The Government of Jamaica (GOJ) has secured a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to finance the Primary Education Support Project (PESP), which will support the development and implementation of activities aimed at improving the delivery of primary level education in Jamaica. Part of the loan proceeds is to fund payments for the procurement of the services of a firm to undertake the development of an Education Management Information System (EMIS). Specifically, the scope of work will call for the following:

$Development of an EMIS connect network system

$Development of infrastructure database

$Development of financial database

$Development of personnel database

$Revision to a census and assessment database

Firms are required to have expertise in the following areas:

$Database design

$Programming

$Networking(LAN and WAN)

$Software development

$Training capability in the above areas

$Project management

Firms are required to have specialist capability in network security arrangements, experience in developing an Intranet in a geographically dispersed organization, experience in financial, infrastructure and personnel information systems. The output will be the establishment of an Intranet services throughout the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture through an EMIS connect service and the databases listed above.

The GOJ now invites eligible firms or joint venture partnerships from the IDB=s member countries to express their interest in providing their services starting during the 2002 calendar year. Interested entities must submit information, in English, indicating their qualification to perform the services (brochure, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc.).

Applications will be based on qualifications, key personnel, availability, relevant and applicable experience, financial capability and participation of resident Jamaican nationals. Firms will be shortlisted in respect to their responsiveness to the requirements stated and in keeping with the IDB guidelines.

A shortlist of three to six firms will be prequalified. The prequalified firms will be invited to submit technical and financial proposals. The terms of reference will be made available to the shortlisted firms only.

Interested firms or joint ventures may obtain the prequalification questionnaires, clarification and further information from the Project Manager, Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture at the address below or by e-mail. Any firm or joint venture wishing to prequalify must complete the necessary questionnaire. In the case of joint ventures, each firm must submit a separate questionnaire. The original and four copies of the completed questionnaire, in English, clearly marked APrequalification for Consulting Services for EMIS Consultancy@, must be placed in a sealed envelope addressed to the Program Manager and delivered to the address below by 1500 hours (Jamaica time) on 15 July 2002. Late applications will not be considered in any circumstances.

Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture

Attn: Project Manager, PESP

2 National Heroes Circle. Bldg. 1, 5th Floor, Room 500

Kingston 4, Jamaica

Tel: (1-876) 922-1400 through 1409, 922-1971. Fax: (1-876) 967-4066

E-mail: pcu@cwjamaica.com