Belarus (TCS 32029): Municipal Environmental Infrastructure (MEI) Framework Facility - Project Management Support including Detailed Design, Procurement and Engineering Supervision

Executing/Contracting Agencies (Clients):

The Clients for this Assignment will be the Water Companies of Vitebsk, Baranovichi, Slonim, Grodno and Brest.

Assignment Description:

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the Bank or EBRD) has set up a Municipal Environmental Infrastructure (MEI) Framework Facility for Belarus (the Facility) comprising a sovereign loan of up to EUR 30 million for secondary cities to finance wastewater treatment, power production from biogas in wastewater treatment plants and other municipal services (the Sub-Projects). The Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) is considering co-financing the Facility with a sovereign loan of up to EUR 25 million. The loan is subject to approval by NIB's Board of Directors. The EBRD and NIB (together the Lenders) will have separate loan agreements with the Government of Belarus. The Facility will also consist of capital grant funds from the Northern Dimension Environmental Partnership (NDEP) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). The participating municipalities are Vitebsk, Baranovichi, Slonim, Grodno and Brest (the Participating Municipalities). The investments were identified following discussions with the Ministry of Housing and Communal Services of Belarus and the Participating Municipalities and following an identification mission commissioned by the NIB in 2009 and funded by Sida. The Participating Municipalities were identified based on selection criteria covering maximum environmental impact, downstream effects for rivers reaching the Baltic Sea, local prioritisation, and energy conservation. Further beneficiaries will be the Water Companies of Vitebsk, Grodno, Brest, Slonim and Baranovichi (each the Company or the Client, together the Companies or the Clients).

The planned Sub-Projects will cover general rehabilitation of water and wastewater facilities in Vitebsk, Grodno and Brest, and installation of equipment for generating, collecting and using biogas in Slonim and Baranovichi. The five identified Sub-Projects are expected to move into implementation simultaneously, which will facilitate the provision of consultancy advice covering all the Companies and the Cities.

Project Implementation Units (PIUs) will be established by each Client to manage, coordinate and monitor the Sub-Project's implementation and construction.

The Companies now intend to retain a consulting company (the Consultant) to ensure the timely and effective implementation of the Sub-Projects by providing advice and assistance for the successful implementation of such Sub-Projects, including preparation of Terms of Reference for additional services, design, technical specifications and tender documents (including environmental, health and safety requirements), tender evaluation, contracting, contract management and engineering supervision (the Assignment).

With the involvement of the Consultant, the Companies are expected to have access to the best practice in the implementation of Sub-Projects and procurement of works, including design, as well as advice on specific technical issues.

The Assignment will include the following main tasks to support each PIU to make them operational, and provide advice and training as follows:

(a) Management Support to the Companies to set up adequately staffed PIUs within their offices which will be authorised to conduct project implementation on behalf of the Companies.

(b) Review and finalise the Priority Investment Programmes (PIP), prepare implementation packages and update cost estimates. The Consultant shall review the five PIPs, compile them into implementation packages with a procurement plan, ensure all necessary approvals and update the cost estimates, all in close consultation with the Companies and to the acceptance of the EBRD.

(c) Prepare Terms of Reference, assist in procurement and monitor the implementation of other technical assistance components. The Consultant shall prepare the Terms of Reference and procurement documentation, assist in the evaluation of proposals, prepare contract documentation and assist in contracts closure for technical assistance services related to

(i) Hydraulic Modelling of the Water Distribution Systems in Brest and Grodno;

(ii) Industrial Effluent Study in Brest;

(iii) Leak Detection in Grodno;

(iv) Monitoring the implementation in a coordinated effort with the Companies concerned and their Corporate Development Consultant procured under TCS 32028.

(d) Design and prepare drawings and technical specifications for all components in the investment programmes to the extent required for local permits and suitability for international tendering. The Consultant shall prepare the design, technical specifications and a bill of quantities for all PIPs components to be financed in the Sub-projects.

(e) Prepare tender documents. The Consultant shall provide services in all aspects of the procurement strategy and execution of all stages of the procurement in accordance with the EBRD's Procurement Policies and Rules (PP&R) and/or the requirements of other financier(s).

