Date of Issuance: September 15th, 2021
Reposted: November 12, 2021

Request for Proposals (RFP)
Marketplace Lead
Dear Sir or Madam,Conservation International México A.C. (hereinafter referred to as “Conservation International México”),
is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a Marketplace Lead. The attached RFP contains all thenecessary information for interested Offerors.
Conservation International Mexico (CI Mexico) is a non-profit organization that since 1990 has supported
the development of a healthy and sustainable economy, based on the recognition and conservation ofnature for human well-being. Progress has been achieved by linking public policies at different decisionlevels and by integrating various actions between organizations, government agencies and academic
institutions that contribute to the conservation of the country's environmental services.
The Sustainable Landscape Ventures (SLV) Activity is a five-year, USD $10 million-dollar project fundedby the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) that is being implemented by CI
Mexico. The Activity will serve as a financial mechanism for existing landscape projects in the countryand will be led by CI Mexico in collaboration with six consortium partners. The purpose of the Activity
is to develop sustainable and inclusive value chains at scale in four landscapes. The economic activities
promoted must be market-driven and investor-ready. It aims to consolidate long-term partnerships
among small-scale producers, investors, and buyers in Mexico in sustainable and inclusive value chains.
Small-scale producers in the four landscapes will be organized into twelve Collective Business Entities(CBE) to reach scale and ensure quality; and a Blended Finance Engine (BFE) that will provide services
to the CBEs, such as project curation, a marketplace to link producers with buyers, and access toblended finance solutions from new and existing funds.
Offerors should indicate their interest by submitting a proposal via email indicating their intention to
Tania Pantí Grajales at tpanti@conservation.org by 23:00 hrs Mexico City Time, on October 28th,2021. Interested Offerors can submit their questions to tpanti@conservation.org.
All offerors are expected to exercise the highest standards of conduct in preparing, submitting and if
selected, eventually carrying out the specified work and in accordance with CI’s Code of Ethics.

Conservation International’s reputation derives from our commitment to our values: Integrity,Respect, Courage, Optimism, and Passion and Teamwork. CI’s Code of Ethics (the “Code”) provides
guidance to CI employees, service providers, experts, interns, and volunteers in living CI’s corevalues, and outlines minimum standards for ethical conduct which all parties must adhere to.
Any violation of the Code of Ethics should be reported to CI via its Ethics Hotline atwww.ci.ethicspoint.com
Concerns regarding the integrity of the procurement process and documents shall be reported towww.ci.ethicspoint.com under the procurement and purchasing activities.

Calle El Oro 23, Col. Roma, Ciudad de México, 06700 Tel. (55)5207-0032

1Request for Proposals
RFP # SLV-001
Third Revision

For the provision ofMarketplace Lead

Contracting Entity:
Conservation International Mexico A.C.

Funded under:
Sustainable Landscape Ventures (SLV)

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Table of Contents:
Section 1.

Instructions and General Guidance

1.1
1.2
1.3

Introduction
Offer deadline and chronological list of events.
Instruction for offerors

Section 2.

Scope of Work

2.1

Scope of Work

Section 3.
3.1
3.2

Terms of Reference and Budget Template
Terms of Reference Marketplace Lead
Budget template

Section 1. Instructions and General Guidance

1.1 Introduction
CI, the Buyer, is soliciting offers from offerors, to submit proposals to lead the Marketplace componentof the SLV project, which will be awarded by a “Selection Committee” who will evaluate the proposals
and lead the interview process.
OBJECTIVES: Design and operate a Marketplace to attract buyers that are willing to partner and sharerisks and profits with small-scale producers.
This RFP does not obligate CI to execute a contract nor does commit CI to pay any costs incurred in thepreparation and submission of the proposals. Furthermore, CI reserves the right to reject any and alloffers, if such action is considered to be in the best interest of CI.

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1.2 Offer Deadline and chronological list of events.
Offers must be received no later than 23:00 hrs on October 28th, 2021 (Mexico City time). Offerors
are responsible for ensuring that their offers are received in accordance with the instructions statedherein. Late offers may not be considered. CI cannot guarantee that late offers will be considered.
The following calendar summarizes important dates in the solicitation process. Offerors must strictly
follow these deadlines.
RFP published

23:00 hrs on September 15th, 2021

Deadline for written questions

23:00 hrs on September 28th, 2021

Proposal due date

23:00 hrs on October 7th, 2021

RFP second publication

23:00 hrs on October 06th, 2021

Deadline for written questions

23:00 hrs on October 18th, 2021

Proposal due date

23:00 hrs on October 28th, 2021

RFP third publication

23:00 hrs on November 12th, 2021

Interviews

After December 15th, 2021

The dates above may be modified at the sole discretion of CI. Any changes will be published/advertisedin an amendment to this RFP.
Offerors shall submit their offers electronically at the following email address, tpanti@conservation.org.

