REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT SELECTION)

 

Country: Republic of Uzbekistan

Project: Institutional Capacity Building Project

Credit No.: IDA 6431-UZ

 

Assignment Title: Consultant for the Development of a Concept for Integrating Public Financial Management Information Systems and Establishing a Unified Integrated Platform.

Reference No.: MEF-IFMIS-IC

 

The Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Institutional Capacity Building Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services under the above-referenced assignment.
 

The Ministry of Economy and Finance is implementing reforms aimed at further modernizing public financial management and strengthening the digital foundations of budget formulation, budget execution, treasury operations, accounting, and financial reporting. DMBAT-2, UzASBO, and other related information systems currently support these processes. However, differences in system functions, data structures, technologies, and integration arrangements require a comprehensive assessment and the development of a coherent approach to their future integration and modernization.
 

The objective of the assignment is to conduct a comprehensive assessment of DMBAT-2, UzASBO, and related information systems; evaluate the feasibility and complexity of their integration; recommend the most appropriate integration model; and develop the conceptual framework and target direction for a unified integrated public financial management platform adapted to the conditions of Uzbekistan. The assignment will also cover a public finance data warehouse, data analytics, financial risk monitoring and early-warning capabilities, priority applications of artificial intelligence, and a phased implementation Roadmap.
 

The assignment will focus on diagnostic assessment, development of integration options and recommendations, preparation of conceptual and target architecture, and development of the documents required to launch the subsequent design and implementation phase.
 

The consulting services are expected to include, but are not limited to, the following activities:
 

• prepare an inception report, detailed 12-month work plan, implementation methodology, and coordination and reporting arrangements;
 

• prepare a register of DMBAT-2, UzASBO, related information systems, business processes, data sources, technologies, interfaces, and existing integrations;
 

• conduct a comprehensive functional, technological, integration, data, information-security, and institutional assessment of the current systems and related business processes;
 

• document the current state through process maps, a systems map, data-flow diagrams, and a register of identified issues and gaps;
 

• compare the functional modules, data models, classifications, and integration mechanisms of DMBAT-2 and UzASBO and assess the complexity of data migration and process integration;
 

• assess full consolidation, integration-platform, and hybrid integration models, comparing their advantages, disadvantages, indicative costs, timelines, risks, and resource requirements, and recommend the most appropriate model for Uzbekistan;
 

• develop the conceptual framework and target direction for a unified integrated public financial management platform, including high-level functional, data, integration, technology, information-security, governance, and operating architecture;
 

• develop the conceptual approach to a public finance data warehouse, data analytics platform, and financial risk monitoring and early-warning platform;
 

• identify and prioritize potential artificial intelligence and data analytics use cases and prepare a candidate task list for subsequent assessment and possible pilot implementation;
 

• prepare a three-year implementation Roadmap, including implementation phases, priorities, sequencing, responsibilities, indicative resource and cost requirements, procurement needs, pilot activities, key risks, and nationwide rollout arrangements;
 

• conduct at least three thematic training and knowledge-exchange sessions and transfer all methodologies, templates, diagrams, analytical materials, and working documents to the designated Working Group.
 

The Ministry of Economy and finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan now invites eligible Individual Consultants (“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 (reference to similar services, experience in similar assignments, availability, etc.) submitting directly to the piu_mof@mail.ru.
 

Qualification requirements for the Consultant:
 

– At least ten (10) years of relevant experience in the design, modernization, implementation, management, or operation of Public Financial Management Information Systems, including budget, treasury, public accounting, financial reporting, or related government information systems.
 

– Proven experience in at least three assignments involving the modernization or implementation of national or ministry-wide public financial management or e-government information systems.
 

– Demonstrated practical experience in at least three of the following areas:
 

• Business Process Reengineering (BPR);
   
• Information Strategy Planning (ISP) or IT master planning;
   
• Functional and technical assessment of information systems;
   
• System architecture and integration;
   
• Preparation of target-state concepts and implementation roadmaps.
   

