Consulting for the development of an Operational Manual for the Contractual Management of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) for the Ministry of Public Works in Panama

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) invites specialized consulting firms to submit their proposals for the development of an Operational Manual for the Contractual Management of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) for the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) of Panama.

The overall objective of the procurement is to strengthen the regulatory, institutional and governance environment of PPPs in Panama during the contractual execution stage. It seeks to promote the efficient and sustainable participation of the public and private sectors in the development of economic and social infrastructure, as well as to optimize the evaluation of performance and ex-post impact of contracts to provide feedback on future regulatory and operational improvements.

1. Specific objectives of the project
- Standard operating procedures: Define the processes for the contractual management of PPP projects in the MOP, in accordance with the current regulatory framework and coordinated with the National PPP Secretariat (SNAPP) and the Governing Body.

- Organizational structure: Design the institutional architecture of the PPP contract control unit within the MOP (with a replicable model for other Public Contracting Entities - EPCs), specifying roles, responsibilities, professional profiles and internal coordination mechanisms.

- Financial and payment flow: Establish a standardized procedure for the invoicing, withholding, and payment processes to be made by the MOP, guaranteeing a transparent flow aligned with national regulations.

- Supervision tools: Develop a set of templates, formats and practical tools to systematize the monitoring, control and evaluation of contracts.

- Capacity transfer: Strengthen the technical skills of MOP staff through the development of teaching materials and the holding of a socialization workshop for the application of the manual.

2. Key activities and implementation dynamics
- Kick-off meeting: Conduct a virtual kick-off session with teams from the IDB, MOP and SNAPP within 7 calendar days after the contract is signed.

- Face-to-face visit to Panama: Carry out at least one (1) mission in the country to carry out on-site evaluations, hold work meetings and learn about the operation of the MOP, the SNAPP and other key actors.

- Survey of experience (Case study): Conduct structured interviews with MOP personnel involved in the project "Rehabilitation, Improvement and Maintenance by Performance Standards of the East Pan-American Highway", in order to document challenges and good practices.

- Quality control and reviews: Formally present each deliverable product virtually. The reviews will include a maximum of two (2) rounds of comments centralized by the IDB before being forwarded to the Government of Panama.

Note: Interested companies should review the requirements on the BEO Bidder Portal.