RFP: CCC/RFP/08/03/2021

1. BACKGROUND

1.1. The COMESA Competition Commission (“the Commission”) is a regional body corporate established under Article 6 of the COMESA Competition Regulations 2004 (“the Regulations”) promulgated under Article 55 of the Treaty Establishing the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa. The Commission has the legal capacity required for the performance of its functions under the Regulations in the territory of each COMESA Member State.

1.2. The Commission commenced its operations on 14th January 2013 and is located in Lilongwe, Malawi. The Commission’s core mandate is to promote and encourage competition by preventing restrictive business practices and other restrictions that deter the efficient operation of markets, thereby enhancing the welfare of the consumers in the Common Market, and to protect consumers against offensive conduct by market actors. The main functions of the Commission are to monitor markets and investigate anti-competitive business practices, control mergers and other forms of acquisitions in the Common Market and mediate disputes between the Member States concerning anti-competitive conduct.

1.3. The Commission’s website (https://comesacompetition.org/) is one of the organization’s key communication and outreach tools which was developed in 2011 and redesigned in 2014 with WordPress platform. Currently, an outdated website is in use and hosted on an external server. The Commission intends to update and enhance the functionality of the current website through improved mobile-responsive design, interactive functionality, and a more user-friendly Content Management System (CMS). In this regard, the Commission sends out the Request for Technical and Financial Proposal for interested firms to submit their proposals to redesign the Commission’s website.

2. SCOPE OF WORK

2.1. The Commission seeks a complete website redesign of its site https://comesacompetition.org/.The redesign of the website includes the following:

2.1.1. Provide and describe the approach for redesigning the website and provide information on how the project would be phased and managed including timeline deliverable
2.1.2. Undertake needs assessment or requirement gathering of the Commission’s website redesign through consultation with the Commission
2.1.3. Provide a Business Requirement document (BRD) of the Commission’s website based on the requirements gathered.
2.1.4. Propose the design of website and submit it to the Commission
2.1.5. Design the website based on the needs assessment (BRD) conducted
2.1.6. Submit the proposed design of the website to the Commission for review and incorporate the feedback of the Commission
2.1.7. Conduct a test of the approved design website in the presence of the Commission’s
2.1.8. Incorporate the comments presented on the test of the website from the Commission
2.1.9. Train and present the features of the website to the Commission’s relevant personnel and Management
2.1.10. Launch the website (go live) following the validation of the test site by the Commission and other stakeholders.
2.1.11. Host and provide support on the website
2.1.12. Provide a report manual on the features and management of the website
2.1.13. The schedule for task details of the proposed scope of services should reflect the completion dates presented in Section (5), timeline and deliverables

2.2. The Commission shall evaluate the proposed website presented by the Vendor and determine whether it is in line with the objectives, requirements, expectations, and task details outlined under Section 3 and 4 below. The Commission shall retain the rights to the designed and developed website and any customization of plug-ins. The Vendor shall submit a report in each phase of the assignment which shall be validated after consultation with the Commission. The project website launch date is by 10^th July 2022.

3. OBJECTIVE, REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTED OUTPUTS

Objective

3.1. The Commission is seeking to develop an enhanced, visually appealing website that is mobile-responsive, easy to navigate and provides the depth and breadth of current information that our stakeholders seek about our programs and services.

3.2. The requirements for the new site shall include but is not limited to the following:

3.2.1. Updated platform, functionality, navigation, and design
3.2.2. Mobile-responsive design
3.2.3. Integrated with internal (and external) databases to “feed” information to website
3.2.4. Integrated with responsible Division’s email account to enable users to file, notify, comment, provide complaints and interact with the Commission.
3.2.5. User-friendly Content Management System (CMS) with training for editors/users.
3.2.6. Advanced and fast “Search” functionality.
3.2.7. Website security and firewall
3.2.8 Provision of a platform to connect and integrate with the electronic case management system of the Commission
3.2.9 Create an organizational email using the Commission’s domain https://comesacompetition.org/

Desired Expectations

3.3. The website is expected to have the following functionality and tools:

3.3.1. Clean, clutter-free, modern design aligned with the Commission’s brand (which mainly consists of Commission’s logo, logo colours, tagline)
3.3.2. Clear, easy-to-use navigation which is understandable by all stakeholders
3.3.3. Mobile-responsive design optimized for all common internet browsers
3.3.4. Optimized design documents, videos, and images for fast loading
3.3.5. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) with ability to add search engine plug-in to administrative area
3.3.6. Robust, user-friendly CMS, which shall:

