REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL: SELECTION OF TAX ADVISORS
October 2021
WHO WE ARE
Girl Effect is an international non-profit that builds media that girls want, trust and need. From chatbots to chat shows, TV dramas to tech, our content helps adolescent girls in Africa and Asia make choices and changes in their lives.
We create safe spaces for girls, sharing facts and answering questions about health, nutrition, education, and relationships, empowering girls with the skills to negotiate and redefine what they are told is possible “for a girl”.
Our reach is 20 million and counting. And we’re using technology to reach girls at scale so every girl can choose to be in control of her body, her health, her learning and her livelihood.
Because when a girl unlocks her power to make different choices that change her life, it inspires others to do so too. She starts a ripple effect that impacts her family, her community, her country.
That’s the Girl Effect.
GE India
Working with girls in India, Girl Effect UK (a UK based charity) has created Chhaa Jaa (Go Forth and Shine) – a powerful youth brand that girls can access via social media. Chhaa Jaa focuses on inspiring, entertaining and empowering girls with the right skills and confidence to navigate adolescence – from accessing information about sexual and reproductive health to preparing them to enter the workforce.
THE REQUIREMENT
Girl Effect Enterprise India Pvt Ltd requires tax advisory services for compliance with Direct and Indirect Taxes; though the scope of such services could widen in future, the initial focus is on the following-
Compliance with GST -
Filling monthly and annual returns (GSTR 1, GSTR -3B, GSTR 9, GSTR -9C, GSTR 2A & 2B monthly Reconciliation with Books of Account, Annual Filing of Letter of undertaking (LUT)), GST refund application.
Compliance with TDS -
TDS related consultancy and generate TDS certificate (Form 16, Form 16A).
Review the annual salary structure of the employees.
Review the Annual Income Tax returns (advance tax computation)
Supporting any general Tax related queries. Therefore, the consultant will be expected to give guidance on the Tax Compliance requirements for GEEI and advise on all available options while providing the potential impact on Income tax for each option/scenario.
Tax Assessment, Appeal and Notices compliances
Consultancy for any other Direct and Indirect Tax matter as required by GEEI
PAYMENT TERMS
Monthly fixed fees, Invoice after each deliverable and time and expense as per the above details.
The professional fee quoted by the firm shall be valid for the entire contract period.
Statutory Taxes will be paid at the prescribed rate during the contract period.
TDS will be deducted as per prevailing rates prescribed in the Income Tax Act from all payments made by GEEI.
INTENDED TIMEFRAME
● Terms of reference published: Thursday 14th October
● Deadline for responses: Tuesday 25th October
● Supplier selection, contracting and briefing: By Friday 28th October
● Project commencement: 1st November
EXPECTED COMMITMENT
We are looking to make an immediate decision regarding the Direct and Indirect Tax compliance for GEEI; hence we would require that the advisory services to support that decision be delivered at the earliest.
The Firms will be appointed for one year from the date of their appointment. The selected firms may be re-appointed up to a maximum period of two years on an annual basis depending upon the satisfactory performance of the firm in the previous year.
WHO YOU ARE
You are:
A firm of Certified Chartered Accountants licensed to practice as such in India.
Experienced in supporting organizations to make responsible decisions that are compliant with all relevant statutory provisions
Have current membership with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and in good standing with the regulatory bodies.
You should have been in operation for minimum of 5 years
The Chartered Accountant Firm must have an Income Tax Permanent Account Number (PAN) and GST Registration Number.
You should have experience working with development agencies in India
You should be able to allocate dedicated team member/s to carry out the scope of work.
You should not have been barred/declared ineligible for corrupt and fraudulent practises by the Govt. of India/State Govt/RBI/ICAI/any other body and should not have any disciplinary proceedings pending against the applicant firm or any of the partners.
PROPOSAL SUBMISSIONS
Interested suppliers are asked to submit a brief proposal (no more than 5 pages), setting out:
Your relevant experience in providing these services to organisations like GEEI
Relevant details about your approach towards tax advisory services
A detailed fee structure breakdown
CVs/key information of appropriate members of your team that would support GEEI
Key information about any relevant regulatory body memberships for your organisation
Cost estimates (Management/Advisory fees). Technical and Financial proposals will need to be submitted as separate documents. Financial bids will not be opened until the technical evaluation and then only for those proposals deemed qualified and responsive.
REPORTING
This consultant will be managed by Girl Effect’s Finance Manager, supported by the wider finance team.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
The criteria against which proposals will be evaluated are listed below:
Technical Evaluation
Year of Establishment of Firm - 10%
Qualification of members & staff of firm - 20%
Projects handled – 20%
Agency Credentials (Profile) - 10%
The team assigned for the project - 20%
Demonstrated experience working with development agencies in India-10%
Client testimonials (At least 3 references) – 10%
Financial Evaluation
- Value for money/proposed budget breakdown - 30%
Only prospective bidders scoring 70% and more in the Technical Proposal will be deemed to qualify for the second stage of the bid and added to our prequalified list of vendors.
At the second stage, the financial bids of only technically qualifying bidding parties will be opened.
GEEI is not liable for any cost incurred during the award/contract preparation, submission, or negotiation of the award/contract. All submitted documentation and/or materials shall become and remain the property of GEEI
TAX
Applicants are advised to ensure that they clearly understand their tax position regarding local jurisdiction tax legislation provisions when developing their proposals.
DISCLAIMER
GE India reserves the right to determine the structure of the process, number of short-listed participants, the right to withdraw from the proposal process, the right to change this timetable at any time without notice and reserves the right to withdraw this tender at any time, without prior notice and without liability to compensate and/or reimburse any party. GEEI shall inform ONLY successful applicant(s). The process of negotiation and signing of the contract with the successful applicant(s) will follow.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
Girl Effect Services is committed to equal opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.
We are committed to building an organization that is increasingly representative of, and works extensively with, the communities that we serve. To this end, due regard will be paid to procuring consultancy service organizations and individuals with diverse professional, academic and cultural backgrounds.
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How to apply:
HOW TO APPLY
Please submit proposals, as described above, to suppliers@girleffect.org by 25th October 2021, 5:00 pm IST latest. Please clearly mark your email with the subject ‘**GEEI Tax Advisors TOR submission**.’