Contract Title: Preparation of a Business Plan for the Management and Operations of the National Centre for Testing Excellence (NCTE)

Publication Reference: DOM/SFA 04/BG/GC-1/BUSINESS PLAN FOR NCTE/SER/12

The Business Gateway, an EU- funded programme intends to award a Service Contract for:

• The development of a detailed Business Plan inclusive of an appropriate management structure to enable the effective and efficient management of the National Centre for Testing Excellence (NCTE). The Plan should also identify key market segments, marketing strategy, personnel and qualifications, service pricing etc.

• Making recommendations for appropriate equipment for the efficient operations of the facility.

The purposes of this contract are as follows:

• To develop a five (5) year business plan for the management and operations of the NCTE. The NCTE is an integral component of Dominica’s national standardization and quality infrastructure. It is intended to be “the National Reference Laboratory”, providing critical support for several key industries such as health, agriculture, tourism, agro-processing, building and construction, research and development. It is expected that this will be the building block for testing, thus growing Dominica’s potential of a sustainable export strategy.

Results to be achieved by the Consultant
The following are the expected to be undertaken by the consultant:

• Discussions with key stakeholders, including the Dominica Bureau of Standards and others in all the major industries (health, tourism, agro-processing, manufacturing, agriculture, building and construction laboratory and testing services, research institutions) to ascertain the demand for and type of testing services required

• Review of all existing studies and report (national, regional) on laboratory infrastructure and testing facilities in Dominica

• Site visits to all existing laboratories and testing facilities in Dominica

• Preparation and submission of a detailed business plan that includes the following:

a) Financial analysis including break-even throughput and sensitivity analysis;

b) A SWOT analysis showing supply side constraints and strengths for example ( i.e. short and long term testing capabilities) impacting on the NCTE viability;

c) Identified potential laboratory and testing services that can be provided by the NCTE base on plant design and equipment;

d) An appropriate Management to guide the overall administration and operations of the NTCE

e) Recommendations for composition of Board of Management;

f) Recommendations for sub-committees of the Board,

g) A listing of the key management personnel and descriptions of their responsibilities;

h) A listing of the required skills, training, experience and qualifications;

i) An organizational chart showing how many persons will be employed and in what positions;

j) A recommended salary structure;

k) Identified commercial services that will be offered; Include start-up services and services to be added,

l) Identified marketing goals, targeted market or market segments, major competitors;

m) Proposed strategies for pricing, branding, promotion and build good customer relations;

n) Projected cash flow, projected income statement, funding requirements, recurrent, and capital expenditure.

o) Developed basic financial policies;

p) Developed Quality Management System;

q) Identified Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and monitoring system

• Any other issues deemed necessary for the effective management and operation of such a facility.

The deadline for submission of tenders is on Wednesday, 10th February 2010. Possible additional information or clarifications/questions shall be published on DEXIA’s website: http://dexia.dm and the National Authorising Office’s website: www.naodominica.org