Request for Proposal Prequalification of Printing, Branding and Production Service Providers Ethiopia

Procurement Summary

Item                                      Description 

Client                                      Girl Effect Ethiopia 

Assignment                         Prequalification of Printing, Branding & Production Service Providers

Procurement Method     Open Competitive Procurement                                        

Contract Type                     Framework Agreement                                                   

Framework Period            September 2026 – August 2028                                      

Number of Suppliers       Multiple suppliers may be appointed                             

Location                                 Ethiopia                                                           

Currency                                Ethiopian Birr (ETB)                                           

Who We Are

Girl Effect is an international non-profit organisation that creates media, technology and behaviour change programmes that empower adolescent girls and young people to improve their health, education and economic opportunities.

In Ethiopia, Girl Effect delivers programmes through the Yegna youth brand, reaching millions of young people through media, digital platforms, community engagement and research. These programmes require a wide range of professionally produced printing, branding and promotional materials to support programme implementation across Ethiopia

Objective

Girl Effect Ethiopia seeks to establish a roster of qualified printing, branding and production service providers for a two-year Framework Agreement.

Suppliers appointed to the framework may be invited to participate in:

• Restricted Requests for Quotations (RFQs)
• Mini-competitions
• Direct call-off assignments

depending on the nature, value and complexity of future requirements.

Appointment to the framework does not guarantee any minimum volume of work.

Framework Period

The framework agreement shall remain valid for:

September  2026 –August 2028

Girl Effect reserves the right to extend the framework for an additional period, subject to satisfactory performance.

What You’ll Do

The selected suppliers shall be capable of providing one or more of the following services:

A. Programme and Educational Materials

Student Manuals /Facilitator Guides  – Booklets - 60 pages

• Size: A5  Portrait (unless otherwise specified)
• Printing: Full colour (CMYK), double-sided
• Inside Pages: 150 GSM white bond paper, glossy
• Cover: 300 gsm art card with matte or gloss lamination
• Binding: Saddle stitched or perfect bound depending on page count
• Finish: Trimmed and neatly finished

Discussion Guides – Flip Charts - 20 pages

• Size: A3 Landscape (297 × 420 mm)
• Printing: Full colour, double-sided
• Paper: 250 gsm art card, glossy
• Mounting: White laminated rigid board backing
• Type: Self-standing flip chart
• Finish: Durable and suitable for repeated use during training sessions

Conversation Card - Flash Cards

• Size: A5 or A6 (as specified)
• Printing: Full colour, double-sided
• Material: 300 gsm art card
• Finish: Matte or gloss lamination with rounded corners where required

Fact Sheets - Brochure

• Size: A4 or A3 folded
• Printing: Full colour, double-sided
• Paper: 170 gsm art paper
• Finish: Folded and neatly trimmed

B. Information, Education and Communication Materials

Posters

• Sizes: A3, A2, A1 or custom sizes
• Printing: Full colour, single or double-sided
• Paper: 200 gsm art paper
• Finish: Matte or gloss finish as required

Flyers

• Size: A5 or DL
• Printing: Full colour, double-sided
• Paper: 150 gsm art paper
• Finish: Trimmed and bundled

Leaflets

• Size: A4 folded to DL or A5
• Printing: Full colour
• Paper: 150–170 gsm art paper
• Finish: Bi-fold or tri-fold as required

Brochures

• Size: A4 folded (Bi-fold or Tri-fold)
• Printing: Full colour
• Paper: 170 gsm art paper
• Finish: Professionally folded

Calendars

• Type: Wall or Desk Calendar
• Printing: Full colour
• Cover: 300 gsm art card
• Inside Pages: 170–200 gsm art paper
• Binding: Wire binding with hanging hook where applicable

Stickers

• Material: Vinyl or self-adhesive paper
• Printing: Full colour
• Finish: Gloss laminated
• Cutting: Die-cut or kiss-cut depending on design

C. Event and Activation Materials

Roll-up Banners

• Size: 85 × 200 cm
• Material: Premium anti-curl banner material
• Printing: Full colour
• Includes: Aluminium stand and carrying bag

Backdrops

• Material: 440 gsm PVC Flex or fabric
• Printing: Full colour
• Finish: Hemmed edges with eyelets

Stage Branding

• Material: PVC Flex, fabric or foam board depending on requirement
• Printing: Full colour
• Installation: Where requested

Directional Signage

• Material: Foam board, PVC board or Sunboard
• Printing: Full colour
• Finish: Mounted where applicable

Event Badges

• Material: PVC card or laminated art card
• Printing: Full colour
• Includes: Lanyard where required

Certificates

• Size: A4
• Printing: Full colour
• Paper: 300 gsm ivory or art card
• Finish: Matte or gloss finish

D. Branding and Promotional Materials

Branded Notebooks

• Size: A5 or A4
• Cover: 300 gsm laminated art card or hard cover
• Inside Pages: 80 gsm ruled or plain paper
• Binding: Spiral or perfect bound

Branded Folders

• Size: A4
• Material: 350 gsm art card
• Finish: Matte or gloss lamination
• Features: Business card slot and document pocket

Branded Pens

• Plastic or metal body
• Single or multi-colour branding
• Screen printing or UV printing

Branded Tote Bags

• Material: Heavy-duty canvas or cotton
• Printing: Screen printing, heat transfer or DTF printing
• Colour: As specified

T-Shirts

• Material: 100% cotton (180–200 gsm)
• Printing: Screen printing, DTF or embroidery
• Sizes: Small to XXL

