CALL FOR PROPOSALS CONTRACT SPECIFICATION

Transcription

1 EUROPEAN UNION CALL FOR PROPOSALS INVITATION TO CONSULTANCY FIRMS OR INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANTS 1. PROJECT REFERENCE: OCO Activity PUBLICATION REFERENCE TA Single Window/AWP2/ PROJECT TITLE: Technical Assistance to Conduct a Feasibility Study on Implementing Single Window System for Trade Facilitation in the Republic of Fiji 4. PROCEDURE: Negotiation 5. CONTRACTING AUTHORITY: Oceania Customs organisation Secretariat 6. NATURE OF CONTRACT: Fee based CONTRACT SPECIFICATION 7. DURATION: 4 weeks 8. CONTRACT DESCRIPTION: Undertake Feasibility Study to implement Single Window 9. NUMBER OF LOTS: One (1) 10. LOCATION: Republic of Fiji 11. MAXIMUM BUDGET: Consultancy Fee of Euro 40,000 (excludes subsistence allowance, air travel expenses, incidentals and any other project related costs) 12. RESPONSIBLE TO: Project Manager, Trade Facilitation in Customs Co- operation (TFCC) Project at the Secretariat of the Oceania Customs Organisation Page 1 of 7

2 13. SCOPE FOR ADDITIONAL WORK: The Contracting Authority may, at its own discretion, extend the project in duration and/or scope subject to the availability of funding up to a maximum not exceeding the length and value of the initial contract. Any extension of the contract would be subject to satisfactory performance by the Contractor. CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION 14. ELIGIBILITY: Participation is open to all legal persons (participating either individually or in a grouping (consortium) of candidates) which are established in a Member State of the European Union or in a country or territory of the regions covered and/or authorised by the specific instruments applicable to the programme under which the contract is financed. Participation is also open to international organisations. The participation of natural persons is governed by the specific instruments applicable to the programme under which the contract is financed. All eligible natural and legal persons or groupings of such persons (consortia) may apply. 15. CANDIDATURE: All eligible natural and legal persons or groupings of such persons (consortia) may apply. A consortium may be a permanent, legally- established grouping or a grouping which has been constituted informally for a specific tender procedure. All members of a consortium (i.e., the leader and all other members) are jointly and severally liable to the Contracting Authority. The participation of an ineligible natural or legal person will result in the automatic exclusion of that person. In particular, if that ineligible person belongs to a consortium, the whole consortium will be excluded. 16. NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS: No more than one application can be submitted by a natural or legal person whatever the form of participation (as an individual legal entity or as leader or member of a consortium submitting an application). In the event that a natural or legal person submits more than one application, all applications in which that person has participated will be excluded. PROVISIONAL TIMETABLE 17. PROVISIONAL DATE OF INVITATION TO 31 st May 2013 Page 2 of 7

3 TENDER: 18. PROVISIONAL COMMENCEMENT DATE OF THE CONTRACT: 24 th June INITIAL PERIOD OF Four (4) weeks COMPLETION OF TASKS: SELECTION AND AWARD CRITERIA 20. SELECTION CRITERIA: Same criteria for legal and natural person. The following selection criteria will be applied to candidates. In the case of applications submitted by a consortium, these selection criteria will be applied to the consortium as a whole: 21. AWARD CRITERIA: Best value for money 1) Professional capacity of candidate Criteria for natural and legal persons: i) At least 2 staff work or have worked for the candidate in fields related to this contract in the last three years; ii) At least 1 staff working for the candidate this year in fields related to this contract is permanent. 2) Technical capacity of candidate Criteria for legal and natural persons: i) The candidate has provided services under at least three contracts for single window or related contracts during the last 5 years; and ii) The candidate has worked successfully on at least1 project related to the areas described above. NOTES: 1. Interested companies and individual international consultants who possess the required expertise and professional experience are invited to submit their proposals which should include a covering statement detailing the relevant expertise as well as the applicable experiences yielded from carrying out similar projects and services elsewhere. Page 3 of 7

