POPULATION SERVICES INTERNATIONAL

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR PREFERRED VENDOR

PART I: BIDDING INSTRUCTIONS AND PROCEDURES

HIRING OF CLEARING AGENT FOR HANDLING AND CLEARING OF GOODS FROM VARIOUS ENTRY POINTS (MONROVIA FREE PORT, ROBERTS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND OTHER BOARDER POINTS).

Who we are!

Population Services International (PSI) is the world’s leading non-profit social marketing organization. We are a diverse group of over 4,500 entrepreneurial development professionals located in over 35 countries committed to making it easier for all people to lead healthier lives and plan the families they desire. PSI is using its global presence and 50+ years of experience to help reimagine healthcare. We are working to shape market systems, shift policy and funding, and strengthen global capacity to better support consumer-empowered healthcare.

We are looking for!

PSI seeks a service provider that operates in the field of logistics with proven expertise in customs clearing and forwarding of cargo from Monrovia free port or any other border entry. The service provider shall offer Customs clearing services at Monrovia Free port and Airports, on behalf of PSI, as assigned and as directed by the consignee. In so doing, the following conditions shall apply:

PSI is working with other partners including Concern Worldwide, Anthena, and GUSCEMAN as a Consortium for the implementation of USAID-funded Countywide Sanitation Activity in Liberia. The project aims to achieve universal coverage of basic sanitation in five counties of Liberia. In so doing, the selected service provider is expected to observe the following conditions”

2.0 Information

This Part I, Bidding Instructions and Procedures, will not form part of any resulting award or contract. It is intended solely for the information of prospective Bidders. The Bidder should follow the instructions set forth in the submission of their proposal to PSI.

3.0 Bidding Costs

The bidder shall bear all costs associated with the preparation and submission of the proposal, including but not limited to the possible cost of discussing the proposal with PSI, making a presentation, negotiating a contract, and any related travel. Bidders are under no obligation to prepare or submit bids in response to this RFP and do so solely at their own will and expense. PSI does not undertake to reimburse any costs incurred, therefore.

PSI will not be responsible or liable for those costs, regardless of the conduct or outcome of the selection process.

4.0 Review of RFP

Bidders are solely responsible for the careful examination of all the terms and conditions of this RFP and to comply fully therewith. Failure to do so will be at the Bidder’s risk and expense. Proposals must offer the total requirement. Proposals offering only part of the requirement may be rejected.

The bidder is expected to follow the proposal structure described in paragraph 7.0 below and comply with all instructions, terms, and specifications contained therein, and submit all forms required according to, this RFP. Failure to follow the aforesaid proposal structure, to comply with the aforesaid instructions, terms, and specifications, and/or to submit the aforesaid forms will be at the bidder’s risk and may affect the evaluation of the proposal.

5.0 Language

The proposal prepared by the bidder, and all correspondence and documents relating to the proposal exchanged by the bidder and PSI shall be written in the English language.

6.0 Clarifications

Inquiries concerning this RFP must be submitted in writing, to be received by no later than 25th November 2024 and the bidder shall complete and return by the email as stated below to PSI:

1. The RFP [Abstract] Acknowledgment form, attached hereto as Annex 1, signed as confirmation of the bidder’s intention to submit a bona fide proposal and designate its representative to PSI communications may be directed, including any addenda; and
2. The RFP [Abstract] Confidentiality form, attached hereto as Annex 2, signed.

• Email for submissions of acknowledgment confidentiality forms or inquiries: Email: lr_procurement@psiliberia.org , The Procurement Manager.

PSI is under no obligation to consider or respond to questions that are not received by that date.

7.0 Bid Preparation

Bidders should submit their responses to this RFP to include:

1. Technical Proposal
2. Financial Proposal

A Technical Proposal

Your proposal must offer the total requirement. Proposals offering only part of the requirement may be rejected. It should provide basic information about you and your relevant service offerings. It should have a section addressing each of the following areas:

1. Your company profile/Key staff qualifications/experience
2. Approach
3. Responsiveness to the Scope of Work.
4. References (at least 4 verifiable references)

Responses should include the following information:

• Profile

• Describe Bidder’s experience and areas of expertise on an overall basis, both nationally and internationally (if appropriate)
• Summarize Bidder’s qualifications and key staff experience regarding the service described in the scope of work.
• Provide a detailed track record of previous similar work undertaken
• Provide details of work undertaken in Monrovia.

• Approach

• Describe the Bidder’s ability to Handing, Clearing, & Transportation of cargo to client premises.

• Describe Bidder’s capability to [ handle, clear and transport goods from the port of Monrovia and Roberts international Airport to the client’s premises]

• Responsiveness:

• Describe any current or past relationships Bidder may have with PSI staff, and if there is a potential conflict of interest. If there is a potential conflict of interest, then please explain how this risk will be mitigated.
• Describe how you effectively communicate with your clients during handling and clearing of client’s goods at the port of entry to avoid any unnecessary charges.
• The turn-around time from the time the cargo ship arrives to the time you can get the goods out of the port of entry to the client premises assuming all necessary documents are at hand.

