REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

CONSULTING SERVICES: E-commerce and international marketplace onboarding for Moldovan SMEs

REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES COMPETITIVENESS PROJECT Sector: General industry and trade sector IDA Credit No. 71740 IBRD Loan No. 94230 Project ID No. P177895 Reference No. MD-CEP- 542539-CS-CQS

The Republic of Moldova has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Competitiveness Project (MSME) and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) and the overall objective of the assignment is to enhance the capacity of Moldovan enterprises to utilize international e-commerce channels and to ensure the effective operational launch of the local companies on global or regional marketplaces through e-commerce channels.

The assignment will be implemented in the period April-December 2026 and will require an estimated level of effort of approximately 150 man-days

The Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment is attached to this request for expressions of interest.

The Project Implementation Unit of the MSME Competitiveness 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 (required qualifications and experience of the firm, but not individual experts’ bio data).

This assignment requires a consultant, which may be a consulting firm or a consortium of consulting firms, with proven experience in the field of the assignment, that meets the following minimum criteria: Institutional Experience: • Demonstrated capacities with at least five (5) years of proven experience in international e-commerce operations and cross-border online trade. • Provide a portfolio or case studies demonstrating at least 5 successful onboarding cases where complex verification or restriction issues for vendors from non-standard (non-EU) jurisdictions have been resolved. • Relevant experience with minimum three (3) years of experience in implementation of SME training or mentoring programs. • Demonstrated operational knowledge of international marketplaces such as Amazon, Alibaba, Zalando, Etsy, Emag or equivalent. • Demonstrated established direct communication channels or strategic partnerships with international marketplace administration teams, with a proven capacity to leverage these networks to facilitate pilot onboarding or secure operational exceptions for vendors from jurisdictions with restricted or limited platform access. • Experience in projects financed by development partners or public institutions will be considered an advantage. Team Composition and Key Experts. The proposed team shall include at least the following profiles: a. Team Leader / Project Manager At least five (5) years of relevant professional experience in e-commerce or export development; Experience in coordination of multi-beneficiary assignments. b. Marketplace Operations Expert Minimum three (3) years of hands-on experience in seller onboarding and account administration. c. Digital Marketing and SEO Specialist Minimum three (3) years of experience in product visibility, optimization, and marketplace promotion tools. d. Logistics and Cross-Border Trade Specialist Minimum three (3) years of relevant professional experience in international logistics, freight forwarding, or e-commerce supply chain management. Demonstrated knowledge of customs procedures, export documentation, and cross-border fulfillment solutions (including returns/reverse logistics).

The Consultant may propose additional experts or adjust the team composition, as deemed necessary, in order to ensure proper achievement of the assignment objectives and delivery of the expected results.

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” November 2020 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the „Consultant’s Qualification-based Selection” method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

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.

The Expression of Interest shall clearly state the name of the Consultant (individual Firm, Joint Venture or sub-consultancy). The Consultant shall provide relevant references (assignment name, Client, time frame, the role of the firm (main Consultant/Partner in JV/sub-consultant, contract amount, tasks performed etc.) to confirm its experience and qualifications.

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

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by April 03, 2026, COB.

Project Implementation Unit of the MSME Competitiveness Project 180, Stefan cel Mare Ave., office 815, MD-2004, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova Tel: + 373 22 296-723 Web site: http://uipac.md web: www.uipac.md

E-mail for submission of the clarifications: piu@mded.gov.md E-mail for submission of the EoIs: procurementmgf@gmail.com
Only the notification of EoI submission must be sent to piu@mded.gov.md

  TERMS OF REFERENCE E-commerce and international marketplace onboarding for Moldovan SMEs (support to Invest Moldova Agency under the World Bank MSME Competitiveness project) A. Background The Government of the Republic of Moldova (GoM) is pursuing a policy agenda aimed at supporting export-led economic growth. The MSME Competitiveness Project aims to increase the competitiveness of Moldovan enterprises by reducing the regulatory burden they face, improving access to finance, and strengthening MSME development and export competitiveness. The Project supports the digitization of government-to-business (G2B) services, which is expected to reduce compliance costs and administrative burdens for enterprises. In addition, improvements in quality infrastructure increase the availability of accredited laboratory services and reduce costs for enterprises, thereby facilitating increased exports. These measures contribute to enhancing MSME competitiveness in both domestic and international markets. The Project also provides funding for partial credit guarantees to improve MSME access to finance, as well as support for enterprises to upgrade their products and services. As a result, access to finance is expected to improve, contributing to MSME survival and growth, job creation or retention, and increased competitiveness and export performance. A key challenge facing the Government of the Republic of Moldova is the need to promote sustainable economic growth and job creation driven by robust private sector activity, exports, and increased investment. Export-led growth has historically delivered higher productivity, increased employment, improved trade balances, and enhanced financial stability. In accordance with its mandate, Invest Moldova Agency supports domestic companies in their internationalization efforts and in the adoption of modern export instruments, including digital trade channels. Cross-border e-commerce represents one of the fastest growing ways for international trade, enabling direct access to consumers, rapid product validation, and scalable market entry. Nevertheless, a significant number of Moldovan enterprises encounter difficulties in accessing international marketplaces due to limited familiarity with platform requirements, insufficient digital content, regulatory uncertainties, logistical constraints, and lack of operational experience. To address these challenges, Invest Moldova Agency intends to contract a Consulting firm to deliver a structured program of assessment, training, mentoring, and operational assistance for selected local firms to integrate into global and/or regional marketplace through e-commerce channels. B. Objective of the Assignment The overall objective of the assignment is to enhance the capacity of Moldovan enterprises to utilize international e-commerce channels and to ensure the effective operational launch of the local companies on global or regional marketplaces through e-commerce channels. The assignment shall ensure that:

