About Orbis

Orbis International works around the world to prevent blindness and restore sight for children and adults in places where eye care is out of reach—so vision problems don’t make it harder to learn, earn a living, or enjoy life. Around 1.1 billion people live with vision loss, but with the right care, 90% of it is completely avoidable. That is why Orbis trains doctors, nurses, and other eye care professionals to provide care in their own communities—and works to make sure people of all ages can access the eye exams, glasses, medicine, and surgeries they need to protect and restore their sight. Orbis began this work more than 40 years ago with the Flying Eye Hospital, a teaching hospital on a plane that brings expert training and care where they’re needed most. Today, we also work with local hospitals and clinics across Africa, Asia, and Latin America to make eye care available to more people, and we use and develop technology—like our award-winning Cybersight e-learning and telehealth platform, artificial intelligence screening, and virtual reality training—to help eye care teams treat patients more effectively. Orbis ranks in the top 3% of U.S. charities, having earned top marks for transparency and accountability from Charity Navigator, GuideStar, and the Better Business Bureau.

Project Background 

The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital will be implementing a project in Pampanga, Philippines, from April 12-30, 2027. Throughout this three-week project, Orbis will provide simulation and surgical training for Filipino ophthalmologists, anesthesiologists, ophthalmic nurses, eye care professionals in-training, and biomedical engineers and technicians. 

Orbis is seeking a communications professional to steward all communications activities for the project. The consultant must be familiar with, have strong contacts in, and be able to effectively navigate the Filipino media landscape and provide administrative support for all communications efforts regarding the project, with the overall goal of uplifting the public image of Orbis in the region and around the globe. The consultant should also be familiar with working with regional and international media in the Philippines. Experience working with social media influencers is a plus. The consultant should be comfortable working in English and Tagalog, with a level of proficiency suitable for public-facing communications. 

 Scope of Work

Time Requirements: The duration of the contract will last from November 30, 2026 to May 14, 2027. The consultant will be needed on a part-time basis (about 10-20 hours per week) from November through the end of March. The majority of this work can be done from home; however, visits to government offices, media offices, the airport, printers, partner hospitals, etc. will be essential. The consultant is expected to respond to emails within 1 business day during this time period. Dedicated work hours each week may slowly increase as the project dates get closer. The consultant will need to be available to be on-site and work full-time for a total of 4 weeks, from April 5 through April 30. After the project is completed on April 30, the consultant will be needed on a part-time basis (about 5-10 hours per week) through early to mid-May. 

*Full-time might need to start as early as early March, depending on planning needs.

*Dates are subject to change, and the consultant must be flexible. 

*The vendor must reside in Pampanga, where the majority of the work will take place. 

 Media Outreach: The consultant should have experience working with Filipino media and understand the process for communicating with them, how to pitch them for earned media opportunities, distribute press releases, make invitations to attend events on behalf of Orbis, etc. The consultant should be able to provide insight into any unique cultural elements about working with the Filipino media and advise on how to appropriately communicate with them. Tasks will include:

• Create a list of local, regional, and international media targets to pitch to cover the Flying Eye Hospital project, including broadcast, radio, print, and digital outlets. Determine how each outlet should be pitched, e.g., to attend the opening ceremony and tour the plane, to interview Orbis spokespeople, or to visit the plane on a specific media day separate from the opening ceremony.
• Create unique pitches for each outlet, follow-up on pitches that did not receive a response, and work with reporters to schedule dates/times for interviews/visits to the project. 
• Create a list of popular Filipino social media influencers with relevant interests in the project (e.g., aviation, women and girls, health care, eye care, social impact, etc.) who align well with Orbis’s brand. Make contact with them and coordinate how best they can work with Orbis to feature the project on their platforms. 

Administrative Duties:

• Translate any necessary documents from English into Tagalog, e.g., press releases, signs and banners, brochures, speeches/remarks, tour scripts, talking points, etc.
• Work with communications contacts at the airport to determine special access for press, if needed.
• Work with communications contacts at government ministries to determine access and visa requirements for international journalists.
• Work with communications contacts at the partner hospital to determine if and when media can visit, who they can interview, and where this can take place.
• Acquire a minimum of three price quotes and timelines from local printers for various collateral, including an opening ceremony backdrop, jetway signs, banners, and brochures.
• Ensure signage and brochure artwork is delivered to the selected printer on time, pick up printed materials from the printer, and deliver them to the appropriate Orbis staff members to display.
• Work closely with the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital team, and Orbis International Communications team to complete all tasks. 
• Update the Flying Eye Hospital project visitor spreadsheet with media and influencer visits to the project. 
• Keep an up-to-date spreadsheet that tracks real-time publications resulting from the project (e.g., print and digital media hits, social media influencers’ posts, etc.) before, during, and after the project takes place. 
• Support the selection and onboarding of a local event management company, and serve as the primary liaison as it plans and delivers the opening ceremony.

Full-time duties throughout April 2027

• Be on site at the airport or the partner hospital every day throughout the project to provide support where needed, including for translation. 
• Be at the airport for specified media days and the opening ceremony location.
• Work closely with Orbis International communications staff and the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital team to coordinate with members of the media as they arrive, accompany them on tours of the plane, and coordinate interviews with Orbis spokespeople. 
• Support content capture throughout the project, including taking or coordinating professional-quality photography and/or video of key activities, media visits, interviews, events, and other moments that may be used for Orbis communications. Professional photography, videography, and content-gathering experience is preferred but not required and will be considered an asset for qualified candidates.

The scope includes any other duties as requested by the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital Senior Program Manager, Associate Director of Global Communications and Marketing, and/or the Chief Communications & Branding Officer.

The consultant will submit monthly reports and invoices to the Associate Director of Global Communications and Marketing (with a CC to the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital Senior Program Manager), detailing activities, action items, and follow-up plans. Other reports may be requested by the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital team, and/or the Orbis International Communications and Marketing team.

Pricing

Vendor must submit a quote for an hourly rate in USD. 

RFP Submission Process

In order to finalize the selection of the most appropriate provider, the following information is required in each proposal. The proposal MUST contain all of the information requested below: 

• Bid proposals must provide a narrative that conveys understanding of the objectives of the RFP and the nature of the work, outline services covered within the retainer, and demonstrate the ability to successfully complete the work described in the Scope of Work section.
• The proposal should be submitted with the name and professional background of the project manager who will serve as the primary point of contact and, where relevant, any other individuals who will be assigned to the Orbis account. 
• Please clearly indicate your past experience with the Filipino media, international media, and other nonprofit organizations.
• Provide samples of photos, videos, and stories from previous content-gathering experiences. 

Evaluation Weight Table

The review committee will evaluate each proposal and, at their discretion, will select one vendor to complete the work specified in the Scope of Work section. 

RFP Timeline

Submission of Proposals

Please submit your proposal no later than Friday, October 16, 2026. Multiple attachments may be added.

Contract award and notification

Orbis will award the Contract to the notified successful Bidder whose bid has been determined as the best evaluated one considering price and performance factors, provided further that the Bidder is determined to be qualified to enter into a master service agreement.

Disclaimer

Orbis reserves the right to alter the dates of the timetable. 

Orbis does not bind itself to accept the lowest or any proposal.