Jordan MSME Framework - MSME Lending Capacity Building for Partner Banks

Jordan MSME Framework - MSME Lending Capacity Building for Partner Banks

Assignment Description: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the "EBRD" or the "Bank") is developing a framework operation of USD 150 million in Jordan (the "Project") which will strive to address the issue of access to finance of Jordanian Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The Project will offer an integrated package combining funding for technical assistance to Participating Banks (PBs) and loan guarantee. EBRD will partner up with local entities to ensure success and sustainability of the Project.
EBRD now intends to retain a consultant (the "Consultant") to building the capacity of PBs to help them establish dedicated MSME lending departments, improve risk management procedures, introduce MSME lending techniques, tailor-made products and services (the "Assignment").

The main objective of the Assignment is to improve the PBs' internal capacity building for lending and serving to MSMEs. The main elements will include (but will not be limited to) the following:
- MSME Lending Scheme (including but not limited to designing and implementing MSME lending scheme with PBs as well as tailoring approaches for specific MSME segments)
- Strengthening Risk Management (including advising PBs in respect to sub-loan assessment, sound portfolio monitoring and management procedures, internal controls, risk management, credit scoring solutions and loan recoveries);
- MSME Product Development,(including but not limited to assist PBs in the development of new MSME finance products, particularly for female led MSMEs, supply chain finance, or other particular segments);
- Sales & Marketing;
- PBs Staff Selection and Training;
- Developing internal advisory services.

Assignment Duration: The overall duration of the assignment is expected to be 36 months (36 months is the overall duration for the cost estimate up to USD 5,000,000).
Cost Estimate for the Assignment: USD 2,000,000; exclusive of VAT. It is expected that up to an additional of USD 3 million will be available at a later stage and that the contract with the selected consultant will be extended accordingly, subject of the availability of funding.

The consultant must determine whether any VAT would be chargeable on the services and the basis for that determination, without taking into consideration the Bank's special status 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 anticipated that the contract will be financed through the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean Multi-Donor Account.

Eligibility: There are no eligibility restrictions.

Consultant Profile: The Consultant will be a firm or group of firms and shall have relevant experience in all areas needed for the performance of the assignment as described above, including a proven track record in implementing MSME projects through commercial banks in transition economies. Knowledge or previous experience in the Jordanian banking sector would be considered an advantage.
Experts provided by the firm must have experience in MSME credit advisory services and extending loans to MSMEs, institution building, training (including training-of-trainers), portfolio audit, credit risk management, internal controls/audit, portfolio management, APS/MIS design and implementation, sales & marketing and product development. The main experts envisaged are: Team Leader, MSME Strategy Expert, Bank Advisor / MSE Lending, APS/MIS Expert, Product development expert, Risk Management Expert, Credit Scoring expert, Marketing, Sales & Communication Expert, Audit Expert, HR Expert.
It is expected that the consultant will engage local short-term experts to implement particular tasks within teams working with respective PBs. All experts, including local project staff will have to be approved by EBRD.

Submission Requirements: Interested consultants are hereby invited to submit expressions of interest.
In order to determine the capability and experience of Consultants seeking to be selected for this Assignment, the information submitted should include the following:
1. Brief overview of the individual/firm, organisation and staffing (max. 4 pages).
2. Details of firm's previous experience or similar 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 (if different from duration), main activities, objectives.
3. CVs of key experts who could be available to work on 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 (if different from duration), main activities, objectives. Each CV shall clearly define the expert position as above and the relevant component in its headline.
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 above information should not exceed 20 pages, excluding CVs and the Consultant Declaration.

Expressions of Interest should be submitted, in English, electronically through eSelection not later than the above stated closing date at 23:59 London time. In addition, 2 hard copies of the above information, in English, should be submitted to the Bank in an envelope marked "Expression of Interest for Jordan MSME Framework - MSME Lending Capacity Building for Partner Banks", to reach the Bank not later than the closing date, marked for the attention of:

EBRD Contact Person
Elena Kolodiy
Advisor, Technical Cooperation
EBRD
One Exchange Square
London EC2A 2JN,
United Kingdom

Queries may be addressed to Jenny Scheffel at Tel: +44 (0) 20 7338 7088; or scheffej@ebrd.com with a copy to kolodiyo@ebrd.com (however please note that expressions of interest should be submitted through eSelection and should not be sent to these e-mail addresses).

Notes: 
1) Following this invitation for Expressions of Interest, a shortlist of qualified consultants will be formally invited to submit proposals. Shortlisting and selection will be subject to the availability of funding.
2) The EBRD intends to select one consultant (a firm or group of firms) only. The selected Framework Consultant will be awarded a Framework Contract setting out, in advance, the general terms and conditions, the fee structure, and procedures for awarding individual Call-Off Notices (Call-Offs) for services required to individual PBs. Those Call-offs to be awarded to the Framework Consultant will define the precise services and budgets for each assignment under the Framework.
In principle, the Bank will send to the selected Framework Consultant specific terms of reference for each Call-Off Notice (Specific Terms of Reference). The Specific Terms of Reference will include a description of the tasks to be performed, time-schedules and reporting instructions. The Framework Consultant shall respond by sending to the Bank a financial proposal for the Call-Off Notice together with details of the expert(s) proposed to carry out the work. The Bank will then assess the response and may issue a Call-off Notice setting out the final Specific Terms of Reference, the precise budget including all expert(s) for the given Call-Off Notice.
The Bank will have the option, but not the obligation, to place individual Call-offs with the selected Framework Consultant. In addition, the Framework Contract will not limit the Bank's ability to contract other firms outside the Framework Contract if it so chooses.
3) Selection criteria:
a) Firm's experience relevant to the assignment (previous project experience in all areas needed for the performance of the assignment as described above, including a proven track record in implementing MSME projects through commercial banks in transition economies) - 30%;
b) Firm's experience in comparable assignments in Jordan and/or the region - 30%;
c) CV of key experts listed in the procurement notice - 40%.