Standard Request for
                      Proposals
          Selection of Consultants
                                
                     Asian Development Bank
                                
                        December 2021
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                         Master Document for Selection of Consultants – Harmonized SRFP
                           Abbreviations
        ADB           Asian Development Bank
        BTP           biodata technical proposal
        CMS           consultant management system
        CQS           consultants’ qualifications selection
        CSC           consultant selection committee
        CSRN          consulting services recruitment notice
        CV            curriculum vitae
        EA            executing agency
        EOI           expression of interest
        ETP           evaluated total price
        FBS           fixed-budget selection
        FTP           full technical proposal
        ICS           individual consultants selection
        LCS           least-cost selection
        MDB           multilateral development bank
        OAI           Office of Anticorruption and Integrity
        PES           personnel evaluation sheet
        QBS           quality-based selection
        QCBS          quality- and cost-based selection
        RFP           request for proposal
        SES           summary evaluation sheet
        SRFP          standard request for proposal
        SSS           single-source selection or direct contracting
        STP           simplified technical proposal
        TOR           terms of reference
        UN            United Nations
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                                                  Master Document for Selection of Consultants – Harmonized SRFP
                                                           Foreword
                1.     This standard request for proposals (“SRFP”) has been prepared by the Asian
                       Development Bank (“Bank”) and is based on the Master Procurement Document for
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                       Selection of Consultants  (“Master Document”). The Master Document was prepared by
                       participating multilateral development banks (“MDBs”) and reflects what was considered
                       “best practices”.
                2.     This SRFP follows the structure and the provisions of the Master Document, except
                       where specific considerations within the Asian Development Bank have required a
                       change. 
                3.     The italicized notes provide guidance and instructions for the Client within the letter of
                       invitation (Section 1), the data sheet (Section 2), the terms of reference (Section 7) and
                       the special conditions of contract (Section 8 III). Such italicized notes should be deleted
                       once the RFP is finalized and prior to issuance to the shortlisted consultants. 
                4.     Italicized notes  specifically meant for shortlisted consultants within the data sheet
                       (Section 2) and the special conditions of contract (Section 8 III) and marked DO NOT
                       MODIFY should be retained. Italicized notes within technical proposal forms (Section 3)
                       and financial proposal forms (Section 4) should not be deleted from the final RFP
                       document issued.
                5.     This SRFP can be used with different selection methods described in the Guidelines on
                       the Use of Consultants by Asian Development Bank and its Borrowers2 (Consulting
                       Guidelines) or the ADB Procurement Policy 2017 (“Policy”) and the Procurement
                       Regulations for ADB Borrowers 2017 (“Procurement Regulations”).  
                6.     The use of this SRFP is not required for selections conducted under commercial
                       practice,   selection   of   individual   consultants   and   selections   through  ADB’s   online
                       consultant management system (CMS).
                7.     Before preparing a request for proposals (RFP) for a specific assignment, the user must
                       be familiar with the Consulting Guidelines, the Policy and the Procurement Regulations
                       and must have chosen an appropriate method and the appropriate contract form. The
                       SRFP includes two standard forms of contract: one for time-based assignments and the
                       other for lump sum assignments. Please consult with ADB if the Client wishes to adopt a
                       different form of contract such as Framework Agreement. Section 8 of the RFP
                       (Conditions of Contract and Contract Forms) which precedes the two standard forms of
                       contract indicate the circumstances in which their use is most appropriate.  
                1http://siteresources.worldbank.org/PROCUREMENT/Resources/84265-
                320181208647/Master_Harmonized_SRFP_(Oct_2011).pdf
                This Master Document has been prepared through the joint efforts of the MDBs), namely: the ADB, African Development Bank 
                (AfDB); Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB), Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Council of Europe Development 
                Bank (CEB), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Islamic 
                Development Bank (IsDB), and International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD or World Bank). The Master 
                Document reflects what are considered “best practices” and is intended to be used as a model by these organizations for issuing a 
                harmonized Standard Request for Proposals for each individual institution. The Master Document is intended to be followed, insofar 
                as possible, while allowing for institutional and member country considerations. 
                2 https://www.adb.org/documents/guidelines-use-consultants-asian-development-bank-and-its-borrowers
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