Request for Expressions of Interest - Contract transparency in Papua New Guinea: Assessment of benefits, challenges, risks and opportunities.

Introduction

This open call is now closed.

The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), with the support from USAID, is seeking a competent and credible firm or individual to produce a study describing the existing legal framework for contract disclosure in PNG and evaluating risks and challenges as well as the opportunities and benefits associated with disclosing extractive contracts in PNG. The outcome of the study is expected to enhance stakeholders understanding of any potential risks and offer practical solutions on how to address such risks and reap the benefits of public disclosure. The assignment is expected to take 20 consultancy days in July and August and should be completed by end of August 2021.

The consultant must be a reputable company/one or more individual(s) with a proven reputation, perceived by the EITI International Secretariat and the EITI Papua New Guinea to be credible, trustworthy, experienced and technically competent.

The consultant will need to possess the following competencies: 

• Expertise in PNG’s legal framework and contracts regime, specifically in the extractive sector relating to project agreements, MOAs, Development Agreements, UBSA, LBSAs etc. A PNG law degree or relevant background in the context of PNG is an advantage.
• Expertise in natural resource governance in PNG, as demonstrated by at least seven years of relevant work experience.
• Familiarity with the EITI Standard’s requirements on contract disclosure.
• Adequate experience in producing similar technical studies and research.
• Sufficient familiarity with PNG’s government systems, laws and policies. The consultant must demonstrate ability to access information from government through well-established networks within the PNG’s bureaucracy.
• Adequate experience in conducting consultations with various types of stakeholders from government, companies and civil society.
• Advanced written and communication skills in English.

To ensure quality and independence in the undertaking, the consultant must, in their technical and financial proposals, disclose any potential or actual conflicts of interest, together with a comment about how they may be avoided.

A consultant will be selected following a quality- and cost-based selection procedure.

Consultants should submit:

• A Technical Proposal, outlining: (a) the experience of the firm / consultants, (b) the proposed methodology and work plan in response to the Terms of Reference (TORs) and (c) the key experts’ qualifications and competence. The Technical Proposal should not include any financial information. Technical proposals containing material financial information shall be declared non-responsive.
• A Financial Proposal, clearly indicating a lump sum financial proposal, inclusive of all costs associated with required travel and applicable taxes. The financial proposal should clearly differentiate fees from any other reimbursable expenses. The daily rate for the consultant fees should be clearly indicated. The Financial Proposal should be sent as a password protected PDF file. The passwords should not be sent. The passwords will be requested following the assessment of the technical proposals.

Proposals must be delivered by email to SKasimova@EITI.org by 13 July 2021.