Consultant (Business Continuity Plan) at the Rivers State Government

The Federal Government of Nigeria has received a credit from the International Development Association (IDA) and grants from the European Union (EU) towards the cost of implementing the State Employment and Expenditure for Results (SEEFOR) project in some selected states in Nigeria. Rivers State is one of the beneficiaries of the credit/grant and intends to apply part of the proceeds towards this consultancy service for the engagement of: 

Job Title: Consultant -  Business Continuity Plan for the Rivers State Integrated Financial Management Information System (SIFMIS)

Reference No: RV/SFR/BCP/2018/02
Location: Rivers

Details

• This request for expressions of interest follows the general procurement notice for this project that appeared in Development Business on june 12,2012.
• In keeping with the foregoing, the Rivers State Government is in the process of building its financial management capacity and improving its financial management information system by:
  • Progressive introduction of a State Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (SIFMIS);
  • Improving cash management by strengthening the institutional framework and capacity for cash management.
  • Improved Financial reporting through:
    • Adoption of the cash model of International Public-Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) which will later progress to accrual IPSAS.
    • Design and implementation of departmental financial performance reporting systems;
  • Modernization of external and internal audit arrangements; and
  • Capacity building in financial management for relevant staff.

Objectives
The oblective of this assignment is to assist the Accountant General’s Office to ensure the avaiIabiIit3 integrity and confidentiality of the SIFMIS. To achieve this, the consultant should:

• Evaluate the adequacy of backup and restore provisions to ensure the availability of information required to resume processing
• Evaluate the organization’s disaster recovery plan (if any) to ensure that it enables the recovery of IT processing capabilities in the event of a disaster
• Evaluate the organization’s business continuity plan (if any) to ensure the orgaaization’s ability to continue essential business operations during the period of an IT disruption Business continuity planning process should take into consideration key operations that are most necessary to the survival of the organization including the human/material resources supporting them.

The business continuity plan includes:

• The Disaster Recovery Plan (BCP) that is used to recover a facility rendered inoperable, including relocating operations into a new location;
• The restoration plan that is used to return operations to normality whether in a restored or new facility

The Scope of Service

Business Impact Assessment
The first and key step in developing a business continuity plan is a risk assessment exercise that analyses the various risks that the RSGV faces and the impact of non-availability of individual applications and systems. This will entail:

• Identification of business-critical processes for SIFMIS
• The assessment of the impacts of non-availability of the above critical processes
• Develop a risk map of the risks faced by RVSG during its activities (threats and vulnerabilities having impact on the activities of the State and those of its partners) which clearly shows the level of severity, the probability of occurrence, etc.
• Identify the need for continuity of key activities in the event of disaster, and advise on their criticality in the light of the various departments and br divisions of the State; the Consultant will have to propose the responses to be provided to each identified situation, in line with the risk mapping;
• Determine the financial, regulatory operational and reputational impact of unavailability of services on the critical business activities (likely impact, scale and justify the resources to be committed to this, to meet the potential continuity requirements);
• Provide technical assistance and advice for identification mitigation controls (preventive, detective and corrective) including business recovery strategies for RVSG.

The Shortlisting Criteria Are

• Evidence showing the fields of specialty of the firm (consultant’s profile/brochures)
• Evidence showing that the firm is a legal entity (certificate of registration),
• Evidence of registration with relevant authorities and professional bodies.
• Evidence showing the technical and managerial capabilities of the firm in the field of assignment
• Experience of working in a similar geographical region
• Description of similar assignments,
• Availability of appropriate skills among staff, and availability of essential technology etc.).

Submission of Expression of Interests (EOls)

• The Rivers State Employment and Expenditure for Results Project now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services.
• Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.
• For each previous project performed, the consultant shall provide the name and contact address ofthe client (office & e-mail address, and telephone number), date(s) of execution, name(s) of lead and associate firms, Contract amount and financing sources.
• The attention of interested Consultants (firm) is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants (under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants) by World Bank Borrowers (July 2014)
• ("Consultant Guidelines") setting for the World Banks policy on conflict of interest:
• Consultants may associate with other firms in the form 6f a joint venture or a sub-consultancy to enhance their qualifications.
• A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Consultant Qualification Selection method set out in the Consultant Guidelines.

Application Closing Date
22nd April, 2019.

Method of Application
Expressions of Interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by email):
Rivers State Employment and Expenditure for Results Project,
Attn: The Project Coordinator,
State Project Coordinating Unit (SPCU),
10 Odi Street, Old GRA,
Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Tel: +234 (0) 8110573431
E-mail: [email protected]

Note: Further information can be obtained at the address above during office hours (10.00 am to 16.00 pm Monday through Friday).