Announcement No.                  TM/RFP/2022/007
Project:                                           PRIME
Solicitation No.:                           720-383-20-2022-01-RFP
Published on:                           03 April 2022
Virtual Information Session:     10 April 2022
Inquiry Submission:                   11 April  2022
Deadline due:                           14  April 2022
Point of Contact:               [email protected] 

  
1.    Organizational Background
Transparency Maldives (TM) is a non-partisan organization that endeavors to be a constructive force in society by promoting collaboration and discussion on corruption, transparency, and accountability. TM seeks to engage with stakeholders from all sectors (government, business, political and civil society, among others) to raise awareness of corruption’s detrimental effects on development and society, improve transparency and accountability in governance, and eliminate corruption from the daily lives of people.  TM continues to support grassroots movements, promoting community empowerment and social cohesion.

2.    Eligibility:

Organizations / Firms / Individuals

3.    Period of Performance:

Starting April 2022 for a period of 4 months. 

4.    Scope of Work and Guidelines:

4.1 Background

The purpose of this RFP is to engage the services of a consultancy firm to develop a ‘Skills Portal’ (a web-based platform) for Maldives National Skills Development Authority (MNSDA) to deliver and manage its services online.  
As the regulatory body, under the Higher Education and Training Act 7/2021, MNSDA was created on 16th May 2021. MNSDA’s mandates include:
•    Developing policies, procedures and making regulations.
•    Developing National Competency Standards, curriculums, and related materials.
•    Conducting National Apprenticeship Program (NAP) through Employer Based Training (EBT) providers, 
•    Conducting National Trade Testing and Certification (NTTC),
•    Registering Institution Based Training (IBT) providers and EBT providers and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs.
•    Conducting National Assessments and issuing National Certificates 
•    Manage a comprehensive database comprised of services to IBT and EBT; and
•    To promote TVET programs and Career Guidance in the Maldives.
The purpose of the ‘Skills Portal’ is to digitalize MNSDA and its associated processes. The portal can be made up of two components to facilitate the services and training needs. They are computerization of the Business Services Processes, to implement Training Management Information System (TMIS) and a Training Resources Module (TRM). Both the modules will be used nationwide.
Training Management Information System (TMIS) will be used to computerize the business processes of MNSDA. It will enable the training providers and the administrators at MNSDA to keep track of the trainings held around the Maldives.
TRM will serve as a dedicated online platform for the management of Assessors and training of Trainers, functioning as the central source of information concerning development of quality Assessors and Trainers. It aims to smoothly implement the programs for Training of Assessors (ToA) and Training of Trainers (ToT), ensuring transparency to all the involved stakeholders. The portal will provide information about ToA and ToT programs planned by MNSDA. It will also provide a list of certified Trainers and Assessors.

4.2    Objectives, Scope and Description of Activities  
It is expected that the MNSDA provides its services online to reach a wider audience and bridge the geographical gap via the Skills Portal. The overall objective of this consultancy is to develop (design and implement) a web-based platform to offer the services of the MNSDA.  
The service provider is expected to carry out the work under the guidance and direction of MNSDA. The service provider will work at their own workplace. However, the service provider will be required to attend all the relevant meetings arranged by the client.   

 4.2.1 The service provider is expected to deliver the outputs described below.
A. Develop Detailed Software Requirements Specifications (SRS)
•    The service provider shall work with MNSDA and develop a detailed Software Requirement Specification (SRS). The document must contain the following components;
o    Functional Requirements for the system
o    Non-Functional Requirements
o    UML Diagrams of the workflow
•    The consultant shall take into consideration the existing practices and propose the changes needed with the current system. 
•    The consultant shall approve the final SRS document from MNSDA before commencing development.
B. Development of Single Sign On (SSO) Server with the following Functionalities:
The SSO server does not need to be a separate application. This component can be built as a part of the main system depending on the requirement and recommendations from the developer. The following minimum functions must be built into the SSO component.
•    Individual Registration
An individual should be able to register using a registration form and get access to other services by MNSDA.
•    Institute Registration
A separate registration form with details specific for institutes available for institute account registration.
•    Admin Dashboard
Dashboard which allows staff to manage user accounts and view reports.
•    Verify Users
All registrations need to be verified based on the documents and information submitted. Verified accounts will have access to more services.
•    Manage User accounts and Institute accounts
Delete, password reset and information update for user accounts and institute accounts. Allow admin to manage all aspects of user accounts.
•    Verify Institutes
Allow admin to verify institute registration requests received based on documents and other materials. 
•    Generate report on Users and Institutes
Generate comprehensive reports on users and institutes registered.

