1. About Market Development Facility
The Market Development Facility (MDF) is a multi-country Australian Government funded initiative, with locations in Fiji, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu. MDF aims to stimulate economic growth – and hence employment and income earning opportunities for the poor and underprivileged – by making selected sectors of the economy more competitive and stimulating business innovation. MDF is implemented by Palladium Group and Swisscontact and started operations in Fiji in July 2011.
2. The Requirements
2.1 Background
Fiji’s Outsourcing Services (OS) sector employs over 8,000 people, two-thirds of whom are women. While the sector provides strong employment opportunities for Fiji, staff retention, attendance and productivity has become a growing challenge due to inadequate childcare services. A 2019 International Finance Corporation (IFC) report estimated that employers in Fiji lose up to 12.7 workdays per employee annually due to childcare responsibilities.
MDF has partnered with Packleader Pacific Ltd (PPL) to help pilot an in-house after school facility on their premises in Laucala Beach Estate, Nasinu to address the growing challenges faced by their staff for afterschool childcare support.
PPL, part of the Packleader Group has been operating in Fiji since 2013 offering customer service, relationship management, web hosting, debt collection, and financial reporting to clients in energy, health insurance, telecommunications, property maintenance, and business processing. Their work across key industries such as energy, health, insurance, banking, telecommunications, and chartered accounting reflects a strong alignment with the needs of working families.
MDF and PPL are seeking to engage a suitable Technical Consultant (‘Consultant’) on a short-term basis to assess the facility and operational guidelines for childcare services, and to provide practical recommendations aligned with Australian childcare standards and Fiji’s local compliance requirements.
The objective of this assignment is to assess the Packleader facility and dedicated childcare space of approximately 22 square metres and review the operational guidelines for childcare services on the premises. The assessment will integrate findings from an internal demand survey for childcare services and provide strategic and practical recommendations for implementation.
2.2 Scope of Services
The Consultant will work closely with MDF and Packleader to deliver the following:
- i. Workplan Development
- • Develop a detailed workplan outlining timelines, research methodology, stakeholders to consult, and deliverables.
- ii. Facility Assessments & Operational Audit
- • Consult with appropriate stakeholders on statutory and regulatory requirements for development and operation of an on-site after school care facility.
- • Review existing operational guidelines (policies, SOPs, staffing, safety, hygiene etc.) against Australian childcare standards and Fiji’s local compliance requirements
- iii. Demand Survey Integration
- • Analyse demand survey findings (capacity gaps, parent preferences, affordability constraints, hours of operation, inclusion needs) and link to facility assessment results.
- iv. Gap analysis
- • Provide a matrixed gap analysis and recommend short-, medium-, and long-term actions, that include but are not limited to:
- a. Upgrades to Policy and/or standard operating procedures (SOP) relating to child-safety policies, staff hiring, incident reporting, and security procedures where applicable. This should align with Australian childcare standards and adapted for Fiji context
- b. Facility modifications (space per child, safety/egress, sanitation)
- c. Staffing & training (ratios/quals per National Quality Standard intent and Fiji expectations).
- d. Governance & leadership (quality improvement plans; internal audits; parental engagement).
- e. Digital safety protocols (image consent, storage/destruction, CCTV governance)
- • Provide a matrixed gap analysis and recommend short-, medium-, and long-term actions, that include but are not limited to:
- v. Final report
- • Deliver Final Report (executive summary, method, findings, gap analysis, recommendations, tools annexes) and present findings to MDF and Packleader
2.3 Required deliverables / outputs
The consultant will deliver the following outputs:
- 1. Approved work plan – methodology, timeline, consultations, and resources
- 2. Assessment report – assessment of facility and operational guidelines
- 3. Final report – gap analysis and recommendations
- 4. Presentation of findings – presentation slide deck of final report
3. Mandatory Requirements
Interested providers must meet the following mandatory requirements to be able to participate in this procurement process:
- • Experience in facility assessments, compliance reviews, or operational audits in social services, education, or community infrastructure.
- • Understanding of Fiji’s early childhood policies, regulatory requirements for childcare facilities, and local operational expectations.
- • Familiarity with Australian childcare standards in core quality areas such as children’s health and safety and operational governance
- • Strong analytical and reporting skills, with demonstrated ability to prepare practical, implementable recommendations
Submissions that do not meet these requirements will be considered non-compliant and disqualified from the procurement process.
This engagement is intended for locally based consultants. Therefore, costs related to in-country visits will not be covered under this assignment.
4. Evaluation of submissions
MDF will assess submissions in line with the technical and financial evaluation process described below. In assessing submissions, MDF, at its sole discretion, may consider information from other relevant sources.
4.1 Technical evaluation
MDF will first score compliant submissions against the following technical criteria:
- A. Relevant past experience demonstrating capability to deliver requirements as described in this RFQ (35% of the Technical Score).
- B. Approach to delivery of requirements as described in this RFQ (35% of the Technical Score).
- C. Qualifications and experience of proposed personnel (30% of the Technical Score)
The technical score will account for 80% of the Total Score.
4.2 Financial evaluation
Following the assessment of the technical response, MDF will undertake a like-for-like price comparison of all technically suitable offers. The Financial Score will account for 20% of the Total Score. The lowest-priced financial offer will be awarded the full weighted score. The weighted score of other financial offers will be calculated as a fraction of the higher scoring offer.
5. Contracting details
If your offer is successful, you will be required to enter into the Company’s standard contract for the types of goods or services being provided (see Annex A). In the provision of the Goods and Services, you will be required to comply with the Company’s policies, including (without limitation) its Business Partner Code of Conduct and any relevant Project Manual. Potential suppliers must also comply with the Company’s Business Partner Code of Conduct in the submission of any quotes pursuant to this RFQ.
If you are bidding as part of a joint venture, partnership or similar, please make this clear in your submission. Likewise, if you propose to subcontract any part of the goods or services provision, then disclose this fact within your submission. The Company may require additional information from you and approval for subcontracting will not be automatic as subcontractors will be subject to Palladium’s Due Diligence process.
Registration of Interest
Register your interest to submit an offer by sending your name, organisation and contact details to the Contact Person by email on or before Wednesday, 28th April 2026, 5:00pm Fiji Time.
Last date for Queries
Send queries to the Contact Person by email on or before Wednesday, 28th April 2026, 5:00pm Fiji Time. Quote the RFQ Title in the subject line.
Closing Date and Time – Wednesday, 6th May 2026, 5.00pm Fiji Time
Contact Person – Anushma Sharma, anushma.sharma-mdf@thepalladiumgroup.com
Details for Submission
Email your completed Response Forms to the Contact Person on or before the Closing Date and Time. Quote the RFQ Title in the subject line.
Click on “Apply” button below to download the Service Provider Response Forms Part A and B, and submission instructions.
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