Caribbean Digital Transformation Project: Review of Policies, Legislations and Regulations and Development of Recommendations on Necessary Reforms to Implement an Integrated ID System, Authentication Platform, Digital Signature and Land Administration

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Caribbean Digital Transformation Project (CARDTP)

CREDIT NO. IDA-6691-VC

Request For Expressions of Interest

Consulting Services – Review of Policies and Legislation for Digital Transformation

Assignment Title: Review of Policies and Legislation and Development of recommendations on necessary reform to implement:

• An integrated unique identification system
• An authentication platform
• An electronic document and record management system
• A digital signature
• A tax information management system
• An electronic single window for trade facilitation

Reference No.: SVGCARDTP-C-QCBS-2 

The Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (GoSVG) has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Caribbean Digital Transformation Project, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The Consultant will (i) assist the project implementation unit (PIU) in reviewing the national policies and legislation, within various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), for efficient and effective Digital Transformation of services offered by the GoSVG; (ii) develop recommendations and support with drafting amendments to existing legislation and policies and developing draft policies and legislation as may be necessary to implement an Integrated ID System (OECS ID), authentication platform, electronic document management & records system, digital signature, Integrated Geospatial Information Framework (IGIF), a new Tax Information Management System and an Electronic Single Window for Trade Facilitation (eSWiFT); and (iii) develop recommendations and strengthen capacity of MDAs and other Project counterparts regarding enforcement of draft legislation and policies.

The expected start date is September/October 2022 and the expected contract duration is fourteen (14) months.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.vc/images/RequestForExpressionsofInterest/ToR_Review_of_Policies_and_Legislation_and_Development_of_Recommendations_SVG_FINAL.pdf

The Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Information Technology 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. The Consultant shall be a qualified firm or consortia of firms (with the nature of the association clearly stated), with demonstrated experience working with e-payment platform projects across Governments or multifunctional business organizations. Successful implementation in a developing country setting would be an asset.

The short-listing criteria are as follows:

The Consultant shall be a firm that shall demonstrate that the personnel assigned to this task have relevant experience in:

1.  advising on and drafting policies and laws relating to the development of the digital economy consistent with international best practice, including a successful track record of completing assignments with similar scope/context, including in a development country setting;
2. implementing similar assignments in developing countries; such experience in the Caribbean region or small-island states would be desirable.

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

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.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during the hours 9:00 to 15:30 hours.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by June 3, 2022.

Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Information Technology

Attn: Edmond Jackson, Director General Finance and Planning Second Floor,

Administrative Building

Bay Street

Kingstown

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Tel: 784-457-1343

E-mail: office.finance@gov.vc and wgeorge@gov.vc and jquow@svgcpd.com