(f) Assist in procurement and contracting. The Consultant shall provide support to the Companies throughout the procurement process and following the relevant Bank's 'no objection' the Evaluation Reports support the PIUs during contract finalisation.

(g) Provide contract and engineering supervision. The Consultant shall perform the duties of the Engineer/Project Manager or equivalent, as these may be attributable to, specified and/or implied by the works contracts financed under the Sub-Projects, in accordance with the laws, technical standards and construction norms and rules.

(i) Provide training to the PIUs in all aspects of project implementation.

Status of Selection Process: Interested firms or group of firms are hereby invited to submit expressions of interest.

Assignment Start Date and Duration: The Assignment is expected to start in June 2012 and has an estimated overall duration of 48 months.

Cost Estimate for the Assignment: Consultants invited to submit a proposal will have to prepare a financial offer based on the information provided in the Terms of Reference to be made available to shortlisted candidates.

The Consultant must determine whether any indirect taxes/VAT are chargeable on the proposed services and state the basis for such. If any indirect taxes/VAT are payable, the Client will have to pay indirect taxes/VAT element to the services directly to the Consultant unless otherwise agreed.

Funding Source: Sida-EBRD Municipal Environment and Climate Programme Fund (SWME)

Eligibility: There are no eligibility restrictions in terms of the nationality of firms or individual experts but the eligibility is restricted under specific circumstances as further defined in the section Important Notes below.

Consultant Profile: Corporate services are required. The Consultant will be a firm or a group of firms with:

(1) previous project experience related to municipal services (preferably water and waste-water) projects funded by International Finance Institutions (IFIs);

(2) previous project experience related to project management support including detailed design, procurement and engineering supervision preferably for municipal water companies;

(3) substantial previous project experience in countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

It is anticipated that the Consultant's team of key experts shall include the following international and local experts with short-term support as required in other disciplines:

(a) Project Coordinator;

(b) Project Managers for each Company;

(c) IFI Procurement and Contracts Specialists;

(d) Water and Wastewater Engineers, including engineers stationed at each PIU office;

(e) Environmental and Social Experts with past experience of IFI projects;

(f) Finance/Disbursement Specialists;

(g) Designers.

Team members shall have a minimum of 5 years experience of the activity which they are proposed for in a similar position preferably including (depending on their tasks):

(i) design and project management experience gained in countries with climatic conditions similar to the project sites;

(ii) construction and supply experience gained in countries with climatic conditions similar to the project sites;

(iii) experience in design of wastewater treatment and sludge management projects, knowledge of FIDIC and/or  IFI Works and Supply and Installation contractual arrangements;

(iv) experience in (1) planning and design activities; (2) project management; (3) project management assistance; (4) engineering; (5) procurement of goods, works and services; (6) environmental and social reporting, as appropriate to their position;

(v) good knowledge of procedures and rules of procurement of international financial institutions, such as the World Bank or EBRD;

(vi) good knowledge and understanding of the EBRD's Environmental and Social Performance Requirements.

All international specialists must be fluent in English. Knowledge of Russian is an advantage. Where Consultant staff is not fluent in Russian, full-time translation and interpretation must be provided for by the Consultant at its own costs.

Consultants are encouraged to associate with/sub-contract local consultants with a thorough knowledge of the requirements of the Belarusian legislation and permit requirements, design, construction, financial and accounting issues and holding all required licences and other required permits to carry out their duties in Belarus. Due to the geographic nature of the Assignment it is expected that several local consultants will be required to provide local engineering services at each Sub-Project location.

When cooperating with local partner firms Consultants are advised to pay attention of the specific requirements and restrictions as per section 5.5 (b) of the EBRD Procurement Policies and Rules (PP&R).

The EBRD's PP&R are available at:

http://www.ebrd.com/pages/research/publications/policies/procurement.shtml

Submission Requirements: In order to determine the capability and experience of Consultants seeking 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 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 20 pages (excluding CVs and contact sheet).

