Local Research Partner to Support a CPCF Market Analysis in the MENA Region - Q&A

Request for Vendor Services Proposal (RFP)
Solicitation Title: Local Research Partner to Support a CPCF
Market Analysis in the MENA Region
Solicitation Number: FY27-AT-EAP-10/2026-01
Type of Contract Fixed price
Term of Contract Up to 3 months
Submit Proposal to: Procurementvietnam@fhi360.org
Date of Issue of RFP: Friday, October 16, 2026
Date Questions from Supplier Due: Tuesday, October 20, 2026, by 11AM Amman
time/ 3PM Vietnam time
Date FHI 360 to Respond to Questions Thursday, October 22, 2026, by 1PM Amman
time/ 5PM Vietnam time
Date Proposal Due: Sunday, October 25, 2026, by 1PM Amman time/
5PM Vietnam time
Vendor Announcement On or around October 30, 2026
Approximate Timeframe Contract / November 2026
Purchase Order Issued to Successful
Bidder(s):
Method of Submittal:
Respond via e-mail with attached documents in pdf format. Pricing should be provided in
Excel format unless otherwise specified.
Quote Validity:
The bidder agrees to hold firm the price offer for 60 days from the date specified for
the receipt of offers unless another time is specified in the addendum of the RFP.
Bidders may withdraw offers prior to the closing date.
FHI 360 Terms and Conditions:
FHI 360's Terms and Conditions are listed on our website at: www.fhi360.org/poterms .
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Request for Proposal
October 2026

About FHI 360
FHI 360 is a nonprofit organization that mobilizes research, resources and relationships so that
people everywhere can access the opportunities they need to lead full, healthy lives. FHI 360 serves
more than 70 countries and all U.S. states and territories. To learn more about FHI 360, please
review our website at www.fhi360.org .
Background
UNICEF Middle East and North Africa (MENA), in collaboration with FHI360/Alive & Thrive, is
conducting a cross-sectional market analysis of commercially produced complementary foods
(CPCF) available in selected MENA countries (Lebanon, Oman, Sudan and Tunisia). CPCF are
manufactured foods specifically marketed as suitable for older infants and young children. They
include products explicitly labelled, recommended or otherwise presented as suitable for children
under 3 years of age, while excluding breast-milk substitutes, supplements and general foods not
specifically marketed for young children.
The study aims to generate evidence on product availability, nutrient composition (as declared on
labels), labelling practices, level of processing, and retail prices of CPCF available in selected urban
markets. Country-level data will be collected through structured retail audits, standardized product
photography and a targeted e-commerce scan. The findings are expected to support government-led
consideration of feasible options to strengthen the regulatory environment for CPCF, including
product composition, labelling, promotion, monitoring and enforcement.
Objectives of the Assignment
The local research partner will implement the country-level market audit in each selected country
in accordance with the approved study protocol and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Specifically, the local partner will:
* Identify and map retail outlets selling CPCF in one major urban market per country, in coordination
with the central team;
* Conduct the in-store retail audit;
* Identify all eligible CPCF in sampled outlets;
* Document each unique product through standardized label photography;
* Record product presence, retail price and promotional display in each sampled outlet;
* Conduct a targeted e-commerce scan; and
* Support product inventory closure and resolution of unclear records
Scope of Work
The local research partner will be responsible only for country-level data collection activities. Study design,
analytical framework, data extraction templates, and data analysis will be led by FHI 360.
Task 1. Support in obtaining national/local administrative authorization (if required) and translating
materials
* Identify and secure any necessary national or local administrative authorizations prior to data
collection and for informing FHI 360 of any related constraints.
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* Translate study materials from English or French into local languages, including protocols,
presentations, support letter/retailer permissions, product visibility checklist, CPCF visual prompt,
etc.
