Request for Proposal (RFP) - Seafood Industry Data Pricing Feasibility Consultan

Who we are

Global Fishing Watch is an international, non-profit organization committed to advancing ocean governance through increased transparency. We create and publicly share knowledge about human activity at sea to enable fair and sustainable use of our ocean. Founded in 2015 through a collaboration between Oceana, SkyTruth, and Google, Global Fishing Watch became an independent non-profit organization in June 2017.

Using cutting-edge technology, we create and publicly share map visualizations, vessel search and analysis tools to enable due diligence and risk assessment in empowering fisheries management and compliance. Our major focus is on commercial fishing because it is the most widespread human activity at sea, the most impactful on ocean health, and the most crucial for global livelihoods and food security. By 2030, we aim to monitor and visualize the impact of ocean-going vessels, both industrial and small-scale, that are responsible for the vast majority of the global seafood catch. We believe human activity at sea should be common knowledge in order to safeguard the global ocean commons for the common good of all.

Project Background

The private sector plays a pivotal role in advancing ocean transparency—either by incentivizing governments to adopt transparent policies or, conversely, by creating barriers to progress. Many forward-thinking seafood industry stakeholders recognize that transparency aligns with their commercial interests, enhances operational integrity, and fosters accountability throughout the supply chain. By advocating for stronger governance, these industry leaders can drive meaningful change and establish transparency as a fundamental business norm.

To support this effort, Global Fishing Watch partners with seafood industry actors to provide data-driven vessel insights that strengthen seafood supply chain due diligence, identify regulatory gaps, and enhance risk mitigation strategies. By demonstrating the value of transparency and exposing deficiencies in data availability, we empower industry stakeholders to advocate for improved vessel-level transparency and open data policies at the governmental level. Our suite of tools, insights, and data visualization services is central to this strategic approach.

To ensure the long-term sustainability of our platform, we now seek to engage a consultant to evaluate the market potential of our services within the seafood industry. This engagement will explore potential data, product and service licensing structures, with a focus on a fee-for-service (FFS) model designed to generate recurring revenue.

Objective

The consultancy aims to assess the market potential of Global Fishing Watch’s services within the seafood industry. By the end of the engagement, the consultant will deliver a set of actionable recommendations for Global Fishing Watch to consider and potentially implement.

This assessment will explore the market potential and licensing structures for all Global Fishing Watch data, products and services, including Vessel Viewer, Carrier Vessel Portal, Marine Manager, the Data Download Portal, our Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), and services such as bespoke supply chain analysis.

The consultant will collaborate closely with the Chief Innovation Officer, the Senior Manager of Strategic Technology Partnerships and the Seafood Industry team throughout the contract period.

Scope of Work

Supply chain actor mapping and the market demand estimation

• Identify the full range of seafood supply chain (including precompetitive collaborations, third party certifications, Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs), traceability software solution providers, applied research institutions with seafood business engagement, as well as supply chain actors) actors utilizing GFW services and estimate the total number of prospective seafood industry customers not yet engaged.
• Categorize actors based on position within the supply chain and use case of GFW services.

• Identify intermediaries that bundle data and services for this market.

Market value assessment

• Calculate the total market value of supply chain activities impacted by GFW services.
• Assess the economic significance of these activities.
• Estimate the market share addressed by each intermediary.

Gap Analysis

• Identify areas where the GFW offering is lacking and where improvements to the product and services would enhance the value to supply chain customers.
• Assess potential risks to GFW if they transition to a fee-for-service model.
• Identify additional services of interest to seafood industry stakeholders that are not currently offered by GFW.

Competitive Pricing Analysis and service model development

• Evaluate similar market offerings, benchmark services and pricing.
• Identify existing pricing models (enterprise, per-seat, etc.).
• Estimate a range of pricing and service models for sales via intermediaries, and directly to the customer.

• Recommend target price points and revenue models.

Expected deliverables

The consultant(s) are expected to produce a concise final written report based on the components stated in the scope of work (max 30 pages).

The report should also contain an executive summary of the main conclusions and recommendations (4 - 5 pages).

Regular project coordination meetings are to be considered (project check-in meetings) and a final deliverable close out meeting to present a summary of findings and recommendations.

Consultant(s) Requirements

The consultant(s) will have:

Required

• Established relationships with key stakeholders across seafood supply chain companies, NGOs with market-facing partners, and industry precompetitive collaborations.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting comprehensive market research to assess demand, pricing strategies, and business opportunities for services related to the food or seafood sector.
• Proficiency in competitive analysis, pricing model development, and revenue strategy formulation, ensuring that services are both market-aligned and financially sustainable.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills - including ability to communicate with technical and non-technical peers.

Desirable

• A degree in economics or business management
• Understanding of global seafood supply chains, including sourcing, processing, distribution, and retail dynamics.
• Knowledge of key sustainability challenges within seafood supply chains, such as illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, labor rights issues, and environmental impact.

Submission requirements

Interested parties should submit a proposal with a descriptive plan and budget via email as a Word or PDF attachment to [email protected]. Please ensure you submit your RFP via email per the instructions below.

The proposal responding to this RFP should be a maximum of 5 pages (excluding CVs), and include the following:

• A cover letter, explaining interest and overview of relevant experience proposed in the RFP.
• A narrative proposed plan of work and methodology. This should include information on research and engagement with key seafood industry actors.
• A descriptive budget breakdown outlining costs for all deliverables that may include:
• Time allocation and associated day rate (We anticipate this consultancy being desk based with virtual stakeholder consultation, and therefore additional expenses should not be incurred)
• Anticipated contract amount US $15,000 - $20,000
• A resume(s)/ CV(s) of key project personnel.
• A declaration of any conflict of interest.

Submission deadline: Proposals should be submitted byFriday 9th May 2025

Timelines