One original, two hard copies and one electronic copy of the expression of interest, in English and in Russian, shall be submitted to the Client's Contact Person in Belarus in an envelope marked

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR BELARUS (TCS 32029): MEI FRAMEWORK FACILITY - PROJECT MANAGEMENT SUPPORT INCLUDING DETAILED DESIGN, PROCUREMENT AND ENGINEERING SUPERVISION,

to reach the above stated Client's Contact person not later than 15 March 2012 at 17:00 (Minsk time).

One further hard and electronic copy shall be submitted to the EBRD's contact person by the same due date.

Important Notes:

1. Following this invitation for expressions of interest, a shortlist of qualified firms will be formally invited to submit proposals. Consultant selection and contracting will be subject to availability of funding.

2. Contracting entities are the 5 Companies. Accordingly, the selected Consultant shall conclude five individual contracts with the 5 Clients.

3. The EBRD and the Participating Cities are conducting (partly) parallel selection processes for related consultancy assignments as follows:

(a) Belarus (TCS 32028) - MEI Framework Facility - Corporate Development and City/Regional Support Programmes for the Cities/Regions of Vitebsk, Brest, Grodno, Slonim and Baranovichi and their Water Companies; and

(b) Belarus (TCS 33368) - Municipal Environmental Infrastructure (MEI) Framework Facility - Facility Monitor.

Consultants may apply for all three assignments (TCS 33368, 32028 and 32029), but any Consultant invited to negotiate one contract will not be eligible to implement any other related assignment. Nevertheless, Consultants are encouraged to participate in two or all three procurements. In the event that the first-ranked firm for one assignment is also ranked first in the selection process for a(n) additional assignment(s) that firm will be offered the choice to negotiate for either of the concerned assignment(s).

4. Shortlisting Criteria plus Weights are:

(a) Firm/group of firms' previous project experience related to municipal services (preferably water and waste-water) projects funded by International Finance Institutions (IFIs), preferably in in countries of Central and Eastern Europe - 25%

(b) Firm/group of firms' previous project experience related to project management support including detailed design, procurement and engineering supervision preferably for municipal water companies, preferably in in countries of Central and Eastern Europe - 25%

(c) CV of Project Coordinator/Team Leader with previous professional experience related to areas as described under criteria (a) and (b) - 10%

(d) CVs of Project Managers for each of the 5 Clients with previous professional experience related to areas as described under criteria (a) and (b) - 20%

(e) CVs for Pool of Additional Experts (IFI Procurement and Contracts Specialists, Water and Wastewater Engineers, including engineers stationed at each PIU office, Environmental and Social Experts with past experience of IFI projects, Finance/Disbursement Specialists, Designers) - 20%

CVs would be evaluated taking the specific requirements as above (if any) and the following into account:

Experts shall have a minimum of 5 years experience of the activity which they are proposed for in a similar position preferably including (depending on their tasks):

(i) design and project management experience gained in countries with climatic conditions similar to the project sites;

(ii) construction and supply experience gained in countries with climatic conditions similar to the project sites;

(iii) experience in design of wastewater treatment and sludge management projects, knowledge of FIDIC and/or  IFI Works and Supply and Installation contractual arrangements;

(iv) experience in (1) planning and design activities; (2) project management; (3) project management assistance; (4) engineering; (5) procurement of goods, works and services; (6) environmental and social reporting, as appropriate to their position;

(v) good knowledge of procedures and rules of procurement of international financial institutions, such as the World Bank or EBRD;

(vi) good knowledge and understanding of the EBRD's Environmental and Social Performance Requirements.

All international specialists must be fluent in English. Knowledge of Russian is an advantage

CONTACTS

The Client's Contact Person in Belarus:

Natasha Alexandrova

Banking Assistant

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

34A Engelsa Street, Building 2

220030 Minsk, Belarus

Tel: +375 (17) 2104787

Fax: +375 17 328 35 22

Email: alexandn@ebrd.com

The Client's contact person in Belarus is co-ordinating the procurement process on behalf of the Clients. However the Clients are exclusively responsible for the evaluation of expressions of interest and proposals and selecting the Consultant.

The EBRD's Contact Person:

Martin Ehrenberg

Senior Advisor

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

One Exchange Square

London EC2A 2JN

Tel: + 44 20 7338 7657

Fax: +44 20 7338 7451

E-mail:  EhrenbeM@ebrd.com