Jamaica Foundations for Competitiveness and Growth: National Investment Policy - GoJ Land Bank Phase I - Research

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES– INDIVIDUAL SELECTION)

JAMAICA: FOUNDATIONS FOR COMPETITIVENESS AND GROWTH PROJECT

Loan No.: 9203-JM

Assignment Title: National Investment Policy – Government of Jamaica Land Bank Phase I - Research

Reference No. (as per Procurement Plan): FCG/AF/CON/27 

Note: The award of contract is subject to the World Bank’s declaration of effectiveness of Loan Agreement No. 9203-JM. 

The Government of Jamaica (GOJ) has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Foundations for Competitiveness and Growth Project (FCGP) and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services. The Project is being implemented by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) in collaboration with the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) as the Lead Coordinating Agency (LCA) for Component 1, which seeks to enhance competition in the business environment. The initiatives under the Project are expected to strengthen the enabling environment for private sector competitiveness, to help Jamaica unleash its potential for productivity and growth. An approval was granted for the Additional Financing of US$10 Million from the World Bank and the Government of Jamaica committed to provide a further US$5 Million, thus providing a total of US$15 Million to support the various Government entities implementation of investment climate reforms.

The National Investment Policy (2020) seeks to position Jamaica as a major player in the global investment community, driven by economic growth through sustainable development. One of the policy goals are to improve the framework for sustainable, productive and equitable development, use and management of the country’s land resources and other GOJ assets. At present, there is a robust planning, policy and regulatory framework for treatment of access to land for investment purposes. This includes the National Development Plan: Vision 2030, Growth Inducement Strategy (2011), the Privatisation Policy, Land Divestment Policy Framework, a Shovel Ready Investment Projects (SRIP) programme, among others. The SRIP programme, which seeks to pre-package investment opportunities to fast track development approvals is a current mechanism that improves business processes around land access for investment.

In spite of these frameworks various gaps exist, which include readily accessible information on all lands that are available for investment due to the absence of a complete central repository for all land assets owned by Government. The full repository of land parcels recorded in the Valuation Roll at the National Land Agency (NLA) captures all lands that are registered and unregistered in the country. Since the NLA holds all information pertaining to Crown Lands, while other agencies hold lands in their names, it is imperative that the data be updated for the gaps that exist due to passage of time in land from the Valuation Roll.

A complete land bank housed within NLA’s Crown Land Management System would be helpful for investors and make the divestment process easier, given the difficulties that are experienced in identifying and accessing Government owned land for investment purposes. The National Investment Policy (2020) therefore recommends the building of a land bank with detailed information on all the land owned by the different Government agencies, which provides guidance on types of developments that can be supported on specified parcels of land. 

The consulting services (“the Services”)

The Government of Jamaica (GoJ) is seeking to engage the services of an Individual Consultant to fulfill the first of two (2) phases in the creation of a comprehensive and interactive Government Land Bank.  Phase I is designed to develop a comprehensive database and  audit of  the land assets of the Government of Jamaica, including those owned and/or held in trust by the Commissioner of Lands, as well as the other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). The database will be used to inform Phase 2 with the development of a fully operable and interactive platform to serve as a Land Bank (to be executed under a separate contract).

The anticipated duration of the assignment is ten (10) months.

The full Request for Expressions of Interest and the Terms of Reference at www.gojep.gov.jm, www.pioj.gov.jm/procurement or www.dobusinessjamaica.com/about-jampro/tender-invitations.

The Planning Institute of Jamaica now invites eligible individuals (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide curriculum vitae with detailed information demonstrating the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The Consultant is required to possess, at minimum or equivalent:

• A graduate degree in Social Sciences, Records Management, or any relevant discipline [10 marks].
• Training or experience in land administration and management would be an asset [5 marks].
• At least 2 years' experience working with real estate or land records, or any type of government record [15 marks]. 
• Demonstrated experience in working on at least two projects over the past six years in developing, populating, managing and maintaining simple databases (using Microsoft or similar tools), involving sensitive and confidential records [10 marks].
• Demonstrated experience in conducting research, which involve the inputting of information in a database, evidenced by at least three projects over the past ten years [25 marks].
• Demonstrated experience in coordination across a wide range of institutional and professional groups.  Interactions with public sector entities would be an asset [15 marks].
• Demonstrated experience in research skills, data analysis, communication and report writing [20 marks].

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Selection of Individual Consultants method set out in the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” July 2016 (revised in November 2017, July 2018 and November 2020) (“Procurement Regulations”).

Expressions of Interest (EOIs) must be uploaded on or before January 31, 2022 at 11:45pm. Submissions will be accepted via the Government of Jamaica Electronic Procurement Portal (www.gojep.gov.jm). No hard copy submission will be accepted.

To participate in this tender opportunity, consultants must first be registered and know how to use the electronic Procurement System, www.gojep.gov.jm. Please self- register on the e-GP System, by selecting the Register as a Supplier link from the home page. Consultants are encouraged to upload their submissions at least two (2) hours prior to the deadline for submission. For assistance, and training please contact the GOJEP support desk at: 1-876-932-5220 or 1-876-806-5149 or 1-876-806-4581; or 1-876-806-4536 or via email at opppcustomercare@mof.gov.jm.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours of 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

Planning Institute of Jamaica

Attn: Dellue Wint Dawkins

Procurement Specialist

16 Oxford Road, Kingston 5, Jamaica

Tel: 876 960 9339 | Fax: 876 906 5011

E-mail: dwint@pioj.gov.jm with copy to kmelliott@pioj.gov.jm