1.3 Instruction for Offerors
All proposals must be submitted in one volume, consisting of:••I.

Technical proposal
Cost proposal
Technical Proposal

The technical proposal shall comprise the following parts:•Part A: Technical Approach of the expected tasks, including methodology and work plan. This partshall be between 3 and 5 pages long but may not exceed 5 pages.

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The Technical Proposal should describe how the offeror intends to carry out the expected tasks
described in Section 2, Scope of Work (SOW). The technical proposal should demonstrate a clear
understanding of the project and the work to be undertaken.
•Part B: Management, Key Personnel, and Staffing Plan. This part shall be between 2 and 5 pages
long but may not exceed 5 pages. CVs for key personnel may be included in an annex to thetechnical proposal and will not count against the page limit. The Technical Proposal should include
CV(s) of key personnel that combined, will cover most of the following work experience:o More than 10 years’ experience in the agriculture and forest sectors in Mexico or Latin America.
o More than 10 years’ experience in value chains.
o Deep knowledge and experience related bringing gaps and creating processes or systems toagriculture and forest value chains and business development.
o Previous experience setting up traceability processes based on buyers’ requirements, including
sustainability goals (emission reduction, biodiversity, social standards or other).
o Strong commercial relationships with buyers.
o Knowledge on requirements for commercialization of products in Mexico and export markets.
o Capacity to conduct analysis and reports on current market demands and trends, relevant forthe sustainable agriculture and forest sectors.
o Negotiating skills to innovate in this sector so that buyers adapt their internal purchasing
policies to be more inclusive and reduce barriers to conduct business transactions will rural
enterprises with sustainable practices.
o Experience applying systems change and basic knowledge of the sustainable development
goals.
o Ability to communicate clearly across diverse socioeconomic and cultural spectrum.
o Proven track record cultivating relationships with key decision-makers.

•Part C: Corporate Capabilities, Experience, Past Performance, and references. This part shall be
between 2 and 4 pages long but may not exceed 4 pages and showcase specific cases that address
the following experience and knowledge:o Commercialization of agriculture and forest productso Commercial relationships with traditional and niche buyers of agriculture and forest productso Exceptional knowledge applying relevant processes and systems.
o Value chain design and development.
o Market analysis and trendso Basic knowledge of buyers’ sustainability goals (emissions, biodiversity and social)o Innovation in product development and branding.
o Previous experience or partnerships with development donors or projects.

II.
Cost ProposalThe cost proposal is used to determine which proposals are the most advantageous and serves as abasis of negotiation for award of a contract. The price of the contract to be awarded will be all-inclusive.
For the proposal, offerors must provide a detailed budget showing major expense line items. Offers
must show unit prices, quantities, and total price. All items, services, etc. must be clearly labeled andincluded in the total offered price. All cost information must be expressed in USD. The cost shall also
include a budget narrative that explains the basis for the estimate of every cost element or line item.
Supporting information must be provided in sufficient detail to allow for a complete analysis of eachcost element or line item (for example those specific to USAID contracts like approved NICRA). CI

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reserves the right to request additional cost information if the evaluation committee has concerns ofthe reasonableness, realism, or completeness of an offeror’s proposed cost.
The estimated budget is $320,000 - $338,000 USD for the life of the project (5 years).

III.

Evaluation and Interview process
1.

A Technical Evaluation Committee formed by SLV partners and CI staff will make a technicalevaluation of the proposals received, which will be ranked based on the evaluation criteria
based on the RfP and ToR.
A Financial Evaluation Committee formed by CI staff will make a financial evaluation of theproposals received, which will be ranked based on the evaluation criteria based on the RfP andToR.

2. The top 2 ranked proposals will be invited for an interview and proposal presentation, to takeplace before December 15th, 2021
3. Based on the sum of the Technical and Financial Evaluation, the winner will be announced up
to 48 hours after the interview.

lV. Evaluation and Basis for AwardAn award will be made to the offeror whose proposal is determined to be responsive to this solicitation
document, meets the eligibility criteria stated in this RFP, meets the technical capability requirements,
and is determined to represent the most advantageous to CI.
Following is an indicative and synthetized evaluation criteria to be used:
Total Possible
Points

Evaluation Criteria
I.
Technical Proposal (350 points)
Part A. Technical Approach, Methodology, and Detailed Work Plan (50 points)
Does the proposal clearly explain, understand, and respond to the10
objectives of the project as stated in the Scope of Work?
Does the proposed program approach and detailed activities andtimeline fulfill the requirements of executing the Scope of Work20
effectively and efficiently?
Does the proposal demonstrate the offeror’s knowledge related totechnical sectors required by the SOW?
Part B. Management, Key Personnel, and Staffing Plan (150 points)
More than 10 years’ experience in the agriculture and forest sectors inMexico or Latin America.
More than 10 years’ experience in value chains.
Deep knowledge and experience related bridging gaps and creatingprocesses or systems to agriculture and forest value chains andbusiness development.

