Proposal Development Consultant

Organization: Heartland Alliance

Closing date: 15 Jun 2020

1 ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW

Heartland Alliance International (HAI) is the youngest and fastest growing part of Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights, a family of organizations that has been leading anti-poverty and social justice work in Chicago for more than 125 years. HAI is comprised of nearly a dozen country offices implementing programs on a broad range of human rights issues globally, as well as the Chicago-based Marjorie Kovler Center for the Treatment of Survivors of Torture, which serves individuals from more than 50 countries. HAI has significant expertise in the fields of trauma-informed mental health care and access to justice for survivors of rights abuses. It is also an industry leader in access to high-quality and stigma-free health care. Across all of its programs, HAI promotes progressive, innovative approaches to human rights protections and gender equality.

HAI provides innovative, collaborative, and community-based mental health services, including individual and group psychosocial therapy, to underserved populations most affected by armed conflict and violence in the Pacific region of Colombia. HAI’s culturally-competent and locally-adapted programs allow people to heal, become empowered to access justice and social services, and ultimately lead change in their own communities. HAI trains community leaders to provide effective, evidence-based and culturally adapted mental health services and partners with local organizations and public health institutions to strengthen these programs and reach more people in need. HAI also conducts research to help measure the effectiveness of these interventions and makes improvements where needed.

2 PURPOSE

Leveraging HAI’s experience, HAI will respond to the USAID call entitled Weaving Lives in Hope in Colombia. The opportunity put forth by USAID/Colombia asks for organizations to support Colombia’s transition to a more stable, peaceful, and prosperous society. The proposal will outline how the consortium can train community-level workers in basic mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS); provide support to conflict survivors through actions like community-based interventions to foster mental health service access; and promote economic opportunities through actions like job training and public-private partnerships (PPPs) in conflict-affected communities. These direct efforts by the activity will help create a culture of peace; build family and community resilience; and strengthen the social fabric in post-conflict Colombian communities

HAI is seeking applications from qualified candidates to develop a strategy and draft a concept note in response to the USAID call Waving Lives in Hope in Colombia.

3 KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Participate and help facilitate design sessions with the country team to develop a strategy for the MHPSS and livelihoods components.
Conduct research about existing and complementary programming in Colombia and stakeholders and needs.
- This includes past and current USAID programming related to opportunity asks as well as USAID/Colombia’s strategic plan.
Together with the country team, draft and finalize a concept paper, including results framework, narrative, and other related components.
- Respond to technical and financial requirements set out in the respective NOFO;
- Consider the local political, social, and cultural context;
- Leverage HAI’s unique experience and expertise.
- Based on the country partner strategy, integrate the strengths of each organization into the intervention model.
Contingent on the results of the concept paper review and with the above points in mind, draft and finalize a full proposal, including an Activity Monitoring and Evaluation Plan, strategy for collaborating, learning, and adapting, and all relevant elements requested in the NOFO.
Deliver final products for proposal submission as needed and according to the established timeline (TBD).

Consultant will also be expected to carry out weekly check in calls with HAI to provide technical input and collaboratively review and address technical challenges related to drafting of the results framework and securing consortium members.

4 REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS

Deliverables

The consultant will be responsible for the following deliverables and will work in close collaboration with HAI staff. The consultant will adhere to additional guidance on the below deliverables and specific due dates for each as established in HAI’s proposal timeline. The consultant will use HAI templates for all deliverables, when provided:

HAI results framework, project narrative, and other proposal documents reviewed and returned with feedback according to timeline.
Organizational capacity and partnership project narrative section drafted, including partner organization's inputs.
Proposal inputs from partner organizations, including on the results framework, monitoring, evaluation, and learning plan, project budgets, and project timeline.
Final concept paper, developed with inputs from HAI staff.
As applicable, full proposal, developed with inputs from HAI staff.
Qualifications:
Knowledgeable of MHPSS, peacebuilding, economic development opportunities (specifically employment) in conflict-affected areas.
Experienced collaborator with government institutions and NGOs in Colombia with particular experience with USG-related opportunities that include USAID, DOS, DOJ, etc.
Knowledgeable of current USAID standards and priorities including the Journey to Self-Reliance, strengthening resilience, partnerships, private sector engagement, etc.

Proficient in Spanish preferred.

Submission Requirements

Please include the following in your quotations:

Please provide a quote, a resume, a list of services that your firm can offer in response to the items listed in section 4.B. Provide past performance information and highlight any experience with USAID, DOS and DOJ programming and concept note and/or proposal submissions.

Submissions must be provided in English..

If your application is selected for this contract, all information in the RFA and negotiation process is contractually binding.

Evaluation Criteria

Only consultants which meet the requirements as stated above will be considered. The selected consultants will be based on price, availability and past performance, and must meet all requirements and specifications listed above.

Payment Terms

Payment(s) will be made upon completion of deliverables. Quotes should include payment terms with alternative arrangements, if desired.

Response

Reponses to this RFA should be submitted by email to Camila Garzon-Ruiz, Program Officer for Program Development, camgarzonruiz@heartlandalliance.org and by Diego Gallon, Senior Program Officer, Programs for Latin America & the Caribbean, dgallon@heartlandalliance.org by June 5th, 2020. Please include “USAID/Colombia Weaving Lives and Hope” somewhere in the subject line. Any applications received after this date and time may not be accepted and shall be considered non-responsive.

Evaluation and Award

Heartland Alliance International will review responses received and will select a consultant up to 5 days after the submission deadline.

5 FALSE STATEMENTS IN OFFER

Applicants must provide full, accurate, and complete information as required by this solicitation and its attachments.

6 CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Applicants must provide disclosure of any past, present, or future relationships with any parties associated with the issuance, review, or management of this solicitation and anticipated award. Failure to provide full and open disclosure may result in Heartland Alliance International having to re-evaluate selection of a potential vendor.

7 DISCLAIMERS

HAI will not compensate candidates for preparation of their response to this RFA.
Issuing this RFA is not a guarantee that HAI will award a purchase order/contract. HAI has no contractual obligations with any applicant based upon the issuance of this RFA.
HAI reserves the right to issue a purchase order/contract based on the initial evaluation of offers without discussion.
HAI may choose to award a purchase order/contract for part of the activities in the RFA.
HAI may request from short-listed applicants a second or third round of written responses to a more specific and detailed scope of work that is based on a general scope of work in the original RFA.
HAI has the right to rescind a RFA, or rescind an award prior to the signing of a purchase order/contract.
HAI reserves the right to waive any deviations by vendors from the requirements of this solicitation that HAI’s opinion are considered not to be material defects requiring rejection or disqualification; or where such a waiver will promote increased competition.