REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (CONSULTING SERVICES– FIRMS SELECTION)

Country: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan; Ministry of Communications and IT;

Name of the Project: Afghanistan ICT Sector Development Project;

Project ID: P121755;

Grant No: IDA-665-AF;

Assignment Title:Consultancy Services by a Firm for Incubator Management

Reference Number: Consultancy Package C 3.5

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has received financing from the World Bank towards the cost of the ICT Sector Development Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds for these consulting services to manage the Incubator Program of MCIT.

The Consultancy Services (“the Services”) include Management ofIncubator by a Qualified Firm, under overall directions of Director General of ICT Department of MCIT, at Kabul-Afghanistan. The long term aim of the Incubator Management is to lead and manage the establishment and growth of the business Incubator, as a self-sustaining service for new and growing Afghanistan businesses. This requires an entrepreneurial approach and a commitment to helping new and emerging businesses in Afghanistan. 

Objectives of the Consultancy Assignment:

Ministry of Communications and IT (MCIT) of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan seeks to appoint a qualified Incubator Management Firm to lead and manage the establishment and growth of the business Incubator, as a self-sustaining service for new and growing businesses of Afghanistan. Challenging Tasks can be accomplished through an entrepreneurial approach and a commitment to helping new and emerging businesses. Key responsibilities will include:

1. Engaging the possible clientele of the Incubator  in a rapid assessment of the needed services, to define the Incubator objectives, and to scope out a business plan;
2. Development of the initial business plan of the business Incubator based on a sustainable business model and stated objectives of the Incubator and continual development of the strategies for the Incubator.
3. Leadership in the implementation of the Incubator Program of MCIT, including setting up the management staff complement; financial oversight; operations oversight etc.
4. Management of good incubation practices including the processes for selecting clients; growing client companies through mentoring, business plan development, networking, investment attraction, skills development; and graduating clients.
5. Building and managing strategic stakeholder relationships with private sector, academic sector and the public sector.
6.  Managing and increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of the Incubator support services to improve the growth of the Incubator business enterprises.
7. Working with MCIT to meet the strategic objectives as defined by the Government through follow up analyses and engagement with stakeholders and being accountable for good governance practices.

The objective of the Management Firm should be to create a sustainable operationthat will transition to a stand-alone financially viable operation at the end of the Project funding period.

Staff to be provided by the Incubator Management Firm:

1. The Incubator Manager (IM):  IM of the selected Firm will be a senior professional who will lead the strategic management of the Incubator, implement Incubator growth strategies and policies established by the selected Firm in coordination with DG-ICT of MCIT and manage its day to day operations supported by the IE. He/ She will report to the DG-ICT of MCIT but will work very closely with the Project Director of the Afghanistan ICT Sector Development Project. The IM will be supported by various professionals of the Firm as part of the firm’s management for this consultancy assignment.
2. Incubation Expert (IE): The IEwill be a professional in business development, marketing and mass communications, preferably with experience in the ICT technology areas. IE will work closely with the IM to generate leads and do awareness raising on the Incubator and to enable occupants to move from pre-incubation to incubation stage, and provide information/support for access to legal, marketing, procurement, governance type services, etc. to support incubated firms as they become more advanced in their structure and to assist them to graduate.The expert will design, develop and manage the promotions related activities including design, development and launching of all Incubator related activities.
3. Information and Communications Technology(ICT) Expert: ICT Expert will be qualified information and communications technology professional responsible for providing technical support to the incubated firms and individuals, develop and conduct trainings with the IM and IE, and provide cutting edge information and expertise to the occupants of the Incubator.The Expert maybe a part time position based on the needs of the Incubator Management Firm.
4. Administrative and Finance Expert: He / She will be an accounting and finance professional. He/she will, under the guidance of the IM, undertake the day to day administration and financial management of the Incubator, local staffing, procurement and vendor selection actions as may be required and will prepare all periodic financial reports and submit the same to the PMO of ICT Sector Development Project of MCIT.

Qualification Requirements of the Incubator Management Consulting Firm:

The Firm for Incubator Management should be headed by a highly-qualified senior professional, supported by trained and competent staff of individuals as part of the overall management contract. Major Qualifications/Experience requirements for the Firm are:

1. The firm has proven experience of at least three years in managing all Incubator related activities;
2. The firm has been running business development activities in ICT fields for at least seven years;
3. The consulting Firm should be able to identify specific individuals that will cover all the required functions as required to grow business through Incubator initiatives of MCIT, in accordance with the international best practices and the laws and regulations in effect in Afghanistan.
4. The staff of the Incubator Management consulting Firm should together have a strong capacity to communicate effectively in written and spoken form in English, Dari or Pashtu.
5. The Consulting Firm should have good knowledge of the government and business operations, including procurement and financial rules/ regulations of Afghanistan.
6. The Staff of the Incubator Management Firm should be able to demonstrate the following personal attributes:

• Motivated, highly energetic and self-starters;
• Commercially minded with entrepreneurial approaches;
• Innovative problem solvers, with tenacity to find solutions under trying conditions;
• Visionaries with both flexibility and “out-of-the-box” thinking;
• Determination and tenacity to follow an issue through to resolutions;
• Confident, self-sufficient and results orientated;
• Sincere, trustworthy and capable of networking and building relationships with people;
• Articulate negotiators with excellent communication skills with individuals and groups;
• Excellent interpersonal skills.

