Moldova officially became a candidate for EU accession on June 23, 2022. In December 2023, EU leadership decided to initiate negotiations with Moldova, bringing these talks to the forefront of the Moldovan government's agenda. A key focus of these accession negotiations will revolve around administrative reform and essential aspects of public finances.
The government has crafted a well-developed strategic framework that holds the potential to structure reform efforts towards EU accession. The development strategy, "European Moldova 2030," aligns national priorities with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the EU accession process. This strategy aims to establish an integrated, responsible, efficient, and transparent administration, open to citizen participation and tailored to the needs of the population. Additionally, the Administrative Reform Strategy 2023-2030 and the Public Finance Reform Strategy 2023-2030, underpinned by implementation programs, further concretize this goal.

Objective
The project supports the Moldovan government in strengthening the capacities of its public administration. Key intervention areas are the strengthening of strategic governance capacity in the context of the EU accession process, the improvement of civil service management and the creation of better conditions for the provision of administrative services.

Approach
The project focuses on supporting the implementation of key partner strategies, emphasizing public service reform and improved administrative services at national and subnational levels. Targeting national partners, it impacts subnational levels through regulatory changes, enhanced coordination, municipal oversight, expanded subnational administration training, and establishment of "Unified Centres for Public Service Provision". The Capacity Development Strategy addresses individual, organizational, and systemic levels, enhancing skills, advising sustainable planning, and promoting strategic governance. Aligned with the human rights approach, it ensures improved access for disadvantaged populations, prioritizing social and economic equality, women's quality, and reducing access barriers.

This tender involves the supply and management of short-term expert services to support the implementation of the Project "Attractive and efficient public administration in Moldova", financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by GIZ.
The services will be delivered through a pool of national and international short-term experts in form of technical and administrative services related to the key result areas of the project (i. Implementation of Public Administration Reform (PAR) Strategy, ii. Implementation of the Public Financial Management (PFM) Strategy, iii. Human resources management, iv. Territorial Administrative Reform, v. Modernisation of public services) as well as cross-cutting areas such as process management, organisational development, human capacity development, digitalisation and gender mainstreaming.
The contractor"s services will follow the objectives of the project and support its implementation in all three output areas. The key activities to be supported by the tender include:
Improving the implementation capacities of the State Chancellery and the Ministry of Finance for key strategies and the EU integration process

- Advise the State Chancellery in the area of performance management, as well as develop and implement capacity-building measures;
- Support to the State Chancellery for the elaboration, promotion and implementation of the Law on Public Institutions;
- Support to the State Chancellery for re-evaluation and reorganization of the public authorities subordinated to the Government;
- Analysis/mapping of areas and competencies of all entities within the central public administration system of the Republic of Moldova;
- Development and organization of training on policy making and Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) for civil servants;
- Advise the State Chancellery in the area of Project Management implementation and monitoring;
- Provide technical and methodological advice to the Ministry of Finance regarding the analysis and revison of the salary system;
- Enhancing Public Financial Internal Control;
- Improving the revenue forecasting model, including an analysis of current methods and capacities to forecast various revenues in the Directorate for policies and budgetary synthesis;
- Improving cost estimations in sector ministries in connection to medium-term planning;
- Advise the State Chancellery, the Ministry of Finance and subordinate public authorities on issues relating to EU integration and the accession process;
- Advise the State Chancellery and the Ministry of Finance for the monitoring of and reporting on the implementation of the specific activities from Action Plans for the implementation of the PAR and PFM strategy.

Improving personnel and organisational capacities for human resources management in public administration
- Develop the capacities of the subdivisions responsible for human resource management (HRM) within public authorities;
- Advise State Chancellery on developing a concept and methodological framework for the national competition for entry into public office in the central public administration;
- Advise the State Chancellery on the conceptualization of a top managers' recruitment hub;
- Advise State Chancellery on developing/revising the methodological guidelines for new or modified personnel procedures;
- Advice the State Chancellery on improving career development and personnel development in public administration together with the State Chancellery and the Institute of Public Administration, particularly with regard to the role of women in management positions;
- Advise the State Chancellery on developing the general competency framework for civil servants based on the model of EU Member States;
- Trainings of trainers (ToTs) for trainers (e.g. from Institute of Public Administration, line ministries and other public authorities) involved in the delivery of the trainings foreseen in the Professional Development Program 2025-2027;
- Advise the State Chancellery and the IPA regarding the development of new training courses foreseen in the Professional Development Program 2025-2027 and adjust it to the EU accession agenda.

Improve the personnel and organisational capacities of the public administration to provide services at national and sub-national level
- Trainings for LPAs in different areas, including exemplarily, but not limited to: European integration, digitalisation, human resources management, public financial management, budgeting, etc.;
- Strategic and methodological advice to the State Chancellery on the implementation of the Territorial Administrative Reform (TAR);
- Advise the Public Institution of Cadastre Real Estate on its governmental IT platforms and technical infrastructure through analysis of the IT platforms currently in use;
- Develop technical specifications for the modernisation of digital tools, information systems in use for the delivery of public services for the Public Institution of Cadastre Real Estate;
- Provide expertise for the modernisation of public services through expert advice and guidance for GIZ in managing the contract with a consultancy firm to undertake the "as is" and develop the "to be" vision of selected public services;
- Advise on the operationalization of Centers of Unified Service Delivery (CUPS) and digital capacity building of the local public authorities to be able to facilitate public service delivery;
- Provide communication and visibility support with regard to project activities.
All Project documents (reports, studies, trainings, analyses, assessments, strategies, etc.) have to be provided in English. Onsite technical advisory, workshops and certain documents need to be provided additionally in Romanian, on demand.

GIZ may optionally commission contract amendments and/or increases based on the criteria in the tender documents to the successful bidder of this tender. For details, please see the terms of reference.

According to Article 160, Section 3 of the German Act Against Restraint of Competition (GWB), application for review is not permissible insofar as
1. the applicant has identified the claimed infringement of the procurement rules before submitting the application for review and has not submitted a complaint to the contracting authority within a period of 10 calendar days; the expiry of the period pursuant to Article 134, Section 2 remains unaffected,
2. complaints of infringements of procurement rules that are evident in the tender notice are not submitted to the contracting authority at the latest by the expiry of the deadline for the application or by the deadline for the submission of bids, specified in the tender notice.
3. complaints of infringements of procurement rules that first become evident in the tender documents are not submitted to the contracting authority at the latest by the expiry of the deadline for application or by the deadline for the submission of bids,
4. more than 15 calendar days have expired since receipt of notification from the contracting authority that it is unwilling to redress the complaint.
Sentence 1 does not apply in the case of an application to determine the invalidity of the contract in accordance with Article 135, Section 1 (2). Article 134, Section 1, Sentence 2 remains unaffected.

All communication takes place in English via communication tool in the project area of the procurement portal.