Consultancy Services for Business Continuity Management (BCM) to support MSMEs in the Agrifood and Agriculture Production Sectors

1. General Information

Michel Daher Social Foundation (MDSF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable communities in Lebanon. MDSF operates across four pillars: healthcare, social development, economic and human development, and community development and sustainable livelihoods. Through its programs, MDSF promotes resilience, sustainability, and social stability by addressing the needs of individuals, communities, and local enterprises.

About Salam Project:

Salam Project is a project implemented by MDSF and funded by GIZ. It aims at fostering economic resilience and social stability in Southern Baalbek and West Bekaa. The project focuses on empowering Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by addressing operational challenges, promoting sustainability, and enhancing their capacity to withstand and recover from economic shocks. Through tailored support and innovative solutions, the Salam Project seeks to create sustainable livelihoods and contribute to the overall development of the region.

2. Objective

The objective of this tender is to enhance business resilience for MSMEs in South Baalbek and West Bekaa through tailored technical support and Business Continuity Management (BCM) strategies. This initiative seeks to mitigate risks, improve financial sustainability, achieve long-term growth, and foster economic recovery by engaging a consultancy firm or a team of experts with extensive expertise in business continuity for 30 MSMEs in the agrifood and agriculture production sectors. The consultancy will provide customized solutions covering legal compliance, supply chain management, food and export regulations, business registration laws, risk and crisis management, financial sustainability, digital marketing, clean energy solutions, market linkage, and other potential subject matters.

3. Scope of Work

The selected experts will undertake the following tasks:

Business Continuity Management (BCM) Training & Coaching

• Provide tailored Business Continuity Management (BCM) training for MSMEs in the agrifood and agriculture production sectors, ensuring the content aligns with their business size, industry, financial stability, and specific challenges. These sessions will equip MSMEs with essential risk management and crisis response strategies to enhance their resilience and sustainability.
• Provide tailor-made one-on-one coaching to help MSMEs develop and implement Business Continuity Plans (BCPs).

Potential subject matter to be covered by the experts:

- Legal and Regulatory Compliance

• Provide guidance on business registration laws, contracts, and intellectual property rights.
• Advise MSMEs on food and export regulations and international trade requirements.

- Supply Chain Resilience

• Identify supply chain vulnerabilities and develop risk mitigation strategies.
• Support MSMEs in optimizing procurement, logistics, and inventory management.
• Offer specialized guidance on food safety certifications.

- Financial Sustainability & Business Growth

• Assist MSMEs in financial planning, cost control, and revenue diversification.
• Provide guidance on securing funding opportunities and investment strategies.

- Digital Marketing & Market Linkages

• Train MSMEs on digital marketing, e-commerce, and brand positioning.
• Facilitate connections with local, national, and international markets.

- Clean Energy Solutions & Sustainable Practices

• Offer MSMEs advice on clean energy adoption and efficiency improvements.
• Support the integration of circular economy principles into business operations.

4. Deliverables

The experts are expected to deliver:

• Training Modules – Development of BCM training sessions for MSMEs in agrifood production and agriculture production covering all outlined topics.
• One-on-one coaching Report and Business Continuity Plan (BCP) per MSME – Documentation of advisory sessions, needs assessments, and action plans.
• Final Report – Assessment of the program's impact and recommendations for further capacity-building efforts.

5. Milestones and Timeline

The consultancy contract will be for a period of 3 months, starting from the beginning of May,2025 and concluding by the end of July, 2025. A detailed timeline will be agreed upon at project inception.

The experts team will have to conduct 10 offline workshops (5 topics for each group of 15 MSMEs each) of half a day each at Michel Daher Foundation-Ferzol and a total of  150 online one-on-one clinics (5 one-on-one clinics per MSME) for the MSMEs. 

• Completion of all 30 MSME workshops and One-on-One Coaching sessions by July 12, 2025.
• Submission of individual assessment reports by July 20, 2025.
• Final submission of the summary report packages by July 25, 2025.

6. Required Qualifications and Experience

The selected team of experts must demonstrate:

• Proven expertise in Business Continuity Management for MSMEs in agrifood production and agriculture production.
• Strong knowledge in one or several of the following subject matters: legal frameworks, supply chain resilience, financial sustainability, export regulations, food industry compliance, business planning, clean energy solutions, digital marketing and market linkages.
• Previous experience working with MSMEs in crisis-affected or rural settings.

7. Duration and Contract Terms

• Contract Duration: 3 months
• Start Date: May 1, 2025
• End Date: July 31, 2025

8. Supervision and Reporting

The expert will report directly to and work under the guidance of the project manager. Regular progress updates will be required to ensure timely completion of milestones.

9. Payment Terms

Payment Method: All payments under this agreement shall be made via bank transfer, or Telegraphic Transfer (TT).

Payment Terms: Payments will be made in installments following the successful completion and approval of the deliverables listed below. An invoice must be submitted for each service upon completion, in accordance with the schedule, for payments to be processed:

• 10 in-person Training Workshops, half-day each (25%)
• 150 online One-on-one Sessions of 1 hour each (30%)
• Submission of individual assessment reports including customized Business Continuity Plan (BCP) (30%)
• Final submission of the summary report packages (15%)

Note: If the supplier does not provide a valid MOF certificate, they will be subject to a reduction of 8.5% on services, in accordance with the applicable tax rules and regulations.

10. Selection Criteria

The selection of the team of experts for this project will be based on two-stage evaluation process: Technical Evaluation and Financial Evaluation, with the overall evaluation weighted as follows:

Technical Evaluation (60%)

• Relevant Education background (10%): Bachelor’s in Business Administration, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with MSMEs (10%): Proven track record of working with MSMEs in similar contexts, especially in areas  such as business continuity planning and supply chain operations.
• Expertise and Methodology (20%): Demonstrated ability to effectively conduct workshop and one-on-one sessions , identify needs and develop tailored interventions.
• Relevant Project Experience (10%): Previous projects focused on enhancing  MSME resilience, sustainability, and supply chain management.
• Team Composition and Qualifications (10%): The qualifications and relevant experience of the expert(s) involved in the project.

Financial Criteria (40%)

Cost Proposal (40%): Competitive pricing structure with clear breakdowns of costs related to field assessments, reporting, and development of support packages.