- BackgroundPathfinder is driven by the belief that all people, regardless of where they live, have the right to decide if and when to have children—free from fear and stigma—and to lead the lives they choose. Since 1957, we have partnered with local governments, communities, and health systems to remove barriers to critical sexual and reproductive health services. Together, we have expanded access to contraception, promoted healthy pregnancies, saved women’s lives, and prevented the spread of new HIV infections wherever the need is most urgent. Our work ensures that millions of girls and women, men and boys, adolescents, and young people are able to choose their own paths.Pathfinder International – Mozambique, as part of the “Futuros com Escolha” project, intends to hire a specialized company to adapt, contextualize, and implement the SmartHealth digital platform, designed to support Adolescent and Youth-Friendly Services (SAAJ).
- Purpose of the RFP
To solicit a technical and financial proposal for the adaptation, contextualization, and implementation of the SmartHealth digital platform, designed to support the Adolescent and Youth-Friendly Services (SAAJ) in Massinga and Maxixe in accordance with the Terms of Reference.
- Scope of Work
Pathfinder International Mozambique intends to contract services for the adaptation and implementation of the SmartHealth platform through a company/startup legally established in the country. The selected company must develop the SmartHealth application and create documentation and API integration to enable the technological integration of SmartHealth with other platforms in use at MISAU. The company must also develop a user-friendly tool featuring content on Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), Family Planning (FP), and Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
Below are the main expected activities and deliverables.
3.1 Technical and Functional Design
- Revision of the SmartHealth platform in line with the requirements of a (virtual) SAAJ that includes communication functions via text message, voice, and video call.
- Development of an adaptation and implementation plan
- Adjustment of conversational flows to the SAAJ context
- The platform must be open to accommodate new content
3.2 Adaptation and configuration of the SmartHealth platform
- Adaptation of the existing SmartHealth chatbot for validated SRH content
- Adaptation of the existing SDSR risk assessment tool
- Configuration of the referral system for:
- SAAJ at the Massinga Health Center
- SAAJ at the Maxixe Health Center
- Telemedicine (depending on the operationalization of MISAU).
3.3 Technological Integration
- Integration with digital platforms (Web)
- Configuration of the management and monitoring system
3.4 Testing and Pilot Implementation
- Technical and functional testing
- Adjustments based on user feedback
3.5 Training
- SAAJ healthcare providers
- Project managers
- Key stakeholders at the local and central levels, including MISAU staff from the Donor and Pathfinder
3.6 Documentation
- System technical manual
- User guide
- Progress Reports
- Final Report
- Key Deliverables
- Detailed Work Plan
- Adaptation and configuration of the SmartHealth platform
- Adaptation of the existing SmartHealth chatbot for validated SRH content
- Adjustment of the existing risk assessment tool
- Configuration of the referral system for:
- SAAJ at the Massinga Health Center
- Maxixe Health Center’s SAAJ
- Functional risk assessment tool
- Reference system configured
- Platform integrated and tested
- Training sessions conducted
- Technical manual and user guide
- Final consulting report
Relevant considerations to take into account for the selection process include experience and the presentation of a clear work methodology that allows the platform to be up and running within a maximum of thirty (30) days.
- Ethical Considerations and Data Protection
The SmartHealth platform will collect and process sensitive personal data from adolescents and young people, a population that requires enhanced protective measures. As such, applicants must address each of the following ethical considerations and data protection standards in their proposal:
- Data confidentiality and security: The company/startup must include a clear explanation of the technical features built into the product that will protect user data, including how data is stored, encrypted, and protected against unauthorized access.
- Data governance and hosting: The company/startup must specify where the collected data will be hosted/stored and which parties will retain access to and ownership of the data during and after the pilot phase.
- Informed consent: The company/startup must explain how the user’s informed consent will be obtained and recorded on the platform before the user accesses the services.
- Consent for Minors: The company/startup must detail its approach to obtaining consent from the parents, guardians, or legal representatives of minors, in accordance with the Law on the Promotion and Protection of Children’s Rights (Law No. 7/2008) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Mozambique is a signatory.
- Age-Appropriate Content: The company/startup must confirm that all language and content made available through the platform will be age-appropriate for adolescent users and describe the process for validating such content.
- Scope of the platform: The company/startup must confirm that the platform will not be used to diagnose or treat medical conditions and describe how the chatbot will remain within ethical boundaries.
- Escalation protocol: The company/startup must define the protocol the platform will follow in cases where abuse, violence, or suicidal thoughts are identified during the platform’s interaction with the user, including how and to whom the information will be forwarded and within what timeframe.
- Human content oversight: The company/startup must describe the plan for human review of the content and results generated by the chatbot, both prior to launch and on an ongoing basis during the pilot phase.
- Data governance and hosting: The company/startup must specify where the collected data will be hosted/stored and which parties will retain access to and ownership of the data during and after the pilot phase.
- Contract Term
- 5 months, with the possibility of extension.
Payment Terms
We anticipate entering into a contract with deferred payment terms, though an exception may be made to negotiate payment terms to accommodate installment payments. Pathfinder does not make a 100% payment prior to the provision of services.
