Consultancy services for the implementation of Project's Awareness Campaign

Project: P179786 - Romania Rural Pollution Prevention and Reduction Project (RAPID) Reference: 01/QCBS/2024 Procurement method: Quality And Cost-Based Selection Financing: World Bank REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (CONSULTING SERVICES - FIRMS SELECTION) ROMANIA Rural Pollution Prevention and Reduction Project Loan No.: 9505-RO Assignment Title: Consultancy services for setting-up and running a national public awareness campaign Reference No . (as per Procurement Plan): 01/QCBS/2024 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 for setting-up and running a national public awareness campaign in order to encourage the target groups to act for preventing and reducing pollution from rural areas. 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 duration of Phase 1 will be three (3) months from the kick-off meeting. The commencement of Phase 2 is contingent upon the successful completion of Phase 1. The detailed Terms of Reference (ToRs) for the assignment are published on the Ministry’s of Environment, Waters and Forests web site at the following link: https://www.mmediu.ro/categorie/achizitii-publice/105 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 conducting awareness campaigns. The Consultants should demonstrate, for the last 10 years, general experience in designing and implementing public awareness campaigns, 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 organizing public awareness campaigns at national level, specifically, addressing the population in rural areas (preferably a minimum of 3 projects). The Consultants should also demonstrate previous experience in events organization, media and on-line campaigns, production of promotional materials (preferably a minimum of 1 project). The 5 years specific experience will be proven through recommendation letters from the Contracting Authorities, approval documents issued by the Contracting Authorities for the deliverables / services / Final Reports. No CVs should be provided at this stage of the selection procedure as the Key Experts requested in the Terms of Reference will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage. The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, 3.17 and 3.21 to 3.24 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 and Eligibility. 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. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Consultant s Quality and Cost-based Selection (QCBS) method set out in the Procurement Regulations. In case of a Joint-Venture (JV), all the partners in the JV will be evaluated jointly and they shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected. Further inform