READVERTISED
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
(CONSULTING SERVICES)
BURUNDI
RUVYI102 and MULE037 PROJECTS DEVELOPMENT STUDIES
Renewable Energy Development
Songa Energy Burundi (the “Beneficiary”) has applied for financing from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (“SEFA”) hosted within the African Development Bank (“AfDB”) toward the development costs of the Ruvyi102 and Mule037 (solar-) hydro projects (the “Projects”), located in the Republic of Burundi. The Beneficiary intends to apply this grant to payments under the contract for the following tasks: Detailed Feasibility Studies (“DFS”) including solar hybridisation assessment and grid interconnection studies, local distribution grid assessments, and Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (“ESIA”) (collectively the “Services”).
The duration of the assignment is 10 Months from commencement of service.
The selected consultant firm shall provide the Services for the Projects detailed as tasks below :
- Detailed Feasibility Study (including Grid Interconnection Study and Solar Hybridisation Assessment)
For each Project, the consultant shall prepare a DFS to national and international standards. The consultant shall carry out applicable technical and financial analyses for purposes of enabling the Beneficiary to procure detailed design and/or engineering works, construction works, supplies of plant and equipment, installation works, interconnection works with the grid, testing, commissioning and putting into service of the Projects. In addition, the DFS shall contain all information required by potential lenders to assess the technical and financial viability of the projects.
Among others, the consultant firm shall be required to review existing topographical and hydrological data; complete geological analysis; optimize Project layout arrangements, hydraulic structures, power potential and installed capacity; develop civil designs and plans; estimate energy yield for P50, P75 and P90 exceedance scenarios; estimates Project costs; and prepare comprehensive Employer’s Requirements for use in an EPC contract for the Projects.
The consultant shall design a reliable, efficient and cost-effective grid interconnection system. To do so, the consultant shall be required to complete an integral grid interconnection study for each project. This will include, among others, a review and assessment of existing electricity infrastructure; technical evaluation of interconnection points; load flow analysis; route planning; and all associated diagrams and drawings.
The consultant firm shall assess the technical, economic and financial feasibility of solar-hydro hybridization on both sites to mitigate the country’s dependency on hydropower, levelize generation of dry and wet season and mitigate risk of increasing droughts. Among others, the consultant will identify potential sites; collect irradiation data; and complete a conceptual design.
- Local Distribution Grid Assessment :
For each Project, the consultant shall design a medium voltage local distribution grid to accommodate a new user base. This task will include among others field surveys, complete technical design, economic analysis, and bid document preparation.
The consultant firm shall also be required to conduct a survey to assess current and future household and small business energy consumption; conduct a preliminary assessment of potential environmental and social impacts; and develop a set of operational guidelines for the local distribution grid.
- Environmental and Social Impact Assessment :
For each Project, the consultant firm shall conduct a gap analysis specifying which sections of the existing ESIAs need to be revised and where additional studies need to be conducted. Thereafter the consultant shall update the ESIAs in order to attain a bankable ESIA in accordance with national regulations and international standards (in particular IFC performance standards and AfDB’s Environmental and Social Assessment Procedures).
The final ESIA shall include, but not be limited to, a review of legal, regulatory and policy framework; evaluation of baseline environmental and social information and data; assessment of socio-economic and cultural impacts; analysis of environmental and social impacts; analysis of alternatives; development of an environmental and social management plan; and public consultations and communication.
Consulting firms are invited to submit Expression of Interest for the above captured assignment. Interested consultant firms must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc.). Consultants may constitute joint-ventures to enhance their chances of qualification.
Eligibility criteria, establishment of the short-list and the selection procedure shall be in accordance with the African Development Bank’s “Procurement Policy for Bank Group Funded Operations”, dated October 2015 and the relevant Bank Solicitation Documents, which are available on the Bank’s website at http://www.afdb.org.
Interested consultants may obtain further information at the email address below during business day office hours between 0900 to 1700 hours EAT.
Expressions of interest must be delivered to the email addresses below by 28 November at 2300 EAT and mention “Ruvyi102 and Mule037 Projects Development Studies”.
Thomas Burman
Bernard Moulins
Dan Brose
Tenders :
Thomas.burman@virungapower.com
Bernard.moulins@virungapower.com