Engagement of an Agency for Conducting Skill Gap Assessment Study of Sikkim under Sikkim INSPIRES Program

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Consultancy Tender Preparation

At a Glance: Key Information

ParticularDetails
StateSikkim
Issuing AuthoritySkill Development Department (SDD), Govt. of Sikkim
Title of Tender/RFPEngagement of an Agency for Conducting Skill Gap Assessment Study of Sikkim under Sikkim INSPIRES Program
Tender/EOI Reference No.SDD/ Sikkim INSPIRES/ 2026/ RFP-02
Value of the TenderNot Disclosed (To be quoted by bidders)
Tender FeeNot explicitly mentioned (to be submitted via Demand Draft with the bid, as per important notes)
EMD (Earnest Money Deposit)₹ 4,00,000 (Indian Rupees Four Lakh only) in the form of a lien-marked FDR
Last Date of SubmissionMarch 20, 2026
Time of SubmissionUp to 15:00 Hrs (3:00 PM)
Mode of SubmissionPhysical (By hand or courier)
DOWNLOAD Tender/EOIDOWNLOAD RFP or https://sdd.sikkim.gov.in/

1. Introduction

The Skill Development Department (SDD), Government of Sikkim, has officially released a Request for Proposal (RFP) bearing No. SDD/ Sikkim INSPIRES/ 2026/ RFP-02, dated February 20, 2026. This RFP is a critical part of the ambitious Sikkim INSPIRES Program (Integrated Service Provision and Innovation for Reviving Economies). The primary goal is to engage a qualified agency to conduct a comprehensive Skill Gap Assessment Study (SGAS) across all six districts of Sikkim. This study is fundamental to understanding the state’s labor market dynamics and aligning skill development initiatives with industry demands, making it one of the most significant skill tenders in the northeastern region for 2026.

2. Objective of the Assignment

The core objective is to conduct a detailed Skill Gap Assessment Study in Sikkim over a period of six months. The study aims to:

  • Assess the demand, supply, and aspirations of the labor force, with a specific focus on women and youth.
  • Develop a comprehensive profile of the current and potential workforce for the next 10 years.
  • Identify current and future skill requirements across priority and emerging sectors.
  • Provide actionable recommendations and a roadmap to bridge the identified skill gaps, ensuring that training programs under the Sikkim INSPIRES Program are market-driven, inclusive, and future-ready.

3. Key Dates and Timeline

Agencies interested in this skill RFP must adhere to the following strict schedule:

  • Issue of RFP Document: February 20, 2026
  • Last Date for Pre-Bid Queries: March 04, 2026, up to 15:00 Hrs
  • Pre-Bid Meeting Date: March 05, 2026, at 14:00 Hrs (Virtual Mode)
  • Last Date for Submission of Bids: March 20, 2026, up to 15:00 Hrs
  • Opening of Eligibility and Technical Bid: March 23, 2026, at 14:00 Hrs

4. Tender Fee and Earnest Money Deposit (EMD)

  • Tender Fee: While a specific amount is not listed in the summary table, the Important Notes in the RFP schedule mandate that a Demand Draft for the Tender Fee must be submitted along with the bid. Failure to do so will result in the bid not being opened.
  • EMD: A substantial Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) of ₹ 4,00,000 (Rupees Four Lakh only) is required. It must be submitted as a Fixed Deposit Receipt (FDR) in the agency’s name, lien-marked in favor of the “Secretary, Skill Development Department, Government of Sikkim.” The EMD is refundable for unsuccessful bidders and will be refunded to the successful bidder upon submission of the Performance Guarantee.

5. Scope of Work (SoW)

The selected agency will be responsible for a deep-dive analysis of Sikkim’s skill ecosystem. The scope is comprehensive and includes:

  • Stakeholder Mapping and Engagement: Identifying and consulting with government departments, employers, industry associations, training institutions, youth/women’s groups, and community organizations.
  • Supply-Side Analysis: Profiling the workforce, assessing the capacity of existing training institutions (ITIs, VTCs, etc.), and evaluating the skill levels of youth, women, and other groups. This includes analyzing migration patterns.
  • Aspirations Mapping: Understanding the career preferences and motivations of youth and women to ensure training aligns with their goals.
  • Demand-Side and Emerging Sector Analysis: Assessing current and projected workforce demand in priority sectors (Tourism, IT/ITeS, Green Jobs, etc.) and identifying new opportunities in emerging fields.
  • Gap Analysis: Using a structured framework to identify demand-supply mismatches, competency gaps, proficiency deficits, and inclusion gaps.
  • Recommendations and Roadmap: Delivering a detailed, actionable roadmap with short-term (0-2 years), medium-term (3-5 years), and long-term (6-10 years) interventions, including policy, programmatic, and financial reforms.

6. Eligibility Criteria for Agencies

The RFP allows participation from two categories of agencies. This is a crucial section for any EOI for Skill Development Training-related bidding.

Category A: Firms Registered in Sikkim

  • Must be registered in Sikkim and operating for at least the last 5 years (as of March 31, 2025).
  • Minimum annual turnover of ₹1 Crore or above in FY 2023-24 and FY 2024-25.
  • Positive net worth in the last two financial years.

