DEADLINE: 4TH OCTOBER, 2022
PRESIDENTIAL ENABLING BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT COUNCIL
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) FOR COST OF COMPLIANCE BASELINE STUDY
(1.0) INTRODUCTION
The Enabling Business Environment Secretariat (EBES) assists Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies to implement the reform mandate of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC). In compliance with the requirements of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 and its extant guidelines, EBES is inviting competent Companies to submit technical and financial proposals for the Nationwide Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Regulatory Cost of Compliance Study
(2.0) SCOPE OF CONSULTANCY
The study seeks to capture the specific and general cost of regulatory compliance costs applicable for MSMEs across the country to facilitate the development and implementation of appropriate reform interventions necessary for the improvement of the business climate and stimulate MSMEs growth across Nigeria.
(3.0) PROJECT OBJECTIVE
The consultant will work with the Enabling Business Environment Secretariat (EBES) to carry out an impact assessment study with the following objectives:
(1) Develop a data collection model and define an approach to collecting empirical data on the cost of regulatory compliance for SMEs across 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory.
(2) Assess reduction in the cost of compliance obligations across PEBEC Priority MDAs.
(3) Assess the financial impact of direct levies and administrative costs on SMEs operating in the Agribusiness, Light Manufacturing, Creative Sector, Technology, Transport & Logistics and Decentralised Power sectors in Nigeria. It should provide estimated figures for SMEs and Large corporates in each of the sectors across the Federation.
(4) Focus on SMEs with turnover between N1m and N100m.
(5) Analyse the number of agencies with regulatory oversight of MSMEs across the six sectors in Nigeria. The study should identify the duplication of regulatory activities and interventions that impact SMEs in these sectors.
(6) Compile a list of MDAs with significant regulatory footprint and associated costs across the sectors.
(7) Assess relevant SMART metrics to track improvements in the regulatory environment.
(4.0) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Prospective firms should submit technical bid duly signed, paginated, separated by dividers and arranged in the order outlined hereunder, with the following documents:
(a) Evidence of Certificate of Incorporation issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) including Form CAC1.1 or CAC2 and CAC7. Business Name is also acceptable;
(b) Evidence of Company’s Income Tax Clearance Certificate (or Personal Income Tax Clearance Certificate of all the Partners in case of Business Name) for the last three (3) years valid till 31st December, 2022; with minimum average annual turnover of N200 million;
(c) Evidence of Pension Clearance Certificate valid till 31st December, 2022 (this requirement is only applicable to bidders whose number of staff is 15 and above);
(d) Evidence of Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Compliance Certificate valid till 31st December, 2022 (this requirement is only applicable to bidders whose number of staff is 5 and above or the bidder’s annual turnover is N50m and above);
(e) Evidence of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Clearance Certificate valid till 31st December, 2022;
(f) Evidence of Registration on the National Database of Federal Contractors, Consultants and Service Providers by submission of Interim Registration Report (IRR) expiring on 31/12/2022 or valid Certificate issued by BPP.
(g) Sworn Affidavit:
-disclosing whether or not any officer of the relevant committees of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council or the Bureau of Public Procurement is a former or present Director, shareholder or has any pecuniary interest in the bidder and to confirm that all information presented in its bid are true and correct in all particulars;
-that no Director has been convicted in any Country for any criminal offence relating to fraud or financial impropriety or criminal misrepresentation or falsification of facts relating to any matter;
-that the Company is not in receivership, the subject of any form of insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings or the subject of any form of winding up petition or proceedings;
(h) Company’s Audited Accounts for the last three (3) years -2019, 2020 & 2021, duly acknowledged by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS);
(i) Reference Letter from a reputable commercial bank in Nigeria, indicating willingness to provide credit facility for the execution of the project when needed;
(j) Company’s Profile with the Curriculum Vitae of Key Staff to be deployed for the project, including copies of their Academic/Professional qualifications such as COREN, QSRBN, ARCON, CORBON etc.;
(k) Verifiable documentary evidence of at least three (3) similar jobs executed in the last five (5) years including Letters of Awards, Valuation Certificates, Job Completion Certificates and Photographs of the projects;
(l) Evidence of Firm’s current registration with relevant regulatory professional body(ies);
(m) For Joint Venture/Partnership, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) should be provided (CAC, Tax Clearance Certificate, Pension Clearance Certificate, ITF Compliance Certificate, NSITF Clearance Certificate, IRR & Sworn Affidavit are compulsory for each JV partner)
(n) All documents for submission must be transmitted with a Covering/Forwarding letter under the Company/Firm’s Letter Head Paper bearing amongst others, the Registration Number (RC) as issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Contact Address, Telephone Number (preferably GSM No.), and e-mail address. The Letterhead Paper must bear the Names and Nationalities of the Directors of the Company at the bottom of the page, duly signed by the authorised officer of the firm.
(5.0) SUBMISSION OF EOI DOCUMENTS
Prospective bidders are to submit bid for each of the Lot desired, 1 original 1 copy, packaged in a sealed envelopes and clearly marked as “EOI”; and addressed to Project Manager, Enabling Business Environment Secretariat (EBES) and clearly marked with (the name of the project and the Lot number). Furthermore, the reverse of each sealed envelope should bear the name and address of the bidder and drop in the designated Tender Box on the 4th Floor of NIPC building, Maitama not later than 12:00 noon Tuesday, 4 October, 2022.
(6.0) OPENING OF EOI
The EOI will be opened immediately after the deadline for submission at 12:00 noon Tuesday, 4 October, 2022, at the EBES Conference Room (Room 402, 4th Floor, Block A, NIPC Building). Please ensure that you sign the submission register indicating Company’s name, representative’s contact details (telephone number and email address). The EBES will not be liable for mislabelled submissions or wrongly submitted bids.
(7.0) GENERAL INFORMATION
(i) EOIs must be in English Language and signed by an officially authorised signatory of the Firm/Company
(ii) EOIs submitted after deadline shall be returned and unopened
(iii) All costs will be borne by the bidders
(iv) Attendees at the bid openings shall be required to wash hands, use hand sanitiser, wear mask and observe physical distancing. The Bids will be opened in the presence of CSOs and Professional bodies and covered by video recording; invitation link will be sent to bidders who chooses to join the bid opening online;
(v) Bidders can submit through Post (Courier Services);
(vi) Only shortlisted Consultants will be invited at a later date for collection of Request for Proposals.
(vii) The EBES reserves the right to disqualify any Consultant that does not comply with instructions
(viii) The EBES is not bound to shortlist any bidder and reserves the right to annul the procurement process at any time without incurring any liabilities in accordance with section 28 of the Public Procurement Act 2007.
(ix) Questions and Clarifications from interested Firms/Companies may be sent via email to the Project Manager, Mr. Ayokunnu Ojeniyi – ayokunnu.ojeniyi@ebes.gov.ng. All answers will be collated, and blind responses shared with all enquiring firms to ensure transparency and a level playing field. You may visit https://businessmadeeasy.ng/CoCToR.pdf for additional information.
Signed:
Tenders Board,
Enabling Business Environment Secretariat