20
20
20
20

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Previous experience setting up traceability processes based on buyers’requirements, including sustainability goals (emission reduction,biodiversity, social standards or other).
Strong commercial relationships with buyers.
Knowledge on requirements for commercialization of products in
Mexico and export markets.

202010Capacity to conduct analysis and reports on current market demands
10and trends, relevant for the sustainable agriculture and forest sectors.
Negotiating skills to innovate in this sector so that buyers adapt their
10internal purchasing policies to be more inclusive and reduce barriers toconduct business transactions will rural enterprises with sustainable
practices.
Experience applying systems change and basic knowledge of the10sustainable development goals.
Ability to communicate clearly across diverse socioeconomic and5cultural spectrum.
Proven track record cultivating relationships with key decision-makers.
5Part C. Corporate Capabilities, Experience, Past Performance, and references (150 points)
Commercialization of agriculture and forest products
20 (130)

II.

Commercial relationships with traditional and niche buyers ofagriculture and forest products

20

Exceptional knowledge applying relevant processes and systems

20

Value chain design and development.

20

Market analysis and trends

20

Basic knowledge of buyers’ sustainability goals (emissions, biodiversityand social)
Innovation in product development and branding

10

Previous experience or partnerships with development donors orprojects.

1010

Cost Proposal- Cost- Includes (Travel, Fee, Charges, any other expenses) (50 points)
Cost
50Interview and presentation (50 points)

III.

Strong presentation and sales pitch skills during the interview of thosecompanies selected

50Section 2. Scope of Work, Deliverables, and Deliverables Schedule
2.1. Scope of Work
The selected applicant will have the following responsibilities which will be developed in closed
coordination and collaboration with CI Mexico – SLV staff and the SLV project partners for:
•Design and innovative an effective mechanism to bring agriculture and forest buyers to meetthe CBEs, to match products and services of sustainable and ethical producers with responsible
and ethical companies/buyers that are willing to commit to transparent and sustainable supply

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chains. This coordination mechanism between buyers and suppliers is what we call aMarketplace, which is an integral part of the BFE.
•Lead outreach efforts to engage responsible buyers and organizations with interest in products
or services from the four defined landscapes (Sierra Sur – Oaxaca; Sierra Madre – Chiapas;
Mascota and Tapalpa – Jalisco; Calakmul - Campeche). Identify and cultivate relationships withprivate sector organizations committed to sustainable and ethical supply chains.

•In close coordination with CI Mexico and the financial partners of SLV, support the design andoperation of the expert tables mechanism which aims to support the curation process formatching the CBEs business proposals with blended finance opportunities. These tables willbring experts from different fields including finance, sales & marketing, value chains, amongothers, that will help improve the business proposition to access credits from the BFE partners.

•Develop a strategy to minimize the gaps between market requirements and the current state ofproducts on a case-by-case basis.

•Support capacity building for market knowledge, sales, and marketing for producer
organizations in the four landscapes for closing the gaps identified in the expert tables.

•Collaborate in the creation and shaping of the four defined landscapes and producer
organizations’ value propositions.

•Support the development of new and non-traditional revenue opportunities for producerorganizations.

•Support the development of market readiness of the CBEs to result in increased sales andaccess to new markets.

•Ensure the proper integration of environmental and social safeguards and grievancemechanism into the Marketplace.

•

Participate and contribute to the BFE (Blended Finance Engine) Steering Committee meetings.

•Assist in gathering, processing, and analyzing lessons learned yearly from the Marketplace,through the life of the project; and contribute to the learning community named "Social BusinessNetworks" led by CI, with the experiences and lessons from the Marketplace, CBEs and buyers.

Operational Tasks:•••••••

Plan and coordinate the expert tables during the life of the project.
Prepare and analyze the results from expert tables 30 days after their conclusion.
Ensure the proper integration of environmental and social safeguards and grievance mechanism
into the Marketplace
Participate and contribute to the BFE (Blended Finance Engine) Steering Committee meetings.
Assist in gathering, processing and analyzing lessons learned yearly through the life of theproject; especially from the expert tables, marketplace, and BFE process.
Carry out the implementation of a learning community named “Social Business Networks” thataims to disseminate knowledge and information obtained from the expert tables, marketplace,and BFE process to the CBEs and Buyers.
Assist in gathering, processing, and analyzing lessons learned yearly from the Marketplace,through the life of the project; and contribute to the learning community named “Social BusinessNetworks” led by CI, with the experiences and lessons from the Marketplace, CBEs and buyers.

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Section 3. Terms of Reference and Budget Template
In the following link, those interested in submitting proposals can download the complete terms ofreference, which provide a detailed description of the activities requested in this RFP
https://www.conservation.org/mexico/convocatorias ; In the same way, you will find the following
annexes that will be useful for the presentation of the proposal:
1. Appendix l – Terms of reference
2. Appendix ll – Budget Template

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