Status: CLOSED
Deadline of submission: 16 August 2024, 23:59 Jakarta time (GMT+7)
DESCRIPTION:
The goal of this study is to hold the potential to bring about significant and lasting positive changes toward financial health in ASEAN. By providing a holistic view of financial inclusion challenges, the long-term impact goals of the proposed study are to work towards a series of targeted, impactful outcomes:
- Economic Upliftment: By dismantling barriers to financial access, the study can empower individuals and households to unlock new economic opportunities. This can lead to increased income and financial stability, contributing to long-term economic prosperity.
- Job Creation: As more people gain access to financial services, entrepreneurial endeavours can flourish, resulting in job This ripple effect can sustainably boost employment opportunities within the community.
- Financial Literacy: The study can facilitate the spread of financial knowledge, equipping individuals with the skills to make informed, lifelong financial decisions. Improved financial literacy ensures long-term financial security and resilience.
- Gender Equity: Identifying and addressing gender disparities in financial inclusion will also be an outcome of the proposed study. This can create enduring benefits by empowering women economically, thereby promoting long-term gender equality and supporting the acceleration of gender mainstreaming in the work of ASEAN across the various ASEAN Community pillars10 as well as the ASEAN Gender Mainstreaming Strategic Framework (AGMSF).
- Community Progress: A financially inclusive community is one which is also sensitive to the need for gender equality, disability and social The study will examine the needs of different segments of the community, and suggest ways to address these needs, thereby leading to enhancement of the community’s well-being.
- Resilience: Improved financial inclusion enhances the community’s resilience to economic shocks and unexpected crises. This enduring financial stability ensures that residents are better equipped to overcome challenges without falling into a cycle of poverty.
- Informed Decision Making: The study’s findings can provide invaluable data and insights, guiding policymakers and financial institutions to develop tailored financial products that address the community’s specific long-term needs.
For more details, please refer to this project’s Terms of Reference: TOR_Financial Inclusion Study
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
Bid Tenderers shall send their Technical Proposal and Financial Proposal via two separate emails, attaching the respective cover letters and materials specified in Section VIII above and other supporting documents to tender@aus4aseanfutures.org, aus4aseanfutures@asean.org no later than 16 August 2024 at 23:59 Jakarta time (GMT +7). Large documents (>5MB) can be submitted in parts through several emails. Late submissions will be disqualified.
Tenderers shall use the following email subjects when separately submitting their technical and financial proposals:
⟩ Technical Proposal_”Project Shorten Name”_Name of Vendor
⟩ Financial Proposal_”Project Shorten Name”_Name of Vendor
For Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), please visit https://www.aus4aseanfutures.org/tender-frequently-asked-question/.
Any queries on the TOR should be sent by email to query@aus4aseanfutures.org before 14 August 2024. Please use the subject line: ” Query – Financial Inclusion Impact Outcomes in Southeast Asia Study”.
Response to received queries will be published at Aus4ASEAN Futures’ website. No individual responses or replies will be provided for queries. Please check the page regularly for updates.
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RESPONSES TO QUERIES
1.We understand that this study will build on previous studies, and identify any gaps in both quantitative and qualitative data. (Posted on 1 August 2024)
1.1 In order to fill information/data gaps, we anticipate accessing publicly available data as well as undertaking surveys. Please advise if our financial offer should quote professional fees and survey costs separately?
Kindly include the professional fees and survey costs into the financial proposal.
1.2 Where some required data are not publicly available, will ASEC provide us with support to access the data from national statistics offices for example?
ASEC can facilitate the coordination between the consultant and AMS should there be a need for data. Please note, however, that the AMS has the prerogative to provide such data especially for those that are not publicly available.
2. The TOR states “(Virtual) National Consultation with each of the ASEAN Member States.” Should all consultations be held virtually? (Posted on 1 August 2024)
Yes, National Consultation with each of the ASEAN Member States are to be done virtually.
3. For two regional workshops to be organized, please clarify if these are physical workshops and if so, could you advise on the location, duration, expected number of attendees? And please confirm that the financial offer should include the costs of all expenses incurred including venue, travel, transportation, accommodation and per diems. (Posted on 1 August 2024)
Two regional workshops to be organized physically in 2025 and 2026. The location is within ASEAN region, duration is 2 days, and 30 pax are expected to attend the workshop. The financial offer should not include the above expenses.
4. Could you consider extension to the RFP submission deadline by 2 weeks? (Posted on 5 August 2024)
No extension will be provided.
5. We understand that the assignment foresees a total of 72 person working weeks. However, the “Indicative Person Working Weeks” in the Planned Activities Table adds up to 209 weeks. Please clarify if this is an error. And if so, kindly provide an updated number of weeks envisaged for each activity. (Posted on 5 August 2024)
Kindly refer to page 10 where we expect that Indicative Person working weeks may be overlapping with other activities.
6. The Planned Activities Table does not include “Conduct 2nd Regional Workshop”. Please clarify, if this is an omission and if we should plan for 1 person week similar to the 1st Regional Workshop? (Posted on 5 August 2024)
Yes also include 2nd Regional Workshop.
7. We noted that the “Qualitative interviews….” in Q2 2025 (28 weeks) seems to be repeated in the “Qualitative interviews…” in Q1 2026 (28 weeks). Can we clarify if there is a need to conduct qualitative and quantitative surveys twice – before and after the first Regional Workshops? (Posted on 5 August 2024)
As indicated in the TOR, the qualitative surveys will cover both demand-side and supply-side perspectives. These tow qualitative interviews will allow coverage for both.
