(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)

Republic of Moldova,

Moldova Education Reform Project (MERP),

Credit No. 5196-MD,

Reference No.: CQ-02.

The Republic of Moldova has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Moldova Education Reform Project (P127388), and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) include assistance to the Ministry of Education, during July – November 2016, by providing inputs in the decision making process regarding further organization and management of the school network and implementation of school standards in receiving schools. The work will include:

• a data-driven analysis of the existing school network - 1300+ schools (including physical facilities, accessibility, serving population –actual and future—staff assigned to facility, etc);
• grouping schools according to defined criteria;
• simulation ofpotentialsavings from school network optimization;
• analysis of data at school-level and identification of options for school-level optimization.

The Ministry of Education now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Firms should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services (required qualifications and experience of the firm, but not individual experts’ bio data). The shortlisting criteria are:

• Proven capacity and experience of the institution to develop and manage a study of this size and complexity (experience in providing similar services);
• Previous experience in carrying out studies for the education sector.
• Experience in carrying out efficiency analysis and quantitative surveys would be an advantage;
• Proven analytical strength to work with large database and conduct policy experiments;
• Proven ability to summarize successful experience of other countries and tailoring these to a certain country context;

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 2011edition (“Consultant Guidelines”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.   

Consultants may associate with other firms in the form of a joint venture or a subconsultancy to enhance their qualifications.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the CQSmethod (Selection based on the Consultants’ Qualifications) set out in the Consultant Guidelines.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours, i.e. 0900 to 1700 hours.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by fax, or by e-mail) by May 6, 2016.

Ministry of Education of the Republic of Moldova, MERP

Stefan cel Mare 180, 13^th floor, room no. 1305,

mun. Chisinau, Republic of Moldova

Attn: Sergiu Harea

Tel/fax: 022 23-25-02

E-mail: merp@edu.md