Digital Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ecosystem Development Project

Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority (BHTPA)

Information and Communication Technology Division

Ministry of Post, Telecommunication and Information Technology

ICT Tower, Level- 09, Plot-E-14/X, Agargaon, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh

Website: www.bhtpa.gov.bd

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (REOI)

(CONSULTING SERVICES: INTERNATIONAL FIRMS)

Issue no: 56.02.0000.028.07.059.22.361                                                                                           Date: 09/05/2022

COUNTRY: Bangladesh

NAMEOFPROJECT: Digital Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ecosystem Development Project under Private Investment and Digital Entrepreneurship (PRIDE) Project

Loan No./Credit No./ Grant No.: Loan No: IDA-6676-BD

Assignment Title: Consultancy (Firm) for the University Innovation Hub Program Management Firm

Reference No. (as per Procurement Plan): DEIEDP-BHTPA-S-17 (University Innovation Hub Program Management Firm). The Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh has received financing from the World Bank (IDA) toward the cost of Digital Entrepreneurship and Innovation Eco-System Development (DEIED) Project under Private Investment and Digital Entrepreneurship Project (PRIDE) and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) include:

A. Objectives:

To promote the early stages of innovation in Bangladesh’s start-up ecosystem, the BHTPA aims to support the establishment of university innovation hubs. The hubs are envisaged to provide a venue and program for the pre-incubation of cohorts of students and alumni at participating universities. The BHTPA is seeking expressions of interest from internationally reputed firms to design, operate, and ultimately, transfer to the universities, such programs.

B. Place of Work: Project Area and universities under the project

C. Implementation Period: The Assignment will start from December 2022 and will be continued up to 45 (forty-five months)

D. Total professional staff-months: 195 person-month (Key Expert)

E. Expected start date of the assignment: December2022

The detailed Terms of Reference  (TOR) for the assignment are available in the www.bhtpa.gov.bd website, CPTU website (www.cptu.gov.bd) and dgMarket website to this request for expressions of interest.

The Digital Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ecosystem Development under PRIDE Project implemented by the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority under Information and Communication Technology Divisions now inviting eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the stated Services. Interested Consulting firms should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the services.

F. Shortlisting criteria

The interested firm is required to provide evidence-based information demonstrating their required qualification and relevant experience to achieve the stated targets of this project. The eligibility criteria to be used for selecting firm/ organization are as follows:

F.1 General Experience: The firm/ organization/ consortium of firms and/ organizations must have at least 5 (five) years of experience in operating large-scale innovation/ incubation/ acceleration program(s).

F.2. Specific Experience: The firm/ consortium members must have at least 03 (three) years of experience of managing and operating innovation/ incubation hub(s)/ center(s) at any reputed higher education institution(s) with a proven track record of impactful innovation and successful incubation having significant influence in the national/ regional innovation/ startup ecosystem.

F.2.1. The firm/ organization shall bring in, as knowledge partners/ collaborators, internationally renowned entrepreneurship-focused academic institution(s) situated in the key global technology and innovation hub, such as in the Silicon Valley or similar hubs.

F.2.2. The firm/ organization, in addition to recruiting professional mentors, should be able to recruit mentors/ coaches/ advisors from the Bangladeshi tech communities who are actively engaged in mentoring/ coaching/ advising Bangladeshi startups as well as have experience as investing in Bangladeshi startups, including active engagements with the active angel networks will be preferred.

F.2.3. The firm/ organization should have active engagements in running innovation/ incubation/ acceleration program for female participants. Experience in running such programs in Bangladeshi ecosystems will be considered as an additional qualification. 

F.3.Average Annual Turnover: The consulting firm/ consortium member(s) must have at least US Dollar 1.00 (one) million as average annual turnover for at least 2 (two) years in last 5 (five) years. In case of Joint Venture, any one of the partners fulfilling the criteria is accepted. As proof, authenticated audit report by a renowned chartered accountant firm for the mentioned year should be submitted.

F.4. Management Capability: The consulting firm should demonstrate an efficient and effective management capability through its website, social media presence, brochure, photographs of office, its management team/staff, its organogram, IT related facilities and equipment.

F.5. Human Resource Pool: The consulting firm should submit a list of the resource pool including the Key Experts, indicating their skill, knowledge, and capability. The Human Resource Pool should show how it supports reaching into the relevant stakeholder community. CV/ resume of any expert/ staff at the EOI stage is not required. (Detail CV/ resume with educational and experience certificate will be needed during RFP stage).

F.6. Joint Venture (JV): In case of Joint Venture Association (JVA) or Joint Venture Consortium (JVC), an agreement in Non-judicial Stamp issued/ authorized by the Government of Bangladesh valued BDT 300 is required and the lead firm must have at least 02 (two) years of experience in running innovation/ incubation/ acceleration program. The agreement must clearly indicate the responsibilities of each partner, their full office address indicating the lead partner and signing authority. In case of intent to form joint venture, no stamp is required at this stage and this should be submitted in letter head pad of the company.

F.7. Other legal documents: Incorporation Certificate, Income Tax registration certificate and up-to-date tax return submission certificate, VAT registration certificate, up-to-date trade license, litigation certificate (the firm may provide in its own letterhead pad).

F.8. Reward and certification: The firm may attach any certificate related to reward, ISO certification, certification of any relevant association/ organization, IT/ ITES related certification etc. which may bear value during evaluation.

G. Selection Procedure

The Selection and Employment of the Consultant will follow “The World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers, Procurement in Investment Project Financing, Goods, Works, Non-consulting and Consulting Services, Fourth Edition, November 2020: Section VII, Clause 7.2.a and & 7.3: Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS). Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours [i.e., 0900 to 1700 hours] on or before 20 June 2022.

H. Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form directly to the address below by 27 June 2022 on or before 5.00 PM (17.00) Bangladesh local time (no electronic submission will be accepted).

Abul Fatah Md. Baligur Rahman

Project Director

Digital Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ecosystem Development Project Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority, ICT Tower, Level-09, Plot E-14/X Agargaon, Shere-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka. Phone: +88-02- 55006889

Web Site: www.bhtpa.gov.bd,

E-mail: [email protected]