Tender Advertisement #1436651

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS (Open Tender)

SHORT-TERM CONSULTANCY FOR COLLECTION, TRANSPOSITION, FORMATTING AND PROFILING OF TRADE DATA OF PACIFIC ACP STATES – PHASE II

Background

The importance of evidence-based policy analysis, formulation, implementation, and monitoring must be emphasized for effective trade and economic performance. To effect policy-based trade and economic policy management, policymakers need access to real-time cross-sectional and time series data and information on trade performance measures and indicators, amongst other things. This is where trade data is one such important ingredient to aid in not only trade and economic policy management but also the formulation and review of trade negotiation and implementation of trade agreements such as the interim Economic Partnership Agreement between Pacific African, Caribbean, and Pacific (PACP) states with the European Union.

It goes without saying that where such trade data are unavailable or patchy effective trade and economic policy planning, implementation, and monitoring of trade agreements is impaired and potentially lead to underachievement and waste of valuable opportunities and resources.

Foreign investors also use bilateral trade flow data to gauge trade and investment opportunities available in a given country. Thus, the absence or non-availability of trade data also deprives the countries concerned about investment and trade opportunities.

There are several reasons why trade data availability in the selected PACP members is problematic. One reason is the intermittent reporting and/or outright non-reporting of trade data. The other reason is the need for comparability of trade data spanning more than one HS edition. Both situations hinder the effective application of trade data for trade and economic policy management and investment decision-making. Also, different PACP members are at different stages of implementation of the latest HS editions as updates are introduced every 5 five years.
With respect to trade data availability, only Fiji and Samoa report complete sets of import and trade data in HS 2012 and HS 2017 to international trade data repositories on a regular basis. Kiribati has done better than the rest. The lack of continuous reporting of trade data is attributed to a number of well-known reasons, including a lack of technical capacity to format and compile trade data in a manner suitable for international reporting.

HS 2022 came into force on 01 January 2022. For countries that started implementing HS 2022 on 01 January 2022, trade data for the year 2022 should be available in HS 2022. However, even when a country has its 2022 trade data in HS 2022 as of 01 January 2023 or later, it would still face the problem of data comparability over longer periods of time where more than one HS edition is involved. For example, if trade and economic policy analysis requires examining trade data over a ten-year period such as 2012-2022, policymakers will be faced with the challenge that they cannot readily make comparisons of trade data where commodity classification has changed over time with changes in the HS editions.

Purpose

This Consultancy is Phase II of the initiative to collect, format, and transpose trade statistics from the PACPS to populate the Regional Trade Statistics Database (RTSD). Phase II targets the rest of the PACPS plus Tonga (outstanding data years) and Vanuatu. The rest of the PACPS are: Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Kiribati, Nauru, Marshall Islands*, and Palau.

* The Republic of the Marshall Islands does not have trade statistics in electronic format. Instead, their trade statistics are available in hard copies of their Single Administrative Documents (SAD) and would require extra work to classify and digitize information from the hard copies.

For this reason, Marshall Islands would require a separate intervention, while Phase II will focus on PACPS with ready-made or ready-to-collect trade statistics, being:
(1) Cook Islands
(2) Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)
(3) Kiribati
(4) Nauru
(5) Palau
(6) Tonga (progressive from Phase I)
(7) Vanuatu (no data submitted in Phase I)

Scope of Work

The Consultant will deliver the following:
i. Develop and submit a Work Plan delineating the Consultant’s activities.
ii. Consult extensively with all relevant stakeholders.
iii. Collect quantitative data on bilateral trade flows from the selected PACP members.
iv. Transpose and present bilateral trade flows for each country to HS 2022 and HS 2017.
v. Submit a draft project report covering work done, including data collection, consultations, data processing, and outputs.

Academic Qualifications

The Consultant must possess expertise and experience in analysis, assessment, and HS transposition work for each PACP beneficiary. S/he will have a clear understanding of tariff policy and schedules, and trade trends. Knowledge of the World Trade Organization (WTO), World Customs Organisation (WCO), and Pacific intra-regional and international trade dynamics is essential.

Required Qualifications and skills
i. A bachelor’s degree is required; a master’s degree is preferred.
ii. A minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience is required; 15 years of relevant work experience in HS transposition is preferred.
iii. Knowledge or experience working with ASYCUDA statistics.
iv. Strong communication, analytical, writing, and interpersonal skills; excellent report writing abilities required.
v. Ability to work as a part of a team.
vi. Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite.

In addition to the above, the following will be a distinct advantage.

vii. Previous experience in the country and regional area (Pacific region or any other Small Island Developing States).
viii. Knowledge of donor-funded trade and economic development programs and regional and sub-regional trade and economic integration initiatives in the Pacific region.


HOW TO APPLY

Submissions should be entitled:

[OPEN TENDER] – [SHORT-TERM CONSULTANCY FOR COLLECTION, TRANSPOSITION, FORMATTING AND PROFILING OF TRADE DATA OF PACIFIC ACP STATES – PHASE II]

Method of Submissions:

Submissions must be forwarded in PDF format following the instructions at www.tenders.net/forumsec

Note: Tenders must be submitted with clear labelling of the technical offer and the financial offer. The Technical Offer documents must be saved and submitted clearly labelled “A. Technical Offer”. Financial Offer documents must be saved and submitted clearly labelled “B. Financial Offer”.

The electronically submitted documents should be converted to the PDF format.

Deadline for Submissions:

Submissions need to reach the Secretariat by 4pm (Fiji Time) Monday 8 April 2024.

Late or incomplete tenders will not be considered.

Questions and Answers

All queries or request for information must be submitted via the Question and Answer Forum at www.tenders.net/forumsec . Tenderers may submit questions in writing to the mentioned Question and Answer Forum before the stated “deadline for requesting clarifications” 1 April 2024. The Secretariat has no obligation to provide clarification after this date.

Note: The Secretariat will not be responsible for non-receipt/non-delivery of the Bid documents due to any reason whatsoever.

Any complaints regarding the Secretariat’s tender must be directed to the following email: Tender.Complaints@forumsec.org. This email address will forward your complaint to a person that is independent and removed from the tender process. Complaints must be well founded and should not be used as a mechanism for notifying displeasure with the outcome of a tender award. Further information on making a complaint can be found on the Policies & Information page at http://tenders.forumsec.org.

In the event that further information is required by the Secretariat in relation to the tender for consultancy, the Secretariat reserves the right to seek the required information without the need for calling for resubmission of proposals.