Request for Proposals for Web Development (Expression Engine)
Overview and Project Objectives
The Organization requires a redesign of its website (http://www.voluntaryprinciples.org), based primarily on existing text. The website was launched several years ago, and has not been substantially changed since then. The website includes a public interface, as well as an internal interface accessible only to Voluntary Principles participants. The current content management system is Expression Engine.
The Voluntary Principles has developed a rough plan for the organization of the site, and seeks help in realizing that vision. The website redesign should make information about the Voluntary Principles easier to identify on the public website, including for potential new participants; and enable Voluntary Principles participants to post and share material on the internal website. Additionally, the Voluntary Principles would like the website designer to provide project management during the course of the website redesign.
The redesigned external portion of the website should support the following objectives:
· Enable the public to identify basic information about the initiative;
· Enable potential participants to understand the criteria and process to join the Voluntary Principles by reorganizing content;
· Identify news arising from the initiative; and
· Make the website more visually appealing.
The redesigned internal portion of the website should support the following objectives:
· Enable participants to post documents related to specific working groups and work streams in an orderly fashion; and
· Allow the posting of documents and information to make participants aware of upcoming or past events.
About the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights
The Voluntary Principles is an unincorporated non-profit multi-stakeholder initiative that seeks to prevent human rights abuses related to the activities of public and private security forces. Through dialogue, the participants developed a set of principles to guide companies in maintaining the safety and security of their operations within an operating framework that ensures respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. Voluntary Principles participants include human rights organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, as well as governments and companies.
Target Audience
The target audience for the public website is broad, encompassing human rights organizations, government officials, companies, and members of the public interested in the relationship between companies and human rights. The private section of the website is only available to participants (companies, non-governmental organizations, and governments). The website will be in English and will not require a multi-language platform. It should be compatible with main browsers, including previous versions (e.g. Internet Explorer 7).
Budget
Please provide a line-item budget, bearing in mind that the Voluntary Principles are run on a not-for-profit basis, which may restrict the budget.
Requirements
Website Redesign
The website redesign should address current challenges related to both the external and internal portions of the website. We would like to make the external part of the website more user-friendly so that external stakeholders can identify key information about the organization. We also seek improvements to the internal website, which currently only allows documents to be posted as they come in, and does not enable them to be organized. We would like participants to be able to post documents related to specific working groups or meetings in an orderly fashion.
The Voluntary Principles have developed initial ideas for the functionality required in the external and internal website, so the developer will be responsible for implementing that vision. The developer should present several design options that would implement those functionalities in a user-friendly manner.
The existing content management system is Expression Engine. Depending on the associated costs, we will entertain the concept of switching over to a different content management system. The management system must be non-proprietary.
We would welcome ideas as to missing content that would make the website more user-friendly. It is our sense that most important information is already available on the external website, but is not well-organized and thus difficult to identify. The Voluntary Principles may need to generate some new content, depending on the website design.
The internal website currently displays working documents and information about events, but it is not organized by event or working group. Currently, only administrators can post documents to this part of the site. It would benefit the organization if Voluntary Principles participants could post documents to this part of the site in a structured and user-friendly manner. The documents would need to be organized so that they are grouped by working group or by event.
Project Management
The website designer should have a proven ability to manage such projects. In this case, project management would involve working with the Voluntary Principles Secretariat and a Communications Working Group, which would provide input into the website design and desired functionality.
Written Proposal
The written proposal should include:
· A discussion of how your firm will meet the objectives of the project (including examples of how you would tackle requirements e.g. posting of documents on the internal portion of the website);
· Costs, including a line-item budget;
· Timeline to complete the project;
· Resources available/composition of design team (e.g. project manager, designer, developer, etc.);
· Relevant experience with website design and project management, and web links to past projects; and
· Three references.
Evaluation Criteria
Decisions will be based on budget, vendors’ prior work product, and prior client satisfaction.
Submission Information
Please respond to this Request for Proposals by sending an email with the proposal attached to Amy Lehr, Voluntary Principles Secretariat, at [email protected], with the subject line, “Website Redesign RFP.”
You can also email [email protected] with any questions, and we will respond with an email or phone call, as appropriate. Proposals are due by December 12, 2011. We will follow up with any questions regarding the proposals.
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Dahna Goldstein
Founder
PhilanTech, LLC
[email protected]
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