REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)
Uzbekistan
Institutional Capacity Building Project
Credit No.: IDA 6431-UZ
Assignment Title: Selection of a recruitment (headhunting) company to attract foreign independent members to Supervisory Boards of major state-owned companies in the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Reference No.: UZ-MOF-SAMA-QCBS-HEADHUNT
The Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Institutional Capacity Building Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services on behalf of the State Assets Management Agency (UzSAMA).
The objective of this assignment is to source and assist in selection of highly qualified candidates for positions of independent directors at Supervisory Boards of companies with state participation.
An internationally recognized recruitment (headhunting) company will be selected to achieve the objectives of this assignment.
The expected implementation period up to 6 months, ensuring full consistency with the Terms of Reference (TOR) attached in this REOI.
The Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan 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 submitting directly to the piu_mof@mail.ru.
The qualification requirements for the Consultants are:
- At least 10 years’ successful proven experience in providing executive level recruitment services to supervisory boards and senior management positions.
- Experience in similar projects in Eurasian countries in the last 10 years (including Latvia, Estonia and etc.)
- At least 10 successful recruitment projects (contracts) with a large companies or government entities for supervisory boards or senior management level positions in the last 10 years.
The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” dated July 2016 revised in November 2017 and August 2018 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. In addition, please refer to the following specific information on conflict of interest related to this assignment: Consultants shall not be hired for any assignment that would be in conflict with their prior or current obligations to other clients, or that may place them in a position of being unable to carry out the assignment in the best interests of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
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 office hours from 9:00 a.m. to 18:00 p.m. Tashkent time.
Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form in English, Russian or Uzbek languages to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by December 30, 2021.
Project Implementation Unit under the
Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Attn: Foziljon Kalandarov, Manager of the Project
Uzbekistan, 100017, Tashkent city, 29, Istiklol St.
Tel: +998907380050
E-mail: piu_mof@mail.ru
As part of the EOI, the consultant should include the following information:
- Consulting Firm Information
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Present the rationale for and benefits of working in association (JV or Sub-consultant) with others rather than undertaking the assignment independently (as appropriate). Describe the proposed management and coordination approach of the association and the role of each firm.
- Technical competence
Project References - highlight the technical qualifications of your entity/consortium in undertaking similar assignments. Provide details of past experiences working with similar project authorities
- Geographical experience
Project References, present experiences in similar geographic areas.
- Management Competence
- Describe standard policies, procedures, and practices that your entity has to assure quality interaction with clients and outputs. Please state if your company is ISO certified.
- How your firm/consortium handles complaints concerning the performance of experts or quality of the reports submitted for previous and future assignments? What internal controls are in place to address and resolve complaints.
- How you ensure the quality of your firm’s/consortium’s performance over the life of assignments.
- Projects references
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- Summary for the Projects listed above
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- Eligibility
We, the undersigned, certify to the best of our knowledge and belief:
- We have read the advertisement, including the terms of reference (TOR), for this assignment (YES/NO)
- Neither the consulting firm nor its JV member or sub-consultant or any of its experts prepared the TOR for this activity (YES/NO)
- We confirm that the project references submitted as part of this EOI accurately reflect the experience of the specified firm/consortium. (YES/NO)
- Ensuing assignment resulting from our work product under this assignment, our firm, JV member or sub-consultant, and the expert(s) will be disqualified from short-listing and participation in the assignment.
- The lead entity and JV member or sub-consultant are NOT currently sanctioned by or other MDBs. Neither the consulting firm nor the JV member or sub-consultant has ever been convicted of an integrity-related offense or crime related to theft, corruption, fraud, collusion or coercion.
TERMS OF REFERENCE
for the selection of a recruitment (headhunting) company to attract foreign independent members to Supervisory Boards of major state-owned companies in the Republic of Uzbekistan.
1. Background information.
In accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. PD-6096 dated October 27, 2020 "On measures to accelerate the reform of enterprises with state participation and the privatization of state assets", the Ministry of Finance was tasked with attracting at least 30% of internationally qualified experts in supervisory boards and at least three senior posts in corporate boards by July 1, 2021 by actively recruiting foreign experts in this field (including compatriots living abroad) to supervisory boards of enterprises on the basis of competitive selection.
In addition, decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. 02/1-193 dated July 12, 2021, approved the commission for the selection of independent members of the Supervisory Board and tasked and the State Assets Management Agency (UzSAMA or Agency) with taking the necessary measures to attract independent members with the help of recruitment companies.
The Ministry of Finance (MOF) and the State Asset Management Agency intends to engage a recruitment company to attract foreign independent members to Supervisory Boards of large state-owned companies (list attached).
2. Objectives.
The objective of this assignment is to source and assist in selection of highly qualified candidates for positions of independent directors at Supervisory Boards of companies with state participation.
An internationally recognized recruitment (headhunting) company will be selected to achieve the objectives of this assignment.
The main sub-tasks of this assignment are:
- research and analyze each company’s business and sector specifics, supervisory board regulations and practices, and current composition of supervisory board and senior management to understand their combined skills set and competencies as a collective decision-making body;
- determine the requirements and professional profile of prospective independent supervisory board and executive management candidate/candidates for each company, in line with the current legislation and job description to be provided by UzSAMA;
- advise MOF and UzSAMA on the range of competitive remuneration and other conditions for recruiting independent supervisory board members, based on necessary analysis of compensation market comparators for prospective candidates;
- search, screen and assist in selecting candidates meeting the established professional and financial criteria for supervisory boards of companies with state participation.
