Republic of Tajikistan

Learning Environment – Foundation of Quality Education Project 

Consulting services

Contract No MOES/LEARN/IC/2023-01

 

Position: Procurement specialist 

Issuance date: 30/03/2023

Closing date/time: 14/04/2023

 

BASIC FUNCTION OF POSITION:

The Government of the Republic of Tajikistan has received grant funding in the amount of US$50.0 million from the World Bank for the implementation of the "Learning Environment – Foundation of Quality Education Project” (the Project, LEARN) during 2023-2029. The Project will be implemented by the Ministry of Education and Science (MOES), and in close coordination with the Agency for Supervision in the Sphere of Education and Science (ASSES). 

The Project Development Objective is to enhance the quality of teaching and learning environments in selected general secondary schools.

The Unit for Marketing, Property and State Procurement (UMPSP) will be responsible for the procurement management, monitoring and contract management also UMPSP shall put in place an effective complaints review mechanism with procurement-related complaints and shall disclose the details in all the bidding documents.  All complaints shall be recorded in the appropriate tracking and monitoring system, as agreed between the Bank and the MоES. 

The Procurements specialist will provide support to the MOES and its Unit for Marketing, Property and State Procurement (UMPSP) in carrying out the project procurement activities in accordance with the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers (November 2020), and the provisions stipulated in the Financing Agreement. The Procurement specialist will oversee all steps of procurement process under the Project on procurement related matters and monitoring their procurement to ensure compliance with the World Bank guidelines and procedures.

 

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Procurement specialist will assist the UMPSP of the MOES to:

a. Plan and coordinate procurement activities under the project;

b. Prepare and regularly update procurement plan and ensure its due processing in STEP. Documenting justification for updates to the procurement plan in the PPSD;

c. Implement procurement transactions through the Bank’s online procurement planning and tracking tool (STEP); 

d. Prepare Special Procurement Notices (SPNs), Requests for Expression of Interest (REOIs), contract award notices and publish through STEP and/or in local media and websites;

e. Ensure due procurement governance process through: registering and addressing complaints related to the procurement process (including maintaining complaint records, preparing responses ensuring their registration in STEP system and notifying the World Bank); ensuring that barred firms and individuals (listed on the World Bank web site: www.worldbank.org/debarr) are vetted out during the bidding process; and ensuring that the implementing agency personnel involved in the procurement process do not have a conflict of interest;

f. Coordinating the meeting on the opening of bids, preparing the minutes of the opening and collecting the signatures of the members of the Committee for the evaluation of bids, based on the standard evaluation form of the World Bank and timely sending the minutes to IBRD;

g. Prepare procurement documents, evaluation reports, contracts and communications related to procurement processes;

h. Together with specialists from the relevant MOES departments monitor and manage the progress of the execution of signed contracts. Verify payment documents under contracts for the supply of goods, works and services;

i. Support the MOES  in acceptance of the goods, customs clearance, and secure delivery to the appropriate final destinations;

j. Maintain adequate procurement filing system (both hard copy and electronic copy)

k. Prepare procurement-related reports when required;

l. Assist the World Bank in conducting ex-post reviews of procurements that are not subject to prior review;

m. Develop and update the procurement section of the Project Operational Manual, as required;

n. Train related MOES staff, Project team and Evaluation Committees on the Bank procurement rules and procedures; advice those on appropriate areas related to procurement and contract management.

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION:

It is expected that the selected candidate will conform to the following qualifications and experience profile:

1. Higher education in business administration, law, economics and other relevant fields (civil engineering, industrial management, business administration, finance);

2. At least 5 years of work experience in procurement of goods, works and services under the World Bank or other international development organizations’ procurement procedures;

3. Received training on international procurement procedures, including World Bank procedures in procurement of goods and works and selection of consultants;

4. Knowledge of the public procurement law;

5. Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages;

6. Experience in the use of the Bank’s online procurement planning and tracking tool (STEP);

7. Fluency in English and Tajik and/or Russian languages. 

8. Two reference letters from the most recent employers

 

ASSIGNMENT DURATION, LOCATION AND REPORTING:

The Specialist is expected to begin the assignment in April 2023 on a full-time basis. The Specialist shall be contracted for 12 months, with an initial 3-month probationary period. This assignment is renewable annually based on the specialist’s performance and project needs.

The UMPSP shall provide an office space and necessary equipment to the Procurement specialist during his/her tenure of service in the Project. The Procurement specialist is expected to work full time (office hours).

 

APPLICATION AND SELECTION: 

The Consultant(s) will be selected in accordance with the procedures set out in the World Bank Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers (May 2004, revised October 2006, 2010 and 2011). The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraphs 1.9 and 1.11 of the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants by World Bank Borrowers dated January 2011 and revised July 2014 (“Consultant Guidelines”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest and eligibility.  

 

Qualified applicants are requested to send documents via e-mail: maorif-marketing@mail.ru 

Please, include the position title in the subject of the email.

 

For more information, please call: (+992 37) 2274502 from 8:00 to 17:00 

 

The deadline for submitting documents is 14 April 2023, before 17:00 (Dushanbe time).