* Prepare all required documentation for administrative authorization submission (if required) and
ensure approval is obtained. The local partner will work with FHI 360, UNICEF and country
partners to confirm the necessary authorizations required and lead the coordination of securing
this. Below is the initial summary of assumed required authorizations for the local partner's
reference.
Country Assumed required authorizations
Lebanon Government approval is expected for both studies (the market
analysis mentioned in this RFP and the caregiver perception
study mentioned in a separate RFP). Ethics approval is also
expected, but the appropriate national or regional review
mechanism remains unclear. UNICEF Lebanon should confirm
the competent ethics committee.
Oman Requirements for administrative authorization for the market
analysis are to be confirmed with the Ministry of Health (MoH),
building on discussions already held. The authorization process
must be led by an Omani individual or institution, with
oversight from FHI 360 and UNICEF MENA. MoH has provided
research submission guidelines and forms, although its explicit
request for ethical approval relates to the caregiver; whether it
is also required for the market analysis remains to be clarified.
Sudan Government approval and national ethics approval are expected
for both studies. Confirm the responsible MoH departments and
national ethics committee, whether the two studies can be
submitted together, and the sequence of UNICEF and national
reviews. Security and field accessibility should also be
reassessed before data collection.
Tunisia Government approval through the Ministry of Health is obtained
for both studies. Based on the latest discussions with Tunisian
counterparts, ethical approval is likely to be required only for
the caregiver study; requirements for the market analysis
remain to be confirmed. Pursuing the approval process through
National Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology (INNTA) is
expected to facilitate the procedure.
Task 2. Training
* Participate in study training and review the study protocol, eligibility criteria, data-collection tools
and photography SOPs
Task 3. Retail outlet mapping and selection
* Identify major retail outlets selling CPCF through local consultation and structured web searches.
Prepare a Retail Outlet List including outlet name, type, location and online presence, and agree the
final outlets to be visited with the central team.
* Outlet selection should capture the main relevant retail channels and, where feasible, different
geographic areas within the selected urban market.
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Task 4. In-store retail audit and label photography
* The local partner will visit all agreed outlets and systematically screen products against the study
eligibility criteria. Each newly identified unique CPCF will be documented through clear and
complete photographs, including at minimum the front and back of pack, ingredients list, nutrition
information panel and barcode/EAN (European or International Article Number to identify retail
items). Photographs should also capture all consumer-visible regulatory and promotional
information, such as age recommendations, feeding instructions, claims, local-language stickers or
over-labels, manufacturer/importer details, certification marks, QR codes and cross-branding.
* Each unique product should be fully photographed once. In subsequent outlets, previously
documented products should be recorded through the product-by-outlet tracking tool rather than
photographed again. For each eligible product observed in each outlet, the partner will record
product presence, retail price and corresponding pack size or weight. Where permitted, illustrative
photographs of CPCF displays and visible point-of-sale promotions will also be collected. Product
presence across sampled outlets is an indicator of observed availability within the selected urban
market and should not be interpreted as market share, sales volume, consumption or national
availability.
Task 5. Targeted e-commerce scan
* The partner will review 1-2 major national online retailers or platforms to identify eligible CPCF
not captured during the physical retail audit. Products already documented in-store should be
recorded as also available online without duplicate full documentation
Task 6. Product inventory closure and de-duplication support
* The local partner will support reconciliation of the cumulative product list and identification of
duplicates using barcode/EAN, product name, formulation and label photographs. Uncertain cases
will be flagged for review by the FHI 360, and the partner will respond to clarification requests
during finalization of the inventory.
Roles and Responsibilities
Local Research Partner
* Obtain local administrative authorization (if required) and translate materials
* Implement all in-country data collection activities in line with the protocol and SOPs.
* Ensure data completeness, accuracy, and timely submission.
* Assign a focal point for coordination with the central team.
* Flagging any operational issues or deviations from the agreed methodology.
FHI 360
* Provide the final protocol, SOPs, and training;
* Review and approve outlet selection;
* Provide technical support during data collection;
* Review submitted materials and request clarifications as needed.
