https://devbusiness.un.org/node/793393
                                                        REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA                                                      MINISTRY OF EDUCATION                                     REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST-(REOI) (CONSULTING SERVICES-CONSULTANT’S QUALIFICATION-BASED SELECTION) Name of Project Improving Results in Secondary Education (IRISE) Project Project ID P164932 Grant ID D5030-LR Assignment Title Terms of Reference for Technical Assistance to support the Development of IT Solutions for Accessing Textbooks, Teacher Guides and Other Customized Teaching and Learning Resources Reference No. LR-MOE-208225-CS-CQS   1. Introduction The Government of Liberia has received a grant equivalent to USD 47 million from the International Development Association (IDA) to implement the Improving Results in Secondary Education (IRISE) Project, hereinafter “the Project”. The Project duration is four years.  The Ministry of Education (MoE) is the IRISE implementation agency responsible for project execution and results monitoring. The implementation is overseen by the Ministry’s Senior Management Team (SMT). One of the interventions under the project is to promote alignment/linkages between curriculum, Textbooks and Teacher’s Guide and assessment systems; and address the severe shortage of teaching and learning materials (TLMs) in public and community schools at the senior secondary levels. 2. Background 2.1 Project’s development objective (PDO) is to improve equitable access to, and quality of, secondary education and provide a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will be achieved through a set of activities that are grouped into the five components: Improving access and learning environment at the senior secondary level Increasing opportunities for girls to transition to and complete senior secondary education Improving quality and relevance of senior secondary education Capacity building, Technical Assistance, project coordination and M&E Contingency Emergency Response Component. The progress towards the achievement of the PDO will be monitored through the following key indicators: GER at the senior secondary level (percentage; and percentage female) Increased percentage of public and community senior secondary schools with a qualified teacher each in Math, Science and English Number of direct project beneficiaries (number of females). Students' perception about the adequacy of the conditions of their schools to avoid the spread of COVID-19. 2.2 The Project employs a hybrid funding approach including the financing of inputs for interventions supported under Components 1, 4 and 5, and a results-based financing (RBF) modality with disbursement-linked indicators (DLIs) for Components 2 and 3. Disbursements under Components 2 and 3 will be conditioned on the achievement of specified results, as measured by DLIs. Such approach reflects a shift from an emphasis on inputs to focusing on incentivizing the achievement of results.    2.3 Sub-component 3.2 aims to: (i) promote alignment/linkages between curriculum, Textbooks and Teacher’s Guide and assessment systems; and (ii) address the severe shortage of learning materials in public and community schools at the senior secondary level by: (a) reviewing and revising existing MoE textbook management guidelines; (b) identifying and adapting existing Textbooks and Teacher’s Guide and learning materials to the national curriculum at the senior secondary level in select subjects (Mathematics, Language Arts, Biology, Chemistry and Physics);  (c) procuring and distributing newly adapted Textbooks and Teacher’s Guide; and (d) Development of Textbooks Application and Digital Platform. 3. Objective of the assignment The objective of the proposed assignment is to develop an IT solution for textbooks, teacher guides and other learning materials accessible to all users, with a mobile application that will point to the IT solution for mobile access. 4. Scope of Services The Consulting firm to be hired based on this Terms of Reference shall: Digitize the MoE newly revised textbooks and teacher’s guide in English, Mathematic, Physics, Chemistry and Biology for grades 10-12 that can be accessed on any device (mobile phones, computers or tablets) that also captures user log in activities. Test the tools with MoE’s staff, selected students and teachers, collect feedback and finalize the tools. train the Center of Excellence for Curriculum Development and Textbook Research as well as the Division of Information Technology (IT) at the MoE on maintenance and upkeep of the IT solution. recommend an appropriate host capable of managing the IT solution; provide the IT solution support and methodology guide (support response time, software disaster recovery etc.); conduct a 3-week usage training of MOE staff on the IT solution; conduct the IT solution implementation rollout and turnover; provide the IT solution maintenance and support during the warranty period (One year). Transfer ownership of the source code for the IT solution developed to the MOE. More information is provided in the terms of reference. The detailed Terms of Reference can be assessed through the link below: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IUTV0v1DTQoNu26EMS7iU9fql9neHn7o/view?u... You may also obtain a copy of the Terms of Reference from the email address below: [email protected] copied to [email protected] The Ministry of Education now invites eligible consultancy 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 by submitting their most current company profile. 5. Shortlisting Criteria The Shortlisting criteria for the proposed assignment are: Formally registered legal entity in legal jurisdiction of the firm. Minimum of five (5) years’ experience in software development and web application; preferably with skills in server-side programming (PHP, Java Script, ASP.NET, MYSQL/SQL DATABASE) Experience in Web development and App development (android, IOS). Experience in Amazon Skills (AWS DEvOps). developing institutional capacity in web content and content management. Experience in carrying out similar assignment within West Africa. General Qualifications and Number of Key staff (Appropriate skills and staff). Key staff will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage. Note: Only firm(s) with the required qualifications and relevant experience that meet the requirements of the REoI will be invited to submit technical and financial proposals. The attention of Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16 and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” July 2016, revised November 2017, August 2018 and Fourth Edition, November 2020, setting forth the World Bank’s Policy on conflict of interest. Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications but should indicate clearly whether the association is in the form of a joint venture and/or a sub-consultancy. In the case of a joint venture, all partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected. A Consulting Firm will be selected in accordance with the Consultant’s Qualification-Based Selection Method set out in the World Bank Procurement Regulations. Expression of interest which must bear the title, “ Terms of Reference for Technical Assistance to support the Development of IT Solutions for Accessing Textbooks, Teacher Guides and Other Customized Teaching and Learning Resources” must be submitted in written form electronically to the address below (in person, or by mail or by email) by 17.00 hours local time on August 16, 2021. Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm, local time or through [email protected] and copied to [email protected] Address for submission of expressions of interest: The Ministry of Education Ministerial Complex, Congo Town, Monrovia, Liberia Attention: Abraham A. Kiazolu, II- Deputy Project Coordinator & Technical Lead, Improving Results in secondary Education (IRISE) Project The address for online submission is: [email protected] and copied to [email protected] Improving Results in Secondary Education (IRISE) Liberia Not cancelled Request for Expression of Interest Consulting Services- Firm Monday, August 16, 2021- 17:00 WB-P793393-08/21 IDAD5030 LR-MOE-208225-CS-CQS P164932 General- Education and Training Information and Communications Technology Tuesday, August 3, 2021 OP00140725 English Tuesday, August 3, 2021- 13:50 Ministry of Education Abraham A. Kiazolu, II 3rd Street, SinkorMonrovia, Liberia +231779062191 [email protected] Secondary Education, Public Administration- Education World Bank Sunday, August 1, 2021- 20:00 IBRD/IDA Loans (PE) Ministry of Education USD 150000.00 Procurement of ICT Services to develop Textbooks application and digital platform Deputy Project Coordinator proc_voc_id: 43232502 proc_voc_title: Computer based training software seg_id: 43000000 seg_title: Information Technology Broadcasting and Telecommunications family_id: 43230000 family_title: Software class_id: 43232500 class_title: Educational or reference software cmdty_id: 43232502 cmdty_title: Computer based training software