15 Mar We are looking for a Junior Non-Key Expert for support in drafting guidelines and manuals on public procurement

Background

The project “Support for Further Improvement of Public Procurement System in Serbia” is funded by the European Union and implemented by a consortium led by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The duration of the project is 24 months from July 2017 until July 2019.
The main purpose of the project is to support the strengthening and developing of a stable, transparent and competitive public procurement system in the Republic of Serbia in accordance with EU standards, including improved implementation of the public procurement strategic and policy framework for an effective and accountable public procurement system.
This project started at an extremely important moment for public procurement development in Serbia. Namely, not only Chapter 5 – “Public Procurement” was opened in December 2016 but the new law on public procurement (PPL) should be in place by the end of second quarter of 2018. In fact, the draft of the new PPL was sent to public consultation at the beginning of October 2018.

The results required by the ToR of the Project include:
Result 1: Strengthened and further developed the strategic, legal and institutional framework for public procurement aligned with the EU legislation
Result 2: Improved implementation of regulations in area of public procurement in practice
Result 3: E-procurement platform developed and established
Result 4: Strengthened capacities and professional skills of PPO and other relevant target groups.

Objectives of the Assignment

The assignment is related to implementation of the following Activities:

• Activity 2.3 Analysis and recommendation for improvement of centralized public procurement,
• Activity 2.4 Analysis and recommendations to increase number of green procurements and production of related guidelines,
• Activity 3.14 Development of guidelines and other self-learning materials (video clips or animated application guidance) for use of the e-procurement modules (Public Procurement Portal, e-bids, DPS and e-catalogue) and
• Activity 4.3: Preparation and design of manuals, guidelines and support materials for education accommodating different learning styles (video presentations, maps, flow charts, brochures, etc.) for selected target groups (e.g. public administration managers, officers, bidders, judiciary, police, prosecutors and media).

Under Activity 2.3 the Project should carry out an analysis of the current state of play in the field of centralized public procurement in Serbia, including analysis of conducted procedures, subjects of procedures, central purchasing bodies, an intensity of competition, participation of SMEs, etc., in order to give the necessary recommendations for the possible improvement of this type of public procurement in Serbia.
Under Activity 2.4 the Project should elaborate guidelines for the Serbian contracting authorities and economic operators with recommendations and best practices concerning green public procurement, including advices on how to incorporate environmental issues in the description of the object of procurement, with illustrative examples. Guidelines on application of environment related aspects in public procurement processes will refer to various stages of public procurement from the preparation of the procurement procedures, description of object of procurement, through the qualification of economic operators, evaluation of tenders in the light of contract award criteria, application of environmental clauses in the contract up to delivery of the products or performance of works or services concerned.
The Project will prepare also guidelines and user manuals related to the new Public Procurement Portal (Activity 3.14). In particular, the Project will prepare the guidelines presenting functions of the Public Procurement Portal such as the Portal administration guide, managing portal functions, Users guide (navigating the portal, common functions, personalization, user roles, modules), e -submission of bids and e – catalogues function.
Finally, Activity 4.3 should cover preparation and design of manuals, guidelines and support materials for education accommodating different learning styles (video presentations, maps, flow charts, brochures, etc.) for selected target groups (e.g. public administration managers, officers, bidders, judiciary, police, prosecutors and media).
Manuals, guidelines and support materials for education, as well as brochures, leaflets and video presentations, created through project activities, will be distributed to the stakeholders in different forms (USB, DVD, hard copy, etc.) and uploaded on the project website as well in order to become available to general public for future use.

Scope of work

In implementation of Activity 2.3, the JNKE will provide support to the Project, by collecting information instrumental in carrying out by the Project an analysis of the current state of play in the field of centralized public procurement in Serbia. The analysis should cover procurement procedures conducted in the centralized form, their subject – matters, types of central purchasing bodies, intensity of competition, participation of SMEs, etc. and will provide necessary recommendations for the possible improvement of this type of public procurement. The JNKE will assist the Project, in particular by collecting relevant data, provisions adopted at different levels of administration by various institutions and supporting the analysis in formulating recommendations for improvement of centralized procurement.
Under Activity 2.4 the JNKE will support the Project in preparation of guidelines for the contracting authorities and economic operators with recommendations and best practices for green procurement, including advices on how to incorporate environmental issues in the description of the object of procurement, with illustrative examples. Guidelines for the Serbian contracting authorities and economic operators on application of environment related aspects in public procurement processes will refer to all stages of public procurement from the preparation of the procurement procedures, description of object of procurement, through the qualification of economic operators, evaluation of tenders in the light of contract award criteria, application of environmental clauses in the contract up to delivery of the products or performance of works or services concerned. The Guidelines should be as practical as possible and should contain recommendations and best practices for application of green procurement.
Under Activity 3.14, JNKE will support the Project in elaboration of guidelines and user manuals concerning the new Public Procurement Portal presenting functions of the Public Procurement Portal such as Portal administration guide, managing portal functions, user guides (navigating the portal, common functions, personalization, user roles, modules), e-submission of bids, including roles of contracting authorities and economic operators and E – catalogue. The JNKE will support the Project among other things with revision of compliance of guidelines and user guides or manuals with the relevant public procurement provisions in Serbia.
Finally, under Activity 4.3 JNKE will support the Project in preparation of manuals, guidelines and support materials on selected topics for education accommodating different learning styles (video presentations, maps, flow charts, brochures, etc.) for selected target groups (e.g. public administration managers, officers, bidders, judiciary, police, prosecutors and media). The JNKE will support the Project among other things with revision of compliance of manuals, guidelines and other supporting materials with the relevant public procurement provisions in Serbia.

