USAID Nigeria State Accountability, Transparency and Effectiveness (State2State)Activity-Development of Standard Bidding Documents for Priority Sector

Position Objectives

The specific objective of this consultancy is to work with the bureau of public procurement (BPP) in Ebonyi State to develop comprehensive standard bidding documents tailored to the specific needs of the State2State priority sectors of education, health and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in the State that are aligned with national and international best practices. This initiative aims to streamline procurement processes, ensure transparency, and enhance the efficiency of project implementation in these key sectors in Ebonyi State.

The documents would strengthen the public procurement process and procedures, enhance the transparency of the procurement process, and facilitate efficient and effective allocation of resources to the priority sector MDAs. Standardized bidding documents will also mitigate the risks associated with procurement processes by ensuring legal compliance, thereby minimizing the likelihood of disputes and legal challenges during procurement activities. Furthermore, it would equip procurement officers and relevant stakeholders with the necessary skills, knowledge, and resources to effectively navigate and implement standardized procurement procedures, thereby improving overall procurement efficiency and effectiveness.

Position Responsibilities and deliverables:

The Consultant is expected to perform the following activities and deliver the following deliverables that are technically acceptable to State2State, including review and feedback followed up by timely responses from the Consultant:

• Comprehensive review of existing procurement laws, regulations, and guidelines in Ebonyi State, including the Ebonyi State Public Procurement and Related Matters Law, to ensure alignment and compliance with legal frameworks.
• Develop draft standardized bidding documents, including Invitation to Bid (ITB), Instructions to Bidders (ITB), Bid Form, Bid Security Requirements, Contract Documents, Evaluation Criteria, Form of Agreement, General Conditions of Contract, and Special Conditions of Contract.
• Develop draft standardized bidding documents, including Invitation to Bid (ITB), Instructions to Bidders (ITB), Bid Form, Bid Security Requirements, Contract Documents, Evaluation Criteria, Form of Agreement, General Conditions of Contract, and Special Conditions of Contract.
• Train state partners to ensure that they are proficient in using the standard bidding documents and understand the principles of transparent and accountable procurement practices.
• Preparation of Activity Report acceptable to State2State, including response to review and quality assurance comments.

Reporting: The Consultant will report to the Technical Director PFM through the State Team Lead.

Minimum Requirements:

• Minimum of a Master’s degree in relevant field such as Accounting, Finance, Economics, Public Administration, Public Finance Management, etc.;
• Residence in, or experience working in Ebonyi State;
• Minimum of 7 years of experience working in Public Financial Management (PFM), audit, budgeting, policy and governance;
• Experience working with counterparts at the state government level and understanding of local governance issues related to Public Financial Management, audit, budgeting, and resource allocation required;
• Previous experience working with government officials or in government offices preferred;
• Experience with the use of training the trainers (TOT) methodology;
• Experience with USAID or other donor funded projects focused on governance, public finance management, education, health or WASH preferred;
• Fluency in English and a relevant local language preferred.
• Membership of professional bodies such as ICAN, ACCA, ANAN, etc. is an added advantage
• Demonstrated effective training, capacity building and coaching skills, networking, interpersonal skills, creative problem solving, conflict, and ethical management skills;
• Strong skill set in reporting, monitoring and evaluation;
• Computer literacy in word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software (Microsoft Office).