Category B: Firms Registered under the Companies Act

  • Must be registered under the Companies Act and operating for at least the last 5 years.
  • Mandatory: Must apply in a Joint Venture (JV) with a firm registered in Sikkim (with 5 years of operation).
  • Lead Agency turnover: Minimum ₹3 Crore in each of the last two financial years.
  • JV Partner (Sikkim firm) turnover: Minimum ₹50 Lakh in each of the last two financial years.
  • Both entities must have positive net worth.

Common Criteria for Both Categories:

  • Must have worked on at least one Skill Gap Assessment or Youth & Women-related study contracted by any Central or State Government.
  • Must not be blacklisted or under termination by any Government agency.

7. Selection Criteria and Evaluation Process

The selection will be based on the Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) method, with a weight of 70% for Technical Proposal and 30% for Financial Proposal. Only bids scoring a minimum of 60 marks out of 100 in the technical evaluation will be considered for financial evaluation.

Technical Evaluation Breakdown (100 Marks):

  • Specific Experience of the Firm (40 Marks):
    • Experience in research studies in the TVET/Skills sector in India (30 Marks – 5 marks per project).
    • Experience in research studies in North-East India (10 Marks – 4 marks per project in NE, additional 2 marks for projects in Sikkim).
  • Adequacy of Methodology and Work Plan (30 Marks): Assessment of the proposed approach, sampling strategy, work plan, and team structure.
  • Key Experts’ Qualifications (30 Marks): Evaluation of the CVs of the proposed Team Leader, Skill Development Expert, Labor Market Analysts, Field Researchers, Data Analyst, and GESI Expert.

8. Empanelment Procedure

This is a specific RFP for a single assignment, not a general empanelment. The procedure is a standard two-bid system:

  1. Submission: Bidders submit three separate sealed envelopes: Cover 1 (Eligibility), Cover 2 (Technical Proposal), and Cover 3 (Financial Proposal).
  2. Evaluation:
    • Cover 1 is opened first to check eligibility.
    • Technical Proposals (Cover 2) of eligible bidders are opened and evaluated based on the criteria above.
    • Financial Proposals (Cover 3) of only those bidders who score the minimum 60 marks in the technical evaluation are opened publicly.
  3. Negotiation and Award: The bidder with the highest combined technical and financial score is invited for contract negotiations.

9. Eligible Beneficiaries

The study itself does not have direct beneficiaries but will inform programs for:

  • Youth: Including those Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET).
  • Women: With a special focus on understanding and addressing barriers to their workforce participation.
  • Disadvantaged Groups: Rural populations, marginalized communities, and persons with disabilities.

10. Target and Focus Areas

  • Total Target: The study requires a statistically significant sample size of ~2,400 individual respondents and 300 employers.
  • Priority Sectors for Focus:
    1. Tourism & Hospitality
    2. Beauty & Wellness
    3. IT/ITeS
    4. Creative Design (Digital Design, VFX, Handicraft, etc.)
    5. Green Jobs
    6. Child & Elderly Care
  • Duration of Assignment: The entire study, from inception to final report, is to be completed within 6 months.

11. Funding and Payment Conditions

  • Funding: The project is funded under the Sikkim INSPIRES Program, which is in partnership with the World Bank.
  • Payment Milestones: Payments are strictly linked to the successful submission and acceptance of key deliverables:
    • Deliverable 1 (Inception Report): 15%
    • Deliverable 2 (Pilot Study Report): 15%
    • Deliverable 4 (Draft Report): 30%
    • Deliverable 5 (Final Report): 40%
    • (Note: Deliverable 3 is a milestone for data collection, not a payment milestone)
  • Payment Terms: Payments will be released within 60 days of invoice submission, provided the deliverable is accepted. The Client has 30 days to raise any objections.

12. Mode of Submission and Address

  • Mode: Proposals must be submitted physically via Registered Post, Speed Post, Courier, or by hand.
  • Address for Submission:
    The Secretary,
    Skill Development Department,
    Govt. of Sikkim,
    Shram Bhawan, Sokaythang,
    Gangtok District,
    Sikkim, India, Pin – 737 102

13. Other Important Terms and Conditions

  • Performance Guarantee: The successful agency must submit a Performance Guarantee (Bank Guarantee) equal to 5% of its financial proposal within 15 days of the Letter of Invitation.
  • Penalty Clause: A penalty of up to 5% of the fee for a deliverable may be levied if it is delayed beyond 30 days for reasons under the agency’s control.
  • Conflict of Interest: Strict rules prohibit any conflicting assignments or relationships that could impair objectivity.
  • Fraud and Corruption: The RFP is governed by World Bank Anti-Corruption guidelines, and any corrupt, fraudulent, or collusive practices will lead to immediate disqualification and potential debarment.
  • Intellectual Property: All data, reports, and materials generated during the study will be the sole property of the Skill Development Department, Government of Sikkim.
  • Subcontracting: Subcontracting is not permitted for this assignment.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: This post contains a summary generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) for informational purposes only. SKILLSPEDIA.IN is a private entity and is not affiliated with any government agency. Document Access: To facilitate easy download, we may provide a backup copy of the tender document via Google Drive. Please note that the Tender Authority may issue updates (Corrigendums) at any time which may not be reflected in our copy. User Duty: Always verify details and check for updates on the Official Tender Website before bidding. We accept no liability for discrepancies or outdated information.