FYR Macedonia: Railway Corridor VIII - Lender's Monitor

Country: FYR Macedonia

Business sector: Transport, Municipal and environmental infrastructure

Project number: 71935

Funding source: SFEBSF - EBRD Shareholders SF

Contract type: Consultancy Services

Notice type: Invitation for expressions of interest (CSU)

Issue date: 13 Dec 2017

Closing date: 15 Jan 2018   at  23:59   London

Assignment Description:

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD or the Bank) has so far extended two sovereign loans to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYR Macedonia) to be on-lent to Public Enterprise for Railway Infrastructure (in a total amount of EUR 46.4 million and EUR 145 million respectively) for the rehabilitation of a 30.8 km section of Corridor VIII in the east of FYR Macedonia. Kumanovo Belakovce (Phase One) and a construction of a new rail line as well as a reconstruction of the existing one on the railway line between Beljakovce and Kriva Palanka (Phase Two). The projects provide financing for the first and second phase of the eastern section of the Pan-European Rail Corridor VIII within Macedonia.

The projects are at a different stage of implementation. While the first phase the procurement process is completed and the contract is awarded, the contractor for the works for Phase Two of the project is currently being selected.

The envisaged works include: (i) execution and completion of earthworks and drainage; (ii) construction of bridges and finalisation of the works on bridges which are partially constructed; (iii) construction of tunnels currently at the various stages of completion.

The projects will be implemented by a Project Implementation Unit (PIU) established by the representatives from PERI, the Ministry of Finance (MOF), Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC).

A consultant is now required to act as Lenders Monitor to monitor implementation of these rail infrastructure projects and provide, when required, advice to the EBRD on any corrective actions/etc. which may need to be taken in response to specific issues which may threaten the successful implementation of the projects.

The consultant will monitor tender evaluation and contract award, the performance of the clients and their consultants, implementation of the contracts on behalf of the Bank, mitigation measures included in the Environmental and Social Action Plan (ESAP) and any other areas of interest for the Bank. The consultant will also identify any key problems which may threaten the successful implementation of the project so that corrective action can be taken.

The consultant will undertake the following specific tasks for each phase:

Phase One:

• Monitor the implementation of the contracts on behalf of the Bank;
• Monitor the implementation of mitigation measures included in the Environmental and Social Action Plan, EBRD Performance Requirements (PR’s) compliance with EU Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) requirements and other requirements of the Project documentation as applicable; and
• Identify any key problems which may threaten the successful implementation of the Project so that corrective action can be taken.

Phase Two:

• Monitor tender evaluation and contract award;
• Monitor and audit the performance of the clients and their consultants;
• Monitor the implementation of the contracts on behalf of the Bank;
• Monitor the implementation of mitigation measures included in the Environmental and Social Action Plan, EBRD Performance Requirements (PR's) compliance with EU Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) requirements and other requirements of the Project documentation as applicable; and
• Identify any key problems which may threaten the successful implementation of the Project so that corrective action can be taken.

Assignment Duration: The Assignment is expected to start in Q1 2018 and has an estimated overall duration of 48 months.

Cost Estimate for the Assignment: EUR 150,000; exclusive of VAT.

The consultant must determine whether any VAT would be chargeable on the services and the basis for that determination, without taking into consideration the Bank's special status as an IFI and state this to the Bank in their response to the Invitation for Expressions of Interest. To the extent that a consultant incurs input VAT on goods and services purhcased in connection with the provision of services (e.g. VAT on airline ticket) which is not otherwise recoverable by the consultant from the local tax authority, the gross cost to the consultant of such expenses shall be treated as a reimbursable expense.

Funding Source: It is anticipated that the contract will be financed through the EBRD Shareholder Special Fund.

Eligibility: There are no eligibility restrictions.

Consultant Profile: Corporate services are required. The consultant will be a specialist advisory firm with extensive experience in monitoring complex construction projects in the rail sector. Experience of monitoring projects in comparable locations would also be beneficial.

The consultant's core team shall be composed of experts with a mix of international experience in the following areas:

• Project Manager
• Railway Engineer
• EHSS Expert
• Procurement/Contract Expert

Submission Requirements: In order to determine the capability and experience of consultants to be shortlisted, the information submitted should include the following:

(a) brief overview of the firm/group of firms including company profile, organisation and staffing;

(b) details of similar experience of firm or group of firms and related assignments undertaken in the previous five years, including information on contract value, contracting entity/client, project location/country, duration (mm/yy to mm/yy), expert months provided, assignment budget, percentage carried out by consultant in case of association of firms or subcontracting, main activities, objectives;

(c) CVs of key experts who could carry out the Assignment detailing qualifications, experience in similar assignments, particularly assignments undertaken in the previous five years, including information on contracting entity/client, project location/country, duration (mm/yy to mm/yy), expert months provided, assignment budget, main activities, objectives.

(d) Completed Consultant Declaration and Contact Sheet, the template for which is available from the following web-link:

http://www.ebrd.com/pages/workingwithus/procurement/notices/csu/contact_sheet.doc

The expression of interest shall not exceed 15 pages (excluding CVs and Consultant Declaration / Contact Sheet).

Expressions of Interest should be submitted, in English, electronically through eSelection, to reach the Bank not later than the closing date.

The EBRD's Contact Person:

Elena Kolodiy

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

One Exchange Square

London EC2A 2JN

E-mail: kolodiyo@ebrd.com (expressions of interest shall be sent via eSelection and NOT to this email address)

Note:

1. The selection will normally be made from responses to this notification only. Consultants will not be asked to submit a proposal. The highest-ranked consultant will be selected from a shortlist and be invited to negotiate the contract, subject to availability of funding.
2. Expressions of interested will be evaluated against the following criteria:

• Firm's experience in monitoring the implementation of projects of similar size and scope in comparable locations, preferably in the rail sector – 50%
• Calibre of CVs and team composition in line with the procurement notice – 50%