ANNOUNCEMENT: Invitation for Expressions of Interest/Harmonized Social Security Framework

ORGANISATION OF EASTERN CARIBBEAN STATES

INVITATION FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

Consultancy on the Development of A Framework for the

Effective and Harmonized Operation of the Social Security Systems within the OECS Economic Union

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission invites interested eligible consultants to submit Expressions of Interest for the provision of consultancy services on The Development of a Framework for the Effective and Harmonized Operation of the Social Security Systems within the OECS Economic Union.

The Terms of Reference and Guidelines for the Submission of Expressions of Interest for this consultancy are provided below. 

ORGANISATION OF EASTERN CARIBBEAN STATES

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR

Consultancy on the Development of A Framework for the

Effective and Harmonized Operation of the Social Security Systems within the OECS Economic Union

BENEFICIARY COUNTRIES

Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands

CONTRACTING AUTHORITY

The Contracting Authority for this Consultancy is the OECS Commission.

BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE

The Revised Treaty of Basseterre Establishing the OECS Economic Union (RTB) entered into force on January 21, 2011. 

The RBT, in Article 12 of the Economic Union Protocol, provides for the right of freedom of movement of all Citizens of the OECS, including workers throughout the Economic Union Area. This entails abolishing discrimination based on nationality in relation to employment, remuneration and other conditions of work and employment. It also guarantees such rights contingent to the right of freedom of movement as are agreed by Protocol Member States.  In accordance with the decision of the OECS Heads of Government, the operation of the regime for the free movement of OECS citizens commenced on August 01, 2011. 

The free movement of workers is critical for the effective operation and functioning of the Economic Union.  The Free Movement of labour would see the expansion of the labour market within the Economic Union space and citizens of Member States would become part of a regional labour force whereby individuals can freely take advantage of regional labour opportunitiesand easily transfer their professional skills,allowing employers to benefit from a wider pool of relevant skills.  Among other things, this would require the seamless transference of social security benefits throughout the OECS and an effortless mechanism for ensuring that workers are insured in whichever OECS jurisdiction they choose to exercise their right to work. 

Prior to the Revised Treaty of Basseterre, OECS countries signed the 1991 Convention on Social Security in the OECS. The Convention covers   both long-term and short-term benefits to Citizens. To date only Antigua and Barbuda and St. Lucia have ratified and passed the Convention into domestic law; however there has been no implementation of the provisions of the Convention. In 1996, OECS Member States signed the CARICOM Agreement on Social Security.  All the OECS Member States are implementing the CARICOM Agreement with respect to the long-term benefits.

The OECS Economic Union Working Group on Movement of People and the OECS Taskforce on Social Security agreed that a review of the OECS Convention on Social Security should be undertaken. The system as it operates now presents many challenges that hinder the delivery of the required services for citizens working within a single financial and economic space.  One of the major challenges is the lack of information sharing among the social security systems and the lag time to access short term benefits when moving in the Economic Union area.

OBJECTIVES:

The overall objective of the project of which this consultancy forms part is to contribute to the OECS integration process under the Revised Treaty of Basseterre by facilitating the harmonization and coordination of Social Security Systems to ensure portability of benefits for people moving through the single space.

The objectives of the consultancy are outlined below:

1. To ensure that the legal environment within the OECS is conducive to facilitating the portability of all social security benefits for Citizens within the Economic Union.
2. To develop a framework for the harmonization of the social security system in the OECS Economic Union.

SCOPE OF SERVICES:

In pursuit of the above objectives, the Consultant, under the direction of the Coordinator of the Regional Integration Unit, will be responsible to the OECS Commission for the direct execution of the following tasks:

1. Review the OECS Social Security Convention to ascertain its relevance and appropriateness and to identify issues affecting its application in the context of the OECS Economic Union.
2. Identify and review Member States’ laws and policy on Social Security with a view to making recommendations for harmonisation.  The review should consider areas of convergence and divergence in the OECS Convention on Social Security and the CARICOM Agreement on Social Security Benefits and make recommendations on implementation and administration of the two agreements by OECS Members;
3. Examine and analyse  previous studies and other work done on the harmonization of social security legislation and social security systems, particularly as regards the OECS and CARICOM;
4. Conduct consultations with stakeholders from  OECS  Member States to ascertain critical areas for consideration;
5. Advise and make proposals on the following taking into consideration feedback from stakeholders:
   1. Arrangements for OECS Member States which are not party to the OECS or CARICOM Agreements on Social Security
   2.  Framework and strategy for the harmonization of social security systems in the OECS Economic Union, including proposals for business rules to govern the systems, harmonization of laws and policies which can serve as legislative drafting instructions, together with an action plan for the implementation of the proposals reflected in the assessments;
   3. The implementation of the OECS Social Security Convention giving due regard to elements being implemented under the CARICOM Agreement on Social Security;
6. Present the draft report to stakeholders during a validation workshop;
7. Prepare a final report taking into account the recommendations of the validation workshop;
8. Submit the final report in electronic format to the OECS Commission through the Coordinator, Regional Integration Unit;
9. Prepare a summary report and submit same to the OECS Commission for presentation to the OECS Authority.

DELIVERABLES

The expected output of this Consultancy is a framework for the effective and harmonized operation of Social Security Systems within the OECS Economic Union. This framework will include:

1. Gap analysis of Member States’ laws and policies on Social Security.
2. Gap analysis of the OECS Convention on Social Security.
3. Recommendations on how the OECS Convention on Social Security and the CARICOM Agreement on Social Security Benefits should be coordinated and administered.
4. Proposals in respect of the following: 
   1. framework and strategy for the harmonization of a  social security system in the OECS Economic Union;
   2. implementation of the OECS Social Security Convention;
   3. arrangements for OECS Member States which are not party to the OECS or CARICOM Agreements on Social Security.
5. A summary report to the OECS Commission for presentation to the OECS Authority. 

REPORTING

The framework outlined above will be presented based on the following schedule of reporting:

DURATION OF THE CONSULTANCY

The Consultancy is for duration of three months.

QUALIFICATIONS:

The Consultant must possess the following qualifications

• a Bachelor’s degree in Law,
• Post-graduate training would be an asset.
• at least five (5) years specialist experience in labor issues and in the administration of National Insurance or Social Security Schemes,
• Experience in international/ treaty law would be an asset.
• Knowledge of the OECS and CARICOM integration processes would be an asset.
• The Consultant must have significant experience in writing reports, reviewing secondary data, and possess excellent writing and communication skills.
• The Consultant must be fluent in written and spoken English.

WORKING RELATIONSHIP:

The Coordinator of the Regional Integration Unit or the designated officer will collaborate with the Consultant on undertaking the work as outlined in these Terms of Reference in order to ensure the deliverables identified are achieved in an effective and efficient manner.

The Consultant will manage time and responsibilities to ensure timely delivery of outputs required under these Terms of Reference. 

GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSION OF EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

Consultancy on the Development of A Framework for the

Effective and Harmonized Operation of the Social Security Systems within the OECS Economic Union

Consultants wishing to signify their interest in undertaking the prescribed services are to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to include:

1.  Information on the Consultant’s qualifications and technical competence relevant to the assignment, experience in undertaking similar assignments, including Curriculum Vitae of the Individual Consultant proposed for the assignment;
2. A concept note on the planned framework for undertaking the assignment and a breakdown of the number of days required for each task.

Consultants shall bear all costs associated with the preparation and submission of their Expressions of Interest.

The OECS is not bound to accept any Expression of Interest, and reserves the right to annul the selection process at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the Consultants.

For more information or to submit Expressions of Interest, please contact:

The Coordinator, Regional Integration Unit

Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States

Morne Fortune

P.O. Box 1383

Castries

ST LUCIA

Fax: 758 452 2194 Phone: 758 455 6327

At the following email address:

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Expressions of Interest can be submitted via email.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Consultant’s Qualifications (CQS) Selection method as detailed in the procedures set out in the Procurement Manual of the OECS dated November 2013.

Expressions of Interest will be evaluated and the Individual Consultant with the most relevant experience, qualifications and technical competence will be selected and requested to submit a detailed proposal which will be the basis for negotiations leading to a contract. 

The criteria to evaluate the Expressions of Interests submitted will include:

1. Qualifications of the Consultant
2. Technical competence in undertaking the assignment
3. Experience in undertaking similar assignments
4. Planned framework submitted for undertaking the assignment

Expressions of Interest are to reach the OECS Commission no later than 4:00 pm local time in Saint Lucia, on Friday April 16, 2015.