UPDATE: Rural Economy Development Project: Conservation of the Yamchun Fortress: Feasibility study and detailed design of Yamchun Fortress in GBAO region

Tajikistan - P168326 - Rural Economy Development Project - REDP-CS-QBS-2

Country: Tajikistan

Project Id: P168326

Project Name: Rural Economy Development Project

Loan/Credit/TF Info.: IDA-D4980

Notice Version No.: 0

General Information

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REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)

Country: TAJIKISTAN

Project: Rural Economy Development Project (REDP)

Grant No.: IDA D498

Assignment Title: Design and Supervise Interventions for the Conservation, Rehabilitation, and Management of the Yamchun Fortress in Tajikistan

Reference No. (as per Procurement Plan): REDP-CS-QBS-2

The Republic of Tajikistan has received financing from the World Bank for a Rural Economy Development Project (REDP).[1] The REDP includes investment in the Yamchun Fortress (see Annex 1 for more details) in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO) to support local tourism and generate economic opportunities for local populations through the design and implementation of improved conservation, presentation, and management measures for the fortress. Possible interventions include structural stabilization, conservation of walls and towers, development of pedestrian access to the fortress, and other measures to enhance the site’s presentation to tourists. Yamchun Fortress and similar sites in Tajikistan have been placed on the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Tentative List for potential nomination as World Heritage Sites, and all works should be conducted according to UNESCO guidelines.

In this assignment, the REDP Project Implementation Unit (PIU) seeks to recruit a dedicated consulting firm ("the Consultant") to: (i) conduct a comprehensive diagnostic campaign to assess the current state of the fortress and identify the scope of work needed to achieve its conservation (according to sound principles of restoration and preservation), improved presentation for tourists, and sustainable management as a heritage and tourist attraction; and (ii) supervise the construction and renovation work to ensure quality standards and compliance with the scope of work identified in the diagnostic campaign. Renovation and construction works are not part of this contract.

The assignment is expected to be carried out in two phases for a total duration of five years.  Given the nature of the work, the firm should expect to spend most time working onsite at the Yamchun fortress, especially during the first phase of the assignment.

1. Phase I – Diagnostic Campaign

Conduct of a detailed assessment of the fortress and its surroundings according to international best practices. Based on the topographic survey of the site provided by the PIU, the selected Consultant is expected to perform a detailed assessment of the site, including all existing structures and covering both structural and surface decay. The Consultant will detail recommended interventions for each category of decay. The surveys must also include land morphology for the area surrounding the fortress and an assessment of structural behavior.

Preparation of a feasibility study that includes engineering design options for the conservation, presentation, and management of the fortress based on the findings of the assessment. The Consultant is expected to present options for the rehabilitation of the fortress in line with the International Charters on Cultural Heritage Conservation and Management, following principles of reversibility and minimal invasiveness. Reconstruction should be avoided entirely, with priority given to consolidating existing structures, adopting traditional materials and traditional techniques, and reducing conditions of decay.

Support to the preparation of bidding documents for rehabilitation activities. Once a rehabilitation option has been selected and approved by the PIU, the Consultant is expected to prepare a detailed bill of quantities, technical specifications, and any other technical documentation needed to launch the procurement process for the works to be carried out.

1. Phase II - Rehabilitation Supervision

Handover to the company/institution that will carry out the renovation works. This phase involves an onsite handover of the work plan to the company/institution recruited to carry out the conservation and rehabilitation works. During the handover, the Consultant and the company/institution recruited to carry out the renovation works will go over the outputs produced in Phase I and are expected to prepare mock-ups for the renovation work jointly.

Supervision of the renovation works. Once the implementation of the renovation works begins, the Consultant is expected to carry out periodic onsite visits to supervise the work. 

The PIU now invites eligible firms/institutions to indicate their interest in this assignment. Given the historical and cultural value of the site, only specialized institutions—including not-for-profit institutions with experience in the renovation of historical artifacts—are strongly encouraged to apply. Interested firms/institutions should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the assignment

The shortlisting criteria are as follows: (i) a multidisciplinary team with demonstrated expertise in heritage preservation, landscape and landscape identity, and participatory approaches; (ii) a thorough understanding of and experience in applying international best practices and modern heritage renovation technologies in UNESCO World Heritage Sites; (iii) demonstration of on-the-ground experience in conducting diagnostic reviews in a remote area of Tajikistan; and (iv) experience working on related programs and projects in Tajikistan, the Commonwealth of Independent States, Central Asia, and the Caucasus, and in performing similar assignments for projects financed by international financial institutions will be an advantage. Key experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage.

Firms/institutions may associate with other firms/institutions to enhance their qualifications but should indicate clearly whether the association is in the form of a joint venture and/or a sub-consultancy. In the case of a joint venture, all partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected.

The firm/institution will be selected in accordance with the “Quality Based Selection – QBS” method set out in the World Bank Procurement Regulations.

A detailed Terms of Reference, further detailing the content of this Request for Expression of Interest, will be shared with the shortlisted Consultants.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours from 08:00 to 17:00 (Dushanbe time).

Expressions of interest must be delivered in written form to the address below (in person or by mail, fax, or e-mail) by 20:00 (Dushanbe time) October 04, 2019 to:

State Institution “Project Implementation Unit for Access to Green and Rural Development Finance” (SI AGF RDF) under the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Tajikistan

Attn.: Mr. Parviz Negmatov, Procurement Specialist

3 Academician Rajabovs Anevue, Dushanbe, Tajikistan, 734025

Tel: (+992 37) 221-02-34

Fax: (+992-37) 221-67-43

E-mail: p.negmatov@greenfinance.tj

Website: www.greenfinance.tj

Annex 1. Information Yamchun Fortress

The Yamchun Fortress, located in the Wakhan corridor, is one of Tajikistan’s premier tourist attractions. The site offers a confluence of extraordinary natural beauty and cultural heritage, featuring panoramic views over the Wakhan Corridor and the Panj River as well as insights into the history of the Silk Road and Marco Polo’s journey into Asia. It is on UNESCO’s Tentative List for nomination as a World Heritage Site. The fortress dates to the 3rd to 1st century BC. Designed in the form of a triangle, the citadel is fortified by nine round towers with slit-like loopholes. The foundations of the walls and towers are built of stone masonry with clay mortar. The upper part is built of adobe bricks. According to some historians, there was a Zoroastrian temple of eternal fire within the fortress—a conjecture that, though plausible, is yet to be confirmed.

Along with the impressiveness of the fortress, Yamchun’s location recommends itself as part of a local touristic hub. The Pamir Mountains are one of Tajikistan’s most popular tourist zones, and according to a World Bank survey, the most common destination for tourists in GBAO. It is close to other attractions as well, including Bibi Fatima, a spring rehabilitated by the Agha Khan Foundation. The Yamchun Fortress has the potential to become a prime tourist anchor for the country and to generate income and jobs for the local community. The fortress is currently in an advanced state of decay, however, and lacks the amenities necessary to provide visitors with a satisfying tourist experience. Investments are needed to bring the site up to its potential, and to both sustain and commercialize it to attract more tourism spending.

[1] http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/549701561341661821/pdf/Tajikistan-Rural-Economy-Development-Project.pdf