REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

Deadline: 22 May, 2015

UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES

UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES OPEN CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

CONSULTANCY SERVICES TO PREPARE AN IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK FOR THE SINGLE VIRTUAL UNIVERSITY SPACE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

The University of the West Indies (UWI) has received financing from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) in an amount equivalent to thirteen million, one hundred and sixty United States dollars (USD13.16 mn) towards the cost of University of the West Indies Open Campus Development Project and intends to apply a portion of the proceeds of this financing to eligible payments under a contract for which this invitation is issued. Payments by CDB will be made only at the request of UWI and upon approval by CDB, and will be subject in all respects to the terms and conditions of the Financing Agreement. The Financing Agreement prohibits withdrawal from the financing account for the purpose of any payment to persons or entities, or for any import of goods, if such payment or import, to the knowledge of CDB, is prohibited by a decision of the United Nations Security Council taken under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. No party other than UWI shall derive any rights from the Financing Agreement or have any claim to the proceeds of the Financing.

The University of the West Indies, Open Campus, (OC) the Executing Agency, now wishes to procure consultancy services for the Single Virtual University Space Project (SVUS).

The objective of the consultancy is to assist UWI in the implementation of the SVUS project. The Consultants are required to prepare an implementation framework for the SVUS project with a focus on a least cost approach including cost effectiveness, sustainability and a return on investment. This will necessitate a review of UWI’s financial model and student administration processes as they relate to inter-campus transactions/arrangements. In addition, the consultant will be required to conduct a cost/benefit analysis; propose recommendations for achieving income for sustainability and develop a plan for implementing recommendations. The duration of the assignment is expected to be for a period of four (4) months. OC now invites interested eligible consulting firms to submit Expressions of Interest for the provision of these consultancy services.

Consultants shall be eligible to participate if:

(a) in the case of a body corporate, it is legally incorporated or otherwise organised in an eligible country, has its principal place of business in an eligible country and is more than 50% beneficially owned by citizen(s) and/or bona fide resident(s) of eligible country(ies) or by a body(ies) corporate meeting these requirements;

(b) in the case of unincorporated firms, the persons are citizens or bona fide residents of an eligible country; and

(c) in all cases, the consultant has no arrangement and undertakes not to make any arrangements, whereby any substantial part of the net profits or other tangible benefits of the contract will accrue or be paid to a person not a citizen or bona fide resident of an eligible country.

Eligible countries are member countries of CDB.

In the assessment of submissions, consideration will be given to technical competence, qualifications and experience, local and regional experience on similar assignments, financial capability and existing commitments. All information must be submitted in English. Further information may be obtained from the first address below between 09:00 and 16:00 hours Monday to Friday.

Two hard copies of the Expressions of Interest must be received at the first address below no later than 15:00 hours on Friday, May 22, 2015 and one hard copy must be sent simultaneously to CDB at the second address below. The sealed envelope containing each submission should include the name and address of the applicant and shall be clearly marked “Expression of Interest – Consultancy Services to Prepare an Implementation Framework for the Single University Space at the University of the West Indies” (UWI).

Following the assessment of submissions, a short-list of not less than three and not more than six applicants will be provided with full terms of reference and invited to submit technical and financial proposals to undertake the assignment. UWI reserves the right to accept or reject late applications or to cancel the present invitation partially or in its entirety. It will not be bound to assign any reason for not short-listing any applicant and will not defray any costs incurred by any applicant in the preparation and submission of Expressions of Interest.