Terms of Reference for
Development and Field Testing of Labour Inspection Mobile App for DIFE
1. Introduction
Ready-Made Garment (RMG) is a strategic sector for the Bangladeshi economy, with an estimate of 3,500 export factories in operation, providing a source of employment for over 3.5 million workers. The industry exports totaled $31.2 billion in 2014-2015, which makes Bangladesh second largest apparel exporter after China. However, repeated massive industrial accidents indicates hazardous working conditions in the sector, and made clear that building, fire and occupational safety and health (OSH) need urgent attention.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) through its “Improving Working Conditions in the RMG Sector” project (ILO RMG project), funded by the Royal Netherlands Government, Canada and UK have been providing financial and technical assistance to the Government of Bangladesh for the implementation of the National Tripartite Plan of Action on Fire Safety and Structural Integrity (NTPA) in the Bangladesh RMG sector signed by industry partners on 25th July 2013.
The aforementioned project aims at long-term improvement of worker safety in the garment industry. The underlying message in this initiative is to ensure that sustainable mechanisms are in place to prevent future tragedies and ensure safe working conditions. The Department of Inspections of Factories and Establishments (DIFE) has a crucial role in in this process by enforcing national legislation on building and worker’s safety.
All active, exporting RMG factories in Bangladesh have undergone a structural, fire and electrical safety preliminary assessment carried out by either the Accord, Alliance of National Initiative (NI). The ILO supported the Government of Bangladesh in carrying out the activities under the NI.
ILO project also actively supporting the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE), the Department of Labour (DOL) and Fire Service and Civil Defence Department (FSCD) in strengthening their capacity to enforce national legislation as per their respective mandates.
2. Background
The ILO RMG project is expected to substantively impact on how data on working conditions in Bangladesh are collected, stored, analysed and used. The following 4 areas of project work address different elements of data collection and management.
Building and Fire Safety (Component 1), assists GoB to collect, process and publish assessment reports on building and fire safety and document the follow-up and remediation measures.
Labour Inspection System Improvement (Component 2), assists GoB to collect and process statistics and results of labour inspections, related to the mandate of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE), and in particular contribute to the effective management of factory licensing, renewal of licenses and dealing with complaints & disputes.
Occupational Safety and Health (Component 3), assists GoB to collect and use information pertaining to formation of occupational safety and health (OSH) committees, and reporting on accidents and OSH incidents at the factory level including responses to these incidents.
Better Work Bangladesh (Component 5), uses Global Better Work programme sophisticated system of data collection and processing. The information generated will be of use for the DIFE and other actors in relation to working conditions improvement and compliance to labour law and other relevant regulations.
The ILO RMG project aims to develop a coherent information and knowledge management system to ensure that the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE), Fire Safety and Civil Defence Department (FSCD), the Department of Labour (DOL) and Capital Development Authority (RAJUK) – as key regulatory agencies responsible for maintaining building and fire standards and enforcing laws in the RMG sector in Bangladesh maintain records effectively and in useable ways. This initiative will include development of protocols for generating, sharing and using data to ensure that information is available, accessible and effectively used especially in following areas:
building structural, fire and electricity safety assessments, their follow-ups and remediation status;
business registration, factory licensing and renewal;
labour inspections at the factory level, key findings and follow-up (corrective/preventive) activities undertaken;
formation and registration of factory level OSH/safety committees, workers education, and OSH incidents;
sector-wise accident and injury reporting, and follow-up (preventive/corrective) actions undertaken;
sector-wise labour inspection statistics; and
Other relevant information.
As the responsibility of managing such information lies with several government agencies, coordination and consistency of record keeping is the key challenge in maintaining a single system and/or process. Therefore, project's preliminary thinking involves developing an 'Information Gateway' to support internal GOB data use and public access to information on workplace safety in the RMG sector. Such approach may also include apart from use of GOB data that may also currently reside with industry organizations and civil society organisations. In the longer term, the aim is to develop a more coherent and robust approach to data collection, sharing, management and access to information.
A key feature of the system under development is public disclosure and access to information so that trust and confidence is built to the workplace safety and labour rights improvement measures being developed by public authorities.
3. Objectives
The objective is to pilot labour a inspection mobile app, analyse the existing labour inspection checklist, convert it into appropriate data collection form and mobile app, field test and examine validity of the checklist and data model for integrating it with the proposed automation of the Labour Inspection System.
4. Vendor’s Responsibilities
The vendor will work closely with the DIFE and ILO to elicit requirements and manage the software development life cycle including field testing and recommending for future changes in checklist, data collection tools & methods and inspection processes. In particular the scope of the work will be as follows:
1. Develop user stories for the LI mobile app: Work closely with the DIFE, ILO and intended end users to understand and map the labour inspection process and develop user stories that can be used later by the developers to develop the app.
2. Convert the Labour Inspection Checklist to data collection form: Work closely with ILO and DIFE and with their inputs, convert the Labour Inspection Checklist into a data collection form based on analysis of data types and reporting requirements. Then design the backend database where data collected via the form will be stored. The backend database with a web interface for reviewing, editing and generating reports, and should be located online on a database server so that client mobile applications can sync with it.
