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. The project is designed into five components: (A) Strengthening Macroeconomic and Fiscal Management; (B) Improving the Efficiency of Public Financial Management; (C) Enhancing Financial Sector Stability; (D) Strengthening the Social Protection System; (E) Project Management and Monitoring. For more details, please refer to the Project Appraisal Document Report No. PAD2269 .

Specifically, Subcomponent B2 of the project aims to increase budget comprehensiveness and transparency through better control, reporting and expansion of the government’s integrated financial management information capabilities. The Government of Mongolia has been using FreeBalance software since 2005 as the Government’s Financial Management Information System (GFMIS) i.e. the treasury system. This system is primarily focused on enabling quick settlement of payments and producing budget execution reports. In 2018, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) upgraded the GFMIS to the latest web-based FreeBalance Version 7 (FB v7). There is now an increasing need for the goverment to improve the current way of collecting service fees and to use the system to perform reconciliation and consolidation of budget execution reports. 

The Government maintains bank accounts at commercial banks in order to provide some government services quickly and timely to the citizens. There are legislative arrangements, effective rules and regulations governing opening/closure of accounts at commercial banks for the Government and budget entities. However, there are difficulties encountered in practice when it comes to opening, closing, managing, monitoring, and reporting these accounts despite the existing rules and regulations as assessed by a local consultant engaged under the project.

Furthermore, in order to implement the Integrated Payroll System (IPS) for civil servants supported by the SFFS Project, there is a need to develop an electronic Transaction Verification Directory to confirm electronic transfer authorization. The MOF has assigned the task to develop the electronic Transaction Verification Directory to the IT Center (ITC) of the Custom, Taxation and Finance, a State-Owned Enterprise under the MOF established in 2015. 

B. OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT 

The objective of the assignment is to assist the Treasury Department of the Ministry of Finance (TD, MOF) in implementing an electronic Transaction Verification Directory, a multicurrency system, and a Ministry of Finance’s portal, which is to bring Treasury services to a new level through improved automation and digitization. The desired national consultant will work closely with the Payment and Settlement Division of the Treasury Department in this regard and will provide technical advice in the implementation of the proposed systems, project management, as well as on relevant issues concerning software, hardware, and infrastructure including providing information on the industry’s best practices, latest technologies, up-to-date market analysis, and cost estimates. 

C. SCOPE OF WORK

The main responsibility of the consultant will include implementation, testing, and deployment of the proposed systems, assessment of progress of the overall project activities, advising on how to coordinate and sequence the planned activities, identifying key issues hindering the project implementation, and offering technical options/resolutions upon careful analysis of the associated risks and benefits. 

Key responsibilities under this assignment will include, but not be limited to, the following tasks:

Task 1. Provide technical support in the implementation of the electronic Transaction Verification Directory (e-TVD):

        1.1 Perform the implementation, testing, and deployment of the proposed system; 

        1.2 Assess the progress of the overall project activities related with the e-TVD and advise on how to best coordinate and sequence the activities;

        1.3 Identify critical issues hindering the e-TVD implementation and offer technical and operational solutions upon careful analysis of their associated risks and benefits;

        1.4 Perform a market analysis and pricing of payment systems, hardware, and other IT-related infrastructures; 

        1.5 Monitor implementations of the e-TVD and IT infrastructure contractors and report to the TD and Project Implementation Unit (PIU) if there are necessary actions and corrective measures to be undertaken;

        1.6 Verify testing and pilot-runs of the e-TVD implementations before the system goes live; 

        1.7 Review and provide feedback on the implementation reports of the developer; and

        1.8 Provide support to the MOF on its correspondence with and management of the developer (ITC) to ensure that the development is in accordance with the TOR. 

Task 2. Provide technical support in the implementation of a Treasury Portal:

        2.1 Provide support to selecting a qualified contractor and act as key person to liaise with the contractor;

        2.2 Assess the progress of the overall project activities related with the Portal and advise on how to best coordinate and sequence the activities;

        2.3 Verify testing and pilot-runs of the portal implementations before the actual go-live start of the Portal;

        2.4 Perform a market analysis and pricing of payment systems, hardware, and other IT-related infrastructures; 

        2.5 Identify critical issues hindering the Portal implementation and offer technical and operational solutions upon careful analysis of their associated risks and benefits;

        2.6 Collect local market data and information required for the implementation of the Portal;

        2.7 Monitor implementations of the Portal and IT infrastructure contractors and report to the TD and PIU if there are necessary actions and corrections to be undertaken; and

        2.8 Review the implementation reports of contractors; 

Task 3. Provide technical support on the implementation of a Bank Account Management, Monitoring and Dynamic Reporting System (BAMMDRS) for Government banks accounts:

        3.1 Provide support to selecting a qualified contractor and act as key person to liaise with the contractor;

        3.2 Lead testing, and deployment of the proposed system;

        3.3 Assess the progress of the overall project activities related with the BAMMDRS and advise on how to coordinate best and sequence the activities;

        3.4 Identify critical issues hindering the system implementation and offer technical and operational solutions with careful analysis of their risks and benefits;

        3.5 Collect local market data and information required for the implementation of the system;

        3.6 Monitor implementations of the system and IT infrastructure contractors and report TD and PIU if there are necessary actions and corrections to be undertaken;

        3.7 Verify testing and pilot-runs of BAMMDRS implementations before actual go-live starts of the systems;

        3.8 Review the implementation reports of contractors;

        3.9 Provide support to the MOF on its correspondence with and management of the contractor to ensure that the development is in accordance with the TOR.

