Foundational Study of the Dignified Voices Project At Pan American Development Foundation

Request for Proposals

Title: Foundational Study of the Dignified Voices Project

Application issue date: February 7, 2025

Application number: 4302.02.2025-EF

Closing date: February 28, 2025

Closing time: 18:00 UTC -6

Qualifications that may apply: Consulting firms, commercial companies, academic institutions, research institutions or private entities.

Contractual mechanism: Fixed price

1. BACKGROUND

The Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) believes in creating a hemisphere of opportunity, for all. We work across Latin America and the Caribbean to make our region stronger – healthier, more peaceful, more just, more resilient and more sustainable for current and future generations. For 60 years, we have served the most vulnerable communities, investing resources across the hemisphere. We partner with civil society, governments and the private sector and empower them to achieve good for the region.

With 60 years of experience across Latin America and the Caribbean and strong partnerships with local communities, civil society, and the public and private sectors, we have an impeccable track record of success with extensive in-country networks and strong financial controls. We are uniquely positioned to develop and implement adaptable programs across multiple technical areas, rapidly deploy to any Latin American and Caribbean country and activate existing local networks, measure and evaluate our impact with comprehensive performance indicators, and communicate our progress through integrated communication strategies.

The Dignified Voices project is an initiative that seeks to promote decent work and labor rights for domestic workers in Mexico. With the support of the United States Government, through the Department of Labor (USDOL), this project aims to address forced labor, child labor, and violations of fundamental principles and rights at work through strategic awareness-raising campaigns, capacity building, and the development of innovative tools. Its main objectives are: (1) To increase awareness about child labor, forced labor, and other violations of the Fundamental Principles and Rights in domestic work, among domestic workers and related key actors and (2) To strengthen the capacity of key actors interested in domestic work to address child and forced labor and promote the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

To this end, Voces Dignas seeks to generate an approach that promotes awareness among domestic workers, employers, government and civil society actors about the risks of child labor, forced labor and other labor violations in domestic work. It also aims to strengthen the capacities and technical skills of the actors involved in this sector, promote social dialogue to solve problems that affect this population and generate practical tools to support decent work and services for domestic workers. In addition, the project aims to produce a direct impact on the target population through specific training activities, behavior change campaigns, support for formalization initiatives and generation of reliable data for decision-making.

In this context, the development of a foundational study is essential to collect data and information that will guide the project implementation strategy and, in some cases, establish initial values ​​to measure the impact of the project during its execution.

The study will provide a detailed understanding of the situation of domestic workers and civil society organizations in the selected territories: Mexico City, Querétaro, and the State of Mexico (municipalities of Ecatepec, Los Reyes La Paz, Tlalnepantla, and Naucalpan, considering that domestic workers from these localities travel to work in Mexico City). This study will identify gaps, opportunities, and critical factors that will guide the project’s strategic interventions to reduce child labor and forced labor, guaranteeing fundamental principles and rights at work for domestic workers.

As PADF will be working with individuals, families, organizations and institutions that make up the domestic work ecosystem in the targeted geographic areas, the study will also identify and map key actors to be engaged. It will include initial mapping and consultations to prioritize training and information needs that respond to project stakeholders. In addition, this approach will assess whether domestic workers and employers are aware of child labor, forced labor and other labor rights violations.

This study was designed for multiple purposes. Its main objectives are:

• Conduct stakeholder mapping to identify and prioritize key stakeholders involved in the sector, such as domestic workers, employers, government agencies, and civil society organizations, among others.
• Collect data on the attitudes and practices of domestic workers and employers regarding child labor, forced labor, and other labor rights violations.
• Collect additional data on tools and resources available to domestic workers and their employers, identifying gaps and opportunities to promote decent work, address child and forced labor, and ensure compliance with labor rights. This data will inform the design and implementation of project activities.
• Additionally, the study will include the collection of data necessary to report baseline values ​​for a key project indicator: Percentage of domestic workers reporting improvements in their working conditions and respect for labor rights in relation to child labor, forced labor, and fundamental principles and rights at work (PDFT), after project interventions.

2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Objective: To develop a foundational study to assess the situation of paid domestic work in the project’s target areas (Mexico City, Querétaro, and the municipalities of the State of Mexico such as Ecatepec, Los Reyes La Paz, Tlalnepantla, and Naucalpan, where Voces Dignas will work with domestic workers who travel from these municipalities to work in Mexico City), including both workers and employers.