4 2. The deadline for submission of proposals is 4pm on Friday 31 st May This invitation is open to consulting companies and individual consultant(s) teaming up with other individual consultant(s). 4. Consultants must demonstrate their knowledge of the subject by clearly interpreting the terms of reference and providing a methodology and approach that they will adopt in undertaking the assignment. 5. Consultants must provide a clear work plan that they will use in undertaking the assignment. 6. Consulting companies must provide the names and nationalities of all the consultants who will be involved in the project, their respective levels of effort and their CVs. 7. Consulting companies should also attach their company profile/capability statement to the proposal. 8. Proposals should be submitted electronically via e- mail to the attention of Mr Selwa Nandan selwan@ocosec.org Page 4 of 7

5 TERMS OF REFERENCE Technical Assistance to Conduct a Feasibility Study on Implementing Single Electronic Window for Trade Facilitation in the Republic of Fiji 1. Background The Oceania Customs Organisation Secretariat was approached by the Fiji Revenue & Customs Authority (FRCA) for assistance to conduct a feasibility study on implementation of a Single Window System (SWS) for trade facilitation. The Fiji Revenue & Customs Authority is a statutory organisation with its own institutional framework. Under the Fiji Islands Revenue and Customs Authority Act the Minister of Finance appoints a Board that will be responsible for the performance of a number of functions by the Authority. The Authority is headed by the Chief Executive Officer and has 3 Divisions: Taxation, Customs and Corporate Services each headed by a General Manager. This study is in line with the objectives of the EU funded Trade Facilitation in Customs Co- operation (TFCC) Project aimed at the adoption of best practice as articulated in the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC) and SAFE Framework of Standards (FoS) to enhance PACP Customs Administrations compliance with international standards and protocols towards further facilitating trade. 2. Purpose of the Project To enhance the trade competitiveness of Fiji through improvements to its trade logistics systems and processes. 3. Description of the Project The main objective of the project is to conduct a feasibility study on implementation of a Single Window System (SWS) for trade facilitation in the Republic of Fiji. 4. Scope of Work The consultant(s) will work closely with the Project Team from the Oceania Customs organisation Secretariat and, using internationally acknowledged methodology, will perform the following tasks: i) Review and analyse current trade facilitation systems and processes in Fiji. ii) Assess the feasibility and benefits of implementation of a single window for trade facilitation in Fiji. Page 5 of 7

6 iii) Identification of key reforms necessary to implement Single Window System for trade facilitation. iv) Identify and recommend relevant and feasible business model necessary to implement Single Window System in Fiji. v) Recommend short, medium and long term strategies that should be put in place to implement single window for trade facilitation. vi) Conduct stakeholder consultation workshops vii) Prepare a detailed action plan, budget and strategy for implementation of single window system. NB: Please refer to the Terms of Reference document for more detailed information on the scope and purpose of the Feasibility Study which can be obtained from the OCO Secretariat by to: selwan@ocosec.org. 5. Consultants Output An in- depth Feasibility Study on Implementation of Single Window for trade facilitation in Fiji. Detailed action plan, budget and strategy for implementation of single window system. 6. Expected Project Outcomes o Improved service levels from Government s trade related agencies in the trade logistics supply chain. o Introduction of simplified and harmonized customs procedures. o Developed a successful business model to implement Single Window System. o Reduction in bureaucracy and business facilitation delays. 7. Key performance indicators All project deliverables produced within budget and schedule. Interim outputs and final reports accepted by the Oceania Customs Organisation Secretariat. 8. Responsible to: Project Manager, Project Division of OCO Secretariat. Page 6 of 7

7 9. Required expertise 1. Proven international expertise and experience in Trade Facilitation, Logistics and Customs. 2. Proven international experience of conducting projects of similar nature. 3. Post graduate qualifications in economics systems design and analysis, public policy, international business and trade are desirable. 4. Excellent communication skills are essential, as is the ability to interface effectively at all levels. 10. Duration and Project Budget The total duration of the assignment is 4 weeks. The Consultancy Fees will be calculated based on the number of working days of the assignment and the consultancy rates for each Consultant. Subsistence allowance, air travel expenses, incidentals and any other project related costs will be coordinated and met by the Contracting Authority). 11. Submission of Proposals You are required to submit a proposal which should include the following: Company profile; Resume of consultant(s); Proposed approach to effectively deliver the outputs; Budget and time lines. 12. Submission of Proposal and Closing Date Proposals should be submitted electronically via e- mail to the OCO Secretariat to selwan@ocosec.org quoting reference OCO Activity 21. The deadline for submission of proposals is 4pm on Friday, 31 st May 2013 Page 7 of 7