equipment and tools.   

Forsah TVET is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by IREX in partnership with DAI,  

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VT), Development Gateway (DG), Business Women Forum Palestine (BWF), Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), An-Najah, An-Najah Company for Consultancy and Technical Studies (AnNajah). The contents of this announcement are the responsibility of IREX and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.    

WORK SCOPE 

Under the program Intermediate Result 1 (TVETs Quality Improvement), IREX is seeking consultants that will work with Forsah TVET and the 5 partner TVET institutions, sectors industry experts, curriculum development consultant in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, to identify the needed equipment and tools and its technical specifications for TVET workshops and laboratories and to prepare the BoQ according to IREX/ USAID procurement guidelines. The consultants also need to link the identified equipment installations with the infrastructure layout and engineering designs for the renovation works in the workshops and labs at the TVET institutions. 

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THE WORKS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES AND TASKS:     

1. Visiting the partner TVET/TVETs institution and check the identified premises to be used for each specialization, list and assess the conditions of any existing equipment.  

2. Developing the list of required equipment and tools and preparing the bill of quantities of the required equipment, tools, and row materials for the specific specialization/s  

3. Preparing the technical specifications of the identifies required equipment, tools, and raw materials.  

4. Sketch the recommended special layout for placing the equipment in the location, including electrical and civil engineering infrastructure requirements that the engineering firm will take into consideration in the renovation works. 

5. Check and revise the specifications, accordingly, ensuring clarity and neutrality. Specifications must be in English and where necessary Arabic clarifications might be added. The identified equipment and its specification should be based on the modern industry requirements and advancement, including safety features to ensure safety of instructors and students, and consultation with the private sector in the specific industry. 

6. Advising in division of lots for tendering 

7. Providing cost estimate in ILS (excluding vat) based on market prices Proposing equipment maintenance plans, identify required installation, user training, warranty and equipment maintenance and repair services that must be included in the estimated costs. 

8. Identifying the required updates for the equipment/machines, including software, spare parts, etc. 

9. Identify a plan for measures and requirements for any safety personal protective equipment (PPE) for students and trainers, including safety signs and protection equipment for the training. 

10. Identify any environmental considerations and mitigation measures while preparing the specifications of the equipment and tools. 

11. Upon the request of Forsah TVET, support in the procurement department by 

 - Answering possible questions from bidders during the bidding process. 

- Participate in evaluating the technical offers received in coordination with Forsah TVET staff.  

- Support the targeted institutions in receiving the equipment based on the requested specifications.  

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS 

The consultant is expected to have the following key qualifications and experience:  

• A university degree in engineering, mechanics, technology, or relevant disciplines (as a requirement).  

• at least 7 years of experience in TVET and education with experience in handling and/or procuring equipment, tools, and machines used in at least one of the five stated TVET training programs. 

• Field experience in translation of curriculum and occupational standards to equipment requirements and tools is an asset. 

• Specific and direct experience in procuring educational/TVET equipment will be considered as an asset. 

• Previous experience with TVET stakeholders and actors, including private sector and private sector umbrella organizations (PSUOs).  

• Knowledge of the safety, health and environmental considerations and measures related to training and equipment.  

• Ability to communicate and write reports in English.  

ASSIGNMENT RESPONSIBILITY 

Building on the identified TVET training courses through the “Shared Value Meetings” in the five TVET partner institutions, each consultant is expected to support one of the selected five partner TVET institutions in defining the needed training equipment and tools and its specifications for the following training program: 

Electric and hybrid vehicle body repair and painting-Hisham Hijjawi College, Nablus 

* More technical information will be provided upon the selection of the consultant  

ASSIGNMENT TIMELINE: 

This assignment is envisioned to be conducted over a period of 6 months with an approximate start date of March 10th, 2024, until August 30th, 2024. The estimated needed level of effort shall be determined by the applicant in coordination with Forsah TVET staff according to their submitted proposal. Taking into consideration that: tasks from 1 to 4 must be delivered in 3 weeks from the starting date, tasks from 5 to 10 must be submitted in 4 weeks from the starting date and task 11 will be delivered according to the program implementation plan ending by August 2024.   

SUPERVISION  

The Forsah TVET Performance Improvement Manager will monitor the consultant’s work progress and will assess implementation of the assignment and submission/completion of all deliverables. The consultant will provide periodic verbal and written progress reports and recommendations.   

EVALUATION CRITERIA  

• Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria: 

• Technical proposal: 60%  

• Financial proposal 40% 

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION 

Interested applicants must submit the following documents: 

• Document 1: Technical Proposal (maximum of 3 pages) including a description of the approach, envisioned work plan toward the deliverables, and anticipated challenges.  

• Document 2: CV  

• Document 3: Relevant Past Experience (1 page)  

• Document 4: Financial proposal including estimated Level of Effort, daily rate, and total amount in USD excluding VAT, the consultant must provide a valid deduct of source certificate, or 10% will be deducted from the total amount. Please send the above in one email to [email protected] by CoB March 15th, 2024. The assignment title should be placed in the email subject.