REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)

Republic of Maldives

Maldives: Enhancing Employability and Resilience of Youth (MEERY) Project

Loan No./Credit No./ Grant No.: IDA-D4800

Assignment Title: Consultancy for Business Pitch Competition Management Firm (Local) in Maldives

Reference No. (as per Procurement Plan): MV-MOHE-184332-CS-CQS

The Government of Maldives has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Maldives: Enhancing Employability and Resilience of Youth (MEERY) Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) includes the management of the future Business Pitch Competition to be held in the Maldives in coordination with the implementing agency. The assignment requires minimum two key staffs and is to be for 6 months duration.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be obtained at the address given below.

The Ministry of Higher Education 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. The shortlisting criteria are:

• The firm must have a minimum of five years of cumulative experience in business development (as a public sector consultant) or;
• Must have undertaken 5 projects in the Maldives involving the development of MSMEs and must have been operational for 5 years.
• The firm must demonstrate successful experience working on micro and small enterprise development, technical assistance delivery for business development services, and participatory development. Computer proficiency is required.
• Experience working with both the public and private sector in related projects.
• Written Documentation stating availability of each key staff of proposed team for the assignment.

Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage.

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 (“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 Consultant’s Qualification-Based Selection (CQS) method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 0900 to 1300 hours.

A virtual information session will be held on 1^st September 2020 (Tuesday) at 11:00 AM. Interested parties may participate in the virtual information session by registering via e-mail to the address below between 25^th-31^st August 2020, 1400 hours. The email should include name of organisation, focal point name, contact number and email. The subject must be clearly stated in the email as; “To register to participate in the information session” or intent must be clearly stated. The virtual meeting link with the final time will be sent to the registered participants latest by 9:00 am on 1^st September 2020. The information session will be held after 9 am.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (by mail, or by e-mail) by 7^th September 2020 (Monday) 1200 hours (local time).

Project Management Unit

Ministry of Higher Education

Attn: Ms. Afaaf Mohamed Saeed, S. Procurement Specialist

2^nd Floor, Fen Building, Ameenee Magu

Male’, Maldives

Tel: 00960 3026975 / 9779004 / 7447203

Email: [email protected]