<p> </p> <h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #003366;"><strong>REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)</strong></span></h1> <p><span style="color: #003366;"> </span></p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #003366;">Support and Monitoring for the Quality Implementation Americas</span></strong></h2> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #003366;">Team for Supply Chain Certification</span></strong></h2> <p> </p> <h3><strong><span style="color: #003366;">Summary Informatio</span></strong></h3> <p> </p> <p><strong>RA Department:</strong> Assurance, Quality of Implementation</p> <p><strong>Location(s):</strong> Guatemala, ability to overlap at minimum 4 hours with EST time zone (NY) a must </p> <p><strong>Commitment:</strong> 35 hours/week</p> <p><strong>Desired start date and duration:</strong> June 1^st, 2026 – December 31^st, 2026.</p> <p><strong>Under direction of:</strong> Senior Associate, Quality of Implementation Americas</p> <p> </p> <h2><span style="color: #003366;"><strong>About the Rainforest Alliance</strong></span></h2> <p>The Rainforest Alliance (RA) is an international nonprofit organization working at the intersection of business, agriculture, and forests to make responsible business the new normal. We are building an alliance to protect forests, improve the livelihoods of farmers and forest communities, promote their human rights, and help them mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis.  We envision a world where people and nature thrive in harmony. </p> <p>The Rainforest Alliance is creating a more sustainable world by using social and market forces to protect nature and improve the lives of farmers and forest communities.</p> <p>For more information, please visit <a href="http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/about" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://www.rainforest</a><a href="http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/about" target="_blank" rel="noopener">-</a><a href="http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/about" target="_blank" rel="noopener">alliance.org/about</a><a href="http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/about" target="_blank" rel="noopener">.</a>  </p> <p> </p> <h2><span style="color: #003366;"><strong>Overview </strong></span></h2> <p> </p> <p>The RA 2020 Certification Program introduces many innovations, including risk-based assurance. One key component is the Supply Chain Risk Assessments (SCRAs). Certificate Holders (CHs) must input relevant data into RA’s platform, which the Quality of Implementation (QoI) team uses to assign a risk level. Those classified as Risk Level A (lowest risk) are not subject to audits, and RA evaluates their compliance before issuing an Endorsement Letter and license.</p> <p> </p> <h2><span style="color: #003366;"><strong>Consultancy Scope of Work</strong></span></h2> <h2></h2> <h2><span style="color: #003366;"><strong>Main Objectives</strong></span></h2> <p> </p> <h3><span style="color: #003366;"><strong>General Objective:</strong></span></h3> <ul> <li>Support the QoI team in reviewing SCRAs and approving Endorsement Letters.</li> </ul> <p> </p> <h3><strong><span style="color: #003366;">Specific Objectives:</span></strong></h3> <ul> <li><strong><span style="color: #003366;"> </span></strong>Review SCRAs globally based on CH-submitted data.</li> <li>Review and issue Endorsement Letters and licenses for Risk Level A CHs.</li> </ul> <p> </p> <h3><span style="color: #003366;"><strong>Activities</strong></span></h3> <p>The consultant or consulting firm will work under the QoI team’s supervision and be responsible for:</p> <p><strong>Endorsement Process:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Extract PowerBI reports of Risk Level A sites.</li> <li>Review self-assessments.</li> <li>Create and issue Endorsement Letters and license activation.</li> <li>Track progress via Excel and email.</li> </ul> <p><strong>SCRAs:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Extract new site lists from the RA platform (RACP).</li> <li>Review SCRAs, follow up, and clarify information via email.</li> <li>Update certification scope changes in RACP.</li> </ul> <p><strong>License Extensions:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Issue extensions in RACP.</li> </ul> <p> </p> <h2><span style="color: #003366;"><strong>Deliverables</strong></span></h2> <p> </p> <table style="height: 474px; width: 560px; border-color: #faf5f5; border-style: none;" width="560" height="474"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 358px;" colspan="2"> <p><strong>Deliverable </strong></p> </td> <td style="width: 201px;"> <p><strong>Estimated submission date/timeline </strong></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 358px;" colspan="2"> <ul> <li>PowerBI reports of Risk Level A sites.</li> <li>Monthly logs of self-assessment reviews.</li> <li>Endorsement letters and license activations.</li> <li>Conduct Supply Chain Actors Quality Assurance Checks</li> <li>Conduct quality checks for traceability, premium, and royalty</li> <li>Identify non-compliant SCAs and follow up to ensure compliance</li> <li>Report the reviewed SCA documents and the number of inconsistencies or non-compliances</li> <li>Excel/email progress tracking.</li> <li>RACP lists of new certification sites.</li> <li>Email follow-ups and certification scope updates.</li> <li>License extension records.