Call for Bids: ASEAN Trade Digitalisation Technical Assistance
The UK Government is seeking a supplier to deliver technical assistance to ASEAN (the Secretariat, its Member States and/or businesses) to support the facilitation of cross-border trade by creating a seamless trade experience with electronic documents and interoperable processes.
Background
In September 2021, UK and ASEAN Economic Ministers agreed the ASEAN-UK Joint Ministerial Declaration on Future Economic Cooperation, which set out an ambition to cooperate on digital innovation through the ASEAN-UK Digital Innovation Partnership (DIP). The DIP included a commitment to share learning on digital technical standards, digital transformation, data governance and e-commerce.
The recent ASEAN scoping study on their upcoming Digital Economy Framework Agreement, sets out an ambition to develop a coherent, harmonised, collaborative, and rules-based approach to ASEAN’s cooperation in the digital ecosystem to establish an open, secure, interoperable, competitive, and inclusive regional digital economy.
In line with these ambitions, the UK Government now wants to provide technical assistance to ASEAN to support the facilitation of cross-border trade by creating a seamless trade experience with electronic documents and interoperable processes.
Scope of Work
This objective is to support ASEAN to identify, understand and realise the opportunities posed by the adoption of trade digitalisation. This support should be taken forward in line with the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR) framework which the UK adopted into law earlier this year and international standards on digitalised trade for cross border, interoperable and paperless trade.
Proposals could build on the following headline activities – but open to wider ideas from potential partners in line with the objective above:
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Delivering 1-4 capacity building workshops to support ASEAN policy officials ahead of the delivery of new policy on trade digitalisation in support of the Digital Economy Framework Agreement.
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Delivering technical support for ASEAN policy officials in the drafting of policy and guidance for member states and/or businesses on the adoption of electronic trade documents and trade digitalisation.
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Delivering 1-4 workshops and/or course content for selected ASEAN businesses to help them better understand the opportunities, challenges and route to adoption of electronic trade documents and trade digitalisation in support of the Digital Economy Framework Agreement. We are open to working with the ASEAN Secretariat to identify those businesses, ensuring they are spread across the members. We are also open to policy officials being part of this element if of interest.
Timelines
The bidder is required to deliver phased outputs against set timelines (subject to confirmation). The project will be organised into three phases: Set-Up; Implementation; and Closure.
The duration of this project is likely to be 4 months (December 2023 to March 2024).
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Contract or grant sign with chosen bidder and commence project delivery. Proposed work plan for the whole programme by 30 November 2023.
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Set-up phase. Including implementation plan, list of delivery team and indicative success measures by 11 December 2023.
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Implementation phase. Engagement with ASEAN Secretariat and agreement of work plans up to March 2024. Delivery of technical assistance as per selected bid by 11 December onwards.
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Closure phase. Presentation of the project’s conclusions to ASEAN Secretariat and the UK Government by 31 March 2024.
Selection Criteria
Bids will be assessed against the following criteria:
- Methodology and Project Management
- Expertise
- Risk Management
- Project team/Resource Plan
- Information Access and Value for money
Bids will be assessed against the following skills and competences:
- Stakeholder engagement, responsiveness, accountability, service delivery and delivery of value for money, as well as effective mechanisms for all aspects of management (including both international and local staff) including dealing with poor performance.
- Ability to work in English and other ASEAN languages when required and/or where appropriate.
- The MLETR framework, and/or international standards on digitalised trade for cross border, interoperable and paperless trade.
- Demonstrate appropriate cultural awareness, sensitivity and a partnership approach, adapting to local needs and audiences. There is also a need to provide demonstrable experience of political stakeholder engagement, management and influence.
- Ability to work in English and other ASEAN languages when required and/or where appropriate.
Bids will need to demonstrate:
- Proven experience of supporting governments and regulatory bodies in developing policy and/or legislation, as well as delivering technical assistance, on international standards adoption.
- Experience with respect to international standards adoption in the aforementioned sectors.
- Evidence of local professional networks in ASEAN.
The budget for the service will be no more than £35,000 inclusive of all expenses.
Process
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Project proposals must be received by 23:59 (GMT) on 24 November 2023. Late proposals will not be considered.
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Proposals must include:
- A cover letter introducing the organisation.
- A completed activity-based budget form (using the template attached).
- A completed project proposal form (using the template attached).
- A 1-page example of a previous research, report or similar work.
Proposals must be submitted by emailing to: dbt.thailand@fcdo.gov.uk
The formal agreement will be contingent upon the legal entity status of the recipient. If the recipient is a non-for-profit organisation, the governing document will take the form of a grant agreement. In the case of a commercial entity, the appropriate legal instrument will be a contract. This delineation ensures that the contractual arrangement aligns with the legal and regulatory frameworks governing each entity type, maintaining clarity and compliance throughout the engagement. We shall formalise the specifics of the agreement during the selection process. This approach ensures that all relevant details, in accordance with the unique requirements and eligibility criteria of the chosen grant or contract, are thoroughly addressed and mutually agreed upon.