Outputs requested

The JNKE is expected to deliver the following:
I. collect information instrumental in carrying out by the Project an analysis of the current state of play in the field of centralized public procurement in Serbia.
II. support to the Project in elaboration of guidelines for the contracting authorities and economic operators with recommendations and best practices for green procurement.
III. support to the Project in elaboration of guidelines and user manuals concerning the new Public Procurement Portal related to concrete topics to be agreed with the Beneficiary.
IV. support to the Project in preparation of manuals, guidelines and support materials on selected topics to be agreed with the Beneficiary.

Reporting

The NKE shall provide the Final Mission Report, no later than one week after completion of tasks under this assignment. The Report will include description of all activities and outputs provided by the NKE in the context of this assignment.
Draft version of the Final Mission Report prepared in the relevant quality shall be submitted to the Team Leader for review, comments and final approval at the end of the mission. The Final Mission Report shall be signed by the NKE and the Team Leader responsible for endorsing the Report.
The Final Mission Report and all prepared documents shall be submitted in hard copy and in electronic version to the Team Leader.
If required for planning and implementation of the project activities, the NKE can be requested by the Team Leader to submit additional brief interim mission reports.

Expert’s profile (minimum requirements and selection criteria)

Minimum requirements concerning education, skills and overall professional experience

• University degree in Law (where university degree has been awarded on completion of three years study in a university or equivalent institution)
• Very good command of English
• Excellent reporting, writing and analytical skills
• Knowledge of Office tools
• General professional experience of minimum 6 years

Selection criteria

Specific professional experience:
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in the field of public procurement (up to 25 points);
• Proved familiarity with the Serbian public procurement procedures and the institutional set – up in the field of public procurement (up to 25 points);
• Proven experience in advising contracting authorities and/or economic operators in application of public procurement law in Serbia (up to 25 points);
• Proven experience in writing legal instructions, guidelines or manuals (up to 25 points)

Advantages (assets)

Additional points will be given for the following advantages (assets):
• Proven familiarity with 2014 EU Public Procurement Directives, and new (draft) Public Procurement Law in Serbia (up to 15 points):
• Fluency in Serbian language (up to 15 points).
In the event two or more best ranked candidates are awarded the equal total number points the evaluation committee will organize an interview with those candidates in order to get more in-depth knowledge of their skill and capabilities.

Conduct of Expert and Disclaimers

The NKE shall work under the guidance and follow the instructions of the Team Leader. The NKE shall collaborate with the Project team, other experts involved and representatives of beneficiary institutions and national structures, as relevant.
The NKE’s activities and outputs mentioned above may be adjusted by the Team Leader at any stage in the implementation of the Project, depending on the evolving needs of the Project, main beneficiary and/or target beneficiaries. Each of the short-term mission, its timing and duration shall be agreed with the Team Leader prior to each mission.
The NKE shall work as an expert of the project and present themselves as such in his or her professional capacity when dealing with matters related to the project. This should also be reflected in any communication, publication, article, interviews or whenever his or her name is mentioned. In all written articles, papers, interviews, publications etc. the usual disclaimer shall appear as follows: “The views expressed are those of the individual expert(s) and do not necessarily present the views of the European Commission. “
The advice provided to the project partners will be non-prescriptive. Against this background, the expert will avoid to give the impression that the provided advice represents the perceptions of the European Union or of the European Commission. The expert shall strictly consider the following confidentiality rules:
– No information/advice requested by a partner organisation or individual is to be communicated to any other body or individual without prior consent of the CFCU and GIZ Headquarter and, no public statement or presentation is to be made without prior agreement with GIZ Headquarter and with the CFCU.

Applications

Applications (EU format CV and application letter, both in English) can to be submitted via GIZ e-recruiting system or to the following e-mail address: dariusz.piasta@giz.de, until 22 March 2019, titled:

“Application for the position of Junior Non-Key Expert for support in drafting guidelines and manuals on public procurement”

References must be available on request.
The Project is an equal opportunity employer.
All applications will be considered strictly confidential.
Advertised post is not available to civil servants or other officials of the public administration in the beneficiary country, Serbia.