National Oceanic Resource Management Authority
National Oceanic Resource Management Authority
CONSULTING SERVICES - FIRMS SELECTION
| Country | Federated States of Micronesia |
| Project | Pacific Islands Regional Oceanscape Program - Second Phase for Economic Resilience (PROPER) |
| Project Implementing Agency / Client | FSM Department of Resources & Development (FSM R&D), in collaboration with NORMA, State Fisheries/Marine Departments |
| Assignment Title | Consultancy Services to Strengthen the Legal Frameworks for Coastal Fisheries Management in the Federated States of Micronesia |
| Selection Method | Consultant’s Qualification-Based Selection (CQS) |
| Contract Type | Lump Sum |
| Reference No. | FM-NORMA-560493-CS-CQS |
| Credit/Grant No. | IDA-E3710 |
| Date of Issue | August 17, 2026 |
| Deadline for Submission | September 17[VH1] , 2026 |
CONSULTING SERVICES - FIRMS SELECTION
The Government of the Federated States of Micronesia has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Pacific Islands Regional Oceanscape Program - Second Phase for Economic Resilience (PROPER) and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.
The consulting services (“the Services”) are for strengthening the management of coastal fisheries through review and gap analysis of legislative and regulatory frameworks governing coastal fisheries in the FSM states, and development of draft legislation and related recommendations, including areas relating to small boat registration and safety, community-based fisheries management, compliance, enforcement, stakeholder engagement, awareness and follow-on TORs.
The FSM Department of Resources & Development, with support from NORMA, and the State Fisheries/Marine Departments, 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.
1. Background and Context
FSM is an island nation in the western Pacific comprising Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae. Fisheries are a vital economic resource, and FSM’s coastal and near-shore resources are under state jurisdiction while offshore oceanic resources are retained as a national government function.
Under PROPER, FSM seeks to strengthen management of both oceanic and coastal fisheries and the critical habitats upon which they depend. The coastal component seeks to implement priority actions identified in the coastal fisheries situation analysis and related investment project profiles.
The TOR identifies that FSM lacks modern legal frameworks for coastal fisheries and that existing legislation is often not implemented or enforced. The assignment will support legislative assessment, consultation, and drafting of laws and regulations responsive to each state’s needs.
2. Assignment Objective
The objective of the assignment is to strengthen coastal fisheries management through review and gap analysis of the legal and regulatory frameworks governing coastal fisheries in the FSM states; development of draft legislation and related management recommendations; and broad stakeholder consultations across all four states, including municipalities, communities and outer island representatives where viable.
3. Scope of Services
The expected services will be delivered through the following stages:
| Stage | Expected scope |
| Stage 1 | Desk Review and Compilation of Laws and Policies |
| Stage 2 | Legal Analysis and Gap Identification |
| Stage 3 | Stakeholder Engagement and Site Selection - First Round |
| Stage 4 | First Draft of Legislation and Management Recommendations |
| Stage 5 | Stakeholder Engagement and Site Selection - Second Round |
| Stage 6 | Second Draft of Legislation and Management Recommendations |
| Stage 7 | Validation Workshop |
| Stage 8 | Final Draft of Legislation with Workshop Feedback |
| Stage 9 | Awareness Raising and Other Activities, including TORs for subsequent consultancies |
| Stage 10 | Final Consultancy Report |
The assignment is expected to require field work and consultations in all four FSM states, as well as desk-based legal and policy analysis, legislative drafting, reporting and support to stakeholder validation.
4. Expected Duration and Indicative Level of Effort
The total duration of the assignment is expected to be fourteen (14) months. The TOR indicates an expected total input of approximately twenty-five (25) person-months by key experts, working part-time across the assignment. The final team composition, level of effort and work plan will be proposed by the selected Consultant in its technical and financial proposals and confirmed during negotiations.
