REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

Project name: STRENGTHENING FISCAL AND FINANCIAL STABILITY PROJECT

Credit No. 6084-MN; 6085-MN 

Assignment title: Consulting firm to conduct a historical analysis on public investments in Mongolia,

create an information database, and produce a digital book on the main findings(Ref no. B4/CS/024)

TERM OF REFERENCE

A. BACKGROUND

Mongolia received a credit from the International Development Association (IDA) for the Strengthening Fiscal and Financial Stability Project (SFFSP). The Objective of the SFFSP 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.

Subcomponent B4 of the project aims to strengthen Public Investment Management (PIM) in Mongolia by supporting the Public Investment Department (PID) of the Ministry of Finance (MOF) in developing the required guidelines and methodology for enhanced investment project planning, pre-screening, appraisal, quality review, selection/prioritization, and budgeting processes. It also aims to support the development of a rationalization methodology to identify and restructure underperforming projects; as well as building the relevant technical capacity within the MOF and the line ministries on PIM procedures.

The MOF is currently responsible for overall coordination and results monitoring in the implementation of public investment projects financed through the state budget. Specifically, the PID of the MOF is in charge of developing project plans, policies, and legal provisions exclusively devoted to strengthening the administration and organization of public investments under its remit; taking care of completing the ongoing tasks; identifying priority investments in line with the national and regional development policies; conducting studies on needs assessment and sources of financing for public investments.

Within the context above, in order to support implementation and rollout of the new PIM methodologies, and in this regard to promote transparency of the public investment projects, the PID of MOF initiated an effort to put in place a public information database and a historical data analysis on all public investment projects that have been implemented in the country. Improving transparency of budget investments and historical data will contribute to better cost estimation and budget planning for new investment projects, strengthening the reliability of appraisals and more strategic use of public investments at all levels of government.

B. OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT  

The main objective of this assignment is to conduct a historical analysis on capital investment projects financed from the budget in all aimags, cities including the capital city starting from the year 2005; create an information database by sector, develop a digital book on the main findings, and produce a version of the digital book for print in an effort to promote transparency on the outcomes of the public investment projects.

C. SCOPE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The consulting firm will collaborate with the relevant specialists and national consultants at the PID, MOF and perform the tasks outlined below:

Task 1: Planning and preparation stage

i. Develop a project implementation plan outlining the approach and methodology for the assignment and the data to be collected to be agreed with the PID; 

ii. Study the current business processes and the relevant data currently used by the PID of MOF, line ministries, government agencies and other relevant stakeholders in PIM;

iii. Study the existing materials and historical data available on public investment projects and obtain the additional required data for the assignment from relevant authorities in consultation with the PID;

iv. Conduct an analysis and produce a historical data repository in consultation with  the PID to be used in the digital book;

v. Compare other similar publications to study the diversity in technical language and terminology;

vi. Collect real life photos of completed capital investments (on-site visits to specific aimags and cities with larger capital investments, as indicated by the PID) to be included in the digital book; and

vii. Provide inputs to the monthly progress reports of the SFFS project with regards to this particular assignment.  

Task 2: Data compilation and content development stage

i. Identify the specific content and requirements for the digital book and its print version;

ii. Select data and information to be included in the digital book and its print version including, but not limited to, the following topics:

• Greeting and preface

• Background on the project of historical compilation of public invesments in Mongolia (include photos)

• Brief history of public investments in Mongolia e.g. how and where it started

• Chronology of the public investments in Mongolia and the legal environment

• Public investment in quantitative terms

• Completed capital investments, projects implemented in aimags and the capital city (classified by sectors); 

• Public investment and the country’s development;

• Reforms made in recent years in public investment management; and

• International good experiences in public investment management.

iii. Finalize the content and obtain feedback from specialists of the PID; 

iv. Based on the recommendations received agree on the content, design and layout of the digital book and its print version.

Task 3:Digital book design and development stage

i. Develop a draft version of the digital book based on the agreed upon content and design, obtain ideas for improvements for the revised versions of the digital book;

ii. Finalize and publish the digital book by creating a menu feature on the PIMS platform, collaborating with developers who are currently working on the PIMS improvements;

iii. Develop a ready-to-publish text version/PDF of the digital book for printing; and

iv. Other tasks reasonably requested by the department within the overall scope of work.

D. DELIVERABLES:

The firm will deliver following deliverables:

i. Information database, including the historical data analysis of public investment projects, collection of the real life photos of the finished capital investments

ii. First draft of the digital book on the research work conducted, and results obtained in the context of this assignment, 

iii. Final version of the digital book published/deployed on the PIMS platform.

iv. Ready-to-publish text /PDF version of the digital book; and

v. Monthly progress reports.