C. Development of Standard and Resource Management Application with the following Functions
This application will be used to manage documents and photos related to internal work management. Mostly standards and resources developed will be stored in this application. User authentication is from an SSO server. Users are granted access to specific documents in specific areas depending on user type (administrative, assessors, institutes, individuals).
This component does not need to be built as a separate application. Depending on the requirement and developer recommendation, the component can be part of the main application as well.
•    Upload and manage Documents
•    Manage Version History of Documents
•    Track Documents
•    Store and manage Standards developed by MNSDA
When a standard development is started (group of documents) a separate standard need to be created. Under this, all drafts of the standard will be stored. Any resource developed with the standard will be stored here along with the standard. Historical change information needs to be available through the system.
•    Manage Standard development process
As a standard development is carried out in phases, show timeline and deadlines for the standard with option to notify users with access to standard.
•    Application Programming Interface (API) which can be used to access documents and integrate with other software
As there might be more other software accessing resources in this server, API needs to be developed which can perform the following.
o    View document by document unique ID (assigned by the system)
o    Access standard resources with reference of standard
o    Download documents/resources
o    View general information of the document
o    Access change history of the document
o    Store documents through API. Update document information.
•    Administrative Dashboard
Dashboard showing summary and insights of the data stored in the system. Charts and counters showing standards development process and summary of resources available in application.
•    User Management (Manage users who can access the files)
When a user is authenticated into the system from SSO server, based on user types, allow access to general information and resources. Administrator should be able to allow user access to selected document groups or documents at different levels (edit, read, delete).

D. Skills Portal with the following functions.
•    Registration application submission for Institutes
Institutes will be able to submit registration forms to be a verified institute by MNSDA. Comprehensive set of information about the institute will be submitted along with supporting documents within the application. Applicants can track the status of applications.
•    Verifying and approving or rejecting application requests to register institutes
Allow administrative users to take action on application (reject or accept). Allow administrative user to leave instructions and comments for the application visible for applicant
•    Submit registration request for Programs as a Skill program
MNSDA verified institutes will be able to apply to register programs at MNSDA. A comprehensive set of information along with sets of supporting documents and drafts will be submitted as attachments.
•    Registration submission to be assessors
Individuals can apply to be assessors in MNSDA. With a comprehensive set of information and supporting documents individuals can submit a request to be an assessor. These applications will be managed by administrative users.
•    Schedule training for participants at institutes
Allow administrative users to schedule training programs (dates and general information recorded and institute assigned). Institutes can request to initiate training. 
•    Starting training when all resources are available
Administrative user starts training (change training status to ongoing allowing institute to submit training related resource for approval)
•    Submission of participants details and assessor details by the institute
Institute should be able to submit information of participant details to applications associated with training. Participant information will be submitted using an online form with supporting documents as attachments. 
•    Trainee Dashboard
Individuals should be able to access the trainee dashboard when an individual is registered as a trainee for a training program. This dashboard will contain ongoing training program related resources shared with the trainee. 
•    Resource management for trainee
Resources shared with trainees will be available to trainees from application. 
•    Photo submission for the training
When training is ongoing, institutes should submit photos of training to the application. 
•    Assigning assessment resources to assessors
Required resources for assessment are shared with assessors.
•    Reviewing assessor report
Assessors should be able to submit assessment documents including attendance and assessment reports.
•    Taking action on approving assessments submitted by the assessor
The assessment is approved/rejected or other action is taken by the administrative user.
•    Generate comprehensive reports with sorting and displaying options for the dashboard.
Report generation for registered trainees, trainers, institutes, ongoing assessments, and other important data.
•    Approving assessment reports for individuals
When an assessor or training institute submits assessment, assessment is approved.
•    Issuing certificates for participants
Certificates for the participants shall be generated by institutes through the Portal with the template provided by MNSDA.
•    Managing issued certificates for participants
Administrative users must be able to access historical data of all certificates received and training completed.
•    Availability of payment request application form for assessors
Assessors should be able to request payments through the portal. 
•    Managing payment requests
Once the assessor is paid, information on the application is updated.

E. Train staff for using administrative dashboard of the application
•    The service provider should train the staff of the MNSDA on how to use the system 
•    The service provider must provide technical training to selected staff by MNSDA for technical and server administration.
 
F. Report, User Manuals and source code
•    The service provider should provide a report on the consultancy and an appropriate user manual for the Skills Portal.
•    The service provider must provide technical documentation.
Overall installation and setup guide must be included with the application.
•    Any work done or developed under this consultancy will be a property of MNSDA and hence should be delivered.
Before final deployment to production, the service provider must provide source code of the application to MNSDA.
 

Please review the PDF for full information on the RFP, Scope of Work, Required Submissions and Deadlines.

If you have any queries or wish to submit your proposal for this application, please apply at the link in our website [https://transparency.mv/downloads/tm-rfp-2022-007/] or email to [email protected] within the stipulated schedule of deadlines in the RFP.