TERMS OF REFERENCE

1. Background and objectives: This tender is part of the EU-funded project “Digital Technologies for Citizen Empowerment (DT4CE) in Kyrgyzstan” implemented by Transparency International. The project will develop four electronic platforms aimed at improving interaction between citizens and the state.

The objective of this tender is to hire a company to develop and subsequently maintain a website and corresponding mobile applications to facilitate the implementation of legislative initiatives by citizens in the Kyrgyz Republic. Electronic products should empower citizens by providing step-by-step guidance in an accessible language on how to submit proposals for legislative changes and/or the adoption of new laws. The platform should allow users to submit, discuss and collaborate on legal initiatives. The products should be user-friendly, attractive and capable of attracting a large number of users. The winning bidder is also responsible for recruiting up to 10 participants from the Transparency International hackathon on the relevant topic as paid interns during the development process. In addition, post-launch technical support and ongoing updates will be required.

2. Scope of Work. The scope of work includes the design, creation and approval of the design, development, testing, deployment and further support of the following products:

• A website with an intuitive interface and functionality facilitating the implementation of a citizen legislative initiative.

• Mobile applications for iOS and Android platforms with functions similar to the website.

3. Functional Requirements: The website and mobile applications must have the following functions:

• Step-by-step guides for the implementation of citizen legislative initiatives.

• The ability for users to post proposed legislative initiatives with a detailed description.

• Forms for submitting proposals for amendments to legislation.

• Complaint forms allowing users to report problems and suggestions.

• User forum for users of the platform for communication, exchange of experience and search for like-minded people.

• Opportunities for gamification and user engagement.

• User registration with creation of personal accounts in compliance with personal data protection requirements.

The developed electronic products should contain the following sections:

• Home page with an overview of the proposed civil legislative initiatives.

• Sections with detailed information on each of the civil legislative initiatives, including the necessary conditions for its promotion.

• Search for legislative initiatives by keywords or categories for quick access to the necessary information.

• Forum for users.

• Statistics on posted legislative initiatives.

• Legislative initiatives ranking by popularity

• User activity ranking

• Registration, personal account, user profile

• Form for users (citizens) to send information about legislative initiatives

• FAQ/reference information for users

• List of legislative initiatives with filtering and sorting options

E-products must be localized in 2/3 languages ​​(KG/RU/EN)

4. Technical requirements: The website and mobile applications must meet the following technical requirements:

• Compatibility with major web browsers (e.g. Chrome, Firefox, Safari) and mobile platforms (iOS and Android).

• Secure storage, encryption and data transfer.

• Fast loading time and responsiveness.

• Integration with GPS and other relevant geolocation technologies.

5. Internship program: The winning company must attract up to 10 participants of the hackathon conducted by Transparency International on the relevant topic as paid interns during the development process. These interns should be involved in various aspects of development under the guidance of experienced developers.

6. Deliverables: The bidding company should provide the following deliverables:

• Fully functional website and mobile applications.

• Documentation detailing the design, architecture and functionality.

• Test reports and quality assurance documentation.

• Training materials for administrators.

7. Timeline: The development timeline should be specified, including milestones, testing and deployment.

8. Evaluation Criteria: The evaluation of the submitted proposals will be based on the following criteria:

• Relevant experience in developing similar websites and mobile applications.

• Technical knowledge and capabilities.

• Innovativeness and creativity in design and user experience.

• Cost-effectiveness of the proposal.

 

9. Technical support and update:

The winning company must provide technical support and maintenance of the developed website and mobile applications for 1 year from the date of their launch. This support shall include but not be limited to the following:

• Regular maintenance to ensure proper functioning and optimal performance of the products.

• Prompt fixing of errors and resolution of issues reported by users or identified during routine audits.

• Security updates and vulnerability assessments to protect against potential threats.

• Compatibility updates to keep the products up to date with the latest web browsers and mobile platforms.

• Support for user queries and feedback through various communication channels.

• Periodic performance reviews and optimizations to improve user experience.

10. Updates and Enhancements:

The winning bidder is also responsible for periodically upgrading and enhancing the products in line with technological advances, user feedback, or changes in regulatory requirements. These updates may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Introducing new features and capabilities to enhance the user experience.

• Expanding data visualization and analysis capabilities.

• Introducing gamification elements to further engage users.

• Integrating with relevant third-party services or APIs to extend functionality.

• Upgrading to new versions of operating systems and frameworks.

• Ensuring compliance with any changes in data protection regulations.

11. Reporting:

The winning bidder must provide regular reports on maintenance activities, bug fixes, and performance improvements undertaken during the support period. These reports must be submitted to Transparency International Kyrgyzstan on a monthly basis or as mutually agreed.

12. Service Level Agreement (SLA):

A service level agreement (SLA) should be written as part of the contract to define specific response times, resolution times, and other performance metrics for technical support and updates.

13. Intellectual Property: The intellectual property rights to the developed products belong to Transparency International Kyrgyzstan.

14. Confidentiality: All information provided by the bidding companies is considered confidential.

15. Submission of Proposals: Interested companies should send their proposals no later than 14 December 2023 to kyrgyzstan@transparency.org or to the organization’s office at 109/1 Turusbekov Street, Office 108, Bishkek.

16. Selection Process: The selection process will include reviewing the submitted proposals, shortlisting suitable companies, and conducting interviews/presentations if necessary.

17. Right of Rejection: Transparency International Kyrgyzstan reserves the right to reject any or all proposals if deemed necessary.

18. Contractual Obligations: The selected company will enter into a formal contract with Transparency International Kyrgyzstan to define the terms of the collaboration.

19. Contract Extension:

Upon successful completion of the initial support and upgrade period, Transparency International Kyrgyzstan may consider extending the contract for further support and upgrade services, depending on the level of performance and satisfaction during the initial period.

20. Termination Clause:

In the event of a breach of contract or unsatisfactory performance, Transparency International Kyrgyzstan reserves the right to terminate the development and follow-up service agreement with the winning company. Any termination will be in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in the contract.

Transparency International Kyrgyzstan

Phone +996 (312) 394038

Email: kyrgyzstan@transparency.org