Relevant trade related studies and policy studies (03 studies) — Bangladesh Regional Connectivity Project 1

Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Ministry of Commerce Bangladesh Regional Connectivity Project-1 Office of the Project Director Level-12 (West side), Probashi Kollayan Bhaban, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka-1000 Memo No: 26.00.0000.066.07.067.26-81 Date: June 10, 2026 REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) FOR CONSULTING FIRM (National) 1. The Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh has received an SDR 150 million Credit from the International Development Association (IDA) – a member of the World Bank Group for financing the cost of the Bangladesh Regional Connectivity Project 1(BRCP-1), being jointly implemented by the Bangladesh Land Port Authority, National Board of Revenue and Ministry of Commerce (MoC). The Ministry of Commerce as a separate technical assistance project is implementing the 2nd Part of this umbrella project. The overall objective of this technical assistance project is to strengthen trade related institutional capacity in order to ensure active and sustainable cooperation among trade related stakeholders and economic empowerment of women traders. 2. The Procuring Entity intends to apply a part of the IDA Credit for procuring consulting firms for the following 2 (two) services: Package no. and Duration of contract Name of Package Required qualifications and experiences SD-58 From the date of signing of contract to November 30, 2026 Relevant trade related studies and policy studies (03 studies): Study 1: Assessment of Agri-Trade Logistics for Horticulture and Floriculture Exports (Including Cold Chain, Packaging, Treatment Facilities, and Green Channel Systems) Study 2: Assessment of Trade Logistics, cold chain and Export Readiness for Animal Products (Meat, Dairy, Fish, and Processed Animal Goods) Study 3: Study on the Processing, Market Development and Export Potential of Plant/Vegetable Waste and Fibre-Based By-products in Bangladesh. 1. The consulting firm/institute shall have the legal capacity to enter into the contract and shall have minimum 10 years of general experience in providing consulting services out of which at least 03 years of experiences in conducting business related surveys/sectoral assessment; 2. The firm/institute should have successfully completed at least one service contract similar/related to conducting major sectoral assessment in the last 05 years; 3. Prior experience in conducting assessment of export-oriented industries will be an advantage; 4. The required average annual turnover of the consulting Firm/Institute shall be at least BDT 50 (fifty) lakh in last three years; and 5. Experience(s) in working with development partner’s funded projects will be added an advantage. SD-61 From the date of signing of contract to November 30, 2026 Capacity building of women traders on trade related regulatory regime and E-Commerce solutions and procedures in 08 Divisional HQ including Reform dialogues (Policy Dialogues) to resolve the challenges facing the women traders. 1. The Consulting firm shall have the legal capacity to enter into the contract with minimum 10 (Ten) years of general experience out of which at least 05 (five) years of experience in training management for public and private sector; 2. The minimum specific experience as lead consultant in providing training of at least cumulatively 500 (Five Hundred) numbers of trainees completed training course over last 05 (five) years shall be required. 3. The firm should have experience in working with development projects funded by any development partner; 4. The firm should have successfully completed at least one service contract related to capacity development (designing training module/organize training program) in any sector for women entrepreneurship development in last 05(five) years; 5. The required average annual turnover of the consulting firm shall be at least of the amount of Tk. 01 (One) Crore for the last three years; and 6. A capacity statement on available training infrastructure facilities, IT equipment, logistics support, transport and office space. 3. The Scope of Services of the consulting firms for 2 separate packages are as follows: SD-58 Study 1: Policy and Data Foundation; Value Chain, Cold Chain and Packaging; Treatment and Compliance; Trade Logistics and Procedures; Economic Analysis; and Benchmarking and Best Practices. Study 2: Product Scoping; Policy & Institutional Mapping; Cold-Chain & Processing Infrastructure; Compliance, Testing & Certification; Port Handling, Logistics & Green Channel Feasibility; Economic & Competitiveness Analysis for frozen and chilled animal products; Value Chain and Market Assessment; and Benchmarking & Best Practices. Study 3: Fibre Typology and Residue Mapping; Quantification and Distribution; Current Utilisation and Value Chains; Product Segmentation and Processing Technologies; Market Demand and Standards; Techno-Economic Analysis (SME Focus); Policy, Institutional and Investment Recommendations; and Action Plan (2026–2036). SD-61 Desk review on the previous training manuals and schedule developed by the BRCP-1 and develop a new one and identify potential beneficiaries; Implementation of the training curriculum and Reform dialogues (Policy Dialogues) to resolve the challenges facing by the women traders. 4 . The interested consulting firm/all partners of Joint venture firm must submit the following documents with its Expression of Interest for the above mentioned 2 (Two) packages in separate 2 (Two) sealed envelopes: 1. Updated Trade License valid up to June 30, 2026, 2. TIN Certificate & Update Income Tax Clearance Certificate/ Evidence, 3. VAT Registration Certificate, 4. Firm Registration certificate, if any, 5. Bank Solvency Certificate, 6. Audited Accounts for last 03 Years, 7. A written undertaking that the Firm/Institute has not been blacklisted or debarred by any Government Organization & IDA, 8. Consulting Firm/Institute’s Brochure/Profile bearing organizational structure, and 9. All supporting documents to prove that the Consulting Firm/Institute/ has required qualifications and experiences. 5. The Project Implementation Unit of BRCP-1, MoC on behalf of the Ministry of Commerce invites eligible consulting firm to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested consulting firms must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services. Details of the qualification requirements and responsibilities are available in the Terms of Reference (TOR) which is available in the office of the undersigned and also at www.mincom.gov.bd and http://brcp-1.gov.bd/ . The attention of interested Consulting firms is drawn to paragraphs 3.14 to 3.18 of The World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers, Procurement in Investment Project Financing, Goods, Works, Non-Consulting and Consulting Services, July 2016 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank Group’s policy on conflict of interest. A Consulting firm will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) method OR Consultant’s Qualification-based Selection (CQS) method, as appropriate, set out in the Procurement Regulations. Further information can be obtained at the address given below during office hours between 09:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Expressions of Interest (EOI) must be delivered in written form - 2 (two) hard copies of which one original & one copy for each package in sealed envelope to the address given below in person or through surface mail by 2:00 p.m. on June 28, 2026. Separate sealed envelopes shall be used for the above stated two separate packages. 6. The Procuring Entity reserves the right to apply selection method and to accept or reject any or all EOIs without assigning any reason, whatsoever. (Shaila Yasmin) Project Director (Additional Charge) Bangladesh Regional Connectivity Project-1 [Part-2] and Joint Secretary (WTO), Ministry of Commerce Phone: +8802- 55138022 E-mail: pdbrcp1moc@gmail.com