Polo Shirts

• Material: Cotton pique (220 gsm)
• Branding: Embroidery or high-quality printing
• Sizes: Small to XXL

Caps

• Material: Cotton twill
• Branding: Embroidery or screen printing
• Adjustable fastening

Lanyards

• Material: Polyester
• Printing: Full-colour sublimation
• Includes: Metal hook and safety buckle where required

Water Bottles

• Material: Aluminium or stainless steel
• Branding: UV print, screen print or laser engraving

Mugs

• Material: Ceramic
• Branding: Sublimation printing
• Capacity: Approximately 330 ml

Wristbands

• Material: Silicone or fabric
• Branding: Printed or embossed logo

Promotional Merchandise
Suppliers should also be able to provide other branded promotional items, including but not limited to umbrellas, key holders, USB drives, notebooks, desk accessories, gift sets, and corporate giveaways.

E. Office and Corporate Materials

Business Cards

• Size: 85 × 55 mm
• Printing: Full colour, double-sided
• Paper: 350 gsm art card
• Finish: Matte or gloss lamination

Letterheads

• Size: A4
• Printing: Full colour
• Paper: 100 gsm bond paper

Compliment Slips

• Size: DL
• Printing: Full colour
• Paper: 120 gsm bond paper

Envelopes

• Sizes: DL, A5 and A4
• Printing: Single or full colour
• Paper: 100–120 gsm bond paper

Note: Suppliers should demonstrate capability to print materials in: Amharic, Afan Oromo,  Sidamic, Afar, Somali, Tigrinya, English and other Ethiopian languages where required.

Procurement Timelines

• Terms of Reference Published: July  29, 2026
• Deadline for Proposal Submission: August 20, 2026

Supplier Eligibility Requirements

Interested suppliers must submit:

Company Documentation

• Valid Business License

• Certificate of Incorporation/Registration

• TIN Registration Certificate

• VAT Registration Certificate

• Valid Tax Clearance Certificate

• Company Profile

Technical Capacity

• Description of printing facilities

• List of printing equipment

• List of finishing equipment

• Production capacity per day/week

• Quality assurance procedures

Relevant Experience

• Minimum three years' experience providing printing services

• At least three references from similar assignments

• Portfolio of completed work

Financial Capacity

• Audited financial statements (last two years) or equivalent financial records

• Bank reference letter

Proposal Submission Requirements

Technical Proposal

The technical proposal should include:

Company Overview

• Company profile

• Years in operation

• Areas of specialization

Relevant Experience

• Similar assignments undertaken

• NGO, donor or development sector experience

Production Capacity

• Printing technology available

• Production capability

• Staffing structure

Quality Management

• Quality assurance processes

• Sample approval procedures

• Reprint and defect management processes

Delivery and Logistics

• Delivery capability

• Geographic coverage

• Turnaround times

Sample Submission

Suppliers should submit at least three examples of recently completed print assignments demonstrating:

• Colour quality

• Binding quality

• Finishing quality

• Branding execution

• Durability

Financial Proposal

The Financial Proposal in Ethiopian shall be submitted separately from the Technical Proposal using the Girl Effect Pricing Schedule.

The Pricing Schedule has been designed to ensure a consistent and comparable evaluation of all submissions. Suppliers are requested to complete all applicable sections of the template and return it in its original Excel format.

The completed pricing schedule should include, where applicable:

• Unit rates for all requested printing and production items.

• VAT and other applicable taxes.

• Delivery and transportation charges.

• Installation costs (where applicable).

• Minimum order quantities (where applicable).

• Standard production lead times.

• Bulk order discounts.

• Any additional charges or assumptions.

• Price validity period.

Where a particular item or service is not offered, suppliers should indicate "Not Applicable (N/A)" within the template rather than deleting rows.

Suppliers should not alter the structure or formulas contained within the pricing schedule unless specifically instructed by Girl Effect.

The completed Financial Proposal template should be submitted together with the Technical Proposal by the submission deadline.

Evaluation Criteria

• Relevant Experience 25%
• Technical Capacity 25%
• Quality Assurance & Samples 20%
• Delivery & Logistics Capability 10%
• Financial Competitiveness 15%
• References 5%

Framework Management

Girl Effect reserves the right to:

• Appoint multiple suppliers to the framework.
• Allocate suppliers by service category where appropriate.
• Conduct restricted RFQs or mini-competitions amongst prequalified suppliers.
• Issue direct call-off purchase orders where appropriate.
• Review supplier performance annually.
• Suspend or remove suppliers based on performance or compliance.
• Extend the framework period subject to satisfactory performance.

How To Apply

To apply for this opportunity, please submit a proposal by email with the subject line “Prequalification of Printing, Branding and Production Service Providers – Ethiopia (2026–2028) ” to [email protected]  by August 20, 2026. For any questions, please also send them to our suppliers' email address.

Commercial and General Terms

• This procurement is intended to establish a non-exclusive framework agreement with multiple suppliers. Appointment to the framework does not guarantee any minimum volume or value of work.
• Suppliers are responsible for ensuring compliance with Ethiopian tax legislation. All taxes should be clearly identified in the financial proposal. 
• All materials developed under any subsequent call-off assignment shall become the property of Girl Effect unless otherwise agreed in writing. 
• Successful suppliers will be required to comply with Girl Effect's safeguarding policies and may be required to undergo safeguarding checks before contract award. 
• Girl Effect reserves the right to amend, suspend or cancel this procurement process at any stage and is not liable for any costs incurred by suppliers during the preparation or submission of proposals.