– Experience in at least one public-sector digital transformation or FMIS project financed or supported by a multilateral development bank or an international development organization, such as the World Bank, ADB, or a similar institution.
 

– Demonstrated experience in preparing analytical and technical reports, coordinating with government stakeholders, and conducting training, knowledge-transfer, or capacity-building activities. Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
 

– A minimum of a Master’s degree or equivalent in information technology, information systems, computer science, engineering, business administration, public administration, international development, public financial management, or a closely related field.
 

The following qualifications would be considered an advantage:
 

– Direct experience in the development, modernization, or operation of a national-scale integrated public financial management information system.
 

– Relevant international consulting or project experience in developing, emerging, or transition economies.
 

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” dated July 2016, revised in November 2017, August 2018 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.
 

In addition, please refer to the following specific information on conflict of interest related to this assignment: Consultants shall not be hired for any assignment that would be in conflict with their prior or current obligations to other clients, or that may place them in a position of being unable to carry out the assignment in the best interests of the Ministry of Economy and finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
 

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours from 9:00 a.m. to 18:00 p.m. Tashkent time.
 

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form in English or Russian languages to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by August 3, 2026.

 

Project Implementation Unit under the

Ministry of Economy and finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Attn: Sirojiddin Imanov, PIU Director

Uzbekistan, 100035, Tashkent city, Yunusobod district, 1, Niyozbek yo’li st.

Tel: +998 71 202 3113 (ext. 05493)

E-mail: piu_mof@mail.ru

 

 

Terms of Reference
for the Development of a Concept for Integrating Public Financial Management Information Systems and Establishing a Unified Integrated Platform

1. General Information

Client: Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Duration of the expert assignment: 12 months.

Place of assignment: Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan.

Coordinating bodies for the expert assignment: the Treasury Service Committee and the Information Technology Center under the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

2. Project Rationale

DMBAT-2, UzASBO, and other related information systems are currently used in public financial management processes.

DMBAT-2 is designed to automate budget formulation, budget execution, and public financial resource management processes within financial authorities.

DMBAT-2 supports the following processes:

• formulation and execution of the State Budget;
• management of budget parameters;
• execution of treasury operations;
• registration of contracts and payment documents;
• accounting, collection, and allocation of State Budget revenues;
• preparation of accounting records and budget execution reports.

The principal users of the system are the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Treasury Service Committee, territorial financial and treasury authorities, and other authorized organizations involved in public financial management.

UzASBO is a software suite designed to comprehensively automate budget accounting and financial reporting in budget-funded organizations.

UzASBO-2 supports the following processes:

• maintenance of accounting records by budget-funded organizations;
• preparation of primary accounting documents;
• recording of business transactions;
• accounting for fixed assets, inventories, and other assets;
• calculation of salaries and equivalent payments;
• accounting for receivables and payables;
• preparation of financial statements of budget-funded organizations.

The principal users of the system are heads, accountants, and other responsible employees of budget organizations.

To further improve public financial management information systems, there is a need to conduct a functional, data, and technological assessment of DMBAT-2 and UzASBO and, based on these systems, develop a concept for a unified public financial management information platform.

3. Objective of the Terms of Reference

The main objective of these Terms of Reference is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the current state of the DMBAT-2 and UzASBO information systems, assess the feasibility and complexity of their integration, and develop a conceptual design for a unified integrated public financial management information platform adapted to the conditions of Uzbekistan. The conceptual design shall also include recommendations on establishing a unified database (data warehouse) and introducing artificial intelligence and analytical tools.

The concept to be developed shall assess the applicability to Uzbekistan of the following approaches:

• implementation of public financial management processes through a unified digital platform;
• a centralized public finance data warehouse;
• a data analysis and visualization platform;
• a financial and macroeconomic risk monitoring and early-warning system;
• artificial intelligence-based mechanisms for forecasting, risk identification, and management decision support.

