Consultancy Services to Provide Quality Assurance Tender at Access to Finance Rwanda (AFR) Software Development Projects

1. About Access to Finance Rwanda 

Access to Finance Rwanda (AFR) is a Rwandan not-for-profit Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG), established in 2010 to promote financial inclusion and financial sector development in Rwanda. AFR is currently funded by Sweden, the Mastercard Foundation, Co-Develop, and Gates Foundation.

AFR supports the removal of systemic barriers that hinder effective and sustainable access and usage of financial services by low-income people, particularly the rural poor, women, youth, smallholder farmers, and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). AFR is a gender-intentional organization and mainstreams gender equality across all its programs. It is guided by the Market System Development (MSD) approach, recognizing that efforts to increase financial inclusion and financial sector development must be market-led, profitable, and sustainable.

2. Background for the Assignment 

Access to Finance Rwanda (AFR) is implementing a range of digital platforms aimed at strengthening internal operations, improving program delivery, and enhancing data management. As AFR’s technology ecosystem grows, it has become essential to ensure that all software systems are developed with the highest standards of quality, security, and reliability.

To achieve this, AFR seeks to establish a Framework Agreement for Independent Quality Assurance (QA) Services. The QA provider will serve as AFR’s quality partner, offering assurance across all current and future software development projects undertaken during the framework period. The Framework Agreement will enable AFR to maintain consistency, reduce project risks, and ensure that digital platforms are fit for purpose.

3. Objective

The objective of this assignment is to engage a qualified independent QA provider to:

1. Deliver end-to-end quality assurance services for all AFR software development projects.
2. Independently review requirements, designs, vendor onboarding, code, testing processes, and deployment readiness.
3. Strengthen quality control, reduce development risks, and ensure that systems meet AFR’s operational, technical, and security standards.
4. Provide structured QA oversight across the entire lifecycle of AFR digital platforms

The objective of this agreement is to select a qualified firm with which AFR will sign a framework agreement.

This framework will serve as the basis for subsequent call-down contracts, each with its own scope and deliverables aligned to individual AFR projects.

Interested firms should confirm their intention to submit a bid by Wednesday, May 6th, 2026, at 17h00 HRS CAT

Any requests for clarifications to the RFP may be submitted not later than Monday, May 11th, 2026, 17h00 HRS CAT.

Bidders should submit their proposals no later than Friday, May 15, 2026, 17:00 HRS CAT

Responding bidders are advised that this solicitation does not in any way obligate AFR to make a contract award or compensate the responding firms for any costs associated with the preparation and submission of their proposals. Additionally, AFR may award a contract without conducting negotiations; all proposals should be submitted initially using your most favorable terms. AFR reserves the right to award any resultant contract to other than the offeror submitting the lowest price proposal based on technical excellence, schedule superiority or client request. The intention is to establish a framework agreement with the most responsive bidder.

All communications regarding this RFP should be addressed via email: procurement02@afr.rw

Below is the summary planned procurement schedule:

Cordially,

Jean Bosco Iyacu

Chief Executive Officer

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