This objective will be achieved through a study divided into two parts:

1. Ecosystem analysis: Map and assess key actors, as well as tools and resources available to domestic workers and their employers, identifying gaps, opportunities and risks to promote decent work, address child and forced labour, and ensure respect for labour rights.
2. Assessment of attitudes and practices: Collect and analyse data on attitudes and practices related to paid domestic work, providing general information, including that needed to develop baseline values ​​to monitor progress and assess the impact of the Dignified Voices project.

Scope of work:

• Develop a work plan, methodology and schedule that specifies the activities and sub-activities to be carried out.
• Design tools for data collection and develop a data analysis plan.
• Develop strategies to obtain relevant data for the foundational study, which may include focus groups, interviews with key stakeholders, surveys, literature reviews, among others, as appropriate.
• Participate in meetings with the PADF team to present progress during the process, allowing for adjustments when necessary.
• Analyze the collected data.
• Submit a field work report, including a description of the field information collection process and the bibliographic review.
• Submit a report on the foundational study, including a description of the process and findings. The report should include criteria for basing recommendations on the project’s target geographic areas in Mexico City and Querétaro. The analysis of domestic workers should capture factors such as age, work modality (live-in or live-out), and working conditions.

The foundational study should focus on the following specific aspects:

1. Characterize the target population (domestic workers) at the start of the intervention, as well as the actors involved in the sector and/or in addressing the thematic areas (employers, government agencies, civil society organizations, academia, etc.). This should include an influence analysis/power map to prioritize key actors. The characterization of domestic workers should offer a general overview based on data available at the national and state levels, providing a broad understanding of their demographics, working conditions, and systemic challenges.
2. Analyze the contextual dynamics and risks that could influence project outcomes. This analysis should include aspects related to social dialogue, explicitly examining political dynamics, how different actors relate within the ecosystem, and identifying barriers to effective social dialogue. In addition, it should assess what works and what does not in the current framework of interaction between the actors involved.
3. Collect information and data on the attitudes and practices of domestic workers and their employers in relation to child labour, forced labour and other labour rights violations.
4. Identify gaps and barriers in access by domestic workers to decent work, social and legal services (especially those related to child labor, forced labor and violations of fundamental principles and rights at work), tools for formalization and knowledge of labor rights.
5. Report a baseline value for the project’s main indicator, which will serve as an initial reference point for monitoring, as well as for the mid-term and final evaluations of the Voces Dignas project. This will be achieved through a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys and structured interviews. Data will be collected from random samples of domestic workers in Mexico City (including those working in the city but residing in the target municipalities of the State of Mexico) and Querétaro, to establish baseline values ​​in the target areas for the indicator: “Percentage of domestic workers reporting improvements in working conditions and respect for labor rights related to child labor, forced labor, and fundamental principles and rights at work (FPRW), following project interventions.”
6. Identify tools and resources relevant to domestic work, including those that promote decent work and reporting mechanisms for labor violations.

3. PLACE(S) OF ASSIGNMENT

The places of implementation are the metropolitan area of ​​Mexico City and the state of Querétaro. This study must define the municipalities of these states for the implementation of Dignified Voices. In the case of the State of Mexico, the municipalities of Ecatepec, Reyes La Paz, Tlalnepantla and Naucalpan have already been defined, considering domestic workers who work in Mexico City but reside in these municipalities.

4. MILESTONE AND DELIVERABLE SCHEDULE (All taxes, fees and other applicable costs must be included in the financial proposal.)

Calendar of Milestones/Deliverables

1. Estimated Completion Date: One week after contract signing
   1. Milestone: Detailed work plan for the foundational study, including methodology.
   2. Deliverable: Detailed work plan
   3. Percentage of Total: 10%
2. Estimated Completion Date: Three weeks after contract signing
   1. Milestone: Quantitative and qualitative research instruments and analysis protocol developed.
   2. Deliverable: Instruments and protocol
   3. Percentage of Total: 25%
3. Estimated Completion Date: Six weeks after contract signing
   1. Milestone: Report presented describing the preliminary results and information collected through the different tools applied.
   2. Deliverable: Preliminary results report
   3. Percentage of Total: 30%
4. Estimated Completion Date: Eight weeks after contract signing
   1. Milestone: Foundational study report developed, including a description of the process, recommendations for target areas in Mexico City and Querétaro, and findings. PADF will review the final report and PADF comments and feedback must be incorporated prior to approval. The following should also be included:
      1. Raw data, including interview notes. PADF policies on Personally Identifiable Information (PII) must be followed.
      2. Codebooks or similar showing how the data was analyzed.
   2. Deliverable: Final report
   3. Percentage of Total: 35%

Total: 100%

Deliverables will be sent to PADF for review, incorporating comments, to arrive at a final version of the documents.

