Consultancy for Project Mid-term Evaluation

Mid-Term Evaluation for two direct budget support projects: The Ha Tinh Agricultural Development Project, and the Soc Trang Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Development Project

INVITATION

The Department of Foreign, Trade and Development of Canada (DFATD) is providing funds for two projects in the provinces of Soc Trang and Ha Tinh:  i) the Soc Trang Small and Medium Enterprise Development Project , and ii) the Ha Tinh Agricultural Development Project, which are being implemented through targeted budget support to the provinces over duration of 6 years.  The projects became operational in March 2011 with funds directly provided to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) in Ha Tinh and the Department of Planning and Investment (DPI) in Soc Trang.  Despite a focus on different sub-sectors in each province, programme-based approach (PBA) has been adopted involving developing and strengthening existing sector policy frameworks, public financial management capacity and existing local accountability frameworks.  Alignment of DFATD funding to the provincial budget and policy priorities managed through the province’s plans and systems is the main strategy to maximize aid effectiveness principles including: local ownership, alignment and harmonization of overseas development assistance (ODA), scaling-up capacity-building outcomes, and reducing the transaction costs of implementation.  Throughout this process, the projects aim to strengthen the provincial systems and practices.

As the projects are at the half way point, DFATD, through the Embassy of Canada in Hanoi, is seeking to hire a local consulting team of four persons (hereinafter referred to as “Consultant”) to carry out the mid-term evaluation (MTE) for the two projects. This team will assess and inform DFATD the appropriateness and sustainability of the application of the program-based approach; the efficient use of resources; the extent to which the projects are meeting the expected outcomes; and to identify any key challenges and make recommendations to address those challenges.

The purpose of this notice is to invite formal costed proposals from eligible Consultants. On the basis of the formal proposals, one Consultant will be invited to negotiate a contract for the provision of evaluation services.  DFATD reserves the right to refuse any or all proposals received. The amount allocated to this contract will not exceed CAD 50,000, inclusive of all taxes, expenses and fees.  The anticipated contract is expected to start in November 2014.

LANGUAGE OF THE PROJECT

The language of the project is English, but Vietnamese is required to fulfill the mandate.

DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

It’s expected that the Consultant will undertake the following activities for each of the two projects: 

1)To assess project implementation progress and its effectiveness and the degree to which the Soc Trang SME Development Project and the Ha Tinh Agricultural Development Project are achieving their expected results, and are on track to achieve the expected results on time and within budget. 
2)To review and make recommendations to DFATD and the related Provinces on the sustainability of results achieved by the projects. 
3)To assess the effectiveness of project performance to date, including project governance (management and administration): the overall management of the Provincial Project Steering Committee, the management of project operations by the provincial level Project Management Units (PMU) and sub-PMUs at the district levels, the role and input of project related partners.
4)To identify operational and management lessons-learned for DFATD, the Provinces, and the PMUs, including recommendations for project adjustments aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of project implementation.
5)To assess continued efficiency and relevance of project aid modality and its planned results, including the selection of sub-sector for funding, the use of PBAs to strengthen local ownership, the alignment of DFATD funding to the provincial budget and policy priorities, the use of province’s existing administrative, financial and procurement systems.

CONSULTANT PROFILE

The Local Consulting Team will be selected based on merit and judged against specific selection criteria. Specifically, the successful Team must have a sound working knowledge of the development environment in Viet Nam, and multifaceted expertise and experience including, but not limited to: 1) experience in managing and evaluating results-based international development projects or programs; 2) experience in working in agricultural and SME development in Vietnam; experience in working at subnational levels; 3) experience in program-based approach modalities and direct targeted budget support; and 4) ability to work in both English and Vietnamese, and 5) demonstrate the availability of qualified human resource needed to conduct the MTE in two provinces and to meet timeline requirements. 

INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS

Proposals should include the following:

1.CVs of all the team members, including copies of related degree, diploma, and least two contacts for reference
2.A technical proposal, not exceeding 7 pages, describing the methodology that the bidder intends to use to fulfill the mandate (referring to the TORs) as well as the estimated level of effort. The technical proposal will be awarded a maximum of 80 points (80 percent) of the total possible 100 points. 
3.A financial proposal that includes a budget detailing all costs related to the evaluation. The financial proposal will be awarded a maximum 20 points (20 percent) of the total possible 100 points. 

Bidders who do not comply with the above requirements within the timeline will be deemed non-compliant, and the Embassy reserves the right to move on to the second highest ranked Bidder.

Proposals shall be written in English and submitted with one original and four hard copies.

In order to be eligible, the Consultant must demonstrate relevant experience and skills. Submissions will be scored by an evaluation team on the basis of the Consultant's experience and achievements, experience of personnel, managerial capability, and methodology most suited to the Project and costed proposal. 

In order to be considered, proposals must be completed and received no later than 12:00 hrs, Hanoi Time, on 3 November, 2014 by the Vietnam-Canada Program Support Unit, P Unit, La Thanh Hotel, 218 Doi Can Street, Hanoi.

To obtain a copy of the MTE Term of Reference, please send an email to:

(Ms.) Tran Lan Huong of the Vietnam-Canada Program Support Unit 
E-mail:  [email protected]
Fax: +84-4-3762 7271