World Bank's Finance, Competitiveness, and Innovation Global Practice (FCI GP) and the European Commission’s Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) are collaborating on an initiative to improve the effectiveness of Smart Specialisation Strategies in the European Union (EU). In this collaboration, large-scale surveys with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were conducted in several European countries. The World Bank is contracting a firm to conduct a large-scale survey of firms on the level of digitalization in North-East Romania.

Digitalization has the potential to generate unprecedented value for the economy and transform entire industries. A substantial share of the productivity growth that the world has witnessed over the last several decades can be attributed to the impact of digitalization by firms. Even more, the changes brought by digital technologies will be positive as they will increase the variety and volume of goods and services. The impact of digitalization could be incredibly transformative among SMEs. SMEs comprise a large proportion of firms in many countries and often remain far from the frontier of progress in the application of digital technologies. By adopting digital technologies, SMEs can boost efficiency by simplifying and consolidating routine procedures and operations, eventually saving costs and becoming more competitive. They can discover and target new markets and better adapt to quickly changing market conditions with the latest products, services, and business models.

Most SMEs in Romania need to digitalize even at a foundational level. In 2022, only 22% of SMEs in Romania had at least an essential degree of digital intensity (in comparison to the EU average of 55%). Romania holds the 26th position at the EU level in terms of digital performance (95% of SMEs have very low & low digital intensity). Only 4% of SMEs in the country use online means to sell across borders, and 12% are online. Compared to the EU average of 34%, only 11% of SMEs use contemporary digital technologies such as cloud computing. Qualitative interviews suggest that the one driver of low digitalization is the need for more knowledge of how to implement digital changes or new digital solutions and the low levels of digital skills inside and outside the firm.

The northeastern region of Romania lags behind national and European Union averages in terms of various digitalization metrics. In the first survey, the 1,038 businesses of interest reported an average Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) score of 4.3 out of 12, indicating varying degrees of digitalization. Key digitalization activities include widespread use of connected mobile devices, high-speed internet connections, significant internet use among employees, active social media presence, website ownership, electronic invoicing, smartphone usage, paid internet advertising, complex web functionalities, cloud computing, and notable e-commerce sales.

Between June and October 2023, 1,038 firms provided in-depth information on their levels of digitalization and critical characteristics. 18.79% of these businesses are in Wholesale and Retail Trade, Repair of Motor Vehicles, followed by 16.09% in Professional, Scientific, and Technical Activities, 11.95% in Manufacturing, 11.37% in Human Health and Social Work Activities, and 10.98% in Construction, with other sectors having less representation. Of the six counties in North-East Romania, Iasi has the most program participants (37%), followed by Suceava (25%) and Bacău (14%). Most of these firms are micro (63%) when measured by their number of employees. The selected Organization will be responsible for revisiting the same 1,038 SMEs in North-East Romania, conducting in-person CAPI (Computer Assisted Personal Interview) with managers or owners, and ensuring the data collection is completed within the specified timeframe using SurveyCTO. The World Bank will provide the survey instrument, i.e., a questionnaire, and access to a SurveyCTO server to facilitate this process.

SELECTION OF CONSULTING FIRMS BY THE WORLD BANK GROUP

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI)

Electronic Submissions through WBGeProcure RFx Now

ASSIGNMENT OVERVIEW

Assignment Title: Large-Scale Survey with SMEs in North-East Romania

Assignment Countries:

• Romania

ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION

The World Bank's Finance, Competitiveness, and Innovation Global Practice (FCI GP) and the European Commission’s Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) are collaborating on an initiative to improve the effectiveness of Smart Specialisation Strategies in the European Union (EU). In this collaboration, large-scale surveys with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were conducted in several European countries. The World Bank is contracting a firm to conduct a large-scale survey of firms on the level of digitalization in North-East Romania.

Digitalization has the potential to generate unprecedented value for the economy and transform entire industries. A substantial share of the productivity growth that the world has witnessed over the last several decades can is attributed to the impact of digitalization by firms. Even more, the changes brought by digital technologies will be positive as they will increase the variety and volume of goods and services. The impact of digitalization could be incredibly transformative among SMEs. SMEs comprise a large proportion of firms in many countries and often remain far from the frontier of progress in the application of digital technologies. By adopting digital technologies, SMEs can boost efficiency by simplifying and consolidating routine procedures and operations, eventually saving costs and becoming more competitive. They can discover and target new markets and better adapt to quickly changing market conditions with the latest products, services, and business models.

Most SMEs in Romania need to digitize, even at a foundational level. In 2022, only 22% of SMEs in Romania had at least an essential degree of digital intensity (in comparison to the EU average of 55%). Romania holds the 26th position at the EU level in terms of digital performance (95% of SMEs have very low & low digital intensity). Only 4% of SMEs in the country use online means to sell across borders, and 12% are online. Compared to the EU average of 34%, only 11% of SMEs use contemporary digital technologies such as cloud computing. Qualitative interviews suggest that the one driver of slow digitalization is the need for more knowledge of how to implement digital changes or new digital solutions and the low levels of digital skills inside and outside the firm.

The northeastern region of Romania lags behind national and European Union averages in terms of various digitalization metrics. In the first survey, the 1,038 businesses of interest reported an average Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) score of 4.3 out of 12, indicating varying degrees of digitalization. Key digitalization activities include widespread use of connected mobile devices, high-speed internet connections, significant internet use among employees, active social media presence, website ownership, electronic invoicing, smartphone usage, paid internet advertising, complex web functionalities, cloud computing, and notable-commerce sales.

Between June and October 2023, 1,038 firms provided in-depth information on their levels of digitalization and critical characteristics. 18.79% of these businesses are in wholesale and Retail Trade, Repair of Motor Vehicles, followed by 16.09% in professional, Scientific, and Technical Activities, 11.95% in Manufacturing,11.37% in Human Health and Social Work Activities, and 10.98% in Construction,with other sectors having less representation. Of the six counties in North-East Romania, Iasi has the most program participants (37%), followed by Suceava (25%) and Bacău (14%). Most of these firms are micro (63%) when measured by their number of employees. The selected Organization will be responsible for revisiting the same 1,038 SMEs in North-East Romania,conducting in-person CAPI (Computer Assisted Personal Interview) with managers or owners, and ensuring the data collection is completed within the specified timeframe using SurveyCTO. The World Bank will provide the survey instrument,i.e., a questionnaire, and access to a SurveyCTO server to facilitate this process.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The World Bank Group invites eligible firms to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested firms must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc. for firms; CV and cover letter for individuals). Please note that the total size of all attachments should be less than 5MB. Firms may associate to enhance their qualifications unless otherwise stated in the solicitation documents. Where a group of firms associate to submit an EOI, they must indicate which is the lead firm. If shortlisted, the firm identified in the EOI as the lead firm will be invited to the request for proposal (RFP) phase.

Expressions of Interest should be submitted, in English, electronically through WBGeProcure RFx Now

NOTES

Following this invitation for EOI, a shortlist of qualified firms will be formally invited to submit proposals. Shortlisting and selection will be subject to the availability of funding.

Only those firms which have been shortlisted will be invited to participate in the RFP phase. No notification or debrief will be provided to firms that have not been shortlisted.

If you encounter technical difficulties while uploading documents, please send an e-mail to the Help Desk at corporateprocurement@worldbank.org prior to the submission deadline.