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Consultancy Services for the Development of the Broadband Policy and Strategy

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

SAINT LUCIA
CARIBBEAN DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION PROJECT (CARDTP)

Loan No. /Credit No.: IDA Credit # 6682-LC

Contract Title: Consultancy Services for the Development of the Broadband Policy and Strategy
Reference No.: SLU_CARDTP_C_IC_3

Saint Lucia has received financing from the World Bank towards the Caribbean Digital Transformation Project, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services for engagement of an Individual Consultant to aide in the development of the National Broadband Strategy and Policy to provide direction and guidance for promoting widespread access to high-speed broadband services throughout Saint Lucia, as a significant driver for economic growth, job creation and poverty alleviation. The consultancy is expected to last for a period of 6 months.

The consulting services (“the Services”) include

1. Undertake an assessment of the current ICT status of Saint Lucia, using ICT Development Index (IDI), which includes, among others, indicators on fixed telephone lines, mobile subscriptions, Internet users, broadband penetration, international Internet bandwidth, and percentage of households with an electronic device. Other relevant factors to be taken into account, such as ICT affordability (ICT Price Basket), World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) / Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets, economic and geographic parameters;
2. Summarize an assessment of existing policy and regulatory frameworks with a view to facilitating deployment of broadband technologies, both fixed and wireless; taking into account convergence trends;
3. Conduct a comprehensive SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) of relevant market and sector structures and, based on this analysis, identify options for enhancing broadband development, taking into consideration local market context and international trends, legal, regulatory, financial and operational aspects. 
4. Review the existing network architectures, coverage maps and identify any broadband gaps and propose potential interventions, such as investment costs, service provider taxation, and propose possible funding options, to support broadband deployment for the gaps and last mile connectivity; 
5. Coordinate closely with the national consultant team working in parallel, to provide regulatory advisory services with regard to the new legislation affecting ICTs. 
6. Assess key current and foreseeable economic and social determinant issues with respect to broadband demand and its uptake for broadband applications. Assess Demand estimation methodologies, which may include or combine comparative benchmarks, sustainable affordability, and adoption/attractiveness, content and services and identify policies, regulations and actions plans to stimulate supply and demand among others; 
7. Coordinate with ECTEL and the NTRC to identify key policy and regulatory instruments including licensing, spectrum access/interconnection, deployment of new technologies, rollout of obligations, incentive based regulation, infrastructure sharing, universal service obligations and provide concrete recommendations to promote broadband wireless services vis-à-vis identified national priorities and international best practices;
8. In consultation with NTRC and ECTEL, define policy objectives for broadband development, strategic initiatives, key performance indicators and targets including a roadmap with established timeframes, resource requirements (with clearly defined roles and responsibilities of stakeholders), a budget and a monitoring and evaluation framework aimed at achieving affordable broadband access and improving broadband coverage with clear targets and metrics (e.g. coverage, scorecards and geographical approach);
9. Examine the opportunity for Saint Lucia to fully capitalize on the  broadband and ICT era, by leveraging modern technological options and infrastructure, government support, investment incentives, competition, and highlight the potential for policy makers, regulators and other stakeholders, to foster the development and adoption of broadband in Saint Lucia;
10. Monitoring and reporting the impact of broadband on economic activity;
11. Develop a roadmap for broadband development that includes, but not limited to the following:
1. Provision of wi-fi to fill in access gaps for desirous individuals in all communities;
2. Address Data Security and Privacy, as well as Cyber & information security / secure broadband (provider & user levels);
3. Ability to track internet protocol (IP) addresses to geographic locations to assist in the prevention of cybercrime;
4. Sustainability of internet exchange points (IXP); and
5. Recommendations on the implementation of broadband technologies in key priority sectors identified in the Digital Strategy
12. Develop instruments to seek input from stakeholders in Saint Lucia on the requisites for a national broadband strategic policy and action plan, especially regarding the current and future regulatory framework and the policy initiatives related to broadband; and
13. Conduct a national workshop aimed at informing, educating, gathering information from the stakeholders and sharing proposals.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be found at the following website; www.govt.lc/consultancies or www.finance.gov.lc or http://publicservice.govt.lc/notices can be obtained at the address given below.

The Department of Public Service now invites Eligible Individual Consultants (“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; (Curriculum Vitae, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, clients’ references etc.).

Interested Consultants should have the following requisite qualifications and professional experiences listed below for undertaking the assignment.

QUALIFICATION

The successful candidate must have:

Academic:

• At least a Master’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Information Technology Management or related field with at least five [5] years post qualification related experience.

OR

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Information Technology Management or related field with at least ten [10] years post qualification related experience

Experience:

• At least five (5) years’ experience senior management within the ICT, Telecommunications or related sector;
• Experience with the design or establishment of government policy and or related project management or execution.
• Experience with similar initiatives or equivalent in complexity in the OECS or wider Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) region;
• Prior experience in formulating a National Broadband Policy for a SIDS would be an advantage.

Specific professional experience:

• As a principal/lead for at least one (1) instance of broadband policy design and implementation within the last five years. Provide brief details of the engagement and reference.
• Development of Broadband Policy.

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” July 2016, revised November 2017 , August 2018 and July 2020 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultants Selection method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

Further information can be obtained at the address below (*) during office 8:00 a.m-4:30 p.m. (0800 to 1630 hours).

Expressions of Interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by February 21, 2022

  *Project Implementation Unit
Department of Public Service
Attn: Procurement Specialist
Caribbean Digital Transformation Project
Bourbon Street
Castries
Saint Lucia 
Tel: 1-758-485-6731
E-mail: slu.cardpt@gmail.com

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