CANCELLED: Urban Development Support Project: Investments Identification, Feasibility and Design Studies for Priority Sub project

Afghanistan - P147147 - URBAN DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT PROJECT - MUDH/UDSP/C-4/CS-13/QCBS

Country: Afghanistan

Project Id: P147147

Project Name: URBAN DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT PROJECT

Loan/Credit/TF Info.: IDA-D1910

Notice Version No.: 1

General Information

Contact Information on Advertisement

Detailed Information for Advertisement

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTANTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION) 

Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Urban Development Support Project (UDSP), Ministry of Urban Development & Housing

IDA Grant No.: TF0A3425

Project ID No.:  P147147 

Assignment Title: Hiring of consulting services firm for Feasibility Study and Detailed Engineering Design for Priority Projects. 

Procurement Plan Reference No: MUDH/UDSP/C-4/CS-13/QCBS 

1. Project Background:

BACKGROUND

A Country characterized by rapid urbanization.  Afghanistan is a rapidly urbanizing low income developing country. Average population growth of over 4 percent annually is bringing severe urban management challenges to city officials and national policy makers alike.  A combination of natural population growth, persistent rural-urban in-migration, and an influx of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), compounds the challenge of managing the country's capital -- Kabul -- which was planned for 800,000 but now exceeds 5 million.   As a result, over 70% of the city's housing is informal, with large areas of the city lacking basic access to infrastructure, i.e. roads, water and sanitation and other amenities essential for a livable city.  The challenges are even more pressing in the country's regional provincial centers (Herat, Mazar-i-Sharif, Jalalabad, and Kandahar) where population growth is persistent but resources are increasingly constrained as cities attempt to address growing demands of residents. 

Legal character of the national and subnational levels of government.  The Republic of Afghanistan is established on the basis of a unitary state.  As such, all tiers of government are linked in various ways, i.e. relating primarily to planning and budgetary aspects.  Ministry of Urban Development and Housing (MUDH) is assigned the primary policy making role for the sector (particularly in urban planning and housing), but also shares responsibilities with other institutions, including Independent Directorate for Local Governance (IDLG), ARAZI (Land Authority), among other agencies.  The regulatory and implementation role for spatial planning falls under MUDH's mandate at the national level and to municipalities at the local level.   These functions and relationships are under discussion today around two draft documents -- a new Urban Development Law and a new Municipal Law.  As, such the legal and regulatory environment is fluid and evolving and presents a key challenge in moving forward in the sector.   Recognizing the importance of urban policy to the country's future development, a Higher Council for Urban Development (HCUD), chaired by the President and comprised of several key national level agencies, was formed in 2017 to coordinate urban policy across a range of agencies in Afghanistan.  

Role of subnational governments.  Turning to Afghanistan's sub-national sector, the Afghan Constitution (2004) Article #141 empowers municipalities to:  administer Urban Governance , Service delivery and Infrastructure, Revenue Enhancement & Economic Development and Capacity Building affairs and assume responsibility over public services that are best planned, produced and delivered at the local level; lead public participation by "linking bottom up and top-down planning,"; and raise and spend own source revenues for service delivery.  There are 165 municipalities in Afghanistan who report to and coordinate with the Independent Directorate of Local Governance at the national level.  Of these, there are 33 provincial municipality centers.   Kabul, as the nation's capital, has a distinct status, reporting directly to the President and with a number of other responsibilities and benefits accorded to Kabul in its special status.  

Afghanistan's Urban Policy Agenda.  For its part, GOA has devoted considerable attention in recent years to improving urban policies and municipal implementation capacity, recognizing that without such attention and support, cities will become even less livable and economically dependent on the national government rather than drivers of economic growth.  Accordingly, GOA has formulated a new Urban National Priority Program (U-NPP) in 2016 which focuses on critical areas of policy and institutional reforms.  U-NPP has three pillars and four flagship actions, as follows: 

The three pillars:

• Pillar 1:  Strengthened Urban Governance and Institutions
• Pillar 2:  Adequate Housing and Basic Urban Services for All Afghans
• Pillar 3:  Strengthened Urban Economy and Infrastructure 

The four flagship actions:

