The Consultants for creation the System for accounting of contracts for the Department of Infrastructure and Housing (Chernivtsi City Council)

Introduction

The European Union Anti-Corruption Initiative (EUACI) seeks a Consultant to support its cooperation with Integrity Cities. The Consultant will work closely with a partner city Chernivtsi, mainly with the Department of Infrastructure and Housing, to design and implement a centralised database system for managing contracts linked to construction projects. The Consultant will integrate budget management, contractor payments, and tracking of work progress into a unified system to enhance transparency and efficiency.

The EUACI

The EUACI is a joint EU and Government of Denmark financed programme aimed at supporting Ukraine in its efforts to reduce corruption at the national and local level through the empowerment of citizens, civil society and state institutions. In January 2024, a new phase of the EUACI was launched. The strategic objectives are that: Corruption in Ukraine is reduced; Ukraine advances with anti-corruption reform; and Reconstruction in war-affected areas of Ukraine is implemented within a framework that incorporates transparency, accountability and integrity.

The EUACI has four intervention areas, namely:

• Support to independent state institutions fighting and preventing corruption;
• Transparency and accountability of the reconstruction process;
• Support cities in war-affected areas in enhancing integrity in the reconstruction process;
• Civil society and media in preventing and fighting corruption.

This tender falls under intervention area 3 and focuses on helping Integrity Cities implement measures that will contribute to increased integrity, transparency and accountability. Organisationally, the Consultant will work with the EUACI team and Advisor to Chernivtsi City Mayor, and will be supervised by the Intervention Area 3 Team Lead.

The partnership with Integrity Cities

The six Integrity Cities with which the EUACI has a partnership are Chernivtsi, Sheptytskyi, Mykolaiv, Nikopol, Mariupol and Zhytomyr. 

During phase I and II, the EUACI worked with these cities to strengthen their systems and tools for enhancing integrity, transparency, and accountability. The partnership continues in the current 3rd phase, focusing on the continued development of the various integrity tools launched during previous phases and the implementation of new tools. Currently, there are no activities in Mariupol.

Based on the agreement reached with the Chernivtsi City Mayor under Memorandums of Understanding, the EUACI envisages support in strengthening transparency and accountability within Chernivtsi’s municipal systems. The Consultant will be responsible for the creation of a robust system to streamline the management of contracts, budgets, and payments associated with infrastructure projects. The project aligns with municipal goals of improving governance, reducing corruption risks, and ensuring optimal use of public resources.

Essential duties and functions

The Consultant will be responsible for the design and implementation of a robust contract accounting database for the Department of Infrastructure and Housing of the Chernivtsi City Council. The Consultant is expected to have regular visits to Chernivtsi.

The system must include the following functionalities:

1. Database Creation and Integration:
   • Develop a centralized database linking contracts to construction projects, budget allocations, payments, and completed works.
   • Integrate directories for:
     • Codes of program classification of expenditures, codes of economic classification of budget expenditures, and construction programs.Contractors (e.g., subcontractors, clients, designers) with associated details (e.g., tax code, name, contacts, documents).
     • Physical persons (e.g., responsible parties, technical inspectors) with identifiers (e.g., tax ID, name, contact, position).
       
2. Construction Project Management:
   • Establish detailed records for construction projects, including:
     • Project code, name, timeline, and cost.
     • Associated documentation such as project estimates and scans.
   • Link projects with budgetary allocations and maintain project-based financial tracking.
     
3. Contract Management:
   • Enable management of various contract types, including construction agreements and their amendments (e.g., changes in timelines or financial sums).
   • Maintain contract details such as.
     • Number, date, and execution period.
     • Contractor information, contract sum, and status. Attachments like scanned documents.
   • Develop a schedule for task execution and monitor progress by construction stages and budget utilisation percentages.
     
4. Financial Management:
   • Implement a financial tracking system, including:
     • Monitoring of remaining funds by budget codes, contractors, and contracts.
     • Allocation and reallocation of funds across contracts.
   • Automate control mechanisms for:
     • Resource availability during budget execution.
     • Import and management of cost estimates for projects.
       
5. Reporting and Automation:
   • Develop detailed reporting modules, including:
     • Remaining sums in budgets by projects and contracts.
     • Movements and balances of allocated resources.
     • Completed works, pending obligations, and contractor debt tracking.
     • Deviations in resource pricing for construction materials and works.
   • Automate reminders for contract deadlines, milestones, and outstanding obligations.
     
6. Document Management:
   • Facilitate import/export of project data (e.g., from AVK and dbf files).
   • Enable storage and retrieval of project-related documents such as:
     • Scans of project estimates, tender documents, and certificates.
     • Payment orders and completed works documentation.
       
7. Workflow Enhancements:
   • Provide tools for handling project and contract modifications, including reallocation of resources and updates to timelines.
   • Include features for importing payment information from financial systems and reconciling with project budgets.
     
8. Interaction with other software:
   • Import of payment documents from SDO (PTK Client Treasury Client).Import of acts of completed works from E-data.
   • Import of the estimate from the state software “Logic”.
     
9. Training and Support:
   • Conduct training sessions for municipal staff on system usage and maintenance.
   • Provide ongoing technical support during the implementation phase and initial operations. And also provide technical support for at least 12 months after the contract expires.

Budget

The budget is up to 20,000 EUR. This amount includes subsistence allowance for fieldwork in the partner city as well as costs related to local travel, and other project-related costs such for example audit, basic technical assessment and printing.

Payments will be made in a maximum of two installments.

The first instalment, representing a maximum of 30% of the total contract value, will be made after receipt of the contractor’s updated work plan.

Second, and final payment will be made upon receipt and approval by the executive bodies of city councils and all other supporting documents, including a Final Invoice.

Payments will be based on the actual days worked, the agreed daily fee rate and the expenses incurred by the contractor during the period. Payment will require verification of completion of deliverables and approval by the Team Leader for Component 2 of the Contractor deliverables and expense outlay. Travel costs and other reimbursable costs will only be accepted if they are in compliance with the guidelines in the contract.

Length of contract

The expected duration of the assignment is 9 months, with a tentative start in January 2025 and completion in October 2025.

Expected deliverables

More details can be found in the attached document.

How to apply

The bidder must submit the following information to be considered:

1. A brief profile (maximum two pages) of the company;
2. A list of assignments (projects), similar to this project, implemented in the last five years;
3. The CVs (no more than three pages for each person) of the core team members who will be involved in the project;
4. Provide a detailed description of the methodology and scope of work;
5. Provide a budget for the services in EUR, inclusive of all taxes or other such charges.

To apply, please send all the documents listed above to [email protected], cc ​​[email protected] and [email protected] indicating the subject line “System for accounting of contracts“.

The deadline for submitting the proposals is 20 January 2025, 18:00 Kyiv time.

The proposals shall be submitted in English.

Any clarification questions for the bid request should be addressed to [email protected], cc ​​[email protected] no later than 15 January 2024, 18:00 Kyiv time.

Note that you will receive an auto-reply from [email protected] when your application is received.

More details can be found in the attached document.