REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (CONSULTANT SERVICES)

Transcription

1 REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (CONSULTANT SERVICES) Consultancy services for Systems Integration and IT project management Client: Central Bank of Yemen Country: Republic of Yemen Project: Financial Infrastructure Development Project Terms of Reference 1 / 9

2 Terms of Reference: Develop Detailed System Architecture A high level conceptual and functional specification of the main system components to be implemented as part of this project is being developed using a set of functional experts in the areas of central bank operations, payment systems and credit reporting systems. These documents would be ready by the effectiveness date of this contract. This includes the following: Functional requirements of the core banking platform. This includes a cataloguing of the required functions, the required reports, expected transaction volumes, and system performance requirements in terms of attributes like transaction response times; Functional Requirements of the Automated Transfer System, including how it will interact with the other planned and existing system components, estimated transaction volumes, and system performance requirements in terms of attributes like transaction response times; Functional Requirements of the Public Credit Registry, including cataloguing of the various data reporting templates and the reports expected from the registry, expected transaction volumes and system performance requirements in terms of attributes like transaction response times; Catalogue of existing systems in the Central Bank of Yemen, and the proposed role for these systems when the new system components are deployed. These documents should be reviewed by the consultant (firm) and based on consultations with the functional experts and the CBY these specifications should be revised if necessary. Based on these specifications, suitable system architecture should be proposed including any required software components for interfacing and integrating all the applications and detailed technical requirements should be developed and documented to a level of detail necessary to support a successful system acquisition. Upon on acceptance of the proposed System Architecture, the detailed hardware requirements and communication network requirements and data center requirements would need to be finalized. In addition, the firm should also identify any required system and network management systems. The CBY has already identified the data center sites for the primary site and the backup site and basic civil works would have been completed by the time the firm comes on board. Carry out System Acquisition Once the detailed system architecture is firmed up, the original procurement packaging and procurement plan described in project preparation documents should be reviewed and adjusted if necessary. Bidding documents will need to be reviewed, bid evaluation procedures and bid evaluation reports will need to be prepared, implemented and finalized. 2 / 9

3 An international panel composed of about three international experts might be engaged to review the overall system architecture, bidding documents, acquisition and implementation planning process. Towards the end of system installation, an independent, third-party IT consulting firm might be hired to validate and verify system implementation, including in particular security aspects before its final acceptance, if required. For tasks to be undertaken by third-party consulting firm(s), Requests for Expressions of Interest, Terms of Reference, Request for Proposals and evaluation reports will also need to be prepared. Procurement of goods and services will follow the World Bank Guidelines and are subject to the World Bank review procedures. Monitor system implementation The Project will involve multiple CBY units. It is likely that at any given period of time more than one system will be under installation. The CBY PMU which has responsibility for overall project implementation will need to closely monitor system acquisition and implementation and address in a timely manner all issues that may arise including those that require coordination between CBY task teams and different system and equipment suppliers. The CBY will need assistance from the selected firm during the entire course of the project in assuring that all acquisition, customization, integration, testing and operational planning and implementation activities are well planned and accomplished efficiently. Deliverables More specifically, the Consultant is expected to deliver the following tasks and outputs. (i) Task: Review user needs and functional requirements for each of the proposed systems; Undertake a detailed stocktaking of the existing ICT systems ; the ICT management capacity in CBY; and, assess the readiness of the external participants and users of these systems to adopt the new system components planned. Based on the functional requirements and the review of the ICT components and capacity of the CBY and participants propose the overall system and network architecture, implementation sequencing and training requirements. Expected outputs: A report describing the proposed system and network architecture., implementation sequencing and training requirements. A detailed presentation to the CBY team on the rationale and comparing various options is also required. (ii) Task: Review the proposed procurement packaging and procurement plan prepared as part of the project approval. The review would be in terms of identifying any new procurement items, modifications to existing ones and the sequencing of the procurement activities.recommendations and advice on the need for modifications if necessary should be accompanied with sound justifications. This would include assessing whether hardware and software components should be procured together or separately, whether any of the existing ICT systems in the CBY can be reused, the 3 / 9

