Request for proposal towards Empanelment of vendor/individual for Learning and Development Services.

1.      About the Organization:

Room to Read is a global organization transforming the lives of millions of children in low-income communities by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education. Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children®, our innovative model focuses on deep, systemic transformation within schools during two time periods that are most critical in a child’s schooling: early primary school for literacy acquisition and secondary school for girls’ education. We work in collaboration with local communities, partner organizations, and governments to develop literacy skills and a habit of reading among primary school children and ensure girls can complete secondary school with the skills necessary to negotiate key life decisions.

By focusing on the quality of education provided within the communities and ensuring these outcomes are measured, we have created a model that can be replicated, localized, and sustained by governments. With its global headquarters in San Francisco, Room to Read till date has benefited 32 million children across 21 low-income countries.

Room to Read India was established in 2003 and presently has programs in twelve states – Chhattisgarh, Delhi NCR, Bihar, Himanchal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh.

2.      Purpose of Empanelment:

Room to Read India Trust seeks to empanel qualified vendors and individual trainers to support the Learning & Development (L&D) function. Empanelled trainers will be engaged on an as-needed basis over a 2-year period to design, deliver, and support training interventions that build capability across diverse staff roles and regions.

Multiple agencies/individuals may be empanelled.

3.      Scope of Work:

The Vendor/Individual will provide the following services for the Learning and Development (L&D) team:

3.1.    Learning Needs Analysis & Requirement Gathering:
Understand organizational culture, program models, role expectations, and capacity gaps. Engage with the People Operations and program teams to refine training requirements.

3.2.    Training Content Development & Customization:
Design and/or adapt training materials suited to identified learning needs. Ensure content is interactive, inclusive, contextually relevant, and aligned to Room to Read’s values and operating environment. Localize training content for language and cultural relevance where required.

3.3.    Facilitation & Delivery

Training delivery may occur online or in-person across India. Trainers are expected to use participatory methodologies (case work, role-plays, peer reflection, group problem-solving, etc.).

3.4.    Learning Focus Areas (Indicative)

The list below outlines the broad categories of trainings that Room to Read India Trust anticipates conducting during the empanelment period. These themes are indicative and may be expanded, adapted, substituted, or refined based on evolving organizational requirements, team skill development needs, and strategic priorities. Empanelled trainers/vendors may be requested to design and deliver additional or customized modules aligned to these areas.

3.4.1.  Technical Trainings

These trainings aim to enhance digital fluency, data proficiency, and program monitoring capabilities across the organization. The emphasis is on strengthening efficiency, analytical rigor, and the use of emerging tools in day-to-day work.

• AI and Work Productivity Tools: Foundations of artificial intelligence, responsible use, automation of routine workflows, introduction to AI-enabled writing, documentation, research, and productivity tools to enhance efficiency.
• Power BI and Advanced Excel: Training in data cleaning, dashboard building, visualization, reporting automation, and analytical interpretation to support evidence-based decision-making and internal reporting practices.
• MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning) Systems: Understanding program indicators, data collection tools, data quality assurance techniques, outcome tracking mechanisms, and reporting aligned with learning and accountability frameworks.

3.4.2.  Soft Skills & Core Behavioral Competencies

These trainings focus on building essential interpersonal, communication, and cognitive skills that support collaboration, leadership readiness, and effective stakeholder engagement in a mission-driven environment.

·        Business Communication & Professional Writing: Structured and concise formal communication, reporting standards, email etiquette, and documentation for internal and external audiences.

• Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving Frameworks: Application of structured reasoning models, data-informed analysis, scenario review, prioritization, and decision-making approaches.
• Emotional Intelligence: Developing self-awareness, managing interpersonal dynamics, building empathy, maintaining composure, and fostering supportive team environments.
• Public Speaking & Persuasive Presentations: Audience engagement, message framing, storytelling, voice modulation, visual support, and influencing strategies for group presentations.
• Adaptability & Change Management: Skills to navigate organizational change, evolving priorities, and dynamic programmatic environments with resilience and flexibility.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Partnership Building: Approaches for effective collaboration with government departments, community institutions, schools, donors, and program partners.

3.4.3.  B. Soft Skills & Core Behavioral Competencies

These trainings are tailored to build technical competencies relevant to specific job families and responsibilities within the organization.

• Project Management Fundamentals: Introduction to planning, work breakdown structures, budgeting, scheduling, risk mitigation, coordination workflows, and progress monitoring.
• Data-Driven Decision-Making (Strategic Analysis, Management & Reporting): Interpreting data for insight generation, presenting key findings, making evidence-informed decisions, and communicating program results to stakeholders.

Note: Note: The above is indicative. Additional sessions may be introduced based on evolving organizational needs.

3.5.    Training Languages:

Room to Read operates across linguistically diverse states, so training will be delivered in English, Hindi, Telugu, Marathi, and Kannada. Trainers will be selected based on language proficiency, and materials will be localized to ensure clear understanding and active participation. Vendors should indicate language proficiency and region-specific experience. Additional languages may be included depending on future program expansion or state-specific operational requirements.

3.6.    Evaluation & Impact Assessment:
Develop and implement assessment tools to measure training effectiveness. Conduct feedback sessions, analyse post-training assessments, and provide reports with key learnings and recommendations.

