Details

Background

Transparency International (TI) is the global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption. Through more than 90 chapters worldwide and an international secretariat in Berlin, Germany, TI raises awareness of the damaging effects of corruption and works with partners in government, business and civil society to develop and implement effective measures to tackle it.

TI currently operates numerous web platforms that all play differing roles ranging from internal information management and intranet systems, to our primary corporate website and other ancillary project based platforms. These have evolved organically with some crossovers and numerous different online platforms. The result is a quite fragmented landscape.

In this context, TI is looking for an Web Architecture Consultant, to help us focus limited resources in making strides forward by developing synergies where sensible, evaluating what integration options are open to us, and yet retaining flexibility in our approach to online project development. This is an area that a complex and diverse global movement such as TI needs to address to ensure fluid knowledge flow between our many chapters, the international secretariat, and our external audiences.

Sample of the landscape of sites

http://gateway.transparency.org/ (Expression Engine)

http://corruptionresearchnetwork.org/ (Plone)

http://anticorrp.eu/ (Plone)

http://www.u4.no/helpdesk/ (external partner site)

http://capacity4dev.ec.europa.eu/anti-corruption-helpdesk/dashboard (external partner--Drupal)

http://www.transparency.org (Expression Engine)

http://blog.transparency.org/

http://iacconference.org/

http://sharek.transparency.org/ (Internal only – online forum-Drupal)

https://ticz.transparency.org/ (Internal only  - SharePoint)

http://courses.transparency.org/ (Internal – Moodle)

In addition to the above TI will be continuing to develop other initiatives in the online space. Among these, one of the most pressing gaps is to cost-effectively support communities of practice and content management across a growing number of anti-corruption thematic networks that engage both internal and external participants. Therefore, we expect the consultant to provide technical recommendations on how to ensure that we can take advantage of any potential synergies through integration or other means. Such recommendations will also have to take into account our current infrastructure setup.

Objectives

The successful candidate will…

• offer insightful information about the needs and audiences of our existing online projects, as well as of the upcoming projects, based on interviews with a wide range of stakeholders.
• assess how the existing platforms address these needs and evaluate potential gaps.
• provide recommendations on various integration options and identify potential synergies.
• draft guidelines for TI to use to help avoid future fragmentation of platforms taking into account our current infrastructure, the complexity of our movement, and the need for a given flexibility for rapid development.
• recommend how and where the various needs and requirements could best be fulfilled within the overall landscape of web platforms presently available.

Report structure and expected deliverables

The expected deliverable will be in the format of a report which addresses the objectives outlined above. Information regarding existing platforms, as a starting point, will be provided through consultation with key stakeholders at Transparency International.

All presentations and reports are to be submitted in English, in electronic form, and in accordance with any deadlines agreed to. The consultant is responsible for editing and quality control of language. The TI Secretariat retains the sole rights with respect to all distribution, dissemination and publication of the deliverables.

Selection criteria

The consultant(s) must have at least seven years of proven experience in developing or advising platform development or IT Architecture in large and complex international organisations.

Education and Experience: At least ten years working with systems design, information or knowledge management with a focus on online platforms. Ideally with proven technical expertise and use of a wide range of online platforms and tools. A background in working with International NGOs and global organisations is desirable.

Transparency International will evaluate the tender based on the following criteria and assign set points to each with the following weighting:

• Required Skills and Experience (30%)
• 1 sample of a report from a similar assignment (10%)
• Tender Proposal (30%)
• Cost implications (30%)

Remuneration and costs

The vendor should provide a detailed breakdown where possible, before any VAT or other charges, of their estimated costs, including but not limited to; hourly rates, materials etc. including costs specifically for the high level objectives outlined in section 3.

Transparency International e.V. (Secretariat), (TI-S) is registered as a Business Entity in Germany with VAT identification number DE273612486. In order to determine the Value Added Tax (VAT) implications of this tender, we kindly request that the vendor answer each of the following questions relating to VAT and submit their answers in the attached Word document, along with their email application.

1. Are you a registered business entity or operating as a private person?
2. In what country is your business operation located?
3. Are you registered for VAT?
4. If registered for VAT, located outside the EU, and do not apply the reverse-charge mechanism, what rate of VAT are you obliged to charge?
5. If you are not registered for VAT, are you obliged to charge any other local taxes/charges?
6. If you are VAT registered within the EU, please provide your VAT number.

Contact information

The application should include the following:

• A tender proposal outlining how your credentials, experience with advising solution architecture, and overall vision fit together to enable you to evaluate our ecosystems of web platforms.
• 1 sample of a report from a similar assignment
• Completed VAT template
• Curriculum Vitae of leading expert or of individual consultant
• Contact details of Referees

Please indicate “Web Architecture Consultant” in the subject line of your email application. Applications should be sent in English by email to webarchitecture@transparency.org  by close of business of 31/05/2013.

Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.