</li> </ul> </td> <td style="width: 201px;"> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;">Monthly</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> </p> <h2><span style="color: #003366;"><strong>General Terms and Conditions for Request for Proposal</strong></span></h2> <p> </p> <ul> <li>Applicants must provide all requisite information under this RFP and clearly and concisely respond to all points set out in this RFP. Any proposal, which does not fully and comprehensively address this RFP, may be rejected.</li> <li>Proposals and/or any additional information received after the submission time and date are subject to rejection by RA.</li> <li>Incomplete proposals may be rejected by RA at its discretion.</li> <li>RA reserves the right to request additional information at any time during the procurement process.</li> <li>RA is at liberty to make multiple or no selections as part of the proposal process. RA also reserves the right to cancel the procurement.</li> <li>All proposal costs shall be borne by the applicant and will not be reimbursed by RA.</li> <li>It is the responsibility of every bidder to identify any information of a confidential or proprietary nature contained in its proposal so that it may be handled accordingly. However, RA cannot guarantee confidentiality.</li> </ul> <h2><strong><span style="color: #003366;"> </span></strong></h2> <h2><strong><span style="color: #003366;">Selection Criteria and qualifications</span></strong></h2> <p>The consultant or consultant firm should comply with the following minimum <strong>qualifications</strong>: </p> <ul> <li>Degree in Administration, Systems Engineering, Agronomy, Agriculture, Agroindustry, Environmental Engineering, or related fields.</li> <li>Advanced English language.</li> <li>Advanced Excel/database skills.</li> <li>Strong communication and organizational skills.</li> <li>Ability to work independently and adapt to various online systems.</li> </ul> <p> </p> <table style="height: 308px; width: 423px; border-color: #faf5f5; border-style: none;" height="308"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 276.297px;"> <p><strong>Criteria</strong></p> </td> <td style="width: 145.703px;"> <p><strong>Weight (%)</strong></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 276.297px;"> <p>Technical proposal</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.703px;"> <p>10%</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 276.297px;"> <p>Methodology</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.703px;"> <p>15%</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 276.297px;"> <p>Team composition and expertise</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.703px;"> <p>10%</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 276.297px;"> <p>Previous experience</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.703px;"> <p>20%</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 276.297px;"> <p>Financial proposal or budget</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.703px;"> <p>5%</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 276.297px;"> <p>Availability</p> </td> <td style="width: 145.703px;"> <p>40%</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 276.297px;"> <p><strong>TOTAL</strong></p> </td> <td style="width: 145.703px;"> <p><strong>100%</strong></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> </p> <p> </p> <h2><strong><span style="color: #003366;">Proposal Process and Format</span></strong></h2> <p><strong><span style="color: #003366;"> </span></strong></p> <p>Interested consultants or consultant firms should submit their proposal including the following:</p> <p><strong>1. Statutory Requirements</strong>: Upon request, the consultant should supply all required legal documents as may be required by RA and/or local law, e.g. work permit, bank details, registration details, tax documents etc. When opportunity is restricted to a specific location, only candidates authorized to work in the location will be considered.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>2. Technical proposal requirements</strong>:</p> <ul> <li>Project team profile (if a Consultant Firm)</li> <li>Work plan/activity schedule</li> <li>List of previous engagements that addresses the above experience desired</li> <li> Current C.V.</li> <li>Contact details of 2 recent references</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><strong>3. Financial proposal requirements</strong>:</p> <ul> <li>Fixed Price Financial Proposal to complete the deliverables that includes the basis for costing.</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>All proposals must be submitted through Work at the Rainforest Alliance | Rainforest Alliance "Request for Proposals" o LinkedIn as an integrated PDF document （only one file. If you experience problems loading information on the platform, try opening it with different browsers. Proposals received after the deadline stated above will not be evaluated.</p> <p> </p> <p>Finalists will be notified of their selection by May 25^th, 2026 </p> <p> </p> <table width="495"> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p>Contact person for questions</p> </td> <td> <p>Emily Bridgers: <span style="color: #000000;"><a style="color: #000000;" href="mailto:ebridgers@ra.or" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ebridgers@ra.or</a>g </span> </p> <p>Mario Quiñonez: <span style="color: #000000;"><a style="color: #000000;" href="mailto:mquinonez@ra.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mquinonez@ra.org</a> </span></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>Deadline for submission of proposals</p> </td> <td> <p>May 20^th, 2026</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p> </p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #003366;"><strong>Thank you for your interest in working with the Rainforest Alliance </strong></span></h2>