Tender Advertisement #1058903

REQUEST FOR TENDER

Review of PICTA Rules of Origin

Background

1. In 2001, Forum Island Countries signed the Pacific Island Countries Trade Agreement (PICTA) to promote regional integration moving towards wider integration with the global economy. PICTA was opened for signature on 18 August 2001 and came into force on 13 April 2003. Trading under PICTA became operational on 1 January 2007 .

2. A major challenge facing Pacific Island Countries is strengthening their export sectors as a basis for accelerated growth. However, recent experience shows that few of these countries have succeeded in meeting this challenge. Stringent rules of origin, capacity and related procedural issues are some of the key challenge faced by entrepreneurs in maximising opportunities emanating from these treaties.

3. Preferential rules of origin plays a central role in facilitating the effectiveness of any free trade area, and in this case the PICTA preferential tariff treatment is accorded if the products from Parties to the PICTA meet the rules of origin criteria contained therein . Other challenges identified by those utilising the Agreement include stringent PICTA Rules of Origin, capacity and procedural challenges, etc.

4. At their meeting in Apia, Samoa in 2017, Leaders agreed that the PICTA framework provides for deeper integration amongst the Forum Island Countries and directed the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat to facilitate the establishment of a PICTA Rules of Origin Committee (ROC) to review the PICTA ROO.

Purpose

5. The review of the PICTA Rules of Origin is required for a modernised and streamlined process to facilitate better and increased intra-regional trade and investments flows. The rules of origin proposed should enable the private sector in the region to reach new export markets and to take advantage of available duty benefits in trade agreements. It should also enable them to diversify their export markets by understanding if and how they qualify for tariff preferences across several markets simultaneously across the region.

Scope of Work

6. To review, analyse and evaluate the PICTA Rules of Origin taking into consideration the Preferential ROOs in other regional (including PACER-Plus), and sub-regional (MSGFTA) trade agreements. Consultations will also be undertaken with PICTA Parties, non-parties, private sector and other stakeholders in order to inform recommendations related to the amendment of the PICTA Rules of Origin, and as per specifications set out under the Terms of Reference (TOR) document which can be downloaded from www.tenders.net/forumsec.

Academic Qualifications

7. The candidate must have a Post graduate qualification in the areas of Trade or Business Management with at least 10 years Trade Policy work especially in Customs operations with special focus on Rules of Origin.

HOW TO APPLY

Submissions should be entitled:

OPEN TENDER - Review of PICTA Rules of Origin

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 29 March 2019 (5:00pm Fiji time)

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" [22 March 2019, 5:00 Fiji time]. 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.