REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (CONSULTING SERVICES – INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT)

Name of Project: “Western Balkans Trade and Transport Facilitation Phase 2” (TTFP)

Loan No: 94710-ME

Assignment Title: Railway Specialist

Reference No. MNE-WBTTFP-94710-ME-IC-CS-24-4.1.3

October 15, 2024.

The Government of Montenegro has received financing in the total amount of USD 15,000,000.00 (equivalent) from the World Bank, toward the costs of the “Western Balkans Trade and Transport Facilitation Phase 2” (TTFP) project and intends to apply part of the proceeds of this loan towards payment for Consulting services under the Contract for Individual Consultant: Railway Specialist

The Program Development Objective for the MPA is to reduce trade costs and increase transport efficiency in the Western Balkans- Six Countries. Montenegro, with one of the two gateway ports to the Western Balkans, holds a critical position for the landlocked countries of the region as well as along the TEN-T corridor and linkages to the broader European region. Given its advanced progress, towards EU membership and developed road transport infrastructure, Montenegro stands to gain significantly from efficiency gains provided by the TTFP in the country and in neighboring countries through increased road and rail connectivity and enhanced trade integration.

The Ministry of Transport (MoT) is the umbrella ministry under which the transport sector falls and will serve as the lead implementing agency for the TTFP project. The Ministry of Transport (MoT) needs the technical services of the Railway Specialist who will be responsible   to plan, monitor, control and provide technical support on all the railway and engineering related activities in the Project. The Railway Specialist will work closely with the Ministry of Transport (MoT), and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that the railway and engineering related activities of the project are managed efficiently both technically and in compliance with the objectives of the Project Appraisal Document (PAD), the Project's Legal Agreement and Financing Agreement, and the Project Operations Manual. The Railway Specialist, always aligned with the Project Menager and in collaboration with the other Project Officers, shall interact and liaise with different ministries through their focal points, units and agencies and also a number of other external bodies, contractors, consultants, World Bank, partners, and other agencies in the Western Balkans at the same time. Creativity, initiative, analytical capacity and team work are therefore required to cope with such diverse demands and actors, which makes working experience in the Region desirable and similar working experience on an international railway operation is desirable. The main challenge is to ensure that the contractors/consultants produce an acceptable quality of work within the budget allowances and time, so that the objectives of the Project are achieved. This will be done in close cooperation with the Project Manager, the contractors and consultants, and other agencies involved in the preparing the transport policy (as described in the Project Operation Manual).

The Railway Specialist – shall be engaged to implement and follow the Projects activities on a full-time or part-time daily basis (working days, from Monday to Friday). Upon negotiations, the contract will be signed for a period of 1 year with the possibility of renewal till the end of the project implementation (April 30, 2028), with the possible extension after this period. The consultancy is expected to start not later than September 2024 and includes an initial probation period of 3 months. Successful management of the project requires a dynamic person, with excellent communication skills, who is ready to work in a team and contribute to a positive team spirit.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be obtained upon request at the e-mail address given below.

The MoT through the Technical Service Unit, now invites eligible individual consultants (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that have required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. Individual consultants may be offered through the firms or other organizations, but the only qualifications of the individual consultant will be the basis of selection. Contract will be signed with proposed individuals. Successful management of the project requires a dynamic person, with excellent communication skills, who is ready to work in a team and contribute to a positive team spirit.

The criteria for selection are following:

Qualification (mandatory) criteria:

University Diploma (minimum 4-year university degree) in rail transport engineering or electro technical engineering or any relevant discipline;

Relevant experience in railway sector;

Relevant experience in Railway Level Crossing Design and Construction, Signaling

Written and spoken fluency in English is essential (knowledge of Montenegrin desirable);

Computer literacy in AutoCAD, Word, Excel, scheduling tools (e.g.: MS Project or similar).

*Knowledge of local language will be considered as an asset.

Evaluation criteria:

Additionally, ‘’MoT’’ may decide to conduct an interview with shortlisted candidates in order to additionally verify required qualifications of candidates.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” November 2020. setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultant method set out in the above-mentioned Procurement Regulations.

Further information can be obtained at the e-mail address below.

Expressions of interest (CV or resume with Cover letter) must be delivered to the address below (Via email only) clearly indicating the subject reference number: MNE-WBTTFP-94710-ME-IC-CS-24-4.1.3 and sender’s details, by: October 29, 2024 -12:00h, local time.

Ministry of Finance /Technical Service Unit

Attention: Mr. Zoran Mijović, Senior Procurement officer Street Address: Studentska 2A Floor/I

City: 81000 Podgorica Country: Montenegro Telephone: + 382 20 201 695

E-mail: zoran.mijovic@mif.gov.me