Provision of consultancy services for public-private partnerships — East African Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP)

EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES - FIRMS SELECTION)

REF NO: TZ-EAC-385061-CS-QCBS

East African Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP)

Project ID No/Loan No./Credit No./ Grant No.: (P176181)

Date of Issue: 2nd April 2025

CONSULTANCY SERVICES TO UNDERTAKE THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLICY AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK TO ELIMINATE BARRIERS AND ENHANCE THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT FOR PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE EAC REGION

The East African Community has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP) and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (the Services’) include the development of a regional policy and regulatory framework to eliminate barriers and enhance the business environment for private sector investment in telecommunications infrastructure in the region. The assignment is expected to last 42 weeks. The scope includes reviews of existing policies, legal advisory, stakeholder engagement, capacity building, formulation of a monitoring mechanism and policy drafting.

The specific objective of the assignment is to develop a robust and harmonized policy and regulatory framework that systematically eliminates barriers and strengthens the business environment for private sector investment in telecommunications infrastructure while ensuring long-term sustainability and regional digital integration.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be found at the following website: https://www.eac.int/opportunities/consultancies

The EAC Secretariat 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 described.

The shortlisting criterion is as follows:

• Firm’s Existence: The firm must have been legally registered and in operation for at least five (5) years before the tender closing date, with verifiable proof.

• Experience: The firm must provide evidence of successfully completing at least two (2) similar or related consultancies in the last five (5) years, including project descriptions, client details, duration and reference letters, if available.

• Technical Expertise: Demonstrated experience in PPPs, telecommunications policy, investment models and regulatory frameworks that promote private sector participation in the digital infrastructure sector.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Experience working with both public and private sector stakeholders in telecommunications infrastructure planning, regulatory harmonization and PPP structuring.

• Regional Experience: Proven experience in multi country context within Eastern Africa, Horn of Africa or comparable regional integration projects, particularly in digital policy harmonization and investment facilitation.

• Organizational and Staffing Capability: The firm must demonstrate a clear structure, managerial capacity and the ability to deploy qualified personnel.

Interested Consultants’ attention 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, revised September 2023), which outline the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications but must clearly indicate whether the association is in the form of a joint venture (JV) or a sub-consultancy. In the case of a joint venture (JV), all partners shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract if selected. Therefore, each JV member must independently meet the evaluation criteria requirements. The experience, technical capability, and managerial capability of a sub-consultant shall not be considered to enhance the qualifications of the lead firm or JV.

A Consultant will be selected using the Quality and Cost-Based Selection (QCBS) method as outlined in the Procurement Regulations.

Further information may be obtained at the address below during office hours (9:00AM to 5:00 PM EAT). The consultants would be responsible for ensuring that any addendum available on the website is also downloaded and incorporated.

Expressions of Interest must be submitted in English (one original and two copies, where applicable) in written form, either in person or via email, to the address below. The submission deadline is Thursday, 17th April 2025, at 11:00 AM (EAT). The subject line should be: "PPP Policy Framework for Telecommunications Infrastructure in the EAC."

The Secretary General

Attn: EARDIP

East African Community (EAC) Headquarters

P.O. Box 1096

Arusha, Tanzania

Tel: +255-27-2162100

Fax: +255-27-2162199

Email: [email protected], Cc: [email protected]