Bangladesh Private Investment & Digital Entrepreneurship Project

1st Corrigendum Notice

It is notified for all concerned that the following amendments are hereby made in the Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) of floated vide office memo no: 03.07.0000.056.014.150.25-245, dated 04.03.2025, Package no.: PMC-17-R-2-BSMSN-BEZA for ‘Skills & Social Development Program at NSEZ’:

All other terms & conditions as laid down in Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) as well as Terms of Reference will remain unchanged.

This corrigendum notice shall form a part of the Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI).

(Abdullah Al Mahmud Faruk)

Project Director

Phone: +880 2 44826009

E-mail: pd.pride.beza@nsez.gov.bd

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRM/NGO SELECTION)

COUNTRY: Bangladesh.

NAME OF PROJECT: National Special Economic Zone (NSEZ) Development Project (Bangladesh PRIDE (PI 70688))

Credit No.: IDA-6676 BD

Assignment Title: Skills & Social Development Program at NSEZ

Reference No.: PMC 17 R-2-BSMSN-BEZA

The Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the NSEZ Development Project, a project under Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) include-one of the core initiatives of the project is to ensure the availability of skilled labour necessary to attract and grow high value-add businesses, construction of industries, security services, and delivering equitable access to jobs, as well as skills formation among workers in companies in their supply chains.

Brief objectives of this assignment are:

1. Identifying the 2,000 beneficiaries of the skills and social development program by validating preliminary information provided by BEZA;
2. Collecting labour market information and using it to identify the relevant pathways for social development and employment for targeted beneficiaries;
3. Designing and implementing the stakeholder engagement and social inclusion strategy;
4. Designing skills development for social development and employment pathways;
5. Identifying different groups and implementing the skills and social development program;
6. Monitoring and reporting progress and results of the program through a robust Monitoring and Information System (MIS).

Implementation period of the Services is estimated to be 24 months (subject to be extension of Project ).

The indicative Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment for submission of Expression of Interest can be found at the following website: www.beza.gov.bd.

The Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) now invites eligible Consulting Firms ("Consultants") to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information by demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.

The shortlisting criteria are as follows;

• At least 10 years of general experience under consultancy contracts satisfactorily completed as a Consultant (Consulting Firm)/Non-Profitable Organization (NGO). Incase of Joint Venture, each member of Joint Venture must have to comply this at least 10 years of general experience criteria individually. Years will be counted backward from the date of publication of REOI in the newspaper to 1st assignment contract date;
• Similar nature assignment experience of at least 1No. (i.e training need assessment/stakeholder engagement/social inclusion strategy/module development/training design/skills development through training/Workshop program & Job Placement etc.) within the last 10 years. Years will be counted backward from the date of publication of REOI in the newspaper to 1st assignment contract date;
• Experience of working under development-funded project will be an added advantage;
• The consulting firm/NGO shall have sufficient and relevant managerial, financial and organizational capabilities, accredited by relevant institutions, training centers, equipment and logistics for the assignment.

Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage.

Consultants are requested to submit, but not limited to, the following supporting documents in support of the above-mentioned criteria:

 (i)   The Firm's/NGO’s Incorporation/Trade/registration documents from the country of the firm/NGO (ii) Firm’s/NGO’s brochures; and (iii) description of similar contracts, including the scope, contract amount, name of Client, period of the contract (date of contract signing to date of completion), location/country of the services, etc.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section Ill, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank's "Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers" July 2016, Revised September 2023 ("Procurement Regulations"), setting forth the World Bank's policy on conflict of interest related to the assignment.

A consulting firm/NGO is allowed to submit the expression of interest alone if it considers itself to be fully qualified on its own for the assignment, as it is not mandatory for consultants/NGOs to associate with any other firm(s)/NGOs, whether foreign or local. Alternatively, if consultants/NGOs themselves choose to associate to enhance their qualifications and capability for the assignment, then such associations may either be as a Joint Venture (i.e. all members of the joint venture shall be jointly and severally responsible) and/or Sub-consultants (i.e. the Consultant will be responsible, including for the services of the sub-consultant).  In case of an association, the Consultants/NGOs must explain in the EOI submission (a) the rationale for forming the association and (b) the anticipated role and relevant qualifications of each member of the Joint Venture and/or of each sub-consultant for carrying out the assignment, to justify the proposed inclusion of the JV members and/or sub-consultants in the association. Failure to provide the above explanation in the Expression of Interest may risk the association not being shortlisted for the assignment.  However, the qualifications/experience of sub-consultants will not be considered by the Client in the evaluation of Expressions of Interest for Shortlisting purposes.

If shortlisted, Consultants/NGOs will still have opportunity at the subsequent proposal preparation stage to further enhance their expertise for the assignment by associating with non-shortlisted consultants/NGOs in the form of a Joint Venture or as Sub-consultants.  In all such cases a shortlisted Consultant/NGO must obtain the written approval of the Client prior to the submission of the Proposal, for which the shortlisted Consultant/NGO will be required to justify the rationale for associating and specify the proposed role and relevant qualifications of the proposed associate(s) for carrying out the assignment.  When associating with non-shortlisted firms in the form of a joint venture or a sub-consultancy, the shortlisted Consultant/NGO shall be a lead member.   However, Instruction to Consultant (ITC) clauses of RFP will prevail in regards to associate with non-shortlisted firm/NGO or sub-consultant during proposal preparation stage.

A Consultant/NGO will be selected in accordance with the Fixed Budget (FBS) method; Market Approach- Open International set out in the Procurement Regulations.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours [i.e.,0900 to 1700 hours].

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form along with a USB drive to the address below (in person, or by mail, or e-mail) by 19 March 2025, 14.00 Hours Bangladesh Standard Time. If delivered through email, the client shall not be responsible for the confidentiality of the EOI.

Abdullah Al Mahmud Faruk

Project Director

Biniyog Bhaban (Level 7,8,9), Plot#E-6/B, West Agargaon, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh

Phone: +880244826009

E-mail: pd.pride.beza@nsez.gov.bd