• Flagship Action 1:  Municipal Development Program and Legislative Reform
• Flagship Action 2:  Cities for All (Urban Land Registration)
• Flagship Action 3:  National Housing Program
• Flagship Action 4:  City Regions Economic Development Program

Objectives of the Assignment 

The Urban Development Support Project (UDSP), financed through a World Bank grant to the purpose of this assignment is to undertake the feasibility and engineering design study packages for UDSP Priority Projects (PPs) as proposed by the 5 PCCs. The PPs have been reviewed by independent consultants and cleared by the World Bank as being compliant with the terms and conditions stipulated in the UDSP.   (See Annex 1 for the menu of allowable project types).  Broadly, these projects consist of quick-win, easy to implement, small scale repair, rehabilitation and new construction (within a limited footprint) municipal infrastructure and/or facilities that generally range in value between USD 200,000 and USD 400,000. Whereas, one project could be over $ 1 million and two projects of over $ 500,000 of value. They are expected to have minimal (if any) negative environmental or social impact (only World Bank Environmental Category B and C classified Projects will be eligible for financing). 

The qualified consultant will be required to prepare feasibility studies for all subprojects.  Work will be carried out over a 18-month period in two work phases.  Phase 1, to be completed by September 2018, will require the completion of between 25 and 50 project packages (depending on the feasibility cost estimate), or 20 percent of the total number of Priority Projects. Phase 2, which will be conclude thereafter and within a period of 14 months, will consist of packages for the remaining 80 percent of Priority Projects (between 100 and 200 projects).  The feasibility studies will cover technical, economic, financial, environmental and social assessments. For each project, a feasibility report will evaluate project alternatives.

The short listing criteria are:

• The consultant shall demonstrate having sound financial situation and capacity by submitting financial audit report with annual turnover of at least US$ 3,000,000.00 for any of the last 3 years (2014, 2015 & 2016);
• The consultant should have been in similar business for the least last (5) years. The consultant shall also provide proven experiences of having executed at least two (2) contracts of similar nature, each with the value of minimum US$ 1,800,000.00. 
• Organizational Structure & Manpower with qualifications, technical and professional competence necessary for successful implementation of the assignment.
• Work Experience of similar nature in developing countries, outline country/Regional Experience.

Eligibility requirements in compliance with paragraphs 1.11, 1.12 & 1.13 of the World Bank’s Guidelines for Selection & Employment of Consultants, January 2011 – Revised July 2014. The consultants should also provide a copy of the certification of incorporation/ business license.

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.  In addition, please refer to the following information on conflict of interest related to this assignment as per paragraph 1.9 of Consultant Guidelines: Bank policy requires that consultants provide professional, objective and impartial advice and at all times hold the client’s interest paramount, without any consideration for future work, and that in providing advice they avoid conflicts with other assignments and their own corporate interests. Consultants shall not be hired for any assignment that would be in conflict with their prior or current obligations to other clients, or that may place them in a position of being unable to carry out the assignment in the best interest of the Borrower. The Guidelines are available at   www.worldbank.org/ .

• Consultants may associate with other firms in the form of a joint venture or a sub-consultancy to enhance their qualifications. If consultants intend to associate with other firms, they are advised to clearly identify the lead partner and state the composition and nature of the association (JV/ sub-consultant) in their EOI

In case the EOI is submitted in form of JV, each partner in the association shall meet the requirements defined in Para.3 above, under the short listing criteria. However, the short listing criteria will not be applied and considered for sub-consultant.

• A consultant will be selected though Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) in accordance with the procedures set out in the World Bank's Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers dated January 2011, Revised July 2014. 

• Interested consultants could obtain further information at the address given below between 09:00 to 16:00 hours Afghanistan Time. 

Expressions of interest, must be delivered in a written form to the address given below (in person, by email or by mail) by February 26, 2018, 15:00 Hrs (Afghanistan Local Time) duly quoting the case’s reference number i.e. MUDH/UDSP/C-4/CS-13/QCBS 

Attention:

Attention: Abdul Sami Abduraheemzay, Project Director Urban Development Support Project Office, Ministry of Urban Development and Housing, 3rd Macrorayan, Opposite to Govt. Printing Press Kabul, Afghanistan.

Email: aminzoy.udsp.mudh@gmail.com copy to procurement@mudh.gov.af

Cell phone Nos.: +93 (0)785 814 620