Tender Announcement: Partnership to Develop and Manufacture Improved Personal Protective Equipment

Reference Number: ITT–DMAD-2301

Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) is a politically independent membership-based organization working in Norway and in more than 30 countries around the world. Founded in 1939 as the Norwegian labour movement's humanitarian solidarity organization, NPA aims to improve people's living conditions and to create a democratic, just and safe society. NPA's international work covers two core areas: Mine Action and Disarmament and Development and Humanitarian Cooperation. NPA has a dedicated Department for Mine Action and Disarmament (DMAD) that works in six focus areas: Mine Action, Advocacy, Conflict Preparedness and Protection, Risk Education, Arms Management and Destruction, and Environment. NPA aims to reduce and prevent harm to civilians from the impacts of explosive weapons and ammunition. NPA covers the full life-cycle of weapons and ammunitions, with interventions to protect civilians before, during and after conflict.

NPA’s work to protect civilians from explosive weapons is primarily focused on the removal of landmines, cluster munitions, and other explosive remnants of war. In order to do it with mitigated risk to its staff, NPA and other International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs) and commercial companies rely on different items of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

NPA receives funding from Innovation Norway to explore the development of “Next Generation Personal Protective Equipment” used in humanitarian mine action activities. Studies conducted by NPA identified that PPE currently used in the humanitarian sector was not gender inclusive towards women; providing less ergonomics and protection for female wearers. This was further compounded by the fact that PPE has limited service life, and there are currently no environmentally sustainable disposal methods of unserviceable PPE in many of the countries where NPA has operations. As organisations in the mine action sector deploy thousands of staff wearing PPE on a daily basis, NPA hopes to contribute to the overall reduction of the sector’s environmental footprint caused by the use and eventual disposal of PPE.

The purpose of this partnership is to develop and produce the “next generation of mine action PPE” which is more ergonomic for women, more resistant to environmental degradation and potentially more protective compared to current standards as specified in International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) 10.30.

The primary objectives of this project are:

1. Development and production of blast resistant demining visors that have longer service life and are lighter weight when compared to existing polycarbonate full face visors. The newly developed visors should provide increased visibility and more comfort when compared to existing composite visors.
2. Development and production of modular demining aprons that are more ergonomic for women’s bodies.
   
   In addition, the secondary objectives are
   
3. Development and production of both visors and aprons with increased protection against high velocity primary fragmentation while minimising weight increase.
4. Development and production of demining aprons that are better protected from moisture and humidity without decreasing comfort.

NPA (i.e. the client) and the partner organisation (vendor) will jointly develop a new generation of demining visors and aprons. Designs may be developed solely by NPA or jointly by NPA and the partner organisation. The partner organisation will be fully responsible for the manufacture of the products developed under this project.

The overall value of the project is 1,800,000 Norwegian Krone (1.8 Million NOK). The prospective applicant shall be responsive to the requirements specified in the Terms of Reference and follow NPA standards for procurement and Ethical standards for purchasing, investment and fundraising.

Applications must be submitted by email to tenders@npaid.org by 15^th February 2023, 13:00 Central European Time. The following documents must be included as attachments in the application email:

• Proposal Narrative and accompanying annexes in accordance with the requirements in the Terms of Reference.
• Budget and Budget Narrative in accordance with the requirements in the Terms of Reference.
• A copy of the “NPA Ethical guidelines for procurement, marketing and investment” document signed by an authorised representative of the applicant organisation. A date and signature (along with name and title of the signatory) may be inserted on the last page of the document.

Applications must have the phrase “ITT–DMAD-2301” in the subject line of the email. Attachments should not exceed 25mb in total.

Inquiries and questions about the tender may be submitted to kyawhtut396@npaid.org. Please do not submit final applications to this email.