Digital Republic of the Marshall Islands Project

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(FIRM CONSULTING SERVICES)

Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI)

Digital RMI Project - P171517

Assignment Title: Digital Transformation Implementation

Reference No.: MH-DIDA-476797-CS-QBS

The Government of the Marshall Islands (RMI) has received financing from the World Bank to establish, develop and deliver digital transformation to facilitate access to online government and private sector services. 

The Government has recently contracted a consultant to firm to deliver:

1. An assessment and analysis of the current state of the RMI ICT ecosystem focusing on 4 areas:
   • the RMI Government systems that cloud services can replace
   • the RMI Government data landscape
   • the RMI Government identification and verification datasets; and
   • the existing RMI payments infrastructure (public and private sector);
2. A future state roadmap and cost forecast for the proposed ecosystem for the RMI Government (for areas a, b, and b), and in respect of area d above the broader public and private sector; and
3. An implementation and migration plan, including support and operations plan for the new services, defining any new support frameworks or processes required for operational support including capacity building and training.

Government now has an agreed Digital RMI Future State Roadmap and has a multi-year timeline to implement the key enablers to commence an economy wide digital transformation. The RMI Government now seeks a suitably qualified firm to implement Stage One of this plan. 

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be found at the following link:  https://digitalrmi.com/opportunities  or supplied on request to the Project Officer galbert@digitalrmi.com

Division of International Development Assistance (DIDA) now invites eligible 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. Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage.

Shortlisted firms will be provided the 2024 as-is report and the 2024 future state roadmap as well as the Government’s implementation plan to use as the key basis of responding to a Request for Proposal as part of a Quality based selection (QBS), two envelope process. The expected duration is 18 months and as a lump sum contract.

Firms will be shortlisted based on meeting the shortlisting criteria and then evaluated based on the Desirable Criteria outlined in the TORs.

The ‘shortlisting’ criteria is:

1. Recent[1] experience in advising the Government of one or more small island developing states[2] (SIDS) on one or more of the following: 
   • an assessment of its current digital environment, maturity and status; 
   • advising on its future digital roadmap and development; 
   • developing an implementation program for digital change in the state’s Government; or
   • implementing digital change in the Government.
2. Prior experience in successfully deploying Microsoft solutions (MS365, Exchange and Azure) in at least one country across organizations in Government using the Microsoft deployment methodologies and toolset.
3. Experience in designing and undertaking a consultation process to identify government business requirements and translating this into technical and commercial outcomes with stakeholders.
4.  Understanding of the principles of digitization through the Microsoft set of technologies and its implications on all the following competencies.
   • Data protection & privacy
   • Cybersecurity
   • E-Government Service
   • Citizen Services 
5. Relevant commercial experience in advising and developing enterprise cross-government Microsoft licensing agreements with a deep understanding of the design of all-of-government licensing operating models
6. Advanced knowledge of digital ID systems for online transactions, including of emerging technologies related to federated and decentralized ID schemes.
7. Practical knowledge and understanding of legal and ethical aspects of information technology.
8. Demonstrated experience in evaluating security issues and concerns and implementing practical solutions. 
9. Knowledge of payments infrastructure in both public and private sectors, and knowledge of the development and implementation of Digital Payment processes.
10. Demonstrated Data analysis and optimization for government's data landscape to drive efficiency and contribute effectively to the digital transformation initiative
11. The project, Change, Governance, Training and technical capability to deliver an end-to-end outcome as a supplier

2. The firm must also be able to demonstrate the following Technical Capability:

1. Microsoft Gold Partner status or similar, with specialization in Microsoft 365, Exchange and Azure
2. Experience in delivering complex projects in the Government sectors, specifically Microsoft 365, Exchange and Azure platforms
3. Demonstrable capability in delivering end-to-end architecture, design and project implementation services across multiple government agencies or equivalent businesses on the Microsoft platforms, including the provision of Government-level cybersecurity architecture and technical controls in a secure Microsoft environment

Firms that meet the above Mandatory Requirements will also be evaluated based on the following desirable requirements. Firms will get a higher consideration in demonstrating the relevant breadth or depth of their experience in relation to each of the desirable requirements

The Consultant 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.

Expressions of Interest must address the requirements indicated and must not be longer than 30 pages.

Only shortlisted Consultants will be invited to submit technical and financial proposals in accordance with the Quality Based Selection (QBS) method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 3.14, 3.16 and 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers dated February 2025  (“the Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. 

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by e-mail) by no later than 5pm April 17, 2024 (RMI time).

Amata Kabua II

Digital Unit Director,

Digital RMI

amata@digitalrmi.com

cc to: 

Mike Lott, Project Manager , mike@digitalrmi.com ; and 

Galbert Robert, Project Officer, galbert@digitalrmi.com

[1] Recent experience means the relevant work was completed no earlier than 28 February 2022. 

[2] SIDS means any of the 39 small island developing states listed on the UN small island developing state list at this URL  https://www.un.org/ohrlls/content/list-sids

[3] Recent experience means the relevant work was completed no earlier than 28 February 2022.  

[4] Small Pacific Island state means a pacific island nation with a population of less than 150,000