RFPs: Retail Survey on Essential Items and Tobacco Products (India)

Deadline: 15-Jul-2026

The Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health at Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, has invited proposals from eligible organisations to conduct a multi-centric survey on the retail availability of essential items and tobacco products across four major Indian cities. The project will involve field data collection through a mobile application, data analysis, reporting, coordination with PGIMER, and activities supporting tobacco control efforts.

The survey will be conducted from 1 August 2026 to 31 October 2026, with an estimated implementation budget of INR 45,000–50,000 per city. Eligible organisations with experience in tobacco control or related public health activities can apply for one or more cities based on their operational capacity.

PGIMER Invites Proposals for Multi-Centric Survey on Retail Availability of Essential Items and Tobacco Products

The Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health at Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) inviting applications from eligible organisations for conducting a multi-centric survey.

The survey aims to assess the availability of essential items and tobacco products at retail outlets across four major cities in India. The study will follow a pre-designed protocol developed by PGIMER and will generate evidence to support public health planning and tobacco control initiatives.

About PGIMER and the Survey Initiative

Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, is an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

The Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health at PGIMER focuses on:

• Public health education and training.
• Epidemiological research.
• Community-based health studies.
• Development of evidence-based public health strategies.

As part of its tobacco control and public health research activities, PGIMER is leading this multi-city survey to understand retail-level availability patterns of essential commodities and tobacco products.

Objective of the Multi-Centric Retail Survey

The main objective of the project is to collect and analyse data on retail availability of essential items and tobacco products across selected cities in India.

The survey will focus on:

• Mapping retail outlets and assessing product availability.
• Collecting standardised information using a mobile-based data collection system.
• Understanding tobacco product accessibility in retail environments.
• Generating evidence for tobacco control policies and interventions.
• Supporting efforts to prevent tobacco industry interference in public health initiatives.

Survey Duration and Project Timeline

The project will be conducted during the following period:

• Start date: 1 August 2026
• End date: 31 October 2026
• Duration: Approximately three months

Selected organisations must complete all field activities, data analysis, reporting, and documentation within the approved timeline.

Estimated Project Budget

The estimated budget for implementing survey activities is:

• INR 45,000–50,000 per city.

Organisations may apply for:

• A single city assignment.
• Multiple city assignments, depending on their workforce, experience, and operational capacity.

Scope of Work for Selected Organisations

The selected agency will be responsible for complete implementation of the survey according to the protocol provided by PGIMER.

Key responsibilities include:

• Conducting field-level data collection in assigned jurisdictions.
• Using the approved mobile application platform such as Epi-Collect or another mutually agreed system.
• Ensuring accuracy and completeness of collected information.
• Managing field teams and survey activities.
• Analysing collected data.
• Preparing survey reports.
• Coordinating regularly with the PGIMER project team.
• Completing all preparatory activities before field implementation.
• Submitting master tables and supporting documents.
• Supporting tobacco control activities, including prevention of tobacco industry interference.

Data Collection and Research Methodology

The survey will use a structured digital data collection approach.

The selected organisation must:

• Follow PGIMER’s approved survey protocol.
• Collect data through a mobile application platform.
• Maintain data quality and confidentiality.
• Conduct verification and quality checks.
• Prepare datasets suitable for analysis.
• Provide final documentation according to PGIMER requirements.

The use of digital tools will help ensure:

• Faster data collection.
• Improved accuracy.
• Standardised reporting across cities.
• Better monitoring of retail availability patterns.

Who is Eligible to Apply?

Eligible applicants include organisations that currently work or have previously worked in tobacco control or related public health areas.

Applicants should have:

• Experience implementing tobacco control programmes.
• Experience conducting surveys or field-based research.
• Capacity to manage city-level survey activities.
• Trained personnel for data collection and analysis.
• Ability to coordinate with PGIMER throughout the project.

Eligible organisations may include:

• Non-governmental organisations working in public health.
• Research organisations.
• Public health institutions.
• Government-recognised organisations.
• Educational institutions involved in public health research.

Organisational Experience Requirements

Applicants must provide evidence of previous experience, including:

• Details of similar assignments completed during the last three years.
• Examples or samples of comparable research work.
• List of clients served during the previous five years.
• Details of relevant tobacco control or public health projects.

The organisation profile should clearly mention:

• Areas of expertise.
• Previous survey experience.
• Geographic operational capacity.
• Relevant technical strengths.

Technical Proposal Requirements

The technical proposal should include:

• Brief profile of the organisation.
• Experience in tobacco control or related sectors.
• Details of completed assignments.
• Samples of previous similar work.
• Proposed project team.
• Implementation approach.
• Fieldwork strategy.
• Data management plan.

