NOTICE AT-A-GLANCE

Project ID: P179210

Project Title: OECS- Skills and Innovation Project

Country: Caribbean

Notice No: OP00335391

Notice Type: Request for Expression of Interest

Notice Status: Published

Borrower Bid Reference: OECSSK/013/2025-CS/CQS/03

Procurement Method: Consultant Qualification Selection

Language of Notice: English

Submission Deadline Date/Time: Feb 10, 2025 09:30

Published Date: 24-Jan-2025

Description: Consultancy to Conduct Technical Capacity Assessment, Action Plan and Implementation of Recommendations

Details:

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

SAINT LUCIA

OECS SKILLS AND INNOVATION PROJECT

Credit No. IDA-74830

Project ID No. P179210

Assignment Title: Consultancy to Conduct Technical Capacity Assessment, Develop Action Plan and Recommendations

Reference No. OECSSK/013/2025-CS/CQS/03

The World Bank’s Board has approved US$36 million to Grenada, Saint Lucia and the OECS Commission from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank Group to finance the OECS Skills and Innovation Project (SKIP) Each participating country will receive funding in the amount of US$15 million credit while the OECS Commission will receive an IDA grant in the amount of US$6 million.

The OECS Skills and Innovation Project will provide for investments in post-secondary education to promote transversal and advanced technical skills among youth while strengthening regional cooperation in post-secondary education. Over the next six years, the project will benefit 40,000 youth (18 to 34 years of age) who are currently enrolled or will enroll in post-secondary institutions in the OECS region, and who will benefit from regional interventions to foster collaboration in the post-secondary education space. In addition, youth will benefit from the project’s provision of new tools to assess priority skills and support teachers, as well as 120 entrepreneurs and firms that would participate in collaborative innovation projects. The project will also foster collaborative innovation within Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Member states.

The objective of this consultancy is to assess the capacity of the Innovation Unit to manage a competitive matching grants program for collaborative innovation initiatives under the OECS SKIP; (ii) develop an action plan to enhance this capacity, based on the assessment, and provide inputs for the Government of Saint Lucia to implement the action plan; (iii) assess the capacity of the Innovation Unit to foster innovation within the local context.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be found at the following websites: www.govt.lc/consultancies or www.finance.gov.lc or https://in-tendhost.co.uk/goslprocurement or can be obtained at the address given below.

The Department of Education, Innovation and Vocational Training, the Project Executing Agency, now invites interested and eligible Consulting Firms to provide an Expression of Interest demonstrating the following qualifications and experience required to perform the Services: Interested Firms should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services; (description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, clients’ references etc.).

1. Minimum ten (10) years previous experience in innovation and entrepreneurship policy and implementation of competitive grant programs, strategising and networking within innovation ecosystems.
2. Proven record of at least ten (10) assignments related to sector assessments with demonstrated ability to provide the following expertise: (a)grants management (b) Innovation policy agencies and institutions, (c)assessing innovation ecosystems (d)developing and implementing action plans to enhance grants management and foster the development of a robust innovation ecosystem.
3. Proven ability to engage (coordinate and work) with national counterparts (including senior government officials at national and state level), partners, stakeholders in the public and private sectors.

The firm shall have a team leader and at least the following members with the qualifications: Information relating to the key expertise can be found in the Terms of Reference (TOR).

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 September 2023 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

The Consulting firm will be selected in accordance with the Consultant’s Qualification Selection (CQS) method set out in the Procurement Regulations. Further information can be obtained at the address below during office 9:00 a.m-4:30 p.m. (0900 to 1630 hours).

Expressions of Interest must be submitted electronically only via the Government of Saint Lucia Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) System –

https://in-tendhost.co.uk/goslprocurement no later than 9:30 a.m. local time on February 10, 2025.

Project Manager

Project Implementation Unit

OECS Skills and Innovation Project

Department of Education, Innovation and Vocational Training

2nd Floor, Hasache Complex

Goodlands

Castries

Email: [email protected]

CONTACT INFORMATION

Organization/Department: MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, INNOVATION, GENDER RELATIONS AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Name: Laurencia Jean

Address: Castries, St. Lucia

City:

Province/State:

Postal Code:

Country: St. Lucia

Phone: 1-758-8966

Email: [email protected]

Website: