Consultancy Services to Provide E-Commerce Solutions for Ethiopian Postal Services Enterprise

Source: World Bank — Ethiopia: SME Finance Project

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – IT FIRMS SELECTION)

Country: The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

NAME OF PROJECT: Small and Medium Enterprises Finance Project (SMEFP)

Project ID: P148447

Credit No.:  IDA 68640

Reference No.: ET-MOI-328674-CS-QCBS

Assignment Title: Consultancy Services to Provide E-Commerce Solutions for Ethiopian Postal Services Enterprise

The Government of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Small and Medium Enterprises Finance Project and it intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) is to establish a web-based e-commerce platform that will broaden access to markets for beneficiary Small and Medium Enterprises and other businesses to utilize platform for selling their products online and include:

• Design end-to-end e-commerce solution after collecting and analyzing requirements
• Select existing e-commerce platform/marketplace from the market and customize based on the design
• Prepare hardware requirements based on system to be deployed and prepare short- and long-term infrastructure plan after assessing the existing capability of Ethiopost
• Support in preparing RFP and evaluation of tenders for the procurement of hardware
• Install and configure hardware
• Deploy the customized system
• Integrate the platform with other relevant systems, including but not limited to, logistics, payment and CRM
• Train staff on running the system, infrastructure and security

The entire assignment is expected to be completed within a period of 12 (Twelve) months after contract signing.

The SMEFP housed at the Ethiopian Enterprises Development now invites 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. Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage. The following criteria will be used to assess the Expression of Interest documents;

• Company Establishment [regarding its Areas of Expertise, Core Business and Year in the Business]
• Technical and Managerial Organization of the firm
• Number and diversity of permanent personnel related to the service, Infrastructure Expert, Security Expert, Senior Developers, etc.
• Experience: completed service projects on providing IT consultancy, datacenter design and installation, IT infrastructure enhancement, software development, IT security etc., in the last ten years.
• Familiarity, Knowledge and Experience in the region (in Ethiopia and other Sub Sahara Countries) is an advantage.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the consultancy assignment and further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm -5:30 pm local time, Monday through Friday.

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 updated in 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 method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by 4:00 PM on July 03, 2023.

Ethiopian Enterprises Development

Attn: Yemenzwork Girefie, PIU Coordinator of SMEFP

Ras Abebe Aregay Street, Around Mexico Square, in front of Wabe Shebelle Hotel

P.O. Box 1463

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Building Block A, 1st Floor, Room Number 4

Tel: +251-115-58-50-56 / +251-115-51-11-22/ +251-115-53-04-27

E-mail: smefp2023@gmail.com

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia