Republic of Serbia
Ministry of Health
Serbia Noncommunicable Diseases Prevention and Control Project
Loan No. 96040-YF, Project ID P180619
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)
Country: The Republic of Serbia
Name of Project: Serbia Noncommunicable Diseases Prevention and Control Project Loan No.: 96040-YF
Assignment Title: Targeted research to identify key factors that facilitate or hinder the participation in preventive activities and screenings for NCDs
Reference No.: RS-NCD-96040YF-CS-CQS-25-3.1.1
Date: October 9, 2025
The Republic of Serbia has received financing from the World Bank toward the Serbia Noncommunicable Diseases Prevention and Control Project’s cost and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.
The consulting services (“the Services”) include identifying key factors that influence (i) health risk behaviors and (ii) factors that facilitate or hinder the participation of the population in preventive activities and screenings for NCDs. The planned research should allow for a better understanding of the prevalence and patterns of health risk behaviors, and barriers, opportunities, knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to the use of preventive services and participation in screening programs.
The Consultant will be responsible for designing and conducting the research on health risk behaviors among adult population associated with leading NCDs in Serbia and on factors associated with the participation of the population in preventive activities and screenings. Mixed-methods approach, including both qualitative and quantitative study, should be applied. Research should provide insights into (i) social, cultural, economic, environmental and other relevant factors that influence health risk behaviors related to NCDs, as well as (ii) identifying health attitudes and behaviors related to the uptake of preventive behavior including screening and available preventive services.
The expected duration of the assignment is eight (8) months, after signing the contract.
The detailed Terms of Reference (ToR) for the assignment can be found at the following website: www.zdravlje.gov.rs.
On behalf of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia, the Project Coordination Unit 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. The shortlisting criteria are:
- Proven experience of more than five (5) years in conducting public opinion surveys based on the registration documents and a list of projects completed;
- Extensive experience in surveys at national level with various population groups, engaging complex data collection methods;
- Extensive experience in designing and implementing household face-to-face surveys with large nationally representative samples (at least three (3) surveys with minimum 2.000 participants for each);
- Proven skills in methodology and sampling design, control of the interviewers’ work, data cleaning and processing, data analysis and preparation of reports, providing an example of a methodological plan (research protocol) from a previous quantitative survey on the representative sample of the general population;
- Experience in qualitative surveys – organizing and moderating focus group discussions and in-depth interviews, as well as qualitative data analyses;
- Experience in conducting research in public health field will be an asset;
- Registered legal entity with authorization to conduct research in Serbia;
- Member of the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR), ensuring adherence to ethical standards, data protection, and confidentiality;
- Key staff composed by minimum following roles: team leader/project manager, senior expert in quantitative research, data processing manager/statistician, senior expert in qualitative research;
- Demonstrated capacity for fieldwork implementation: existence of an established and operational network of trained interviewers capable of conducting household-based face-to-face surveys across the country, adequately staffed and geographically distributed to ensure timely and high-quality data collection in line with the sampling plan and project timeline, with evidence or signed statement of a functional fieldwork network (e.g., number and regional distribution of interviewers, proof of active engagement or contracts);
- Demonstrated ability to implement electronic data collection and analysis using the company’s available software solutions;
- Experience with projects financed from International Financial Institutions’ (IFI) funds is preferred;
Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage.
The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” July 2016 revised September 2023 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.
Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications, but should indicate clearly whether the association is in the form of a joint venture and/or a sub-consultancy. In the case of a joint venture, all the partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected.
A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the CQS method set out in the Procurement Regulations.
Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours, from 09:00 to 14:00.
Expressions of interest must be delivered in a hardcopy to the address below or by e-mail by October 23, 2025
Health Center Savski venac/Dom zdravlja Savski venac
Ms. Žana Cvetković, Procurement specialist
Serbia Noncommunicable Diseases Prevention and Control Project
Pasterova 1 Str., 11000 Beograd
The Republic of Serbia
Tel: +381 11 36 06 401
E-mail: office_pcu@zdravlje.gov.rs