I.        Background

Agriculture remains a key pillar of Colombia’s economic and social development. However, the country’s Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) system faces structural weaknesses that limit its ability to effectively protect agricultural health from plant pests and animal diseases and facilitate market access and international trade. In response to this situation, the World Bank, in collaboration with the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA), has been supporting the Government of Colombia (GoC) in strengthening institutional capacities through analytical studies and technical assistance.

In particular, the Agriculture and Food Global Practice (AGF GP) of the World Bank conducted an analytical and advisory study titled “Identifying Technical Gaps to Improve Technological Solutions for the Integrated Management of Transboundary Diseases.” This study, part of the Programmatic Advisory Services and Analytics (PASA) under the Sustainable and Inclusive Transformation of the Colombian Agri-Food System (SIAT; P509672), identified key areas for improvement in border control, especially with respect to phytosanitary management.

Findings from this initial phase highlighted the need to advance to a second phase, funded by the Korea–World Bank Partnership Facility (KWPF), focused specifically on designing integrated solutions to strengthen phytosanitary control mechanisms at the country’s points of entry. The objective is to support the GoC’s strategic commitment to building a more coherent, inclusive, and evidence-based agri-food system, while facilitating safe trade.

In particular, the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) requires the country to adopt and maintain a border risk management system. Border controls should focus on high-risk consignments and expedite the release of low-risk consignments. Risk management shall be based on an assessment of risk through appropriate selectivity criteria. The TFA stipulates that these may include, inter alia, the Harmonized System (HS) code, nature and description of the goods, country of origin, country from which the goods were shipped, value of the goods, compliance record of traders, and type of means of transport. Against this backdrop, the World Bank proposes hiring a specialized consulting firm (or a team of consultants) to carry out an in-depth technical study and develop a roadmap for the conceptual design of an integrated information system that will help in establishing a safe, secure and more efficient agricultural trade environment for Colombia. This system will aim to enhance phytosanitary management at border control points through digital solutions that improve institutional interoperability and the real-time collection, analysis, and use of data, while aligning with international standards and responding to the challenges of an increasingly dynamic global environment.

The system will proactively manage risks associated with plant products traded at the border and ensure that inspections are only carried out when necessary and based on risk. It will help the NPPO to better prioritize its limited resources by identifying and segmenting those commodities/traders who pose a higher risk. It will also enhance the efficiency of phytosanitary management processes by automating manual tasks, reducing paperwork, and streamlining workflows. The system will reduce unnecessary barriers to trade, such as reducing time to release plant products at the border, while improving Colombia’s plant health situation by targeting higher risk plant products and better tracking of pests and diseases.

    II.        Objective of the Consultancy

The objective of this consultancy is to support the World Bank team in advancing policy dialogue with ICA to strengthen its capacity in risk-based border control, through the conceptual design of an integrated information system. The consultancy will carry out an in-depth technical study and develop a comprehensive strategy to improve Colombia’s border control system for plant-based food. This strategy will seek to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and alignment with international standards, identifying technological and operational solutions for each component and delivering a clear roadmap for implementation.

   III.        Activities

As part of the conceptual design of a digital solution aimed at strengthened and more efficient phytosanitary border control, the consultancy will carry out the following key technical activities:

1. Assess ICA’s current data management capabilities within the SPS system at border points

·         Conduct institutional analysis of phytosanitary data processes (collection, analysis, use) at ports, airports, and land crossings. This includes how data is collected, processed, stored, shared, and used for decision-making.

·         Identify technical, operational, and organizational limitations.

·         Highlight opportunities for improvement based on international standards, especially for plant product inspection and release.

1. Benchmark international good practices in digital SPS border control Systems

·         Identify and study 2–3 comparable international models of digital SPS data management systems (e.g., from countries with similar trade profiles or successful phytosanitary systems).

·         Analyze key features of these systems, including governance structures, data architecture, risk-based inspection modules, interoperability with customs, and user interfaces.

·         Extract lessons learned, including what has worked and what challenges were encountered in their design and implementation.

·         Summarize recommendations on good practices and components that could be tailored to the Colombian context.

1. Identify technological and interoperability gaps in phytosanitary border control and trade

·         Review and benchmark data flows between ICA’s territorial offices, laboratories, and relevant agencies such as DIAN. (i.e. customs), including ICA’s connection to the country’s Single Window, notably in relation to the issuance of import permits, as well receiving electronic phytosanitary certificates (ePhyto).

