UPSNJP Multiyear independent procurement Audit FY22/EFY 2014 to FY26/EFY2018"

Source: World Bank — Urban Productive Safety Net and Jobs Project

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)

Country: Ethiopia

Project: Urban Productive Safety Net and Jobs Project

Grant No.: D732-ET

Assignment Title: To carry out a multi-year Independent Procurement Audit of the Urban Productive Safety Net and Jobs Project (UPSNJP) for EFY 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

Reference No. ET-MOUDI-345014-CS-QCBS.

The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Urban Productive Safety Net and Jobs Project (UPSNJP), and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services

The consulting services (“the Services”) include (i) review the procurement system and staffing, procurement planning, procurement processing and contracting, contract implementation and administration and record keeping for a sample contracts [50% of the completed and 50% of the signed contracts] executed by each implementing agency at Federal, Regional, City and sub-city levels under the UPSNJP, (ii) confirm their consistency with the Project Appraisal Document (PAD), Approved Procurement Plan (PP)  at the all levels, Provisions of the Project Implementation Manual (PIM) and the Financing Agreement (FA), for the period of EFY 2014 & 2015, 2016, 2017 in three periods. The auditing period for EFY 2014 & 2015 ranges from Mid-August, 2023 to end November 2023. Whereas for the remaining years’ period ranges from August to October immediately after end of the audit year.

The objectives of the Procurement Audit are as follows:

• To review the procurement planning, procurement processing and contracting, contract implementation processes and record keeping for a sample of contracts under the UPSNJP, to confirm their consistency with the Project Appraisal Document (PAD), Procurement Plan approved at the Federal, Region, and City level, PIM and the FA;
• To seek a professional opinion on compliance by the procurement processes with the general principle of value for money, economy, efficiency, equal opportunities/fairness, transparency, fit for purpose, and verify technical compliance, physical completion and price competitiveness of each contract in the selected representative sample of contracts.
• To review the capacity and overall system of the implementing agencies (Federal, region and Cities) in handling procurement and contract management efficiently, comment on the quality of planning, procurement, contracting, contract management, procurement and contract management internal control, record keeping and identify reasons for delays, if any and overall, how procurement and contract management facilitates project implementation. 
• To identify any indicators of questionable standards of ethics in the procurement management and oversight environment that make the processes vulnerable to fraud and corruption or collusive and obstructive practices, and report any suspicious cases; and
• To recommend actions needed to improve project procurement performance in light of deficiencies.

The estimated implementation period of each contract is 12 weeks.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be found at the following website: www.web.mui.gov.et. Or can be requested from the below email address of “mesfinekbupsnjp2@gmail.com” and/or “sbirhanu1@gmail.com.”  

The Urban Food Security and Safety Net Office under Ministry of Urban and Infrastructure now invite eligible consulting firms (“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. The shortlisting criteria are: consultant’s core business and years in business, qualification and relevant experience of the consulting firm in the field of assignment, technical, organizational and managerial capability of the firm and general qualification and number of technical staff but not individual experts’ bio data.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” July 2016 revised November 2017 and August 2018 and November 2020 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. 

Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications, but should indicate clearly whether the association is in the form of a joint venture and/or a sub-consultancy. In the case of a joint venture, all the partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost-Based Selection (QCBS) method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hour 8:30 to 5:00 pm local time.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by e-mail) by 17 July, 2023 on or before 5:00 pm Addis Ababa time (afternoon)

Ministry of Urban and Infrastructure, Urban food security and Safety Net Office

Attn: Ato Birihanu Teshome, Office Head

Email- sbirhanu1@gmail.com

Tel: +251 115 545850

and

Ato Mesfin Ekubu

Project Procurement Specialist

Email- mesfinekbupsnjp2@gmail.com

Tel: +251 115 545850

Street address: In front of National Bank of Ethiopia, Ministry of Urban and Infrastructure, 5th floor,

Room number 5.5 UPSNJP Procurement Section

Country: - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia