Piloting and Implementation of the Match Making Tender - 46407559

Procurement Summary

Country: USA

Summary: Piloting and Implementation of the Match Making Platform in Light Manufacturing Focusing on Suppliers

Deadline: 22 Oct 2020

Posting Date: 09 Oct 2020

Other Information

Notice Type: Tender

TOT Ref.No.: 46407559

Document Ref. No.: 1270783

Competition: ICB

Financier: World Bank (WB)

Purchaser Ownership: -

Tender Value: Refer Document

CPV Classification

63720000 - Support services for water transport

Purchaser's Detail

Name: Login to see tender_details

Address: Login to see tender_details

Email: Login to see tender_details

Login to see details

Tender Details

Expression of Interest are invited for Piloting and implementation of the match making platform in light manufacturing focusing on suppliers in the Western Balkans.
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR SELECTION # 1270783
This Request for Expression of Interest is for a Firm Selection. Please log in as a valid Firm User if you wish to express interest in this selection.
Selection Information
Assignment Title
Piloting and implementation of the match making platform in light manufacturing focusing on suppliers in the Western Balkans
Publication Date
08-Oct-2020
Expression of Interest Deadline
22-Oct-2020 at 11:59:59 PM (Eastern Time - Washington D.C.)
Language of Notice
English
Selection Notice
Assignment Country
XK - Kosovo

MK - Macedonia, former Yugoslav Republic of

YF - Serbia

Funding Sources
The World Bank Group intends to finance the assignment/services under:
BB - BANK BUDGET

TF0B1655 - SECO - SEE Light Manufacturing

Individual/Firm
The consultant will be a firm.
Assignment Description
SELECTION FOR CONSULTANTS BY THE WORLD BANK GROUP
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
Electronic Submissions through World Bank Group eConsultant2

https://wbgeconsult2.worldbank.org/wbgec/index.html
ASSIGNMENT OVERVIEW
Assignment Title: 1270783 - Piloting and implementation of the match making platform in light manufacturing focusing on suppliers in the Western Balkans
Assignment Countries:

- Kosovo

- Macedonia, former Yugoslav Republic of

- Serbia
ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION
In 2020 the IFC is launching the Western Balkans Manufacturing Value Chains project, which covers Kosovo, Serbia and North Macedonia. The overall objective of the project is to improve the integration of the Western Balkans manufacturing firms into intra-regional and European value chains. This will be achieved inter alia through increasing connectedness of local firms to offtakers/FDIs in the WB and Eurozone through a match-making platform. IFC is now inviting interested firms to provide their expression of interest to work with the IFC on Component 1(match-making platform) by providing services outlined in the scope of work bellow. This assignment does not include development a software or a separate IT product. IFC is looking for a consultant that has established capabilities in managing and running existing match making platform(s) that can be expanded for the purpose of this project, specifically focusing on light manufacturing sector and Western Balkan
FUNDING SOURCE
The World Bank Group intends to finance the assignment / services described below under the following:

- BANK BUDGET

- SECO - SEE Light Manufacturing
ELIGIBILITY
Eligibility restrictions apply:

[Please type list of restrictions]
INDIVIDUAL / FIRM PROFILE

The consultant will be a firm.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The World Bank Group now invites eligible firms to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested firms must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc. for firms; CV and cover letter for individuals). Please note that the total size of all attachments should be less than 5MB. Consultants may associate to enhance their qualifications.
Interested firms are hereby invited to submit expressions of interest.
Expressions of Interest should be submitted, in English, electronically through World Bank Group eConsultant2 (https://wbgeconsult2.worldbank.org/wbgec/index.html)
NOTES

Following this invitation for Expression of Interest, a shortlist of qualified firms will be formally invited to submit proposals. Shortlisting and selection will be subject to the availability of funding.
Only those firms which have been shortlisted will receive notification. No debrief will be provided to firms which have not been shortlisted.
Attachments
Optional TOR File

Qualification Criteria
1. Provide information showing that they are qualified in the field of the assignment. *

2. Provide information on the technical and managerial capabilities of the firm. *

3. Provide information on their core business and years in business. *

4. Provide information on the qualifications of key staff. *
TERMS OF REFERENCE
Piloting and implementation of the match making platform for the Western Balkans manufacturing firms
October 2020

______________________________________________________________________________
About IFC
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group (WBG), is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in developing countries. It is committed to financing private sector businesses in emerging markets, mobilizing capital in the international financial markets, helping clients improve social and environmental sustainability and providing advisory services to businesses and governments. In 2020 the IFC is launching the Western Balkans Manufacturing Value Chains project, which covers Kosovo, Serbia and North Macedonia. The overall objective of the project is to improve the integration of the Western Balkans (WB) manufacturing firms into intra-regional and European value chains. This will be achieved by a) increasing connectedness of local firms to offtakers/FDIs in the WB and Eurozone through a match-making platform (Component 1), b) strengthening local manufacturing capabilities to qualify for offtakers/FDIs through private and public sector initiatives (Component 2), and c) improving the enabling environment, including regulatory issues and access to finance (Component 3).

:

1. Assignment Objective

IFC is now inviting interested firms to provide their expression of interest to work with the IFC on Component 1(match-making platform) by providing services outlined in the scope of work bellow. This assignment is not consisting development of the specific software or a separate IT product or platform. IFC is looking for a consultant that has established capabilities in managing and running existing match making platform(s) that can be expanded for the purpose of this project, specifically focusing on light manufacturing sector and the target region (Western Balkans) .
2. Scope of Work

2.1 IFC vision on the platform key features and functionalities:

Key objective of the Match-making Platform is to improve connectedness of the Western Balkans manufacturing firms into intra-regional (withing western Balkans), regional (pan-European) and iii) global value chains. For the purpose of this assignment under light manufacturing we understand sectors which include: automotive, appliances construction machinery, infrastructure machinery, agriculture and transportation machinery sub-sectors. The platform aims to bridge the disconnect between Western Balkans suppliers and potential international and localized buyers/offtakers, as described in a table bellow:
Suppliers in Western Balkans Buyers/Offtakers in the region and Eurozone

• Difficult to reach to buyer- procurement HQ if it is not in WB;

• Anecdotal efforts (business missions, trade fairs, cold emails) are not very successful and require multiple and repeated efforts

• Conundrum situation: supplier does not upgrade its standards or procure equipment without confirmed contract (or certainty that there is a market), while without this qualifications they cant get considered;

• Difficult to pitch own products

• Lack of understanding of buyer- requirement and process of qualification (eg for automotive buyer the standard pathway from first mtg to a contract can take 2+ years)

Solution required: solution that enables supplier to become a) visible to buyers, b) provide potential access to many buyers regardless geography, c) provide analytics on market trends to benchmarking of capabilities/qualifications vis a vis buyers requirements and other suppliers Buyers are not intrinsically motivated to source from the region because:

• many other options to find suppliers beyond Western Balkans + existing verified suppliers (ie too much of a hustle to search for new one from WB);

• no single “one-window” to find information about existing suppliers and their capabilities; web sites have outdated information;

• suppliers are not immediately qualifiable;

• verification can entail extra costs
Solution required: One-window place that contains verified, updated and easy searchable information on suppliers and their capabilities (along with buyers- procurement requirements)
Key functionalities of the platform shall include, not limited to::

• Be accessible and user friendly for both buyers and suppliers, and for all company sizes; ensure focus on delivering value to suppliers;

• Include verification and validation functions for both sides (and become a reliable reference tool);

• Be able to generate revenue (and later profit) based on a good business model;

• Provide for the technical and operational interoperability or connectivity with other digital platforms for auxiliary services such as finance, logistics, insurance, certification, technical vocational training and others;

• Secure that the platform remains sustainably operated and maintained once it is out of the piloting phase and launched.
The suggested platform expansion solution shall provide for:

• Higher probability of contracting and correct matching between suppliers and buyers/offtakers;

• Reducing buyer and supplier transaction costs and friction to get to a match and commercial contract;

• Relevant analytics: for suppliers where to improve and where is a market; and for buyers- statistics and benchmarks on suppliers in Western Balkans;

• Verification of information submitted by buyer/supplier and potentially providing ranking on buyers/suppliers based on audit/verifiable

Documents

 Tender Notice