BRIDGE

BRIDGE is CDB’s online vendor registry and procurement information portal. It is designed to improve engagement between CDB and the market by making it easier for suppliers, contractors, consultants, firms and service providers to register their interest, maintain their information, and access procurement opportunities linked to CDB.

Through BRIDGE, users can create and maintain an Individual Consultant profile, a Company/Firm profile, or both. Users can also access procurement-related information and view opportunities published by CDB, including opportunities related to CDB Corporate Procurement and CDB-financed projects executed by Borrowing Member Countries.

BRIDGE supports greater visibility in two directions: it gives market participants easier access to information on CDB-related procurement opportunities, and it gives CDB greater visibility of the skills, experience, goods, works and services available in the market. 

BRIDGE is intended for private sector and other market participants interested in CDB-related procurement opportunities. Under CDB’s procurement framework, opportunities generally fall under the following procurement categories:

• Goods – for suppliers providing equipment, materials, commodities or other goods;
• Works – for contractors providing construction, rehabilitation, installation or other works;
• Non-Consulting Services – for service providers delivering non-intellectual services, such as logistical, operational, maintenance or other measurable services; and
• Consulting Services – for consulting firms and individual consultants providing advisory, technical, professional or expert services.

Users should select the BRIDGE profile type that best reflects how they participate in the market:

• suppliers of goods, contractors, consulting firms, non-consulting service providers, NGOs, non-profit organisations and other entities should normally create a Company/Firm profile; and
• natural persons offering consulting services in their individual capacity should create an Individual Consultant profile.

Users may create both an Individual Consultant profile and a Company/Firm profile only where this reflects their actual situation, for example where an individual consultant also owns or represents a firm.

Registration in BRIDGE is encouraged for vendors, consultants and firms that wish to maintain a profile with CDB and receive notifications on relevant procurement opportunities. However, it is important to note that registration in BRIDGE is not mandatory to participate in CDB-funded procurement opportunities, unless expressly stated in a specific procurement notice or document.

Users will be able to access BRIDGE at this link: https://bridge.caribank.org  

To register, users will need to:

1. open the BRIDGE registration/sign-in page;
2. select the registration/sign-up option;
3. enter an email address;
4. request and enter the verification code sent to that email address;
5. create a password;
6. provide their first name and last name; and
7. accept the Privacy Statement before accessing the BRIDGE home page.

Detailed step-by-step instructions on how to register and use BRIDGE are available in the BRIDGE External User Guide.

The email address used during registration will be used by the system for future communications. For Company/Firm profiles, users are encouraged to use a general administrative or procurement email address where possible, rather than an email address linked only to one individual.

Once registered, users can access the BRIDGE home page and create or update their profile. 

After creating an account, users can create either an Individual Consultant profile, a Company/Firm profile, or both.

For Individual Consultant profiles

Users may be asked to provide information such as:

• personal and contact details;
• nationality and address information;
• country of legal residence;
• language proficiency;
• countries, sectors and areas of interest;
• core business areas and sub-business areas;
• qualifications;
• certificates or licences;
• professional experience; and
• supporting documents.

Individual Consultant profiles require the upload of proof of identity before the profile can be activated. Other documents may include educational certificates/diplomas, certificates or licences, and a résumé/CV.

For Company/Firm profiles

Users may be asked to provide information such as:

• legal name and trading name;
• business registration number;
• country of registration;
• date of incorporation;
• tax identification information;
• type of company;
• company contact details;
• address and country information;
• website, where applicable;
• company size and geographical reach;
• company contacts and authorised users;
• countries, sectors and areas of interest;
• procurement categories;
• core business areas and sub-business areas;
• experience; and
• supporting documents.

Company/Firm profiles require the upload of a Certificate of Incorporation or Corporate Registration before the profile can be activated. Other documents may include proof of authority of the company representative, business licence, and relevant certifications or licences.

Users should ensure that their information is accurate and kept up to date. Profiles may be created in preparation status and activated once the required information and documents have been completed. 

BRIDGE does:

• allow users to create and maintain Individual Consultant and/or Company/Firm profiles;
• allow users to identify their areas of expertise and interest;
• allow users to upload relevant profile documents;
• allow users to view procurement opportunities and procurement-related notices published by CDB;
• allow users to save and follow opportunities of interest;
• allow users to receive notifications when relevant opportunities are published; and
• support improved market visibility and engagement between CDB and suppliers, contractors, consultants and service providers.

BRIDGE does not:

• replace the procurement rules applicable to CDB Corporate Procurement or CDB-financed projects;
• guarantee eligibility, shortlisting, selection or contract award;
• allow users to submit bids, proposals or expressions of interest directly through the platform;
• replace the submission instructions included in each procurement notice or bidding/request document; or
• make registration mandatory for participation in CDB-funded procurement opportunities, unless expressly stated in a specific notice or document.

BRIDGE is therefore not an e-procurement or tender submission system. It is a vendor registry, information, publication and notification tool.

BRIDGE includes the Procurement Opportunities Database, available in the platform as My Procurement Opportunities. Through this section, users can view active and historical procurement-related information published by CDB, including:

• Procurement Opportunities;
• General Procurement Notices;
• Procurement Plans; and
• Contract Award Notices.

Procurement notices and documents published by CDB remain publicly available on the CDB website, including through the procurement page.

Registration in BRIDGE is therefore not required to access publicly available procurement notices or documents on the CDB website. However, BRIDGE makes it easier and more efficient for users to identify opportunities that may be relevant to them.

Through BRIDGE, registered users can save and follow opportunities of interest, select countries, sectors, procurement categories and business areas, and receive notifications when opportunities aligned with their selected preferences are published.

For each procurement opportunity, users should carefully review the relevant notice and procurement documents. The applicable submission method, deadline, requirements and contact details will be stated in the specific notice or document. Bids, proposals or expressions of interest must be submitted in accordance with those instructions, not through BRIDGE itself. 

Need support?

Users who need assistance with BRIDGE can submit a request through the BRIDGE Service Desk Portal.

Using the Service Desk Portal is the preferred option, as it allows users to select the most appropriate request type and provide the information needed to support a faster response.

Users may also contact the BRIDGE Service Desk by email at: 
bridgeservicedesk@caribank.atlassian.net

Requests submitted by email will still create a support ticket. However, email requests will be created as a generic ticket type and will only include the email subject as the ticket summary and the email body as the ticket description. For this reason, users are encouraged to use the Service Desk Portal whenever possible.

Future system enhancements

Additional features will be introduced over time to improve the usefulness and user experience of BRIDGE. A performance management module is planned as part of future system enhancements.