The Romanian Government has received a loan from the International Bank forReconstruction and Development (IBRD) in the amount of US$ 60,000,000 equivalent toward the cost of the Rural Education Project,and it intends to apply the proceeds of this loan to payment for goods, works, related services and consulting services to beprocured under this project. The project includes the following components:
Improvement of teaching methodology and learning processes in rural schools: · Provision of equipment, technical assistance, training and trainingmaterials to develop professional competencies of rural teachers. · Development of a curriculum framework, teaching materials and software fortraining practicing teachers and carrying out of such training. · Rehabilitation and refurbishing of rural schools to meet minimumfunctioning standards. · Provision of teaching-learning materials to schools and equipment(including training for the use of such equipment) to teach and learningmaterials warehouses.
Improvement of school-community partnership: · Provision of grants, through the School-community Grants Program (SCG),for the following types of Sub-projects: promoting students' participation in the learning process and support to disadvantagedstudents; supporting the improvement of teachers' performance and strengthening community partnerships, opening the school tocommunity. · Provision of assistance in capacity building at school and communitylevelthrough facilitation, evaluation and supervision of Sub-projects and provision of training.
Strengthening, monitoring, evaluation and policy making capacity: · Strengthening the MoER's analytical capacity at national and local levelfor policy analysis, formulation and planning through: Establishment of the National Education Indicators Set, improving theNational Education Database and development of a National Assessment of Basic Education.
Strengthening project management capacity: · Provision of equipment, training and administrative support to the PMU toassist in the implementation of the project, to conduct information, education and communication activities and monitoring andevaluation.
The following are expected to be procured: · Goods: teaching and learning materials for rural schools. · Works: for the rehabilitation of sanitary groups, heating and lighting installations for school units. · Consulting services: construction supervision for works.
Procurement of contracts financed by the World Bank will be conductedthrough the procedures as specified in the World Bank'sGuidelines: Procurement under IBRD Loans and IDACredits (January 1995, revised January and August 1996, September 1997 and January 1999), and is open to all eligiblebidders as defined in the guidelines.
Consulting services will be selected in accordance with the World Bank's Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World BankBorrowers (January 1997, revised September 1997, January 1999 and May 2002).
Specific procurement notices for contracts to be bid under the World Bank's international competitive bidding (ICB) procedures andfor contracts for consultancy services will be announced, as they become available, in UN Development Business and/or atleast one newspaper of national circulation.
Interested eligible bidders who wish to be included on the mailing list to receive invitations to bid and interested consultantswho wish to receive a copy of advertisement requesting expressions of interest or those requiring additional information, shouldcontact the address below. | 
