Urban Water Supply and Wastewater Project: Development of Environmental and Social Safeguard Documents

Project ID: P119077
Borrower/Bid No: MOC-2C.02

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam ("the Recipient") has received an Additional Financing from the International Development Association (IDA) toward the cost of the Urban Water Supply and Wastewater Project, and intends to apply part of the proceeds to eligible payments under a contract for consulting services for development of environmental and social safeguard documents (Package No. MOC-2C.02) for the preparation of the proposed Mekong Regional Water Security Project ("the Project") which is being considered for financing support from the World Bank.

A regional / inter-provincial bulk water supply scheme (the Scheme) is being proposed for the seven provinces southwest of the Hau river in the Mekong Delta, namely the provinces of An Giang, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau, Kien Giang and the city of Can Tho. The Scheme is likely to comprise, among others, drinking water production and inter-provincial transmission to supply provincial off-takers. The Scheme is expected to be undertaken in phases. The Project, comprising a priority subset of the larger Scheme, has been proposed to undertake the first phase of the Scheme.

The consulting services required under Package MOC-2C.02 include the development of environmental and social safeguards assessments and their related safeguards documents (assessments, frameworks and plans) for the Scheme and the project. The Services will be completed within 14 months.  The Consultant is expected to perform and accomplish a full range of related environmental and social safeguard assessments, and provide the following key documents, among other things:

1. For the Scheme:
*Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF)
*Resettlement policy Framework (RPF);
*Ethnic Minorities Policy Framework (EMPF);
*Social Assessment (SA).
2. For site-specific subprojects / project activities under the Project:
*Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)
*Site specific and standardized Environmental Management Plans (EMPs);
*Environmental Code of Practice (ECOPs);
*Ethnic Minority Development Plans (EMDPs);
*Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs);

As background information, it should be noted that an early environmental and social screening exercise indicates that the project may trigger the World Bank's safeguards policies on, but not limited to, i) OP 4.01 – Environmental Assessment; ii) OP 4.12 – Involuntary Resettlement; iii) OP 4.10 – Indigenous Peoples; iv) OP 4.11 – Physical Cultural Resources; and v) OP 4.04 Natural Habitats. Also, Vietnam's relevant regulatory and legislative frameworks will need to be reviewed and compared with World Bank's safeguard requirements, and gaps and deviations identified. In doing so, not only relevant official law but also good practices related to the safeguards in question will need to be assessed for incorporation into the Project. 

It should also be noted that a parallel consulting service: MOC-2C.01: Consulting Services for Project Feasibility Studies, Detailed Engineering Design, Cost Estimates, Bidding Documents, and Institutional Development for the Scheme and Project is being procured under a separate contract. It is expected that the consultants for both consulting services will cooperate with one another during their respective assignments. The outputs to be achieved from both assignments are expected to provide full and complementary data to develop integrated Project investment studies that meet World Bank's and Vietnam's technical, environmental, social, institutional, and sustainability requirements.

The Management Board of Technical Infrastructure Development Projects [under the Administration of Technical Infrastructure – Ministry of Construction] 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 (i) Specific experience in similar assignments, including wide experience in advisory and technical assistance services supporting environmental and social assessment and management as well as health and safety risk management planning for very large infrastructure projects; (ii) general experience in advisory services for multilateral development bank safeguard policies in ODA-funded projects (relevant experience in the water sector would be a plus); and iii) experience in the region (knowledge of national environmental and social safeguards requirements would be a plus). 

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank's Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants by World Bank Borrowers [January 2011, revised July 2014] ("Consultant Guidelines"), setting forth the World Bank's policy on conflict of interest. 

To enhance their qualifications, Consultants may associate with other firms in the form of a joint venture or a subconsultancy. Consultants are required to clearly indicate the form of their associations (joint venture or subconsultancy) in their expressions of interest. In case of joint venture, all members shall be jointly and severally liable for execution of the contract. 

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Bank's Quality- and Cost-Based Selection (QCBS) method set out in the Consultant Guidelines. 

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours from 8:00 – 11:00 and 14:00 – 16:30 local time.

Expressions of interest must be prepared in the English language, and delivered in the original and four copies and in a written form to the address below in person, or by mail or email by June 12, 2017 on or before 16:30 Hanoi time zone (UTC+07:00). 

Management Board of Technical Infrastructure Development Projects [Administration of Technical Infrastructure – Ministry of Construction]
Attn: Ms. Tran Thi Ngoc Thanh, Acting Director
37 Le Dai Hanh Street, Hanoi, Vietnam
Tel: (84-4) 38215429
Fax: (84-4) 38215428
E-mail: dactn@hn.vnn.vn