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Expected Deliverables and Indicative Timeline
The local research partner will submit the following deliverables:
Activity Deliverable Estimated Expected
days timeline
Administrative Obtained administrative authorization (if required) 2 Early
authorization & November
translation Translated materials 2026
Training Participation in study training and feedback to 1 November
protocol/SOPs (if any) 2026
Retail outlet mapping Final Retail Outlet List 2 November
and selection 2026
In-store retail audit Complete photographic dataset and product-by-outlet 5-6 November -
and label photography records, including prices and pack sizes early
(at least 2 data December
collectors)* 2026
Targeted e-commerce Supplementary documentation of additional products 1 November -
scan, where applicable identified online early
December
2026
Product inventory De-duplicated unique product inventory and country 2 Mid
closure market-context memo covering outlet and geographic December
coverage, channels likely to have been missed, label- 2026
language and over-labelling issues, notable promotion
patterns, protocol deviations and implications for
interpreting the findings
Total All deliverables submitted and validated 13-14
days
*The exact distribution of days may be adjusted depending on the number and geographic distribution of outlets
and the number of products identified.
Reporting Arrangements
The local partner will report to the designated FHI 360 focal point and participate in a pre-fieldwork
briefing and a post-fieldwork debrief. FHI 360 will coordinate review inputs from relevant stakeholders,
including UNICEF MENA regional office and country offices (as appropriate), and provide consolidated
feedback on draft deliverables.
Desired Expertise
The local partner should demonstrate:
* Proven experience in nutrition, public health, food systems, or market research;
* Familiarity with retail audits or product documentation is an advantage;
* Capacity to deploy trained data collectors in urban retail environments;
* Ability to work in the relevant local language(s) and English;
* Strong attention to detail and ability to follow standardized protocols.
Ethical and Operational Considerations
The study does not involve human subjects. However, national or local administrative authorization may be
required in some countries. The local research partner is responsible for support in obtaining the
necessary authorization.
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The local partner is encouraged to disclose any current or recent financial, professional or institutional
relationships with manufacturers, distributors, retailers or industry associations whose interests may be
related to the study. Any engagement with commercial actors could be agreed in advance with FHI 360 and
documented to help safeguard the independence of the study methodology, interpretation and
recommendations.
All collected data and photographs are the property of FHI 360 and may not be reused without written
authorization. The evaluation is expected to be a focused, utilization-oriented assessment that leverages
existing program data and a targeted qualitative inquiry, rather than a comprehensive country-by-country
evaluation. The emphasis will be on generating actionable lessons and recommendations for program
improvement and future investment.
Submission Requirements
To be considered, bidders must provide the following:
1. Presentation of the organization/consultant: full name, address, email, telephone number, name of
the authorized representative, and a copy of the company's business license. Information on and
professional references for at least three of the most recent and relevant studies/research projects
should be provided.
2. A detailed workplan including the proposed approach to conduct the data collection
& field work coordination, etc.
3. Team qualifications: CVs of proposed team members, including roles and level of effort, relevant
experience, and declaration on the Conflict of Interest with Breast-milk substitutes, CPCF
manufacturers and distributors.
4. A financial proposal: A&T requests interested bidders to provide quotations with a detailed cost
breakdown. Quotation must include all associated costs including but not limited to fees and taxes,
etc. Bidders can use their own budget templates. Please include VAT in the price quote as FHI 360
is not VAT exempt.
Bidders are not required to submit a workplan and budget proposal for completing the CPCF Market
Analysis in all four countries (Lebanon, Oman, Sudan and Tunisia). They can submit a proposal for one
country or more, depending on their capacity. If a proposal is submitted for more than one country, budget
lines should be specified for each country.