3.3.6.1. Be used by the Commission’s personnel to maintain and update the site, including access to all content for editing, uploading documents and creating new pages and links
3.3.6.2. Have at least three editors of the Commission
3.3.6.3. Include functionality to schedule release of pages
3.3.6.4. Include functionality to broaden the Commission’s website to include a link to multiple portals e.g., staff email, e-filing
3.3.6.5. Have news, Notices & Hearings features with searchable archives and functionality to schedule release of articles and reorder how they appear on the page
3.3.6.6. Accommodate varied content such as images, videos, spreadsheets, maps
3.3.6.7. Incorporate tools for tracking page/file updates and deletions

3.3.7. Integration of existing “CVS database” feed to display on website “Notify Me” functionality-subscribe for email updates and push out notifications
3.3.8. Ability to allow online submission of the forms of the Commission by external parties or stakeholders for complaints, applications, notifications etc.
3.3.9. Store all submissions to a database created for automatic archiving which can be retrieved and analyzed
3.3.10. Ability to host the Commission’s training programs
3.3.11. Input to add internal “Search” functionality
3.3.12. Operate as a dynamic database drive website that generates analyses/briefs and display on actions the editors make on the page
3.3.13. Print-friendly feature on each page
3.3.14. Social media integration on each page to the Commission’s social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube etc
3.3.15. Incorporate Google Analytics and improve search ranking
3.3.16. Photos-Easy to load and display; mobile-responsive photo gallery; Flickr integration
3.3.17. Website security and firewall
3.3.18. Provide platform and capability to connect and integrate with case Management System
3.3.19. Build forms with a tool like gravity forms; submit forms online, “Contact us”, customer feedback surveys, etc
3.3.20. Load the content of the Commission rules and regulations on the website with advanced search functionality
3.3.21. Provide domain email for the Commission
3.3.22. Anything connected or incidental to the foregoing

4. TASK DETAILS

Phase One

4.1. Refine scope and technical specification

4.1.1. The Vendor will meet with the Commission’s web project team to refine the project scope, schedule and task details and specifications. The Vendor will conduct requirement gathering with all the Divisions of the Commission.

4.2. Define website functionality

4.2.1. The Vendor will meet with Commission’s web project team to define content needs, navigation, site functions and provide business requirement document. This task will include developing the website architecture and identifying the content management system that is appropriate for the Commission’s needs.

(Note: The Commission has identified WordPress as the platform; however, the Commission will consider similar open-source tools as a possible option with a well-supported and successful track record and high adoption rate with similar organizations.)

Phase Two

4.3. Develop design

4.3.1. The vendor will design two (2) concepts for homepage and up to two (2) internal/secondary pages to be reviewed by the Commission with up to three (3) revisions to the chosen design.

4.4. Development

4.4.1. The Vendor will use approved design and development platform (including the CMS) to build the site. The CMS will be presented, vetted and approved by the Commission. Vendor will install navigation, set up blank pages and transfer a sample of contents. for the Commission to approve. Following the approval of the site plan, a training will be provided by the Vendor to a group of administrators on the use of the CMS. Consequently, the Vendor will migrate existing and new content to the new site according to an agreed-upon timeline.

4.5. Testing

4.5.1. The Vendor will conduct comprehensive quality assurance testing on multiple browsers and mobile devices to ensure new site is responsive and all functionality is fully operational.

Phase Three

4.6. Review of Website and Training

4.6.1. The Vendor will navigate the Commission through the site and demonstrate the link, page set-up, homepage and internal/secondary page layouts, and a functionality review. Further, the Vendor will conduct a training for identified web editors of the Commission. The Vendor will provide the Commission with a user’s manual and site architectures. The Vendor will set up initial administrator passwords and demonstrate management of administrators and editors.

4.7. Launch

4.7.1. Following a completion of up to two rounds of punch list items, not to exceed 20 items from the training and review period, the Vendor will set up website on a hosted server and coordinate any needed changes to DNS entries and other technical requirements to make the new site live at https://comesacompetition.org/.

Phase Four

4.8. Ongoing Support

4.8.1. The vendor will provide contracted costs for routine updates. Provide maintenance schedule of the approved CMS by the Commission, including costs and a list of tasks accomplished during maintenance. For ongoing technical support such as building forms or using the CMS tools, include pricing and turnaround time.

5. TIMELINE AND DELIVERABLES

5.1. The assignment under phase one to phase three will be expected to be conducted within 180 calendar days (Six months) from the date of signing of contract. The assignment is expected to have the following outputs which shall be delivered in three phases.