Updated Tender - Specialized Technical Assistance for the Structuring and Implementation of the Instant Payment System in Ecuador – Component 2 of 2

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) invites specialized consulting firms to submit their proposals to provide technical assistance to the Central Bank of Ecuador (BCE) in the functional, technical, architectural, and operational design of the immediate and interoperable real-time payments system.

This consultancy constitutes the technological component of the project and will use the findings of the regulatory component to define the system architecture, the new Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) module and prepare the specifications for subsequent bidding processes.

1. Technical scope and system architecture
Target model and key modules: Design the integrative payments system and the new Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) module, assessing its capacity to process transactions 24/7/365 and progressively absorb the ECB's existing cash flows to replace legacy systems.

Standards and functional components: Define use cases, payment operational flows, interoperable QR codes and financial messaging standards under ISO 20022.

Non-functional requirements and security: Establish parameters for cybersecurity, operational resilience, high availability, anti-money laundering and automated fraud mitigation tools.

2. Key activities and roadmap
Diagnosis of current infrastructure: Evaluate the technological architecture, interconnection capacities with private payment networks and bottlenecks of the ECB's Central Payment System.

Contracting and bidding strategy: Define technical requirements, technological market alternatives, licensing schemes and mechanisms to mitigate the risk of technological dependence (vendor lock-in).

Phased implementation plan: Structure the deployment in four key stages (gradual, pre-production, pilot and full operation) with input/output criteria and change management.

Governance and financial sustainability: Design the governance model for the ECB (operator, regulator and supervisor), tariff schemes, dispute management and scalability rules.

3. Expected deliverables
Detailed Work Plan: Methodology, binding executive schedule, change management plan, and quality assurance matrix.

Target model and technical package: Complete specification of technological architecture, functional and non-functional designs, ISO 20022 standards and cybersecurity schemes.

Roadmap, tender specifications and final report: Phased implementation roadmap, technical documentation for procurement processes, governance model and consolidated technical report with executive presentation.

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