Western Balkans Trade and Transport Facilitation ( - Тендер #54288024)

• Project ID

P162043

• Project Title

Western Balkans Trade and Transport Facilitation

• Country

Western Balkans

• Notice No

OP00291565

• Notice Type

Request for Expression of Interest

• Notice Status

Published

• Borrower Bid Reference

WBTTFP-8929-MK-311-BC

• Procurement Method

Consultant Qualification Selection

• Language of Notice

English

• Submission Deadline Date/Time

Jun 07, 2024 15:30

• Published Date

May 23, 2024

• CONTACT INFORMATION
• Organization/Department

Ministry of Transport and Communications

• Name

Harita Pandovska

• Address

Crvena Skopska Opstina 4, Skopje 1000

• City

• Province/State

Western Balkans

• Postal Code

• Country

Western Balkans

• Phone

389 78 248 489

• Email

harita.pandovska@mtc.gov.mk

• Website

http://www.mtc.gov.mk/

Request for Expressions of Interest

Consulting Services – Consultant Company Selection - Open National

Implementing Agency: Ministry of Transport and Communications

Country: Republic of North Macedonia

Project: Western Balkans Trade and Transport Facilitation Project - P162043

Loan No.: 8929-MK

Assignment Title: Technical assistance in implementing the policy and legal recommendations in respect to CEFTA’s AP5 (Authorized Economic Operator), in CEFTA’s AP6 (in tourism and labour mobility sectors) and EU Acquis

Reference No.: WBTTFP-8929-MK-311-BC

Issued on: 23 May 2024

Republic of North Macedonia has received financing from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development – World Bank in the form of a loan towards the costs of the Western Balkans Trade and Transport Facilitation Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) under this component consist of technical assistance to implement the regulatory and institutional reforms needed to comply with the country’s specific commitments to CEFTA AP5 and AP6 on Trade in Services. Objectives of the assignment is to support the relevant stakeholders in the process of policy making, by conducting a detailed overview in respect to the selected priority areas from the CRM Action Plan.

Three areas are selected for this assignment as follows:

1.Authorized Economic Operator

• Support the Customs Administration to improve the administrative cooperation with the other authorities and agencies relevant to the AEO programme and involved in border controls and inspections and provide necessary capacity building for the staff by working at these institutions.
• Support the Customs administration in fulfilling the strategic priorities prescribed with the Strategy and Action plan for the improvement of the benefits for the holders of AEO authorizations 2021-2024, adopted from the Customs Administration of the Republic of North Macedonia in January 2024.

2. Tourism.

• Assist the Ministry of Economy in amending the Law on Catering Activity and the Law on Tourism Activities (amendments to the respected laws will be prepared in close cooperation with all stakeholders from the public and private sector),
• Assist the Ministry of Economy in drafting new and/or amending the existing by-laws related to the Law on Catering Activity and the Law on Tourism Activity (drafting of new and/or amending the existing by-laws will be prepared in close cooperation with all stakeholders from the public and private sector),

3.Portability of social rights and removal of working permits

• Assist the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Labor and Social Policy in amending the Law on Foreigners and the Law on Work and Employment of Foreigners, respectively (amendments to the respected laws will be prepared in close cooperation with all stakeholders from the public and private sector),
• Assist the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Labor and Social Policy in drafting new and/or amending the existing by-laws related to the Law on Foreigners and the Law on Work and Employment of Foreigners (drafting of new and/or amending the existing by-laws will be prepared in close cooperation with all stakeholders from the public and private sector),

The services will include the following tasks:

• Organize training for the staff within the companies to raise awareness about the application and administrative process for becoming an AEO.
• Provide assistance to other authorities and agencies involved in border controls aligning their regulations with the AEO programme.
• Organizing an awareness-raising campaign to promote the benefits of the AEO.
• Public call published for companies interested in participating in the training for AEO.
• Training organized for the staff of potential AEO.
• Technical mentoring assistance to 3-5 companies provided in preparing the application for AEO.
• Organized training for the staff at the regulatory bodies to raise their capacities concerning newly adopted regulations such as (the Ministry of Economy), the State Market Inspectorate, the Tourism Agency, and other competent authorities,
• Organized awareness raising campaign regarding the new amendments of respected laws and by-laws and on benefits of implementing international standards in tourism in front of business support organizations, chambers/associations from the relevant sector, service providers in the tourism sector and other interested entities,
• Organized awareness raising campaign regarding the new amendments of respected laws and by-laws in front of business support organizations, private employment agencies, chambers/associations, unions, and other interested entities,
• Organized training for the staff at the regulatory bodies to raise their capacities concerning newly adopted regulations such as (the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Labor and Social Policy) and State Labor Inspectorate.

