REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

I.1) Name and address Contracting Authority

Official name: Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission

Postal address: P O Box 179

Town: Castries

Postal Code: LC04 101

E-mail: procurementbids@oecs.int

Internet address: http://www.oecs.int

II.1.1) Title:

Consultancy to provide technical support in preparing A Regional Trade Policy Framework (TPF) and Trade policy statements for the OECS Economic Union

II.1.3) Type of contract 

Services  

II.1.4) Short description of the contract

The assignment consists of secondary research through documentation reviews, primary research through data collection and analysis, and national and regional consultations with stakeholders.  This would be followed by the preparation of a comprehensive Trade Policy Framework (TPF) and a concise Trade Policy Statement with an Implementation Plan. The TPF needs to set out the vision, the main trade policy principles and priorities for action, and key inputs and outputs required for trade policy implementation. The TPF shall inform key stakeholders, both national and international, of essential policy directions and provide strategic guidance for action. It should also provide the strategic vision and direction for collaboration between Government and the private sector and development partners in enhancing productive capacity and developing competitiveness in the production of goods and services that can be traded domestically, regionally and globally to enable the OECS to benefit from regional and global supply chains and market access arrangements. Because trade flourishes off strong interconnections with industry, the policy shall articulate how strengthened capacities can be fostered across a range of key productive sectors.

The specific objective of the contract is:

• Increased coordination, harmonisation and undertaking of joint actions and instruments for trade policy formulation and implementation in the OECS.

The expected outputs of the contract are:

• A Diagnostic Report on the current state of play for trade policy formulation and implementation in the OECS at the regional and national level with the following components:
  • Overview of the National and Regional Development visions, goals and strategies;
  • Review of Economic and Trade Performance;
  • Descriptions of the trade regimes including existing policy, legislative, regulatory and institutional frameworks;
  • Description of the trade policies and practices by measure and sector for goods and services.

• A Harmonized OECS Trade Policy Framework Document that sets out the strategic vision, mission and goals for the next ten years, the main trade policy principles and priorities for action, and key inputs and outputs required for trade policy implementation, with a view to informing key stakeholders, both national and international, of essential policy priorities and directions, and providing guidance for action. It should also provide a clear roadmap and direction for collaboration between Governments and the private sector in enhancing the latter’s productive capacity and developing competitiveness in the production of goods and services that can be traded domestically, regionally and globally to enable the OECS to benefit from regional and global supply chains and market access arrangements. It should layout strategies tailored to supporting women entrepreneurs to take more lead and share on the trade ecosystem. It should also provide practical guidance and direction to Government officials and other stakeholders on relevant trade rules and regulations, developments and restrictions that are easily understood and, where appropriate, referenced for additional guidance and depth, as well as the reforms required for other traderelated policies and laws to support this policy.  National Trade Policy Framework specificities for each of the Protocol Member States with be contained in separate chapters of the document.

• An OECS Trade Policy Statement and National Trade Policy Statements for each Protocol Member State that are succinct summaries of the TPFDs providing information on broadly articulated domestic and international trade guidelines, priority sectors and recommendations on actions to be implemented by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda. The Trade Policy Statement, is a brief and concise policy statement designed to be widely circulated to key national stakeholders, partners and other interested parties.

The Contractor shall be responsible for performing all the services described below:

1. Consult all key stakeholders in the Government, private sector, other non-state actors and partners in each of the OECS Member States as well as in the region on the priorities, including current and future trade interests and policies. At least three presentations to key stakeholders and development partners in each Member State are anticipated. The first meeting should focus on undertaking preliminary consultations in plenary and on an individual basis with stakeholders to brainstorm and identify the key elements of the Trade Policy Framework and to gather relevant data. The second meeting will be to present the first draft OECS Trade Policy Framework Document, and Trade Policy Statements to stakeholders and to obtain feedback. The draft documents should be circulated to all stakeholders at least 15 days in advance of the meeting. The third meeting will be to present the final draft TPF-related documents to the relevant stakeholders including Ministry of Trade, Prime Minister Office, Ministry of Finance. The Ministry of Trade and Government of Antigua and Barbuda will conduct the final review and endorsement of the TPF.

