Assignment Description
In April 2011, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the EBRD or the Bank) approved the Kyrgyz Republic Water and Wastewater Framework (the Framework) for the Osh, the Jalalabad, the Karabalta, the Kant, the Talas Water and Wastewater sub-projects.
The City of Toktogul (Toktogul or the City) approached the Bank with a request to finance the rehabilitation of the water and wastewater infrastructure in the City (the Project). Water supply operations in the Kyrgyz Republic are characterised by severely deteriorated assets for water supply and wastewater collection; very limited wastewater treatment; high operations and maintenance costs due to the deteriorated state of the assets; unreliable water supply; outbreaks of water borne diseases, especially during summer; and low institutional capacity to manage operationally and financially sustainable water supply services.
There is potential for systemic inclusion impact in relation to the regional inclusion gap between the capital region of Bishkek and the small town of Toktogul. In Toktogul household connection rates to water are significantly below those in the capital region and do not meet potable quality standards, resulting in a high prevalence of water borne diseases and related negative consequences on economic opportunities. The Project could create inclusion impact on three levels: a significant increase of water connections in relation to the total population in Toktogul; continuous 24 hour supply for all connected households; and an increase of the quality of water at the end-user point for all connected households. The systemic impact could stem from scale (based on the envisaged percentage increase of connections in relation to the total population), or the replicability of the model in similar areas outside of Bishkek. The Feasibility Study should support the assessment of the potential inclusion element of the Project by providing a baseline against relevant indicators and by developing a methodology to monitor progress throughout the project delivery and evaluation phases.
The Bank wishes to engage a consultant (the Consultant) to conduct a Feasibility Study of the Project (the Assignment).
Generally the Feasibility Study is expected to include the following services:
1. To identify and establish a baseline for assessing and monitoring potential inclusion impact in relation to increased number of water and waste water connections, improved frequency of water delivery, and improvements in water quality at household level; and related health and economic benefits;
2. To identify key cost restructuring elements (e.g. labour restructuring, energy cost savings, maintenance per unit of output targets, etc.) and recommend reasonable loan covenants and implementation timing in this area;
3. To assess the possibilities for an affordable least-cost and cost effective bankable PIP for water and wastewater infrastructure - to rehabilitate and increase the efficiency of existing systems with strong social and environmental benefits and promoting climate resilience; and
4. To assess to what extend the PIP meets EBRD’s Performance Requirements (PRs).
Specifically, the Consultant shall undertake the following tasks:
Task 1 Baseline Study: Assess current conditions of water and wastewater management and prepare a technical, environmental and social, and operational audit of the Company’s current water supply and wastewater facilities and operations. The baseline should take account of the current climatic conditions and projected climate change in so far as they have the potential to affect water supply and waste-water discharges. The Consultant should also include the baseline assessment of key inclusion indicators (such as number of water connections, average hours of water supply, water quality for consumption, and water borne diseases) and develop a methodology for monitoring progress throughout the project delivery and evaluation phases.
Task 2 Financial analysis and projections: Prepare a financial analysis and financial projections for the Company with the impact of the Priority Investment Programme (PIP).
Task 3 Long-Term Investment Programme: Develop a Long-Term investment programme for the Company.
Task 4 Priority investment programme: From the Long-Term Investment Programme prepare a detailed short-term PIP for immediate investments and a procurement plan.
Task 5 Environmental and Social Due Diligence: Carry out Environmental and Social (E&S) Due Diligence, including an E&S Audit to assess the environmental and social issues associated with existing facilities and operations, the risks associated with projected climate change and an E&S Analysis of the E&S impacts and benefits of the priority investments to be financed by the Bank. Based on the findings of these initial investigations develop an Environmental and Social Action Plan (ESAP) for mitigation of the E&S impacts of the Project, climate change adaptation needs as well as improving the current environmental and social management systems and operational performance towards compliance with the EBRD's Procurement Rules and Policies and a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP).
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 first quarter 2015 and has an estimated duration of 6 months.
Cost Estimate for the Assignment: EUR 280,000 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: Czech Republic ODA TC Fund
Eligibility: Participation is restricted to firms registered in the Czech Republic and experts being either Czech nationals or permanent employees of the firm. Up to a maximum of 35% of the total contract amount may be used to finance services of local experts who are nationals of Kyrgyz Republic or consultancy firms registered in Kyrgyz Republic.
Consultant Profile: Corporate services are required. The Consultant will be a firm or group of firms with relevant project experience related to preparing Feasibility Studies in the water and wastewater sector preferably in Kyrgyz Republic and/or CIS countries.
Key experts are:
• Project Manager/Team Leader with a university degree or equivalent qualification with a minimum of 15 years professional experience in the field of water supply, with comprehensive experience of similar assignments in Eastern Europe or the CIS, and sanitation as well as in institutional and commercial management of water utilities. He/she should demonstrate management and administration experience, including experience with procedures of international financing agencies (preferably EBRD procedures). The large number of different tasks and the complexity of administrational procedures require a permanent presence of the Project Manager and/or their local team leader in the Country during the six months of intensive work on preparation of the Feasibility Study.
• Technical specialists and water and wastewater engineers;
• Financial analysts with experience of due diligence of CIS companies and extensive financial modelling experience; and
• Environmental impact assessment and planning experts with at least 5 years of experience in water and sanitation sector and experience in addressing the EBRD's environmental and social requirements in municipal infrastructure and other similar projects.
• Social Impact Assessment / Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) experts with recent track record in the region (preferably 3 years of work on similar assignments).
• Expert for stakeholder engagement and public consultation with recent track record in the region.
The Consultant should integrate local professional skills/cooperate with local consulting companies, in order to provide national experience. The Consultant shall engage Russian speaking staff on their team or arrange for translation/interpreting when necessary. All experts must be independent and free from conflicts of interest in the responsibilities accorded to them.
Submission Requirements: In order to determine the capability and experience of Consultants seeking to be selected, the information submitted should include the following:
(a) brief overview of the firm/group of firms including company profile, organisation and staffing (2-4 pages);
(b) details of the Consultant’s relevant project experience 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 Consultant Declaration 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 30 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.
Bank Contact Person
James Yoo
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
One Exchange Square
London EC2A 2JN
Tel: + 44 20 7338 6369
E-Mail: YooJ@ebrd.com
Notes:
Note 1: 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. Firm’s project experience in preparing Feasibility Studies in the water and wastewater sector in previous 5 years – 25.0
2. Firm’s relevant project experience in Kyrgyz Republic, and/or CIS countries – 20.0
3. Project Manager/Team Leader with relevant professional experience – 25.0
4. Experience and expertise of the key experts as detailed in the Consultant Profile (Technical Specialist and Water/Wastewater Engineers; Financial Analyst; Environmental impact assessment and planning experts; Social and RAP Experts; Stakeholder Engagement and Public Consultation Expert).
[qualifications, experience in solid waste sector, seniority specific to the assignment/tasks, language, local experience, etc.] – 20.0
5. Association with local firms and/or local experts – 10.0