·         Identify opportunities to improve:

-     Traceability

-     Data quality

-     Integration with customs and sanitary control platforms

·         Explore improvements in interoperability and automated data exchange, aligned with international frameworks (e.g., ePhyto, IPPC, WCO, EPPO), to support trade facilitation, streamline border procedures, and ensure alignment with global phytosanitary and customs standards. This includes exploring the integration of electronic certification systems, standardized data formats, and real-time exchange of pest and inspection-related information.

·         Provide recommendations on the creation of a border risk management system, including development of commodity-specific risk profiles for traders being classified as high, medium or low risk, based on the outcomes of a risk assessment, which could be a combination of:

-     Commodity specific baseline risk rating, such as inherent commodity risk (based on HS code), country of origin, and other risk factors, such as volume of trade. In case the NPPO has conducted a pest risk analysis prior to issuing the import permit, the results of this assessment can replace risk rating.

-     Compliance risk rating, based on actual observations of compliance made by the NPPO through any of its activities (inspection, testing, etc.).

·         Provide recommendations to target activities and optimize inspection resources based on high risk - so that not all commodities traded at the border are treated the same.

1. Design a conceptual integrated information system for phytosanitary border control

·         Propose a system architecture covering:

-     Efficient data collection (actors, sources, tools)

-     Data analysis (processing, risk alerts, interoperability)

-     Data use for rapid decision-making (automated release of the DIAN, prioritization, traceability)

·         Ensure alignment with:

-     Scalability needs

-     Institutional sustainability

-     ICA’s strategic objectives

1. Develop a roadmap for the implementation of the proposed system

·         Formulate a phased implementation strategy that includes:

-     Timeline and milestones

-     Required resources

-     Institutional roles and responsibilities

-     Technical and operational guidelines

·         Prioritization of high-risk, high-volume border control points

1. Prepare a proposal to strengthen institutional capacity to develop and maintain a robust risk-based phytosanitary border management system

·         Recommend measures to enhance

-     Technical and human capacity

-     Inter-institutional coordination

·         Focus areas may include:

-     Training for operational staff 

-     System sustainability

-     Performance monitoring and evaluation

  IV.        Deliverables

The final deliverable will be a report that includes the following proposals and system improvement recommendations organized along each key step of the phytosanitary border control process. These are intended to guide the conceptual design of a digital solution that strengthens interoperability and efficiency in each stage of border control:

1. Reception of CIS (Import Request Submission)

·      Design of accessible and efficient channels for applicants

·      Evaluation of digital tools to streamline request reception

·      Improvement of the user interface and standardization of user guidance

·      Analysis of average request initiation time and benchmarking against international standards

·      Review of institutional and technological capacities to reduce delays

·      Proposal for a real-time traceability system and automated request classification

·      Review of data standards for CIS

1. Document Review

·      Implementation of automated verification tools (OCR, digital checklists)

·      Development of user guides and educational materials to reduce recurrent errors

·      Incorporation of document filters and AI-based risk classification algorithms

1. Determination of Quarantine Need

·      Update of technical-scientific criteria and periodic review mechanisms, in alignment with IPPC standards, as part of a border risk management approach the system should enable differentiated treatment based on product type and country of origin, supporting triage and prioritization of high-risk cases to optimize resource allocation.

·      Strategy for documenting decision-making processes and ensuring technical consistency

·      Functional design of spaces and appropriate infrastructure to carry out effective quarantine

·      Implementation of decision-support tools to accelerate processing

·      Improved coordination between physical infrastructure (e.g. inspection posts) and operational workflows

1. Physical Inspection

·      Proposed strategies to promote the use of portable devices and digital checklists to enhance inspection speed and accuracy

·      Recommendations for introducing dual verification mechanisms and real-time monitoring to strengthen transparency and oversight

·      Conceptual proposal for an integrated digital platform to facilitate coordination among ICA, DIAN, and other relevant field-level entities

1. Laboratory Analysis

·      Strategic options for establishing public–private partnerships to outsource laboratory analysis and reduce delays

·      Proposed approaches for the adoption of automated sample traceability systems (barcodes, QR codes, RFID)

·      Recommendations for incorporation of rapid diagnostic test kits (RDTs) for high-frequency samples

·      Proposed strategy to assess the feasibility of mutual recognition or equivalence agreements with laboratories and certification bodies in exporting countries, with the aim of streamlining clearance procedures. This includes reviewing existing agreements and identifying opportunities for future alignment