• References:

1. Submit four (4) client references
2. Submit four (4) non-profit client references.
3. Provide any other information to demonstrate Bidder’s capability in relation to the Scope of Work

B Financial Proposal

Bidders pricing should be based on the following:

[1]: For Services performed during the term, will be paid based on the rates outlined in Annex 2 adhering to the scope of work as outlined in section 10.

[2]: For Services performed during the Term, will be paid after delivery of goods and invoice submitted to operations and procurement for review and processing.

[3]: Payment terms (preferred PSI terms is 30days upon submission of invoice).

As part of the RFP process, PSI may be providing confidential information to bidders. Consequently, bidders must complete the attached below conflict of interest to participate in this process. Signed Conflict of interest agreement must be submitted with the proposal.

8.0 Bid Submission

All proposals must be in writing, in the English language, and manually signed and dated by an authorized employee of the Bidder. The hard copies one in original form and two copies in a sealed envelopes must be physically delivered to PSI offices at the reception desk located in the following addresses.

Population Services International (PSI) Liberia

Countywide Sanitation Activity

Opposite Fish Market, Tubman Boulevard

Sinkor Monrovia, Liberia.

The deadline for submission of the application is November 25, 2024 @ 4:00 pm.

Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Proposals may not be altered, corrected, or withdrawn after the Date of Receipt, except that PSI, at its sole discretion, may permit the correction of arithmetic errors, transposition errors, or other clerical or minor mistakes, in cases in which PSI deems that both the mistake and the intended proposal can be established conclusively on the face of the proposal. Other than the mistakes listed in the previous sentence, no mistakes alleged by a Bidder after the Date of Receipt will be permitted to be corrected.

The financial proposal rates must be valid for at least 12 months upon selection as a successful service provider.

9.0 Bid Evaluation

In evaluating the proposals, PSI will seek the best value for money rather than the lowest-priced proposal. PSI will use a two-stage selection procedure:

• The first stage will evaluate the Technical Proposal will have a ranking score of 70% which include the compliance of government requirements and other aspects such as:

Valid business certificate (10pts)

Expired/ no certificate (0)

Valid tax compliance certificate (5 pts)

Expired/No certificate (0pts)

Availability and willingness to deliver Immediately).

Immediate to one week delivery time (20pts)

Two to three weeks delivery time (10 pts)

Three to four weeks delivery time (5 pts)

Over four weeks delivery time (0)

Compliance to full details Specification or TOR /scope of work

Full specifications in line with the TOR for all items (15pts)

Specifications in line with TOR but not for all Items. (10pts)

Itemized specification without details as per the TOR (5 pts)

No Specification / scope of work (0 pts)

Similar work experience

– Four or more /POs/References or agency worked for (20 pts)

– Three /POs/References or agency worked (15pts)

– Two /POs/References or agency worked (10 pts)

– One /POs/References or agency worked (5)

– No /POs/References or agency worked (0 pts)

• The second stage will evaluate the Cost Proposal which has a ranking score of 30% of the proposals the selection committee will evaluate each proposal upon the following criteria:

1. The skill, experience, and duration it takes to clear a container and whether the agent is capable to negotiate for additional storage days if needed without incurring demurrages.
2. The prior experience and reputation of the Bidder in working with international NGOs like PSI.

If at any time prior to award, PSI deems there to be a need for a significant modification to the terms and conditions of this RFP, PSI will issue such a modification as a written RFP amendment to all competing bidders. No oral statement of any person shall in any manner be deemed to modify or otherwise affect any RFP term or condition, and no bidder shall rely on any such statement.

PSI is not bound to accept the lowest or any proposal and reserves the right to accept any proposal in whole or in part and to reject any or the entire proposal.

PSI shall not be legally bound by any award notice issued for this RFP until a contract is duly signed and executed with the winning Bidder.