Qualification Requirements of the Incubator Management Consulting Firm’s Individual Experts/Staff:

1. The Incubator Manager (IM):The Manager as earmarked by the Firm should be a university graduate either in technology, management or commerce or economics or finance. A post graduate degree or equivalent professional qualifications obtained through certifications and memberships will be preferred. He/ She should have at least 3 years of professional experience in Incubator management, financial management, management or management of competitive businesses. The Manager should have leadership qualities and management skills and the ability to work in a complex working environment. He/ she should have excellent networking abilities and business development capabilities. Incubator Manager should have:

1. Demonstrated understanding of issues relating to entrepreneurship. It will be an advantage for the candidate to have been involved in the management of business Incubator or SME support organization;
2. Entrepreneurial experience in having successfully started and/or run a business;
3. At least 10 years of middle to senior management experience (either in a small, medium or large business). A proven track record of general management must be evident in the career of the candidate, including:

1. Strategic management including demonstration of substantial responsibility for strategic direction setting and implementation.
2. Evidence of business growth resulting from managerial activities.
3. Human resource management( including career development; mentoring and coaching experience);
4. Financial management.
5. Operational management.
6. Understanding of intellectual property issues.

4. Experience in promoting the use of ICT in managing and improving operational efficiency of the Incubator business enterprises;
5. Proven leadership skills and ability to motivate and lead teams;
6.  Evidence of networking ability. It will be an advantage for the candidate to have established networks with the business communities of Afghanistan;
7. Fluency in English and Dari/Pashtu.

2. IncubationExpert (IE):Should be a university graduate in technology, management,with experience in business development/marketing. A post graduate degree or equivalent professional qualifications in Technology/Sales/Marketing/Business Development through certifications and memberships will be preferred.

He/ She will be professional preferably with 05 years of experience in the ICT technology areas. He/ She should be experienced in designing and launching marketing, advertising and mass communication campaigns.

3. Information and Communications Technology Expert (ICT Expert):Should be a university graduate in IT or Electronics and Communications Engineering with specializations in any ICT field. ICT Expert May be available part time based on need and training program schedules.
4. Administrative and Finance Expert:Should be a university graduate in Business Administration or Financial management. He / She will be an accounting and finance professional, with at least 05 years of experience in Administration and Financial Management functions.

The attention of interested Consulting Firms is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants [under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants] by World Bank Borrowers -January, 2011 edition.

To ensure impartiality, the consultant (including his home office, if any) must not, in any way, be affiliated with business entities that are currently providing or are seeking to provide goods or services to the project.

 Consultants may associate with other firms in the form of a joint venture or a sub-consultancy to enhance their qualifications.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the QCBS [Quality and Cost based Selection] method set out in the Consultant Guidelines.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours from 0800 to 1600 hours:

Foreign Procurement Department (FPD) (Attn: Mr. Samimullah Samin)

General Manager for External Procurements;

Procurement Department, Ministry of Communications and IT (MCIT)

Mohammad Jan Khan Watt; Kabul, Afghanistan

Phone: Office: +93 20 210 37 41; Cell: +93 700 222 009;

Email:fpd@mcit.gov.af

Web site: www.mcit.gov.af

Any queries on the assignment may also be addressed to the above mentioned email address (fpd@mcit.gov.af), with CC to mi.bhat@mcit.gov.af and b.hassam@mcit.gov.af, latest one week before the deadline for submission of expression of interest.

Expressions of Interest (EOIs) must be delivered by E-Mails, by 12^thJanuary, 2013, to the addresses as given below:

1. Foreign Procurement Department (FPD) (Attn: Mr. Samimullah Samin)

General Manager for External Procurements

Email:fpd@mcit.gov.af

2. Engineer Baryalai Hassam;

Deputy Minister-Technical; Ministry of Communication and IT;

Email: b.hassam@mcit.gov.af

3.  Mohammad Ismail Bhat; Project Director of World Bank funded ICT Sector Development Project of MCIT ; Email: mi.bhat@mcit.gov.af