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REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
SAINT LUCIA
OECS SUSTAINABILITY PROJECTS:
OECS REGIONAL TOURISM COMPETITIVENESS (ORTC)
UNLEASHING THE BLUE ECONOMY OF THE CARIBBEAN (UBEC)
Assignment Title: Consulting Services - Procurement Officer Reference No. SLU-RTC-UBEC-CS-IC-PS-03-20
Background
Saint Lucia has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the OECS Sustainability Projects, namely the Regional Tourism Competitiveness Project (ORTCP) and Unleashing the Blue Economy of the Caribbean (UBEC) and intends to apply part of the proceeds to hire an individual consultant to serve as a Procurement Officer.
The consulting services (“the Services”) include the engagement of a Procurement Officer to strengthen the capacity of the project objectives by assisting the Project Managers of the UBEC and ORTC, to undertake procurement tasks, in accordance with the ORTC and UBEC Financing Agreement, the World Bank Procurement Regulation for IPF Borrowers dated
November 2020 (“the Procurement Regulations”), Guidelines on Preventing and Combating Fraud and Corruption in Projects Financed by IBRD Loans and IDA Credits and Grants,’ dated July 1, 2016 (“the Anti-Corruption Guidelines”), the ORTC and UBEC Operations Manuals, Project Procurement Strategies for Development (PPSD), Procurement Plans, and relevant Saint Lucian procurement policies, regulations and laws. This requires that the Procurement Officer do the following:
Project Procurement Review
- Review the ongoing procurement tasks and activities under the ORTC during its final implementation stage, specifically with respect to administration of contracts, as well as with the recruitment of project staff, and the establishment of procedures and systems.
- Review the procurement plan in the online system, Systematic Tracking of Exchanges in Procurement (STEP) and continuously update plan where applicable.
- Develop, update and maintain an appropriate database to support procurement management and record keeping.
Project Establishment
- Support the establishment of the UBECP during its initial stages specifically with respect to procurement and support for the establishment and administration of contracts, as well as with the recruitment of project staff, and the establishment of policies, procedures, manuals, and systems.
- Establish the UBEC Procurement Plan in the online system, Systematic Tracking of Exchanges in Procurement (STEP) and maintain it updated at all times.
- Review and update the UBEC PPSD and the Operations Manual at the initial stage and over the project.
- Develop, update and maintain an appropriate database to support procurement management and record keeping.
Planning and Management
- Ensure credible scheduling of all procurement. The Procurement Officer needs to ensure the timely procurement and support with monitoring delivery of goods, works, and services in accordance with contract conditions.
- Establish a quality assurance mechanism for all procurement to be carried out as part of projects
- Contribute to the development of the projects’ annual planning processes.
- Prepare the necessary procurement documentation for all procurements, including the development of contract management plans as appropriate.
- Support the projects with the identification of potential suppliers, contractors, consultants.
- Provide all support for any review or audit of projects’ procurement.
- Ensure compliance to existing import rules and regulation of Saint Lucia.
- Ensure conformance to trade and taxation (VAT) regulations in conjunction with the Finance officer.
- Coordinate with shipping agencies/ brokers and suppliers on the delivery of goods for the project.
Reporting
- Ensure up to date reporting on all procurement and contract activity milestones to the relevant Project Manager, and other relevant senior staff.
- Monthly report on the progress of each project’s procurement activities, relative to contract requirements.
- Prepare timely and accurate quarterly procurement reports including reporting against each project procurement plan and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
- Provide procurement information as requested for management and review purposes.
- Contribute to the delivery of quarterly monitoring and evaluation reports.
- Contribute to the preparation of the six-monthly Progress Reports, for submission to the World Bank and the Projects’ Steering Committees.
- Provide details on project procurement for the PIU.
- Provide files and documentation for Project Audits annually
Leading and Supporting
- Lead the management of all project procurement activities including the establishment of procurement panels and assessments in accordance with World Bank requirements.
- Represent the ORTC and UBEC project teams at inter-governmental procurement meetings relevant to the UBEC project, as required.
- Support the development of the project procurement risk management plan and ensure project procurement risks are identified and mitigated for both projects.
- Support contract managers to keep the contract management module of STEP updated.
Organizing
- Ensure project staff receive appropriate training and capacity building in procurement procedures and systems.
- Manage internal and external communications with respect to project procurement.
Advice
• Provide strategic and operational level budget advice relating to procurement activities in conjunction with the Finance Officer.
Technical
• Maintain the necessary level of technical and operational skills to fulfil the duties outlined.
The Procurement Officer is a full-time position required for six (6) years, renewable annually based on performance and availability of funds. The contract is subject to a probationary period of six (6) months and may be subject to satisfactory achievement of key deliverables. Performance will initially be reviewed after six (6) months, and thereafter subject to annual reviews.
The Procurement Officer will frequently and adequately coordinate with the Environmental Specialist and other PIU staff for each project, as relevant and will report directly to the Project Managers of each project.
This position is based in Castries, Saint Lucia and the Procurement Officer will work primarily from the Ministry of Finance’s Project Implementation Unit (PIU) where he/she will be assigned a workstation and will participate in face-to-face or virtual meetings, as is the case. The Officer will also be assigned a work station at the Ministry of Tourism’s PIU for his/her first year to facilitate access to documents and information that is relevant to the ORTCP. He/she will also be required to visit subproject work sites for each project and may involve travel to other communities.
The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be found at the following website: www.finance.gov.lc
The Ministry of Tourism, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture and Information now invites eligible individual consultants (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. (Curriculum Vitae, description of similar assignments, etc).
Interested Consultants should have the following requisite minimum qualifications and professional experiences listed below for undertaking the assignment.
Qualifications
• Bachelor’s Degree in procurement, project management, contract law, economics, law, finance, business administration or similar relevant qualification or equivalent experience plus at least three (3) years proven practical experience in procurement, or in procurement management in a similar role.
Experience
- experience with donor-funded projects, especially involving international financial institutions such as the World Bank.
- Demonstrated ability to develop, implement, and monitor, comprehensive project procurement plans, and to undertake complex procurements.
- Demonstrated high level experience and competency in computer database and software use including browser (cloud) based procurement software and systems.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Requirements:
- Strong ethics, personal organizational skills, and ability to manage own workload.
- Good communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to make presentations to a broad range of audiences.
- Good writing skills with the ability to prepare accurate reports; fluency (oral and written) in English is essential.
- Demonstrated ability to deliver training and capacity building to project staff.
The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants by World Bank Borrowers January 2011 Revised July 2014 (“Guidelines”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.
A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultants (IC) method set out in the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants by World Bank Borrowers (“Consultant Guidelines”).
Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (0800 to 1600 hours). Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by 25th October 2022.
Applying for this post
Applications for the post should be made to:
Permanent Secretary Ministry of Tourism, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture and Information 3rd Floor, Sir Stanislaus James Building Waterfront Castries Saint Lucia Tel: 1 (758) 468- 4615 Email: abigail.lewis@govt.lc
Applications must include the following format and content:
- A brief covering letter introducing yourself, and explaining why you are interested in this post (maximum 1 page).
- A resume (CV) showing personal details, work experience, and education, along with the names of three work related references (maximum 3 pages).
Note: Only suitable candidates will be acknowledged. Applicants whose minimum qualifications and experience conform to the Terms of Reference will be short-listed and invited to attend an interview for further consideration.
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