3.7.    Follow-up & Continuous Learning Support:
Provide post-training support such as refresher sessions, mentoring, and access to learning resources. Assist in developing a sustainable learning framework to ensure continuous professional development.

4.      Replacement & Backup Facilitation:
In case a scheduled trainer is unavailable, the vendor/individual will ensure a suitable replacement is arranged to avoid disruption in planned training sessions.

5.      Area of Operations

Trainings will be conducted across India, particularly in states where Room to Read India Trust operates. Currently, operations span across Telangana, Karnataka, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, New Delhi, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himanchal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Additional states may be included as Room to Read expands its programs, and the vendor will be informed accordingly.

6.      Technical Evaluation Criteria:

Room to Read will evaluate the profiles based on the below mentioned criteria’s.

• Demonstrated experience delivering large-scale PAN-India training programs.
• Expertise in capacity building in the development/NGO sector.
• Demonstrated competence in the learning focus areas listed in Section 3.4.
• Ability to conduct trainings across multiple staff levels and job roles.
• Language proficiency and ability to deliver regionally contextualized training.

7.      Engagement Period

This empanelment will remain valid for two (2) years from the date of signing of the agreement.

Training assignments will be allocated based on requirement, geography, trainer expertise, and language capability.

8.      Additional Information:

Trainings will be conducted online or offline, with trainers traveling to our designated states as needed.

9.      Exit Clause

In the event that the vendor fails to meet the agreed-upon expectations, service quality, or timelines, the organization reserves the right to terminate the contract and discontinue the vendor’s services by providing a 15-day written notice. No further obligations or liabilities shall arise beyond the notice period.

10.    Matrix for training process:

Section	Details to be Filled by Vendor / Trainer
1. Basic Information
Name of Vendor / Trainer
Organization Name (if any)
Type (Individual / Agency)
Contact Person & Details (Phone & Email)
Office Location / State(s) of Operation
Website / LinkedIn (if any)
2. Experience Summary
Years of Experience in L&D
Experience in NGO / Development Sector (Yes/No)
Can Deliver Trainings PAN India (Yes/No)
3. Areas of Expertise (Tick / mention relevant areas)	Training Topics (Including but not limited too)
Technical Trainings	☐ AI & Work Productivity Tools ☐ Power BI / Advance Excel ☐ MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning) Systems ☐ Others (additional topics not listed) ________________ _______________________________
Soft Skills & Core Behavioral Competencies	☐ Business Communication & Professional Writing ☐ Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving Frameworks ☐ Emotional Intelligence ☐ Public Speaking & Persuasive Presentations ☐ Change Management ☐ Stakeholder Engagement ☐ Project Management ☐ Data-Driven Decision Making ☐ Others (additional topics not listed) ________________ ___________________________________
Other Expertise Areas (if any)
Languages of Delivery / Expertise: English, Hindi, Telugu, Marathi, Kannada (please specify if proficient in any other languages).
4. Delivery Approach & Details
Mode of Delivery (Online / Offline / Both)
If online, please specify the platform used.
Group Size Handled & Group Size Preference Per Batch
Regions / States Worked In (mention in the view of RtR presence)
Brief Description of Training Approach & Methodology
5. Team Details (for Vendors only)
Number of Trainers in Panel
Backup Trainer Available (Yes/No)
6. Indicative Fee Structure
Travel & Logistics (Included / Extra)
6. Estimated Duration & Preparation Time	(Provide indicative timelines for each stage)
Module Design & Content Development Time
Pre-Evaluation / Needs Assessment Time
Post-Evaluation / Report Submission Time
7. References & Compliance
Client References (Name & Organization)
Sample Material / Deck Attached (Yes/No)
Agree to Room to Read’s Child Protection Policy & Code of Conduct (Yes/No)
8. Declaration	I hereby confirm that the above information is true and agree to be considered for empanelment with Room to Read India Trust.
Name & Signature
Date

Room to Read is a child-safe organization. All personnel are expected to adhere to Room to Read’s Child Protection Policy and Child Protection Code of Conduct.

HOW TO APPLY:

Proposals are invited from the interested agencies/Individuals for the above assignment and the last date for receiving the proposal is 10^st Dec 2025 at, Procurement.india@roomtoread.org [do not copy anyone from RtR]

Kindly submit two separate emails with the following subject lines:

o EMAIL (1): TECHNICAL PROPOSAL – Annual Learning and Development Services

o EMAIL (2): FINANCIAL PROPOSAL – Annual Learning and Development Services

Submission terms:

• All agencies/Individuals are advised to thoroughly review the ToR before applying.
• Technical and Financial proposals are to be shared in two different emails separately and not in a single email (mandatory)
• Incomplete applications or deviations from the prescribed process will result in automatic rejection.            
• Proposals received after the prescribed deadline will not be considered.
• Only shortlisted agencies/Individuals will be contacted and may be requested for face-to-face/online interaction/presentation.
• For the Selected bidder it will be mandatory to sign and abide by Room to Read’s Child Protection Policy and Child Protection of Code of Conduct policy

For queries, please contact:

Vivek Shrawat

vivek.shrawat@roomtoread.org

Tags Education and Education Technology (edtech)