Technical proposals will be reviewed before financial proposals are considered.

Financial Proposal Requirements

The financial proposal must include:

• Detailed budget for proposed activities.
• Audited financial statements for the previous three years.
• Income tax returns for the previous three years.
• PAN details.
• GST registration certificate, if applicable.
• Address proof.

Exemption from financial document submission applies to:

• Government agencies.
• Government organisations.
• Government-recognised or affiliated educational institutions.

Such organisations must submit appropriate certification confirming their status.

Proposal Evaluation Process

The selection process will follow three stages:

Step 1: Initial Screening

Proposals will be reviewed to check whether applicants meet the required eligibility criteria.

Step 2: Technical Evaluation

Eligible applicants will undergo technical assessment based on:

• Organisational experience.
• Relevant project history.
• Technical capability.
• Proposed team and methodology.

Step 3: Financial Evaluation

Financial proposals will only be opened for applicants who successfully qualify in the technical evaluation.

Final selection will be based on overall suitability, including technical competence and financial feasibility.

How to Apply

Organisations interested in participating should:

1. Review the PGIMER survey requirements and protocol.
2. Prepare a technical proposal explaining organisational capability.
3. Prepare a financial proposal with required financial documents.
4. Include evidence of previous tobacco control or public health work.
5. Submit client lists and relevant project details.
6. Provide an undertaking related to tobacco industry non-engagement.
7. Apply for one or more cities according to organisational capacity.

Applicants should ensure that all required documents are complete before submission.

Mandatory Undertaking on Tobacco Industry Independence

Applicants must submit an undertaking confirming that:

• They will not engage with the tobacco industry for five years after completion of the project.
• They will maintain independence from tobacco industry influence.
• Their activities will remain aligned with public health objectives.

This requirement supports the principles of preventing tobacco industry interference in health policy and research.

Why This Survey Matters

Retail availability of tobacco products plays an important role in tobacco consumption patterns.

The survey will help:

• Generate reliable evidence on tobacco product accessibility.
• Support tobacco control programmes.
• Improve understanding of retail environments.
• Strengthen implementation of public health policies.
• Identify challenges related to tobacco industry influence.

The findings may contribute to stronger tobacco prevention strategies at city and national levels.

Common Mistakes Applicants Should Avoid

Organisations applying for this RFP should avoid:

• Submitting incomplete technical proposals.
• Failing to provide previous project evidence.
• Missing mandatory financial documents.
• Providing unclear information about organisational experience.
• Applying for more cities than their operational capacity allows.
• Not including the required tobacco industry non-engagement undertaking.
• Ignoring PGIMER’s survey protocol requirements.

Tips for Preparing a Strong Proposal

Applicants should:

• Clearly highlight tobacco control experience.
• Provide measurable outcomes from previous projects.
• Explain field implementation capacity.
• Present a qualified survey team.
• Include realistic timelines and budgets.
• Ensure all supporting documents are properly organised.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the PGIMER multi-centric survey about?

The PGIMER multi-centric survey aims to assess the retail availability of essential items and tobacco products across four major cities in India. The study will collect field data and generate evidence to support tobacco control efforts.

Who can apply for this project?

Organisations with current or previous experience in tobacco control or related public health activities can apply. Applicants must demonstrate relevant project experience and operational capacity.

What is the duration of the survey project?

The survey will be conducted from 1 August 2026 to 31 October 2026.

Can organisations apply for more than one city?

Yes. Organisations may apply for one or multiple cities depending on their technical capacity, workforce, and ability to complete survey activities.

What platform will be used for data collection?

Data collection will be conducted through a mobile application such as Epi-Collect or another platform mutually agreed upon by PGIMER and the selected organisation.

What documents are required with the financial proposal?

Applicants must submit audited financial statements, income tax returns for the previous three years, PAN details, GST registration certificate if available, and address proof. Government and recognised educational institutions may receive exemptions with proper certification.

Why must applicants submit a tobacco industry non-engagement undertaking?

The undertaking ensures that selected organisations remain independent from tobacco industry influence and support evidence-based public health objectives.

Conclusion

PGIMER’s Request for Proposal provides an opportunity for experienced public health organisations to contribute to a major multi-city survey on tobacco product availability and retail environments in India.

Selected organisations will support evidence generation through structured data collection, analysis, reporting, and tobacco control activities. Eligible applicants with relevant experience should prepare complete technical and financial proposals while ensuring compliance with all PGIMER requirements.

For more information, visit PGIMER.