A. BACKGROUND

Mongolia received a credit from the International Development Association (IDA) for the Strengthening Fiscal and Financial Stability (SFFS) Project. The Objective of the SFFS Project is to contribute to the Government of Mongolia’s efforts to strengthen fiscal and financial stability and improve the quality of expenditure management. The project is designed with five components: (i) Strengthening Macroeconomic and Fiscal Management; (ii) Improving the Efficiency of Public Financial Management; (iii) Enhancing Financial Sector Stability; (iv) Strengthening the Social Protection System; (v) Project Management and Monitoring. The objectives are to strengthen fiscal responsibility and implement the relevant policy measures; improve fiscal discipline; strengthen the resiliency of the banking system; improve public expenditure quality in social protection; and provide support for Project implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation, including, inter alia, audit arrangements, reporting requirements, procurement and financial management activities, respectively. For more details, please refer to the Project Appraisal Document Report No. PAD2269 .

Within the objectives of the Component B on improving the efficiency of Public Financial Management, there is a sub-component on strengthening the public financial management institutional capacity. Under this sub-component, the MOF seeks to advance the public procurement reforms. 

The regulatory framework for public procurement is generally comprehensive and transparent, makes open competitive procurement the default method of procurement, and provides public disclosure through the public procurement web portal at https://tender.gov.mn/mn/index/. The procurement portal, launched in December 2016, serves as the single access point for the e-procurement system of Mongolia and covers the whole procurement process, from the publication of the procurement notice (if applicable) to the award of the contract to the successful bidder. As per the OECD assessment, by 2018 approximately 90% of all procurement activities that are subject to the Public Procurement Law are handled through the e-procurement system.  

B. OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The objective of this assignment is to support the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and the State procurement agency (SPA) in improving the Mongolian e-procurement system (MEPS) used in public procurement and developing an associated mobile application based on assessing the current system and formulating a comprehensive set of recommendations on inclusion of potential new features that would enable the system to be fully operational and fit for the range of procurement functions. 

C. SCOPE OF WORK

The consultant will perform the following tasks under direct supervision of the Head of the IT division of the SPA:

   1. Review the existing laws and regulations governing Mongolian public procurement;

   2. Assess and analyze all functions of the MEPS against procurement requirements set forth by the laws and regulations to seek to ensure whether all legally required functions are operational in the MEPS and to determine which ones that are not in the MEPS; 

   3. Identify functions that are not fully compliant with the laws and regulations or not included in MEPS;

   4. Prepare comprehensive recommendations to improve the existing functions that are not fully compliant with the laws and regulations, to include new functions, or remove from the MEPS; 

   5. Consult on the recommendations formulated with the relevant officials of the MOF and the SPA for feedback and agreement; 

   6. Undertake the required software development to improve the MEPS based on the agreed-upon recommendations formulated;

   7. Develop a mobile application for the MEPS to increase accessibility by users and the public; 

   8. Support operations and performance of the MEPS during the assignment period; and 

   9. Other tasks assigned by the SPA and the MOF in relation to the assignment.

D. DELIVERABLES   

   • Report on the assessment and analysis of the existing MEPS functions and the relevant laws and regulations governing the public procurement in Mongolia as they pertain to the system operations /1 month/;

   • Report on comprehensive recommendations to improve existing functions or include new functions to the system to make it fully compliant with the relevant laws and regulations /1 month/; 

   • Develop and launch the mobile application /6 months/;

   • Develop message and email notification function on the MEPS /3 months/;

   • Create the linkage between MEPS and court decision database, social insurance database, and others; /6 months/;

   • Monthly report on development progress of the software and the mobile application based on the agreed upon recommendations /monthly/; and  

   • Report on the tasks performed to support operations and performance of the MEPS and the associated mobile application /monthly/.

E. SUPERVISION AND REPORTING

The consultant shall develop a measurable, time-bound and output-oriented detailed work plan for the proposed deliverables to be approved by the MOF and the SPA. In accordance with this work plan, the consultant will work on a day-to-day basis with IT division of the SPA to complete the assignment and report directly to the SPA and the MOF. 

The Head of the Procurement Policy Division, MOF and the Head of the IT division, SPA or their designated officers will meet regularly with the consultant to review progress of the assignment and to resolve any outstanding issues.  

All information provided to the consultants will be regarded as confidential and information shall not be shared with any outside individuals or organizations. 

F. CONTRACT DURATION 

The consultant work is expected to commence in April 2020 with the duration of 16 months. If any task is not completed within the agreed-upon timeline, the consultant should complete the tasks without any additional cost. 

G. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

The SPA will provide an office space and make available all the required information and reports in public procurement to the consultant. The consultant is expected to communicate and coordinate his/her work with the Head of the IT Division, SPA and the Head of the Procurement Policy Division of the Legal Department, MOF or their designated officers. 

H.  CONSULTANT’S QUALIFICATIONS

To be considered eligible, candidates should meet all the eligibility criteria listed below:

    1. Bachelor’s degree in any of the following or relevant disciplines including information technology, and engineering; 

    2. At least 6 years of relevant experience in the software development and coding, of which at least 5 years in development of procurement-related online systems; 

    3. Experience and advanced knowledge of assessing and testing existing software and ability to provide technical recommendations to improve the e-government procurement software (e-GP system); and

    4. Must have intermediate level of knowledge in written and verbal English. 

The consultant will be selected in accordance with INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT SELECTION METHOD, the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers (July 2016).

If you possess the above qualifications, please submit following documents via email to procurement@sffs.mn:

    1. Cover letter indicating why she/he considers her/himself suitable for the position,

    2. Detailed CV highlighting relevant skills/experience,

    3. Copy of diplomas or certificates and,

    4. 2 reference letters from previous last two employers no later than 17:00, April 06, 2020.

The submitted documents will not be returned to the applicants. Please note that incomplete applications would not be considered for evaluation. Only selected candidates will be contacted. Candidates can be interviewed. Detailed terms of reference can be requested from procurement@sffs.mn Contact address: Attn: Ms.Bayarmaa, Procurement Specialist, Strengthening Fiscal and Financial

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