REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

Republic of Tajikistan

Learning Environment – Foundation of Quality Education Project 

Consulting services

Contract No MOES/LEARN/S/2024-18

PROCUREMENT SPECIALIST 

 Issuance date: 25/04/2024

Closing date/time: 08/05/2024

BASIC FUNCTION OF POSITION:

The Government of the Republic of Tajikistan has received grant funding in the amount of US$50.0 million from the World Bank for the implementation of the "Learning Environment – Foundation of Quality Education Project” (the Project, LEARN) during 2023-2029. The Project will be implemented by the Ministry of Education and Science (MOES), and in close coordination with the Agency for Supervision in the Sphere of Education and Science (ASSES). 

The Project Development Objective is to enhance the quality of teaching and learning environments in selected general secondary schools.

“Teaching and Learning environment” in this project refers to the complete physical, social, and pedagogical context in which learning is intended to occur. The teaching and learning environment in this project is defined as consisting of the skills and competencies of teachers and physical learning spaces where learning occurs . It is school settings (not just classrooms) and contexts in which students learn and teachers teach within the school premises.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Overall leadership, fiduciary oversight, and capacity development to ensure compliance with WB’s procurement (goods, works, non-consulting services, and consulting services) policies and procedures. The scope of work would be expected to include but not be limited to the following. Support the Chief procurement Specialist in managing the procurement cycle linked to any procurement of goods, works, and services to be carried out in the frame of the project (design of the tender documents, offers evaluation, awarding, contracting, as well as advising technical teams on procurement matters related to contract management.

i. The scope of work would be expected to include but not be limited to the following. Support the Chief procurement Specialist in managing the procurement cycle linked to any procurement of goods, works, and services to be carried out in the frame of the project (design of the tender documents, offers evaluation, awarding, contracting, as well as advising technical teams on procurement matters related to contract management.

ii. Work closely with Chief Procurement Specialist on procurement related matters during processing and administration missions of WBs and provides quality input, as required, in the relevant progress reports in the following areas:  

a. Update the Project Procurement Strategy for Development (PPSD) and the Procurement Plan to include additional activities or modify as necessary as need arises. 

b. Prepare GPN, SPNs, REOIs, contract award notices, and ensure their publication through STEP and/or local media and websites.

c. Participate in the monitoring and administering of contracts in collaboration with technical team, Engineers, and project component Coordinators.

d. Follow up technical teams to duly and timely conduct inspection and prepare inspection reports prior to the acceptance of goods, customs clearance, and delivery to the final destination when required.

e. Ensure effective communication with bidders on procurement/legal related issues, including responding to bidders’ queries, attending bidder conferences, and responding to communications with bidders and receiving bids.

f. Timely preparation of bidding documents for acquisition of goods, works and non-consulting services, and the REOI and RFP for consulting services working closely with Project Coordinator to ensure that Terms of Reference or technical specifications are obtained timely from relevant Technical Departments.

g. Ensure that procurement processing is timely and follows procedures specified in the World Procurement Regulations and confirm that Procurement activities initiated are in accordance with the approved Procurement Plan.

h. Organizing pre-bid or pre-proposal meetings, coordinating the receipt and opening of bids/proposals/expressions of interest, and the evaluation thereafter. 

i. Prepare and make submissions for clearance/No-objection(s) from World Bank as per the requirements of World Bank Procurement Regulations; 

j. Compile information for monthly procurement progress report including constraints, challenges, issues, and deviations from agreed procurement schedules identified and proposed actions to resolve them in a timely manner; 

iii. Maintain complete procurement files and records including all correspondence related to procurement activities and ensure records are uploaded in STEP timely.

iv. Facilitate the Post Procurement Reviews (PPR) exercise, and follow up implementation of PPR recommendations.

v. Any other duties that may be assigned by his/her Superiors from time to time in furtherance of the above responsibilities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION:

It is expected that the selected candidate will conform to the following qualifications and experience profile:

The Procurement Specialist should have the following qualifications: 

a. A university degree in the field of economics, engineering, management, finance, business administration, law or a related subject; 

b. Experience of at least 3 years as a procurement professional in procuring goods, services and works in a public or private sector institution with at least 2 years working under the World Bank or Multilateral Development Bank financed projects with a demonstrated strong track record; 

c. Previous experience in processing contracts (subject to national competition under World Bank procedures) in civil works, supply of goods and consultancy services;

d. Good knowledge of the public procurement legal requirements and procedures in Tajikistan; 

e. Fluency in Tajik or Russian and working level English languages;

f. Appropriate computer skills: MS Windows, MS Excel, MS Word;

g. Demonstrated responsibility and integrity in handling resources; 

h. Excellent oral and written communication skills;

i. Ability to work under pressure; customer orientation, analytical thinking;

j. At least 2 reference letters from previous employers

REPORTING OBLIGATIONS QUALIFICATION AND PERSONAL REQUIREMENTS:

The Procurement Specialist will report to Project Director.  The reports should be prepared monthly and presented both in electronic version and in hard copy in Russian and English. The report will be reviewed and approved by the Project Director.

ASSIGNMENT DURATION 

The assignment is scheduled to start in May 2024. The Specialist shall be contracted for 12 months, with an initial three-month probationary period. The Contract can be renewed for additional 12-month periods with mutual agreement of both parties, keeping in mind the performance of the expert.

CLIENT’S INPUT

The MOES shall provide an office space and necessary equipment during his/her tenure of service in the MOES of Tajikistan. The Specialist is expected to work full time (office hours). The   Procurement Specialist will be based in the Project LEARN office in Dushanbe. The MOES will provide the Procurement Specialist with the necessary documentation for the project and a workplace with access to a computer, printer furniture and other office equipment to perform the work.  

APPLICATION AND SELECTION: 

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 in November 2017 and August 2018 and November 2020) - Procurement in Investment Project Financing Goods, Works, Non-Consulting and Consulting Services (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

Qualified applicants are requested to send the CV and cover letter in Russian and English via e-mail: procurement.learn@maorif.tj c/c director.learn@maorif.tj 

Please, include the position title in the subject of the email.

The deadline for submitting documents is 08 May 2024, before 17:00 (Dushanbe time).

Mr. Dilshod Safarzoda

Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Republic of Tajikistan

Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Nisormuhammad Ave. 13A

Tel/Fax: (+992 37) 2274502