• Minimum 20 companies (SMEs) benefit from structured training and individual mentoring.
• Minimum 10 companies are successfully launched and become operational on at least one international/regional e-commerce platform. For a company to be considered “successfully launched” the following criteria must be met:
• Seller account is active and verified (no suspensions)
• At least 5 SKUs are live and buyable
• A test transaction (or real sale) has been successfully processed
• Beneficiary companies capable of independently operating their accounts Note. All program beneficiaries have to be local producers, that can demonstrate that the major part of added value is produced in the Republic of Moldova, priority will be given to the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) / tangible end-consumer goods from the following sectors, but not limited to, TAFL/carpets/decor sector, beauty, cosmetics, electronics, non-perishable/long shelf live process consumer products (agri-food) sector. C. Tasks to be performed by the Consultant (Scope of Work) The Consultant shall design and implement an integrated intervention program combining diagnostics, capacity building, technical onboarding, and post-launch support for each participating company (20 firms all together). To achieve the objectives of the assignment, the Consultant shall perform the tasks described below:

1. Conduct company analysis to assess the technical and e-readiness level. The assessment shall be conducted based on the “Digital Readiness Criteria” defined in the Inception Phase by the Consultant to ensure the KPI of 10 launched companies is achievable. For each participating company the Consultant shall: • evaluate the digital, commercial, and operational readiness; • identify gaps related to compliance, branding, pricing, logistics, and human resources; • recommend appropriate marketplace(s) depending on product profile and target markets; • prepare individual E-commerce Action Plan for each participating company The Consultant shall review the shortlist of potential beneficiaries provided by the Agency and validate their technical readiness. The Consultant shall recommend the disqualification of beneficiaries who do not meet the minimum 'Digital Readiness Criteria'.

2. Provide capacity building and training for companies. The Consultant shall design and deliver a structured training curriculum covering at least the following topics: • fundamentals of cross-border e-commerce; • selection and functioning of international marketplaces; • account registration and verification procedures; • product listing requirements and content/packaging standards; • pricing, taxation, and VAT considerations, foreign currency reconciliation and financial (AML) compliance; • logistics and reverse logistics; • customer communication and service management; • marketplace promotion and visibility instruments. Trainings may be organized in group format and shall be complemented by individual advisory sessions.

3. Marketplace Onboarding and Technical Support. Under this task, the Consultant shall provide direct technical assistance to companies for marketplace onboarding, including: • creation and validation of seller accounts; • preparation and upload of product listings; • configuration of payment systems; • establishment of shipping and fulfillment solutions; • alignment with platform compliance requirements; • identify regulatory, administrative, logistical, or technical barriers affecting company onboarding; • recommend practical mitigation measures; • inform the Agency about systemic constraints requiring institutional intervention.

4. Post-Launch Mentoring. For the on-boarded companies who reached operational status, the Consultant shall provide continued consultancy and oversight for a period of 3 months, including: • order processing and account management; • interaction with customers; • management of returns and claims; • guidance on basic advertising and growth tools. All methodological elements shall be subject to prior approval by Invest Moldova Agency. D. Deliverables / Outputs During the implementation of the contract, the Consultant is expected to develop and submit the following deliverables and outcomes:

5. Within two (3) weeks from contract commencement day, the Consultant shall submit an Inception Report including: (i) detailed methodology and implementation approach; (ii) calendar of activities; (iii) training program structure; (iv) mentoring framework, risk identification and mitigation measures.

6. Results of the companies’ technical and e-readiness assessments and individual E-commerce Action Plans for 20 (twenty) participating companies, aiming at successful launch of minimum 10 (ten) companies on at least one international/regional e-commerce platform.

