Training Services for MSMEs in Georgia Through Growth Hub Centers

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST Georgia Project Name: Georgia Relief and Recovery for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Project No. P173975 Assignment Title: Trainings and Workshops for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises through Consulting Centers (Growth Hubs) Contract/ RFP No: GE-EG-CS-CQS-05 On May 11, 2021, the World Bank Board of Directors approved the Georgia Relief and Recovery for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) project. This is a six-year EUR 85 million project funded by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) with a closing date of June 30, 2027, with the objective of providing relief to MSMEs and support their recovery, including by strengthening the enabling environment for access to finance. The Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development (MOESD) has the overall responsibility for the project implementation and the project implementing entities are LEPL Enterprise Georgia (hereinafter - Client) and the National Bank of Georgia (NBG). The Project is implemented nationwide and consists of four components: Component 1 – Financial relief and recovery for MSMEs Component 2 – Digital payments & financial infrastructure upgrading Component 3 – Project management and monitoring Component 4 – Contingent Emergency Response Component A substantial portion of the Project activities fall under Component 1. Component 1 is implemented by Enterprise Georgia, which is a government economic development agency operating under the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia. It comprises of the following sub-components:

• Sub-component 1.1 - micro-grants to finance working capital and fixed assets for micro and small firms.
• Sub-component 1.2 - co-financing for interest payments on loans underwritten by participating financial institutions (PFIs).
• Sub-component 1.3 - partial credit guarantees for loans issued by PFIs.
• Sub-component 1.4 - technical assistance to MSMEs in for COVID-proofing, strengthening managerial skills and digitalization through establishing Consultation Centers in the regions of Georgia (Growth Hubs - hereinafter GHs) to deliver specific services to MSMEs locally.

The GHs established under the Sub-component 1.4 offer MSMEs three main services: i) Consulting – this entails (1) identifying the problems, obstacles, and opportunities facing a specific business in terms of growth and productivity (hereinafter – beneficiary MSME) through a comprehensive diagnostic interview, (2) offering a service of a consulting company (hereinafter - Consultant) to remedy these problems and design specific solutions, and (3) co-financing the cost of this service. ii) Improving Business Skills – this covers delivering seminars, talks, trainings, and workshops that match the needs of businesses, organizing business meetings, and providing necessary infrastructure for these purposes. iii) Providing Information – this means providing businesses access to information about ongoing business support programs, business sector news, and the latest available researches. In alignment with the WB-supported Project Development Objectives, the trainings and workshops aim to raise knowledge and awareness among MSMEs, enhance their productivity and resilience, as well as managerial and financial capacities, facilitate improved access to finance, accelerate digital adoption and advance inclusive participation (particularly for women-led and regionally based enterprises), thereby contributing to sustainable economic recovery and long-term competitiveness. The LEPL Enterprise Georgia (hereinafter “the Client”) now intends to hire consultancy company, (hereinafter “the Consultant”) to conduct Trainings and Workshops for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises through Consulting Centers (Growth Hubs). The selected training provider will be responsible for developing, organizing, and delivering in-person and live remote training sessions and workshops throughout the contract period of 12 months in the existing Growth Hub’s regions: Kakheti, Adjara, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Imereti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Tbilisi, as well as in new hubs, that are expected to open in 2026 in Guria, Shida Kartli, Kvemo Kartli and Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti regions. Training provider shall deliver:

• Update existing materials for 5 training according to suggested content;
• Update existing materials for 12 workshops according to suggested content;
• Develop new materials for 4 workshops according to suggested content;
• Conduct 15-25 trainings and 30-50 workshops over 12 months.

The detailed Terms of Reference of the assignment is available at the following link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zkNBA4Vvn2DTUfJYphd_8PU5BEno-kuk/view?usp=sharing The shortlisting criteria for Consulting Companies are:

• Registered as a business entity in line with the Law of Georgia on Entrepreneurs , registered as a legal or individual entrepreneur, excluding the enterprises where shareholders are state or self-government authorities;
• Does not have a tax debt to the state (except for the cases when the payment of the tax debt is postponed or the obligation to pay is suspended in accordance with the law);
• Is not registered in the Debtor Registry;
• Is not in the process of liquidation or recognized as economically insolvent (bankrupt);
• The Training Provider shall have demonstrated proven experience in the relevant fields (business modeling, sales and marketing, taxes, finances, accounting, ecommerce platforms; production sustainability, safety and quality management systems etc.) for the past five (5) years, starting from 1st January 2021;
• The Training Provider shall have successfully executed a minimum of six (6) contracts, with different clients/costumers on conducted trainings, workshops, and/or seminars in the relevant field, with a total value of no less than GEL 200,000.00 including VAT for the last three years (2023–2024–2025). At least three (3) of these contracts must have been signed with legal entities, and at least one (1) contract must have a value exceeding GEL 100,000.00 including VAT.

To be considered for the selection, the interested Training Provider must submit the following documents:

• Official letter of request for expression of interest;
• Extract from the Registry of Entrepreneurial and Non-entrepreneurial (Non-commercial) Legal Entities dated within two days of submitting the Expression of Interest;
• Verification from the Revenue Service regarding not having tax debt to the state (or an agreement about its postponement/suspension of payment) dated within two days of submitting the Expression of Interest;
• The Training Provider’s profile to demonstrate its experience, starting from 1st January 2021 and expertise;
• Proof of completion of contracts of at least GEL 200 000 including VAT over the last 3 years (contracts and respective delivery and acceptance certificates together with payment certificates).

Experience in the projects relevant to the assignment should be submitted in the Form N1 on the following link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1w2eOATWVfIKxB4jjPKKCz4eSYVt-GnoQ/view?usp=sharing Company brochures may be included as an Annex. Note: EG reserves its right to verify submitted references and use obtained information for evaluation purposes From the firms that have submitted an Expression of Interest, EG selects the firm with the best qualifications and most relevant experience and invites it to submit its technical and financial Proposals for further negotiations. The Training Provider may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications, but should indicate clearly whether the association is in the form of a joint venture and/or a sub-consultancy. In the case of a joint venture, all the partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected. The experience of sub-consultants will not be taken into account while evaluating the corporate experience of the consultant. The attention of interested Training Provider is drawn to Selection III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16 and 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” July 2016, revised November 2017, revised August 2018 and revised November 2020 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. In addition, please refer to the following specific information on conflict of interest related to this assignment: The consultant shall not receive any remuneration in connection with the assignment except as provided in the contract. The consultant and its affiliates shall not engage in consulting or other activities that conflict with the interest of the client under the contract. The contract shall include provisions limiting future engagement of the consultant for other services resulting from or directly related to the firm’s consulting services in accordance with the requirements of paragraphs 3.16, 3.17 and 3.18 of the Guidelines. Consultant (Training Provider) will be selected in accordance with the Consultants Qualification Selection “CQS” method set out in World Bank’s Guidelines: World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrower, July 2016, revised November 2017, revised August 2018 and revised November 2020” Interested Consultants may obtain further information by email: gmaisuradze@enterprise.gov.ge Expressions of Interest must be delivered electronically to the address below not later than March 1 7, 2026, 17:00 hours: Georgia Relief and Recovery for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Address: 18, Dimitri Uznadze Str., 0102 Tbilisi, Georgia Email: gmaisuradze@enterprise.gov.ge Agency: Enterprise Georgia Procurement method: Consultant Qualification Selection Notice type: Request for Expression of Interest Status: Published Value: 120000.0 USD