Consultant: Finalization of the National Decree for Public Procurement

Ministry of Finance, Government of Sint Maarten Assignment title: Finalization of the National Decree for Public Procurement Type of appointment: service contract. Duration: 11 weeks (80 business days), concluding by end of April 2027. Location: Sint Maarten, Dutch Caribbean. Reporting to: Roxanne Howell, Secretary General, Ministry of Finance. Background and context The Trust Fund project Sustaining Program Effectiveness and Advancing Resilience (SPEAR) is designed to improve the operational effectiveness of the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) and strengthen the capacity of the Sint Maarten public administration to sustain the Sint Maarten Trust Fund project results beyond the NRPB's closing in 2028. At that point the Government of Sint Maarten will assume responsibility and perform financial management, project management, procurement, project reporting, Environmental and Social Commitment Plan implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and communications. SPEAR component 2 aims to strengthen the institutional and technical capacity of the Government of Sint Maarten to ensure the sustainability of investments. This includes enhancing the management of public procurement. Objectives of the consultancy Building on the amendment recommendations from the preliminary consultation, the Consultant will provide the Ministry of Finance with the technical capacity required to finalize the public procurement decree, thereby completing the financial regulatory framework. General scope of work Public procurement needs to be aligned with good international practice. The National Accountability Ordinance includes public procurement provisions, but procurement is decentralized and there is no regulatory framework. Although the Ordinance refers to a national decree containing general measures (LB-HAM), no such decree for public procurement is in place yet. The Government has a draft public procurement decree under review and requires technical support to finalize the decree and its operationalization. The scope of work includes: - Assess the effectiveness, efficiency and transparency of the draft decree. - Resolve identified inconsistencies within the draft decree to ensure internal coherence and clarity. - Confirm that the decree contains sufficient provisions to meet all six procurement objectives defined by the Ministry of Finance, and ensure, to the extent possible, that the legislation is consistent with the core procurement principles of value for money, economy, integrity, fit for purpose, efficiency, transparency and fairness, or equivalent principles as decided by the Government. - Identify the extent of conformance of the decree with paragraphs 5.3 to 5.6 of the World Bank's Procurement Regulations and make recommendations to ensure conformance, as agreed by the Government of Sint Maarten. - Identify gaps against international best practices. - Recommend amendments to the decree or a new legal framework. - Recommend editorial and substantive improvements. - Training and capacity building of government employees. Required qualifications and experience - Advanced university degree or equivalent, with legal expertise and specialist knowledge of public procurement law and practice. - Demonstrated experience in public procurement reform, preferably in small island developing states or comparable jurisdictions. - At least 5 years of experience with public procurement legislation and best practices in public procurement. - Strong knowledge of international procurement frameworks, including the World Bank procurement framework. - Regional or country-specific experience in the Caribbean or the Dutch Kingdom is an advantage. - Proficiency in English and Dutch. The candidate agrees to participate in an interview (in person or online) with the Evaluation Committee to further assess qualifications and experience. Contract conditions - The contract is for a duration of 80 days; a successful candidate who is not based in Sint Maarten must be prepared to work on site when required. - The contract price consists of a daily rate inclusive of turnover tax (TOT) or equivalent applicable taxes, and additional fees, covering all costs for the full duration of the assignment. - A successful candidate not based in Sint Maarten may be offered reimbursable expenses for travel to and from Sint Maarten, a per diem allowance, an accommodation allowance and transportation on the island. - Invoicing is monthly, based on actual effort, corresponding to the total maximum contract price and accompanied by the required bi-weekly progress report. - The candidate accepts a maximum payment term of 90 days. Reporting and governance The Consultant reports directly to Roxanne Howell, Secretary General, Ministry of Finance. Any Steering Committee or Technical Working Group arrangements will be communicated at the start of the assignment. Timeline The Government's terms of reference asked for expressions of interest by 4 September 2026 at 17:00 (to Erma.Hazel@sintmaartengov.org). The decree submission deadline listed by the Government is 27 November 2026 at 17:00 (electronically to Roxanne.Howell@sintmaartengov.org). How to apply Send your CV, motivation letter and copies of your diplomas via the Apply button before 27 November 2026, and mention the job title. Return Caribbean forwards your application to careers@sintmaartengov.org, Roxanne.Howell@sintmaartengov.org and Erma.Hazel@sintmaartengov.org. Because the original expression-of-interest date has passed, Return Caribbean checks with the Ministry of Finance whether your submission can still be considered before forwarding it.