Reference: Consultancy for assessing ESG factors and developing an organization-wide ESG integration strategy for LIVESPO Joint Stock Company

Improving Private Sector Competitiveness Project (IPS-C)

Dear Interested Parties,

Việt Nam's Improving Private Sector Competitiveness Project (IPS-C) intends to award a consulting subcontract for assessing Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors and developing an organisation-wide ESG integration strategy for LiveSpo Global Joint Stock Company.

Background

The Improving Private Sector Competitiveness (IPSC) is a technical assistance project funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), with the Agency for Enterprise Development (AED) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) as the project owner. Deloitte Consulting LLP ('Deloitte') is responsible for implementing the project, which is scheduled to run from 2020 to 2025..

The purpose of the USAID IPSC Activity is to remove constraints and build the competitiveness of small and growing businesses (SGBs) in Việt Nam, including those led by vulnerable populations. With this activity, USAID/Việt Nam is supporting Việt Nam’s competitiveness, vertically at the policy, market and firm levels and horizontally by working along the entire spectrum of enterprise growth models, from household businesses transforming into registered firms to small firms on the cusp of scaling up.

Summary of Activities

IPSC collaborates closely with Government of Việt Nam (GVN) counterparts, including AED. IPSC and AED develop strategies for sector selection, geographic focus and SGB engagement and engage a broad range of market actors across the economy that make up the SGB ecosystem, including SGBs, cooperatives and household businesses (HBs); business chambers, associations and business development service providers (BDSPs); GVN ministries and agencies, provincial and local administrations; and private sector consultants, training institutions and financial institutions. Using incentives and cost-sharing with SGBs, pioneering enterprises (PEs) and other partners, IPSC builds both greater demand and supply of business development services (BDS), while improving providers’ capacity to understand and offer services desired in the marketplace.

One of IPSC’s main objectives is supporting Vietnamese enterprises to receive customised technical assistance under the overall support package 'Pioneering Enterprise (PE) Program', to create products with added value and Vietnamese intellectual property, nurturing them to become sustainable models for other SGBs to emulate and scale up proven examples. A PE is a growing Vietnamese enterprise with Vietnamese-branded products, sufficient competitiveness, the ability to lead and expand in the industry, sector and locality, strong management capacity and willingness to innovate and produce products with high added value, with the vision and objective to build a Vietnamese brand in international markets. Positioning the 'Made by Vietnam' product brand successfully in regional and international markets is a priority for PEs.

Each support package will be customised for PEs, depending on their situations, needs, development capacity, commitment to participate and willingness to co-invest. The support packages will focus on facilitating BDSPs and technical experts to deliver consulting services and specialised training to help enterprises strengthen their governance, management capability and strategies (including strategy development, business model refinement, brand positioning, marketing, innovation, communications and human resource development). IPSC will develop Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for each supporting package so PEs can quantify the results achieved and evaluate the effectiveness of the results.

LiveSpo Global (LiveSpo) was established in 2010 and is a leading biotechnology enterprise known for its cutting-edge spore probiotics technology. In 2022, it inaugurated the world's first Spore Probiotics Research Center, and in 2023, it launched LiveSpo NAVAX, the world’s first spore probiotics nasal spray, garnering acclaim at the BIO Boston Technology Exhibition. Recognised for innovation, LiveSpo received the Science and Technology Enterprise Certification from the Hanoi Municipal Department of Science and Technology. LiveSpo Global now exports to over 20 countries, gaining rapid recognition, including becoming Amazon's Choice shortly after joining the platform.

The subcontractor will offer expert guidance and support in evaluating ESG factors and developing strategy frameworks for integrating ESG considerations into business operations.

The assessment will cover four facilities under the management of LiveSpo:

• Head Office at N03T5 Building, Xuân Tảo ward, Bắc Từ Liêm district, Hà Nội

• Factory 1 at 43 Quyết Thắng, Yên Nghĩa ward, Hà Đông district, Hà Nội

• Factory 2 at 22, plot 7,8 Văn Khê, La Khê ward, Hà Đông district, Hà Nội

• Warehouse at 33 Thép Mới, Ward 12, Tân Bình district, HCM City

Eligibility Requirements

Qualified firms must meet the following criteria to be eligible:

• Be a legally registered company in Việt Nam with a minimum of three years of experience in ESG, green transformation, green growth and other topics related to sustainable business practices.

• Demonstrate proficient knowledge of ESG frameworks, including but not limited to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), etc.

• Possess an in-depth understanding of ESG regulations in Việt Nam and internationally, including ESG reporting requirements and awareness of emerging trends in various industries, with a preference for expertise in the biotechnology sector.

• Have a team of experts with more than five years of experience in environmental compliance, social compliance, and business governance.

• Have a proven track record of success in assisting private companies with ESG integration efforts, including the development and implementation of effective strategies and initiatives. At least one reference and example of past work is required.

Interested vendors should provide an Intent to Bid, expressing their intent to submit a proposal for this requirement, by 9pm Hanoi time on June 10, 2024, to Mir Waez at mwaez@deloitte.com and Tuan Tran Anh tuantran@ipsc.vn.

IPS-C intends to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to interested vendors by June 14, 2024.