4 order of procurement of the software packages and other data center and system integration components. Expected outputs: Detailed report assessing the current procurement plan and recommendations on the changes required. Payment: (i) and (ii) combined 10% (iii) Task: Based on the results of activities (i) (ii) and the functional specifications prepared by the functional experts, develop and adapt the technical requirements to a level of detail necessary for management understanding and to communicate CBY needs to qualified system and equipment suppliers. This would then be reviewed by the CBY with the assistance of functional consultants and upon confirmation become the basis for the bidding documents. Expected outputs: a report describing comprehensive technical requirements and group them into mandatory minimum requirements and options for better features/functionalities. (iv) Task: Finalization of bidding documents based on the World Bank Standard Bidding Documents for the Supply and Installation of Information Systems (1 & 2 stage bidding). A draft of the bidding documents for the Payment Systems, Public Credit Registry and the Core Banking System has already been prepared with the help of the functional experts conforming to the World Bank standard bidding documents. This should be used as the starting point for the development of the final bidding documents for these components and based on the finalized technical requirements (iii). For the other required system components for (e.g.) data center the development of the bidding documents needs to be done from scratch. Expected outputs: Finalization of the bidding documents acceptable to the World Bank and the CBY. (v) Task: Conduct evaluation of bids (both stage 1 and 2, as applicable) received from suppliers for each component. Expected outputs: Bid evaluation reports for the consideration of the CBY appointed technical team. (vi) Task: Assist CBY prepare for bid clarifications, supplier negotiations and finalize contract. Expected outputs: Concept papers identifying main issues that require particular attention with recommendations on negotiation strategies and on the finalized version of the contract subsequent to negotiations. Payment: (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi) combined: 20%. (vii) Task: Provide training on System Architecture, Hardware, Networking, IT security, IT project and contract management including relevant quality assurance mechanisms to a core team of around 10 staff from the CBY for each of the topics. The objective of the training is to equip the CBY team to manage the project 4 / 9

5 implementation and also establish appropriate arrangements post implementation of the system. Over the course of the project the training is estimated to represent an effort of 6 man-months. The training should be blended in with the whole project, customized for the needs of the CBY and delivered at the most appropriate times. Expected outputs: Course Plans, training materials, delivery of training activities and detailed course reports. Payment: 1% on acceptance of plan containing the topics, outline of training material and CV of the trainers and 14% apportioned across the various training sessions on completion of respective training session with satisfactory ratings from the participants. In total: 15%. (viii) Task: Advise CBY management on the monitoring and evaluation of system acquisition, system acceptance, system implementation, overall contract management (supervision and monitoring) and co-ordination of the activities of the various solution providers. In effect support the PMU in the overall project management of the IT implementation aspects. The firm should provide a project manager who would support the CBY team. It is expected that the project manager would be required to spend around 2 years over the course of the project, of which up to 15 months would be spent on-site in Sana a spread over 10 trips. The project manager would be required to participate in-person in all project steering committee meetings, critical stages of the bidding process like bidders meeting, meetings to review the bids, user acceptance testing and rollout of the system. Expected outputs: Concept papers identifying the risks/issues, written responses to CBY PMU queries, written inputs to CBY PMU reports on contract implementation and the aspects that the CBY should take care of as part of the ongoing maintenance of the system components. Payment: 47%. 2% paid upon completion of the contract with all the systems vendors (core banking, payments system and credit registry) and the rest paid in 9 installments one each quarter subsequent to each meeting of the project steering committee upon providing all the required support during that quarter. (ix) Task: Provide to the CBY PMU the Requests for Expressions of Interest, Terms of Reference, Request for Proposals, and evaluation reports for the selection of third party firm(s) for the independent validation and verification of the whole system implementation before the final acceptance. Expected outputs: Final drafts of these documents acceptable to the CBY and the World Bank. Payment: 1% (x) Task: Provide the CBY with recommendations for organizing the IT management function, including staffing, job descriptions, current and ongoing training requirements, IT risk management and IT governance framework. 5 / 9

