22.05.2015

Procurement Notice for PIU Consultancy Services

for the Sugd Energy Loss Reduction Project

Project name:	Sugd Energy Loss Reduction Project
Country:	Tajikistan
Business Sector:	Power and Energy
Project ID:	41538
Funding source:	EBRD, EU Investment Facility for Central Asia
Type of Contract:	Consulting Services
Notice type:	Invitation for Expression of Interest
Issue date:	22 May 2015
Closing date:	22 June 2015 (16:00 hrs local time Dushanbe)

Sugd Energy Loss Reduction Project – Extended PIU Consultancy Services

Assignment Description: The purpose of the Project is to assist the Borrower in (a) the supply and installation of electricity retail and grid meters, meter reading system, low voltage equipment meters with ancillary equipment and all necessary maintenance equipment to allow demand side management, (b) the reduction of distribution network losses, (c) the improvement of quality of supply and (d) the increase of energy efficiency. Total Project value is approximately €22 million (excluding VAT).

The project consists of the following main components:

1. Supply and Installation of the meters, meter reading system equipment, auditable billing system in Khujand and surrounding municipalities (contract awarded and under implementation);
2. Partial rehabilitation of power distribution network including supply and installation of equipment (contract awarded and under implementation);
3. Project Implementation Unit Consultancy Services (this procurement notice);

All procurement financed by the EBRD loan proceeds are undertaken in full compliance with EBRD’s Procurement Policies and Rules.

The Project is implemented by the Project Implementation Unit with subsidiary in Khujand and concerned subsidiaries of OSHC “Barqi Tojik”. The PIU is staffed by experts from BT covering procurement, technical support, IT, finance, site management supervision, monitoring, evaluation etc. The PIU will be supported by an international consultant whose members will also form part of the PIU.

The principal objective of this assignment is to deliver assistance to BT’s PIU during the Project implementation phase. The Consultant will assist PIU with the following tasks:

· Monitoring, supervision, and reporting on the implementation of contracts and overall completion of each Project component;

· Assist in planning and accounting of expenses;

· Reviewing site preparation including engineering supervision;

· Assist with Commissioning and Testing procedures in accordance with Contract Conditions;

· Assistance in the monitoring of and implementation of the Environmental and Social Action Plan (ESAP);

· Knowledge transfer to BT in all aspects of oversight and management of project implementation.

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

Assignment expected start date and duration: assignment is expected to take place from November 2015 until November 2017.

Cost Estimate for the Assignment: USD 500,000 exclusive of VAT.

The Consultant must determine whether any indirect taxes/VAT are chargeable on the proposed services and state the basis for such determination in the response to the Notice. If any indirect taxes/VAT are payable, the client will have to pay indirect taxes/VAT element to the services directly to the consultant/s unless otherwise agreed.

Funding Source: Through projects sources

Eligibility Restrictions: There are no eligibility restrictions.

Consultant Profile: An international firm of consultants will be engaged for this assignment and is expected to procure the services of a multidisciplinary team of both international and local experts as appropriate.

The Consultant is expected to have relevant expertise and experience in the design, procurement and implementation of smart automated electricity metering projects, particularly in the residential sector and reconstruction of electric networks. In addition, relevant experience in the EBRD’s countries of operation would be an advantage. The following is the minimum expertise (key experts) and experience required for this assignment:

· Team Leader/ Metering Expert with at least 12 years of experience in planning, design and implementation of residential metering projects including Project Management and Contract Supervision experience. Experience with implementation of projects comprising of Supply and Installation of Grid and Retail Meters would be seen as an advantage.

· Procurement Expert with at least 10 years of proven procurement experience in power sector projects (especially electricity distribution would be an advantage) with relevant IFI’s experience;

· Local Site Supervision Expert (full engagement) with at least 10 years of proven technical supervision of installation of metering equipment and billing systems. The Expert should demonstrate hands-on experience in contract supervision of contracts with similar nature and complexity;

· Low voltage installation and maintenance Expert with at least 10 years of proven low voltage installation and maintenance experience. The Expert should demonstrate hands-on experience in similar nature of assignments and complexity (experience in the installation of metering equipment or works at the electricity distribution level would be an advantage);

General Qualification of Key Experts: a relevant education background i.e. degree from a University or a similar institution in relevant discipline; Qualifications relevant to the project (metering/ IT) would be seen an advantage; Fluency in English, both written and spoken, speaking knowledge of Russian language would be seen as an advantage.

Team of short term Experts with proven project experience of at least 5 years:

- Telecommunication expert;

- IT and Billing System expert;

- Local Low voltage installation expert with full engagement;

- Environment and Social expert (local or international);

- Health and Safety expert (local or international);

- Financial expert;

Note that intermittent inputs are expected from the key experts. The Consultant should propose a suitable organization staffing with anticipated input (man-months) from the key experts in a staffing schedule and work plan.

The consultant will also be required to hire local support staff for provision of different services, including but not limited to secretarial duties, interpretation and translation, and transport services.

Submission Requirements: Interested consultants are hereby invited to submit expressions of interest.

In order to determine the capability and experience of consulting firms seeking to be shortlisted, the information submitted should include the following:

· Company profile, proposed project organisation and staffing;

· Details of experience or similar assignments undertaken in the previous five years, including their locations, overall budget, and proportion undertaken by the consultant both in terms of staff input and budget;

· Proposed and available consultant team composition and CVs of the key experts in line with section consultant profile who could be available to work on the assignment.

The expression of interest must be accompanied by a 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

The above information should not exceed 25 pages excluding CVs Interested firms are requested to submit 3 (three) copies of the applications, one in English and two copies translated to Russian language should be submitted to the Client in an envelope marked “Expression of Interest for Sugd Energy Loss Reduction Project – Extended PIU Consultancy Services”, together with electronic copy on CD-ROM, to reach the Client not later than 16:00 (Dushanbe time), June 22, 2015.

Contact Details:

Mr. Saidov Saidmumin

General Manager

PRG Energy Loss Reduction Project

OSHC Barqi Tojik

Somoni 64, Room 302

Dushanbe, Tajikistan 724026

Fax: (992 372) 358764

E-mail: elrpbt@gmail.com

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

Notes: Following this invitation for expressions of interest, a shortlist of qualified firms will be formally invited to submit proposals. Shortlisting, selection and contracting will be subject to the availability of funding.