The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) is a worldwide organization of judges and lawyers united in affirming international law and rule of law principles that advance human rights. Its strategic goals for 2021-2025 are: (1) to develop, defend, and strengthen international institutions, instruments, and standards on rule of law and human rights; (2) to improve domestic implementation of, and compliance with, international law and standards; (3) to bolster the effectiveness and independence of judges and lawyers; and (4) to improve access to justice for all and accountability. With its Headquarters based in Geneva, Switzerland, ICJ has a presence in Africa, Latin America, Asia & the Pacific, Europe & Central Asia, and the Middle East.
Internal need description / reason of procurement
The International Commission of Jurists invites companies to submit a proposal to redesign its website. This work is intended to take around three months and should be completed by the end of 2023.
Current Status – the existing ICJ website was designed a number of years ago and contains a large amount of information that is difficult to access and dispersed throughout the site. It is currently a WordPress site and its news blog is updated by staff members. There is a large amount of information that needs to be properly archived, while other relevant information is hard to find.
Project Overview — The ICJ is looking for a company to redesign and maintain its website. The website will be expected to include a live news blog that can be regularly updated by ICJ, static pages describing our organization, who we are, what we do, where we work, as well as pages and a search function to allow toolkits, publications and other media tools to be downloaded.
1. Process:
We are a non-profit organization, supported by public funds, and have a limited budget. The response deadline for this proposal is July 15, 2023. We expect the project to take three months.
Questions: May be sent in writing by email to sarah.lemesurier@icj.org by June 30, 2023. The ICJ will compile a list of questions received and may, at its discretion, send a list of anonymised questions and replies to all bidders who have lodged a notice of intention to file a bid.
Amendments to RFP: The ICJ may at any time amend the RFP (including amendments to timelines). Any amendments will be sent by email to all Bidders who have lodged a notice of intention to file a Proposal.
Bidder Presentations: The ICJ may at its discretion ask Bidders to attend a virtual presentation of the Proposal or otherwise seek clarifications by written request. During this process no change in price nor substance of the Proposal shall be sought, offered or permitted, except as required to correct factual or arithmetical errors.
Proposal (Containing the completed Annex A Declaration Form, Technical Proposal and Financial Proposal): Must be submitted by email to sarah.lemesurier@icj.org by no later than the date set out above.
References: as part of the evaluation process The ICJ may at its discretion contact references provided by the Bidder or identified independently by the ICJ. The ICJ may conduct background checks or other due diligence at its option prior to selection of a preferred Bidder.
Selection: The ICJ reserves the right to not select any Bidder and cancel the RFP and/or reissue the RFP. Bidders may reapply with a new proposal if a new RFP is issued for the same or similar services. The ICJ has no obligation to share with Bidders the reasons for its selection or non‐selection of any or all.
Proposals: The ICJ may withdraw the RFP or modify the project or the timelines at any time. The ICJ does not generally make public the name of a selected Bidder. The ICJ will acknowledge receipt of a Proposal (if a complete Proposal and Bidder declaration form is filed in accordance with this RFP) and will take reasonable steps to inform a Bidder if its Proposal is not selected (but such notification may take significant time as The ICJ may first conclude a contract with another bidder).
Contract: No services may be provided prior to the signature of a legal contract. The ICJ will not be responsible for any work undertaken in anticipation of contract signature nor for any losses or liabilities incurred by the bidder prior to contract signature (and upon contract signature, only such obligations as are agreed in the contract). Prior to contracting, the ICJ may require further due diligence for a preferred Bidder.
2. Requested services
Website Audience — Our key audiences are:
- Members of the legal profession and academic scholars –to provide access to practical resources, human rights and rule of law research and analyisi, to better understand changes in the human rights and rule of law environment
- Our donors and supporters – to see evidence of the work they are funding,
- Media and journalists
- CSOs and Human rights defenders globally – to access the information and tools we provide
- Partners – to follow our work and identify opportunities
- Potential employees – to access job opportunities
- Government officials, International Governmental Organisations, national and international NGOs
- Individuals whose human rights have been violated
- Subscribers – people who want to subscribe to our updates
Website Objectives — There are three main objectives:
- Showcase and raise awareness of the work that our organization does and the impact it has achieved.
- Provide easy access to the toolkits, publications, expert analysis and other resources we have previously produced, and will continue to produce.
- Allow people to subscribe to our updates or contact us for more information.
