Project Description:
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the EBRD or the Bank) is an international financial institution that supports projects from central Europe to central Asia and southern and eastern Mediterranean (see www.ebrd.com). Investing primarily in private sector clients whose needs cannot be fully met by the market, the Bank fosters transition towards open and democratic market economies.
A sustainable and commercially viable local consultancy market is a strong transition indicator of a developed market economy. In this regard, the EBRD supports economic transition by developing sustainable consultancy services markets in the EBRD countries of operation. The local consultancy markets' ability to provide services at first in neighbouring states and subsequently in an international environment is an important element of that transition process.
The EBRD and the governments of various countries of operation which consider graduation from EBRD support have agreed or are about to agree to identify and implement market development activities (MDAs) to develop their consultancy services markets.
Based on findings of diagnostic studies for assessing the maturity of the concerned consultancy markets, specifically tailored MDAs are expected to contribute to the development of sustainable and commercially viable consultancy markets by focussing on opportunities and gaps in both the supply and demand-side of consultancy services on three levels:
1. Micro level: Address professional and technical gaps by a capacity building programme for consultants, with training courses potentially ranging from project management to developing advanced technical skills
2. Meso level: Policy dialogue with the local authorities and domestic consultancy market key stakeholders to foster the development of strong consultancy association(s) effectively representing the consultancies vis-à-vis authorities and clients
3. Macro level: Policy dialogue with national authorities to improve the legal, regulatory and procedural operating environment for consultants
This three level approach is expected to:
(a) aid consultants to identify areas for business, professional and technical development;
(b) adjust their long- and medium-term business strategies;
(c) improve their performance in regional and international consultancy assignments awarded by the EBRD, International Financial Institutions (World Bank etc.), EU and equivalent;
(d) assist in the development of consultancy associations and their effectiveness in the representation of their members' interests;
(e) remove any legal or regulatory bottlenecks to further facilitate the development of an effective consultancy services market.
Assignment Description:
The EBRD now intends to engage a consulting firm, consultancy association or equivalent (the Project Manager or the Consultant) to provide support to the EBRD Technical Cooperation Team (TC Team) in managing the MDAs on the micro level, in particular the design and implementation of a capacity building programme for consultants in various target countries (the Assignment).
The programme is expected to primarily address the specific needs of consultants based in EU-8 countries (the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia).
The nature of the training courses to be implemented will partly but not necessarily depend on the findings of the market assessments and diagnostic exercises to be conducted in every country. Courses are expected to cover training subjects as follows:
(1) Management consulting essentials.
(2) Advanced project management.
(3) Business development.
(4) How to write a winning proposal.
(5) Institution building, cooperate development, financial improvement.
(6) Project procurement for construction works (excluding goods and services).
(7) Training on standard documents/contracts for use on construction projects (FIDIC or equivalent).
(8) EU structural funds training (including preparation, implementation and administration of operational programmes, advising on grant applications, project audits, M&E etc.).
(9) Training on consulting opportunities offered by multilateral development banks or institutions including World Bank, EBRD, EuropeAid or equivalent including their procurement policies and rules.
(10) other professional or technical courses relevant for consultancies.
The selected Consultant is expected to provide the following services:
1. Review market studies and develop action plans for selected countries
(a) Review consultancy services market studies conducted by other consultants or market information.
(b) Develop brief action plans for selected countries primarily focussing on capacity building of consultants but also identifying areas for the Bank engaging in policy dialogue with the local authorities and domestic consultancy market key stakeholders.
2. Develop core consultant capacity building programme
(a) Conduct a desk-research on training courses for consultants available in main consultancy markets (primarily EU and USA).
(b) Liaise with other EBRD departments and consolidate information available on existing training courses for consultants from other EBRD training initiatives, primarily Small Business Support (SBS), Energy Efficiency & Climate Change (E2C2), Environment and Sustainability (ED).
(c) Review existing training designs, course materials, training budgets, cost contribution arrangements etc. and collect feedback on training providers already working for the EBRD.
(d) Collect lessons learned (costs, practical arrangements etc.) on preparing and conducting actual training courses (primarily SBS, E2C2, ED), develop/update respective checklists.
(e) Prioritise training courses to be designed and implemented for specifc countries.
(f) Liaise with institutions/associations already offering training courses for consultants (International Federation of Consulting Engineers, British Expertise etc.) to explore options for commissioning relevant courses and adjusting them to the targeted countries' contexts.
(g) Based on findings develop core consultant capacity building programme with key courses addressing the needs of consultants based in EU-8 countries and update/adjust core programme for each of the target countries on a needs basis.
(i) develop preliminary ToR (including draft curricula) and budget estimates for training designer(s) and training providers for the delivery of core and tailor-made courses.
3. Engagement of training designers and providers
(a) Support the development of procurement plans for engaging training designers and providers, considering efficiency and effectiveness of various options (framework agreements with subsequent call-off notices, stand-alone contracts etc.).
(b) Support the selection and contracting of trainers (training design and implementation) in accordance with the EBRD Procurement Policies & Rules for both training designer(s) and training providers.
(c) Prepare cooperation agreements with institutions/associations offering training courses for consultants in selected countries.
4. Manage roll-out of consultant capacity building programme for various countries
(a) Develop brief action plans, checklists and draft budgets for each country-level programme.
(b) Liaise with and manage contracted trainers to ensure effective implementation of training courses within agreed budgets, in particular review and present to EBRD's Operation Leader draft deliverables (training agendas, training materials such as slides and group exercises) with comments for revision and improvements.
