PRE-QUALIFICATION QUESTIONNAIRE (PQQ) ITB ARKYE1517

PRIMARY RESEARCH SERVICES IN YEMEN

To: Primary Research Service Providers

From: ARK Group DMCC

Subject: PQQ ARKYE1577 - Primary Research Services in Yemen

PQQ Issue Date: 03 December 2024

PQQ Closing Date: 16 December 2024 PQQ Closing Time:    12:00 hrs AST (GMT+3)

1.    Purpose

ARK is seeking to contract an experienced primary research service provider to conduct research tasks in Yemen. This Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) is the first stage of the invitation to bid (ITB) and aims to select suitable firms to tender for the contract to supply research services to ARK. Firms that meet the necessary criteria will be invited to submit bids for the main contract which will provide the opportunity for suitable suppliers to provide research services to ARK for 12 to 24 months in Yemen.

2.    Description of Entity

ARK is a stabilisation and development company committed to empowering local communities and beneficiaries in conflict, post-conflict, and fragile areas by providing evidence-based programmatic interventions, policy recommendations, research, and capacity-building. Working with local communities and organisations, ARK seeks to understand and mitigate the adverse effects of conflict and instability, enhance social cohesion and resilience, and promote human security, development, and economic opportunity. ARK is registered in the United Arab Emirates, with branch offices in the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and The Americas.

3.    Background

ARK is implementing USAID-funded projects in Yemen and has successfully completed the first two years of the programme. With existing contracts nearing their expiration, ARK is seeking to renew agreements or establish new relationships with Yemen-based firms, including those providing primary research services. Therefore, ARK seeks highly experienced research firms to conduct the following research tasks:

a.    Key informant interviews (KIIs),
b.    Quantitative surveys (random sampling)
c.    Quantitative targeted surveys,
d.    Focus group discussions (FGDs),
e.    CATI surveys,
f.    Field observation visits.

Applicants should be able to deliver all six research services and indicate clearly in which governorates of Yemen they are able to provide these services.

4.    Notes for completion

Answer all questions in the templates provided. Failure to answer all questions may result in your application being disqualified.

All correspondence, including requests for clarification, should be sent to procurement@arkgroupdmacc.com

You are kindly requested to notify ARK if you intend to respond to the PQQ. This will allow us to inform you of any additional information or changes to the PQQ.

Please return this questionnaire to procurement@arkgroupdmcc.com as soon as possible but no later than 12:00 hrs Yemen Time (GMT +3) 16 December 2024.

ARK will assess the suitability of all submissions and invite successful applicants to complete the main tender document, which will request further technical details and a financial proposal. Unsuccessful applicants will be informed, and limited feedback on why they were not selected will be provided.

Please answer all questions as concisely as possible. The purpose of this PQQ is to assess your suitability to be invited to tender, not to determine the award of the tender. More detailed responses will be requested during the subsequent Invitation to Bid (ITB) stage.

Please note that the presentation or formatting of responses will not be evaluated. The focus will solely be on the content and relevance of the information provided.

ARK reserves the right to request further information from respondents to clarify or support their submissions. ARK also reserves the right to reject any and all responses at its sole discretion.

5.    Evaluation

The primary basis for evaluation will be the organisation's ability to safely conduct primary research in Yemen while adhering to the requirements and regulations of the different governing authorities. Responses will be assessed based on:

• Experience: Demonstrated history of successfully delivering primary research services in Yemen, including examples of navigating complex governance structures.
• Capacity: The organisation's operational capacity to ensure continuity and access across regions with diverse governance.
• Risk Management: A clear and robust approach to evaluating and mitigating risks to ensure the safety of personnel, partners, and data.

Successful applicants will proceed to the tender stage, where detailed technical and financial proposals will be requested. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified and provided with limited feedback upon request.