3. Develop the mobile app: Based on data collection form derived from the checklist, develop a mobile application for Android platform that can be used for data collection by the labour inspectors during the actual labour inspection at the factories. This app should be able to collect and store data offline and sync with the database server when connected to the internet at later stage. Data stored in the mobile device must be secured and protected from unintended access.
4. Design the reports: Data collected through the mobile app will be synced to the online database and the database interface should be able to generate two types of reports: Inspection Report for each factory/inspection, and summary report for each variables in the checklist. These summary reports may be published online for public access based on DIFE’s decision.
5. Embed reference and guidance materials: Include reference and guidance materials, such as Bangladesh Labour Act 2013 and its Implementing Rules, into the app so that labour inspectors can check the reference as and when needed. Contents to be added to this section will be provided by DIFE and ILO.
6. Field test the mobile app: Design field testing of the mobile app for at least 100 factories/inspections with 30 labour inspectors. Train the labour inspectors on using the app and orient on field testing methodology, and provide technical support to them during field testing. Gather day to day feedback on user experience and document the findings.
7. Handover the final app to the DIFE: Based on the findings of field testing, fine tune the database and mobile app and handover the fully working application including the source code, user manual and training materials to DIFE.
DIFE uses LAMP (Linux-Apache-MySQL-PHP) platform for its current applications. For the all the systems, Open Source Software and tools are preferred. The solution may be based on existing open source projects, such as OpenDataKit, KoboToolBox and/or GeoODK or build similar system from new codebase.
5. ILO’s responsibilities
The ILO will act as liaison between the actual client(s) and the consulting firm and provide the following support:
Provide support for engaging stakeholders, organizing meetings/workshops/interviews;
Monitor, supervise and review progress of the work;
Provide regular technical support and feedback;
Provide relevant documents.
6. Deliverables
The vendor will deliver the following on completion of the assignment:
(1) Functioning mobile app (including the database and documented source code in both CD and Github repository) for conducting labour inspection at factory level;
(2) Field testing report indicating user experience, recommendations for change in checklist and/or inspection process, and recommendations for integrating the LI app into full-fledged labour inspection automation system.
(3) User manual and Training Materials
DIFE uses LAMP (Linux-Apache-MySQL-PHP) platform for its current applications. For the all the systems, Open Source Software and tools are preferred. All documents and systems produced under the assignment (including the source code) will be the property of the ILO and DIFE, and shall not be published elsewhere without prior written permission from the procuring entity.
7. Competencies Required
The vendor with experience in LAMP and mobile application development using agile methodologies may bid for this assignment. The team should consist of the following members at the minimum:
Role Responsibilities Qualification
Project Manager Responsible for managing the software development project, liaison with DIFE and ILO; gather requirements; report on progress of development
Masters in
ICT/CSE/MIS; at least 3 years’ experience in managing software projects, preferably using Agile methodologies Web Application
Developer
Develops the database structure and application framework using suitable open source software based on requirements gathered; develops appropriate APIs/services for data sharing with the mobile applications
At least 2 years’ experience in LAMP application development; Experience with modern PHP frameworks like Laravel preferred Mobile App
developer
Develops the mobile apps, mainly for Android platform, which is used offline and syncs to backend database over the internet
At least 2 years’
experience in mobile app (Android or Hybrid) development
In addition to the above, the firm should fulfill the following criteria:
Legal establishment for a minimum of three years (proven document)
Experience in similar assignments with proven track record
Should have capacity to provide post-deployment support for at least 1 (one) year
8. Schedule & Reporting
The vendor will submit detail time frame for completing the assignment in light of the following tentative timeframe for the milestones.
Task/Output Deadline / Time
Inception Report Within 1 month after signing the contract; containing detailed requirements, user stories and application prototype design including plan for field testing
First version of the mobile application
Within 2 months after starting the assignment, first working version of the application for piloting and testing by the labour inspectors
Refined Final Version of the application
Within 6 months after starting the assignment; incorporating all the feedback from piloting the system
The vendor will work under the overall guidance and supervision of the Director of ILO Country Office and direct supervision of the "Improving Working Conditions in the Ready-Made Garment Industry" Project's Program Manager and will report to them.
Submission of Proposals
The ILO invites technical and financial proposals from the interested vendors to implement the assignment. The proposals should include detailed methodology, a cover letter letter explaining why they are the most suitable for this assignment, and a detailed budget. A Service Contract will be awarded based on the quality of technical and financial proposals following the ILO procurement and financial rules and regulations. Payment will be made in Bangladeshi Taka (BDT) as per the ILO financial rules and payment conditions as stipulated in the Service Contract and ToRs. The interested organizations are requested to submit their proposals electronically to rmgp-dhaka@ilo.org by addressing Mr. Tuomo Poutiainen, Programme Manager, RMG Programme, or to submit hard copy to the address: Mr. Tuomo Poutiainen, Programme Manager, RMP Programme, House No. CEN (B) 16, Road No. 99, Gulshan 2, Dhaka 1212 by 4.30 pm on 25 May 2016. Proposals received after that date will disqualify.
