Selection of procurement Consultant for National ID program

Source: World Bank — Ethiopia Digital Foundations Project

Request for Expression of Interest (Consulting Services- Individual Selection)

(Procurement Management Consultant for National ID program)

Organization:           Ministry of Innovation Technology at National ID Program (NIDP)

Project:                      Ethiopia Digital Foundations Project

Project ID:                P 171034

Location:                   Addis Ababa

Duration:                   12 Month with a possible extension

Salary:                       Negotiable

Assignment Title:     Procurement Management Consultant for National ID program

Ref. No:                      ET-MINT-422246-CS-INDV

Background:

The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Ethiopia Digital Foundations Project (EDFP) and intends to apply part of the proceeds for the services of hiring qualified and experienced professionals to work as part of the National ID Program (NIDP) for Ethiopia Digital Foundations Project established under Ministry of Innovation and Technology (MInT). As one of the key staff of the National ID Program, MInT wants to hire qualified and experienced Procurement Management Consultant for National ID program.

Duties and Responsibilities: - The procurement Management Consultant is required to perform the following duties (activities):

• Advise during preparation and review of all procurement documentation, including procurement plans, expressions of interest, preparation and completion of requests for proposals, proposal evaluation reports and recommendations for award of contract, and contract preparation and negotiation, contract amendments to ensure full compliance with World Bank Group regulation and the applicable legal agreements;
• Advise during the review of bids, including basic proposal, design, technical specifications, cost estimations, project management and implementation;
• Ensure that all rules are followed for procurements already approved in the PPSD and subsequently entered and approved through STEP procurement plan.
• Ensure that the procurement documents including Bidding Documents/ Request for Proposals, evaluation reports, contract documents etc are prepared at the required quality standard following the agreed procedure. Advise PIU accordingly.
• Ensure that comments received from the World Bank are addressed fully or clarification is provided before re-submitting the document for WB review.
• Provide hand holding support to junior procurement specialists; provide training and coaching to ensure the junior experts acquire the required skill and experience to work independently.
• Ensure that procurement complaints are handled swiftly in accordance with  the agreed procedure and documented in STEP;
• Review and advise during entire process of selection, on various issues including  technical, legal and commercial aspects of selection (in consultation with others as necessary) at all stages of the project cycle, including planning, design, implementation and management;
• Advise on the resolution of complex procurement issues, including questions and complaints from firms;
• Advise on ways to streamline project implementation through improved procurement practices.
• Coach and train the project staffs working on the procurement on the procedures, on the Bank’s system, including the STEP, etc.
• The procurement consultant should advise PIU on best ways to handle contract through supervision day to day monitoring of progress, review deliverables, documentation of correspondence and other contract related activities necessary during the process.
• Ensure that contract documents adequately include the proposed quality features related to rated criteria with adequate mechanism for reporting and ensure that the quality features are delivered during implementation in consultation with the relevant technical team
• Facilitate procurement post reviews, prepare and implement action plan in discussion with the PMU coordinator at NIDP, 
• Provide inputs to procurement progress reports, and report during WB missions
• Ensure that the agreed procurement action plans and risk mitigation measures are implemented timely.
• Carry out any other procurement related guidance to streamline the work of the PMU for the ID project.

The following deliverables are expected:

• Regular update of the status of major procurement activities
• Monthly, bi-annually and annual reports summarizing procurement related advice and guidance provided.
• Advisory notes as needed for major complex procurements for NIDP
• Inputs into procurement related reports complied and presented at the time of Bank supervision missions.

Required Qualifications 

The qualification and experience required for applicant who would like to apply for the service should possess the following minimum criteria:

• Bachelor’s Degree (Master’s or above is preferred) in Marketing Management, Procurement and Supplies Management, accounting, and related fields,
• At least 6+ years’ experience as a practicing procurement in Ethiopia or abroad (a mix of domestic and international experience is preferred), particularly working in procurement management of the technology sector with an international organization, a consultancy, or a telecommunications operator is an advantage;
• The candidates should have prior experience in implementing World Bank funded project/programs for at least 4 years, sufficient knowledge on managing the STEP system of the World Bank,
• The candidate must have prior experience in the competitive procurement of major consultancies, including preparation of tendering documents and completion of all aspects of the tendering process.  Prior experience in procurement processing according to World Bank, and/or other major international institutions is a definite plus;
• The candidate should be familiar with the requirements for project planning, implementation and procurement set out by Ethiopian law and regulations;
• The candidate must be fluent in Amharic, and proficient in both spoken and written English language and should have good communication skills;
• The candidate needs to be able to work well within integrated teams and with other work groups, particularly procurement specialists, to foster and build productive relationships with the government, and to respond to the daily needs, queries and needs for advice and assistance;
• The candidate must have the highest levels of personal integrity, and a reputation for a transparent and systematic work style; and
• The candidate must be able to work under pressure situations, in order to meet demanding deadlines, and be physically available at the office five days per week and eight hours per day.
• The consultant should be versed in and work independently to apply the procurement guidelines of the government, World Bank and other financier to undertake. 

Ministry of Innovation Technology, National ID Program (NIDP) now invites eligible Individual Consultants to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the services for one-year contract, with possible extension upon satisfactory performance of the assignment. The short-listing criteria are as indicated in the Terms of Reference below

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers dated September 2023 (“Procurement Regulation”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.  A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Open Competitive Selection of Individual Consultants (IC) method set out in the Procurement Regulations, Time Based Contract.

Interested and qualified consultants may obtain further information at the address below during office hours 08:30AM to 12:00 & 2:00PM to 5:00PM, Mondays to Thursdays; and 08:30AM to 11:00AM & 2:00PM to 11:00AM on Fridays.

Applicants should send expressions of interest, together with information demonstrating that they have the required qualification and relevant experience to perform the service (description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, qualifications, and so forth) by providing CVs, formal application letter and all supporting documents to the address indicated below in person, or by mail, on or before June 18, 2024. 

Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia,

Ministry of Innovation and Technology (MInT)

ETHIOPIA DIGITAL FOUNDATIONS PROJECT

Attn: Focal Person, Project Implementation Unit (PIU)

Address: Arada Sub-city, Tracon Building 6th floor, in front of Tikur Anbesa Secondary School,

Tel No. +251-904-253942, Email address: zayedemoint@gmail.com

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.