3. Scope of work.
The implementation of these Terms of Reference (hereinafter TOR) is foreseen for 6 months, with an option to extend at no additional cost. The activities of the ToR will be carried out in the following sequence:
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№ |
Activities |
Timeline* |
Communication type |
Expected outcome |
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1.1 |
Research and analysis of each company’s business and sector specifics, supervisory board regulations and practices, current composition of supervisory board and assessment of their combined skills set and competences as a collective decision-making body |
1 month after signing the contract |
In the field (Uzbekistan)
Remotely (Skype, Zoom) + phone interviews, emails |
Brief report on each company |
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1.2 |
Determine the needs of each company and professional profile of prospective candidates for independent members of their supervisory boards, in line with the current legislation and job description to be provided by UzSAMA |
1 month after signing the contract |
In the field (Uzbekistan)
Remotely (Skype, Zoom) + phone interviews, email |
Drafted terms of reference for each company |
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1.3 |
Develop and agree with MOF and UzSAMA terms of reference, detailed criteria, and requirements for prospective candidates |
2 month after signing the contract |
In the field (Uzbekistan)
Remotely (Skype, Zoom) + phone interviews, email |
Final terms of reference for each company and position |
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1.4 |
Analyze market comparators for similar job profiles and advise MOF and UzSAMA on the range of competitive remuneration and other conditions appropriate for prospective positions as an independent supervisory board members |
2 months after signing the contract |
In the field (Uzbekistan)
Remotely (Skype, Zoom) + phone interviews, email |
Brief report on each company |
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1.5 |
Source prospective candidates in line with the agreed, finalized terms of reference, from own database of candidates and tailored job advertisements
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3 months after signing the contract |
In the field (Uzbekistan)
Remotely (Skype, Zoom) + phone interviews, email |
Long list of candidates |
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1.6 |
Perform initial screening through evaluation of academic background and professional experience, in line with the final terms of reference. Produce short list of prospective candidates |
4 months after signing the contract |
In the field (Uzbekistan)
Remotely (Skype, Zoom) + phone interviews, email |
Short (recommended) list of at least 2 candidates per vacant position, to be accompanied by candidates’ CVs and screening report in tabular format |
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1.7 |
Arrange and attend interviews, jointly with the interview panel led by MOF and UzSAMA and including representatives of other working group members. Document the interview results |
5 months after signing the contract |
In the field (Uzbekistan)
Remotely (Skype, Zoom) + phone interviews, email |
Evaluation summary of candidate interviews |
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1.8 |
Manage response handling for both successful and unsuccessful candidates |
By contract closing |
In the field (Uzbekistan)
Remotely (Skype, Zoom) + phone interviews, email |
Final contract report, including summary of all tasks completed, candidates interviewed, and final decisions taken by UzSAMA |
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1.9 |
Create a human resources pool of top-100 candidates for positions of Supervisory Boards and executive management. |
By contract closing |
In the field (Uzbekistan)
Remotely (Skype, Zoom) + phone interviews, email |
Database created and operational for MOF and UzSAMA . |
4. Expected result.
Shortlist of at least 2 candidates selected for each position on the supervisory boards of 38 large companies with state shares.
Provide full support to MOF and Agency during the interview process and finalization of candidates’ selection.
5. Qualification requirements for a recruitment company.
- At least 10 years’ successful proven experience in providing executive level recruitment services to supervisory boards and senior management positions.
- Experience in similar projects in Eurasian countries in the last 10 years (including Latvia, Estonia and etc.)
- At least 10 successful recruitment projects (contracts) with a large companies or government entities for supervisory boards or senior management level positions in the last 10 years.
Have a team with the following minimum qualification requirements:
- Project manager with high educational degree (Master’s Degree is an advantage) and with at least 5 years’ experience of implementing similar projects; in-depth knowledge of researching and analyzing, developing regulatory and methodological documents in the field of recruitment (headhunting); and fluency in Russian (English is advantage).
- Two project experts with high educational degree (Master’s Degree is an advantage) and with at least 3 years’ experience of implementing similar projects; experience in developing terms of reference, criteria, and requirements for prospective candidates including regulatory and methodological documents in the field of recruitment (headhunting); one with fluency in English and Russian.
- One project expert with high educational degree (Master’s Degree is an advantage) and with at least 3 years’ experience in evaluation of academic background and professional experience, in line with the final terms of reference including short listing of prospective candidates.
- One project expert with high educational degree (Master’s Degree is an advantage) with at least 3 years’ experience in organizing interviews and documenting interview results; and knowledge of English and Russian.
6. Duration of the contract.
The duration of the contract is 6 months from the date of its signing. The contract may be extended at no cost if circumstances will require or adversely affect the implementation of the contract (e.g. epidemiological situation).
7. Resources provided (by public authorities).
MOF and UzSAMA will establishment a working group of specialists (state authorities, companies) to liaise with the company in the implementation of this ToR.
8. Funding conditions for services:
This contract will be financed by the World Bank’s Loan under Institutional Capacity Building Project.
The consultant shall report to the MOF and Agency and is accountable to the Agency in accordance with the Work Plan by submitting reports and completing of tasks of the ToR.
The communication between the Consultant and the Agency, as well as the Bank shall be conducted through the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) under the Ministry of Finance and the Agency. In doing so, the consultant shall:
1. Timely submission of the developed materials mentioned in ToRs;
2. Provide brief progress reports within two weeks after the reporting period;
3. Develop the final project report in a format acceptable to the World Bank, MOF and UzSAMA within one month of project completion.
All plans/reports should be written in Russian and English and emailed to the World Bank, UzSAMA and PIU.