- HistoryPathfinder is driven by the conviction that all people, no matter where they live, have the right to decide whether and when to have children, free from fear and stigma, and to live 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 expand access to contraception, promote healthy pregnancies, save women’s lives, and prevent 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, within the scope of the Futures with Choice project, intends to hire a specialized company for the adaptation, contextualization, and operationalization of the SmartHealth digital platform, designed to support the Youth and Adolescent Friendly Services (SAAJ).
- RFP Objective
Request a technical and financial proposal for the adaptation, contextualization, and operationalization of the SmartHealth digital platform, intended to support the Youth and Adolescent 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 operationalization of the SmartHealth platform through a legally established company/startup in the country. The selected company must create a SmartHealth application and develop documentation and API integration for the technological integration of SmartHealth with other platforms in use at MISAU (Ministry of Health). The company must also create a user-friendly tool with content on Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), Family Planning (FP), and Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
Below are the main expected activities/products.
3.1 Technical and functional drawing
- Review 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 operationalization plan.
- Adjusting conversational flows for the SAAJ context
- It should be an open platform to accept new content.
3.2 Adaptation and configuration of the SmartHealth platform
- Adapting the existing SmartHealth chatbot for validated SSR content.
- Adjusting the risk assessment tool in the existing SDSR.
- Reference system configuration for:
- SAAJ of CS de Massinga
- SAAJ of CS Maxixe
- Telemedicine (depending on the operationalization by MISAU).
3.3 Technological integration
- Integration with digital platforms (Web)
- Management and monitoring system configuration
3.4 Testing and pilot implementation
- Technical and functional tests
- Adjustments based on user feedback.
3.5 Training or Qualification
- Health providers of SAAJ
- Project managers
- Key local and central level actors including MISAU staff from the Donor and Pathfinder
3.6 Documentation
- Technical manual for the system
- User guide
- Progress reports
- Final report
- Main Products (Deliverables)
- Detailed work plan
- Adaptation and configuration of the SmartHealth platform
- Adapting the existing SmartHealth chatbot for validated SSR content.
- Adjusting the existing risk assessment tool
- Reference system configuration for:
- SAAJ of CS de Massinga
- SAAJ of CS Maxixe
- Functional risk assessment tool
- Reference system configured
- Integrated and tested platform
- Training sessions held
- Technical manual and user guide
- Final report from the consultancy.
Relevant considerations to be taken into account for selection include experience, presentation of a comprehensible work methodology, which allows the platform to be put into operation within a maximum period 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 protection measures. Therefore, applicants should address each of the following ethical considerations and data protection standards in their proposal:
- Data confidentiality and security:Â The company/startup must include a clear explanation of the technical functionalities incorporated into the product that will protect user data, including how the 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:Â The company/startup must explain how the user’s informed consent will be obtained and recorded on the platform before they access the services.
- Consent for minors:Â 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:Â The company/startup must confirm that all language and content provided through the platform will be age-appropriate for teenage users and describe the validation process.
- Platform scope : 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:Â The company/startup must define the protocol that 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 review:Â The company/startup must describe the plan for human review of the content and results generated by the chatbot, both before launch and continuously 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 Duration
- 5 months with the possibility of extension.
Payment terms
We anticipate entering into a contract with a deferred payment method, although an exception may be made to negotiate payment terms to accommodate installment payments. Pathfinder does not make 100% payment before the Services are rendered.
Proposal Guidelines and Instructions
The competitor must submit two proposals, namely:
- Technical **:** Methodology, schedule, details of the technical team;
- ***Financial:*** Detailed budget per deliverable, including applicable taxes.
All proposals must be signed and valid for a minimum period of sixty (60) days.
The proposal should provide basic information about the company/startup, which will be primarily responsible for Pathfinder matters and relevant service offerings. The proposal should 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 key company personnel who will perform the required work.
- Describe the company’s material resources available for carrying out its activities.
- Provide a detailed history of similar work performed previously.
Vision
Describe the Company’s technical approach to providing services, as set out in the scope of work.
Responsiveness to 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 any proposed mitigation measures.
Evaluation Criteria
When evaluating proposals, Pathfinder will seek the best cost-benefit ratio, rather than the lowest price. Pathfinder will use a two-stage selection procedure: the first stage will evaluate the technical proposal, and the last 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:** Pass/Fail
a) Was the proposal submitted on time?
b) Did he pass the eligibility screening?
c) If there is a potential conflict of interest, is there a proposed mitigation plan?
**Submission of the following documents:** Pass/Fail
a) Certificate from the Commercial Registry;
b) License;
c) License;
d) Model VI – Company NUIT;
(e) Model I – Start of activity;
f) Certificate of clearance from the INSS (Brazilian National Social Security Institute);
g) Tax clearance certificate
Company/startup skills: 40
a) Ability to use AI – Artificial Intelligence as part of the platform development process.
b) Ability to demonstrate the adaptability of a platform through a chatbot demo.
c) Demonstrating the chatbot’s overall AI capability in generating 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
a) The company demonstrates the ability to provide services consistent with those requested in the RFP, taking cost-effectiveness into consideration.
b) The proposed timeframe for adapting the platform does not exceed 30 consecutive days.
c) Ability to provide virtual and on-site technical assistance.
d) Ability to work remotely 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
System intercommunication: 20
a) Ability to develop an open system that allows communication, through the creation of documentation and integration of the API with the systems in use at the Ministry of Health (MISAU).
b) System capability to refer and schedule appointments at healthcare facilities for users.
Experience/Additional Qualifications: 10
a) Capacity to train Pathfinder and MISAU technicians in the use and maintenance of the system.
b) Supervision and monitoring of the system at the SAAJS level in Massinga and Maxixe
c) Ability to develop technical reports.
Total Weight: 100
Important considerations
If at any time prior to award, Pathfinder finds 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 verbal 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 should 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 award notice issued for this RFP until a contract is duly signed and executed with the winning bidder.
The evaluator will record all individual scores for each section and calculate the average score. The total average scores will be added to obtain the total points obtained by the individual supplier. If the total number of points reaches or exceeds the limit 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 x Cost / lowest cost of the proposal 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/Conditions
Pathfinder reserves the right to cancel this request at any time and has no obligation to issue 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 award notice has been issued.
Pathfinder will not reimburse any expenses related to the preparation of any material or deliverables related to the proposal.
Place of Execution
Implementation primarily remotely, in coordination with Pathfinder, focusing on the Massinga and Maxixe Districts.
Supervision
Futures with Choice Project Team – Pathfinder Mozambique.
How to apply
Submission
All proposals for this RFP must be submitted to Pathfinder by email by 11:59 AM on July 27, 2026, to the following address: procurement-te@pathfinder.org
The technical and financial proposals must be submitted in separate files .
Questions or Doubts
If you have any questions or concerns, please send an email to the address below by 11:59 AM on July 17, 2026. As part of this RFP process, Pathfinder reserves the right to conduct an interview with applicants in addition to the question and answer period.
Best regards,
Pathfinder Procurement Team