Assignment Description: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the EBRD or the Bank) intends assisting its Financial Intermediaries (FIs) to develop and implement environmental and social procedures which will allow them to take into account environmental, health and safety, labour, gender and social issues associated with their businesses (the Assignment). The Bank intends to engage consulting firms (the Consultants) through non-exclusive framework agreements (up to 2 framework agreements are envisaged).
The objective of the training programme is to assess EBRD partner FI's current risk management approach and provide guidance and training in implementing the EBRD's environmental and social requirements using the supporting tools available to help manage the environmental and social issues associated with on-lending and investment operations.
Consultants are expected to be mobilised at short notice for provision of specific assignments (Call-Off notices). Budgets for individual assignments are anticipated to be, typically, in the region of between GBP 30,000 and GBP 50,000 depending on location and number of FIs to be trained.
It is anticipated that specific Assignment will usually include some or most of the following tasks:
- Raise environmental and social awareness and commitment within FIs;
- Adopt environmental and social (E&S) procedures using the EBRD's generic electronic manual on environmental and social risk management (E-manual);
- Develop/update tools to assist in the implementation of the environmental and social procedures; and
- Train FI staff in their use.
The work must be carried out in close collaboration with key staff within the FIs, who should be involved at all stages of individual assignments. A key aim is to ensure that the results of environmental and social capacity-building are long-lasting within the target financial institutions. The training of a broad range of staff (including, where possible, the training units of the FIs) is therefore required. The environmental and social training must focus, not only on the narrow issues of risk management per se, but highlight the opportunities for environmental and social improvements to be realised with existing clients as new business opportunities.
Assignment Duration: Framework Agreements are expected to be effective in April 2015, for a duration of 12 months, with the possibility of extension subject to availability of funding and satisfactory performance of Consultants.
Cost Estimate for the Assignment: GBP 800,000; exclusive of VAT.
The Consultant must determine whether any VAT would be chargeable on the services and the basis for that determination, without taking into consideration the Bank's special status as an IFI and state this to the Bank in their response to the Invitation for Expressions of Interest. To the extent that a Consultant incurs input VAT on goods and services purchased in connection with the provision of services (e.g. VAT on airline ticket) which is not otherwise recoverable by the consultant from the local tax authority, the gross cost to the consultant of such expenses shall be treated as a reimbursable expense.
Funding Source: EBRD's own resources.
Eligibility: There are no eligibility restrictions.
Consultant Profile: Corporate services are required. The Consultants will either be multi-disciplinary firms or consortia of companies that can demonstrate the range of skills required. Firms expressing their interest should demonstrate that they have the relevant expertise and proven experience in the following areas:
- Experience of working with International Financial Institutions;
- Detailed understanding of the EBRD's E&S Performance Requirements for Financial Institutions;
- Experience of advising Financial Institutions on environmental and social risk management issues associated with a range of clients funding transactions;
- Experience of undertaking E&S due diligence for the financial services sector;
- Experience of providing training for FIs on environment, health and safety and social issues;
- A good grasp of issues such as social, cultural heritage, labour, gender and health and safety; and
- Experience of working in the EBRD's countries of operation is essential.
Submission Requirements: Interested firms are hereby invited to submit Expressions of Interest. A short list of qualified firms will be formally invited to submit proposals following this invitation. In order to determine the capability and experience of consulting firms seeking to be shortlisted, the information submitted shall include the following (maximum 5-10 pages):
- company profile, organisation and staffing;
In the case of associations between firms or individuals, please include the name, address and profile of the participating firm(s). The lead firm must be clearly identified;
- details of experience or similar assignments undertaken in the previous five years, including their locations; focus on your role in similar assignments in the Former Soviet Union/Central and Eastern Europe, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia.
- CVs of key staff who could be available to work on the assignments - at this stage summary CVs are preferred.
- Completed Declaration of Impartiality and 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 above information should not exceed 10 pages excluding CVs.
Expressions of Interest should be submitted in English electronically through eSelection to reach the Bank not later than the closing date.
EBRD contact person:
James Yoo
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
1 Exchange Square
London EC2A 2JN
United Kingdom
Email: YooJ@ebrd.com
Telephone: + 44 207 338 6369
Note:
1. Following this invitation for Expressions of Interest, a shortlist of qualified consultants will be formally invited to submit proposals. Shortlisting and selection will be subject to the availability of funding.
2. The following evaluation criteria apply for the shortlisting of consultants:
- Firm's expertise and proven experience in environmental and social risk management issues associated with financial institutions - 20%
- Firm's expertise and proven experience of issues such as social, cultural heritage, labour, gender and health and safety - 20%
- Firm's experience of working in EBRD's countries of operation - 15%
- Firm's experience of working with International Financial Institutions - 20%
- Calibre of CVs - 25%
