Procurement Notices

I. Background:  
The use of pangolins, including any derivatives such as pangolin scales (Xuyen Son Giap), is completely prohibited in Viet Nam. Nonetheless, the production and distribution of products containing pangolin scales remains wide spread with items primarily sold and used for health-related purposes.  
WCS’s initial research has identified an emerging market in health products which do not overtly advertise pangolin scales as an ingredient, but rather uses a term not commonly understood by the public to be associated with pangolins. Our initial review of e-commerce platforms has identified 13 different products containing Xuyen Son Giap, with more than 17,000 packages listed as sold across three major e-commerce platforms. While many of the advertised products appear to be manufactured in Viet Nam, others are imported from China and Malaysia and are labeled in multiple languages, including Vietnamese. Some of the products claimed to be registered with the Department of Food Safety, Ministry of Health of Viet Nam.
To better understand the trade of these products through e-commerce platforms and social media, we conducted a comprehensive survey across online platforms. The survey aims to assess the current situation and trends in the trading of these products, thereby providing appropriate recommendations to relevant stakeholders.
Therefore, WCS seeks a service provider to collect and synthesize information in support of the above-mentioned survey.

II. Objectives:
The service provider will collect and synthesize information to support the following objectives: 
•    Track the trade of pangolin scale (Xuyên Sơn Giáp) derived health products between 2016-2025 e-commerce, websites, and social media platforms;
•    Track the opinion, attitudes of buyers on the commercial trade of these products;
•    Generate information of the prevalence and nature of trading/consumption of products containing pangolin scales (Xuyên Sơn Giáp).
 

III. Description of work:

Total allotted time (total working days): Determined based on the service provider’s proposal and approved by WCS

IV. Requirements (selection criteria):

• At least five (05) years of relevant experience in providing online data collection and synthesis services (including e-commerce platforms, websites, and social media platforms, etc.);
• Experience in conducting at least one (01) online-based research or information study related to the trade and consumption of wildlife products;
• Ability to access the largest possible datasets related to relevant products (including product types, product information, sales volume, buyers, and buyer reviews/feedback) across e-commerce platforms, websites, open social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, forums/blogs, and closed social media platforms such as TikTok and Zalo (where applicable);
• Use of platforms/tools capable of accessing and collecting information, including mentions and discussions, with the broadest possible data coverage and access to historical databases.

V. Application procedure:

Interested candidate(s) should submit their applications to vietnamconsulting@wcs.org  by 17:00 on 22 January 2026. The application should include:

Technical proposal  (in WORD format) including the operational profiles, detailed methods to achieve the required output/deliverables, personnel plan, CVs, links to or soft copies of related products and proposed daily rates (inclusive taxes and fees).

Note:

• Interested candidate(s) are encouraged to send an email to vietnamconsulting@wcs.org for the suggested technical proposal template.

Only shortlisted candidate(s) will be contacted.