8. From the Planned Activities Table, we noted that no activities are foreseen in Q4 2025. Please confirm that the approval of Interim Report would take place during this time and Contractor cannot resume work before Q1 2026? (Posted on 5 August 2024)
The interim report will be submitted to the relevant sectoral bodies for approval. We assume that the consultant may already prepare for the next output while waiting for approval.
9. The TOR mentions Communication Strategies and Products, but this item does not appear on the Planned Activities Table. Please confirm if this is part of deliverables and if so, kindly indicate the expected timing of this deliverable. (Posted on 5 August 2024)
Communication Strategies and Products should be delivered towards the end of the project based on the outcome and output.
10. Related to the above, please confirm if there is expectation that the production of communication products are to be subcontracted, and should be costed separately in the financial proposal? (Posted on 5 August 2024)
We leave the subcontracted to other vendor to the selected consultant. Kindly include the cost into the financial proposal.
11. Under “Interim Report”, a monitoring and evaluation framework plan is mentioned, but not included in the Planned Activities Table. Please confirm this is part of the project scope. (Posted on 5 August 2024)
Yes, it is included in the project scope and to be included in the Interim Report.
12. Please confirm that this project requires local survey firm in each AMS? And Do we present a separate the budget of these surveys from our professional fees in the financial proposal? (Posted on 5 August 2024)
The local survey firm supposed to assist the selected consultant. should be needed, kindly include in your professional fees in the financial proposal.
13. Related to the above, could we provide an estimate of the survey costs in the financial proposal – but revise later based on agreement with ASEC? (Posted on 5 August 2024)
The consultant is expected to provide the best estimation as possible. No revision will be allowed after financial proposal is submitted.
14. Please clarify an expected sample size of population surveys, and please provide guidance on sample size per AMS? We anticipate that the sampling methodology and survey costs are likely to vary. Could we quote them separately as an estimate from our professional fees and agree on the survey costs with you during the course of the project? (Posted on 5 August 2024)
The consultant has the prerogative on the expected sample size in order to reach the expected output and may wish to provide cost estimate for the survey.
15. Please clarify the role expected of the “Enterprise Analytics Partner” to be selected by the Contractor. (Posted on 5 August 2024)
The enterprise analytic partner will help support the consultant in conducting comprehensive analysis of the survey data.
16. Can we confirm if ASEC (FID) will connect us with enterprises and government officials across AMS for the interviews? Will FID provide support to plan the national consultations and regional workshops? (Posted on 5 August 2024)
ASEC FID will help coordinate with ASEAN central bank regulators for the interviews and to seek AMS availability for the national consultations. Regional workshop will be supported by the Aus4ASEAN Futures.
17. Budget & Payment terms: (Posted on 12 August 2024)
17.1 What are the payment terms for the engagement? g., milestone + grace period?
The payment terms will be based on milestone basis
17.2 Are we also to include the creation of promotional video/media content in our costing?
Yes.
18. Travel and local presence: (Posted on 12 August 2024)
18.1 To what extent is travel to the ASEAN member countries needed and can this be done with the support of a business intermediary?
Travel is only expected to attend the regional workshop. Business intermediary can help with the interview/surveys.
18.2 What % of all interviews/surveys is planned to be done in field/offline vs virtually or online?
National consultation with AMS will be done virtually.
19. Project Deliverables: (Posted on 12 August 2024)
19.1 Regarding “promotional videos, media and social media content”, will an ongoing supply of content be needed or a communication plan along with sample works will suffice?
Communication plan will suffice. The promotional videos, media and social media content might be needed. Please include the cost of this into the financial proposal.
19.2 If ongoing, what is the timeframe for the promotion materials needed?
Should be towards the end of the project.
19.3 For the communication products, does scope of work cover providing content for these products or include the products (such as placemats) as well?
Yes in consultation with ASEC/ASEAN Member States.
19.4 There is mention of using proposed report to ASEANs Gender mainstreaming strategic framework for 2021-2025, what is the overall timelines for this report, and would the contractor be responsible for also updating this report?
No. ASEANs Gender mainstreaming strategic framework for 2021-2025 to be reference in the project output.
19.5 The TOR mentions that the study will also make reference to the ‘ASEAN Enabling masterplan 2025: Mainstreaming the rights of Person with Disabilities’. When would this report be ready?
Report is already published.
19.6 Is there a base number for Qualitative/ Quantitative interviews that is acceptable as per ASEC FID?
The consultant has the prerogative on the expected sample size in order to reach the expected output and may wish to provide cost estimate for the survey
19.7 Would ASEC FID be helping with connection/ personnel connects on supply-side interview?
ASEC FID will help coordinate with ASEAN central bank regulators for the interviews and to seek AMS availability for the national consultations.
19.8 Would the contractor team be responsible for all interviews/ or would ASEC FID sit through or lead them too? Will ASEC FID or AMSs facilitate scheduling of the interviews with some of the key stakeholders?
Yes contractor team will be responsible for all interviews. ASEC FID will help facilitate scheduling with AMS.
19.9 Will these discussions need to be recorded for any record keeping purposes?
Yes.
19.10 There are 2 Regional workshops mention – would ASEC FID be organizing these? Is the contractor co-facilitating the workshops?
Aus4ASEAN Futures will help to organize the workshops. Contractor is expected to facilitate the workshops.
20. RfP Submission & Selection: (Posted on 12 August 2024)
20.1 Given the back-to-back long weekends in South East Asia and summer holidays in NA/Europe, are you considering extending the deadline out from 16th August?
No extension will be provided.
20.2 What are the evaluation criteria for the selection process of this TOR-RfP process?
Kindly refer to the TOR.
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