Call for Proposals for Marriage Preparation Programme Providers
1. Background
Marriage preparation programmes help soon-to-wed and newlywed (within first 2 years of marriage) couples develop strong foundations for healthy and lasting relationships. These programmes equip couples with practical skills and knowledge for their marital journey. MSF is seeking qualified providers to deliver these important programmes.
2. Target Clientele
Marriage preparation programmes under MSF’s rebate scheme are targeted at soon-to-wed and newlywed couples (within the first 2 years of marriage).
- Nationality – At least one spouse must be a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident
- Age – Both the groom and bride must be at least 21 years and above
The programme would also be accessible to a diverse range of couple profiles, and agencies are encouraged to design programmes that cater to them:
- Civil marriage couples – Couples who will be registering or have registered their marriage under the Women's Charter
- Muslim marriage couples – Couples who will be registering or have registered their marriage under the Administration of Muslim Law Act (AMLA)
- Remarrying couples – Couples where either one or both spouses have previously been married
- Young couples – Groom is aged 21 years and above but below 25 years, and bride is aged 21 years and above at the point of marriage registration
3. Programme Requirements
A marriage preparation programme should be a minimum of 6 hours in duration and cover the following key topics:
- Roles and Expectations
- Communication and Conflict Management
- Financial Planning
- Emotional Connection and Sexual Intimacy
- Family Planning and Fertility Awareness
- Family of Origin and In-Law Relationships
The trainers delivering a marriage preparation programme should meet either of the following trainer pathways:
| Trainer Pathway 1 | Trainer Pathway 2 | Trainer Pathway 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Educational Requirements |
Degree in any field AND Completion of structured training in counselling‑ or therapy‑informed approaches relevant to family life education, meeting all the following:
| Degree in a relevant field (e.g. counselling, psychology, social work, sociology, human development or relaed) | Degree in any field |
| Professional Experience |
Minimum of 3 years of experience in:
|
Minimum of 5 years of experience in:
|
Minimum of 8 years of experience in:
|
Additional criterion for trainers delivering PREP, Prepare/Enrich and CA Prep: Must hold the relevant Certificate of Completion/Accreditation for the respective programmes or be registered with trainer provider.
4. Key Performance Indicators
- At least 75% of participants indicate improved knowledge about what healthy relationships and marriages look like.
- At least 75% of participants indicate improved understanding of the nature and importance of commitment.
- At least 75% of participants indicate improved communication skills with partner/spouse.
5. Support Framework
To encourage couples to attend marriage preparation programmes, MSF provides the following support:
a) Couple Rebate
- Eligible couples will receive a $170 rebate upon programme completion together.
- Service providers will collect full programme fees from couples upfront, and upon completion of programme, service providers will disburse the rebate to couples and seek reimbursement from MSF.
b) Full Fee Subsidy for Couples with Higher Needs
- Couples identified as having higher needs (as defined by MSF) will receive full fee subsidy.
- Service providers should not collect fees from these couples. MSF will provide full fee reimbursement to providers upon programme completion.
6. Who Can Apply
We welcome applications from:
- Social Service Agencies (SSAs)
- Commercial Providers
- Social Enterprises
- Other qualified service providers
7. Selection Criteria
Programmes will be evaluated based on:
- Programme Quality (35%): Alignment with required topics, teaching methodology, utilisation of assessment tools and programme content.
- Professional Competency (10%): Trainers’ qualifications and expertise, trainers’ experience and track record, and trainer capacity and deployment.
- Operational Capability (5%): Organisation’s management and administrative capability
- Proven Experience (20%): Track record in operating family education programmes, programme outcomes, participant feedback
- Outreach and Publicity (10%): Proposal for outreach and promotion of programme
- Value Addition (5%): Unique population served and value proposition
- Price Score (15%)
8. Terms and Conditions
Appointed service providers shall:
- Sign a Funding Agreement with MSF for 3 years (from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2030).
- Support programme implementation audits by MSF or MSF-appointed officers.
- Implement curriculum enhancements when required by MSF.
- Maintain approved programme fees throughout the funding agreement period. Any changes in programme fees will require MSF’s written approval).
- Maintain approved programme curriculum throughout the funding agreement period and ensure programme content is kept secular. Any religious content must be delivered separately by recognised religious leaders.)
- Comply with MSF's registration and rebate acknowledgement processes, including the use of required forms.
- Onboard MSF system to facilitate data-sharing and reimbursements
9. Application Process
Applications are open from 24 September 2026 and will close on 16 November 2026, 11.59PM. Please note that late submissions will strictly not be accepted.
Interested applicants are to complete the application form with the required details of the proposal, including submission of all supporting documents, and submit it to MSF via this FormSG.
Completing the application should take about 90 mins with all the information on hand. Actual time needed would depend on the number of programmes submitted. All fields are mandatory unless otherwise stated
A virtual briefing will be conducted on 1 October 2026, 2PM. Interested parties may register for the briefing by emailing marriage-familiesforlife@msf.gov.sg by 30 September 2026. Attendance for this briefing is optional, and not mandatory.
INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR APPLICATION
Please have the following information and documents ready for submission in the relevant sections:
- Organisational information
- Programme details (e.g. Programme content, including complete presentation deck and materials, delivery approach, mode).
- Trainer details (e.g. Names, qualifications, experience, CVs, certifications)
- Financial information (e.g. such as proposed programme fees, programme cost breakdown, refund policy, financial process)
- Track record in operating family education programmes and information of management and staff
- Additional information such as value proposition
Please ensure all required information and documents are submitted, as incomplete applications may affect the assessment outcome.
Please note:
- MSF reserves the right to appoint service providers based on overall merit and suitability in meeting the requirements.
- MSF reserves the right to reject any incomplete proposals. Late submissions will not be accepted.
- MSF is under no obligation to accept any proposal or to give any reason for rejecting a proposal. Its decision shall be final.
- In no case will any expense incurred in the preparation of this proposal be borne by MSF.
- This document may not contain all information which Applicants may require, and therefore Applicants should make their own inquiries and seek any necessary clarifications. MSF shall not be liable for any information in the document which is incomplete or inaccurate.
- This is an open application process, and applications are welcomed from all interested parties.
For enquiries, please contact marriage-familiesforlife@msf.gov.sg.