REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST CONSULTING SERVICES GOVERNMENT OF TURKMENISTAN PROJECT OF «DEVELOPMENT OF BIOTECHNOLOGICAL METHODS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF BIOMASS OF PROSPECTIVE MEDICAL PLANTS OF TURKMENISTAN» IDB FINANCING (TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT) NO. TUR-0021 The Government of Turkmenistan has received financing (Technical Assistance Grant) from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) for supporting the Institute of Biology and medicinal Plants of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan (Ashgabat, Turkmenistan) for the Project of “Development of Biotechnological Methods for the Production of Biomass of Prospective Medicinal Plants of Turkmenistan” and intends to apply part of the proceeds of this financing to cover the cost of consulting services. The services include specific training and hands-on experience in specialized labs for six young researchers for a total of 36 man month, for to gain experience in plant cell culturing methods and production of callus biomass , and also for the identification of pharmaceutical compounds in cell exudates or cell biomass, purification and chemical characterization of the newly discovered compound. The training of manpower shall be procured through short listing of relevant laboratories both from and outside the Member Countries of the Islamic Development Bank. The Institute of Biology and medicinal Plants of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan now invites eligible consultants to indicate their interest in providing these services. Interested consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brochures, description of similar research experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc.). Experience in the following area or tasks shall be the minimum requirement for the requested services: • Experience in the ongoing work on plant cell culture, preferably on medicinal plants. On return, the trainees will be expected to work on Alhagimouroum (camel thorn) and/or Mandragora • Experimental production of plant cell culture/ plant callus biomass as source material for the production of pharmaceuticals. • Isolation and purification of medicinal components from plant cell culture and/or plant callus. A consultant will be selected in accordance with the procedures set out in the Guidelines for the Use of Consultants under Islamic Development Bank Financing, May 2009 edition from a short list of relevant laboratories both from and outside the Member Countries of the Islamic Development Bank. The selection method will be “Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS)” method. Detailed selection and qualification criteria will be provided in the Request for Proposals (RfP). Interested consultants may obtain further information at the address below during office hours (09:00 to 17:00 hours local time): Expressions of interest must be delivered to the address below not later than 10 days from the date of announcement of this request. The Institute of Biology and Medicinal Plants of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan Attn: Dr. Artyk Atabayevich Kokanov Address: 59, 2011 (Azady) str., 744000, Ashgabat c., Turkmenistan Tel: (+993 12)92-74-59 , 94-29-23, Fax: 92-57-95 E-mail: biomassa.tm@mail.ru