6 Expected outputs: A detailed report on each of these aspects. The actual conduct of the trainings would be carried out as part of task (vii). Payment: 2% (xi) Task: Review the user acceptance test plans proposed by the system vendors and propose modifications or enhancements to this plan and assist the CBY in conducting the user acceptance tests. There should be a user acceptance test for all the system components. Expected Outputs: A detailed analysis of the user acceptance test plans developed by the system vendors. The analysis should identify any modifications and enhancements required and how the CBY should approach and conduct the user acceptance tests. Payment: 5% Methodology and Work Plan The assignment is estimated to take about a total of 58 professional staff-months. As knowledge transfer and capacity building is crucial to the achievement of the Projects development objectives, the estimated key staff-months also include 6 staff-months for the training tasks specified in this section. The assignment is to be carried out over a period of 48 calendar months. The assignment will require adequate stay of the Consultants teams in the field. In particular, the project manager should plan and be able to stay in the field no less than 15 months spread over the duration of the project. It is expected to be front-loaded in the first year with high demand for on-site consulting services for specification of user needs and functional requirements. Intensive preparation activities for system acquisitions may start in the first six months of the assignment and last for about two years until the bulk of the packages are procured and implemented. The Consultants methodology and work plan/implementation schedule should take into consideration the lessons learned in large-scale, central bank and financial infrastructure IT projects, and be effective and cost-efficient. The Consultant shall be willing and capable to commit the necessary resources and make them available in a timely manner in accordance with the contract implementation schedule to be mutually agreed upon at the negotiations and adjusted when appropriate by mutual agreement. The consultants should as a first step submit an inception report based on a high level review of the overall context and propose a detailed project plan. The methodology and work plan of the Consultant should take into consideration the following issues: (i) As three complex ICT systems, a data center and an inter-bank communications network will be built under the Project; the Consultant must pay adequate attention to the consistency and inter-operability of the systems. The Consultant should also pay adequate attention to the widely accepted guiding principles of IT systems, such as user friendly interface; 6 / 9

7 (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) (vii) To ensure the effectiveness of the consulting services, a participatory approach should be adopted, focusing on knowledge transfer, assistance in the assimilation of international experience and consensus building; The Consultant will also have to propose a transition plan to help CBY move to the new organizational, business and technology system; In the proposal, the Consultants shall briefly introduce their knowledge and experiences about international best practices, and provide some initial suggestions how these international best practices shall be applicable in Yemen; The Consultants deliverables shall conform in content, time and shall support the procurement plan of the overall Financial Infrastructure Development Project. The procurement plan shall be provided to the Consultant to prepare the proposal and finalize; In the proposal, the Consultant shall recommend the priority and sequencing of the procurement packages as a basis for the Consultants working plan, identify the proposed deliverables and timeline that fully meet the requirements of the project as stated here in; The Consultants methodology shall demonstrate the communication and reporting mechanism with CBY PMU during the entire consulting project; The consultants would need to appoint a project manager who will be the single point of contact for the CBY and who will co-ordinate all the activities; (viii) There is likelihood of need to revisit various aspects of the project like systems architecture, hardware requirements, networking requirements etc during the course of the project. The consultants should hence ensure the availability of the staff assigned to this project over the entire course of this project to address any queries. This would be co-ordinated by the project manager assigned by the consultants. Consultant Qualifications The Consultant must meet the following minimal requirements for the duration of the Project. The Consultant must assume direct responsibility for all aspects of the work. Subcontracting of some elements of the work will be permitted providing that the bulk of the work is undertaken and/or led by permanent full time employees of the Consultant. The Consultant must demonstrate that continuity of key project management and technical specialists will be assured. Use of local consultants/subcontractors must be specified in the proposal. In the proposal, the consultant shall clearly describe the team structure and assign a lead expert for each area of responsibility. The Consultants are expected to meet the following qualification requirements: (i) Experienced Project Manager At least 10 years of international work experience in similar assignments with implementation of payment systems, credit reporting systems, data center and core banking solution for central banks. At least a bachelor s degree in a relevant field. Experience as a project manager in at least 3 projects of similar size and nature. Understanding of central bank operational administration processes. Understanding of central banks mandate and main functions. World Bank's procurement experience. 7 / 9

8 (ii) Experienced ICT Expert System Architecture At least 10 years of international work experience in similar assignments. At least a bachelor s degree in a relevant field. Experience as a System Architect in at least 3 projects of similar size and nature. (iii) Experienced ICT Expert Central Banking Systems At least 10 years of international work experience in similar assignments. At least a bachelor s degree in a relevant field. Experience working in central banks or in similar central bank projects. Experience in integrating complex business applications systems in at least 3 projects of similar size and nature. (iv) Experienced ICT Expert Hardware assignment Proven expertise in developing the hardware requirements and successful installation for three or more similar projects. (v) Experienced ICT Expert - Networking assignment. Proven expertise in developing the communication network requirements and implementation for three or more similar projects. Good understanding of the available communication network solutions in countries like Yemen. (vi) Experienced ICT Expert - Procurement assignment. Proven experience in the procurement of World Bank or other international donor organization supported projects. 8 / 9

9 Strong knowledge of World Banks procurement guidelines and procedures for the acquisition of IT systems. (vii) Experienced ICT Expert Data center assignment Proven expertise in setting up data centers for three or more similar projects. (vi) Experienced ICT Expert Data center assignment Proven expertise in setting up data centers for three or more similar projects. 9 / 9