About IESC and TraSa
Improving Economies for Stronger Communities (IESC) is the main implementer of the Trade Safe (TraSa) project funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the Dominican Republic (DR). TraSa’s goal is to enhance the capacity of Dominican government institutions in developing modern policies and regulatory frameworks concerning sanitary/phytosanitary (SPS) security and food safety. This is in response to the trade agreements, international best practices, and consumer needs of the DR. By promoting the adoption of science-based, risk assessment-oriented SPS and food safety measures, standards, procedures, and regulations, TraSa facilitates the trade of food and agricultural products. Additionally, the project aids in the formulation of cold chain policies, both for the domestic market and international trade. The project implementation period is from October 1, 2020, to September 30, 2025.
Background
Achieving joint, risk-based inspection protocols to expedite the movement, release and clearance of goods is a primary goal of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). As such, TraSa is supporting the Dominican National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC) with Risk Management and Border Agency Cooperation.
The primary challenge for achieving joint, risk-based inspections is that there are presently no less than 4 civilian food and agriculture entities – Plant Health, Animal Health, Food Safety and DIGEMAPS – and 4 law enforcement/security entities – Specialized Corps for Civil Aviation Security (CESAC), the Specialized Corps for Port Security (CESEP), the Specialized Corps for Border Security (CESFRONT), and the National Directorate for Drug Control (DNCD) – with different mandates to inspect Dominican imports and exports. Each of these different entities also have different risk management systems and capacities to assess risk.
TraSa has successfully engaged the NTFC to work with two different working groups on risk management and joint inspections. TraSa organized a successful study tour for NTFC members to visit Colombia to learn about their risk management system and joint, risk-based inspections. Participants returned with a high level of enthusiasm and interest in advancing the DR’s work on developing and implementing joint, risk-based inspection protocols. A similar trip for the Risk Management working group to visit Chile took place in April 2023.
Current TraSa efforts hinge on bringing the food, agriculture, law enforcement, and security inspectors into the Customs Directorate-managed automated risk management system. TraSa completed a review of the current risk management system and protocols used by DR’s food and agricultural border inspection agencies and to input the current protocols and risk criteria into the Customs-managed automated risk engine. Similarly, TraSa is working with the law enforcement and security inspection agencies to review/develop risk management protocols for inclusion in the automated risk engine. Training on ISO 31000 on Risk Management systems is also being provided to key employees in the 8 inspection agencies.
With two remaining years in the TraSa project, there is an urgent need to validate the current TraSa risk management strategy under implementation and to define the follow up assistance to the NTFC Risk Management and Joint Inspections working groups on next steps.
Objectives
TraSa is mandated to conduct special studies for findings to aid in providing context to project results and impact during mid-implementation. This study will analyze TraSa’s current activities to support the NTFC risk management efforts to advance the DR Customs’ and related border inspection agencies’ current application of risk management protocols. It will also analyze progress toward connecting the 8 public sector inspection agencies to the Customs Directorate managed risk management engine. The study will document their performance of the eight inspection agencies on red/yellow/green channels in terms of food/agricultural trade volumes passing through each channel and clearance times and to benchmark best practices for risk management and inspection systems from the U.S. and other Latin American countries. This would inform the design of an improved risk management system.
Specific Objectives
Consultant(s) Tasks
Work plan and schedule of activities:
1. Prepare a work plan that contains the details of the activities to be carried out to achieve each deliverable and prepare the corresponding execution schedule. The consultant must consider conducting participatory consultations with the different stakeholders involved, allowing interaction between the interested parties at different levels of the authorities under the scope of this consultancy (service users, officials involved in the implementation, representative of ports, airports and border crossings, etc.). Any other that the consultant or the consulting team deems relevant must also be considered.
Workshops and visits to ports:
2. Convene workshops that allow evaluations of the progress and the impact obtained during the consultancies already carried out and those currently in progress.
3. Evaluate the level of knowledge that the officials of the institutions have acquired about risk management and joint inspection through assessments.
