Needs and Objectives
This project develops the new ASEAN Tariff Finder, which will provide ASEAN Member States and relevant stakeholders with improved access to trade-related information (e.g., tariffs, product-specific rules, customs procedures, and import-export requirements) that will facilitate informed decision-making. Specifically, it envisaged to lead to
- Improved quantity and quality of trade flows across ASEAN and their trading partners outside the region due to the provision and better access to significant and timely trade information
The new ASEAN tariff finder is intended to assist businesses in maximising benefits from the Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) through updated and accurate trade information in a single portal, which includes:
- Global Most-Favoured Nation (MFN) duties, including those of the ASEAN Member States (AMS), its Dialogue Partners (DPs), and the other World Trade Organization (WTO) Members;
- Regular duties of non-WTO Members;
- Preferential tariff rates under all ASEAN FTAs, including the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), ASEAN Plus FTAs, Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and bilateral or regional FTAs of AMS where available;
- Internal taxation measures becoming due at importation such as Value Added Tax (VAT), excise, and other taxes;
- Rules of Origin and Product Specific Rules (PSRs) under all ASEAN FTAs; and
- Global import procedures and formalities, including global import licensing mechanisms as well as customs clearance requirements.
Such information will help traders prepare business plans and import-export strategies before shipping the goods to importing countries. It also mitigates the risks of exposure of traders due to the lack of trade and customs information.
- Efficient trade negotiations and analysis of trade performance
ASEAN government officials and negotiators could use the widely-expanded database to analyse existing commitments for more cost-effective negotiations. It may also potentially contribute to a better assessment of trade performance.
Together with AADCP II, the ASEAN Secretariat’s Trade Facilitation Division (TFD) seeks to engage the services of an entity or firm to support the preparation of the project key outputs identified in the Terms of Reference below.
Scope of Services
The consultancy will be undertaken over a continuous effective period of 36 (thirty-six) calendar months with approximately 36-person 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 the assumption of five-person days per week. Actual time will be agreed upon in negotiation with the successful bidder.
Bidding
Interested consulting firms are invited to submit a proposal in response to these Terms of Reference. This proposal should be in two parts: Technical and Financial components.
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 underlie 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;
- A brief discussion of the firm’s past experience in undertaking similar work and brief summaries of all projects
undertaken; and - 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, travel, and any other associated project management cost;
- Applicable taxes such as VAT, GST, and 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 VIII above, and other supporting documents with “New ASEAN Tariff Finder” as the subject via email to tender@aadcp2.org no later than Thursday, 10 November 2022 at 05:00 pm 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: ”Queries – New ASEAN Tariff Finder”.
Download TOR here: Terms of Reference – New ASEAN Tariff Finder