Application Guide

How to Apply for Request for proposals – IT services

at ACAPS

🏢 About ACAPS

ACAPS is a unique humanitarian organization that transforms complex data into actionable insights for decision-makers in crisis situations. With a remote-first culture spanning 10+ countries, it offers a mission-driven environment where your technical skills directly support humanitarian aid efforts.

About This Role

This role is for a Managed Service Provider (MSP) to complement ACAPS's internal IT function, focusing on infrastructure management, cybersecurity, Microsoft 365, and remote support. Your work will ensure that ACAPS's analysts and experts have reliable, secure IT systems to deliver critical humanitarian analysis.

💡 A Day in the Life

You'll start your day by checking monitoring dashboards and tickets, addressing any overnight incidents. You'll then proactively patch systems, review security alerts, and support ACAPS staff across time zones via chat or remote sessions, ensuring their tools run smoothly. Periodically, you'll work on infrastructure improvements, document processes, and collaborate with ACAPS's internal IT lead on strategic projects.

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🎯 Who ACAPS Is Looking For

  • Proven experience as an MSP providing IT infrastructure support, including network, servers, storage, backup, and virtualization.
  • Strong expertise in cybersecurity, including monitoring, patching, and incident response, with knowledge of frameworks like NIST or ISO 27001.
  • Advanced proficiency in Microsoft 365 administration, including security, compliance, and user support in a remote environment.
  • Excellent communication skills and experience supporting distributed teams across multiple time zones, with a proactive and service-oriented mindset.

📝 Tips for Applying to ACAPS

1

Highlight your experience with non-profit or humanitarian organizations, as understanding the sector's constraints (e.g., budget, remote operations) is a plus.

2

Provide concrete examples of how you've managed IT for a distributed team, including SLAs, ticketing systems, and remote support tools.

3

Demonstrate your cybersecurity approach with specific incidents you've handled, showing proactive measures you've implemented.

4

Include case studies or metrics showing uptime, response times, and successful migrations (e.g., to Microsoft 365).

5

Tailor your proposal to ACAPS's mission: explain how your services will enable their analysts to work without IT disruptions, even in crisis zones.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Express alignment with ACAPS's mission of turning data into decisions for humanitarian action.", 'Emphasize your ability to provide reliable, secure IT infrastructure for a remote global team, ensuring minimal downtime.', 'Showcase your experience with cybersecurity and compliance, especially in a non-profit context.', 'Mention your flexibility and availability to support different time zones, as ACAPS operates across 10+ countries.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Understand ACAPS's current projects and crisis responses to see how IT supports their work.
  • → Review ACAPS's organizational structure and values, especially their commitment to independent analysis and innovation.
  • → Research their existing IT setup if mentioned in the RFP, and think about how you can improve it.
  • → Look into any recent news or reports from ACAPS to understand their impact and operational scale.
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you handle a critical server outage during a major humanitarian response? Walk us through your response plan.
2 Describe your experience with Microsoft 365 security features, such as Conditional Access, MFA, and DLP. How do you configure them for a remote team?
3 What cybersecurity threats are most relevant to a humanitarian NGO, and how would you mitigate them?
4 How do you ensure effective remote technical support for users in different time zones and with varying technical literacy?
5 Can you provide an example of a successful infrastructure migration or upgrade you led, and what challenges did you overcome?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic proposal without referencing ACAPS's mission or specific requirements.
  • Overlooking the remote-first nature of ACAPS; failing to address time zone coverage and remote support strategies.
  • Focusing solely on technical skills without demonstrating understanding of the humanitarian sector's unique challenges, such as working in unstable regions.

📅 Application Timeline

⏰ Deadline: September 22, 2026

We recommend applying at least a few days early to avoid last-minute technical issues.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to ACAPS!

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