2. Examine the legislative, regulatory, and institutional framework for trade policy in each Member State and provide recommendations as appropriate;

3. Assess the trade policy components of other existing policies of the country and identify the relevant ones to be incorporated;

4. Review existing interactions between Ministry of Trade and other relevant ministries, departments and agencies and examine the scope and structure of trade-related support institutions and mechanisms to implement and coordinate the trade policy, identify gaps and make recommendations as appropriate;

5. Examine the macroeconomic environment in which the trade policy is being formulated in each Member State including the following:
   • The socioeconomic setting;
   • National Development Plans, which sets the broader context in which the trade policy is being formulated;
   • External factors affecting trade and economic growth;
   • The contribution of trade to GDP and employment; and
   • The impact of the tax system on trade vis- -vis the contribution of import duties and other trade-related sectors to total revenue and GDP.

6. Examine the trade policy and domestic trade by sector in the Member States, sectors to be identified by conducting broad scoping assessment and recommend the sector which will be approved by the Ministry of Trade for deepdives. This will include an assessment of the major challenges and supply-side constraints, all trade-related factors hindering production of competitive goods and services in those sectors, and study the regulatory and institutional framework (including regions);

7. Assess the Member States participation in international trade (goods and services), including
   • Balance of trade and the composition and growth performance of trade in goods including major import and export products, major import and export markets over the past 10 years;
   • The key challenges affecting exports as well as measures that can be taken to assist the Member States to produce goods and services that can be exported competitively to regional or global markets;
   • The actual and potential levels of prospect for diversification of the Member States export products/services and export markets;
   • Assessment of the Member States business environment to identify major business climate challenges and conduct a deep-dives to identify root causes. Furthermore, ITC has made a full-fledged study on non-tariff barriers; hence, we take up that study, qualify the recommendations through primary sources of data to enroll it to implementation;
   • Map the current laws, policies and regulations governing trade in services, trends in import and export over the past 10 years; and provide recommendations on the promotion of trade in services in all modes of supply.
   • Supply-side constraints hindering the Member States from industrializing and producing value-added goods and services, providing practical recommendations on improving the ease of doing business and increasing productivity and competitiveness to enable the private sector to enhance its capacity to produce goods and services in a competitive manner and move into the upper rungs of regional and global value chains.

8. Assess other trade-related issues including investment policy, competition policy, National Quality Infrastructure, access of conformity assessment services, intellectual property, taxation and fiscal policy, government procurement, access to land and water, trade and environment including climate change, trade and public health, trade and youth and provide recommendations based on international best practices taking into account the relevance and application of these issues to the Member States.

1. Examine the challenges for women entrepreneurs in the current Trade Ecosystem with a contrast to international best practice in overcoming barriers for women.

10. Explore available trade policy instruments, gathering/sharing/organization, analysis and use of trade information/national trade data etc. to identify the gaps and make recommendation on the effective use of the instruments and inclusion of new ones,

11. Review of the OECS’ existing and anticipated bilateral, regional and multilateral trade policy commitments (particularly under OECS, CARICOM, CARIFORUM-EU and UK EPAs and in the WTO context) to determine the policy space needed.

• Examine the level of bilateral including boarder trade, regional and international integration and provide recommendations on how to enhance the process in line with the level of development and key policies of the country.