4. Scope of the Expert Assignment

The Expert is not expected to directly develop information systems. The assignment is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the current state of DMBAT-2 and UzASBO, determine the optimal integration model, develop the concept and target architecture of a unified public financial management information platform, and prepare proposals for its phased implementation.

5. Main Tasks of the Expert

5.1. Organization of Work and Establishment of a Governance Mechanism

The Expert shall:

• prepare a detailed 12-month work plan;
• submit proposals on the organizations and responsible staff to be involved in the project;
• establish a regular working arrangement with a working group comprising responsible staff of the Ministry of Economy and Finance;
• establish monthly and quarterly reporting arrangements.

5.2. Comprehensive Diagnostic Assessment of the Current State of Information Systems

The Expert shall assess DMBAT-2, UzASBO, and related information systems in the following areas:

a) Functional assessment

• the purpose and functions of each information system;
• business processes performed through the systems;
• budget execution, treasury operations, accounting, and financial reporting processes;
• duplicated functions across the systems;
• processes that are absent from the systems or are not fully automated;
• manually performed operations;
• instances where the same data are entered multiple times;
• issues faced by users and budget-funded organizations.

b) Technological assessment

• software and technology architecture of the systems;
• databases currently in use;
• server and network infrastructure;
• system performance, stability, and scalability;
• backup and disaster recovery mechanisms;
• information security and cybersecurity arrangements;
• user identification and access-right management;
• retention of transaction history and audit trails.

c) Integration assessment

• existing data exchange between DMBAT-2 and UzASBO;
• integration with other government information systems;
• data exchange with e-procurement, banking, tax, customs, and other systems;
• integration methods, formats, and frequency;
• disruptions and duplicate processes in data exchange;
• opportunities for real-time data exchange.

d) Data assessment

• data structures and data models;
• budget and accounting classifications;
• chart of accounts;
• master data on organizations, contracts, counterparties, and other key reference data;
• completeness, reliability, and consistency of data;
• instances of duplicate data storage;
• options for retaining and migrating historical data;
• use of unique identifiers and management of master data.

e) Institutional assessment

• ownership and management responsibilities for information systems;
• procedures for decisions on system development;
• division of responsibilities between business units and information technology units;
• procedures for introducing system changes and approving new functional requirements;
• mechanisms for technical support and handling user requests.

The diagnostic findings shall be documented in the form of process maps, a systems map, data-flow diagrams, and a register of identified issues.

5.3. Assessment of DMBAT-2 and UzASBO-2 Integration Options

The Expert shall:

• compare the functional modules of the two systems;
• identify interconnected and duplicated modules;
• assess differences between data models and classifications;
• assess the feasibility of integrating budget execution and accounting operations into a unified process;
• assess the complexity of data migration;
• identify technical, institutional, legal, and financial constraints;
• identify priority modules for integration.

The following alternative options shall be assessed:

1. Full consolidation model — all core functions of DMBAT-2 and UzASBO-2 are gradually transferred to a single information system, replacing the two existing systems with one platform;
2. Retaining both systems and connecting them through a unified integration platform;
3. Hybrid model — selected processes are consolidated into one system, while certain modules remain separate but integrated, and data are consolidated in a unified centralized platform.

For each option, the advantages, disadvantages, costs, timelines, risks, and required resources shall be compared. Based on the analysis, the Expert shall recommend the most appropriate integration model for Uzbekistan.

5.4. Development of the Concept for a Unified Integrated Public Financial Management Platform

Based on the diagnostic findings, the Expert shall develop the target state (To-Be Model).

