Assignment Description:
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the EBRD or the Bank) is committed to helping its countries of operations develop forest management systems that are efficient, safe and environmentally and socially sustainable. In recent years the Bank has financed investments in forest industry companies in Central and Eastern Europe, and is currently considering new projects in this sector. The predictable availability of sustainable long-term wood supply, ideally certified against international wood procurement standards such as Forest Stewardship Council or Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification , is a key prerequisite for these investments for both sponsors and financiers.
The Bank ensures that the highest environmental and social standards are applied to its investments. There are a number of challenges associated with forest management, such as sustainable harvesting, regeneration, afforestation of suitable land, watershed management, biodiversity, and land use change, among others. To address these issues the EBRD requires its Clients to adhere to strict environmental and social standards and practices.
In order to deepen the transition impact and environmental and social benefits of its investments in the forestry industry, the Bank wishes to engage a consultant (the Consultant) to undertake a Sector Study aimed at identifying the main issues facing existing and potential local and international investors in the Montenegro forestry and bioenergy sectors, including forest resources base, wood supply and procurement, forest management practices, transportation of wood, primary wood processing industries, as well as export of roundwood and other products (the Assignment)
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will act as the Consultant’s Montenegro Counterparty and final Beneficiary of this study. The Montenegro Counterpart will provide all available information to the Consultant.
The overall objective of the Sector Study is to review the Strategy for Forestry Development 2014-2023 and to formulate recommendations further development of the Strategy and for the development of sustainable forestry and forest-based industries in Montenegro. The ultimate goal is to promote and trigger viable investments in the forest industries in Montenegro by addressing wood supply and associated issues, and identifying options for improvements in forest management, harvesting, transportation, and trading, taking into account both the economic and social benefits and environmental sustainability. The study will include an analysis of the roles and responsibilities of the Forest Administration of Montenegro. Additionally, the aim is to identify potential obstacles associated with administrative, legal, or regulatory Montenegro specifics to investments in forestry and the forest bioenergy industry sectors.
The Sector Study will cover forest policy, forest management, its environmental aspects, and harvesting of wood, as well as industrial transformation including:
- saw mills and related activities
- wood-based panel plants
- primary wood furniture manufacturing
- wood for energy production and biomass energy.
The Consultant undertaking this assignment will be required to coordinate activities with other ongoing or recently finished relevant studies and other development work in the sector.
The Study will consist of four phases: 1) review of forest policy and analysis of the Forest Administration 2) analysis of forestry resource base, including sustainable forestry management, 3) analysis of forest industry and identification of potential investment projects, and 4) investment promotion workshop. Tasks in each phase are described below; however, the following is the list of priority topics to be covered by the Study:
- forest policy
- legal and institutional framework,
- Forest Administration
- roundwood trade from state forests
- forest resource base (volume, species, quality)
- forest management practices and their international certification (FSC, PEFC)
- forest fire prevention and rehabilitation after fire
- current and future Annual Allowable Cut (AAC)
- current and future demand/supply balance of industrial roundwood and fuel wood for bio-energy
- existing harvesting and transport operations and their management
- logistic infrastructure (roads, railways, utilities, esp. energy)
- the current and projected production and wood consumption of the industries
- export of roundwood
- current and projected demand/supply balance of relevant forest industry products
- identification of specific investment projects/ opportunities, and/or illustrative projects that may be suitable for targeted investment promotion activities
- pre-feasibility of identified investment projects/opportunities (up to 4)
- outline of recommendations for further development of forest industry strategy and policy
- investment promotion workshop.
Assignment Start Date and Duration: The assignment is expected to start in Q1 2015 and last for 5 months.
Maximum Budget available for the Assignment: EUR 210,000; 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: Austrian Technical Assistance Co-Operation Fund
Eligibility: Consultancy firms shall be entities registered in Austria and all experts proposed by the entity to work on the assignment must be either Austrian nationals or permanent residents of Austria. However, up to a maximum of 25% of the maximum contract amount may be used to finance services of local experts who are nationals of Montenegro or consultancy firms of Montenegro.
Consultant Profile: Corporate services are required. The Consultant will be a firm or consortium of firms with extensive experience in forestry sector in SEE countries. The Consultant is expected to have experience with IFI loan funded investment projects in the region.
It is expected that the Consultant’s Team will consist of at least the following key experts:
• Team Leader with comprehensive experience in similar assignments in CEE and in working with IFIs;
• Technical specialists in forestry and forest industry sector;
• Institutional and regulatory issues specialists / lawyer;
• Environmental specialists.
It is recommended that a part of the consultancy input will be carried out by local sub-consultants.
Submission Requirements: In order to determine the capability and experience of Consultants seeking to be selected for this Assignment, the information submitted should include the following:
1. Company/group of firms' profile, organisation and staffing (max. 2-3 pages)
2. Details of previous project experience or similar 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 (if different from duration), main activities, objectives
3. CVs of experts who could be available to work on the Assignment
4. 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
5. A copy of the Consultant's valid company registration certificate confirming that the firm is registered in Austria.
6. A Cost Estimate
The above information should not exceed 20 pages excluding CVs and contact sheet.
The complete expression of interest (including CVs and Contact Sheet) shall be one file (pdf or Word) to be uploaded to eSelection. The EBRD reserves the right to reject applications of firms submitting more than one file. Only if the permissible file size is exceeded, the Consultant may split the expression of interest into further files.
Expressions of Interest should be submitted, in English, electronically through e-Selection, to reach the Bank not later than the closing date mentioned above. Do not send expressions of interest to the EBRD's contact person.
EBRD Contact:
Nicola Di Pietro
TCT Advisor
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
One Exchange Square
London EC2A 2JN
Tel: + 44 20 7338 6329 Fax: +44 20 7338 7451
e-mail: PietroN@ebrd.com
Notes:
Note1
The selection will normally be made from responses to this notification only. Consultants will not be asked to submit a proposal. The highest-ranked Consultant will be selected from a shortlist and be invited to negotiate the contract, subject to availability of funding.
Note 2
The evaluation criteria are as follows:
1)A firm with proven experience in forestry sector in South East Europe countries - 20%
2) Experience with IFI loan funded investment projects in the region /business environments – 10%
3) Team Leader with comprehensive experience in similar assignments in CEE and in working with IFIs - 20%
4) Technical specialists in forestry and forest industry sector; – 10%
5) Institutional and regulatory issues specialists / lawyer; – 10%
6) Environmental specialists– 5%
7) Cost Estimate – 25%; equivalent score = (Lowest Cost Estimate/ Cost Estimate)*25
