IT and Digital Transformation Expert-BUSINESSMED Retour vers les opportunités

1. INSTRUCTIONS TO PROPOSERS AND PROPOSAL CONDITIONS

1.1 About the Contracting Authority and the Project

This Terms of Reference is issued within the framework of the project “Reviving North African Biodiversity and Nature-Based Climate Resilience in Outstanding Wetlands (RAINBOW)”, funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN). The project is implemented by a consortium of organisations led by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in collaboration with regional and national partners in Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia.

BUSINESSMED – Union of Mediterranean Confederations of Enterprises (BUSINESSMED – UMCE) is one of the implementing partners of the RAINBOW project and is responsible for the implementation of several activities related to private sector engagement, business cooperation, and sustainable economic development in Tunisia.

As part of these activities, BUSINESSMED operates the Business Country Desk (BCD), a digital platform designed to facilitate business cooperation, networking and matchmaking between companies and Business Support Organisations (BSOs). The current version of the platform allows users to create company profiles, publish opportunities, and organise in-person Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings during physical events.

To further strengthen the platform and increase its capacity to support international cooperation with respecting limitation of travels and carbon emission linked to it, BUSINESSMED intends to develop a new Digital Matchmaking and Virtual B2B Events Module enabling companies and organisations to organise virtual B2B events, schedule online meetings, manage participants, and conduct meetings directly through integrated videoconferencing solutions.

To support this process, BUSINESSMED seeks to recruit an IT and Digital Transformation Expert who will provide technical assistance throughout the entire development process, from defining the functional requirements to supervising the implementation and validating the final solution. BUSINESSMED – UMCE is the Contracting Authority for this assignment.

1.2 Objective of the Assignment

The overall objective of this consultancy is to provide technical assistance to BUSINESSMED for the design, procurement, development and deployment of a new Digital Matchmaking and Virtual B2B Events Module integrated into the Business Country Desk (BCD) platform.

More specifically, the selected expert will:

• define the functional and technical specifications of the future module;
• prepare the Terms of Reference and technical documentation required for the procurement of the software development company;
• support BUSINESSMED during the evaluation and selection of the service provider;
• supervise the software development process;
• validate the deliverables produced by the selected developer;
• ensure that the final solution fully complies with the project’s functional requirements and international standards for usability, security and performance.

The expert will work under the supervision of the BUSINESSMED and will closely coordinate with the selected software development company throughout the assignment.

1.3 Duration of the Assignment

The assignment will be implemented over a period of five (5) months. The estimated level of effort is approximately 20–25 working days, distributed over the duration of the contract according to the different phases of the assignment.

1.4 The Procurement Process

The following indicative timetable applies to this procurement process:

BUSINESSMED reserves the right to modify these dates whenever necessary.

1.5 Conditions

BUSINESSMED – UMCE is under no obligation to accept any proposal submitted in response to this Terms of Reference. The Contracting Authority reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, cancel the procurement procedure at any stage, request additional information, or negotiate specific aspects of the assignment. Participation implies full acceptance of the conditions described in this Terms of Reference.

1.6 Requests for Clarification

Any request for clarification regarding this procurement procedure shall be submitted by email to: promotion@businessmed-umce.org. Replies will be shared with all applicants whenever appropriate, while preserving the confidentiality of the requesting party.

1.7 Submission of Proposals

Interested experts shall submit their application electronically in PDF format to: promotion@businessmed-umce.org. The subject line should be: Application – IT and Digital Transformation Expert – RAINBOW Project.

Applications shall include:

• Financial Proposal based on monthly rate.
• Curriculum Vitae.
• References for similar assignments.

Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. All proposals shall remain valid for a period of 90 calendar days following the submission deadline.

1.8 Currency and Taxes

Financial proposals shall be expressed in Euro (EUR) and shall include all applicable taxes, professional fees, travel costs, communication expenses and any other costs necessary for the successful completion of the assignment.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE SERVICES

2.1 Objective of the Assignment

The objective of this assignment is to provide BUSINESSMED with technical expertise for the design, procurement and supervision of the development of a new Digital Matchmaking and Virtual B2B Events Module to be integrated into the existing Business Country Desk (BCD) platform: www.bcdesk.eu.

