LOAN-6032 PNG: Transport Sector Preparatory Project - TSPPCS-18 Preparation of Feasibility Studies and Detailed Engineering Designs for Two Bridges for the Proposed Sustainable Highlands Region Core Road Network Project (53325-001)

LOAN-6032 PNG: Transport Sector Preparatory Project - TSPPCS-18 Preparation of Feasibility Studies and Detailed Engineering Designs for Two Bridges for the Proposed Sustainable Highlands Region Core Road Network Project (53325-001)

Date Published: 30-Nov-2023

Deadline of Submitting EOI: 14-Dec-2023 11:59 PM Manila local time

SELECTION PROFILE

Consultant Type: Firm

Selection Method: Quality and Cost-Based Selection (QCBS)

Selection Title: Transport Sector Preparatory Project

Package Number: TSPPCS-18

Package Name: Preparation of Feasibility Studies and Detailed Engineering Designs for Two Bridges for the Proposed Sustainable Highlands Region Core Road Network Project

Engagement Period: 4MONTH

Consulting Services Budget: USD 258,851

Source: International

Technical Proposal: Simplified Technical Proposal (STP)

Approval Number: 6032

Approval Date: 07-Aug-2020

Estimated Commencement Date: 18-Dec-2023

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Country of assignment: Papua New Guinea

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Primary Expertise: civil engineering, bridge design, highway engineering

TOR Keywords: civil engineering, bridge design, highway engineering

Objective and Purpose of the Assignment

The government of Papua New Guinea (GoPNG) has requested the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) support to continue the improvements of the Highlands region core road network (HCRN). The Sustainable Highlands Region Core Road Network Project (SHRCRNP) is being prepared to finance such improvements and other related activities. The SHRCRNP will be a continuation of the Highlands Region Road Improvement Investment Program (HRRIIP) which has improved 347 kilometers (km) of road sections in the same network. The HRRIIP has been closed in June 2020. As both GoPNG and ADB are paying increasing attention to readiness of the projects to be approved, it has been agreed that the project readiness financing (PRF), which is a stand-alone loan, will be used to finance the feasibility study, detailed design, procurement support and other capacity development activities to ensure high project readiness upon approval of the SHRCRNP. GoPNG in this context has initially requested ADB to finance rehabilitation of 17 roads. Out of these 17 roads, the design and due diligence for five roads have been prepared to some extent and GoPNG has now requested ADB (i) to prepare a loan for these five top priority roads with a target loan approval in 2024, (ii) support Department of Works and Highways (DOWH), the executing agency, to update and finalize the existing designs and due diligence to make them design-ready and implementation-ready upon approval, and (iii) to prepare a loan for 12 remaining roads with a target loan approval in 2024 (SHRCRNP, Phase 2). These Terms of Reference (TOR) cover preparation of detailed engineering design activities for two major bridges located on the five project roads as per Section D, below. The road designs, small bridges and social and environmental safeguards studies are being finalized by the DOWH’s engineering team and ADB’s TA resources. Services of this assignment will be financed through the PRF.

Rural accessibility is low and road infrastructure is in poor condition in Highlands contributing to high transport cost, inadequate connectivity, and lack of income opportunities and restraining the vast economic development potential in the region. Project roads are important links to connect rural communities to the Highlands Highway which is the backbone of the network serving about 3 million people in the seven provinces of the Highlands region, and connecting the region to the country’s largest maritime gateway, the port of Lae. As about 90% of the labor force in the region works in the agriculture and natural resources sector, expanding people’s access to market opportunities and social services through improving transport network is critical to reducing poverty and income inequality. A separate social and poverty component is being prepared to enhance the socio-economic and poverty benefits of improved transportation through physical and non- physical interventions relevant to communities along the project roads.The main objectives of the assignment are (i) to identify the preferred solutions to improve the project bridges on the basis of a thorough technical, environmental, social and economic analysis and appraisal; and (ii) to prepare detailed project reports and engineering designs and cost estimates/analysis for rehabilitation and upgrading of the project bridges. Considering the existing poor condition of the project bridges, it is likely that bridges need to re-designed as new.A consulting firm (the Consultant) will be recruited to help the GoPNG to prepare the necessary studies and bridge designs to help GoPNG and ADB to prepare the project ready for implementation.