The Government of Jamaica has received a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to assist in financing the Agricultural Support Services Project (ASSP). The Ministry of Agriculture is executing this project.

The activities of the ASSP are structured in three components:

The Ministry of Agriculture now invites eligible consultants to express their interest in providing the following services:

• Animal health methodology consultant: The objective of this consultancy is to prepare the Veterinary Services Division laboratories to meet international standards for accreditation for disease testing, microbiology and residue testing.
• Plant health methodology consultant: The objective of this consultancy is to enhance methodologies for plant health import/export certification and inspection.

Eligible individual consultants or firms from the IDB=s member countries are invited to submit expressions of interest to the Project Director at the address below. Individual consultants or firms seeking to be shortlisted must show proof of their technical and educational capabilities, and relevant experience for the provision of the services.

A shortlist of three to six individual consultants or firms will be selected in accordance with the following criteria:

Three copies of the expression of interest, including curriculum vitae, must be delivered to the address below by 12 April 2002.

Ministry of Agriculture

Agricultural Support Services Project

Attn: Project Director

Hope Gardens

Kingston 6, Jamaica.

Tel: (1-876) 927-1506. Fax: (1-876) 977-4348