TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR) AND THE REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST [REOI]

Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT)

TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR) AND THE REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST [REOI]  

(Selection of Consultancy Firm for Conducting Impact Assessment on the ICTDP project implemented under the World Bank fund through MCIT)

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 the Impact assessment on the ICTDP project implemented under the World Bank fund through MCIT as described in this TOR.

The Impact assessment (“the Services”) include Impact assessment of Development of ICT Skills for Private and Public Sectors, Innovations Culture in the Country by giving out Awards for Innovative Ideas and Solutions,  Incubator Management Program to ensure that 20 new Business Entities graduate into their own Businesses during the Project’s Life Cycle, Capacity Building, Training of MCIT Staff, Framing up of Policies and Regulations and other Consultancy Supports for strengthening of Departmental Functions of MCIT and ATRA.

The Consultants will be short-listed by MCIT under this TOR and the highly qualified short-listed Firm will be issued with RFP; Based on the RFP, the selected Firm will be requested to submit Technical and Financial Proposals and thereafter, final selection will be made by the Evaluation Committee of MCIT.

Objectives of the Assignment:

Under the project, Assignment Support has been planned to carry out assessment for:

·         Development of ICT Skills for Private and Public Sectors

• Development of Innovations Culture in the Country by giving out Awards for Innovative Ideas and Solutions
• Incubator Management Program to ensure that 20 new Business Entities graduate into their own Businesses during the Project’s Life Cycle
• Capacity Building and Training of MCIT Staff
• Framing up of Policies and Regulations and other Consultancy Supports for strengthening of  Departmental Functions of MCIT and ATRA

Scope of Work and Tasks:

Scope of the Work and the Tasks of the Firm will be as under:-

• Conduct assessment to determine overall impact of the ICTDP on its progress, effect, challenges and way forward, which is based on the indicators and the factors that account for the changes in similar projects.
• Analyze relevant data and background information, undertake assessment and prepare report on the impact of success or failure
• Create a sample frame for focus group discussions lists of well informed persons such as Incubator Graduates, ICT Training graduates, Capacity Building beneficiaries, Award winners and other project beneficiaries from private sector and MCIT.
• Scoping to identify which potential impacts are relevant to assess based on requirements, to identify alternative solutions that avoid, mitigate or compensate adverse impacts on the project different parts.
• Assessment and evaluation of impacts and development of alternatives, to predict and identify the likely ICT development impacts of a proposed project or development including the detailed elaboration of alternatives.
• Produce analysis reports on the findings of the assessment based on the analysis of the indicators.

·         The firm should assess whether the ICTDP Project Development Objectives (PDO) and the indicators are achieved. In addition, the firm should check the overall impact assessment of this project on creation of jobs, in improving the connectivity and mobile applications.

Payment Structure and the Deliverables:

Payments will be made as per the following:-

Total payment will be made to the Consultant, within 30 days from date of formal approval by the Chairman of PICU of the Invoice, Activity Sheet and brief Report with each Invoice, all to be submitted both in English and Dari/Pashtu languages. Formats will be provided by the Project Director of ICTDP Project of MCIT. Tax will be deducted as per Afghanistan tax law at source.

The following deliverables to be submitted to the MCIT:

• Create a sample frame for focus group discussions

·         Produce analyzed reports on the findings of the assessment based on the analysis of the indicators. Finalized report on all the tasks as given in the scope of work for this assignment should stand alone, without the reader needing to refer other documents.

·         All the reports (3 copies printed and signed + soft copies in CDs) should be submitted to: One set to the Director of Procurement Department, One set to PMO – WB funded project and one set to the Chairman of PICU-MCIT.

·         Other deliverables: these include weekly and monthly briefings to the head of PMO

Qualification and Experience Requirements and the Short-listing Criteria:

i)                    The Consultancy Firm should have at least 3 years of experience in Impact Assessment of projects;

ii)                  Firm should have successfully completed at least one contract of similar nature.

iii)                The Firm should have valid License for transacting such business in Afghanistan(AISA)

Facilities to be given by MCIT:

The following facilities and support will be provided to the Consultant by the client (MCIT):

                        Relevant background documents;

                        Facilitation and arrangement for meetings with relevant stakeholders and partners;

Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) by MCIT:

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) now invites eligible Consultancy Firms to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested Consultancy Firms must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (Brochures, CVs, giving description of their Qualifications, Experience, similar assignments done earlier, experience in similar conditions and availability of appropriate skills etc.).

A Consultancy Firm will be selected in accordance with the procedures set out in the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers (January, 2011 edition).

For further details, Interested Consultants are requested to obtain further information (if required) at the address given below, during office hours from 0800 to 1600 hours:

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

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 may also be addressed to the above mentioned email address (fpd@mcit.gov.af), with CC to: pmo@mcit.gov.af; pmo.mcit@hotmail.com.

Expressions of interest (02 Sets of all the Documents) including detailed Brochures, Resumes and other related Documents must be delivered as signed and printed documents to the following Address by 15th May, 2017—before 2.00 PM Kabul time: