Diagnostic of retail payment switch and use cases

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRM SELECTION)

Country: Independent State of Samoa

Name of Project: Samoa Finance Sector Resilience and Development Project (SFSRDP) 2025 – 2029 (World Bank Financed Project P181456)

Loan No./Credit No./Grant No.: IDA – E3780

Assignment Title: Diagnostic assessment for a National Retail Payment Switch

Reference No.: CBS/CS/004

1. Introduction

The Government of Samoa has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the SFSRDP P181456 and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services. The Central Bank of Samoa invites eligible consulting firms ("Consultants") to express their interest in providing consulting services to conduct a diagnostic assessment for a national retail payment switch. The objective of this assignment is to undertake a diagnostic assessment of Samoa's retail payments ecosystem and evaluate the need, feasibility, and potential design options for establishing a National Retail Payment Switch. Interested consulting firms should provide information demonstrating that they possess the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the services. This REOI is being issued for the purpose of establishing a shortlist of qualified consulting firms who will subsequently be invited to submit detailed technical and financial proposals under the Quality and Cost-Based Selection (QCBS) method.

2. Background

The Central Bank of Samoa (CBS) is the monetary authority responsible for maintaining financial stability, managing currency issuance, and overseeing the payment systems in Samoa. Under the Samoa Finance Sector Resilience and Development project supported by the World Bank, the CBS is pursuing initiatives to strengthen the national payments ecosystem, increase digital financial inclusion, improve payment efficiency, and support the country's broader digital transformation agenda. As electronic payment channels continue to expand across banks, mobile money operators, government agencies, merchants, and consumers, the need for more efficient interoperability arrangements has become increasingly important. Currently, retail payment transactions may be processed through bilateral arrangements, proprietary networks, or international payment schemes, resulting in potential inefficiencies, higher transaction costs, limited interoperability, and constraints on innovation. A National Retail Payment Switch could provide a shared infrastructure enabling seamless, secure, and real-time interoperability among payment service providers. Before making investment and policy decisions, CBS seeks the services of a consultancy firm to conduct a comprehensive diagnostic assessment to determine whether a National Retail Payment Switch is necessary, feasible, and economically viable, and if so, to identify the most appropriate implementation model for Samoa

3. Objective of the Assignment

The objectives of the assignment include:

Assess the current state of retail payment systems and interoperability arrangements. Identify gaps, inefficiencies, and constraints within the existing payment ecosystem. Evaluate current and future demand for interoperable retail payment services. Assess the business, technical, operational, regulatory, and financial viability of a National Retail Payment Switch. Examine alternative interoperability models and determine whether a national switch is the most appropriate solution. Provide recommendations and an implementation roadmap, if deemed necessary.

4. Scope of Services

The Consultant will be expected to undertake activities including, but not limited to:

Task 1: Inception Phase and stakeholder consultation

Task 2: Assessment of the current payment ecosystem

Task 3: Gap Analysis

Task 4: Assessment of the Need for a National Retail Payment Switch

Task 5: Evaluation of Alternative Models

Task 6: Design Considerations (If a Switch is Recommended)

Task 7: Implementation Roadmap

5. The detailed Terms of Reference for the Assignment is provided in the Annex of this document.

6. The Central Bank of Samoa 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.

7. A consulting firm is allowed to submit the expression of interest alone if it considers itself to be fully qualified on its own for the assignment, as it is not mandatory for consultants to associate with any other firm(s), whether foreign or local. Alternatively, if consultants themselves choose to associate to enhance their qualifications and capability for the assignment, then such associations may either be as a Joint Venture (i.e. all members of the joint venture shall be jointly and severally responsible) and/or Sub-consultants (i.e. the Consultant will be responsible, including for the services of the sub-consultant). In case of an association, the Consultants must explain in the EOI submission (a) the rationale for forming the association and (b) the anticipated role and relevant qualifications of each member of the Joint Venture and/or of each subconsultant for carrying out the assignment, to justify the proposed inclusion of the JV members and/or sub-consultants in the association. Failure to provide the above explanation in the Expression of Interest may risk the association not being shortlisted for the assignment. Please note that in the evaluation of EOIs of associations for shortlisting purposes, only the qualifications of the JV members will be taken into account whereas the qualifications of proposed sub-consultants will not be considered.

8. The shortlisting criteria are as follows, in which specific experience of the Consultant relevant to the assignment will be considered of paramount importance: Demonstrated experience in assignments of comparable scope, specifically in conducting diag