SECTION 71

(1) Individual consultants shall be selected based on their qualifications, taking into account the nature of assignment. (2) To this effect, the consultants shall be selected by comparing the qualifications of candidates interested in the assignment following a request for expression of interest setting out the conditions for recruitment. (3) To be selected, the consultants should have all the relevant minimum qualifications required to properly perform the assignment. (4) The assessment of their abilities shall be based on their curricula vitae, certificates, professional experience, and their knowledge of the local context, if required. (5) Upon publication of the public call for applications, interested candidates shall have a period of 10 (ten) days to file in their applications. (6) The pre-qualification report ranking the candidates in order of merit shall be written by the Contracting Authority. (7) This report and the draft contract shall be forwarded to the Internal Tenders Board for adoption not later than 15 (fifteen) days following the application deadline. (8) Upon adoption of the pre-qualification report, the Contracting Authority shall forward the terms of reference of the assignment to the highest-ranked candidate and request the latter’s financial offer to open negotiations. (9) Where the negotiations are not successful, the Contracting Authority shall invite the next qualified candidate on the list for negotiations.