The concept shall include the following components:

a) Functional architecture

• functional modules to be included in the unified platform;
• functions of each module;
• interfaces and relationships between modules;
• DMBAT-2 and UzASBO-2 modules to be retained, modified, or redeveloped;
• user groups and their authorities.

b) Data architecture

• a unified data model;
• unified reference data and classifications;
• master-data management mechanisms;
• data-quality controls;
• retention and archiving of historical data;
• a public finance Data Warehouse.

c) Integration architecture

• data exchange through APIs;
• a unified integration bus or integration platform;
• real-time data exchange;
• standardized interfaces with external information systems;
• integration with e-procurement and banking systems;
• mechanisms for integration monitoring and error management.

d) Technology architecture

• software and server architecture;
• centralized or hybrid infrastructure;
• high availability and continuity of operations;
• a disaster recovery site and recovery arrangements;
• system scalability;
• capacity to accommodate growth in the number of users and transaction volumes;
• information security architecture.

e) Governance and operating model

• functional owner of the system;
• technical operator;
• data owner;
• decision-making mechanism for system development;
• procedures for approving functional changes;
• responsibilities for information security and data governance.

5.5. Development of a Concept for a Unified Public Finance Data Warehouse

Based on the use of public finance data, the Expert shall prepare proposals for establishing the following components:

1. Integrated Public finance management platform

• collection of data from DMBAT-2, UzASBO, and other systems;
• data cleansing and standardization;
• integration of financial, economic, and administrative data;
• establishment of a data warehouse and thematic data marts;
• creation of a data-access environment for management and analysts.

2. Data analytics platform and Risk monitoring system

The platform shall provide for the following capabilities:

• multidimensional analysis of budget and treasury data;
• interactive dashboards and data visualization;
• analysis by region, ministry, program, expenditure category, and other dimensions;
• comparison of historical data;
• forecasting and scenario analysis;
• development and testing of artificial intelligence models.
• real-time monitoring of key public finance indicators;
• setting threshold values for indicators;
• automatic identification of adverse changes;
• early warning of financial risks;
• identification of delays and deviations in budget execution;
• application of artificial intelligence solutions.

5.6. Development of an Implementation Roadmap

The Expert shall prepare a three-year Roadmap for establishing the unified integrated public financial management platform.

The Roadmap shall specify:

• project phases;
• activities to be carried out during each phase;
• priority modules;
• stages of data migration;
• required technical infrastructure;
• staffing and specialist requirements;
• preliminary cost estimates;
• procurement and consulting requirements;
• responsible organizations;
• performance indicators;
• key risks and risk-mitigation measures;
• arrangements for nationwide system rollout.

5.7. Knowledge and Experience Transfer

To strengthen the capacity of Ministry specialists, the Expert shall:

• conduct at least three thematic training and knowledge-exchange sessions;
• transfer to the Working Group the methodologies, templates, and analytical materials prepared during the assignment;
• build the capacity of the Working Group to continue subsequent activities independently upon completion of the assignment.

6. Key Deliverables to Be Submitted by the Expert

No.	Deliverable or Document	Due Date
1	Inception Report and detailed 12-month work plan	Month 1
2	Register of information systems, business processes, and integrations	Month 2
3	Comprehensive Current-State Diagnostic Report on DMBAT-2, UzASBO, and related systems (As-Is Diagnostic Report)	Month 4
4	Assessment Report on the complexity of DMBAT-2 and UzASBO integration and Recommendation Report on alternative integration options	Month 6
5	Conceptual Framework and Target Direction Report for Establishing a Unified Integrated Public Financial Management Platform Based on DMBAT-2 and UzASBO (including the target-state model and high-level functional, data, integration, technology, information security, and governance architecture)	Month 8
6	Data Warehouse, Analytics, and Risk Platform Concept Report (including the conceptual approach to establishing a public finance Data Warehouse, a data analytics platform, and a financial risk monitoring and early-warning platform)	Month 9
7	AI and Data Analytics priority areas and Candidate Task list (including the identification and prioritization of potential artificial intelligence and data analytics use cases and a candidate list of tasks for subsequent assessment and possible pilot implementation)	Month 9
8	Three-year implementation Roadmap for establishing the unified public finance management platform	Month 10
9	Final Report, presentation to management, and transfer of all materials to the Working Group	Month 12

At the end of each quarter, the Expert shall submit an interim report covering activities completed, issues and risks identified, and tasks planned for the following quarter.

