CUSTOMS CLEARING AND FORWARDING OF UNITED NATIONS SHIPMENTS (IMPORTS / EXPORTS) AND IN-COUNTRY LOGISTICS (DELIVERY / DISTRIBUTION & STORAGE)

1. BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION

Following the December, 2017 UN Secretary-General (SG) proposal to reposition the United Nations Development System, all UN Country Teams (UNCTs) are required to comply with an improved Business Operations Strategies (BOS) by 2021. In October 2019, the UNSDG Business Innovation Group (BIG) issued the guidance and methodology to develop BOS 2.0 - a results-based framework that focuses on collaborative business operations with the purpose to eliminate duplication, leveraging the common bargaining power of the UN and maximizing economies of scale. BOS is facilitated by the principle of mutual recognition.

The impact of UN programmes at the country level is directly related to the effectiveness, efficiency and cost of the operations that support them. In support of UNSDCF implementation and in recognition of country diversity, BOS recommends minimum levels of cooperation in line with a country typology. United Nations Lesotho became one of the 131 countries that have initiated BOS since 2019 with a focus on establishing common operations services at the country level to support implementation of the UN programmatic mandate in a more efficient and cost-effective manner. BOS 2.0 is a Framework and its impact and efficiency gains can only be realized if agreed common services are established timely, and participating entities at the country level utilize the common services. BOS guidance supports the UNCTs to monitor and track the implementation of the agreed common services in BOS 2.0 and report on utilization of the benefits realized and the quality enhancements achieved from the collaborative operational services.

The following United Nations Agencies in Lesotho are participating in BOS and offer different operations services such as customs clearing and freight forwarding, transport hire, hotel accommodation and catering services, printing and stationery, UN House maintenance including plumping and electrical, staff recruitment, ICT, Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT). etc. This Terms of Reference is specifically for procurement of Freight Services (Customs clearing and forwarding). UNICEF on behalf of below mentioned UN Agencies seeks to engage in a Long Term Agreement (LTA) framework, four domestic freight clearing companies. The LTA shall be for two years with possible extension of 18 months, based on satisfactory performance of the institution.