Programme Description: Logistics consists of the planning, organisation, management, execution and control of freight transport operations. As such, it is a key contributor to climate change. The application of Green Logistics principles aims to achieve optimum performance expressed in cost, time or energy savings, thus reducing the negative environmental impacts of logistics (such as greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, noise, vibration and accidents) throughout a range of interventions along the chain.
The Green Logistics Programme ("GLP" or the "Programme") prepared by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development ("EBRD" or the "Bank") and the Global Environment Facility ("GEF") represents a strategic approach to decarbonize the logistics sector in a region that is still characterized by highly inefficient energy use. The proposed programme will support the private sector to introduce best practices through a facility of concessional finance to overcome barriers. In parallel, the Bank will undertake capacity building activities to accelerate the transfer of skills and support investors in the preparation and delivery of green logistics projects.
In particular, the capacity building activities of the Green Logistics Programme are organized in three components which will be undertaken as individual assignments:
1. Delivery of a professional training programme and qualification scheme certified by a leading international logistics body (Component A);
2. Development of a single transparent method of calculating emissions across global multi-modal logistics transport chains and application to GEF projects (Component B); and
3. Project support: Identification and implementation of green logistics opportunities and capacity building activities at the client level (Component C).
Component Description: Including the carbon footprint as a factor in business decisions (alongside costs, time and reliability) is of crucial importance for the implementation of green policies, but this will be possible only with a consistent and harmonized calculation framework that enables shippers and carriers that transport goods across the global transport chain to compare and select more fuel efficient modes and carriers, and to identify ways to increase efficiency and reduce costs. While there are initiatives to strengthen MRV and understanding of emissions from the logistics sector at the global level and along the supply chain, the issue has received little to no attention in the target region as a tool for project assessment.
Assignment Description: In light of the above, the Bank intends to engage a consultant (the "Consultant") to develop a methodology for ex-ante carbon assessment of investment projects in the logistics sector that is consistent both with the state of the art in MRV and with the GLEC framework. Types of projects to be considered include:
- Mode-switch projects (rail, inland water transport, short sea shipping)
- Green truck programmes (including fleet renewal and eco-driving)
- New transhipment terminals (logistics centres, warehouses, ports), including consideration of the impact on freight routing.
The Consultant will undertake the following tasks:
1. Map existing MRV methodologies in the sector;
2. Analyse selected monitoring methodologies and guidelines such as the GLEC Framework for Logistics Emission Accounting, the GEF methodology for calculating greenhouse gas benefits of transportation projects (TEEMP), UNFCCC reporting guidelines and the relevant ISO standards;
3. Provide a full MRV methodology, with options for simplification in cases in which there is a lack of data, including:
a. Methodology for defining project boundaries;
b. Identification of necessary data inputs and possible sources for the data
c. Default values appropriate to the region for emission factors and other necessary data inputs, per transport mode;
d. User friendly tool(s) and manual containing full instructions for application of the methodology that will enable those previously unfamiliar with the methodology to independently produce an ex-ante estimate of project impacts;
e. Training materials to support trainings for companies or other stakeholders preparing to apply the methodology. The materials developed will aim to promote MRV practices along the value chain, raising awareness and facilitating cost internalization.
4. Assess co-benefits of projects such as the reduction of black carbon emissions, based on the methodology being developed by GLEC and as far as allowed by the degree of development of this methodology.
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 Q4 2016 and has an estimated overall duration of 18 months.
Maximum Budget available for the Assignment: EUR 175,000.00 (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: It is anticipated that the contract will be financed by the EBRD Shareholder Special Fund. Selection and contracting is subject to the availability of funding.
Eligibility: There are no eligibility restrictions.
Consultant Profile: Corporate services are required. The Consultant engaged to deliver these services will be a firm or group of firms with previous project experience in measurement and reporting of carbon footprints, carbon accounting and undertaking economic assessments of transport projects in the freight sector in the transport sector. It is expected that the Consultant’s team shall contain, but not be limited to, the following Key Experts:
Expert in freight transport economics, with preferably the following:
- educated to degree level at least BSc (or documented as equivalent) in a field relevant to their main area of responsibility.
- 7 years of general professional experience.
- 5 years of professional experience in a role similar to that of their main area of responsibility, preferably in relation to projects of similar size and scope.
Expert in carbon accounting, with preferably the following:
- educated to degree level at least BSc (or documented as equivalent) in a field relevant to their main area of responsibility.
- 7 years of general professional experience.
- 5 years of professional experience in a role similar to that of their main area of responsibility, preferably in relation to projects of similar size and scope.
Submission Requirements: In order to determine the capability and experience of Consultants to be shortlisted, the information submitted should include the following:
(a) brief overview of the firm/group of firms including company profile, organisation and staffing, as well as the understanding of the project (in less than 10 pages);
(b) details of similar experience of firm or group of firms and related 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, 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 expression of interest shall not exceed 20 pages (excluding CVs and contact sheet).
Expressions of Interest should be submitted, in English, electronically through eSelection, to reach the Bank not later than the closing date.
Important Notes:
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.
2. Expressions of interested will be evaluated against the following criteria:
a. Firm’s previous experience in economic assessment of transport projects in the freight sector (30%);
b. Firm’s previous experience in carbon accounting (30%);
c. CVs of the Key Experts proposed (40%).
EBRD Contact Person:
Viv Headlam
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
One Exchange Square
London EC2A 2JN
Tel: + 44 20 7338 6885
Fax: +44 20 7338 7451
E-mail: LewisheV@ebrd.com
