Customs and Trade Facilitation Project - Additional Financing: Technical Assistance for Customs Training Center Development Program

Project ID: P101750
Borrower/Bid No: B5.1/CS-12


Assignment Title: TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR CUSTOMS CAPACITY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM

Reference No. (as per Procurement Plan): B5.1/CS-12

The Lao People's Democratic Republic has received an additional Grant financing from the World Bank towards the cost of the Customs and Trade Facilitation Project—Additional Financing (CTFP-AF), and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consultant services.

The consulting services ("the Services") include in this assignment is to support the Customs Department of the Ministry of Finance to adopt and fully implement a range of new and improved systems and procedures in line with international standards and accepted good practice approaches focused on the following seven separate but closely interrelated task clusters:  (1) Risk Management and Intelligence; (2) Compliance Improvement and Authorized Economic Operators; (3) Communication and Change Management; (4): Strategic Planning, Performance Monitoring and Client Service Standards; (5) Administrative Appeals; (6) Integrity Enhancement; and (7) Legal Support including the transfer of technical knowledge to government staff on issues related which is a key objective of this assignment.

It is anticipated that the assignment will take two (2) year period to complete (while in-country presence is not required for the entire estimated 24 month period) and involve an estimated minimum of sixty-five (65) person-months in total (for both technical inputs towards the completion of the individual task clusters, as well as project management for the overall customs capacity enhancement program). The assignment is expected to mobilize by August 2014.

The Ministry of Finance through the Customs Department 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 (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc.). The shortlisting criteria are:

*A minimum of ten years of experience in carrying out Consulting Services as a consulting firm in the technical areas outlined across all seven task clusters (1. Risk Management and Intelligence; 2. Compliance Improvement and Authorized Economic Operators; 3. Communication and Change Management; 4. Strategic Planning, Performance Monitoring and Client Service Standards; 5. Administrative Appeals; 6. Integrity Enhancement; and 7. Customs Legal Support);
*At least five contracts of a similar technical nature and complexity, or more complex and relevant, that the firm has successfully completed in the past five years. Experience working in developing countries, preferably in the ASEAN region, would be preferable;
*Demonstrated capability to work within a multi-disciplinary and cross-cultural environment with large and diverse teams; and,
*Strong commitment to participatory processes and the transfer of knowledge and skills to national counterparts.


The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank's Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants by World Bank Borrowers (January 2011) ("Consultant Guidelines"), setting forth the World Bank's policy on conflict of interest.   

Consultants may associate with other firms in the form of a joint venture or a subconsultancy to enhance their qualifications.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost-based Selection (QCBS) method set out in the Consultant Guidelines.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours, 08:00 -16:00 hrs (Local time of Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR, GMT+7), Monday to Friday

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by e-mail) by 18 March 2014.

Customs and Trade Facilitation Project (CTFP)
Att.: Mr. Athsaphangthong Siphandone
Director General of Customs Department
Project Director of Customs and Trade Facilitation Project (CTFP)
Customs Department, Ministry of Finance
3rd Floor, Lane-xang Avenue
Ban Hatsady, Chanthabouly District, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR
Tel./Fax: (856 21) 254 034
E-mail: athsaphangthong@gmail.com
and copy to: ksrithirath@gmail.com, sompasong.am@gmail.com, chonevo@yahoo.com