13. Review the state of domestic trade including informal ones and forward recommendations.

• Assess existing market access arrangements including the capacity of domestic trade to meet the demands of preferential market access and ongoing trade negotiations and recommend the best strategy to ensure optimum use of market access opportunities;

• Develop a draft Trade Policy Framework Document (TPFD), clearly justifying the proposed policy, and identify the trade-related domestic reforms needed to support the policy, develop an Implementation Plan for the policy with national mechanisms for implementing, reviewing and monitoring the trade policy;

16. Present the draft TPFDs to the Ministries of Trade and OECS Commission and finalize the TPFDs by taking into account the comments from all the stakeholders. Each national TPFD and the Regional TPFD should consist of a short Trade Policy Statement, a comprehensive Trade Policy Framework should not exceed 150 pages);

17. Prepare relevant briefing notes to facilitate Ministry of Trade and Cabinet submission of the TPF; and

18. Perform any other tasks that are relevant to the formulation of the TPFDs as determined by the OECS Commission and the Ministries of Trade of the Member States.

19. Review existing interactions between Ministry of Trade and Private Sector and examine the scope and structure of trade related enabling support rendered for the private sector in the country including strictly lined relationship boundaries and roles and responsibilities and recommend what type of possible remedy should be done.

II.1.5) Estimated total value

EUR 100,000.00 / XCD290,512.00

II.2.1) Place performance

Main site or place of performance: OECS Protocol Member States: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

II.2.2)  Evaluation/Selection Criteria

Key Expert 1: Team Leader  

• A minimum of a Master’s Degree in International Trade, International Trade Policy, Economics, Law, Development Studies, Business Management, or related fields specialising particularly on trade related streams;
• Demonstrated knowledge and capacity to undertake quantitative analysis of trade flows and trade policies.
• Demonstrated knowledge and capacity to review and analyse existing structures and measures in practice in trade and trade related agencies.
• Demonstrated knowledge of inter-sectoral linkages and their impact on tradeled growth in the context of developing.
• Demonstrated knowledge of socio-economic, industrial development and business environment issues in Caribbean countries in general and in the OECS in particular.
• Demonstrated capacity to develop policies and strategies for institutional reforms.
• Demonstrated Knowledge of the workings of public-private sector collaborations
• Ability to write clear and quality reports in a practical manner.
• Proven ability to deliver quality consulting services to international standards.
• A ‘minimum of 15 years of experience working within a national government, regional organisation and/or international organisation in the formulation and implementation of trade policies.
• A minimum of 10 years’ experience working in similar assignments in developing countries and particularly in the Caribbean;
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in key trade sectors such as negotiation, legislation and litigation;

Key Expert 2: Trade Data and Policy Analyst  

• A minimum of a Master’s Degree in International Trade, International Trade Policy, Economics, Quantitative Economic Analysis, or related fields specialising particularly on trade related streams;
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of international trade theory and policy.
• Demonstrated knowledge and capacity to undertake quantitative analysis of trade flows and trade policies including the application of modelling techniques.
• Demonstrated knowledge and capacity to work on databases and with the use of STATA software.
• Ability to write clear and quality reports in a practical manner.
• Demonstrated knowledge of socio-economic, industrial development and business environment issues in Caribbean countries in general and in the OECS in particular will be an asset; 
• A ‘minimum of 10 years of experience working within a national government, regional organisation and/or international organisation in the area of Economics, and trade policy analysis.
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in applied research and analysis.
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in the application and use of different methodologies in undertaking quantitative trade flows and trade policy analysis.

II.4) Additional Information:

Potential legal (firms) and natural persons (individuals), who may be interested in, and capable of undertaking this assignment are required to submit a “Statement of Capability or company profile” (Qualification and relevant experience pertinent to the assignment) to the Project Manager, RIGHT Programme via email lisa.james@oecs.int and copied to, ricardo.james@oecs.int and tadia.xantoine@oecs.int no later than 13^th January 2025. The selected firms/individuals will receive an invitation to tender which includes the following:

A.          Instructions to tenderers and contract notice

B.          Draft contract agreement and special conditions with annexes:

1. General conditions for service contracts 
2. Terms of reference
3. Organisation and methodology (to be submitted by the tenderer using the template provided)
4. Key experts (including templates for the summary list of key experts and their CVs) 
5. Budget (to be submitted by the tenderer as the financial offer using the template provided)
6. Forms and other supporting documents

C. Other information:

1. Administrative compliance grid
2. Evaluation grid