Invitation For Expression Interest

The above named client intends to use part of the proceeds of a loan from/grant administered by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the Bank). Contracts will be subject to the Bank's Procurement Policies and Rules.

Funding Details:

a loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the Bank), Co-financed

Co-financed by EIB


The proceeds of the loan from/ grant administered by the Bank will be open to firms from any country unless otherwise specified and will not be used for the purpose of any payment to persons or entities, of for any import of goods, if such payment or import is prohibited by a decision of the United Nations Security Council taken under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations or under a law of official regulation of the Client's country.

The Client now intends to establish a shortlist of qualified and competent consultants, with a view to inviting proposals from the shortlisted consultants, in relation to the assignment, on the basis of the procurement documentation provided in ECEPP for this assignment. The selection method (procurement method) is shown above and interested firms or groups of firms are hereby invited to submit expressions of interest.

The expected outcome of the assignment is as follows:

The Consultancy services under this Assignment are sought to facilitate successful and timely implementation of the Project. The services include Supervision of Contract for the ‘Design and Rehabilitation of railway section Bender-Basarabeasca-Etulia-Giurgiulesti’ (hereinafter referred to as “the Contract”). The Contract's scope includes design and rehabilitation measures to bring the track infrastructure and systems on the railway section up to acceptable standards, improving track speeds, infrastructure and systems maintainability, passenger ride comfort, ensuring a long service life. The Works are situated along the Moldovan South railways corridor, which is a 1520 mm gauge railway system of overall length of approximately 233 km.

The overall objective of the Assignment is to facilitate the timely and effective implementation of the Project by providing professional assistance to the Client in the administration of the Contract with due diligence and in accordance with the Terms of Reference (available from the link in this notice). The consultant appointed under this assignment (the ‘Consultant’ or the ‘Engineer’ used further interchangeably) is expected to be familiar with the following documents, amongst other:
• EBRD Procurement Policies & Rules
• EBRD Enforcement Policy and Procedures
• EBRD Disbursement Handbook for Public Sector Clients
• EBRD Environmental and Social Policy
• Applicable Laws

By engaging a Consultant, the Client should get access to international best practice in the field of project management, including implementation of the projects according to the EBRD's procurement rules and supervision of works contracts using FIDIC General Contract Conditions.

The selected consultant is expected to provide the following services:

The Consultant shall exercise the authority attributable to the Engineer, as specified in or necessarily implied from the Contract that will use the FIDIC “Conditions of Contract for Plant and Design-Build for Electrical and Mechanical and for Building and Engineering Works, designed by the Contractor” (Yellow book, 1st edition, 1999) as General Contract Conditions, as well as provide the services of the author and other supervision in accordance with Moldovan law and any other services specified in the Terms of Reference.

The Engineer shall perform his duties and authority as well as administer the Contract, dealing with situations in accordance with the Contract, including Financing Documents and Applicable Laws, taking due regard of all relevant circumstances.


Consultant's Profile

The consultant will be a firm, or consortium of firms, and is expected to have appropriate experience in the implementation of similar infrastructure projects in accordance with the policies and rules of multilateral development banks such as EBRD etc. and supervision of works in comparable conditions and in accordance with FIDIC conditions of contract.

The Consultant’s expert team is expected to include Key Experts as follows:

• Key Expert 1: Project Director/Engineer
• Key Expert 2: Chief Resident Engineer
• Key Expert 3: Chief Design Engineer
• Key Expert 4: Senior Railway Infrastructure Engineer
• Key Expert 5: Senior Railway Systems Engineer

All Key Experts shall have at least 15 years of previous professional experience in assignments of similar scope related to Supervision of Design and Works on railway infrastructure and systems (1520 mm gauge railway, signalling, telecommunications, power supply), experience with FIDIC contracts and proficiency in English language. Knowledge of local languages will be an advantage.

The Consultant’s team is expected to include a pool of additional experts consisting of at least:

• Railway Infrastructure Engineer
• Railway Signalling Systems Engineer
• Railway Telecommunication Systems Engineer
• Railway Power Systems Engineer
• Health and Safety Expert
• Environmental and Social Expert

Submission Requirements

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

(a) brief overview of the firm/group of firms including company profile, organization and staffing (max. 2-4 pages);

(b) details of similar project experience of firm/group of firms and related assignments undertaken in the previous five (5) 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 the 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 (5) 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 should not exceed 20 pages excluding CVs and contact/declaration sheet.

The complete expression of interest (including CVs, Consultant Declaration and Contact Sheet) should be submitted in English, with the translation into Romanian and/or Russian electronically through ECEPP not later than the closing date. The expression of interest shall be one file (pdf).


Important Notes:

1) Following this invitation for expressions of interest, a shortlist of qualified firms will be formally invited to submit proposals. Consultant selection and contracting will be subject to availability of funding.

2) The shortlist selection criteria are:

(i) Consultant's experience in performing Supervision of Contracts including Design and Works services for similar infrastructure rehabilitation projects during the past 10 years, funded by the International Financial Institutions (IFIs), such as EBRD, World Bank, ADB, etc.: 30%;

(ii) Consultant's experience in performing Supervision of Contracts for Design and Works services for railway infrastructure rehabilitation projects (including 1520 mm gauge railway, signalling, telecommunications, power supply), during the past 10 years, under FIDIC Conditions of Contract: 40%;

(iii) Qualification and competence of the Consultant's likely key experts based on the CVs received: 30%


The assignment is expected to start on 24/05/2019 and have an estimated overall duration of 47 months.


Cost Estimate (exclusive of VAT) :
EUR 1,800,000


Response Requirements:

In order to determine the capability and experience of consultants seeking to be selected, the consultant shall submit a response in accordance with the requirements of the procurement documentation available from the link in this notice. Following this invitation for expressions of interest, a shortlist of qualified firms will be formally established on the basis of the shortlisting criteria set out in the procurement documentation. Shortlisted consultants will be invited to submit proposals.

This consultant selection will be conducted by e-procurement using the EBRD Client E-Procurement Portal (ECEPP). Prospective participants who have registered in ECEPP and expressed an interest in the contract may access the documents and may request clarification and further information from the client through ECEPP. Non-registered firms should register on ECEPP at this link:

https://ecepp.ebrd.com/respond/AQFM23Y7ZH

and express an interest in this assignment. The CPD for this assignment is available for firms registered in ECEPP free of charge at the above link. Full conditions for participation are included in the documents. Prospective consultants may request clarification and further information from the client through ECEPP. Following this invitation for expressions of interest, a shortlist of qualified firms will be formally established on the basis of the shortlisting criteria set out in the CPD. Shortlisted consultants will be invited to submit proposals.



Client Address:
Grigore Condurache
CFM
Calea Ferata din Moldova (CFM)
Vlaicu Pircalab 48, Chisinau, MD2012, Moldova
Tel. +373 22 834 438, Email: grigore.condurache@railway.md