7. Implementation Schedule

Phase 1. Inception and Diagnostic Assessment

Months 1–4

Key activities:

• establishing the Working Group;
• approving the detailed work plan;
• collecting documents and data;
• conducting interviews with relevant units;
• reviewing business processes;
• conducting an inventory of information systems and integrations;
• preparing the current-state diagnostic report.

Deliverables:

Deliverable 1: Inception Report

Deliverable 2: Register of information systems, business processes, and integrations

Deliverable 3: Comprehensive As-Is Diagnostic Report

Phase 2. Assessment of Integration Options

Months 5–6

Key activities:

• comparing data models and functional modules;
• assessing integration complexity;
• developing alternative integration options;
• identifying technical, institutional, and financial risks;
• determining the recommended integration model.

Deliverables:

Deliverable 4: Integration options assessment and recommendation report

Phase 3. Development of the Unified Platform Conceptual Framework, Data and Risk Platform Approach, and AI Priorities

Months 7–9

Key activities:

• developing the target functional architecture;
• developing the data and integration architecture;
• defining the technology and information-security architecture;
• developing the system governance and operating model;
• preparing the concept for the unified public financial management platform.
• developing the concept for the public finance data platform;
• defining functional requirements for an analytics platform;
• developing the concept for a risk monitoring system;
• selecting priority artificial intelligence projects;
• preparing pilot project profiles.

Deliverables:

Deliverable 5: Platform Conceptual Framework and Target Direction Report

Deliverable 6: DW, Analytics and Risk Platform Concept Report 

Deliverable 7: AI and Data Analytics Priority Areas and Candidate Task List

Phase 4. Roadmap and Requirements for the Next Phase

Months 10–12

Key activities:

• defining implementation phases;
• preliminarily assessing resources and costs;
• preparing pilot and nationwide rollout plans;
• finalizing the concept and Roadmap;
• delivering a final presentation to management;
• transferring all reports, diagrams, methodologies, and working materials to the Working Group.

Deliverables:

Deliverable 8: Three-Year Implementation Roadmap

Deliverable 9: Final Report and transfer of all materials to the Working Group

8. Coordination and Reporting Arrangements

The Expert shall:

• be accountable to the Project Results Evaluation Commission approved by the Ministry of Economy and Finance;
• work in continuous cooperation with the Project Working Group;
• submit a brief monthly activity report to the Commission;
• present completed activities to the Commission on a quarterly basis;
• provide analytical information and alternative options to support decisions on key matters;
• promptly inform the Commission of any circumstances that may affect project timelines or results.

9. Support to be provided by the Ministry of Economy and Finance

The Ministry of Economy and Finance shall provide the Expert with:

• necessary regulatory and legal documents;
• descriptions of business processes;
• access to information systems in accordance with established procedures;
• meetings with responsible staff;
• a workplace and necessary organizational arrangements;

The information and data provided to the Expert shall be used solely for the purposes of these Terms of Reference.

10. Acceptance criteria for Deliverables

Documents submitted by the Expert shall:

• be based on an in-depth analysis of the current state;
• be substantiated by specific data, interviews, and findings from the system assessment;
• not be limited to general recommendations;
• include process maps, data-flow diagrams, and architecture diagrams;
• specify implementation timelines, responsible parties, resources, and risks;
• be sufficiently detailed to enable the launch of a practical project during the next phase;
• take into account comments and observations provided by the Client.

Each key document shall be reviewed by the members of the Commission.

The Expert shall revise the documents in response to substantiated comments and observations and submit final versions.

11. Contract Duration

The contract duration is 12 months from the date of signing the agreement until the completion of all activities.
During this period, the consultant is required to carry out all tasks, including the preparation and submission of the final deliverables.