CRISIL is seeking a highly experienced and professional Procurement & Bid Management Consultant to be deployed at a major public transportation authority. This role is central to managing the procurement lifecycle for a portfolio of critical, large-scale projects aimed at modernizing and enhancing the efficiency, reliability, and sustainability of public transport infrastructure.

The consultant will be responsible for the end-to-end management of procurement and strategic initiatives, including but not limited to:

- The procurement of bus fleets, particularly under innovative models like Gross Cost Contract (GCC).

- The retro-fitment of the existing vehicle fleet to alternative fuels (e.g., CNG, LNG).

- The implementation of electric vehicles and the development of associated charging and maintenance infrastructure.

- Advisory on the procurement process for other key projects such as Vehicle Tracking Systems (VTS), Passenger Information Systems (PIS), and logistics/parcel services.

The ideal candidate will be a subject matter expert in public sector procurement, playing a crucial role in the entire project lifecyclefrom strategy, feasibility, and bid-document preparation to bid process management, contract negotiation, and implementation oversight. Knowledge of spoken/written English and Marathi is desirable.

Key Responsibilities

The consultant will be primarily responsible for the following activities:

A. Procurement Strategy and Project Planning

- Develop procurement strategies aligned with the organization's long-term goals and public procurement policies.

- Conduct comprehensive needs assessments and feasibility studies to define project scope and technical requirements.

- Perform in-depth cost-benefit and risk analysis for proposed procurements, developing detailed mitigation plans.

B. Bid Process Management and Contract Award

- Prepare and draft comprehensive, clear, and compliant bidding documents, including Request for Proposal (RFP), Request for Quotation (RFQ), and tender documents.

- Manage the entire bid process, from tender publication to bid opening, including conducting pre-bid meetings and managing all bidder communications and clarifications.

- Lead the technical and financial evaluation of bids, providing expert analysis and recommendations to the evaluation committee to ensure selection of the most suitable partners.

- Facilitate and support contract negotiations to secure the best possible commercial and technical terms.

C. Project Implementation and Vendor Management

- Develop detailed project execution plans, including timelines, resource allocation, and governance structures.

- Oversee the implementation of awarded contracts, ensuring vendor adherence to quality standards, timelines, and regulatory requirements.

- Establish robust monitoring mechanisms to track project progress and provide regular, detailed status reports to senior management.

- Serve as the primary point of contact between vendors, contractors, and internal departments to ensure smooth execution and delivery.

D. Specialized Procurement Advisory

- Provide expert guidance on the unique procurement challenges associated with electric vehicle deployment, alternative fuel conversions, and other technologically advanced transport solutions.

- Advise on innovative funding strategies, public-private partnership (PPP) models, and the commercial structuring of contracts to maximize value and minimize risk.

Required Qualifications and Experience

A. Educational Qualifications

- Essential: A Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (B.E./B.Tech.) in Mechanical, Production, Electrical, or Automobile disciplines.

- Essential: A Master's Degree in Business Administration (MBA/PGDM) or an equivalent postgraduate qualification.

B. Professional Experience

- A minimum of 5 years of proven experience in managing procurement, bidding, and implementation for projects within the transport domain.

- Demonstrable experience working as a consultant for transport sector projects (e.g., Road Transport, Railways, Ports, Logistics) with government bodies (Central/State), Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), or other public transport authorities.

- Hands-on, expert-level experience in the preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) and the drafting of complex Request for Proposals (RFPs) for large-scale public procurement.

- Proven domain experience in one or more of the following areas is highly desirable:

- Procurement of electric buses on a GCC model.

- Retro-fitment of diesel vehicles to alternative fuels (CNG/LNG).

- Implementation of National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) systems.

- Logistics and Parcel service projects within a transport utility.

- A strong track record of successfully managing the end-to-end bid process for large-scale government or public sector contracts.