Technical and Economic Assessment for Uzbekistan Education Program Components

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION) Country: Republic of Uzbekistan Grant: E5370 Project: Preparation Grant for Transforming Public Education for Economic Growth Program (BILIM) Assignment Title: Preparation of Technical and Economic Assessment of the IPF Component and Development of the Implementation Concept for the PforR Component Reference No.: BILIM/CQS/FEAS-01 1.

Background The Ministry of Preschool and School Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan (MoPSE), with support from the World Bank under the Grant Facility for Project Preparation (GFPP), is preparing a follow-on education operation structured as a hybrid Program-for-Results (PforR) with an Investment Project Financing (IPF) component.

The IPF component is expected to finance targeted technical assistance, institutional strengthening, analytical work, and systems development necessary to ensure sustainable implementation of reforms.

The PforR component will support the achievement of agreed results through Disbursement-Linked Indicators/Results (DLIs/DLRs), requiring a robust implementation framework aligned with Government systems and fiscal sustainability principles. MoPSE intends to apply part of the proceeds of the Grant to engage a consulting firm to provide the above-mentioned services. 2.

Objective of the Assignment The objective of the assignment is to support MoPSE in finalizing: A technically sound and economically justified Technical and Economic Assessment of the IPF Component, including a practical implementation plan; and A detailed, feasible, and institutionally executable Implementation Concept for the PforR Component, aligned with Government budgeting, coordination, and delivery systems.

The assignment shall be implemented within a maximum period of three (3) months, with parallel workstreams as necessary. 3.

Scope of Services The consulting services include, but are not limited to: Part A – IPF Component - Technical assessment of proposed IPF-supported interventions (systems strengthening, advisory services, teacher professional development enabling systems, learning assessment systems, infrastructure standards frameworks, etc.); - Economic and financial assessment, including costing scenarios, fiscal sustainability analysis, and sensitivity testing; - Preparation of an IPF implementation plan, including sequencing, institutional responsibilities, procurement packaging recommendations, capacity needs, governance arrangements, and risk register; - Support to Government review and formal approval process.

Part B – PforR Component - Review and validation of implementation logic and sequencing of results areas and DLIs/DLRs; - Development of institutional and operational arrangements across MoPSE, Ministry of Economy and Finance (MoEF), Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade (MIIT), Ministry of Construction and Communal Housing Services, and relevant local authorities; - Development of verification concept and performance management framework; - Preparation of expenditure framework logic and sustainability considerations; - Development of a detailed multi-year implementation roadmap; - Support to Government review and formal approval process.

All deliverables shall be prepared in English, Uzbek, and Russian, and submitted in editable formats. Completion of the assignment shall be subject to formal approval of the feasibility package by the relevant Government authorities. 4.

Consulting firms should provide comprehensive information demonstrating their qualifications and experience in performing such services (information on organization, key personnel, past experience, a list of past and present tasks of a similar nature, and any other information that may demonstrate the consultant’s ability to perform the task satisfactorily).

Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. Consultants may team up with other firms to improve their skills, but should clearly indicate whether the association is a joint venture and/or a sub-consultant.

In the case of a joint venture, all joint venture partners will be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if any. 5.

Consulting firms should include the following information to their EOI: Consulting Firm Information Date: Country of Incorporation: Consultant Name: Acronym: EOI Submission Authorized by: Position Associations (Joint Venture or Sub-consultancy ) Consultant Acronym Country of Incorporation Joint Venture (JV) or Sub-consultant EOI Submission Authorized By Position Present the rationale for and benefits of working in association (JV or Sub-consultant) with others rather than undertaking the assignment independently (as appropriate).

Describe the proposed management and coordination approach of the association and the role of each firm. - Technical competence Project References - highlight the technical qualifications of your entity/consortium in undertaking similar assignments.

Provide details of past experiences working with similar project authorities - Management Competence Describe standard policies, procedures, and practices that your entity has to assure quality interaction with clients and outputs. Please state if your company is ISO certified.

How your firm/consortium handles complaints concerning the performance of experts or quality of the reports submitted for previous and future assignments? What internal controls are in place to address and resolve complaints? How you ensure the quality of your firm’s/consortium’s performance over the life of assignments.

- Projects references Present relevant projects to demonstrate the firm’s technical qualifications and geographical experience.

# Project Period Client Country Firm 1 2 3 4 … - Summary for the Projects listed above Project Title Country / Region Start Date Completion Date Continuous / Intermittent Client Funding Source Description (indicate your role and input in man-months) - Eligibility We, the undersigned, certify to the best of our knowledge and belief: We have read the advertisement, including the terms of reference (TOR), for this assignment: (YES/NO) ; Neither the consulting firm nor its JV member or sub-consultant or any of its experts prepared the TOR for this activity: (YES/NO) ; We confirm that the project references submitted as part of this EOI accurately reflect the experience of the specified firm/consortium : (YES/NO) ; Ensuring assignment resulting from our work product under this assignment, our firm, JV member or sub-consultant, and the expert(s) will be disqualified from short-listing and participation in the assignment.

The lead entity and JV member or sub-consultant are NOT currently sanctioned by or other MDBs. Neither the consulting firm nor the JV member or sub-consultant has ever been convicted of an integrity-related offense or crime related to theft, corruption, fraud, collusion or coercion. 6.

Interested consultants should provide comprehensive information, including a brochure ( company profile, contract duration, amount, total project cost, start and finish date ) demonstrating that they have the necessary qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services, including: - Proven experience in preparation of technical and economic assessments, feasibility studies, or sector reform design in education or social sectors (no less than 5 assignments in the last 5 years) - Experience in designing or supporting MDB/IFI IPF and/or PforR operations.

- Demonstrated expertise in public finance analysis, costing, fiscal sustainability assessments, and medium-term expenditure considerations. - Experience in institutional design, governance frameworks, and inter-ministerial coordination mechanisms. 7.

The Consultant will be selected through a selection method based on qualifications (CQS) in accordance with the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers – Procurement in Investment Project Financing Goods, World, Non-Consulting and Consulting Services, July 2016 (“the Regulations”), fifth edition, September 2025.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 3.16 and 3.17 of the Regulations setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. 8. Expressions of interest shall be delivered in writing to the address below (in person or by e-mail) till 17:00 (Tashkent time) by March 16th, 2026 along with information. 9.

Interested consultants may contact us by e-mail or telephone at the address below during business hours from 9:00 a.m. till 6:00 p.m. (Tashkent time): Ministry of Preschool and School Education (MPSE), Project Implementation Unit, 2A Navoi Street, Shaykhontohur District, Tashkent (postal code 100011).

Attention: Nikita Gordeykin –Procurement Specialist +998(88) 330-27-71 n.gordeykin@uzedu.uz Agency: Ministry of Preschool and School Education Procurement method: Consultant Qualification Selection Notice type: Request for Expression of Interest Status: Published Value: 140000.0 USD