The Enhanced Partnership Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Modernisation Framework and the District Heating Modernisation Framework (the "Frameworks") are an integral part of the Enhanced Partnership Framework Arrangement ("EPFA") signed between the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the "EBRD" or the "Bank") and the Government of Kazakhstan ("GoK").
The EBRD and the GoK are now considering the possibility to arrange for a packaged Technical Cooperation ("TC") approach that would support all EPFA co-financed sub-projects in Kazakhstan and to launch a Corporate Development Programme ("CDP") Framework (the "CDP Framework") which is one of the key elements of technical cooperation under any investment to support commercialisation.
The beneficiaries of the CDP Framework are expected to be up to 7 municipal water/wastewater or district heating enterprises (each, the "Company" or the "Beneficiary"), wholly owned by the respective city or region (each, the "City").
Each Beneficiary under the CDP Framework will be at differing stages of corporate development and will require a variety of types of support to continue to improve their capacity.
Assignment Description:
In the above context, the EBRD is now seeking to pre-qualify a panel of up to five experienced consultancy firms (the "Consultants") to support the Beneficiaries in implementing individual Corporate Development Programmes over the 2016-2019 period under the CDP Framework (the "Framework Assignment").
The general scope of services to be carried out by the Consultants is described in the terms of reference, which is accessible through the following link http://www.ebrd.com/documents/technical-cooporation/ppn-50803-terms-of-reference-kazak-cdp.docx
Selection of consultant and contract award for individual assignments (Call-Offs notices):
The EBRD intends to initiate a pre-qualification process whereby up to 5 Consultants will be selected through an evaluation of proposals process and be provided with a panel engagement letter (the
"Engagement Letter") by the EBRD. The Engagement Letter will establish, in advance, fee rates for experts, contract terms and conditions, and procedures that will govern the individual assignments that are required to implement the CDP Framework. Under these Engagement Letters, the Bank and the Beneficiaries will have the option, but not the obligation, to place individual assignments with the selected Consultants.
For each individual assignment, a secondary competition will be launched, whereby the Company will select and engage the consultant.
Consultants will be selected for the individual assignments in accordance with EBRD’s Procurement Policies and Rules "(PP&R"). The Bank, on behalf of the Beneficiary, may send to the Consultant(s) terms of reference for the individual assignment. The terms of reference will include a description of the tasks to be performed, time-schedules and reporting instructions. The Consultant(s) will respond by sending to the Bank a technical and financial proposal for the individual assignment together with details of the expert(s) proposed to carry out the work. The Company will then assess the response(s) and – subject to successful negotiations – the Bank will issue a call-off notice for the individual assignment to the selected Consultant.
The first such Call-Off assignment will be a pilot for the city of Petropavlovsk and the selected consultant will be required to develop a general set of programme templates to be used for subsequent CDP assignments. These templates will need to be approved by EBRD before use in subsequent assignments.
Status of Selection Process: Interested firms or groups of firms are hereby invited to submit expressions of interest.
Assignment Start Date and Duration: The Framework Assignment is expected to be launched in the first quarter of 2016 and last for up to 4 years. The duration may be extended, subject to business needs, the performance of the Consultant and availability of funding.
Cost Estimate for the Assignment Framework: up to EUR 1,700,000.00 (exclusive of VAT). Subject to availability of funding.
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: It is expected that the Framework Assignment will be funded through the EBRD's Technical Cooperation Funds Programme
Eligibility: There are no eligibility restrictions; however, consultant selection and contracting will be subject to availability of funding.
Consultant Profile: Corporate services are required. The Consultant will be a firm or a group of firms preferably with previous project experience related to:
1. Development and implementation of corporate development programmes of comparable nature, scale, and complexity to the CDP.
2. Development and implementation of Financial and Operational Performance Improvement Programmes in organisations comparable to the municipal entities in Kazakhstan.
3. Drafting and implementing Public Service Contract in countries with comparable conditions to Kazakhstan.
The Consultant's team is expected to contain the following key experts:
Key Senior Experts No 1: International and Local Project Manager / Water/Wastewater or District Heating Expert with at least 10 years of previous professional experience in providing of consultancy support in the municipal water and wastewater sector in countries with comparable conditions similar to Kazakhstan.
Key Senior Expert No 2: International Water, Wastewater and District Heating Institutional and Regulatory Expert with preferably 10 years of practical experience in Institutional and regulatory consultancy to public utilities and knowledge of the specific needs and requirements for regulation in the water, wastewater and district heating sectors;
Key Expert No 3: International Financial Expert with preferably 10 years of practical experience in providing of financial consultancy to public utilities;
Key Senior Expert No 4: International Legal Expertise with at least 10 years knowledge of local legislation, experience of developing Public Service Contracts, and possibly policy and legal drafting and advisory expertise in working with countries from the region;
Key Senior Expert No 5: Environmental Expert and Social Experts with preferably 10 years or more of previous professional experience in the successful implementation of comparable assignments and with demonstrated knowledge of the environmental and social standards of the EBRD or other comparable institutions.
Key Senior Expert No 6: Local Legal Experts with preferably 10 years of practical knowledge of the relevant legislation.
Key Senior Expert No7: Local Accounting Experts with practical experience in working with Public Utilities and City Administrations.
The pool of other key experts will consist of local training experts with practical knowledge of the similar assignments.
Non-key experts are expected to include Office Manager/ Translator/Secretary.
All key experts shall be fluent in written and spoken English. It is essential that the Consultant’s team contains some experts fluent in Russian.
Submission Requirements: In order to determine the capability and experience of Consultants seeking to be shortlisted for this Assignment, the information submitted should include the following:
1. Company/group of firms’ profile, organisation and staffing (max. 2-4 pages).
2. Details of previous project experience or similar assignments particularly 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 key senior 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.
4. Completed Consultant Declaration Form 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 25 pages excluding CVs and contact sheet.
The complete expression of interest (including CVs, Consultant Declaration and Contact Sheet) should be submitted, in English electronically through e-Selection, to reach the Bank not later than the closing date. The expression of interest should ideally be in one file (pdf) not to exceed 4MB.
EBRD Contact Person:
Angela Levitsky
Technical Co-operation
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
One Exchange Square
London EC2A 2JN
Tel: + 44 20 7338 6363.
e-mail: LevitskA@ebrd.com
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. The shortlist criteria are:
(a) Firm’s previous project experience in design and implementation of corporate development programmes of comparable nature, scale, and complexity to the CDP Assignment – 30%
(b) Firm’s previous project experience in development and implementation of Financial and Operational Performance Improvement Programmes in organisations comparable to the municipal entities in Kazakhstan – 30%
c) Firm’s previous project experience in drafting and implementation of Public Service Contract in countries with comparable conditions to Kazakhstan –30%
d) Fluency in Russian by the Consultant’s team – 10%
