Consultancy Services by a Firm for Incubator Management

 REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES– FIRMS SELECTION)

Country: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan; Ministry of Communications and IT;

Name of the Project: Afghanistan ICT Sector Development Project;

Project ID: P121755;

Grant No: IDA-665-AF;

Assignment Title: Consultancy Services by a Firm for Incubator Management;

Duration of Assignment: 30 Months;

Reference Number: Consultancy Package C 3.5

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has received financing from the World Bank towards the cost of the ICT Sector Development Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds for these consulting services to manage the Incubator Program of MCIT.

The Consultancy Services (“the Services”) include Management of Incubator by a Qualified Firm, under overall directions of Director General of ICT Department of MCIT (DG-ICT), at Kabul-Afghanistan. The long-term aim of the Incubator Management is to lead and manage the establishment and growth of the business Incubator, as a self-sustaining service for new and growing Afghanistan businesses. This requires an entrepreneurial approach and a commitment to helping new and emerging businesses in Afghanistan.

Objectives of the Consultancy Assignment:

Ministry of Communications and IT (MCIT) of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan seeks to appoint a qualified Incubator Management Firm to lead and manage the establishment and growth of the business Incubator, as a self-sustaining service for new and growing businesses of Afghanistan.

The objective of the Management Firm should be to create a sustainable operation that will transition to a stand-alone financially viable operation at the end of the Project funding period (in June 2016). The goal is to incubate and graduate at least ten (10) firms by that time.

Following the conclusion of the Project period, the incubator management firm is—based on performance—expectedto continue its function being compensated,to a reasonable extent and in line with ongoing practices, out of the proceeds of the operation of the incubator under MCIT supervision.Ownership of the incubator facilities will remain with MCIT at all times. A separate follow on contract will be defined at that time.

This is a challenging task that can be accomplished through an entrepreneurial approach and a commitment to helping new and emerging businesses.

Key responsibilities for the incubator management firmwill include:

1. Define the Incubator objectives and to scope out an initial business plan, followed by operation guidelines, to be approved by the DG-ICT. This shall be through engaging of the possible clientele of the Incubator in a rapid assessment of the needed services and approach. Based on this initial business plan of the business Incubator, the manager shall develop for approval by DG-ICT (1) a sustainable business plan, seeking financial sustainability within about 3 years of the incubator’s inauguration, including strategies to raise ongoing external support and funding for the continual development of the Incubator; and (2) concise operations guidelines that describe the implementation of the business plan and model in terms of specific incubation activities.These guidelines shall incorporate good incubation practices including the processes for selecting clients; growing client companies through mentoring, business plan development, internal and external networking, investment attraction, IP rights management, skills development; and graduating clients. The manager will work towards graduating clients within a set timeframe, defined within the operating processes of the incubator, and including sufficient and continuous monitoring and evaluation. The incubator shall follow an “up-or-out” approach, ensuring turnover and iterative learning in its operations.
2. Leadership in the implementation of the Incubator Program of MCIT, including setting up the management staff complement; financial oversight; operations oversight etc. Undertake aggressive marketing of the incubator’s service, attracting potential clients, and then imposing adequate selectivity to identify the most appropriate and promising clients. Managing and increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of the Incubator support services to improve the growth of the Incubator business enterprises and adjusting the scope of services offered (per approval and guidance of DG-ICT) to fit with evolving client needs. A focus area is to encourage participation in the incubation activities by women.
3. Building and managing strategic stakeholder relationships with private sector, academic sector, donors and external funders, and the public sector.Working with MCIT to meet the strategic objectives as defined by the Government from time to time through follow up analysis and engagement with stakeholders and being accountable for good governance practices.

MCIT will provide the physical setup for the Incubator in Kabul, and provide basic infrastructure and facilities needed to operationalize the Incubator. The incubator management firm will advise and support DG-ICT to ensure that facilities are maintained and operated to high standards. Total incubator space is expected to be about 2000 sqft, and have space for about 20 clients. Incubator fees applicable to incubator tenants will be paid to MCIT during the duration of this contract.

Qualification Requirements of the Incubator Management Consulting Firm:

Major Qualifications/Experience requirements for the Firm are:

1. The firm has proven and relevant experience of at least five years in managing activities in business incubation or related fields such as startup business management, strategy consulting or advisory services for SMEs;
2. The firm has proven and relevant experience of working in the ICT or related technology fields such as energy technologies, smart systems, light manufacturing, robotics, biosciences, and similar innovative fieldsfor at least five years;
3. The staff of the Incubator Management consulting Firm should together have a strong capacity to communicate effectively in written and spoken form in English, Dari or Pashtu.
4. The Consulting Firm should have good knowledge of  government and business operationsand financial rules/ regulations..

The attention of interested Consulting Firms is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants [under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants] by World Bank Borrowers -January, 2011 edition.

To ensure impartiality, the consultant (including his home office, if any) must not, in any way, be affiliated with business entities that are currently providing or are seeking to provide goods or services to the project.

 Consultants may associate with other firms in the form of a joint venture or a sub-consultancy to enhance their qualifications.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the QCBS [Quality and Cost based Selection] method set out in the Consultant Guidelines.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours from 0800 to 1600 hours:

Foreign Procurement Department (FPD) (Attn: Mr. Samimullah Samin)

General Manager for External Procurements;

Procurement Department, Ministry of Communications and IT (MCIT)

Mohammad Jan Khan Watt; Kabul, Afghanistan

Phone: Office: +93 20 210 37 41; Cell: +93 700 222 009;

Email:fpd@mcit.gov.af

Web site: www.mcit.gov.af

Any queries on the assignment may also be addressed to the above mentioned email address (fpd@mcit.gov.af), with CC to mi.bhat@mcit.gov.af and b.hassam@mcit.gov.af, latest one week before the deadline for submission of expression of interest.

Expressions of Interest (EOIs) must be delivered by E-Mails or as signed printed copies,

By 6^th July, 2013, to the addresses as given below:

1. Foreign Procurement Department (FPD) (Attn: Mr. SamimullahSamin)

General Manager for External Procurements

Email:fpd@mcit.gov.af

2. Engineer Baryalai Hassam;

Deputy Minister-Technical; Ministry of Communication and IT;

Email: b.hassam@mcit.gov.af

3.  Mohammad Ismail Bhat; Project Director of World Bank funded ICT Sector Development Project of MCIT ; Email: mi.bhat@mcit.gov.af