10. ART 2: RFP SCOPE OF WORK

• The customs clearance charge from the agent shall include all Customs entry/ASYCUDA fees, customs examinations, delivery/security expenses, de-block stacking, haulage, and agency fees.
• The agent shall clear and deliver consignments 1×20; 1×40 containers and consolidated cargoes within 5 days that are within demurrage free storage period working days upon receipt of all approved clearance documentation from the consignee, excluding periods of port congestion.
• The agent shall provide daily updates regarding each clearance assignment and communicate in advance in writing before incurring any extra charges on behalf of the client.
• The agent shall return all empty containers to the port, except where otherwise directed, immediately after unpacking.
• The agent shall notify the consignee within 24 hours of receipts of approved clearance documentation, of delays with a transfer of containers to off-dock terminals and containers on block stack.
• The delivery points for shipments will be as directed by the consignee.
• The agent shall work 24/7 to ensure that shipments are cleared from the Freeports of Monrovia and delivered to the consignees to avoid demurrage or extras charges from the port.
• The agent shall be responsible for any pre-loading/offloading truck demurrage except where that latter is expressly caused by the consignee.
• All unnecessary charges accruing from delays shall be borne by the agent.
• The agent shall bring to the attention of the consignee, within 24 hours of observation, all cargo discrepancy/short-landed cargoes.
• The agent shall pre-release consignments as directed by the consignee.
• The agent shall be responsible for payment, on behalf of the consignee, of all shipping company and terminal charges in the first instance billed back to the consignee bearing in mind PSI tax free status.
• The agent shall, on completion of clearance and delivery, present bills to the consignee accompanied by the necessary proofs of delivery (PODs) including PSI Certificate of Delivery, for payment.
• The agent shall attach to all bills, receipts of payment of all shipping company and terminal charges.
• The agent shall be responsible for processing all container deposits and demurrage refunds due to the consignee, where applicable, with the shipping companies.
• This agreement shall remain in force for a period of 12 months from the date of signing and can be determined by either party giving one month’s notice.

Annex 2

Note: You can either decide to use your organization financial template to submit your price information or quote but outlining individual costs as shown above.

Conflict of Interest CERTIFICATION

Introduction

In furtherance of our mission and obligations as a recipient of donor funding, PSI is dedicated to the highest levels of professionalism, integrity, fairness, and legal compliance in all aspects of our work, including procurement. PSI also expects its consultants to conduct themselves in an ethical manner above reproach. Accordingly, PSI requires all consultants to disclose any real, potential or apparent conflicts of interest, and to comply with PSI directions for addressing them.

Our policy is to err on the side of transparency. Conflicts will generally be deemed to exist when a consultant is able to make or participate in a decision or recommendation on behalf of PSI that could benefit or be perceived by others to benefit, the consultant or someone close to him/her. PSI reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to decide how to address any such conflicts, including possibly withdrawing or terminating the consultancy.

At the beginning of each engagement, PSI consultants are required to sign the form below certifying current and future compliance with the principles outlined. Existing or reasonably foreseeable conflicts must be disclosed in writing before contract execution. Conflicts identified after contract execution must be disclosed in writing promptly after they are discovered. Refusal to sign this certification or failure to comply with its terms may be considered a material breach of the consulting contract, for which PSI reserves the right to take remedial action, including possible termination.

Thank you very much for helping PSI to maintain its reputation for integrity and effectiveness. Please contact your PSI project manager if you have any questions regarding this form or PSI’s conflicts policy, or if you require guidance concerning a potential conflict of interest.

Certification

As a condition of my engagement by PSI to provide consulting services, I hereby certify that neither I, nor any member of my immediate family (spouse, children, siblings, and parents) will at any time during the period of my contract or performance of services for PSI, except as accurately and completely disclosed to PSI in writing and/or authorized by PSI beforehand:

1. Influence or seek to influence PSI’s procurement process, or other business, administrative or

operational decisions to obtain, or in a manner that leads or appears to be designed to

lead to, personal gain or advantage.

2. Use or seek to use my position or relationship with PSI, any aspect of the performance of my consulting

services, or any information (including confidential or proprietary information), knowledge or know-

how obtained at PSI (unless such information, etc., is public knowledge) to promote my personal

interests, or that of any individual(s) or organizations(s) other than PSI.

3. Participate in the selection, award or administration of a PSI contract, subcontract, grant, subgrant,

or other funding award in circumstances where I or an immediate family member(s), business

partner(s), or an organization that employs any of them, has a financial or other interest in a person or entity being considered or selected for an award.

4. Misrepresent, withhold, or falsify information to be reported to external parties or used internally for decision-making, for personal gain or gain by any individual or organization other than PSI.
5. Without full and prompt disclosure to PSI, provide consulting services to serve as a director, officer, or employee of, or have a financial interest in, an entity that I know, or have reason to know, works with PSI on, or competes with PSI for, the same project, program, contract, or scope of work.

6. Seek to obtain a contract for myself or a company that employs me if I participate in developing the

scope of work or specification of goods and services for such contract.

7. Have personal or business relationships with any member of PSI staff involved in the selection

process for this consultancy.

8. Offer, provide, solicit, or accept anything of value, including, but not limited to, gifts, funds,

donations, entertainment, expensive meals, services, or favours to or from anyone in return for, or in

appreciation of, favourable consideration in the award of this consulting contract.

9. Take any action or involve myself in any way in activities or behaviours outside PSI that may

compromise PSI’s reputation or imply PSI sponsorship of, or support for, an activity or undertaking

unrelated to PSI.

I understand that this certification cannot address all possible conflicts of interest, will use good judgment to avoid any appearance of impropriety, and disclose any situations that raise legal or ethical concerns.

Please check the appropriate line below:

___I certify that I have read and understood this document and am not aware of any actual or potential conflicts of interest at this time.

Or

___I certify that I have read and understood this document and have notified PSI in writing of one or more potential conflict(s) of interest for its consideration.