5. Main Deliverables
| No. | Deliverable | Indicative timing after contract signing |
| 1 | Inception[VH2] Report | Week 2 |
| 2 | Legislative Review Report | Week 4 |
| 3 | Legal Gap Analysis Report | Week 16 |
| 4 | Stakeholder Engagement Summary - First Round | Week 24 |
| 5 | Preliminary Legal Recommendations Report / First Draft | Week 28 |
| 6 | Stakeholder Engagement Summary - Second Round | Week 32 |
| 7 | Interim Legal Recommendations Report / Second Draft | Week 36 |
| 8 | Validation Workshop Report | Week 44 |
| 9 | Final Legal Recommendations Report / Final Draft with Workshop Feedback | Week 48 |
| 10 | TORs for Subsequent Consultancies | Monthly after Month 1, as required |
| 11 | Final Consultancy Report | Week 56 |
6. Required Consultant Profile and Experience
Interested consulting firms should demonstrate relevant experience and qualifications in the following areas:
The indicative key expertise identified in the TOR includes Fisheries Legal Expert; Fisheries Management Specialist / Fisheries Policy and Development Planner; National Local Liaison / Community Facilitator; and National Legal Expert. Key experts and CVs should not be evaluated at the EOI shortlisting stage unless expressly required by the Bank-approved procurement documents; detailed staffing will be evaluated at the proposal stage.
7. Shortlisting Criteria
The Borrower will assess Expressions of Interest to determine the shortlist of qualified firms. The criteria below are proposed for use in the shortlisting assessment. The EOI evaluation should focus on the firm’s qualifications and experience, not on individual experts or detailed methodology.
| Criterion | Indicative assessment considerations |
| Core business and years in business | Relevance of the firm’s core business to legal reform, fisheries/marine governance, natural resources, maritime safety, stakeholder consultation and policy/regulatory support; demonstrated operational history. |
| Relevant assignment experience | Similar assignments completed in legislative review, legal gap analysis, fisheries/coastal resource legal frameworks, community-based fisheries management, enforcement/compliance, maritime/small boat safety, and subnational legal drafting. |
| Technical and managerial capability | Firm’s capacity to manage a multi-disciplinary assignment across four FSM states over 14 months, including quality assurance, consultation logistics, reporting, legislative drafting, and coordination with government agencies. |
| Pacific / FSM / small island context experience | Experience working in Pacific Island countries, FSM, small island developing states, customary/community settings, outer island communities, and multi-jurisdictional state/national governance environments. |
| Team/partnership strength | Strength and relevance of team, JV, sub-consultant arrangements proposed to cover national legal systems, local liaison, community consultation and specialized technical expertise. |
8. Selection Method and Next Step
The Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Consultant’s Qualification-Based Selection (CQS) method set out in the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers 7th Edition, September 2025. Under CQS, firms provide information on relevant experience and qualifications; the Borrower selects the firm with the best qualifications and relevant experience and invites that firm to submit technical and financial proposals for negotiations.
The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers 7th edition, September 2025, including provisions on conflict of interest, eligibility, fraud and corruption, and the Bank’s sanctions framework. Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications but should clearly indicate whether the association is in the form of a joint venture and/or sub-consultancy. In the case of a joint venture, all members shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract if selected.
9. Information to be Submitted by Interested Firms
Interested firms should submit an Expression of Interest containing the following information. The EOI should be concise and should not include a full technical proposal or financial proposal at this stage.
| Submission item | Description |
| Cover letter | Signed by an authorized representative, identifying the firm or joint venture, contact details, and confirmation of interest. |
| Firm profile | Legal name, country of registration, ownership, years in business, core business areas, management structure and contact details. |
| Relevant experience | A table of similar assignments, including client, country, contract value if available, duration, role of the firm, description of services and relevance to this assignment. |
| Technical and managerial capability | Brief description of internal resources, quality assurance arrangements, consultation management, legislative drafting capacity and ability to work across FSM states. |
| Association details | JV or sub-consultant arrangements, including lead firm and roles of each partner, if applicable. |
| Conflict of interest declaration | Statement of any actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest, or confirmation that none exist. |
| Eligibility declaration | Confirmation that the firm and any JV members are eligible in accordance with World Bank requirements and are not subject to World Bank sanctions or applicable ineligibility. |
10. Submission Instructions
| Submission address / email | proper.procurement@norma.fm |
| Recipient | Okean Ehmes, PROPER Project Manager |
| Deadline | September 17, 2026, 3:00 PM Pohnpei Local Time |
| Language | English |
| Format | PDF electronic copy; if hard copies are required, insert number of copies and address. |
| Subject line | Expression of Interest - Legal Frameworks for Coastal Fisheries Management in FSM - Ref. FM-NORMA-560493-CS-CQS |
| Clarifications | Requests for clarification shall be submitted in writing to OKEAN EHMES, no later than September 07, 2026. Responses will be issued in writing to all interested firms as appropriate. Email: proper.procurement@norma.fm |
Late EOIs will be rejected.
View Annex 1 and 2 Below:
