Procurement Specialist

المجلس الأعلى لسياسات الشراء العام

The High Council for Public Procurement Policies

Digital West Bank & Gaza (P174355)

Sub-component 3.3- First Phase of an e-Government Procurement (e-GP) System

And Public Financial Management (PFM) Improvement Project – Phase 2 (P177742)

Request for Expression of Interest

Digital West Bank & Gaza Project Background:

The Palestinian Liberation Organization has received a grant from the International Development Association (IDA) in the amount of USD 20 million for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority (PA) to finance the Digital West Bank & Gaza Project (the Project). The Project will seek to produce concrete and tangible results for the Palestinians through increased access to high-speed broadband services and increased access to selected e-services to citizens and businesses. The project will focus on key points to unleash digital transformation in WB&G addressing some of the bilateral challenges allowing digital transformation to achieve its full potential. It will strengthen the digital resilience of WB&G and the ability of the PA to respond to shocks, such as COVID-19.

The project takes a multi-disciplinary approach to support the digital transformation, Covid recovery and resilience of West Bank and Gaza. The project will be implemented and overseen by the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology (MTIT). Individual activities are to be implemented by MTIT and the High Council on Public Procurement Policies (HCPPP), over a 5-year period.

The Project has the following four components:

1. Enabling legal and regulatory environment for Digital Economy; mainly institutional development including the development of a Palestinian Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and root Certificate Authority; legal and regulatory framework; and capacity building.
2. Implementing Digital Infrastructure Solutions for Emergency Response, Recovery and Resilience which includes development of an emergency response center and expanding internet connectivity. 
3. Fostering User Centered E-Service Delivery; which includes the establishment of a whole of government digital transformation strategy, support for a digital public platform and prioritization, simplification and digitization of services, launch of pilot e-services, and implementation of a first phase of an e-Government Procurement (e-GP) System; and
4. Project Management which will support the establishment of a project management unit in MTIT

e-Government Procurement System:

Building on the progress towards establishing a modern public procurement system by the Palestinian Authority, sub-component 3.3 of the Project will support the development of a first phase of an e-GP System by supporting the development of priority functionalities and their implementation in selected high spending agencies. The project will finance (i) software development; (ii) upgrading of existing software; (iii) hiring of technical experts to support HCPPP in developing software reference architecture, business process engineering and in managing e-GP development and implementation; (iv) capacity development and training of target agencies and the private sector entities; (v) e-GP communication and awareness campaign; (vi) help desk service; (vii) development of e-GP business model; and (viii) development of sustainable procurement policy. 

Priority functionalities will include: (i) Digitization of National Standard Bidding Documents (SBDs) for various types of procurement (works, goods, consultants' services, non-consulting services and SBDs for Framework Agreements of Common-Use Goods) recently approved by the Cabinet; (ii) Payment for Documents, Registration or Other Services; (iii) Tender Preparation; (iv) Tender Submission; (v) Receipt of Tenders; (vi) Tender Opening; (vii) Tender Evaluation Workflow; (viii) Notice of Awards; (ix) Acceptance and Signing of Contract; and (x) Contract Tracking. In addition, an e-Catalogue module which provides information on commonly procured goods and services and facilitates on-line ordering from selected suppliers, will be developed and shall be built on one of the common international classification codes (e.g. United Nations Standard Products and Services Code -UNSPCS). 

This sub-component will be implemented by the HCPPP, through a dedicated Project Implementation Team (PIT) to be established under the Project. The PIT will be housed in HCPPP and it will responsible for the day-to-day implementation of the e-GP sub-component in coordination with HCPPP staff and other relevant stakeholders. It will prepare and submit periodic progress and financial reports to the PMU in MTIT, which would then consolidate and submit to the Bank. The PIT will comprise an e-GP Project Manager, a Procurement Specialist, an ICT Specialist, and an Administrative Officer. Other technical experts in procurement, business process re-engineering (BPR), change management, communications, etc. will be hired throughout implementation. 

In addition to the PIT, a multi-agency advisory technical team chaired by HCPPP and comprised of procurement and ICT officials (Champions) from key government agencies will be to advise on planning, development and implementation of e-GP system.

Public Financial Management (PFM) Improvement Project Background:

The World Bank-financed Public Financial Management (PFM) Improvement Project – Phase 2, aims to improve public financial management, procurement management, and data use in the Palestinian Authority. The fourth component of the Project, implemented by the High Concil for Public Procurement Policies (HCPPP), supports the following three subcomponents:

1. Professionalization of the Procurement Workforce through supporting the implementation of the Procurement Capacity Building and Professionalization Strategy, prepared with support of the World Bank through phase I of PFMI.

2. Enhancing Procurement Practices in Specific Sectors through supporting the development of a procurement strategy for pharmaceuticals, vaccines and medical supplies and the implementation of priority actions to achieve value for money and enhancing expenditure efficiency. Additionally, the project will support the development of standard bidding document (SBDs), particularly for information systems procurement.

Strengthening the HCPPP Policy Making, Monitoring and Oversight Role, and this will include initiatives that aim to institutional strengthening of HCPPP to meet its policymaking and oversight roles in monitoring the overall performance of the procurement system for efficiency, competition, and transparency.

Assignment Objective:

HCPPP is considering the appointment of Procurement Specialist as part of Project Implementation Team (PIT). 

The Procurement Specialist shall be knowledgeable of World Bank Procurement Regulations and will be responsible for: (i) planning and processing all procurement to be carried out under sub-component 3.3 of the Project, (ii) providing support to the Project Manager and other members of the PIT, (iii) monitoring the implementation of the procurement plan, and (iv) providing on-job procurement training to HCPPP staff. The Procurement Specialist will be working and reporting directly to the e-GP Project Manager.

Responsibilities of the Procurement Specialist:

The selected Specialist will be in charge of processing all aspects of procurement for sub-component 3.3 of the Project and Improving Public Procurement Management component of Public Financial Management Improvement Project Phase 2, in accordance with the World Bank Procurement Regulations for Investment Project Financing Borrowers (November 2020), the approved procurement plan, and the Grant Agreement. 

The Procurement Specialist may also be requested to contribute with technical inputs on the business (procurement) aspects of the design, development and implementation of the e-GP and to the ongoing program of development and modernization of the public procurement system, which include development of procurement policies, institution building, procurement documentation, guidelines and manuals, capacity building and public awareness campaigns.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

All duties and responsibilities that the Procurement Specialist will be required to perform contained in this Expression of Interest relate to the two projects financed by the World Bank and implemented by HCPPP; Digital West Bank & Gaza (P174355), Sub-component 3.3- First Phase of an e-Government Procurement (e-GP) System and Public Financial Management (PFM) Improvement Project – Phase 2 (P177742).

• Updating the Project Procurement Plan on a periodic basis throughout project implementation to reflect actual project implementation requirements;
• Determining the procurement method to be used based on the size of the package in accordance with World Bank Procurement regulations and the National Procurement procedures applicable to the project;
• Assisting in the preparation of consultants’ terms of reference and administration of their contracts, including processing contract amendments;
• Drafting bid notices and bidding documents for inviting and obtaining bids for goods and services in accordance with World Bank Procurement Regulations;
• Drafting requests for expressions of interest and request for proposals (RFPs) for inviting and obtaining consultants’ services in accordance with World Bank Procurement Regulations;
• Assisting in revising the established procedures for receiving and opening of bids/proposals, ensuring adherence to the evaluation criteria stipulated in the bidding documents/RFPs in a professional and timely manner;
• Maintaining complete procurement documentation for each contract, both in hard copy and in STEP (the World Bank’s new System for Tracking Exchanges in Procurement) including bidding documents, advertisements, bids received, bid evaluations, letters of acceptance, contract agreements, securities, related correspondence, etc., in an orderly manner, readily available for audit;
• Preparing procurement reports when needed showing the status of ongoing procurement, including a comparison of planned and actual dates of the procurement actions, including preparation of bidding documents, advertising, bidding, evaluation, contract award and completion time for each contract;
• Preparing correspondence required for requesting, through the Project Manager, the World Bank approval/ ‘no objection’ of the proposed procurement steps/decisions, through STEP or email, as required;
• Working with HCPPP staff to enhance their capacities through on-job training;
• Participating in relevant evaluation committees as a member; and
• Performing other duties as may be assigned by the e-GP Project Manager, including providing technical inputs on the business (procurement) aspects of the design, development and implementation of the e-GP and to the ongoing program of development and modernization of the public procurement system.

جميع الحقوق محفوظة لموقع جوبس.

Job Requirements

Essential Required Qualifications, Skills, knowledge and Competencies:

• At least a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in Engineering, Business Administration, Procurement, Purchasing Management, Supply Chain Management, or any other related field;
• At least 10 years of relevant experience on projects financed by international agencies; Experience in World Bank financed projects and World Bank procurement processes and procedures highly desirable.
• Excellent knowledge of technical and operational aspects of procurement implementation;
• Good knowledge of the local procurement procedures;
• Strong supervisory and staff support skills. Ability to motivate and lead employees and encourage decisions to be made within a team environment;
• Strong communication skills and persuasiveness in presenting, discussing and resolving difficult issues, both orally and in writing.
• Excellent computer skills;
• Fluency in English and excellent report writing; and
• The ability to work under pressure within teamwork arrangements.

Time Frame and Contract 

The duration of the assignment is one year on a full-time basis, extendable on a yearly basis to the full length of the project (end of 2026), subject to satisfactory performance. The expected start date for the position is August 1st, 2024.

An individual Consultant shall be selected for the above-mentioned post in accordance with the World Bank's procedures as specified in the World Bank's Procurement Regulations for Borrowers under Investment Project Financing dated November 2020 (“Procurement Regulations").

Interested candidates are requested to send their CVs and a cover letter to the High Council for Public Procurement Policies, Finance and Administration Department, at this email address: [email protected].

The closing date for applying is Jul 16, 2024.