Consultancy Services for Human Trafficking Prevention (HTPC)

Project: Accelerating Transport and Trade Connectivity in Eastern South Asia – Bangladesh Phase 1 Project

Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

Office of the Project Director

Accelerating Transport and Trade Connectivity in

Eastern South Asia (ACCESS) – Bangladesh Phase 1:

(BLPA Component) Project

Plot No. F-19/A, Sher-E-Bangla Nagar,

Agargaon, Dhaka-1207.

Memo No. 18.15.0000.023.71.26-162 Dated: May 24, 2026.

Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI)

(Consulting Services – Firms Selection) (National)

Country: Bangladesh

Name of the Project: Accelerating Transport and Trade Connectivity in Eastern South Asia (ACCESS) – Bangladesh Phase 1: (BLPA Component) Project

Credit No.: IDA 7166-BD

Assignment Title: Consultancy Services for Human Trafficking Prevention and SEA/SH Risk Mitigation

Reference No.: BLPA-S4

1. The Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the “Accelerating Transport and Trade Connectivity in Eastern South Asia (ACCESS) – Bangladesh Phase 1: (BLPA Component) Project” and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

2. The consulting services (“the Services”) include “Consultancy Services for Human Trafficking Prevention and SEA/SH Risk Mitigation (Firm)”. The main objective of the services is to support BLPA to assess, prevent and mitigate human trafficking risks that may be created, exacerbated or facilitated by project-supported land port upgrading, construction works, ABMS/digitalization, increased trade and transport flows, and port-user/worker interfaces. Related SEA/SH, forced labor, child labor and exploitation risks shall be addressed as part of trafficking risk prevention and safe referral, consistent with the ESF and SEA/SH GPN. Detail scope of services are provided in the Terms of Reference (ToR).

3. The duration of the assignment is for 12 months expected to be started from September 1, 2026. The total key professional staff-months for the assignment are 12 person-months (detailed positions are mentioned in the TOR).

4. The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the services can be found in the web site www.blpa.gov.bd or can be obtained at the address of the undersigned.

5. Accelerating Transport and Trade Connectivity in Eastern South Asia (ACCESS) – Bangladesh Phase 1: (BLPA Component) Project now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria are:

1. The firm shall have at least seven (7) years of relevant experience in human trafficking prevention, SEA/SH risk mitigation, gender, labor-risk management, service mapping, stakeholder engagement, community awareness and grievance mechanism strengthening.
2. The firm shall demonstrate experience in infrastructure, transport, trade facilitation, border, migration, logistics or comparable high-risk operational settings
3. The firm shall have experience applying survivor-centered, child-sensitive and ethical approaches, including confidentiality, informed consent, non-retaliation, minimal data collection and safe referral.
4. Prior experience with World Bank, ADB or other multilateral environmental and social requirements will be an advantage.

6. The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” February 2025 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

7. Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications but should indicate clearly whether the association is in the form of a joint venture and/or a sub-consultancy. In the case of a joint venture, all the partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected.

8. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the QCBS (Quality and Cost Based Selection) method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

9. Further information can be obtained at the address below during office time.

10. Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form, one (1) hard copy and one (1) soft copy (MS Word or Pdf format in a pen drive, content of EOI should be copy & paste permissible, make sure that the content is properly copied and test it to open other computer) by June 17, 2026 up to 03.00 p.m. to the address- Project Director, Accelerating Transport and Trade Connectivity in Eastern South Asia (ACCESS) – Bangladesh Phase 1: (BLPA Component) Project, Land Port Building, Plot No. F-19/A, Sher-E-Bangla Nagar, Agargaon, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh.

Instruction to the Consultant: The consultant should submit the following documents/ papers along with their Expression of Interest (EOI) to ensure completeness and compliance with the EOI requirements.

• Legal documents of the firm (incorporation document, trade license, VAT registration, TIN certificate or similar equivalent documents). It should be for all firms in case of JV.
• Submit letter of authorization (power of attorney) in favour of signatory of the EOI. In case of JV, all firms should give power of attorney in favour of the signatory of EOI. Mention clearly the name, designation, active mobile number and email of authorized signatory.
• In case of JV, please mention clearly who is lead firm and who is/ are JV firm. If there is any sub-consultant, then mention it clearly. Submit JV agreement or letter of intention to form JV.
• The shortlisting will be done as per shortlisting criteria mentioned in para 5 above. Provide the information clearly, precisely and separately (in different chapter/ para) on four criteria of para 5. For relevant experiences to the short-list criteria, provide the information in table that would contain- name/title of the consulting service, contract price of services, start date, completion date, deliverables of the services as per contract, implementing agency, source of fund (GOB or mention the name of development partner), name of the client/ procuring entity (name, designation, address, phone, email)
• Provide table of contents at the beginning of the EOI so that the required information can be found easily. On the cover page of the EOI, mention full name of the firm with postal address, telephone number and email. Provide same information of all firms in case of JV (indicating lead firm, JV partner and/ or sub-consultant)
• Incomplete or inadequate information related to the shortlisting criteria and legal capacity of the firm may result in exclusion from the evaluation process.

(Muhammad Abdur Razzak)

Project Director (Joint Secretary)

ACCESS-BLPA Component Project.

E-mail: pdaccessblpa@gmail.com