Request for Quotations on providing Legal Advisory services - OPTIM Project Phase II

Deadline for submission: 21.09.2023

Background

The OPTIM Project – “Opportunities through Technologies and Innovation in Moldova” – is a market systems development (MSD) project aiming at contributing towards the creation of improved economic opportunities for Moldovan women and men, with particular focus on excluded groups, through addressing the constraints of the economy in a sustainable and inclusive manner. OPTIM is a project of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, implemented by HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation in Moldova.

HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation in Moldova/ OPTIM Project would like to engage a Legal Firm or an Individual Legal Adviser to support project on a broad range of issues, including but not limited to taking the legal responsibilities and providing legal advice that includes all the aspects of the analysis, investigation, and drafting process.

Objective of the assignment

The objective of this consultancy agreement is to engage a Legal Firm or an Individual Legal Adviser who can support the OPTIM Project in preparing the relevant legal sections of the project documents and review the existing documents. S/he will continuously interact and liaise with project stakeholders and ensure that only quality documents are presented.

Key tasks

Provision of legal advice and support related to:

• Logistics and Procurement: revising existing draft contract formats, developing new contracts formats when needed, reviewing suppliers’ and contractors’ formats; make recommendations for enhancing these to better protect the organisation and ensure meeting the requirements of national legislation;
• Partnerships: revising existing draft contract formats, developing new contracts formats when needed, reviewing partners’ formats; make recommendations for enhancing these to better protect the organisation and ensure meeting the requirements of national legislation;
• Staff contracts – reviewing employment contracts formats and make recommendations for enhancing these to better protect the organisation and ensure meeting the requirements of national legislation;
• Following up on the changes of the relevant legislation that may have an impact on the status and operations of the organisation;
• Other legal support;
• Development, legal examination, harmonization and unification of contracts, additional agreements;
• When required representing and interaction with public authorities, notaries, banks and project partners;

Requirements / Profile / Qualifications

• Minimum Bachelor’s Degree in Law. Holding a Master Degree and/or PhD degree is a strong asset.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant working experience. Experience as an attorney-at-law is a strong asset.
• In the case of a legal firm, it must have the qualifications and experience in the required areas and a diverse team members who have the knowledge and experience in different legal aspects or assign one designated lawyer/attorney-at-law that would have experience in most of the areas of expertise mentioned above;
• Good knowledge of legal system in Moldova as well as regulations and legal framework, with a focus on civil, corporate, and labour legislation.
• Proven experience in Advocacy in law.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills in required languages, personal commitment, efficiency and flexibility.
• Good level of computer literacy.
• Fluency in English, Romanian (oral and written), including proven excellent drafting skills, is essential. Knowledge of Russian language is an asset.

The Legal Firm or an Individual Legal Advisor must respond in a timely manner once a request is initiated from HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation/OPTIM Project.

Time frame of the assignment

The duration of Legal Advisory Services shall not exceed twelve (12) months and shall be subject to renewal after the expiry of the defined duration.

Completion of tasks during the period stipulated in the contract: 120 hours for 12 months.

Remuneration

OPTIM project would like to engage a Legal Firm or an Individual Legal Adviser based on one fixed hour rate for all types of legal services.

The Legal Firm or an Individual Legal Adviser will advise on the time required to respond to OPTIM’s request and confirm the number of hours required to deliver the legal review before commencing the task.

In terms of payment, the service provider is to provide a list of deliverables in a timesheet for every month to validate the actual number of hours spent.

A consultancy fee will be agreed based on offered financial proposal and paid upon completion of deliverables.

Offers must be submitted in English language showing the RFQ number 3Q0052023 in the message title to the following address:

procurement@optimproject.md.

For more details on RFQ and ToR, please address a message.