Current Website — Our current website – www.icj.org – does not explain what we do on the home page and key information (such as our toolkits, guides, reports annual report, etc) are spread throughout the site and hard to find. There is a lot of very old content on the site (newsletters from 1961) and returns through the search function are not chronological, making it more difficult to find specific documents. The different sections do not provide an easy understanding of what we do or provide quick access to key information. It also looks old fashioned and a number of sections contain large amounts of information that needs to be updated.
New Website Functionality Requirements — Key requirements:
- A news/blog on the front page and newsletter subscription. The front page should be able to be regularly updated with news stories from the ICJ’s programmes (at least daily).
- Pages will include About us – Vision, Mission, Staff, Commissioners, ExCo; What we do – overview of programmes and interactive map of programme locations and offices; Impact – case studies of achievements to date
- Toolkits and publications (including podcasts and webinar video links) that visitors can download – these need to be easily accessible and should be available through a highly visible link on the front page.
- Transferal of existing content hosted on the current site (see note on archive function below)
- Optimisation for mobile devices (as in many countries people access website through mobile devices).
- Careers – ability to post job vacancies
- Links to our social media sites
- Search functionality with chronological order
- Ability to showcase upcoming events
- Ease of navigation
- Ability to replicate the site in other languages
New Website Wish List
We would also like pricing options for:
- Versions of the site in other languages – Spanish, Russian and Arabic
- Accessibility for sight impaired users
- Newsletter options to create and mail the newsletter through the site
- An option to accept subscription payments for associate members
- A password accessible archive
How to apply
Responses to this RFP must be in English and must include:
Bidder Proposal Form attached as Annex A including relevant supporting documents (e.g.current copy of registration; Authorised Signatories);
Technical Proposal containing narrative of the services to be provided, the information you require from the customer at each stage of the process, a list of deliverables, any recommendations you have for us that could improve the website, a timeline for delivery of services and deliverables, a list of key personnel and proposed subcontractors (if any).Please include examples of at least three previous sites that you have built that would be similar in scope to the response you would offer us, and where possible, provide indicative timeframes and costs for these.
No pricings should be included in the Technical Proposal.;
Financial Proposal containing a detailed budget which includes the entire proposed service fee including all costs and expenses.
The quote should:
- present the full cost breakdown for your services so we can best understand and compare quotes between possible providers.
- A total cost for the redesign
- Any recurrent additional hosting fees and maintenance. Costs for this should be monthly and should include details of the maintenance services and support provided.
All pricings must be submitted in CHF, EUR or USD. If the Bidder requests for fees payments to be made into a bank account in a currency that is different to that of the proposal budget Bidder must specify in the Financial Proposal. Bidder shall assume all bank charges and foreign exchange fees that may arise if the currency of proposal is different to the Bidder bank account currency for payment of fees.
Website RFP & Project Timeline Details —
Responses must be received by 15 July 2023 and we expect to make a decision by end July 2023. We would like the development process to take three months and commit to a high rate of responsiveness to requests for information.
You are encouraged to apply if you/your organisation has:
- Demonstrable experience designing websites for similar, mid-size international NGOs;
- Expertise in developing websites that provide access to published resources and information sharing tools;
- Experience working with global organisations;
- An interest in supporting human rights and the rule of law.
Please submitting your response to sarah.lemesurier@icj.org and include “Website Redesign” in the subject line of the application e-mail. The ICJ shall not be liable for not opening proposals that are submitted with a different subject.
This RFP and any associated documents issued by the ICJ or other information provided by the ICJ shall not be interpreted as an offer capable of being accepted or as creating any contractual, other legal or restitution rights against the ICJ (or its officials, personnel, subcontractors, associated offices or other partners). In particular, no agreement for the provision of the services is created with a Bidder by virtue of the issuing of this RFP, by the submission of a proposal by a bidder or any discussions or responses to questions as part of the procurement process. The ICJ may select a preferred Bidder at its complete discretion and shall not be responsible for any costs or losses incurred by an unsuccessful bidder.
The ICJ is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity and value a diverse workforce. The ICJ’s policy is to practice a fair and non-discriminatory recruitment and selection procedure and to strive for and maintain international and multi-cultural personnel.
Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.
ICJ staff and consultants must adhere to its Code of Ethics which states that discrimination, bullying and harassment in any form will not be tolerated, nor sexual harassment, violence or assault in any form.