The intended commencement of the Services is August 2024 and the period of implementation shall be 15 months, estimated working days are 300. The standard form of the Contract will be a Lump sum contract.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications now invites eligible Consulting Companies to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Companies should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.

The shortlisting criteria are:

• The Consulting firm must be a legal entity with at least 7 years in Consulting services and /or technical assistance.

• Proven experience in international trade policy project management.

• Proven experience in the implementation of at least two projects related to CEFTA (track record/references are required)

• Experience in projects/assignments with the Western Balkan`s or North Macedonia: legislation, policy drafting and institutional set-up in customs, trade facilitation and trade-in services (tourism services and labour mobility) would be an advantage (track record/references are required);

Key Experts will not be evaluated at this stage.

The selected procurement method of the service will be Consultant Qualification Selection (CQS) - Open International procedure, in accordance with the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” dated July 2016, revised November 2017 and August 2018 (“Procurement Regulations”). The selected procurement method of the service will be Selection of Individual Consultant / Open national procedure, in accordance with the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” dated July 2016, revised November 2017 and August 2018 (“Procurement Regulations”).

Following the procurement procedure for CQS method, the Client will publish a Request for Expression of Interest (REoI). From the Consultant firms that will submit an Expression of Interest (EoI), the Client will select the firm with the best qualifications and relevant experience as a first ranked firm and will invite the firm to submit its combined technical and financial Proposal as a subject for contract negotiations. Qualifications of the Key staff (CVs including their qualifications) are not part of the selection process but will be subject of contract negotiations with the first ranked firm. At that stage, the first ranked firm/JV should make sure the proposed key staff fulfils the qualification requirements set forth in the TOR for respective key staff positions. The CVs of the Key staff will be submitted only by the first ranked firm/JV during contract negotiations.

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.

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” dated July 2016, revised November 2017 and August 2018 (“Procurement Regulations”), as amended, setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

The eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) can obtain further information from the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) of the Ministry of Transport and Communication, Attn: Mr. Slavko Micevski and/or Ms. Vlasta Ruzinovska and/or Ms. Natasha Stojanovska, e-mail: slavko.micevski@piu.mtc.gov.mk; vlasta.ruzinovska@piu.mtc.gov.mk; natasha.stojanovska@piu.mtc.gov.mk; during office hours from 09:30 to 15:30. The procedure for expressing interest in providing the Services is strictly electronically as stated below.

The Client will publish a Request for Expression of Interest (REoI) and the Terms of References in English language. Interested Consultants may obtain REoI and ToR from the website of the national electronic system for procurement: “ЕСЈН-Заеми/Донации/Грантови-Огласи од меѓународни институции” (https://www.e-nabavki.gov.mk) and from the website of the Ministry of Transport and Communications: http://mtc.gov.mk/javniOglasi;

The eligible Consultants must submit their Expression of Interest, CVs and other relevant information only by e-mail to the all below listed e-mail addresses (as readable PDF file in English language), on or before June 07, 2024, 15:30 p.m local time. Receipt of each Expression of Interest will be immediately confirmed.

Ministry for Transport and Communications - Project Implementation Unit

Attn: Mr. Slavko Micevski and/or Ms. Vlasta Ruzinovska – procurement officers

Street “Crvena Skopska Opstina”, Nr. 4, 1000 Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia

Tel: + 389 (0)2 3145 531; + 389 (0)75 494977

Web site addresses: http://mtc.gov.mk/javniOglasi; https://www.e-nabavki.gov.mk.

E-mail addresses (obligatory):

slavko.micevski@piu.mtc.gov.mk;

vlasta.ruzinovska@piu.mtc.gov.mk;

natasha.stojanovska@piu.mtc.gov.mk;

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