Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

Office of the Project Director

Customs Modernization and Infrastructure Development Project

Under Accelerating Transport and Trade Connectivity in Eastern South Asia

(ACCESS) – Bangladesh Phase 1 Project

Room No. 403, Custom House, Dhaka

Kurmitola, Dhaka-1229.

E-mail: cmid.nbr@gmail.com

 

 Reference No:08.01.0000.104.14.037.24-281                                                         Date: January 12, 2025.

Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI)

(Consultancy Services for Tariff Modernization – Firms Selection)

Accelerating Transport and Trade Connectivity in Eastern South Asia

(ACCESS) – Bangladesh Phase 1 Project

 

 Assignment Title:  Tariff Modernization: Consultancy Services for Tariff Policy Analysis and Formulation of Implementation Plan, Valuation and Scoping Assessment for ASYCUDA/NSW/ARMS-backed software development for Tariff Analysis, Accelerating Transport and Trade Connectivity in Eastern South Asia – Bangladesh Phase 1 Project.

 Reference Number: SD-04

 The National Board of Revenue (NBR), Ministry of Finance, Government of Bangladesh has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Accelerating Transport and Trade Connectivity in Eastern South Asia - Bangladesh Phase 1 Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The key objectives of the Consultant services (i.e., the Services) are as follows:

• To facilitate NBR to reduce NPR by 20% by the end of 8th FYP.
• To develop scenario papers with assessment of current tariff and related policies, gap analysis when compared to international best practices.
• Policy analysis and formulation of national tariff policy implementation plan including developing scenario papers on tariff revenue simulation.
• To develop a core group of officials who will be specialized in Tariff Policy Analysis including Trade Reform Impact Simulation Tool (TRIST) and guide NBR on future implementation plans.
• To conduct a scoping assessment for ASYCUDA/NSW/ARMS-backed software development for tariff analysis building on available software (e.g. World Bank TRIST, WITS etc.). and develop software requirements specification (SRS) document.
• To streamline Customs procedures and ensure accurate determination of transaction prices for goods valued under the valuation agreement, while prohibiting the use of arbitrary or fictitious Customs values.

The assignment is expected to start from February 2025.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be found at the following website: (www.nbr.gov.bd).

NBR now invites eligible Consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in prescribed Format attached herewith as FORM-A in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.

The short-listing criteria are:

• General Experience of the Firm (core business and years in business),
• Experience and competence to carry out all activities referred to within this REOI and TOR.
• Working experience in development partner funded projects will be an added advantage.

The CV of 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 Incorporation/Trade/registration documents from the country of the firm (ii) Firm’s brochures; and (iii) description of similar consultancy 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 III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” July 2016 [Revised November 2017, August 2018, November 2020 and September 2023] (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

A consulting firm 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 to associate with any other firm(s), whether foreign or local. Alternatively, if consultants themselves choose to associate to enhance their qualifications and capability for the assignment, then such associations may be as a Joint Venture (i.e. all members of the joint venture shall be jointly and severally responsible).  In case of an association, the Consultants 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 for carrying out the assignment, to justify the proposed inclusion of the JV members in the association. Failure to provide the above explanation in the Expression of Interest may risk the association not being shortlisted for the assignment.  

If shortlisted, Consultants will still have opportunity at the subsequent proposal preparation stage to further enhance their expertise for the assignment by associating with non-shortlisted consultants in the form of a Joint Venture.  In all such cases a shortlisted Consultant must obtain the written approval of the Client prior to the submission of the Proposal, for which the shortlisted Consultant 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, the shortlisted Consultant shall be a lead member.   However, Instruction to Consultant (ITC) clauses of RFP will prevail in regard to association with non-shortlisted firm during proposal preparation stage.

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. 09:00 to 16:00 hours (GMT+06:00).

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address provided in the letterhead (in person, or by mail, or by fax, or by e-mail) by February 5, 2025, 15:00 Hours Local Time (GMT+06:00).

 

Md Fakrul Amin Choudhury

Deputy Project Director

Customs Modernization and Infrastructure Development (CMID) Project

Room No. 403, Custom House, Dhaka

Kurmitola, Dhaka-1229

E-mail: cmid.nbr@gmail.com

On behalf of Project Director.

 

 

FORM-A

Prescribed Format for Submission of Expression of Interest (EOI)

(Same form to be completed by each member of JV)

Package No: SD-04

 Title of Service: Tariff Modernization: Consultancy Services for Tariff Policy Analysis and Formulation of Implementation Plan, Valuation and Scoping Assessment for ASYCUDA/NSW/ARMS-backed software development for Tariff Analysis, Accelerating Transport and Trade Connectivity in Eastern South Asia – Bangladesh Phase 1 Project, Accelerating Transport and Trade Connectivity in Eastern South Asia – Bangladesh Phase 1 Project.

 

1. Letter of Submission [ Addressing the Project Director, CMID, NBR]
2. General Experience of the Firm:

   (Year of Establishment as per Registration Certificate)

(Necessary Attachment: Company/Firm’s Registration Certificate)

3.Legal Establishment of the Firm                     :

1. TIN Number
2. VAT Registration Number
3. Trade License Number

(Necessary Attachment: TIN Certificate, VAT Registration Certificate, Valid Trade License )

4.Firm/Company Background (General Information)                :

 (Necessary Attachment: Brochure etc.)

5.Financial Capacity of the Firm (Turnover of Last 3 years)

2024-25 (Up to Present):

2023-24:

2022-23:

(Necessary Attachment: Payment received certificate/Audit Report)

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. Experience of the Firm in similar Nature Assignments in last 10 years)

Project Name	Title/Description of Service	Type of Service	Name and Address of the Client	Service Duration (Start and End dates)	Value of Service			Man-Month Input
					Total value	Number of Partners (if any)	Value of Service provided by the Firm)	Firm’s Input	Partners’ Input

 

(Necessary Attachment: Detailed description of mentioned Similar Nature Assignments done by the Firm separately)

 

7. Available Key Professionals to carry out the Assignment:

SN	Name of Key Professionals	Position held in the Firm	Educational Qualification	Total Years of Experience	Years of Experience in Relevant Field	Number of Years of Firm’s Employee

  

8. Staffing and Logistics of the Firm:

 List of Total Managerial Staffs     :

1. Logistics of the Firm                                                          :a. Office Space (Area, No. of Floors etc.) b. No. of Support Staffs. c. Description of Important Office Equipment.