Terms of Reference – Call for Tender Programmer / Software Development Company At Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression

Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM) is an independent, non-governmental, non-profit organization established in 2004. It seeks to build a society that guarantees freedom of expression and belief, human rights, and justice. Our vision is a democratic world based on justice, freedom, equality, and respect for human rights and dignity. As part of its ongoing efforts to uncover the fate of missing persons in Syria and provide the most accurate information possible, SCM plans to develop a face recognition application. To this end, SCM seeks to contract a programmer or a software development company to develop an application that facilitates the processing of recognition requests and facial comparisons as follows:

1)Technical Requirements

The application must be built using the latest web technologies to ensure high performance, security, and user-friendliness:

a) Development Environment

• Programming Language: Preferably Python or Node.js.
• Database: Preferably PostgreSQL or MongoDB.
• Cloud Storage: Google Cloud Storage (for image storage).
• Facial Recognition Algorithm: OpenCV + Dlib, AWS Rekognition, or Microsoft Face API.

b) Performance and Compatibility

• Support for all modern browsers.
• Responsive design compatible with mobile and tablet devices.
• Performance optimization using caching techniques.

c) Security and Data Protection

• Encrypt transmitted data using HTTPS and SSL/TLS.
• Implement role-based access control (RBAC).
• Compliance with GDPR security standards.

2) Application Requirements

a) Features

• Store high-resolution images in a database or cloud storage.
• Enhance stored images to improve comparison accuracy.
• Analyze stored images and generate a unique digital signature for each face to accelerate future matching processes.
• Enable search functionality with adjustable match accuracy thresholds.
• Mark previously matched images with a distinctive accuracy score and allow filtering in new searches to optimize performance.
• Support searching using a live image or an uploaded file.
• Maintain a searchable history of search operations, performance reports, and filtering capabilities.

b) User Dashboard

• Log in using email and password or two-factor authentication (2FA).
• User-friendly interface for managing data and uploading images.
• Export search results in multiple formats (PDF, CSV).

c) Integration with Other Systems

• Provide an API for integration with other systems when needed.
• Support integration with artificial intelligence services.

3) Required Experience and documents

Proof of work in similar projects that includes:

• Demonstrable experience of at least 3 years in developing and supporting similar projects using CMS or other web apps.
• Examples of previous projects demonstrating relevant expertise
• At least two references from previous work.
• Methodology: a brief summary (approximately 250 words) should be provided when submitting the quotations
• Explanation of the methodology of development, delivery, and maintenance
• Description of the provider’s approach and experience in developing similar apps.
• Financial offer including:
• The Financial compensation.
• The validity of the offer (duration- date).

4) Evaluation criteria

• The applicant’s experience (50%).
• The provided methodology (25%).
• Financial offer (25%).

5) Location of Work: Remote work is available.

6) Schedule of Payments: The payment will be an “all-inclusive” lump sum for the development, design, and launch of the face recognition application. The payments will be made based on the agreed-upon deliverables.

The Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression is an independent, non-governmental, non-profit civil society organization. It works to build a society that guarantees freedom of expression and belief, human rights, and access to justice. Its vision is a democratic world, based on justice, freedom, and equality, that respects human dignity and rights.

Within the framework of the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM)’s efforts to uncover the fate, the Violations Documentation Project at the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression plans to “develop a web application for facial recognition.”

Accordingly, the center seeks to contract with a programmer or software company to develop a web application to facilitate the processing of facial recognition and comparison requests:

1) Requirements:

a) Technical requirements:
The application must be built using the latest web development technologies to ensure high performance, security and ease of use.

• Development environment:
  • Programming language: Preferably Python or Node.js
  • Database: Preferably PostgreSQL or MongoDB
  • Cloud Storage: Google Cloud Storage (for storing photos)
  • Face Recognition Algorithm: OpenCV + Dlib or AWS Rekognition or Microsoft Face API
• Performance and compatibility:
  • Support all modern browsers
  • Responsive design supports mobile and tablet devices
  • Improve performance using caching techniques
• Security and data protection:
  • Encrypt data in transit using HTTPS and SSL/TLS
  • Role-Based Authorization Management (RBAC)
  • GDPR compliance

b) Application requirements:

• Application features:
  • Store high-resolution images in databases or in cloud storage
  • Ability to improve images stored on the system for more accurate comparisons
  • Analyze stored images and create a digital signature for each face to speed up later matching processes.
  • Search capabilities by specifying the target match accuracy percentage.
  • Mark previously matched images with a unique matching accuracy and filter them in any new search to speed up the process.
  • Support search using direct image or file upload
  • Permanent search history, performance reports and filtering capabilities
• User Control Panel:
  • Log in with email and password or two-factor authentication
  • Easy to use interface for data management and image uploading
  • Export search results in multiple formats (PDF, CSV)
• Integration with other systems:
  • Provide API for integration with other systems if needed.
  • Support integration with AI services

2) Required documents

a) Proof of work on similar projects which include:

• Proven experience of at least 3 years in developing and supporting similar projects.
• View previous projects.
• At least two references from previous work.

b) Methodology: A brief summary of approximately 250 words should be provided when submitting quotations, including:

• Explain the development, delivery and maintenance methodology.
• Description of the provider’s work methodology and experience in developing similar applications.

c) Financial offer: It includes:

• Financial compensation.
• Offer validity (duration – date)

3) Evaluation criteria

a) Applicant’s experience (50%)
b) Methodology provided (25%)
c) Financial offer (25%)

4) Work place:

• You can work online.

5) Payment method:

• Payment will be a lump sum “all inclusive” for web application development. Payments will be made based on deliverables.