The new module will complement the current functionalities of the platform by enabling stakeholders to organise and participate in fully digital B2B matchmaking events. The expert will support BUSINESSMED throughout the entire process, including functional analysis, technical specifications, procurement documentation, evaluation, supervision, quality assurance, testing and final validation.

2.2 Scope of Work

The selected expert will provide technical assistance during all phases of the assignment, from the initial needs assessment to the final acceptance of the developed module. The assignment will include the following tasks:

Preparation of the Technical Specifications and Procurement Documents

The expert shall prepare the complete technical documentation required for the procurement of the software development company. This includes defining the functional architecture, preparing detailed specifications, performance requirements, interoperability, cybersecurity, data protection, and acceptance criteria.

Deliverable 1: Complete Terms of Reference document.

Technical Support during the Procurement Process

The expert shall provide technical support during the selection process by participating in the technical evaluation, reviewing methodologies, assessing architecture, evaluating the schedule, and preparing a technical evaluation report.

Deliverable 2: Technical Evaluation Report.

Technical Supervision of Software Development

The expert shall supervise the implementation, participate in meetings, monitor compliance with specifications, review intermediate deliverables, validate prototypes, and ensure proper communication between BUSINESSMED and the developer.

Quality Assurance, Testing and Final Validation

Activities shall include functional testing, verification of interoperability, identification of bugs, and final validation. The expert shall recommend acceptance only after all major issues have been resolved.

2.3 Duration

The assignment shall be implemented over a period of five (5) months. The level of effort is estimated at approximately 20 to 25 working days.

2.5 Reporting and Coordination

The expert will report directly to BUSINESSMED. Regular coordination meetings will be organised throughout the assignment.

3. EXPERT PROFILE AND REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

BUSINESSMED is seeking an experienced ICT/Digital Transformation Expert with demonstrated expertise in digital platforms, software development management, business analysis, and supervision of IT projects.

3.1 Academic Qualifications

A university degree (Master’s degree preferred) in Computer Science, Information Systems, Software Engineering, data management, Information Technology, Digital Transformation, or another relevant field.

3.2 Professional Experience

• At least 7 years of professional experience in the design, management, or supervision of digital platforms.
• Proven experience in drafting technical specifications and Terms of Reference for software development.
• Proven experience in business analysis and functional requirements.
• Proven experience coordinating or supervising software development teams.
• Experience in testing, quality assurance, and validation.
• Experience with web-based platforms and digital services.
• Experience in procurement or technical evaluation of ICT solutions (asset).
• Previous experience in EU-funded projects (strong advantage).

3.3 Technical Competencies

Strong knowledge of business process analysis, cloud-based applications, online event management, B2B matchmaking, API integration, software testing, and cybersecurity.

4. APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Applications must include a detailed CV, a financial proposal (total fee in EUR inclusive of all costs), and references for similar assignments. Applications must be sent to promotion@businessmed-umce.org no later than [30 august– 23:59 CET].

5. EVALUATION CRITERIA

Only candidates obtaining a minimum technical score of 70/100 will proceed to the financial evaluation.

Financial Score = (Lowest Financial Offer / Candidate’s Financial Offer) × 30.

6. CONTRACT DURATION AND PAYMENT

• Type of Contract: Service Contract
• Duration: Five (5) months
• Duty Station: BUSINESSMED Headquarters, Tunis, Tunisia, with possibility of remote work
• Expected Start Date: September 2026

Payments will be made upon acceptance of the agreed deliverables.

7. CONFIDENTIALITY AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

All materials produced shall remain the exclusive property of BUSINESSMED. The expert shall treat all information as strictly confidential.

8. FINAL PROVISIONS

BUSINESSMED reserves the right to request additional information, invite candidates for an interview, or cancel the procedure if necessary. The selected expert shall perform the assignment in accordance with the RAINBOW Project provisions.