Analyze and evaluate results of previous consultancies:
4. Analyze the consultancies carried out and the results obtained in accordance with the objectives set during the formulation of the TraSa project. The consultancies to be evaluated are: Institutional Evaluation Consultancy of the MSF policy framework, Risk Motor Feeding Consultancy for Health and Safety, and the consultancy on strengthening the risk management systems for military institutions. It is the responsibility of TraSa to deliver all the documentation resulting from the consultancies.
Deliverables
All deliverables are subject to information availability. They must be provided in Spanish; Written deliverables must be provided in an editable format. Delivery dates are estimated.
This must be delivered by email and presented to the IESC technical team and the authorities. IESC and the technical team of the authorities will provide written comments within 4 business days after submission. The consultant will provide the final version of this deliverable no later than 2 calendar days after receiving feedback from the IESC team.
Deliverable 1. Work plan. Due approximately 1 week after the consultancy agreement is awarded.
This work plan must include:
1.0. Schedule of activities to achieve each deliverable, likewise, include the methodology that will be used to achieve the following specific objectives:
1.1 Activities to evaluate possible ICT solutions to facilitate joint inspections, including connectivity to the VUCE, SIGA and/or the automated risk engine, as appropriate.
1.2 Activities that allow a strategy to create collaboration agreements with the authorities of Chile, Mexico, and Colombia to facilitate collaboration on the understanding of best practices for risk management and joint inspections.
This deliverable must include: a description of the activities to be carried out, responsible parties, implementation plan, start date, end date or delivery date, work methodology, evaluation method, and schedule of activities.
Deliverable 2. Worktables. Due approximately 4 weeks after the consultancy agreement is awarded.
2.0. The expected results of this deliverable are:
2.1. List of participation on each working groups, to evaluate the implementation progress of the integrated risk management system in the different institutions involved in the dispatch of goods, it is expected that the consultant will convene the participation of the different sectors that are or have been object of risk management consultancies.
2.2. Report containing the results of the survey conducted with officials who have participated during the different consultations on the risk management system. This report must also gather perspectives of the officials regarding the results achieved so far.
2.3 Report on the results of the evaluations regarding the conceptual management of the risk management system for those officials of the institutions subject to this consultancy for the implementation of the integrated risk management system.
Deliverable 3. Final Report. Due approximately 4 weeks after the consultancy agreement is awarded.
3.0 A final report is expected as a result containing
3.1. Analysis of the progress made.
3.2. Evaluation of the strategy implemented by TraSa for compliance with the joint risk and inspection initiative.
3.3. Recommendations on technical assistance that can support the implementation of an integrated risk management system for the institutions involved in the dispatch of goods.
3.4. Evaluation of the current state of the joint inspection protocol project that is based on the SICA model.
3.5. Recommendation of a strategy and critical path to implement for the strengthening of institutions on risk management.
This deliverable must be sent by email and presented to the IESC and the technical team of the local authorities. IESC and technical team of the local authorities will provide written feedback within 5 business days after submission. The consultant or consulting team will provide the final version of this deliverable no later than 3 calendar days after receiving feedback from the IESC team.
Qualifications:
Applications will be evaluated based on the criteria and weights detailed below.
Fluent proficiency in both spoken and written Spanish is required.
Application Process:
Interested candidates should attach the following documents in their application. Applications due 10:00 AM on September 26, 2023:
i. Technical proposal for the consultancy’s development.
ii. Estimated total number of working days required for the consultancy.
iii. Daily fees and total costs.
iv. Proposed Gantt chart with number of estimated days of effort (with travel schedule as needed).
IESC Support
IESC provides comprehensive support to experts before, during, and after their anticipated assignment in the Dominican Republic. Support includes:
IESC is a leading U.S. nonprofit organization that fosters private sector development in the economically developing world. Since 1964, we have delivered lasting solutions that have resulted in more than 1.5 million jobs in 137 countries. We partner with businesses, cooperatives, entrepreneurs, jobseekers, and governments to sustainably build capacity, create jobs, and grow enterprises, sharing proven skills and experience that improve the lives of individuals, families, and communities around the world. Our major funders today are the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), among others.
