OEAPM-e-Achizitii-Request For Expressions of Interest Procurement Specialist

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST PROCUREMENT SPECIALIST

National Consultant

 REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA

Public Procurement Efficiency and Value for Money in Moldova Project

Project ID No. P507197

Reference No.: MD-OEAPM-498720-CS-INDV

The Republic of Moldova has received financing from the World Bank Group toward the cost of the Supporting Public Procurement Efficiency and Value for Money in Moldova Project, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for contracting a Procurement Specialist.

The Procurement Specialist will be responsible for leading the procurement function by providing support and overseeing all aspects of the procurement processes including market analysis, procurement strategy, bidding, negotiations, contracting of suppliers, vendors, contractors and/or consultants and management within the scope of the Project.

This assignment is scheduled for the period from July 2025 to December 2026.

For more information, please see the Terms of References attached.

The PI Office for External Assistance Programs Management, as PIU of the Project, now invites eligible individuals (“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.

The Consultant should meet the following minimum qualifications requirements:

1. University degree in areas such as economics, finance, law, international relations, engineering or other related fields;
2. Knowledge of the World Bank procurement rules and procedures and/or of IFIs;
3. At least five (5) years of relevant experience in implementing donor-funded projects, preferably by the World Bank;
4. At least five (5) years of relevant experience in procurement of goods, works and services (consulting and non-consulting) and in accordance with the World Bank procurement regulations or procedures of other IFIs. Working experience based on World Bank procurement procedures would be an advantage;
5. Experience of working with large, multi-source international project budgets;
6. Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Romanian, including the ability to draft memos, letters and internal regulations, bidding documents and reports;
7. Computer literacy.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers - PROCUREMENT IN INVESTMENT PROJECT FINANCING Goods, Works, Non-Consulting and Consulting Services, dated September 2023 (hereinafter referred to as “the Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultant (IC) method set out in the World Bank Procurement Framework.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 08:30 to 17:30 local time.

The applications should include letter of Expression of Interest, CV, and related recommendation letters.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by e­mail) by July 25, 2025, 17:00 o’clock, Moldova local time.

PI Office for External Assistance Programs Management,

attn: Raisa Cantemir, Director

57/1 Mitropolit Banulescu Bodoni str., office 304, MD-2005.

Chisinau, Republic of Moldova

Tel: 373 22 23 29 63, 23 82 48

E-mail:ogpae@ogpae.gov.md

Terms of Reference for Project Procurement Specialist (PS)

1. Project Background.

Supporting Public Procurement Efficiency and Value for Money in Moldova Project (Project) aims to enhance transparency in the public procurement process, ensure value for public money, facilitate the activities of contracting authorities in initiating and conducting procurement procedures, improve access for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to the public procurement market, thereby increasing competition, and reduce transaction costs for all parties involved. This will contribute to establishing a competitive and sustainable national public procurement system.

The project will consist of the following three components:

Component 1 – Redevelopment of the electronic procurement system;

Component 2 – Promoting a unitary policy and conducting procurement in conditions that prioritize economic and social efficiency;

Component 3 – Project Management.

The Public Institution “Office of External Assistance Programs Management” (OEAPM) founded by the Ministry of Finance will have the role of the Project Implementation Unit (PIU). The Ministry of Finance (MoF), as the authorized representative of the Government of Moldova in relation with IBRD, will be the Recipient of the Grant.

2. Objectives of the Assignment

The Project Procurement Specialist is responsible for leading the procurement function by providing support and overseeing all aspects of the procurement processes including market analysis, procurement strategy, bidding, negotiations, contracting of suppliers, vendors, contractors and/or consultants and management within the scope of the Project. The Procurement Specialist will also be required to provide support to OEAPM Evaluation Committee(s) and PIU members in the procurement/selection process under the Project.

The main objectives of the assignment are the following:

• Provide assistance to OEAPM to successfully manage and carry out procurement activities for the Project;
• Ensure the procurement activities are done in accordance to the provisions of the Grant Agreement, World Bank’s rules and procedures, as well as local legal requirements;
• Ensure the procurement activities are performed timely and facilitate the smooth Project operation and the risks related to procurement and contract management are minimized or eliminated;
• Develop the procurement capacity of the PIU to ensure long-term sustainability of the Project outcomes.

3. Scope of Work

The scope of work and activities of the Project Procurement Specialist (PS)

The scope of work and activities of the PS will include the following:

