REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
Russian Federation
National Hydromet Modernization Project
CONSULTING SERVICES
Loan No. 4769-RU

The Russian Federation has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the National Hydromet Modernization Project, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consultant services for monitoring of customer evaluation of services rendered by RosHydromet organizations and institutions (monitoring system implementation) (Package No. RHM/3/C.2.h.ii).

The main objective of the contract is to implement two waves of the monitoring survey of user evaluation of RosHydromet services and to identify and analyze its dynamics, with regard to solving the Project objectives and tasks.

For this purpose a consultant shall:
- Make required adjustments to the monitoring methodology and elaborate its tools with regard to the recommendations developed on the results of the monitoring test run;
- Prepare and perform the first wave of the field survey to evaluate RosHydromet hydrometeorological services;
- Process and analyze survey findings;
- Elaborate the monitoring methodology and tools with regard to the first wave results;
- Prepare and perform the second wave of the field survey;
- Process and analyze survey findings. Identify and analyze the dynamics of user evaluation of RosHydromet services.

The following are established as survey target groups:
- General public;
- Representatives of federal and local authorities;
- Economic entities.

The Consultant should work in direct working contact with the authorized RosHydromet employee. To organize and carry out field works and to form the organizational and staffing structure of the monitoring, it is planned that the Consultant should visit the regions under review.

Qualification requirements:
The main criteria of consultant selection should be its experience in organization and conduct of Russian-wide social and marketing studies.
The staff should have at least the following required qualifications:
- Expert/s with knowledge in developing methodologies and programs of innovative social/marketing studies;
- Expert/s in organization of field social/marketing surveys;
- Experts knowledgeable in methodology of and having practical experience in conduct of mass-scale (interregional) user polls of HMI and SHMI;
- Expert/s with work experience in data processing and creating and maintaining databases;
- Experts in applied hydrometeorology, with work experience not less than 5 years.

The estimate duration is: first monitoring wave – up to 24 weeks, second monitoring wave – up to 20 weeks.

The Foundation Bureau of Economic Analysis (hereinafter BEA), acting as the Project Implementation Unit in accordance with the Agreement No. 01-01-06/04-154 dated November 28, 2005 between the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, the Federal Services for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (Roshydromet) and BEA, now invites eligible consultants to indicate their interest in providing the services.

Interested consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc.). Consultants may associate to enhance their qualifications.

A consultant will be selected in accordance with the QCBS (Quality- and Cost-Based Selection) procedures set out in the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers (May 2004).

Interested consultants may obtain further information at the address below from 10:00 to 17:00 hours Moscow time.

Expressions of interest must be delivered to the address below by July 10, 2009.

Foundation Bureau of Economic Analysis
National Hydromet Modernization Project
Attn: Mr. Sergey N. Lavrov, Executive Director
Cc: Mr. Sergey Kirnos, Head of Procurement Department
27, bld. 3, Zubovsky blvd., Moscow 119021, Russia
Tel: (+7 495) 937-67-50
Fax: (+7 495) 937-67-53
E-mail: : procurement@beafnd.org; skirnos@beafnd.org

June 19, 2009