Dear interested parties,

Vietnam Improving Private Sector Competitiveness Project (IPS-C) intends to award a subcontract to provide consulting services on UL standards and product design according to UL standards for VINA VALVES JOINT STOCK COMPANY (VVN).

Background

Improving Private Sector Competitiveness (IPSC) is a U.S. Agency for an International Development (USAID) technical assistance project, and the Agency for Enterprise Development (AED) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) is the project owner. The project is implemented by Deloitte Consulting LLP ('Deloitte') and runs 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 Vietnam, including those led by vulnerable populations. With this activity, USAID Vietnam is supporting Vietnam’s competitiveness: vertically at the policy, market and firm level 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 the Government of Vietnam (GVN) counterparts, including the project owner, AED, to 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. By using incentives and cost-sharing with SGBs, pioneering enterprises (PEs) and other partners, IPSC aims to enhance both the demand for and supply of business development services (BDS), while also improving providers’ capacity to understand and offer services that are desired in the marketplace.

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

Each support package will be customised for the individual PE, based on their situation, needs, development capacity, commitment to participate, and willingness to co-invest. The support packages will focus on facilitating BDSPs and technical experts in delivering consulting services and specialized training to help enterprises strengthen their governance, management capabilities, 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 support package, allowing PEs to quantify the results achieved and evaluate their effectiveness.

VINA VALVES JOINT STOCK COMPANY, established in October 2016, began operations in August 2017 and officially launched its products to the market in early 2018. Initially, the company focused on valves and accessories for the water supply industry. In a short time, Vina Valves invested in R&D according to international standards to produce and export valves and accessories for fire protection. Currently, Vina Valves is the only Vietnamese company that manufactures OEM valves and fire protection accessories meeting UL/ULc/FM standards. The company offers more than 15 types of products that have achieved international standards and certifications, and since May 2020, it has been exporting to leading markets such as the US, Canada, Germany, the Republic of Korea, and Japan. The quality, production process, and delivery schedules of these goods are contributing to increased revenue and a higher proportion of exports.

The Offeror will assist VINA VALVES in consulting on Underwriters Laboratories (UL) standards, designing a VVN-branded product according to UL standards, and helping with the application for UL listing of that product. UL certification is crucial for the company to expand its customer base in high-end markets that require UL international standards and to enhance the technological capabilities of Vietnamese enterprises in line with international technical standards.

Eligibility requirements

A qualified, legally registered Vietnamese company or organisation must meet the following criteria to be eligible:

Capability to understand the laws and laboratories, certification standards, such as ISO 14000, ISO 45000, ISO 17025 and other certifications, especially UL certification.Having a solution-oriented mindset, able to propose practical and feasible solutions, capable of developing a comprehensive marketing plan. Possess the ability to coach VVN's relevant department to address issues and improve performance for UL standards.Extensive experience working with companies in the manufacturing industry, with a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities these companies face. Experience in supporting industries is preferred.Strong expertise in business strategy, quality management, process improvement, and excellent analytical skills, with the ability to gather and analyze data to identify areas for improvement and develop practical solutions.Capability to deliver high-quality training courses and one-on-one coaching sessions to enhance business processes for individuals and organizations, with at least five years of relevant experience.Knowledge and experience in market analysis, with the ability to clearly identify the detailed profile of the enterprise's target customers and support the development of effective customer care plans.Strong expertise in quality management, process improvement, and analytical skills, with diverse knowledge of production models and business processes in factories in Vietnam, including the ability to gather and analyze data to identify areas for improvement and develop practical solutions.

The Offeror should have a proven track record of success in delivering similar projects within the past three years. References and examples of past work are required.

Interested vendors should submit a notice of intent to bid, indicating their intention to submit a proposal for this requirement, by 21:00 Hanoi time on August 9, 2024. The notice should be sent to Mir Waez at mwaez@deloitte.com and Tuan Tran Anh at tuantran@ipsc.vn.

          IPS-C intends to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to interested vendors by August 12, 2024.