Engagement of a firm to provide Project Management and Quality Assurance for the Roll-out of the Lesotho National Single Window — Competitiveness a…

Government of Lesotho COMPETITIVENESS And Financial Inclusion project REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (CONSULTING SERVICES- FIRM SELECTION) Country : Lesotho Project Name : Competitiveness and Financial Inclusion Credit No. : P175783- LSO Assignment Title : Project Management and Quality Assurance for the Roll-Out of the Lesotho National Single Window (LNSW) Reference No. : LS-MTI-377117-CS-CQS The Government of Lesotho has received a credit from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank to implement the Lesotho Competitiveness and Financial Inclusion Project.

The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to “increase access to business support services and financial products targeted at MSMEs and entrepreneurs, especially women and youth”. One of the project interventions is the roll-out of the Lesotho National Single Window (LNSW). The LNSW is a web-enabled software application that provides traders with access to a single portal to prepare and submit applications for all necessary regulatory Certificates, Licenses and Permits (CLPs) required for international trade.

The Project Management Unit (PMU) is therefore seeking the services of a Consultancy Firm to provide Project Management and Quality Assurance for the Roll-Out of the LNSW Project (the Services). The firm will be expected to: (i) Project Oversight, to continuously monitor project activities and report on progress of implementation to ensure all deliverables are provided on time and to the quality expected; (ii) Project Coordination including organizing, facilitating, reporting, keeping minutes of and following-up on actions points related to the National Trade Facilitation Committee and others; (iii) Project Engagement, as there will be need for significant engagement during implementation of the LNSW project with involved Other Government Agencies (OGAs) and their clients; (iv) Technical assessment and equipment installation to assist with technical preparedness and computer equipment and internet/connectivity assessment at each OGA site; (v) Procedural assessment and operating procedures update, to work with and assist each OGA to update their standard operating procedures; (vi) Sustainability Planning, to assist Revenue Services Lesotho (RSL) in fully implementing the recommendations of the LNSW Blueprint.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be obtained at the e-mail addresses given below. The Ministry of Trade, Industry, Business Development and Tourism through the PMU now invites eligible firms to indicate their interest in providing the required Services. The shortlisting criteria include: (evidence of registration in the firm’s home country; the firm’s core business; relevant experience; technical and managerial capacity; cost of assignments carried out; experience in similar conditions in the SADC region; and the available experts with experience and qualifications in similar assignments).

Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage. 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” November 2020 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest (paragraph 3.17 of the Procurement Regulations). Consultants may associate with other firms in the form of a joint venture or a sub-consultancy 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. The Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Consultants Qualification Selection (CQS) method set out in the Consultant Guidelines. Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours [08h00 to 16h30 hours local time].

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form, in sealed envelopes labelled "PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND QUALITY ASSURANCE FOR THE ROLL-OUT OF THE LNSW " with the name of the firm on the reverse side of the envelope, to the address below in person or by mail by Friday, 15th September, 2023 at 16h30. Submissions can also be sent to mpotsane@psc.org.ls with a copy to rrapakeng@psc.org.ls as a single attachment. The Project Manager Competitiveness and Financial Inclusion Project 1st Floor ‘Matanki House P.O.

Box 747, Maseru 100 Lesotho Tel.: (+266) 22 315 100 NB: Only shortlisted firms will be contacted.