Consultancy Services for the Design and Development of a Bespoke Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)

Project: P179786 - Romania Rural Pollution Prevention and Reduction Project (RAPID) Reference: 02-QCBS-2025 Procurement method: Quality And Cost-Based Selection Financing: World Bank ROMANIAN MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, WATERS AND FORESTS Rural Pollution Prevention and Reduction Project (RAPID), IBRD Loan no. 9505-RO REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST Assignment Title: Consultancy Services for the Design and Development of a Bespoke Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) Reference No.: 02/QCBS/2025 The Government of Romania has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Rural Pollution Prevention and Reduction Project (RAPID Project) and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services. The consultancy services (“the Services”) include Design and Development of a Bespoke Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) in order to streamline and enhance laboratory workflows, centralizing and digitizing functions that are presently handled in a decentralized, paper-based environment. The duration of the contract will be until March 31st, 2028, or any subsequent date, as agreed in writing by the Parties through a contract amendment. The Consultant is expected to commence performance of the services starting with a contract kick-off meeting. The estimated duration of Pilot Phase shall be around twenty (20) months from the kick-off meeting. The commencement of Full Deployment Phase is contingent upon the successful completion of Pilot Phase. The detailed Terms of Reference (ToRs) for the assignment are published on the web site of the Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests, at the following link: https://mmediu.ro/informatii-de-interes-public/achizitii-publice/anunturi/ The Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests - Rural Pollution Prevention and Reduction Project, now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria are: I. General qualifications - 20 points The Consultants shall provide information on: core business and years in business, presentation of relevant contracts or projects in institutional development projects (IT systems) for private or public institutions. The Consultants should demonstrate, for the last 10 years, general experience at national and local level. References will be provided. II. Specific experience - 80 points The Consultants should have specific recent (within the last 5 years) experience in similar projects / contracts related to design and development of a Laboratory IT application (preferably a minimum of 3 projects). The Consultants should also demonstrate previous experience in development of IT systems with similar complexity involving components such as project submission, evaluation, monitoring, implementation, and reporting. The 5 years specific experience will be proven through copies of recommendation letters from the Contracting Authorities/ Clients, copies of approval documents issued by the Contracting Authorities/ Clients for the deliverables / services / Final Reports. 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” November 2020 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. Consultants 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. Interested Consultants should clearly indicate in their Expression of interest the structure of their “association” and the duties and responsibilities of each of the partners and sub-consultants. Please note that any entity shall submit only one Expression of Interest in the same selection process, either individually as a single consultant or as a partner in a joint venture . The Consultant should provide: Certificate of Status issued by the national register of companies. In case of a joint venture, all members of the “association” will present a Certificate of Status; In case of a joint venture, the proof of a Partnership Agreement for the members of the “association” or a letter of intent to form a joint venture, signed by all members through their legal representatives; Declaration of no conflict of interests as attached to the present request of expressions of interests. In case of a joint venture, all members of the “association” will fill in a Declaration of no conflict of interests. The assignment should be carried out by a qualified Consultant with in-depth experience in the area of information management systems. The int