• Set up the Project’s procurement management function in collaboration with Evaluation Committee(s) representatives, the PIU Director, Project Manager/Project Director;
• Establish and enhance, as appropriate, the systems of internal control (goods, works, services, fixed assets);
• Update, as needed, the Project Operations Manual (POM) in terms of procurement management procedures, so as to ensure the full compliance with the World Bank procedures, internal regulations and requirements set by the local legal framework;
• Develop, implement and maintain procurement policies with regular review to ensure relevance, conformance with the World Bank regulations, best practices and ensure compliance with all internal and regulatory policies;
• Ensure the effective communication and liaison with the World Bank, Evaluation Committee(s) and MoF on all procurement management and administration issues;
• Analyse the needs for procurement, analyse the markets for specific goods and services, identify and screen potential suppliers, analyse presented costs and recommend the most suitable procurement strategy for each procurement exercise;
• Maintain and update, upon request or when it might be necessary, the Project Procurement Strategy for Development (PPSD) and overall Procurement Plan;
• Draft Annual Procurement Plans for the Project as part of the Annual Operating Planning exercise of the procurement of goods, works and services, including consulting services;
• Maintain and regularly update the Annual Procurement Plans (i.e. updating the plan twice a year and whenever requested by the Bank, OEAPM or it might be necessary);
• Provide advice on interpretation of procurement policy, giving expert advice and guidance to members of the Evaluation Committee(s), MoF and PIU team;
• Draft using the World Bank respective Standard Procurement Documents (SPDs), Terms of References (ToR), requests of expression of interest (REoI), technical specifications, Requests for Proposals (RFP), Request for Quotations (RFQ), Evaluation Reports and all other procurement documents required for the procurement of goods, works, non-consulting services and consulting services for the Project;
• Thoroughly review all procurement documentation prior to submission for the World Bank for review;
• Assist the Project Manager in the procedure of getting the World Bank prior or post review, as it might be required.
• Ensure that the procurement process is conducted in accordance with the Procurement Plan, PPSD, Project Operations Manual, in line with provisions the World Bank Procurement Regulations and local legal framework;
• Assist the Project Manager on drafting of the correspondence during the bidding process and/or during contract implementation;
• Oversee the opening of Expressions of Interest, Quotations, Bids and Proposals in a timely manner and draft of the minutes of bid (or proposals) opening;
• Assist the Evaluation Committee(s) to ensure that evaluations are conducted in accordance with the criteria stipulated in the procurement documents and as per the World Bank rules and procedures;
• Draft all necessary evaluation reports and present them to the Evaluation Committee(s) members, and submit the evaluation reports for the World Bank review, through the Project Manager;
• Assist the PIU staff and Evaluation Committee members in conducting contract negotiations and drafting related contracts; and final drafts of contracts for award as the case may need;
• Ensure the contracts for works, goods and services are prepared based on the draft contracts included in the Procurement Documents, using the World Bank standard formats;
• Draft, coordinate with the Project Manager, publish and submit to World Bank, General Procurement Notices (GPN), textual part of the procurement plan, Specific Procurement Notices (SPN) and Contract Award Notices;
• Provide guidance to the Project Manager on all procurement related issues;
• Assist the Project Manager and Financial Management Specialist on monitoring and control of contracts execution to ensure that all the activities are conducted according to the Project Schedule and the Procurement Plan, and the assignments are carried out in accordance with the contract terms and provisions;
• Countersign (jointly with the PIU’ representatives) the acceptance of the goods and services provided in accordance with the terms of reference, contracts and the relevant technical specifications as the case may need;
• Maintain up to date all Project procurement records and documents in line with the approved policies, standards and procedures as set out in the Project Operations Manual;
• Ensure that the filing system of the procurement records and documents are up to date at all times and that they are easily retrievable for reviews and audit purposes;
• Perform any other procurement related duty as may be requested by the Project Manager;
• Support and build the capacity in procurement management of PIU;
• Report to the PIU Director and Project Manager on any issue identified with recommendations on its remediation;
• Submit to the Project Manager a monthly progress report on procurement management and a final report at the end of the contract period outlining achievements and challenges pertaining to the procurement management function.

4. Qualifications

The Procurement Specialist is expected to demonstrate the following main requirements on qualifications and experience:

Mandatory Qualifications:

The Procurement Specialist should meet the following mandatory Qualifications:

1. University degree in areas such as economics, finance, law, international relations, engineering or other related fields;
2. Knowledge of the World Bank procurement rules and procedures and/or of IFIs;
3. At least five (5) years of relevant experience in implementing donor-funded projects, preferably by the World Bank;
4. At least five (5) years of relevant experience in procurement of goods, works and services (consulting and non-consulting) and in accordance with the World Bank procurement regulations or procedures of other IFIs. Working experience based on World Bank procurement procedures would be an advantage;
5. Experience of working with large, multi-source international project budgets;
6. Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Romanian, including the ability to draft memos, letters and internal regulations, bidding documents and reports;
7. Computer literacy.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in working with national public sector authorities;
• Experience in projects with major IT- related procurement;
• Certified trainings in the World Bank procurement;
• Experience in Contract law – international aspects and Moldovan legal framework requirements;
• Experience in delivering trainings, coaching others in procurement management;

5. Duration, Outputs and Deliverables

Duration

This is a part-time assignment planned for July 2025 – December 2026.

PIU Input for the Specialist:

• Provision of working space and related utilities at the PIU/OEAPM office;
• Access to office equipment and communication facilities;
• Transportation required for the execution of the assignment;
• Any other necessary means and support to assist the Specialist in carrying out the assignment.

Outputs and Deliverables

The outputs of the Procurement Specialist will include:

1. Project’s Procurement Plan developed and kept up-to-date;
2. Procurement processes conducted in accordance with the World Bank regulations and the approved PPSD and Procurement Plan;
3. Procurement documents, letters of invitation, evaluation reports for the procurement of goods, services and works, draft contracts and contract award notices prepared for publishing;
4. Timely archiving, including electronic archive of all procurement packages;
5. Contributing to preparation of budget disbursement projections and budget commitments.

The Procurement Specialist will report directly to the Project Manager and work under his supervision. They will be part of PIU, collaborating closely with all members.