Time Release Study — Southern Africa Trade and Connectivity Project

MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AND PUBLIC WORKS

SOUTHERN AFRICA TRADE AND CONNECTIVITY PROJECT (P164847)

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)

NAME OF PROJECT: SOUTHERN AFRICA TRADE AND CONNECTIVITY PROJECT (P164847)

Credit No: 6870-MW

Grant No: D804-MW

Assignment Title: PROCUREMENT OF CONSULTANCY SERVICES TO CARRY OUT A TIME RELEASE STUDY “PLUS” (TRS+)

Reference No.: MW-MTPW-548706-CS-QCBS

Date of issue: 19th May, 2026

BACKGROUND

• The Government of Malawi (GoM) has obtained a credit and grant from the International Development Association (IDA) under the Southern Africa Trade and Connectivity Project (Project) to support efforts to reduce trade costs and time, increase access to improved infrastructure, and increase value chain development in targeted corridors of Malawi and Mozambique, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

• The consulting services (“the Services”) include the time release study “plus” (TRS+) to

•

• Provide statistically robust and comparable measurements of the time taken by Malawi and Mozambique to process the defined scope of administrative processes, building on the findings of previous Time Release Studies, and covering both end-to-end processing times and disaggregated sub-processing times.

• Analyse customs and border procedures and controls governing the cross-border movement of goods, including LPCO processes, with a view to identifying operational bottlenecks and inefficiencies.

• Formulate evidence-based, targeted and actionable recommendations aligned with international best practices to reduce costs and improve efficiency, and maintain regulatory compliance.

• Assess progress in implementing recommendations from previous TRS/TRS+ studies conducted in Malawi and Mozambique, identifying areas of improvement, stagnation, or regression.

• Build the technical capacity of the TRS Working Group to independently design and implement similar studies in the future, ensuring active participation across all stages of the assignment.

The assignment is for a period of 26 weeks and it is expected to commence in July, 2026.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be obtained at the website and address given below.

• The Ministry of Transport and Public Works 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. The shortlisting criteria are:

a) Core business of the firm(s) and years in business;

b) Relevant similar experience, which should specifically include the below:

• Substantial and proven experience in the design, implementation and management of Time Release Studies (TRS) and/or Time Release Study Plus (TRS+), conducted in accordance with the World Customs Organization (WCO) methodology.

• Specific experience in follow-on or repeat TRS/TRS+ exercises, including comparative analysis over time and assessment of the impact of customs and border management reforms.

• Trade facilitation diagnostics and performance measurement.

• Customs and border management reform, including coordinated border management and automation.

• Multi-agency and public-private stakeholder engagement.

• Delivery of statistically robust analytical studies to government authorities and development partners.

• demonstrated experience conducting TRS/TRS+ in Sub-Saharan Africa or comparable developing country contexts will be given preference.

c) Technical and Managerial capability of the firm. (Provide only the structure of the organization, general qualifications and experience, and number of key staff. Do not provide detailed CV of the staff. 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” dated September 2025 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

Consultants 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.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality Cost Based Selection (QCBS) method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours from 07:30 to 16:30 hours, local time.

• Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by fax, or by e-mail) by 2nd June, 2026.

The Chairman,

Internal Procurement and Disposal of Assets Committee,

Ministry Of Transport and Public Works,

Attn: Project Manager,

Southern Africa Trade and Connectivity Project

Capital Hill,

Private Bag 322,

Lilongwe 3, Malawi.

Tel: +265 999510795

Fax: +265 1 750 307

E-mail: [email protected] CC: [email protected]

Website: www.satcp.mw