Procurement Specialist for the Expansion and Modernization of Public-School Infrastructure Project

17 Января

Партнерские Вакансии

Компания "ГУ O‘ZBEKISTON RESPUBLIKASI MAKTABGACHA VA MAKTAB TA'LIMI VAZIRLIGI ДАВЛАТ МУАССАСАСИ"

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR Procurement Specialist

1. BACKGROUND

The Government of Uzbekistan (GoU), in collaboration with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB, the Bank), is undertaking the Expansion and Modernization of Public-School Infrastructure Project (the Project) to enhance the quality of education through the upgrading of school facilities across the country.

The Project tentatively comprises two phases as below:

• Phase I: Involves upgrading the infrastructure and classroom capacity of existing schools.
• Phase II: Involves developing new school infrastructure in unserved and underserved regions.

The two phases of the Project will be underpinned by a comprehensive technical, legal, environmental, and other feasibility studies (collectively, the Feasibility study), covering education sector analysis, infrastructure gap analysis, investment priorities on the national and regional levels, financing modalities, cost estimation, and environmental and social analyses, etc. The Feasibility study will inform site-specific investments for The Project Phases 1 and 2.

To ensure effective project preparation, coordination among stakeholders, and the development of high-quality feasibility study, the Ministry of Pre-School and Secondary Education (MOPSE) of the Republic of Uzbekistan will establish a dedicated Project Office to oversee Project preparation and structuring. The Project Office is seeking a Procurement Specialist who will support the Project Coordinator on daily operations of the Project Office, ensuring alignment with GoU objectives as outlined in Project Operational Manual (POM) and with the objectives and undertakings in the Grant Agreement No. S0881A, overseeing the Feasibility study development, and ensuring timely execution of all project preparation-related activities.

2. OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The Procurement Specialist will be responsible for managing all procurement activities related to the Grant, ensuring compliance with AIIB’s Procurement Policy, and facilitating efficient and transparent procurement processes.

3. SCOPE OF WORK

The Procurement Specialist will undertake the following tasks:

Procurement Management:

• Support the development of a comprehensive Procurement Plan to guide procurement activities for the project.
• Provide expert guidance on the potential use of advance procurement methods, ensuring alignment with AIIB's procurement policy and Procurement Instructions for Recipients (PIR)
• Assist PO with onboarding and use of AIIBs Project Procurement Management System (PPMS).

Document Preparation:

• Support the development of the Procurement Plan (PP) along with key procurement documents, including General Procurement Notice (GPN), Requests for Expressions of Interest (REOIs), Requests for Quotations (RFQs), Requests for Proposals (RFPs), and evaluation reports.
• Draft contracts and agreements for goods, works, and consulting services.

Bidding and Evaluation:

• Organize and manage tendering processes, including advertising, bid evaluation, and reporting.
• Ensure fairness and transparency during the bid evaluation process.

Compliance and Reporting:

• Monitor adherence to procurement timelines and guidelines.
• Prepare monthly progress reports on procurement activities and compliance with project objectives.
• Coordinate with the AIIB and the PO to address procurement-related challenges.
• Assisting the PO respond to any procurement related complaints as er the AIIB procurement policy and PIR

Stakeholder Coordination:

• Work closely with MoPSE, including the Evaluation Committee, the Procurement Committee, the AIIB Expert Team, and other relevant entities to ensure smooth procurement processes.
• Provide procurement-related guidance to consultants and contractors.

Contract Management:

• Support the PO team to monitor the performance of contractors and suppliers to ensure timely delivery of services and goods.
• Support the PO team to address and resolve procurement and contract management issues as they arise.

4. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

Regular, structured reports will be provided to ensure transparency, track project progress, and address any challenges. Reporting requirements include:

• Inception Report:
  1. Submission: Within the first month of the assignment.
  2. Content: A detailed work plan with timelines, methodology, and initial risk assessments for the preparation phase, highlighting strategies for PDS, Procurement Plan, and critical activities.
• Progress Reports:
  1. Submission: As per the agreed schedule.
  2. Content: Updates on the PDS, Procurement Plan, progress on drafting and approvals of bidding documents, transaction document development, risk assessments, challenges, delays, and corrective actions.
• Procurement Risk Assessment Report:
  1. Submission: Upon completion of the procurement risk and capacity assessment.
  2. Content: Comprehensive analysis of procurement risks, obstacles to project preparation, and recommendations for mitigation strategies.
• Draft Procurement Documents Report:
  1. Submission: Upon completion of draft bidding and transaction documents.
  2. Content: Full draft of procurement documents, including EOIs, RFQs, RFPs, and the advance procurement manual, with status updates on approvals and revisions.
• Final Report:
  1. Submission: At the conclusion of the assignment.
  2. Content: Summary of all procurement activities, key outcomes, compliance with AIIB guidelines, risk assessment findings, support provided to Project Office and the MOPSE, and recommendations for future improvements.
• Ad-Hoc Reports:
  1. Submission: As requested.
  2. Content: Reports on specific procurement challenges, urgent issues, or any significant changes that could impact the project’s preparation along with mitigation strategies.

5. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

1. Competencies:
   • Adherence to the highest ethical and professional standards.
   • Proper judgment and leadership skills to manage diverse projects, balancing time, cost, and quality.
   • Ability to propose solutions that keep the project moving forward.
   • Strong collaboration and communication skills with the ability to work across teams.
   • Commitment to AIIB’s mission and activities.
2. Educational and Professional Experience:
   • Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, Economics, Law, Supply Chain management, Procurement, or a related discipline.
   • At least 5 years of relevant procurement experience, with a strong focus on infrastructure projects.
   • Strong knowledge of AIIB, World Bank, or other MDB procurement guidelines and policies.
   • Experience in managing procurement processes for Multilateral Development Bank (MDB)-financed projects.
   • Demonstrated experience in drafting bidding documents and preparing procurement strategies for complex infrastructure projects.
   • Excellent communication and team collaboration skills.
3. Additional Requirements:
   • Fluency in Uzbek and Russian; working knowledge of English is required with the ability to produce reports in English.
   • Competence in using procurement and financial management software.

6. OTHER TERMS

Duration of assignment: The contract is valid 12 months with the possibility of extension, subject to the grаntavailability With a probation period of three months.

Reporting: The Consultant will report to the Project Office Coordinator and provide updates to MoPSE.

The Procurement Specialist will adhere to the following guidelines:

• Terms of the Grant Agreement and AIIB’s Procurement Policy.
• National procurement regulations and internal policies of MoPSE.