International Consultant for Technical Assistance for Laboratory Management and Lab SOPs. — Southeast Asia Regional Economic Corridor and Connectivity Project

Request for Express of Interest (REOI) International Consultant for Technical Assistance on Laboratory Management and SOP Development to Support Component 3.1 the Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment REFERENCE No. DOA – ICS – 091 The Government of Lao PDR, through Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT), Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE), Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC), Ministry of Public Security (MOPS), Ministry of Health (MOH), and Ministry of Finance (MOF), is implementing the Southeast Asia Regional Economic Corridor and Connectivity Project with World Bank IDA financing (2022–2028). The project enhances transport connectivity and logistics along National Road 2 and its catchment provinces (Phongsaly, Luangnamtha, Oudomxay, Xayabouli, Luangprabang), linking Lao PDR to Vietnam, Thailand, and China. Sub-component 3.1 strengthens the SPS management system and agricultural trade. Reliable laboratory testing is essential for credible SPS certification and risk-based border controls, particularly for pesticide residues, aflatoxin, and heavy metals. The ATC Plant Protection Regional Laboratory (Oudomxay) and PPC Central Laboratory (Vientiane) require specialized technical support to align operations with ISO/IEC 17025, implement Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), standardize SOPs, and strengthen method validation, quality control, metrological traceability, and proficiency testing. An International Laboratory Specialist is required to provide handson technical leadership and mentoring to achieve consistent, defensible results and readiness for accreditation, thereby increasing acceptance of Lao PDR laboratory outputs by trading partners. The Department Planning and Finance, Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT) now intends to engage a qualified and experienced International Consultant for Technical Assistance on Laboratory Management and SOP Development to support Department of Agriculture (DOA), Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental (MAE) to undertake the tasks under Component 3.1 as described in the Terms of Reference (ToR). The full ToR for the assignment can be found at the following website http://ppmd.mof.gov.la or can be sent to candidates upon written request to the e-mail address below. This is a part time assignment with an estimated input of 176 person days deliverables spread over a 20 months period. The assignment is planned to start in August 2026. Interested Consultant should provide information (CV, Expression of Interest, other supporting information, if any) demonstrating that s/he has the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. In order to qualify for this position, the candidates shall meet the following experience and competence requirements: Master’s degree in chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, Microbiology, or a closely related field. Minimum 10 years of professional experience in plant protection or food/agricultural testing laboratories, with direct handson expertise in pesticide residue and heavy metal analysis in plant matrices. Strong practical experience operating and troubleshooting advanced analytical instrumentation (GCMS, GCMS/MS, HPLC, LCMS/MS, and AAS or ICPbased systems) and establishing routine performance verification. Fluency in written and spoken English; knowledge of Lao is an asset. Full command of MS Office for technical documentation, data review, and reporting. Willingness to travel within project provinces and to be based primarily at ATC Oudomxay, with periodic visits to PPC Vientiane. 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” 4th edition of November 2020 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Competitive Selection of Individual Consultants method set out in the Procurement Regulations. Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by 15 July 2026, 17:00 o’clock Lao time (submissions via email are also acceptable). Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Project Management Unit, Department Planning and Finance (DPF) Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Lane Xang Avenue, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR Attention: Mr. Vannasone K. Thepvongsa, Deputy Director General, DPF Email: proc.dpf.mpwt@gmail.com with Cc : ssouphanh@gmail.com and maxmahaxay11@hotmail.com.