Submission Instructions and Deadline
Responses to this RFP should be submitted to Procurementvietnam@fhi360.org by 5PM Vietnam time/
1PM Amman time on Sunday, October 25, 2026. Proposals received after this date and time may not
be accepted and may be considered non-responsive.
FHI 360 will acknowledge receipt of your submission by email. Proposals must be submitted in electronic
format using Microsoft Office-compatible software.
Any questions or requests for clarification need to be submitted in writing to
Procurementvietnam@fhi360.org by 3PM Vietnam time/11AM Amman time on Tuesday, October 20,
2026. Inquiries and answers to inquiries will be shared with all applicants. No telephone inquiries will
be answered.
All email correspondence should reference "CPCF Market Analysis" in the subject line.
Bidders may withdraw proposals by written notice via email received at any time before award. Proposals
may be withdrawn in person by a bidder or his/her authorized representative, if the representative's
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identity is made known and the representative signs a receipt for the proposal before award.
FHI 360 may contact bidders to confirm contact person, address, quote amount and to confirm that the
proposal was submitted for this solicitation.
Evaluation Process and Criteria
Quotations will be evaluated and ranked by a committee according to the price quotation
information provided. Only bidders able to provide all the requirements listed above will be
considered.
Selection shall be based on the following weighted categories:
1. Financial: 30
2. Technical/Implementation qualification (including qualified staff, local access
and availability to complete the work within the agreed timeline): 50
3. Relevant experience: 20
NOTE: FHI 360 will not compensate the company/consultant for its preparation of response to this RFP nor is
the issuing of this RFP a guarantee that FHI 360 will award a contract.
Contract Mechanism
FHI 360 anticipates issuing a firm fixed price contract to the responsive bidder or whose quote meets the
above requirements and offers a competitive price. Once an award is issued, it will include a fixed price
payment based on completion of the scope of work and verification of the quality and quantity of delivered
products.
Contract details and payment terms will be discussed in the final award documentation.
All prospective bidders must comply with the safeguarding policies of our organization. Any violations of
the policies may result in immediate contract termination without liability for the organization.
FHI 360 Disclaimers
This RFQ/RFP represents only a definition of the requirements. It is merely an invitation for submission of
quotes and does not legally obligate FHI 360 to accept any of the submitted quotes in whole or in part, nor
is FHI 360 obligated to select the lowest-priced quote. FHI 360 reserves the right to negotiate with any or
all vendors, both with respect to price, cost, and/scope of services. FHI 360 has no contractual obligations
with any vendors based upon the issuance of this RFQ/RFP. This is not an offer to contract. Only the
execution of a written award shall obligate FHI 360 in accordance with the terms and conditions contained
in such an award.
* Proposals received become the property of FHI 360.
* FHI 360 may cancel the solicitation and not award.
* FHI 360 may reject any or all responses received.
* Issuance of solicitation does not constitute award commitment by FHI 360.
* FHI 360 reserves the right to disqualify any proposal based on the bidder's failure to follow
solicitation instructions.
* FHI 360 will not compensate bidders for responses to this solicitation.
* FHI 360 reserves the right to issue an award based on initial evaluation of proposals without
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further discussion.
* FHI 360 may choose to award only part of the activities in the solicitation or issue multiple
awards based on the solicitation activities.
* FHI 360 reserves the right to waive minor proposal deficiencies that can be corrected prior to
award determination to promote competition.
* FHI 360 may request from short-listed bidders a second or third round of either oral presentation
or written response to a more specific and detailed scope of work that is based on a general scope
of work in the original RFQ/RFP.
* FHI 360 has the right to rescind an RFQ/RFP or rescind an award prior to the signing of an award
due to any unforeseen changes in the direction of FHI 360's client, be it funding or programmatic.
* FHI 360 will be contacting all bidders to confirm contact person, address, and that quote was
submitted for this solicitation.
* FHI 360 may perform a background check on any selected Consultant candidates.
* FHI 360's consultant and company terms and conditions can be found here.
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