7. Designed training curricula, training materials and operational guides.

8. Documented evidence of training sessions conducted with the participating companies.

9. Report on technical assistance and mentoring for marketplace onboarding provided to companies.

10. Final Report describing implementation results, post-launch mentoring, objectives/achievements, encountered challenges, and recommendations for future scale-up. Outputs shall be provided in Romanian and English if required by the beneficiary company or the Agency. E. Reporting Arrangements & Supervision The results of the assignment will be presented in a series of reports, containing a detailed description of the fulfillment of the tasks foreseen under Clause E (Scope of Work) taking into consideration also the deliverables foreseen under Clause F (Deliverables/Outputs). As part of its technical proposal, the Consultant shall prepare and submit a specific section titled 'Moldova-Specific Entry Strategy,' detailing the Consultant's proposed technical solutions for: (i) cross-border payments/payouts to Moldovan bank accounts; (ii) logistics/returns handling from outside the EU customs union; and (iii) KYC/verification challenges specific to Moldovan legal entities. The Consultant shall produce the following reports: Inception Report. This report shall present the (i) detailed methodology and implementation approach; (ii) calendar of activities; (iii) training program structure; (iv) mentoring framework, risk identification and mitigation measures. The report shall be submitted within 3 (three) weeks after the contract effectiveness. 1st Progress Report. This report shall present the Consultant’s progress and deliverables related to the results of the technical and e-readiness assessments and individual E-commerce Action Plans for 20 participating companies. The report shall be submitted within 2 (two) months after the contract effectiveness. 2nd Progress Report. This report shall present the Consultant’s progress and deliverables including training curricula, materials and training sessions conducted with participants. The report shall be submitted within 3 (three) months after the contract effectiveness. 3rd Progress Report. This report shall present the Consultant’s progress on the technical assistance and mentoring for marketplace onboarding provided to companies. The report shall be submitted within 5 (five) months after the contract effectiveness. Final Report. This report shall present the Consultant’s progress describing implementation results, post-launch mentoring, objectives/achievements, encountered challenges, and recommendations for future scale-up. The report shall be submitted within 8 (eight) months after the contract effectiveness. The Invest Moldova Agency, the World Bank project team, and other relevant stakeholders may provide comments on the submitted deliverables, which shall be addressed by the Consultant accordingly. All deliverables shall be provided in electronic format, and in hard copy upon request. The working languages for all reports shall be Romanian with English translation upon request. The Consultant shall operate under the supervision of Invest Moldova Agency. Regular coordination meetings shall be organized to review progress, validate interim outputs, and resolve bottlenecks. Any communication or visual materials developed within the assignment shall comply with the Agency’s brand-book and communication standards. F. Period and Terms of the Assignment
    The assignment will be implemented in the period April-December 2026 and will require an estimated level of effort of approximately 150 man-days. G. Requirements for the Assignment This assignment requires a consultant, which may be a consulting firm or a consortium of consulting firms, with proven experience in the field of the assignment, that meets the following minimum criteria: Institutional Experience: • Demonstrated capacities with at least five (5) years of proven experience in international e-commerce operations and cross-border online trade. • Provide a portfolio or case studies demonstrating at least 5 successful onboarding cases where complex verification or restriction issues for vendors from non-standard (non-EU) jurisdictions have been resolved. • Relevant experience with minimum three (3) years of experience in implementation of SME training or mentoring programs. • Demonstrated operational knowledge of international marketplaces such as Amazon, Alibaba, Zalando, Etsy, Emag or equivalent. • Demonstrated established direct communication channels or strategic partnerships with international marketplace administration teams, with a proven capacity to leverage these networks to facilitate pilot onboarding or secure operational exceptions for vendors from jurisdictions with restricted or limited platform access. • Experience in projects financed by development partners or public institutions will be considered an advantage. Team Composition and Key Experts. The proposed team shall include at least the following profiles: a. Team Leader / Project Manager At least five (5) years of relevant professional experience in e-commerce or export development; Experience in coordination of multi-beneficiary assignments. b. Marketplace Operations Expert Minimum three (3) years of hands-on experience in seller onboarding and account administration. c. Digital Marketing and SEO Specialist Minimum three (3) years of experience in product visibility, optimization, and marketplace promotion tools. d. Logistics and Cross-Border Trade Specialist Minimum three (3) years of relevant professional experience in international logistics, freight forwarding, or e-commerce supply chain management. Demonstrated knowledge of customs procedures, export documentation, and cross-border fulfillment solutions (including returns/reverse logistics). The Consultant may propose additional experts or adjust the team composition, as deemed necessary, in order to ensure proper achievement of the assignment objectives and delivery of the expected results. Any proposed modification or addition shall be clearly justified in the Technical Proposal, indicating the role, level of effort, and relevance to the scope of work. Any change in team composition during contract implementation shall be subject to prior review and approval by Invest Moldova Agency and Project Implementation Unit (PIU). H. Terms of payment The Contract will be a lump-sum contract for small assignments in accordance with the World Bank procedures. The tentative payment schedule is as follows: • 15% of the contract amount, upon acceptance of the Inception report; • 25% of the contract amount, upon acceptance of the 1st Progress report; • 20% of the contract amount, upon acceptance of the 2nd Progress report; • 25% of the contract amount, upon acceptance of the 3rd Progress report; • 15% of the contract amount, upon acceptance of the 4th progress report. The payments under the contract will be made by the PIU upon approval of the reports by the Invest Moldova Agency.

I. Confidentiality All information obtained from beneficiary companies shall be treated as confidential and shall not be disclosed without prior written approval of the Invest Moldova Agency and PIU.