Terms of Reference for – Early grade reading materials (BOOK CORNER ESTABLISHMENT MATERIALS AND ECD LEARNING MATERIALS (Paper)

Shechen Karuna Nepal

Terms of Reference for – Early grade reading materials (BOOK CORNER ESTABLISHMENT MATERIALS AND ECD LEARNING MATERIALS (Paper)

Background

Shechen Karuna Nepal is working in Nepal since 2020 with the vision to create a just society without poverty, a society in which all women and men live a life of dignity, enjoy their rights as active citizens of Nepal. Through integrated development program it aims to provide people with better livelihood opportunities, improved health conditions, sustained environment, quality education and continued economic development, ensuring that development-related activities are demand driven and sustainable. As defined by the VISION 2025, a strategic guidance, Shechen Karuna Nepal has been working in three regions Terai, Mid-Hills and High-Hills (mountains) in five inter-connected thematic sectors;

1. Health and Hygiene 
2. Education
3. Food Security
4. Economic Development
5. Environment

By working in these sectors, Shechen Karuna aims to provide people with opportunities to reduce poverty, vulnerability and inequality, ensuring that development-related activities are gender sensitive, socially inclusive, demand driven and sustainable, and that the most vulnerable are empowered to sustained their effort. Shechen Karuna works in close coordination local governments and civil society organizations to support marginalized, socially excluded and economically poor communities. 

Within the Education Theme of the ongoing Nepal Integrated Development Project (NIDP) by Shechen Karuna, a key focus lies in supporting local community schools in early childhood development by encouraging reading among students in the early grades. The objective is to enhance learning outcomes of children from ECD to grade 3 from Ruby valley Rural municipality – Dhading and Phikkal Rural Municipality – Sindhuli by establishing reading corners in classrooms. 

The overarching goal of providing supplementary reading materials to rural community schools in early grades is to enhance literacy skills and promote a love for reading among students to enhance reading skills, thereby fostering academic success and lifelong learning. 

1. Scope of Work:

We are looking for the potential supplier or the publication house, which will recommend the overall package to meet the objective as mentioned below and purpose the best financial proposal associated with it.

The selected supplier will be responsible for:

• Sourcing age-appropriate reading materials and books suitable for early-grade (ECD and grade 1 to 3) readers.
• Ensuring the quality and educational value of the materials.
• Providing a diverse range of supplementary books with titles covering various subjects, genres, and reading levels (grade specific) ultimately complimenting targets outlined by national curriculum.
• Packaging and delivering the materials to distribution point.
• Supplier should deliver the goods within the 14 days from the purchase order/agreement is issued and received by the selected vendor. If any exceptional case appeared after order issued, there can be extend the delivery date but the supplier should submit the written letter with valid justifications to do so.

3. Requirements:

Experience:

The supplier should have a proven track record in supplying educational materials, specifically early grade reading materials.

Quality:

All materials must meet national curriculum based educational standards, be age-appropriate for the target children. Books ought to serve as supplementary materials aimed at bolstering reading skills during the early grades.

• The total number of Books per grade for ECD is 20 (Pictorial Books)
• The total number of Books from 1 to 3 is 60 per grade
• Total target schools: 20 

(Note: the above mention targets of schools and books per classroom might vary based on budget availability) 

Diversity:

The supplier should offer a wide variety of titles to cater to different interests and reading levels.

Pricing: Competitive pricing with transparent breakdowns of costs for materials, packaging, and delivery.

Delivery Timeline: Ability to meet delivery deadlines and accommodate urgent orders when necessary.

4. Evaluation Criteria:

• Experience and Track Record: Past experience supplying similar materials and demonstrated success in meeting client requirements.
• Quality of Materials: Samples of materials provided and evidence of adherence to educational standards based on the technical proposal provided by the individual firms or company
• Pricing: Cost-effectiveness and transparency of pricing structure.
• Delivery Timeline: Ability to meet deadlines and flexibility in accommodating urgent orders.

5. Submission Guidelines:

Interested suppliers should submit the following documents:

• Company profile highlighting relevant experience.
• List of available titles with descriptions and sample applicable.
• Pricing proposal with a breakdown of costs of materials grade wise.
• Delivery schedule.
• Proofs of legal registrations documents like the PAN, company/firm registration, Tax clearance.

6. Timeline:

Deadline for submissions: 26th February, 2024

7. Proposal to be submitted in: nepal.procurement@karuna-shechen.org