1. Result Evaluation

·      Adoption of a digital system for notifying and tracking results to users

·      Integration of feedback mechanisms to support continuous system improvement

·      Analysis of post-inspection operational efficiency and regulatory adjustment proposals

·      Generation of automated reports and dashboards for real-time decision-making

1. Integrated Quarantine Information Management System

·      System design strategies to enhance interoperability for real-time data exchange, in alignment with reporting obligations under IPPC

·      Functional elements to support automation of customs clearance processes (such as algorithm to determine release, further inspection, or disposal) based on inspection results

·      Proposed approach for integrating databases and development of APIs among ICA, DIAN, INVIMA, and others

·      Strategies to capacitate staff and strengthen inter-institutional coordination

·      Legal review and regulatory review to identify necessary conditions for enabling automated decision-making

    V.        Timeline and Payment Schedule

The following table summarizes the proposed timeline and payment schedule for the consultancy. The consulting firm (or a team of consultants) shall submit a Project Work Plan no later than one (1) month after the contract is signed. The World Bank team will review the plan and agree with the firm on final dates and deliverables for each phase.

Payments will be subject to the approval of deliverables by the World Bank technical team.

  VI.        Profile of the consulting firm (or team of consultants)

The consulting firm (or a team of consultants) must have a proven track record in designing, assessing, or implementing technological solutions for information and risk management in the public sector, preferably in areas related to sanitary, phytosanitary, or agri-food systems.

General Experience:

• At least 10 years of experience in technology consulting projects, information systems, digital transformation, or data analytics applied to government institutions or entities in the agri-food sector.

Specific Experience:

• Demonstrated experience in the conceptual design or implementation of integrated information systems for managing complex data, institutional information flows, and/or institutional intelligence.
• Participation in at least XX projects related to sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, agri-food traceability, epidemiological surveillance, or data collection and analysis systems in the agricultural or health sectors.
• Prior experience in consultancies funded by multilateral organizations (World Bank, IDB, FAO, or others) will be positively considered.

 VII.        Project and Personnel Management

The consulting firm/consultant will be responsible for all administrative and operational tasks related to its personnel assigned to this project, as well as for the coordination, supervision, and planning of activities, logistical support, transportation, and all necessary actions to fulfill its responsibilities.

The (firm's) team leader will provide overall project oversight and lead interactions with the World Bank team. The consulting firm (or a team of consultants) will be supported by a World Bank staff member assigned to the project, who will manage day-to-day coordination with the consulting team.

VIII.        Collaboration between the World Bank and ICA

The designated representative from the consulting firm (or individual consultant) must maintain regular communication with the World Bank to provide periodic progress reports and project updates. They will also work directly with the World Bank technical team to gather key information and data required to achieve the objectives of the consultancy.

Furthermore, the consultant must establish a clear and efficient communication channel with ICA, as the technical counterpart, to ensure alignment with its priorities and expectations throughout the development of the study.

Collaboration with ICA will include the coordination of regular meetings, requests for relevant information, and the exchange of key progress updates. This engagement will be essential to ensure that the study’s recommendations and outcomes reflect ICA’s needs and goals, thereby enhancing their relevance and applicability in the Colombian context.

All communication, whether with the World Bank or ICA, must be conducted in Spanish or English to ensure a clear and efficient exchange of information and ideas throughout the duration of the project.

  IX.        Reporting and Approval of Deliverables

All reports and documentation must be written in Spanish and submitted in draft form to the World Bank Technical Task Team Leaders for review and approval. The consulting firm (or a team of consultants) will report directly to Ena Shin, Task Team Leader, Agricultural Economist (eshin1@worldbank.org), Mariangela Ramirez Diaz, Co-TTL, Senior Agriculture Specialist (mramirezdiaz@worldbank.org), and Asa Gierta, Co-TTL, Senior Agriculture Economist (agiertz@worldbank.org).

These professionals will be responsible, on behalf of the World Bank, for contract management and supervision, and will provide comments and feedback on the submitted documents within one week.

The consulting firm (or consultant) must deliver the outputs outlined in Section IV to the World Bank and coordinate project activities accordingly. Any modification to the assigned tasks must be discussed and approved in advance by the World Bank team to ensure continued alignment with the project’s objectives.

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: Consultancy for the Design of a Phytosanitary Risk-based Border Control System

Assignment Countries:

• Colombia

FUNDING SOURCE

The World Bank Group intends to finance the assignment / services described below under the following:

• BB: Bank Budget
• TF0C8427: KWBP

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 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 which 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.