Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to develop a comprehensive International Best Practice Guideline for the procurement of innovation. The NRF aims to catalyse new initiatives by establishing world-class support mechanisms for procurement of innovation both nationally and internationally. The project seeks to assess best practices, develop implementation plans including pilot phases, and produce guidelines to enhance procurement processes through innovation and digital transformation.

Scope

The scope encompasses:

• Conducting a baseline market analysis (local and international) on procurement of innovation and digital transformation technologies such as AI, ML, and e-procurement tools.
• Establishing and engaging strategic networks and partnerships locally and internationally related to procurement of innovation.
• Benchmarking best practices and developing a procurement processes framework, including legal and organisational structures.
• Provision of an Innovation of Procurement Best Practices Guideline.
• Producing a digital transformation roadmap for procurement, including preliminary discussions and reports on digital tools application.
• Delivering reports and guidelines in NRF’s specified format, with milestones set for iterative deliverables.

Technical Requirements

The technical requirements include:

• Market analysis reports on procurement of innovation and digital transformation tools.
• Development of a procurement processes framework based on best practices.
• Provision of an Innovation Best Practices Guideline.
• Digital transformation roadmap and preliminary discussion papers (green papers).
• All reports must adhere to NRF’s template, be in MS Word, and exclude text boxes.
• Engagement in bi-weekly virtual progress meetings and physical meetings at NRF premises as needed.
• Milestone-based deliverables with specific deadlines, including iterations on innovation and digital transformation reports.

Skills Requirements

The successful bidder must demonstrate:

• Extensive experience in procurement of innovation, including authoring or co-authoring relevant guidelines or publications (minimum 100 pages).
• Strong knowledge of public sector procurement processes and innovation ecosystems.
• International networks and partnerships related to procurement of innovation (minimum of five).
• Expertise in digital transformation technologies such as AI, ML, and e-procurement systems.
• Experience in developing procurement frameworks, policies, and guidelines for public and private sectors.
• Proven ability to conduct market analysis, benchmarking, and develop strategic roadmaps.
• Capability to deliver reports, presentations, and participate in formal panels, workshops, and discussions.