RequestforExpressionofInterest

(REOI)

ForDestinationInspection

REOINoLRA/ICB/BOT/001/16/17

1. BACKGROUND

1.1TheLiberiaRevenueAuthority(LRA)wasestablishedbyanActoftheNationalLegislature in2013toreplacetheDepartmentofRevenueoftheerstwhileMinistryof Finance(MOF) (includingtheBureauof InternalRevenueandtheBureauofCustomsand Excise),with a mandateof assessing andcollectingnationalrevenuesas specifiedintheRevenueCodeof Liberiaor related law; administering, accounting, auditing and enforcing revenue collection lawsand regulations; andeducatingtaxpayersto facilitate tax andcustoms compliance.

1.2OnJuly14,2016,Liberiabecamethe163rdmemberoftheWorldTradeOrganization(WTO).

AspartoftherequirementofWTOandWCOmembership,Liberiaisobligatedtotransition to DestinationInspection(DI)Regimeasastepto reducingbarriersto internationaltrade. Thisisacriticalrequirement of allWTOand WCOmembercountries.Currently,Liberiais usingPre-shipmentInspection(PSI)formostofthecommoditiesimported toLiberia and maintainsaDestination Inspection site at theFreeport ofLiberia,theRobert’sInternational Airport and at allLandBorderswithinthecountry.Thecurrent DestinationInspectionsare manualanddone intheabsence of moderntechnologies andtheappropriateinfrastructure andthustheneedforinvestment ininfrastructure,equipment,technologyincluding equipmentand capacity building in order for Liberiato transition from PSIto DI.

1.3 Therefore,theGovernmentofLiberiathroughtheLiberiaRevenueAuthority(LRA)now invitesinterested and eligible firms/operators withthe requisite financialandtechnical capacityto assess,design,fund,build andoperateanew state-of-the-art Destination InspectionFacility atthe current internationalCustomsSeaandAirportacrossthecountry. ThefirmshouldalsoconsiderthepossibilityofcreatingCustomsClearanceZoneswithin thevariousregionsforthepurposeof DestinationInspection.Thefirm shallprovide technicaltraining and hands-on knowledgetransfertoCustomsto effectivelymanage valuation,tariff classification andorigin controlsbythecloseof thecontractperiod.Hands ontrainingand knowledgetransfer shall also includeintrusiveinspectionofcargo, management ofinspectionfacilities,operationoftechnologyand equipmentamongothers. Interestedfirmscan either be foreign,Liberian,orjointventuresof foreignandLiberian.

2. PROJECTDESCRIPTION

2.1The project is Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT). It requires the assessment for facilities construction, design of infrastructure,construction, and provision ofallequipmentfor inspectionandofficefacilitiesaswellasprovidingadequatetrainingforCustomsstaff under a comprehensive DI Transition Plan. During the said “DI Build Up” period, the Operatorwillberequiredto concurrentlyprovidePSI andDIservicesforimportsand exports.Theinvestor(s)willprovidealloftherequirementsandwillrecoupitsinvestment

and return on investment over several yearsto be detailed as agreed in theBOTAgreement. Investment cost andreturnsoninvestment shallbeprovidedinfinancialproposal.The project shall at minimum includethefollowing:

Complete assessmentreport

State-of-the-artfacilitiesforphysicalinspectionofcargo(simultaneousinspection of25- 50forty-footcontainers inallweatherconditions).

State-of-the-art non-intrusive inspectiontechnology(NIIT)and facility

State-of-the-art cargo inspectionequipment

Offices

Vehicleholdingarea(upto100vehiclesforinspection)andequipmentfor offloading vehicles

Customs-ownedwarehouseoutsidetheportforinspectionandstorageof seizures

Warehousesforinspectionofloosedcargosandstorageofseizuresinthe ports

Inventorymanagementsystemfor customsstoragewarehouses

 RiskManagementtools and systems

 Verificationof Conformity(VOC) to beblended with system(Optional)

 Customsowned valuationdatabase

 Long term subscription tointernationalpricedatabases

 Data Center

 Electronicdocumentmanagement system

 Overnight bungalowandoffice spacefor Customsboarding crew at seaports

3. QUALIFICATION PARAMETERS/EVALUATION CRITERIA

The EOIfor theaforesaidassignmentmust includethefollowing:

3.1A brief companyprofile innarrativeform with the following supporting documents:

 Business(es) Registration(s)

 ArticlesofIncorporation

 Last 3years audited financialstatements

 Fiscalcomplianceortax clearance

3.2Capability statement giving details about the experience and expertise of the service providersrelatedtotheExpressionof Interest.List ofprojectsofsimilarnatureexecuted in, atminimum,thelast10years. Inthecaseof Joint Venture,eachfirm’s capabilitystatement and supporting documentin count 3.1must beprovided and the primaryfirmidentified.