5. EVALUATION CRITERIA

Evaluation Criteria (Points out of 100)

1. Technical Proposal (35 Points):
   1. Clearly and precisely describes the workflow, methodology and tools for collecting information and data.
   2. Presents an appropriate schedule for the proposed activities.
   3. Demonstrates sufficient knowledge of research techniques for baselines, mapping of key actors and analysis of attitudes and practices.
   4. The proposal details a targeted and informed approach to data collection and analysis, including information needed to baseline the Project’s target indicator, in order to effectively track progress and impact, as specified above.
   5. Proposes creative and solid strategies.
2. Economic Proposal (30 Points):
   1. The budgeted costs are reasonable for the proposed activities.
   2. The level of detail is sufficient to assess the applicability of the proposal.
3. Background and experience of the applicant and the work team (35 Points)
   1. Experience in conducting social studies.
   2. Preference for direct experience in labor and/or human rights projects.
   3. Preference for experience in projects with domestic workers.

6. DETAILS OF THE SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS

• Deadline. Proposals must be received no later than 28 February 2025. Late proposals will not be accepted. Proposals should be sent by email to procurement@padf.org. All proposals must be submitted following the guidelines indicated in this RFP.
• Offer validity: Proposals, including cost/price, will be valid for 120 days from the submission deadline.
• Clarifications. Questions may be sent to procurement@padf.org before the date and time specified in the schedule below. The subject of the email must contain the RFP number and the title of the RFP. PADF will respond in writing to clarifications submitted before the date specified in the schedule below. Answers to questions that may be of common interest to all applicants will be posted on the PADF website and/or communicated by email.
• Amendments. At any time prior to the deadline for submission of proposals, PADF may, for any reason, modify the RFP documents by means of an amendment which will be posted on the PADF website and/or communicated by email.
• Schedule of events.
  • Event: Issuance of the request for proposals
    • Date: February 7, 2025
  • Event: Sending questions to PADF
    • Date: February 14, 2025
  • Event: Provision of clarifications to known bidders
    • Date: February 18, 2025
  • Event: Presentation of proposals
    • Date: February 28, 2025
  • Event: Approximate selection
    • Date: March 10, 2025

7. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in development cooperation projects with emphasis on labor and/or human rights.
• Proven experience in data collection and analysis in similar projects (Curriculum Vitae of the company and of the participants).
• Knowledge of the regulatory, economic and social framework related to paid domestic work in Mexico.

8. PROPOSAL DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED

Technical Proposal:

• Corporate capabilities, experience, previous performance and 2 client references. Please include descriptions of similar projects or assignments.
• Key Personnel Qualifications: Please attach resumes (CV) demonstrating how the proposed team meets the minimum requirements listed in Section 7 (Minimum Requirements).
• Technical approach, methodology and detailed work plan. The technical proposal must describe in detail how the offeror plans to carry out the requirements set out in the RFP.

Economic Proposal:

• Detail the costs that will be incurred in the execution of the study, in US dollars.

9. TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Result of Agreement

This RFP does not obligate PADF to execute a contract, nor does it commit PADF to pay any costs incurred in preparing or submitting proposals. Furthermore, PADF reserves the right to reject any and all offers, if such action is deemed to be in the best interest of PADF. PADF, in its sole discretion, will select the winning proposal and is not obligated to share the results of the individual evaluation.

Confidentiality

All proprietary information provided by the applicant will be treated as confidential and will not be shared with potential or actual applicants during the bidding process. This includes, but is not limited to, price quotes, cost proposals, and technical proposals. PADF may, but is not obligated to, post agreements on its public website after the bidding process has concluded, and the contract has been agreed upon. PADF’s evaluation results are confidential and applicants’ scores will not be shared with each other.

Disqualification and suspension

Entities that appear on any exclusion list, System for Agreement Management (SAM), Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), United Nations Sanctions List, and other watch lists will not have their offer evaluated and will not be eligible to receive any subagreements that may result from this Request for Proposals.

To view Annexes 1 and 2, please use the following link: Procurement Opportunities – PADF