Task 4. Provide technical support on the implementation of the web-based GFMIS/FB V7 in the related areas:

        4.1 Analyze error logs in the system and work with the functional administrator and the core system provider to fix the errors and provide support on necessary customization of applications;

        4.2 Prepare a training plan and conduct training with the MOF staff for all functional users of GFMIS /FB V7;

        4.3 Provide support to the MOF on finalization of the GFMIS / FB V7 Blueprint and final handover of the configuration data; 

        4.4 Work in tandem with the other local consultants and the MOF officials to assist in all tasks related to full utilization of the GFMIS /FB V7 and provide technical support on  interfacing the system with other required systems; and

        4.5 Undertake such other tasks related with the system as reasonably requested and/or assigned by the Director General of the TD or Project Coordinator of the SFFSP.

D. DELIVERABLES:

Task 1: Progress and Final reports on Task # 1 including:

        1. Report on the testing, and deployment of the e-TVD system; 

        2. Monitoring periodic reports on the implementation of the e-TVD and IT infrastructure contractors and report to the TD and PIU if there are necessary actions and corrective measures to be undertaken;

        3. Monthly review report and recommendations on the development, if it is in accordance with the TOR;

        4. Testing and pilot-runs report on the e-TVD implementations before the system goes live; and 

        5. Feedback and recommendations on the implementation reports of the developer.

Task 2: Progress and Final reports on Task # 2 including:

        2.1 Monthly progress reports on the overall project activities related with the Portal and recommendations on how to best coordinate and sequence the activities;

        2.2 Reports on testing and pilot-runs of the portal implementations before actual go-live starts of the Portal;

        2.3 A market analysis and pricing of payment systems, hardware, and other IT-related infrastructures; 

        2.4 Periodic reports on the Portal implementation and recommendations on technical and operational solutions upon careful analysis of their associated risks and benefits;

        2.5 Local market data and information required for the implementation of the Portal;

        2.6 Monitoring reports on the implementation of the Portal and IT infrastructure contractors and report to the TD and PIU if there are necessary actions and corrections to be undertaken; and 

        2.7 Recommendations on the implementation reports of contractors.

Task 3: Progress and Final reports on Task # 3 including:

        3.1 Monthly progress reports on the overall project activities related with the BAMMDRS and recommendations on how to best coordinate and sequence the activities;

        3.2 Reports on testing and pilot-runs of the portal implementations before actual go-live starts of the BAMMDRS;

        3.3 Periodic reports on the BAMMDRS implementation and recommendations on technical and operational solutions upon careful analysis of their associated risks and benefits;

        3.4 Local market data and information required for the implementation of the BAMMDRS;

        3.5 Monitoring reports on the implementation of the BAMMDRS and IT infrastructure contractors and report to the TD and PIU if there are necessary actions and corrections to be undertaken; and 

        3.6 Recommendations on the implementation reports of contractors.

Task 4: Progress and Final reports on Task # 4 including:

        1. Reports on the identified error logs and how they were fixed;

        2. Training plan and training materials of GFMIS/FB V7;

        3. Reports on provided support to the MOF on finalization of the GFMIS/FB V7 Blueprint and final handover of the configuration data;

        4. Support provided to the MOF on its correspondence with and management of the developer (FreeBalance), to ensure that development is in accordance with the TOR.

        5. Support provided to the work with Freebalance on the implementation of the GFMIS /FB V7 and its integration with other systems.

Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultant Selection Method set out in the Procurement Regulations: The following is the link to the World Bank’s website: https://policies.worldbank.org/sites/ppf3/PPFDocuments/Forms/DispPage.aspx?docid=083b3f94-a932-4395-a410-834f8bc14f8c

E. CONSULTANT’S QUALIFICATIONS/ SELECTION CRITERIA

      - Education: A suitable candidate should have a bachelor’s degree in relevant field: Information Technology and Computer Science or relevant discipline. Candidate specialized in system and database administration would be an advantage; 

      - Experience: Incumbent should have at least 8 years' relevant professional experience. System Integration and testing experience is essential.

      - Previous experience in a similar capacity of working with the public financial management system would be an advantage.

      - Language skills:  Fluent written and spoken skills in English and Mongolian;

        Other skills: 

            - Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to work in a group and multicultural team environment is required to deal effectively with staff at all levels.

            - Research skill including the retrieval of information from a variety of sources;

            - Previous experience in a similar capacity of working with the Enterprise resource planning /ERP/ system is required. 

            - Be able to work with Microsoft Windows, Unix, and Linux systems.

            - Be able to process documentation.

            - Be able to work overtime if required.

G. CONTRACT DURATION 

The consultancy is expected to commence in October 2020 with the total duration of 12 months with a possible extension period, if necessary.  

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, October 07, 2020.

The submitted documents will not be returned to the applicants. Please be noted that incomplete applications would not be considered for evaluation. Only selected candidate will be contacted.

Address for submission of Expression of Interest: Attention to Ms.Bayarmaa L, Procurement Specialist, Strengthening Fiscal and Financial Stability Project, Address: Room #204, Negdsen undestnii 8/2, 4th khoroo, Chingeltei District, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Tel: 70120582 or via email to: procurement@sffs.mn

70120582