Needs and Objectives
The project will conduct a strategic assessment of new and emerging issues in FTAs that can be used as reference in defining ASEAN’s “offensive and defensive” interests in FTAs, while taking into account the development gaps and different levels of readiness amongst the AMS. Guided by the strategic assessment, ASEAN is expected to formulate strategies
and policy options that can serve as reference for ASEAN trade negotiators in engaging ASEAN’s existing and potential FTA partners on these new issues.
This will further consolidate an ASEAN strategy and create a fresh momentum to strengthen ASEAN’s engagements with stakeholders, including the ASEAN dialogue partners, in the new and emerging areas. It will also serve to inform AEC in the development of the post-2025 vision in promoting a proactive global ASEAN.
Through the project, it is envisaged that ASEAN and the individual AMS would have a better understanding of implications of the emerging FTA issues that will assist in making informed, evidence-based strategies /general approaches to these new and emerging issues towards modern, relevant FTAs. In the long run, it is expected to promote relevant, forward looking FTAs in order to maximise the real benefit for the AEC.
Together with AADCP II, the ASEAN Secretariat’s Analysis and Monitoring on Trade and Emerging Issues Division (AMTEID), ASEAN Integration Monitoring Directorate (AIMD) seek to engage the services of an entity or firm to support the preparation of the project key output, namely a Study on New and Emerging FTA Issues.
Scope of Services
The consultancy will be undertaken over a period of up to 330 person-days, spread out over approximately 12 calendar months of professional services. Work will commence immediately after contract signing.
The number of people working weeks is intended to indicate the amount of relative effort required to deliver the corresponding outputs. The calculation is based on assumption of five person-days per week. Actual time will be agreed in negotiation with the successful bidder.
Bidding
Interested entities are invited to submit a proposal in response to this TOR. This proposal should be in two parts: Technical and Financial components, to be submitted as two separate documents.
The Technical component should present the following information:
- A brief discussion indicating the bidder’s understanding of the needs of the project;
- A brief analysis of key issues;
- A methodological discussion of how the bidder proposes to address those needs including assessment of key issues, analytical strategies that will underline the project, specific techniques to be utilised, and practical discussion of possible
limitations in carrying out the project; - A detailed work plan that specifies activities to be undertaken, expected outputs and deliverables, resources to be utilised and timing;
- Staffing and management plan;
- A discussion on how measures to ensure the future sustainability of the outcomes of the project will be addressed;
- CVs of all proposed experts;
- Brief discussion of firm’s past experience in undertaking similar work and brief summaries of all projects undertaken; and,
- Samples in soft copy attached to the application (or website link to samples) of relevant past work/ reports.
The Financial component should specify:
- Professional fees of expert(s);
- Management and/or operational fees (if any), which include all costs incurred by the person/entity/company for internal coordination, communication, travels and any other associated project management cost; and,
- Applicable taxes such as VAT, GST, PPN. See Section XI point 3 for an additional note on tax liability.
Activity costs for experts and participants such as reimbursable expenses for airfare, other travel costs and daily subsistence allowance for workshops, meetings, and all other agreed activities do not need to be included in the Financial Component. These items will be discussed with the preferred contractor during the finalisation of the scope of services. Costs will be based on prevailing ASEC rates.
Submission of Application
Applicants should send their application with a cover letter, materials specified in Section IX above and other supporting documents with “Assessment of New and Emerging Issues for ASEAN Plus One FTAs” as the subject via email to tender@aadcp2.org , no later than 9 December 2022 at 05:00pm Jakarta time.
For Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), please visit http://aadcp2.org/aadcp-ii-tender-frequently-asked-questions/
Any queries on the TOR should be sent to contact@aadcp2.org with the subject line: “Query: Assessment of New and Emerging Issues for ASEAN Plus One FTAs.”
TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR ASSESSMENT OF NEW AND EMERGING ISSUES IN ASEAN PLUS ONE FTAS