Request for Proposal (RFP) – Secretariat Management for India Social Procurement Coalition

Organization: SAP
Apply By: 07 April 2025
Grant Amount: €50,000 (initial funding for 2025)

Background, Purpose, and Objectives

SAP promotes Social Procurement, which prioritizes social and environmental values in purchasing decisions over profit. The goal is to help businesses meet ESG, CSR, and regulatory compliance while driving economic, social, and environmental impact.

• Need for Secretariat:
  • The Social Procurement Coalition was initiated in 2024 to bring together industry professionals and organizations.
  • To formalize this initiative, SAP seeks a Secretariat team to govern and expand the Coalition.
  • The Secretariat will facilitate, coordinate, engage stakeholders, share knowledge, and track impact.

Key Stakeholders

• Private sector companies: Procurement, HR, Supply Chain, CSR, Sustainability professionals
• Social enterprises, federations, NGOs, Government agencies (NITI Aayog, SEBI, MSMEs), academics, funding bodies

Strategic Objectives

1. Scale Corporate Commitment

   • Increase the number of corporates integrating impact procurement into operations.
   • Get more companies to publicly commit to social procurement.

2. Develop Infrastructure for Social Procurement

   • Create a recognized industry framework, certification bodies, and capacity-building programs.

3. Advocate a Pro-Social Procurement Stance in Government

   • Engage NITI Aayog, line ministries, SEBI, and others to promote policy adoption.

Role of the Secretariat

1. Facilitate Design and Identity of the Coalition
2. Govern and Coordinate Operations
3. Engage Key Stakeholders (buyers, suppliers, policymakers, funders)
4. Facilitate Knowledge Sharing (events, reports, best practices)
5. Monitor and Report Impact
6. Ensure Sustainability through fundraising and resource mobilization

Scope of Work

1. Strategic Steer

• Develop a collective vision and unique identity for the Coalition.
• Success Metrics:
  • Unified vision adopted by all stakeholders.
  • Growth in membership, engagement, and scale.

2. Member and Stakeholder Engagement

• Onboard corporates and social enterprises.
• Support members by providing frameworks and best practices.
• Act as a facilitator for key processes and partnerships.
• Success Metrics:
  • Number of members onboarded.
  • Member satisfaction and successful problem resolution.

3. Resource Mobilization

• Identify and secure funding and resources for sustainability.
• Success Metrics:
  • Amount of funds secured.
  • Long-term sustainability of funding sources.

Required Competencies

1. Network Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement
2. Resource Mobilization & Strategic Partnerships
3. Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) Expertise
4. Policy Development & Narrative-Building
5. Governance & Financial Management Experience
6. Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

Eligibility Criteria

• Must be a registered non-profit entity in India (Society, Trust, or Section 8 Company).
• Must have valid tax exemptions (80G & 12A) and FCRA registration (valid till Dec 2026).

???? Selection is subject to SAP's due diligence process.

Application Timeline

???? RFP Release: 5th March 2025
???? Submission Deadline: 7th April 2025
???? Winners Notified: 9th May 2025

Proposal Submission Guidelines

???? Maximum Length: 10 pages (including cover sheet)

Proposal Structure

1. Cover Sheet (1 Page)
2. Organizational Overview (1 Page)
3. Narrative Description (3-4 Pages)
   • Proposed activities, approach, and alignment with Coalition goals.
   • Past experience and staff qualifications.
   • If part of a coalition, define each partner’s role and time commitment.
   • Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) plan.
4. List of Other Project Funders (1 Page)
   • Committed and prospective funding sources.
5. Total Proposed Project Budget (1 Page)
   • Break down expenses (Capex, Opex, HR, travel, admin, etc.).
6. Timeline of Activities (1 Page)
   • Preferably in a Gantt Chart format.
7. Risk Management Plan (1 Page)
   • Identify potential risks and mitigation strategies.
8. Annexures (Optional)
   • Letters of support from stakeholders.
   • Organizational policies (DEI, governance, etc.)

Contact for Submission & Queries

???? [email protected]
???? [email protected]

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This RFP aims to establish a strong Secretariat that can drive the India Social Procurement Coalition forward by engaging stakeholders, influencing policies, and ensuring sustainable growth. ????