TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR HIRING CONSULTANT TO INTEGRATE ONLINE EXPORT SERVICE SYSTEM WITH RRA SINGLE TRANSACTION PORTAL

I.     Background

Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition and Consumer Protection Authority (RICA) was established by the Law Nº 31/2017 of 25/07/2017.  RICA is tasked with inspection of quality and standards conformity, and also with promoting healthy competition in the economy by prohibiting unfair business practices as well ensuring consumers protection.
Currently, RICA is automating its internal processes in order to support trade processes and enhance service delivery. This digitalization will include integration with a key RRA system, the Electronic Single Window, to create a single transaction portal.  The goal will be to decrease time, cost and paperwork burden for traders as well as to streamline the processing and storage of information.

Therefore, RICA in partnership with International Business Initiatives (IBI) under the Feed the Future Trade Facilitation Activity is inviting proposals from qualified Consultants to develop the Import Inspection System (IIS) and upgrade the existing E-Ralis while also developing their integration interface to be integrated with RRA single transactions portal and RSB laboratory information management system platform (for IIS).

II.     Objective

The objective of this tender includes:

• Support in the upgrading of RICA’s E-Ralis system, which covers import and export of agricultural products, animal products, agricultural materials as well as agrochemicals;
• Developing RICA’s Import Inspection System (IIS) to streamline import processes for general cargo;
• Built the APIs interface of the IIS to the RSB laboratory information management system platform; and
• Built APIs Interface of IIS and E-Ralis systems to be integrated with RRA’s Electronic Single Window / single transactions portal.

The above deliverables will significantly expedite and simplify the process for traders requesting  import & export permits and for  other services under RICA’s mandate.

The IIS component will also facilitate post release inspection activities, especially in the case of releasing consignment under Seal, while limiting entry of substandard products  on the market .

Specific objectives and tasks of the assignment

• Work with RICA IT team and other RICA staff to develop and document a comprehensive E-Ralis upgrade
• Work with RICA IT team and other RICA staff to develop and document the integration of E-Ralis with the Electronic Single Window.
• Work with RICA IT teams to develop and document a comprehensive Import Inspection System (IIS) requirement and to develop its integration requirements with other system like RSB Laboratory System and the Electronic Single Window.
• Work with RICA IT teams to develop and document the integration requirement of RICA’s IIS with RSB laboratory information management system.
• Develop and upgrade APIs Interface to accommodate integration requirements of RICA’s systems (IIS & E-Ralis) with the Electronic Single Window.
• Work with RICA Team and RRA team to test and commission the integration interface (API)
• Work with RICA and RRA teams to ensure a smooth commission and transition of the integration to production
• Training RICA and RRA teams on various technical intervention required to maintain and secure the integration
• Participant in post-deployment maintenance and support for a period of 1 year
• Training RICA IT Team the developed system and evaluate their skills if they able to maintain the system after handover

  III.     Scope of work 

The consultancy will consist of developing and integrating the developed RICA backend systems (E-Ralis and IIS) and API (Application Programming Interface) with RRA Electronic Single Window and maintaining the integration to ensure secure and stable communication between the Rwanda Electronic Single Window and E-Ralis and IIS.

  IV.     Methodology 

The consultant will work with related technical IT Teams as well as key players of the systems in RICA, RSB and RRA. Based on the system to be integrated, the consultancy will analyze the functionalities of the system and identify gaps that need to be fixed in additional to the objectives of this terms of reference.  

V.     Consultant  Qualifications

The consultant must demonstrate the following qualifications:

• The consultant should have experience in system development and particular familiarity with Customs related Systems.
• The consultant should have developed API and also integrated API with other systems.
• The consultant should present proof of completion of related assignments in the past 3-5 years similar to technical stack. Moreover, the latter should also be able to:
• Code and test software based upon software specifications and design
• Analyze approved user stories and software requirements to determine the feasibility of system design within time constraints
• Propose the methodology and technology to be used during system development which will be approved during the inception report presentation.
• Prepare design documentation and present system prototype
• Write and maintain technical documentation to describe program development, logic, coding, testing, changes, and correction
• Use of web-enabled platforms and common statistical analysis tools
• Demonstrate strong experience in development of web applications  
• Exhibit proficient skill in some of the following programming languages: React js, Node js, php, C/C++, JavaScript, Python, Go programming language, R Swift, C# and Matlab
• Exhibit proficient skill in Mobile user applications
• Exhibit proficient skill user of Structured Query Language (SQL), and another high-end Database
• Demonstrate experience in data analysis and data reporting (Business Intelligence)
• Ability to train and support IT staff to maintain the system and optimize data management
• Prepare a system user manual
• Experience in Centralized Invoicing, e-payment Platform and money transactions are a plus.
• Master’s Degree with 3 years of working experience or Bachelor Degree with 5 years of working experiences in IT, Data/Information Management, Information Technology, or Software Engineering or in related field.

     VI.     Requirements from consultants

• This consultancy will be awarded to the consultant that offers a proposal that demonstrates the experience to Upgrade E-Ralis and develop the IIS and API systems for the integration of Rwanda Electronic Single Window
• The company should work with RICA Staff to identify the scope of the project, including what the system will and will not do and determining the key stakeholders
• The company should have detailed workflows for different processes within the system. (Visual representations of user interactions with the system)
• The company should have developed at least two similar system of E-payment, API and Financing systems in different Public/Private institutions during the last five years (Providing link and three certificates of good completion from those institutions).
• The consultant should avail the Work Plan for the system upgrade (Development) and maintenance methodology
• The consultant should also provide manual and training to both to RICA’s staff and IT personnel with no extra charge.

   VII.     Deliverables

• The Consultant is expected to develop an inception report for the system development and integration, work plan and schedule of tasks, with corresponding deliverables.
• The Consultant is expected to develop a detailed design of the system components, including UI/UX design, database design, and software components.
• The Consultant is expected to develop the agreed components (software’s) within the agreed time frame
• The Consultant is expected to facilitate in the development of APIs for seamless communication between upgraded E-Ralis and the Electronic Single Window
• The Consultant is expected to facilitate in the development of the Import Inspection System and facilitate in the development of APIs for seamless communication between RSB laboratory information management system platform and the Electronic Single Window.
• The Consultant is expected to avail proof of training attendance (list) of IT technical team of RICA and RRA
• The Consultant is expected to avail configuration documentation and guidelines which clearly state how to manage the integration, details on the hosting arrangement, environment and its configuration are provided
• The Consultant is expected to avail system configuration documents both software development and software mechanics as a reference for future maintenance or update efforts such as: software requirement documents on both ERP, ERD diagrams, API document, source code,
• The Consultant is expected to develop a proposal of maintenance methodology that will meet RICA and RRA needs regarding the identified gaps and mitigation
• During the 1 year maintenance period, the Consultant shall provide a long-term maintenance plan
• The Consultant is expected to avail the Evaluation report of the project’s success and identification of areas for improvement.

     VIII.     Duration

The timeframe for this assignment is 8 months.

    IX.     APPLICATION

If you are interested in applying for this position, please send your CV directly to rwanda_procurement@ibi-worldwide.com not later than June 26, 2024 at 5:00 PM Kigali time. You are required to indicate your daily rate payment in the same email address.

IBI is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of ethnicity, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability.