The role of the SAU is to develop assessment standards and diagnostic test to evaluate performance nationally. The unit has responsibility for the grade-six achievement test, which is used to place students in secondary institutions. The consultancy is required to strengthen the SAU=s capacity to fulfill its mandate in respect of student assessment in Jamaica.

A complete set of bidding documents, in English, may be purchased by interested bidders on the submission of a written application to the Project Manager, PESP (same address), and upon payment of a non-refundable fee of US$ 100 or J$ 4,500 per package. The payment toward the cost of the bidding documents may be made by a banker=s check or demand draft in favor of the Permanent Secretary, MOEY&C, payable at the MOEY&C. Payments in any other form will not be accepted. The bidding documents will be sent by FedEx or DHL to bidders outside Jamaica, but the MOEY&C will not be responsible for delays in delivery, if any. The bidding documents will be available for sale from 20 August 2001 until one day prior to the closing date of the bid.

The instruction to bidders, general conditions of contract and bid form contained in the bidding documents comply with the IDB=s <I>Standard Bidding Documents for the Procurement of Services</I>. Bids are to be presented in two separately sealed envelopes, one containing the technical proposal exclusive of cost and the second containing the proposed cost for the services.

All bids must be accompanied by a security of US$ 1,000 or its equivalent in Jamaican dollars and be delivered to the address below by 1200 hours on 17 September 2001. They will be opened at 1205 hours on the same day in the presence of the bidders= representatives who choose to attend at the same address.