Service Contract-Technical Assistance for the WAPP Information and Coordination Center (ICC)

           SERVICE CONTRACT NOTICE

Improvement of energy sector governance in West Africa

Technical Assistance to accompany the establishment of the WAPP Information and Coordination Center (ICC)

1.   Publication reference

            EuropeAid/139707/IH/SER/MULTI

           2.   Procedure

Restricted

3.   Programme title

Energy Governance in West Africa (ECOWAS) - AGoSE-AO

4.   Financing

11th EDF Regional Indicative Programme

Financing Agreement n° ROC/FED/39-384

5.   Contracting Authority

WAPP Secretariat, Cotonou, Benin

CONTRACT SPECIFICATION

6.   Nature of contract

Fee-based

7.   Contract description

The West African Power Pool (WAPP) is a specialized institution of ECOWAS operating in the general interest of the regional power network system. WAPP Members comprise public and private power generation, transmission and distribution entities involved in the operation of the power system in West Africa. The WAPP Secretariat General is established in Cotonou, Benin.

The main objective of the WAPP is to ensure a stable supply of electricity, reliable and affordable for ECOWAS citizens. WAPP promotes regional power exchanges and the development of regional interconnection and generation projects.

With the support of the European Union, WAPP is presently implementing an Information and Coordination Center (ICC) for the coordination of the national systems operation and to manage the regional electricity market. Two works contracts are ongoing: one for the construction of a building in Cotonou, and another one for the supply and installation of equipment in Cotonou and in the different national systems.

In order to properly organize and operate the ICC, WAPP is looking for the support and assistance of an international and experienced Transmission System Operator that would assist it in the initial stages of operation, within a corresponding service contract.

Working languages of the ICC are English and French.

8.   Number and titles of lots

One lot only

9.   Maximum budget

EUR 4 000 000

10. Scope for additional services

The Contracting Authority may, at its own discretion, extend the project in duration and/or scope subject to the availability of funding up to the estimated amount of approximately EUR 4 750 000. Any extension of the contract would be subject to satisfactory performance by the Contractor.

CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION

11.             Eligibility

Participation in tendering is open on equal terms to natural and legal persons (participating either individually or in a grouping – consortium - of tenderers) which are established in a Member State of the European Union, ACP States or in a country or territory authorised by the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement under which the contract is financed (see also item 29 below). Participation is also open to international organisations.

      12.  Candidature

All eligible natural and legal persons (as per item 11 above) or groupings of such persons (consortia) may apply.

A consortium may be a permanent, legally-established grouping or a grouping which has been constituted informally for a specific tender procedure. All members of a consortium (i.e., the leader and all other members) are jointly and severally liable to the Contracting Authority.

The participation of an ineligible natural or legal person (as per item 11) will result in the automatic exclusion of that person.  In particular, if that ineligible person belongs to a consortium, the whole consortium will be excluded.

13.             Number of applications

No more than one application can be submitted by a natural or legal person whatever the form of participation (as an individual legal entity or as leader or member of a consortium submitting an application).  In the event that a natural or legal person submits more than one application, all applications in which that person has participated will be excluded.

14.             Shortlist alliances prohibited

Any tenders received from tenderers comprising firms other than those mentioned in the short-listed application forms will be excluded from this restricted tender procedure unless prior approval from the Contracting Authority has been obtained (see Practical Guide – PRAG - 2.4.3.). Short-listed candidates may not form alliances or subcontract to each other for the contract in question.

15.             Grounds for exclusion

As part of the application form, candidates must submit a signed declaration, included in the standard application form, to the effect that they are not in any of the exclusion situations listed in Section 2.3.3 of the PRAG.

16.             Sub-contracting

Subcontracting is allowed.

17.             Number of candidates to be short-listed

On the basis of the applications received, between 4 and 8 candidates will be invited to submit detailed tenders for this contract. If the number of eligible candidates meeting the selection criteria is less than the minimum of 4, the Contracting Authority may invite the candidates who satisfy the criteria to submit a tender.

PROVISIONAL TIMETABLE

18.             Provisional date of invitation to tender

October 2018

19.             Provisional commencement date of the contract

March 2019

20.             Initial period of implementation of tasks

      36 months