(c) Liaise with local counterparts (government or local authorities, domestic consultant associations, local training providers, chambers of commerce or equivalent) to arrange training courses and reach agreements on all parties' responsibilities (final budgets, cost-sharing, logistics, venue, equipment, registration management, promotion of events, invoicing etc.).
(d) Monitor progress and follow-up on agreed activities ensuring cost efficiency and compliance with agreements and final budgets.
(e) Be the first point of contact for all external stakeholders including local counterparts and training providers.
5. Results measurement approach for training programme and training programme database
(a) Develop specific concept and system for monitoring and reporting of results of capacity building programme.
(b) Ensure up-to-date reporting on results (per course and overall for programme).
(c) Design and build a basic database (or equivalent) for the overall training programme and each training course.
Status of Selection Process: Interested Consultants are hereby invited to submit expressions of interest.
Assignment Start Date and Duration: The Assignment is expected to start in late April or May 2015 and has an estimated overall duration of 36 months.
The selected Consultant will be awarded a 12 months contract to be renewed twice subject to availability of funding, the performance of the selected Consultant and the specific needs of the Bank and its clients.
The Bank may further extend the contract beyond 36 months subject to its clients' needs and availability of funding.
Cost Estimate available for the Assignment: To be negotiated (exclusive of VAT).
The Consultant must determine whether any VAT would be chargeable on the services and the basis for that determination, without taking into consideration the special status of the Bank as an IFI and state this to the Bank in their response to the Invitation for Expressions of Interest. To the extent that a Consultant incurs input VAT on goods and services purchased in connection with the provision of services (e.g. VAT on airline ticket) which is not otherwise recoverable by the consultant from the local tax authority, the gross cost to the consultant of such expenses shall be treated as a reimbursable expense.
Funding Source: It is expected the Assignment will be funded by the EBRD Post-Graduation Special Fund. Please note selection and contracting will be subject to the availability of funding.
Eligibility: There are no eligibility restrictions.
Consultant Profile: Corporate services are required. The Consultant will be a consulting firm, association or equivalent with previous project experience related to:
1 advising consultancy market key players (private businesses, MDBs, bilateral aid agencies, governments, consultancy associations on regional and international level, chambers of commerce, government or SME support agencies, training providers etc.) on the development of consultancy markets and business development for consultants.
2. designing and managing training/capacity building assignments or programmes preferably for consultants.
The Consultant will have to nominate one (1) key expert (Consultancy Market Specialist/Project Manager) with previous professional experience as follows:
(1) A professional background in consulting with preferably 7 years of experience in advising private and public clients.
(2) Experience and knowledge of consultancy markets in preferably both the Bank’s main shareholder countries and its countries of operations, the markets’ key players (private businesses, MDBs, bilateral aid agencies, governments, consultancy associations on regional and international level, chambers of commerce, government or SME support agencies, training providers etc.) and their issues and concerns.
(3) Experience of designing and managing training/capacity building assignments or programmes preferably for consultants and with many external stakeholders.
(4) Experience of the Bank's and other MDBs' or bilateral aid agencies procurement policies, rules and procedures for the selection and engagement of consultants would be considered an advantage.
The Consultancy Market Specialist/Project Manager will be based within TC Team at EBRD’s HQs in London.
In addition, the Consultant will have to provide operational support (secretary or junior staff member) primarily for administering the timely and efficient roll-out of the consultant capacity building programme in various countries on a needs basis.
Submission Requirements: In order to determine the capability and experience of Consultants seeking to be shortlisted for this Assignment, the information submitted should include the following:
1. Consultant profile, organisation and staffing (max. 2-4 pages).
2. Details of previous project experience or similar assignments particularly undertaken in the previous five years, including information on contract value, contracting entity/client, project location/country, duration (mm/yy to mm/yy), expert months provided (if different from duration) , main activities, objectives.
3. CV of key expert who could carry out the Assignment detailing qualifications, experience in similar assignments, particularly assignments undertaken in the previous five years, including information on contracting entity/client, project location/country, duration (mm/yy to mm/yy), expert months provided, assignment budget, main activities, objectives.
4. Completed Consultant Declaration Form and Contact Sheet, the template for which is available from the following web-link:
http://www.ebrd.com/pages/workingwithus/procurement/notices/csu/contact_sheet.doc.
The complete expression of interest (excluding CV and Declaration) should not exceed 15 pages and shall be one file (preferably pdf) to be uploaded to eSelection. The EBRD reserves the right to reject applications of Consultants submitting more than one file. Only if the permissible file size is exceeded, the Consultant may split the expression of interest into further files.
Expressions of Interest should be submitted, in English, electronically through e-Selection, to reach the Bank not later than the closing date.
Bank Contact Person:
Sophie Medert
Advisor
Technical Cooperation
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
One Exchange Square
London EC2A 2JN
Tel: + 44 20 7338 7371
e-mail: mederts@ebrd.com (submissions should be sent through eSelection and NOT to this email address)
Notes:
1. Following this invitation for expressions of interest, a shortlist of qualified firms will be formally invited to submit proposals. Consultant selection and contracting will be subject to availability of funding.
2. The shortlist criteria are as follows:
(a) Consultant's previous project experience related to advising consultancy market key players (private businesses, MDBs, bilateral aid agencies, governments, consultancy associations on regional and international level, chambers of commerce, government or SME support agencies, training providers etc.) on the development of consultancy markets and business development for consultants – 25%
(b) Consultant's previous project experience related to designing and managing training/capacity building assignments or programmes preferably for consultants – 25%
(c) CV for key expert (Consultancy Market Specialist/Project Manager) with previous professional experience as described in section Consultant Profile – 50%