E. CONSULTING FIRM’S QUALIFICATIONS/ SELECTION CRITERIA

The desired consulting firm or company has to be a legally registered entity with more than 5 years of experience in IT, producing interactive contents. Public sector familiarity and knowledge would be desirable.

The consulting firm should have and mobilize the following specialists for the assignment:

1. Team leader /reviewer - 1 person 

2. Team members- 3 people

When undertaking the assignment, the consulting firm should consider the following:

• Ensure timely fulfillment of the tasks assigned to each of the team members as well as the firm as a whole;

• Ensure coordination among individual team members;

• Combine the outputs and inputs from the team members to submit the deliverables timely to the client.

The individual members of the team to be engaged in the assignment should meet the following qualification requirements:

Team leader/reviewer (one person)

• Education: A suitable candidate members should have an advanced degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, journalism, business or other relevant fields;

• Experience: The candidate should have an experience in IT, producing interactive contents, data analytics. Knowledge of technical terms of finance, economics would be an advantage;

Incumbent should have at least 5 years of relevant professional experience.

• Language proficiency: Candidate with a good English and written Mongolian language skills is required;

• Be proficient in PC-based applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

• Other skkills: 

- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;

- Ability to write, research, proofread and edit for publications;

- Ability to multi-task and meet tight deadlines;

- Proven ability to work both autonomously and cooperatively as part of a team;

- Ability to work with multidisciplinary teams and institutions;

- Responsible and flexible attitude and capacity to manage a variety of tasks with minimal supervision.

Team member– Editor/Content developer (one person)

• Education: The suitable candidates should have an advanced degree in Journalism, Economics, Finance, Communication or other relevant fields; 

• Experience: An experience in editing for publications, data analytics, content development and knowledge of technical terms of finance, economics would be an advantage; 

Incumbent should have at least 5 years of relevant professional experience.

• Language proficiency: Candidate should have excellent written Mongolian language skills;

• Be proficient in PC-based applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Team member – Graphic designer/Photographer (one person)

• Education: The suitable candidates should have an advanced degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, graphic designing or other relevant fields; 

• Experience: An experience in graphic designing, and knowledge of technical terms of finance, economics would be an advantage;

Incumbent should have at least 4 years of relevant professional experience.

• Language proficiency: Candidate should have excellent written Mongolian language skills;

• Be proficient in PC-based applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Team member – Web developer (one person)

• Education: The suitable candidates should have an advanced degree in Computer Science, Information Technology or other relevant fields; 

• Experience: An experience in web development, computer programming and knowledge of technical terms of finance, economics would be an advantage;

Incumbent should have at least 5 years of relevant professional experience;

• Language proficiency: Candidate should have excellent written Mongolian language skills;

• Be proficient in PC-based applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

F. SUPERVISION AND REPORTING

• The consulting firm will report to the DG of the Public Investment Department (PID) of the MOF and work with the staff and consultants of the Department. After the review of the draft report, consulting firm shall make reasonable changes/corrections at the Client's request, at no cost.

G. CONTRACT DURATION AND PAYMENT CONDITION

The consulting service is expected to commence from September 2021. Payments can be released upon acceptance of the deliverables by the Client and the expected completion date is November 2021.

H. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

The PID shall provide documents and materials required. The Client will assign the officials to accept deliverables stated in the contract. The consulting firm shall prepare the necessary equipment for the service.

Please submit the following documents in English via email to procurement@sffs.mn or in a sealed envelope no later than 15:00 PM, August 20, 2021:  

- Letter of Expressions of Interest; 

- Company introduction along with a copy of state registration certificate; 

- Audited financial statements for 2019 and 2020; 

- Implementation Plan and Schedule; and

- Evidence of specific experience and qualification information of the firm relevant to the assignment (Annex I and II). 

Expressions of Interest should be clearly marked “Consulting firm to conduct a historical analysis on public investments in Mongolia, create an information database, and produce a digital book on the main findings with Ref no. B4/CS/024)”. 

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

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. Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours: 8:30 to 17:30 hours (local Ulaanbaatar time) or procurement@sffs.mn.

Address for submission of Expression of Interest: Attention to Ms.Ariunaa.G, Procurement Specialist, Strengthening Fiscal and Financial Stability Project, Address: Room #205, Negdsen undestnii 8/2, 4th khoroo, Chingeltei District, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. 

Tel: 70120582 or via email to: procurement@sffs.mn.

70120582