REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (REOI) FOR INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF THE INTEGRATED FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM

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1 Tel: (232-22) Cell: (232-79) Public Financial Management Improvement and Consolidation Project 3 rd Floor Sierra Leone Commercial Bank Building 35A Light-Foot Boston Street Freetown Sierra Leone MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, GEORGE STREET, FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE GOVERNMENT OF SIERRA LEONE REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (REOI) FOR INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF THE INTEGRATED FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM Country: Republic of Sierra Leone Name of Project: Public Financial Management Improvement and Consolidation Project (PFMICP) Credit/Grant Numbers: IDA Credit Number 5350-SL, TF Grant Number SL and AfDB Assignment Title: Consulting Services for the independent assessment of the integrated financial management information system. Reference No. MoFED/PFMICP/PMU/CQS/002/5/2016 Date of Issuance: Thursday 2nd June, Source of Funds The Government of Sierra Leone has received funding in the amount of Twenty Eight Million, Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars ($28,500,000) from International Development Association IDA of the Word Bank, Multi-Donor Trust Funds (MDTF) - European Union (EU), DFID and pool funding from the AfDB towards the cost of Public Financial Management Improvement and Consolidation Project and intends to use part of the proceeds of the financing for this activity. This activity involves the Independent Assessment of the Integrated Financial Management Information System. 2.0 Objectives/Justification of the Assignment The main purpose of this engagement is to provide an independent review of the IFMIS application platform to establish any operational, functional and system design deficiencies of the system.

2 More specifically, this engagement shall provide assessment on the following: IFMIS interface capability GOSL s interface requirements and system s suitability to meet these requirementscontractual obligations (especially coverage of functional and technical requirements) Architectural framework System reporting capability Licensing agreement and obligations Licensing utilization Hardware assessment End-to-end usability of the combined IFMIS application platform Internal controls and business processes Response times for support request Access and security controls Integration and interoperability (of embedded application modules) Connectivity (WAN and LAN) support for IFMIS Technical support and helpdesk for IFMIS Capacity building and training Overall system implementation progress to date IFMIS roll-out (confirm exactly what is to be done) Systems documentation 3.0 Scope of Services The identified consultants will review,advise and propose improvements and it is expected of the consultant to identify gaps with regards to the present IFMIS setup. The selected consultant will advise the GOSL on the pertinent IFMIS functional and technical areas this engagement should cover in order to provide the government with the most appropriate and independent views on the overall IFMIS implementation and deployment to date. This service provider is required to make unbiased recommendations on improving the existing IFMIS application and infrastructural environment. In short, the selected consultant is expected, among other tasks, to: 1. Identify any gaps and shortcomings with the system and provide recommendations to improve system s functionality; 2. Provide advice and recommend improvements for efficiency with present infrastructure and communication aspects 3. Document and present in the form of a final draft paper, key recommendations on the way forward for the central government IFMIS

3 4.0 Task to be performed by the Consultancy Firm: The selected consultant is expected to advise the GOSL on the particular and all-inclusive lowlevel areas this engagement should cover in order to provide the government with the most appropriate and independent views on the overall IFMIS implementation and deployment to date and to make unbiased recommendations on improving the existing IFMIS application and infrastructural environment. In short, the selected consulting firm is expected, among other tasks, to: Review all contractual agreements between the GoSL and FreeBalance of Canada and establish whether contractual obligations have been met. Undertake a simple network traffic assessment and analysis as well as traffic within the suggested data centre during pick hours. Schedule and conduct detailed interviews with all IFMIS stakeholders with pertinent stake in the existing IFMIS setup across the GOSL Assess possibilities for an upgrade which should include development of required interfaces with Electronic Funds Transfer, NRA existing system, CS-DRMS; implementation of the GFS2001 compliant budget classification, business process improvements, reporting, optimal use of the budget module, conversion into centralized into a centralized technology architecture, capacity building and SLA for better and a more efficient support arrangements. Undertake all present hardware and identify any gaps and shortcomings that may exist. Undertake system performance and produce a report of recommendations to the IFMIS technical team and the project Task Team Leader. Undertake data base analyses for the design and scalability after implementation in readiness for a possible upgrade. Assess and comment on the logical design and ICT system architecture Engage the IFMIS vendor, the World Bank (implementation team members, past and present), the PFMRU (the then IFMIS Project Implementation Unit PIU), the ICTD, the Budget Bureau (BB) and the AGD on all IFMIS implementation activities undertaken since inception that falls within their domain Identify and document all key findings derived from the interviews conducted with the key stakeholders Examine the state of the local government FMIS and determine the feasibility for a combined central and local governments (national and sub-national) PFM Information System (PFMIS) Document and present in the form of a final draft paper, key recommendations on the way forward for the central government IFMIS 5.0 Methodology/Approach/Implementation Strategy/Implementation Arrangements There will be created, a TC for this IDSA engagement and the main purpose for this committee is to oversee the successful implementation of this assignment. The TC is independent of the procurement process for this engagement and shall focus exclusively on the implementation of this engagement. The TC will serve as a reference group for the engagement consultant and the committee will compose the Director of the Economic Policy and Research Unit (EPRU) of MOFED as the Chairman. The other members of the committee shall will include the ICT

4 Director of the National Revenue Authority (NRA), a representative with ACCA qualification from Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL), Director of the Procurement Directorate (MOFED), one Chief Technology Officer at the line ministry level and finally, one Director from the Human Resources Management Office (HRMO). The TC will approve all reports from this consultant. It is expected of the consultant to provide the TC with regular status updates on the activities and progress of the engagement and must ensure that all targets and timelines are adhered to consistently. The consultant should be fully self-sufficient and must ensure that all reasonable costs associated with the delivery of this assignment are accounted for in the consultant s financial proposal for this engagement 6.0 The key staffs and their respective qualifications would be as follows: CISA qualified IT Professional who would also be the Team Leader Qualified Accountant with ACCA/CPA/CMA/ The consultancy should ensure that it provides Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) Senior Business Process/Management Professional with MBA in Business Management/Administration or Finance or Accounting Junior Business Process Professional Qualified IT Professional with Certification as a DBA 7.0 Duration of the Assignment The duration of the assignment is 45 days with a total man-day input of 175 days. The Public Financial Management Improvement and Consolidation Project (PFMICP) now invites eligible consulting firms to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested consulting firms should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to address the needs highlighted above. 8.0 Selection Criteria The Consultant will be selected in accordance with firms' selection method set out in the World Bank s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants under IDA Grants by World Bank Borrowers, (January 2011). ( Consultant Guidelines ). The Consulting firm will be selected in accordance with Consultants Qualification Selection (CQS) method set out in the Consultant Guidelines. This REoI will lead to the preparation of Short list of consulting firms. The attention of interested Consulting firms are drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants under IDA Grants by World Bank Borrowers, (January 2011). ( Consultant Guidelines ), setting forth the World Bank s policy on conflict of interest. The consultant is expected to be on board by 25th of July, 2016.

5 Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 0900 to 1700 hours Sierra Leone time. Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below by surface mail or e- mail not later than Thursday 23 rd June, The Project Director Public Financial Management Improvement and Consolidation Project (PFMICP) Ministry of Finance and Economic Development 3 rd Floor, Sierra Leone Commercial Bank Building 35A Lightfoot Boston Street Freetown, Sierra Leone Attn: The Project Director Tel: ; Cell: s: mofedpfmicp@gmail.com