Request for Expressions of Interest for Marking of Stages 1st and 2nd Entries of the 4th Edition of You win! Business Plan Competition at the The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI)
The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI)
Growth & Employment (GEM) Project – Credit No. NG- 4882
Request for Expressions of Interest for Marking of Stages 1st and 2nd Entries of the 4th Edition of You win! Business Plan Competition
The Federal Government of Nigeria has received financing from the World Bank towards the implementation of the Growth and Employment (GEM) Project, and intends to apply of proceeds of the credit for the appointment of qualified firms to evaluate the 1st and 2nd stage applications of the YouWin! 4 Business Plan Competition (BPC). Interested Bidders can bid separately for each stage of the evaluation and selection will be based for each stage of the exercise.
Objective of the Assignment
The objective of this assignment is to support the selection process of YouWin! 4 BPC to identify the best candidates through the online anonymous evaluation of stage 1 and stage 2 applications. This will be done in two stages:
Stage 1:
Screen up to 150,000 concept note (stage 1) submissions using a standardized assessment tool that evaluates the following components:
i. Number of jobs to be created over the short-medium term (up to 3 years)
ii. Applicant’s entrepreneurial intent and commitment
iii. Description of the business – clarity, conciseness and feasibility
iv. Preliminary analysis of the market
v. Understanding of the competitive landscape
vi. Skills and experiences of the applicant
vii. Preliminary analysis of the financial flow of the proposed business
viii. Understanding of likely business risks and how to mitigate them
Stage 2:
Review and mark 6.000 business plans (stage 2) also using a standardized assessment tool that evaluates the following components;
i. Executive summary
ii. Business description
iii. Situation analysis, including a credible analysis of the business’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats
iv. Analysis of the target markets and. customer segments
v. Analysis of the industry and market opportunities and threats
vi. Competitive analysis
vii. Marketing plan
viii. Management and operational plans
ix. Financial plan, including a realistic analysis of financial needs and the sponsor’s equity and cash contributions
x. Risk assessment and contingency plans
xi. Overall effectiveness of the business plan, including feasibility and appropriateness to the local business context of the geography in which the business plan will be implemented
Scope of Services;
The scope of work for this assignment will include but not limited to the following tasks;
Task 1 – Screen Concept Note Applications;
The firms will liaise with the YouWin! Program Implementation Unit and the UK Plymouth business School to develop a standardized assessment template that will he used in the evaluation process to identify the best candidates based on the merit of their submissions. This will be treated in the strictest level of confidentiality to ensure a high degree of integrity. The assessment guide will be developed based on international best practices and lessons learned from previous editions. Control measures to help safeguard the integrity of the review process will also be designed. These measures include;
(i) Submission marker profiles for review and approval by YouWin! Programme Partners,
(ii) Development and submission of a comprehensive training curriculum for markers to be reviewed by YouWin! Programme Partners,
(iii) Involve the programme secretariat in marker training
When the assessment guide and internal control measures have been setup, the firm will conduct an anonymous review of up to 150,000 applications during which all reviewers will not be able to link any particular business concept with any candidate names or identities. Appropriate access to the online platform will be provided by the Programme Implementation Unit to ensure that all selections are based on merit and the process will be validated by the UK based Plymouth Business School.
Task 2 – Review and marking of 6,000 business plans
Based on the feedback from the evaluation of stage 1 Concept Notes, the firm selected for the 2″ stage will liaise with the YouWin! Program implementation Unit and the UK Plymouth business School to develop a standardized assessment guide that will be used to evaluate 6,000 business plans. Control measures to help safeguard the integrity of the review. Process will again be reviewed as was done in stage 1.These measures will
i. Review and submission marker profiles for review and approval by YouWin! Programme Partners,
ii. Development and submission of a comprehensive training curriculum for markers to be reviewed by YouWin! Programme Partners,
iii. Involve the programme secretariat in stage 2 marker training
Following the conclusion of the stage 2 assessment guide and internal control measure, the firm will conduct an anonymous review of up to 6,000 stage 2 business plan application submissions. Reviewers will not be able to link any particular business concept with any candidate names or identities. Appropriate access to the online platform will again be provided by the Programme Implementation Unit. To ensure that all selections are based on merit, the process will again be validated by the UK based Plymouth Business School.
The Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment (FMITI) now invite eligible Firms (“the Consultant”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services, interested Companies should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services
Submission of Expressions of Interest (EOls):
Prospective consultants should submit their Expressions of Interest separately for each stage detailing the following information as basis for pre-qualification:
- Profile of firm/consortium including ownership structure and role of each corporate
- member with full contact details of each firm;
- Track record and staff experience in business proposal evaluations with proven ability to undertake rigorous and detailed evaluation of MSME business proposal expansion plans
- Evidence of excellent administrative capacity relating to large complex development projects in Nigeria(Not less than 4 years)
- Extensive knowledge of the MSME sector and its opportunities in Nigeria
- Evidence of capacity to deploy large remotely monitored teams Evidence of financial capability in the last 3 years
- Experience in World Bank or donor-funded projects would be an added advantage Knowledge of strategy development tools with analytical and management skills;
Preference will be given to experience/expertise in:
- Project and consultant management;
- Experience supporting start-up businesses in Nigeria across multiple sectors
- Gender and social development within development projects;
The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants by World Bank Borrower, Revised January 2011, and Consultants may associate with other firms in the form of a joint venture or a sub consultancy sub consultancy to enhance their qualifications. A firm will be selected in accordance with the Consultants Qualification Selection (CQS) Method set out in the Consultant Guidelines.
Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 9.00 am to 4.00 pm, Monday through Friday (except public holidays) from the Project Coordinator, Tel;+2348039265356or+2348057763S23
Expressions must be submitted in five (5) hard copies (one original and four copies plus one CD Rom), in a sealed envelope clearly marked “Expression of Interest For Marking of Stage 1 and 2 Entries of 4” Edition of YouWin’. Business Plan Competition” to the address below in person or by courier mail not later than Monday, March 30th 2 015
Project Coordinator
Growth and Employment (GEM) Project
The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment
Block G, Room 225
Old Federal Secretariat
Area 1, Garki
Abuja
Tel! +2348039265356 or +2348057763523 Email: sanyunus2002@yahoo.com
Interested Applicants should note that:
- Submission shall be in English language only
- Submission through electronic media shall be rejected; and
- Submission received after the deadline shall be rejected
Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted
