REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – CONSULTANT’S QUALIFICATION-based SELECTION)

Project name: STRENGTHENING FISCAL AND FINANCIAL STABILITY PROJECT

IDA CREDIT#6084-MN; IDA CREDIT#6085-MN

Assignment name: Consulting service to conduct English language training for the staffs at Ministry of Finance (ref no. B32/CS/011)

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: (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 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 .

Subcomponent B3.2 of the SFFS Project aims at strengthening the public financial management institutional capacity as well as improving the functions and operations of the Ministry of Finance (MOF) through, among others, analyzing the current organizational structure of the departments and divisions of the MOF and developing a strategic plan and other relevant documents for the Ministry. The MOF operates as the hub for finance-related coordination within the government and between the government and international partners. Language and communication skills of the staff, therefore, are critical to the organization's success in fulfilling its mandated duties. Last year, under the SFFS Project, the MOF enrolled in English language training 19 staff members in two groups and it was very successful effort. Therefore, the MOF intends to further pursue this priority of strengthening the English language skills of its staff, which would influence their daily functions at the ministry. Accordingly, the MOF is seeking to contract a consulting firm with extensive and proven experience in teaching English to professionals.

 B. OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The objective of the consultancy is to help improve the English language reading, listening, speaking and writing techniques and skills of the MOF staff.

C. SCOPE OF WORK 

The consulting firm or the English language training center shall conduct after work English language training for the MOF staff in accordance with the international teaching and learning quality and standards.

The consulting firm will undertake the tasks including, but not limited to, the following:

   • Conduct an English language proficiency test to identify the proficiency level of participants to assign them into the appropriate groups;

   • Develop tailored training programs together with the detailed lesson plans for each target group;

   • Finalize the tailored training programs and lesson plans with the MOF;

   • Conduct the English language classes in accordance with the agreed program on a weekly basis for each group; the following needs to be fulfilled during the training:

     o Identify the appropriate learning software/tool for each groups and mentor staff in its use;

     o Identify useful online resources and courses for each group and mentor staff in their use;

     o Identify and purchase course materials and literature;

     o Keep a record of participation and inform/consult the MOF management in the case of repetitive staff absence;

     o Ensure that the lessons are planned and delivered in a highly participatory and interactive manner that is responsive to the requests and suggestions of the students;

   • Conduct progress tests on a quarterly basis to measure the advancements, identify challenges and recommend needed actions to overcome such challenges;

   • Organize English proficiency tests at the end of the course and verify satisfactory achievement of the trainees; and

   • Any other related tasks based on the MOF need and agreement.

D. DELIVERABLES 

Deliverable #1: English proficiency level assessment of each staff;

  Deliverable #2: Finalized training programs and lesson plans for each groups;

Deliverable #3: Learning software/tool and course literature identified and purchased;

Deliverable #4: Reports on English classes delivered, individual quarterly evaluation records of each trainee with recommendations; and

Deliverable #5: Final report and individual evaluation records of each trainee with recommendations.

E. CONSULTANT’S QUALIFICATION / SELECTION CRITERIA

The consulting firm should have the following qualifications, at the minimum:

   • At least 5 years of experience in English language training;

   • Qualified instructors and staff; and 

   • Ventilated in-house classrooms or one-on-one training location close to the MOF;

The consulting firm should have the following personnel:

  1. Foreign English teacher (English native speaker); and

  2. National English teachers (2)

Foreign English teacher (Native speaker) should have:

  a) At the minimum, 5 years of professional experience in teaching English and IELTS; 

  b) Strong professional communication and interpersonal skills and ability to transfer knowledge to the MOF staff in an independent, committed and reliable manner; and

  c) Flexibility and ability to adjust to changing circumstances and needs.

National English teachers (2) should have:

  a) At the minimum, 5 years of professional experience in teaching English and IELTS; 

  b) Excellent written and spoken English language skills; 

  c) Strong professional communication and inter-personal skills and able to transfer knowledge to the MOF staff in an independent, committed and reliable manner; and

  d) Flexibility and ability to adjust to changing circumstances and needs.

F. CONTRACT DURATION AND PAYMENT CONDITION

The consultancy is expected to commence in December 2020 with a total duration of 12 months. If any of the task specified is not completed and/or accepted by the Client within the agreed-upon timeline, the consultant shall complete the tasks without any additional cost within an agreed upon timeline.

G. SUPERVISION AND REPORTING 

The  consulting firm will report directly to the Director-General of the Public Administration and Management Department (PAMD) and the Sub-Component Lead, while simultaneously reporting to the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) coordinator.

The PAMD and the PIU of the SFFS Project shall evaluate the consultants’ performance on an output basis and approve invoices for the delivered outputs. 

The consulting firm must prepare and submit interim and final progress reports detailing achievements and, when appropriate, details of any impediments in the execution of the entire assignment as requested and/or scheduled. A detailed work plan for the assignment shall be developed and agreed by the Client at the start of the assignment in order to facilitate timely reviews of progress under the assignment. 

All reports shall be prepared in both English and Mongolian, in electronic and hard formats, and be submitted to the PAMD and the PIU of the SFFS Project.

H. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

The consulting firm will provide the training venue. The client will assign the officials to collaborate and monitor progress towards acceptance of the deliverables stated in the contract. The consultancy shall implement the above tasks under the oversight and guidance and in consultation with officers of the Public Administration Department and in line with the Ministry of Finance's vision, mission, mandate, functions and operational framework and implementation policy.

Please submit the following documents no later than 17:00, December 25, 2020:

   1. Expression of Interest Letter;

   2. Company introduction/profile along with a copy of state registration certificate;

   3. Evidence of specific experience and qualification information of the firm relevant to the assignment (please provide relevant information in the table in Annex I);

   4. Implementation Plan and Schedule;

   5. Proposed consultants’ notarized copy of educational diplomas, certificates, and CVs.

Expressions of Interest should be clearly marked “Consultancy to conduct English language training for the MOF staff, Reference number: (ref no. B32/CS/011)”.

Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Consultant Qualification-based 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

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.