Request For Proposals For Office Design Services & Concept Creation

1. BACKGROUND

UNESCO was established in Lebanon in 1961 and has since, a long-standing partnership with Lebanon and the Arab Region, serving 19 Member States. First founded in 1961 as the Arab States Center for Administration and Training of Education Personnel (ASCATEP), with the aim of training educational personnel within the Arab States in management and planning of Arab educational systems, ASCATEP became UNESCO Regional Bureau for Education in the Arab States in 1972, which offices were located in Bir Hassan. During the war years in Lebanon, the Office was temporarily relocated to Cairo, Paris and Amman (1975-1991). It gradually re-opened in Beirut in 1992, where it is now officially located. In 2022, the UNESCO building facing Cite Sportive underwent a major renovation with an upgrade in infrastructure, furniture, façade and equipment. Today, the renovated premises still need to be creatively branded and designed, in a way UNESCO staff and visitors can enjoy a pleasant, conducive and distinct work environment that reflects the unique identity of UNESCO's mandate and its impactful achievements in the region, in the fields of education, culture, communication and information, social and human sciences, as well as natural sciences.

1. OBJECTIVE

UNESCO invites proposals from qualified interior designers and creative consultants to provide a creative concept and vision for the professional design and branding of the UNESCO premises.

Services are being sought only for the Bir Hassan building located at Cite Sportive. The submission due date is July 11, 2022.

1. SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED

The creative consultant will work with UNESCO Media and Communication Coordinator throughout the process on the design and branding of the Beirut office.

Services to be provided include:

• Creating a vision and high concept for the branding and design of the UNESCO building premises, that embodies UNESCO's mandate and mission ("The CONCEPT PROPOSAL")

• Developing the concept into ready-to-produce designs and materials

• Providing clear options and recommendations on additional furniture and layout

• Holding a supervision role for the execution of the concept, design and production of material with a third party company pre-selected by UNESCO.

1. PROPOSAL EVALUATION REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

The creative consultant will be evaluated and chosen based solely on "The CONCEPT PROPOSAL" submitted in response to this RFP, with a focus on the following criteria:

1. Strength of Concept and Originality
2. Accordance to UNESCO worldwide brand identity and mandate
3. Evaluation quality of work product
4. Evaluation of feasibility and budget (as seen below in 5.2)

The Content of The Concept Proposal prepared by the successful consultant, with any amendment approved by UNESCO, will become a part of the contract that is signed as a result of this RFP process, for further development of "The Concept Proposal" and subsequent works mentioned here above.

1. REQUIRED INFORMATION

5.1 Elements covered by "The CONCEPT PROPOSAL" should take into account the following:

• UNESCO brand identity:

UNESCO is an intergovernmental organization with a high brand value, represented by its diverse fields of competencies. In its work in diverse places around the world, it promotes a one-UNESCO brand with specific and unified logos, colors and designs, (as seen for example in this document https://en.unesco.org/sites/default/files/secretariat_toolkit_20210909_eng.pdf). This one identity needs to be taken into consideration while branding the Beirut office.

• UNESCO strategic messages and achievements/results:

UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It seeks to build peace through international cooperation in education, sciences and culture. UNESCO's programmes contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in the 2030 Agenda, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015.

UNESCO focuses on a set of objectives:

- Attaining quality education for all and lifelong learning ;

- Mobilizing science knowledge and policy for sustainable development ;

- Addressing emerging social and ethical challenge;

- Fostering cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and a culture of peace;

- Building inclusive knowledge societies through information and communication.

The visual identity of the Beirut Office has to reflect UNESCO's corporate mandate, as well as its achievements as a Regional Bureau for Education in the Arab States, and as a National Office for Lebanon and Syria in the field of Culture, Education, Communication and Information, Natural Sciences and Social and Human Sciences. The goal is to create an office identity that advocates for UNESCO's values, goals and achievements.

Respondents to this proposal may wish to visit UNESCO's website (https://www.unesco.org/en) as well as the Beirut Field Office's website (https://en.unesco.org/fieldoffice/beirut), to learn more about UNESCO. UNESCO international days can be found on this link: https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/international-days

• Space management, functionality and well-being

The Beirut Office currently has around 50 staff members and has four floors. Its facilities include a learning center, a fully equipped conference room, a newly renovated library, a meeting room, enclosed offices, a garden and secure parking.

Besides the fact that the current space lacks spirit and does not reflect properly UNESCO's mandate, "The Concept Proposal" should take into account a re-imagining of the functionality of some spaces, some of which are currently unused, or not efficiently used, in a way to create a more functional workplace. Ideas can lead to the inception of new common spaces. The UNESCO management would strongly like to have, in particular, a new space for long-term cultural exhibitions, similar to the ones that can be seen in UNESCO HQs in Paris. As it advocates for people to lead healthy and productive lives, UNESCO gives a particular attention to its staff well-being and mental health, and recognizes the need for more common spaces in the Beirut Office premises.

5.2 Consultants are requested to include an estimated budget for reference, that would include the creative fees for the Concept Development, a general estimate of the execution budget that will serve as a benchmark for the third-party executing company pre-selected by UNESCO, as well as the time needed for the concept full development.

5.3 Consultants are requested to send a personal Curriculum Vitae as well.

1. PROJECT SCHEDULE

Below are a desired schedule and deadlines for initiating this project; however dates may be subject to change and adjusted as necessary.

July 11, 2022 - Submission of Proposals

July 18, 2022 - Selection of Consultant/ Choice of Concept

August 8, 2022 - Concept Full Development and Creation of Ready-to-Produce Designs

August 29, 2022 - Production Completion

1. ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The responder must warrant that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, and except as otherwise disclosed, there are no relevant factors or circumstances, which could give rise to organization conflicts of interest.

1. PROPOSAL FORM

Proposals only to be submitted electronically. Please indicate "REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL No. UNESCO/BEI/PRO/RFP/22/136 - UNESCO OFFICE BRANDING" in the subject line when submitting.

Proposals are to be submitted via email to this address [email protected](link sends e-mail)without any copy to any other e-mail addresses. Email is the only accepted method of submitting proposals. Proposals will not be accepted after the stated deadline of July 11, 2022 at 16:00 Beirut time. Offers addressed at any other e-mail accounts will be disqualified.

At the discretion of UNESCO, interviews might be conducted with submitting consultants. UNESCO will not be obliged in any manner to any proposer whatsoever. At its sole discretion, it may choose to terminate the Request for Proposal process and not enter a contract with any of the proposers.

The issuance of this RFP, submission of a response by any individual and the acceptance of such response does not obligate UNESCO in any manner. Legal obligations will only arise on the execution of a formal contract between UNESCO and the consultant selected. Response to this RFP will be prepared at the sole cost and expense of the proposing individual.

1. CONTACTS, VISITS AND INQUIRIES

Any questions must be submitted in writing to [email protected](link sends e-mail). Visits to the premises can be scheduled before July 7, 2022, and requests for visits must be submitted in writing to [email protected](link sends e-mail).

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