3.3Mustbeamongstthetopfiverecognized companiesfortheprovisionof similardestination inspection service.

3.4Musthavethecapability topre-financeallinvestmentsrequirementincludingassessment, design, construction,provisionof equipment,state-of-the-arttechnologiesand related equipment,equippingof modernDI sites,datacenter,thedeployment of modernnon- intrusiveinspectiontoolsincludingthe modernizationofCustomsofficesandquarters around the Countrypluswide and localarea connectivity.

3.5Curriculum vitae of Senior Management and long term technical staff with relevant experienceintheimplementation,management anddeliveryofaDestinationInspection Regime.

3.6 Submissionofsatisfactorybankreferencesanddocumentsdemonstratingavailabilityof funds/liquidassetsand/orcreditfacilitiesfromreputablebanker(s) ofnotlessthan25 million to effectively carryouttheproject

3.7Competence andcapability willbeestablished bythefollowing parameters:

 FinancialCapability in termsof Net-worth and

 TechnicalExperienceof Applicant

3.8 Againsteachoftheseparameters,applicantswouldberequiredtomeettheevaluation criteriaasdetailedinthisSection.TheevaluationshallbecarriedoutintermsofPass/Fail oftheapplicantstomeet atminimumbothofthe abovementionedparametersseparately. Applicant(s)meeting allthecriteriawillbe shortlistedorqualifiedtosubmit theirbid(s)for theproposed project.

3.9Applicantsfulfilling the following conditionsareeligibleto applyfor the EOI.

FINANCIAL CAPABILITY:

ApplicantsshouldhaveaminimumnetworthofUS$25,000,000inthelastthreefinancial years(2014,2015and 2016).

Item
No. / Minimum Eligibility Criterion / DocumentaryProof
1. / Applicantsshouldhaveaminimum
networthofUS$25,000,000in2014,
2015 and2016 / AuditedAnnualAccountsforthelastthree
financialyears

TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE

Applicantsshouldhave thefollowingminimumexperienceinatleastoneofthebelow inspectionsover thepast 10years:

 Pre-shipmentInspectionor

 Destination Inspection

 Preferablyacombinationofboth

Note:TheAuthorityreservesthe righttorejectany applicationwhichisnon-responsiveand no request for alteration,modification, substitutionorwithdrawal shallbeentertained bythe Authorityin respect ofsuch application.

4. SUBMISSION OFEOI

4.1EOI application shallbesubmittedelectronicallyandalsoinasealed single envelophaving thetitleofenvelop as:“EOIapplicationforDestinationInspection”,REOINumber:REOINo. LRA/ICB/BOT/16/17.

The envelop should contain thefollowing information in8sets (Original,Copy1& Copy 2)

 Covering Letter;

 Financialinformation certified byanaccreditedauditing firm;

 IncaseofconsortiumorJointVenture(JV),copyofnotarizedConsortiumorJoint

Venture agreement;

 List ofcontracts previouslyexecutedwithcustomsauthoritiesor of similar nature.

5. DEADLINEFOR SUBMISSIONOFEOI

5.1Allapplicationsshouldbesubmittedonorbefore14:00GMTTuesday,August22,2017at theLiberiaRevenueAuthority(LRA)HeadOfficelocated at ELWA Junction, Paynesville, Liberia.

5.2TheAuthoritymay,in its solediscretion, extendthedeadlineforsubmissionduedateby issuing anaddendum

5.3EOIsshallbesubmittedatthebelowlistedaddressbycourier,inpersonor byemailonor before 14:00 GMT Tuesday,August 22,2017.

Address:

ProcurementManager,LRA ProcurementUnit Basement,Ground Floor LRA’sHeadquarter

ELWA Junction

Paynesville,Liberia

Email: c

6. AMENDMENTOFEOI

6.1Atany timepriorto the deadline for submission duedate, theAuthoritymay,for any reason, whetheratitsowninitiativeorinresponsetoclarificationsrequestedbyanapplicant, modifytheEOIbyissuanceofanaddendum.However,suchaddendumsshallnotreduce the requirementsbutmayincreasethenumber ofrequirements.

6.2The EOI and any addendumthereto willbepublished in widelyread newspapers and on the followingwebsites: nd