Ukraine Public Transport Framework: Corporate Development & Stakeholder Participation Programmes

Programme Description:

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the “EBRD” or the “Bank”) has approved the Ukraine Public Transport Framework (the “Programme”) to support investments in public transport renewal in Ukrainian cities. The Programme will finance a number of smaller sub-projects. The ultimate goal of the Programme is to support development of reliable passenger transportation service.

It is expected that the Programme will finance the following investments:

• Acquisition of new trams, trolleybuses and buses;
• Rehabilitation and modernisation of tram and trolleybus electrical infrastructure;
• Renovation of depot and acquisition of new maintenance equipment; and
• Implementation of Automated Fare Collection (“AFC”) and vehicle location (“AVL”) systems.

For each sub-project, assignments will aim to enhance the institutional capacity at Company level and raise corporate governance standards by

(i) supporting operational and financial improvements of public transport operations

(ii) enhancing public awareness of public transport management with respect to the issues related to the project implementation,

(iii) introducing Public Service Contracts (“PSCs”) between the public transport companies and their respective municipality; and

(iv) incorporating long-term business planning practice and routines into companies’ operations. It is expected that the assignment will assist companies in development of necessary corporate restructuring measures and become cost efficient and financially sustainable organizations in medium term.

Framework Agreements for the Programme

The Bank intends to enter into Framework Agreements with up to six consultants (the “Framework Consultant(s)”) to enable the Bank to call upon a shortlist of pre-qualified firms from which it can quickly and efficiently obtain reliable services. The Framework Agreement will establish, in advance, fee rates for experts, contract terms and agreements, and procedures that will govern individual assignments (Assignments or Call-offs) to be required to implement the Programme. Under these Framework Agreements, the Bank will have the option, but not the obligation, to place individual Assignments with the selected Framework Consultants.

Framework Consultants will be selected for individual Assignments in accordance with EBRD’s Procurement Policies and Rules (“PP&R”). The Bank may send to the Framework Consultant(s) specific Terms of Reference for the Assignment (“Specific ToR”). The Specific ToR will include a description of the tasks to be performed, time-schedules and reporting instructions. The Framework Consultant(s) should respond by sending to the Bank a technical and financial proposal for the Assignment together with details of the Expert(s) proposed to carry out the work. The Bank will then assess the response(s) and – subject to successful negotiations - issue a call-off notice for the individual Assignment to the selected Framework Consultant.

Description of individual Assignments (Call-offs)

The Consultants’ tasks under each sub-assignment may include:

· analysis of the Company’s operations and processes;

· assistance with preparation and signing of a PSC, as well as setting up the PSC supervision system;

· development of a new organisational structure of the Company prioritising service provision quality and improving accountability of separate departments;

· assessment of opportunities and possibilities for outsourcing of non-core activities;

· preparation of a long-term business and marketing plan, including a financial model and long-term investment plan;

· enhancement of financial management and accounting system of the Company and introduction of Management Information System (“MIS”); and

· development of performance benchmarking system.

The Consultant will also co-operate with representatives of each city to implement the covenants stipulated under the signed Loan and Project Support Agreements. Additionally, the Consultant shall assist the Company in the analysis of the baseline social situation of the vulnerable section of the population and the impact of the project on these groups, and in connection to this assess any impact of the project on the equality between men and women.

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

Programme Start Date and Duration: The Programme is expected to start in Q3 2016. The selected Framework Consultants will be engaged via Framework Agreements with a validity period of up to three years, renewable for one further year only..

Cost Estimate for the Programme and Assignments: EUR 1,500,000 (exclusive of VAT). The cost estimate for individual Assignments will vary depending on their specific scope, but individual budgets are expected to be in the region of EUR 150,000 (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 special status of the Bank 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: This Programme is expected to be funded by donor funds. Please note that selection and contracting will be subject to the availability of funding.

Eligibility: There are no eligibility restrictions.

Framework 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. Urban transport planning, operations and equipment;
2. Transport economics;
3. Financial expertise;
4. Management and administration;
5. Ukrainian transport law.

The Consultant’s expert team is expected to include key experts as follows:

Key Expert No 1 (Team Leader) with preferably 15 years’ experience in urban transport operations);

Key Expert No 2 (Transport economist) with preferably 10 years’ experience in the urban transport sector;

Key Expert No 3 (Financial expert) with preferably 10 years’ experience in urban transport finance;

Key Expert No 4 (Transport Manager) with preferably 5 years’ experience in urban transport management and administration; and

Key Expert No 5 (Legal expert) with preferably 5 years’ experience in Ukrainian transport law.

Submission Requirements: In order to determine the capability and experience of Consultants seeking to be shortlisted for the Programme, 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 experts who could carry out the Assignments 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 15 pages excluding CVs and contact sheet.

Expressions of Interest should be submitted in English electronically through e-Selection, to reach the Bank not later than the closing date. The complete expression of interest (including cover letter, CV, declaration and contact sheet etc.) shall be one file (pdf) to be uploaded to eSelection. The EBRD reserves the right to reject applications of experts submitting more than one file. Only if the permissible file size (4 MB) is exceeded, the Consultant may split the expression of interest into further files.

Bank Contact Person:

Georgia Vasiliadis

Technical Co-operation

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

One Exchange Square

London EC2A 2JN

Tel: + 44 20 7338 7750

e-mail: vasiliag@ebrd.com (submissions should be sent through eSelection and NOT to this email address)

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 experience in similar assignments in the urban transport sector (35%)

(b) Firm’s experience in similar assignments in the urban transport sector in Ukraine (30%)

(c) CVs of key experts (35%)