Proposal Guidelines and Instructions
The bidder must submit two proposals, namely:
- Technical**:** Methodology, timeline, details of the technical team;
- Financial: Detailed budget by deliverable, including applicable taxes.
All proposals must be signed and valid for a minimum period of sixty (60) days.
The proposal must provide basic information about the company/startup, which will be primarily responsible for Pathfinder’s affairs and relevant service offerings. The proposal must also include a section addressing each of the following areas:
Company Profile.
- Provide a description of the company and its experience.
- Summarize the qualifications of the company’s key personnel who will perform the required work.
- Describe the company’s material resources available for carrying out the activities.
- Provide a detailed history of similar work previously performed.
Vision
Describe the company’s technical approach to providing services, as set forth in the scope of work.
Ability to Meet the Scope of Work
- Describe the level of service the company will provide, including how quickly the company will respond to phone calls and emails.
- Describe any current or past relationships your company may have with Pathfinder or any Pathfinder member.
- Describe any potential conflicts of interest and proposed mitigation measures.
Evaluation Criteria
When evaluating proposals, Pathfinder will seek the best value for money, rather than the lowest-priced proposal. Pathfinder will use a two-stage selection process: the first stage will evaluate the technical proposal, and the second stage will evaluate the cost proposal for those proposals that pass the technical evaluation.
Specifically, the selection committee will evaluate each proposal based on the following criteria:
Criteria/Weight
Proposal Submission:
a) Was the proposal submitted on time?- Pass/Fail
b) Did it pass the eligibility screening?- Pass/Fail
c) If there is a potential conflict of interest, is there a proposed mitigation plan?- Pass/Fail
Submission of the following documents: Pass/Fail
a) Certificate of Incorporation;
b) Operating permit;
c) License;
d) Form VI – Company NUIT;
e) Form I – Commencement of Business;
f) INSS clearance certificate;
g) Tax clearance certificate
Company/startup skills:40 points
a) Ability to use AI—Artificial Intelligence—as part of the platform’s development process.
b) Ability to demonstrate a platform’s adaptability through a chatbot demo.
c) Demonstration of the chatbot and the AI’s overall ability to generate accurate content on sexual and reproductive health topics.
d) Presentation of a plan for regular review of the content and results generated by the chatbot.
Approach and responsiveness: 30 points
a) The company demonstrates the ability to provide services consistent with the RFP requirements, taking cost-effectiveness into account.
b) The proposed timeline for adapting the platform does not exceed 30 calendar days.
c) Ability to provide both virtual and in-person technical support.
d) Ability to provide remote support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
System interoperability: 20 points
a) Ability to develop an open system that enables interoperability through the creation of documentation and API integration with the systems currently in use at the Ministry of Health (MISAU).
b) The system’s ability to refer patients and schedule appointments at healthcare facilities for users.
Additional Experience/Qualifications: 10 points
a) Ability to train Pathfinder and MISAU technicians in the use and maintenance of the system.
b) Supervision and monitoring of the system at the Massinga and Maxixe SAAJS locations
c) Ability to prepare technical reports.
Total Weight: 100
Important Considerations
If, at any time prior to award, Pathfinder deems it necessary to significantly modify the terms and conditions of this RFP, Pathfinder will issue such modification as a written amendment to the RFP to all bidders. No oral statement by any person shall, in any way, be deemed to modify or otherwise affect any term or condition of this RFP, and no bidder shall rely on such a statement.
Pathfinder is not obligated to accept the lowest bid and reserves the right to accept a proposal in whole or in part, and to reject any or all proposals.
Pathfinder will not be legally bound by any notice of award issued for this RFP until a contract is duly signed and executed with the successful bidder.
The evaluator will record all individual scores for each section and calculate the average score. The total average scores will be added together to obtain the total points earned by the individual supplier. If the total number of points meets or exceeds the threshold established in the evaluation methodology, the supplier’s cost proposal will be eligible for consideration.
The cost proposal score will be calculated as follows:
Cost Proposal Score = 100 × Cost / lowest cost of the proposals under consideration. The lowest-cost proposal will receive the full 100 points.
The total score will be calculated as follows:
Total score = (score of the technical proposal under consideration multiplied by 75% + (score of the cost proposal under consideration multiplied by 25%)).
Terms and Conditions
Pathfinder reserves the right to cancel this request at any time and is under no obligation to award a subcontract as a result of this request.
Contract
The contract template containing the following terms and conditions will be sent during the process, after the winning bidder has been determined and the notice of award has been issued.
Pathfinder will not reimburse any expenses related to the preparation of any materials or submissions related to the proposal.
Place of Performance
Performance will be primarily remote, in coordination with Pathfinder, with a focus on the Massinga and Maxixe Districts.
Supervision
“Futuros com Escolha” Project Team – Pathfinder Mozambique.
How to apply
Submission
All proposals in response to this RFP must be submitted to Pathfinder via email by 11:59 a.m. on July 27, 2026, to the following address: procurement-te@pathfinder.org
The Technical and Financial proposals must be submitted as separate files.
Questions or Inquiries
If you have any questions or concerns, please send an email to the address below by 11:59 a.m. on July 17, 2026. As part of this RFP process, Pathfinder reserves the right to conduct interviews with bidders in addition to the question-and-answer period.
Best regards,
Pathfinder Procurement Team