REoI-Update of the Pre-Investment Studies: Feasibility Studies and Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)

 REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – SELECTION OF FIRMS)

WAPP INTEGRATION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROJECT

Country: Multinational-West African Power Pool (WAPP)

Grant: IDA-D2440

Project Identification No: P113266

Assignment Title: UPDATE OF THE PRE-INVESTMENT STUDIES: FEASIBILITY STUDIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (ESIA)

for

GHANA - BURKINA - MALI (GBM) INTERCONNECTION PROJECT

The West African Power Pool (WAPP) Secretariat, a Specialized Institution of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), headquartered in Cotonou, Republic of Benin, has received a Grant from the World Bank, and applied for a grant from the “ Agence Française de Développement ”(AFD) and the NEPAD Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility (NEPAD-IPPF), and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The Consulting services (“the Services”) includean update of the Pre-investment Studies including a Line Route Study, anEnvironmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), a Resettlement Action Plan (RAP), a Feasibility Study, and preparation of associated functional EPC Bidding Documents of Ghana –Burkina –Mali Interconnection Project.

The project involves the construction of approximately 566 km of high voltage double circuit transmission line from Bolgatanga in Ghana to Sikasso in Mali passing through Bobo Dioulasso in Burkina.

The overall objective of the assignment is to undertake among others:

• Line Route Study and Substation Site Selection:

1. Study of line route
2. Detailed survey and profiling of line route
3. Identification of substation sites (creation and / or extension)
4. Detailed survey of substation sites and road access
5. Preparation of relevant maps and drawings

• LIDAR Survey
• Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA):

1. Preparation of Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) for Ghana, Burkina Faso and Mali
2. Preparation of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for Ghana, Burkina Faso and Mali
3. Preparation of Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) for Ghana, Burkina Faso and Mali
4. Preparation of Illustrative Materials for Ghana, Burkina Faso and Mali
5. Public Information and Sensitization Campaign for Ghana, Burkina Faso and Mali
6. Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) and Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF) in compliance with World Bank ESF and applicable Environmental, Health and Safety Guidelines and Guidelines and Policies of other donors for the Electrification ofCommunities / Towns / Villages Along Line Route and Around Substations for Ghana, Burkina Faso and Mali

• Feasibility Study Including Technical, Financial and Economic Analyzes:

1. A technical study on the interconnection including required network reinforcements and electrification component
2. Economic and financial analyzes including sensitivity analyzes and a tariff proposal

• Risk analyzes
• Training and Capacity Building Programme
• Project Packaging and Preparation of Pre-qualification if required and Functional Bidding Documents for EPC contracts
• Preparation of Terms of Reference of Owner's Engineer for Supervision of the Project.

The implementation period is estimated at 82 weeks. The expected start date of the assignment is September 2021.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be found at the following website: www.ecowapp.org/en/tenders. Please note that these TOR are indicative and could change before the issuance of the Request for Proposals.

Interested Consultants should note that selected candidate will be required to put in place “Chinese Wall” type conditions that will foster balanced and fully independent views between technical aspects on the one hand and environmental and social aspects on the other hand, as well as prevent any conflict of interest. These conditions shall include among others (i) full independence of the two teams (technical, and environmental & social); (ii) each team manages, prepares, and validates their specific deliverables independently; and (iii) if deemed required, mobilization of neutral / balanced overall coordination, independent from the two teams. The two teams are nevertheless still required to work in close collaboration and share core data in orderto ensure coherence and consistency of all deliverables.

The West African Power Pool (WAPP) Secretariat now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria are:

1. Relevant experiences and competences in the preparation (Feasibility study, network studies, conceptual design, etc.) of Electricity High Voltage Interconnection Projects;
2. Relevant experiences and competencies in line route studies of high voltage (at least 220 kV) cross-border interconnection projects covering at least two countriesin Sub Saharan Africa;
3. Relevant experiences and competences in the preparation of Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) Studies, Preparation of Resettlement Action Plans and in the preparation of Environmental & Social Management Plans with measures addressing SEA / SH and vulnerable groups.Experiences withHigh VoltageTransmission Lines shall be considered an asset .

Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank'sGuidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers (January 2011-Revised July 2014) (“Consultant Guidelines”), setting forth the World Bank's policy on conflict of interest.

Consultants may associate with other firms in the form of a joint venture or a sub-consultancy to enhance their qualifications but should indicate clearly whether the association is in the form of a joint venture and / or a sub-consultancy. In the case of a joint venture, all the partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the “Quality and Cost-based Selection” method set out in the Consultant Guidelines.

Further information can be obtained via email addressed to nisoumana@ecowapp.org.

Copy to bhessou@ecowapp.org; andorere@ecowapp.org; msdiedhiou@ecowapp.org;

Expressions of Interest must be submitted in English by February 22, 2021, at the latest 10:00 AM (Benin local time). The application shall be translated in French. In case of discrepancies, the English version will prevail.

Expressions of Interest must be submitted on procurement@ecowapp.org with the mention: “EOI for Update of the Pre-investment Studies of Ghana - Burkina - Mali (GBM) Interconnection Project”.

Due to the COVID-19, hard copies shall not be accepted, and any hard copy sent to the WAPP Secretariat will be rejected.

Proposals received by the WAPP after the expiry date indicated above will be rejected. Applicants wishing to participate in the opening of applications received, which will be hosted online, should send a request to the address below to Mr Mouhamadou S. Diedhiou via msdiedhiou@ecowapp.org no later than February 20, 2021, and the link to join the virtual meeting will be communicated to them.

The Minutes of the opening session of the expressions of interest that were received will be communicated to all applicants immediately after the opening.