Tender Details

I. Background

Land O’Lakes Venture37 implements the Bangladesh Trade Facilitation project (BTF), which is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Foreign Agricultural Service, Food for Progress FY2020.

The project will expand regional and international trade in agricultural goods by addressing systemic constraints to agricultural trade at Bangladeshi ports; simplifying and automating import and export processes; improving the capacity of government agencies, laboratories, and warehouses; and fostering private and public investment in cold storage facilities and temperature-controlled transport system. BTF is working with nine Government of Bangladesh (GoB) agencies that provide services related to international trade and regulate import and export of agricultural goods and food items. One of which is the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) of the Ministry of Agriculture, which has the legislative mandate to oversee the import and export of plants and plant products, issuing phytosanitary certificates and other documentation prior to the export of plant products.

The Plant Quarantine Wing (PQW) of DAE has the institutional mandate and involved at seaports and airports and other border points of entry to prevent the introduction of pests with importing plants and plants products, beneficial organisms, and packing materials. PQW also regulates the export of plants or plant products, beneficial organisms and packing materials according to the phytosanitary requirements of the importing country and consistent with international agreements. PQW’s regulatory mandate over the export and import of plant and plant products is included in the Plant Quarantine Act of 2011. This law also sets directives for establishing a National Authority to regulate and manage trade of plants and plant products. Accordingly, the transformation of PQW to a governmental authority is an important initiative for both DAE and the Ministry of Agriculture.  BTF will support DAE to pursue this institutional change and further support the capacity building requirements of the institution.  As a first step in the transformation process, BTF will analyze the costs versus the benefits of establishing a National Plant Quarantine Authority and prepare analytical evidence that the institutional reform will bring more benefit to the country compared to its current operation as a Wing of DAE.

II. Objective

Venture37 requires a Consultant (For this assignment, the term ‘Consultant’ will mean a qualified individual or a group of consultants or a research firm having qualified and experienced researchers) to conduct a feasibility study or a cost-benefit analysis of establishing a National Plant Quarantine Authority. The Consultant will assess the current Government allocation mechanism for funding PQW, and should also assess the nature, extent, value, and use of fees collected by PQW, if any.  Furthermore, Consultant will analyze and derive the estimated value of benefits to traders and other stakeholders derived from the services offered. 

The Consultant will also analyze the costs associated with the services provided by PQW and estimate any actual or opportunity cost associated with budget variability, staff rotation, access to emergency funds, etc.

The Consultant will then assess and prepare a comparison of the projected costs and the associated economic or financial benefits accrued if the agency and services offered were operated as a National Plant Quarantine Authority. The Consultant shall also compare the net current benefits/loss with projected potential gains/loss and provide an analysis of potential benefits/loss of the institutional reform, taking into consideration the social, economic and technical perspectives.

Activities of a National Plant Quarantine Authority will include but not limited to (i) inspect and supervise the consignments of plants or plant products; (ii) conduct pest risk analysis and pest risk management; (iii) issue phytosanitary certificates and release orders; and (iv) conduct activities regarding diagnosis, detection and identification of pests and diseases.

The Consultant will recommend a roadmap for completing the institutional transformation process if the reform is found feasible/beneficial for the country from an international trade perspective. Alternatively, if transforming PQW to a National Plant Quarantine Authority is not found feasible to pursue in the Bangladesh context, the Consultant should propose a set of recommendations for restructuring the PQW organization, creating more efficient operations, and/or improving the provision of services.

III. Tasks/Activities

Technical direction, supervision, and mentoring will be provided by a BTF Senior Technical Advisor, who will collaborate with the Consultant and verify the scope and outline for the deliverables.  The expected tasks and activities include the following:   

• Review international best practices and build an understanding of how similar institutions operate and function in other countries of South Asia or the S. East Asian region.
• Engage with PQW to recognize the existing scope of the Plant Quarantine Wing’s operations and its personnel engaged for managing the trade -related tasks.
• Consult the proposal of DAE, including staffing pattern for the proposed National Plant Quarantine Authority.
• Identify indicators to determine the cost of operations and rate to returns for activities undertaken and services offered by PQW. Identify differences in costs or returns under a National Plant Quarantine Authority institutional structure.  
• Determine the benefits of SPS diplomacy.
• Determine appropriate methodology to perform the cost-benefit analysis.
• Perform cost benefit analysis of current operations of the PQW.
• Ex-ante analysis of cost and benefit for operations of National Plant Quarantine Authority.
• Engage with other relevant stakeholders such as exporters, trade associations as required to determine the extent of cost and benefit of phytosanitary operations and services provided.
• Prepare a roadmap for transforming the PQW to National Plant Quarantine Authority.
• Recommend alternative proposal if the transformation of PQW to an authority is not found feasible to pursue in Bangladesh context.

IV. Competencies: The consultant (individual or lead researcher of the group of consultants or lead consultant of the research firm) must have:

• Master’s degree in Economics/Finance/Statistics or related field. PhD in relevant field will have added advantage.
• Prior Experience in performing cost benefit analysis of institutional or similar reform.
• Prior Experience in working with agricultural trade is preferred.
• Knowledge regarding PQW, DAE and similar organizations in South Asian countries is desirable.
• Knowledge of International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) is desirable.
• Excellent communication, report writing and presentation skills.
• Fluency in English and Bangla.