Technical Assistance in the design and implementation of the “First Steps Forward” plans in participating hromadas

Invitation for Proposals (Consulting Services) UKRAINE Project: Lifting Education Access and Resilience in times of Need in Ukraine (LEARN) Project Grant no.: TF0D0612 Name of the Contract: Consulting Services for the Technical Assistance in the design and implementation of the “First Steps Forward” plans in participating hromadas Contract number: LEARN -ECE-1.2-FSF Ukraine received the Grant No. TF0D0612 from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) in US dollars to finance the Ukraine Improving Higher Education for Results Project and intends to use part of the funds to make payments under the Contract No. LEARN -ECE-1.2-FSF " Consulting Services for the Technical Assistance in the design and implementation of the “First Steps Forward” plans in participating hromadas " . The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine invites eligible participants (Consultant; Participant) to submit sealed proposals for the provision of the following services: Consulting Services for the Technical Assistance in the design and implementation of the “First Steps Forward” plans in participating hromadas (“Services”). Detailed information about the Services is provided in the Terms of Reference (Section 7) of the Request for Proposals. The selection of Consultant will be carried out through Quality and Cost-based Selection (QCBS) based on a simplified technical proposal as specified in the Request for Proposals, in accordance with the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers”, as revised in September 2025, available at the link www.worldbank.org The expected duration of the provision of services is 13 (thirteen) months from the date of signing the contract. IBRD requires compliance with the Banks Anti-Corruption Guidelines and its applicable sanctions policies and procedures, as outlined in the World Bank Group Sanctions Framework. In further compliance with this policy, Bidders shall permit and require their agents (whether declared or not), subcontractors, sub-consultants, service providers, suppliers and personnel to permit the Bank to inspect all invoices, records and other documents relating to the request for quotations and execution of the contract (in case of award), as well as for their verification by auditors appointed by the Bank. 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” September 2025, setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. The technical proposals of the consultants will be evaluated in two parts. The following are the mandatory criteria that the consultants must meet. Technical proposals of consultants that do not meet the criteria listed below will not be evaluated and the proposal will be rejected: 1. Core Business and Years in Operation 1.1 Minimum of 7 (seven) years of operational experience in areas relevant to this assignment, including but not limited to education sector reform, capacity building, public sector advisory, training program development and delivery, and/or system-level planning in education (preferably early childhood or general education). In the case of a JV, at least one member must have at least seven (7) years of operational experience. 2. Legal status and market experience 2.1 The Consultant (and each member of a JV) shall be a legally registered entity in Ukraine or abroad (in the case of foreign company, the representative office/JV/consortium with a local firm should exist by the date of the Contract signing). 3. Qualifications in the field of the assignment 3.1 At least 3 (three) successfully completed assignments within the last 7 (seven) years in areas such as: - design and delivery of training or capacity building programs and/or; - education system reform or policy support and/or; - local-level planning, service delivery optimization, or network planning and/or; - development of methodologies, tools, or frameworks for public sector planning (preferably in education or social sectors). 3.2 At least one successfully completed project involving the development and launch of an LMS or e-learning courses. In the case of a JVCA, the Lead Member should have at least 1 assignment specified above while the combination of members must fully meet the requirement. The projects claimed by each JVCA member should be substantially completed during the above period either alone or as a member of a past JVCA with a minimum share of 50%. In case of experience in the role of a member of a past JVCA and/or Subconsultant, the experience and amount will be determined based on the Consultant’s share and responsibility in the past JVCA or the amount of the Subconsultant’s contract. Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications, but should indicate clearly whether the association is