Rural Electrification Agency (REA)- Invitation For Pre-Qualification Of Contractors For Rural Electrification Projects Under The 2021 Appropriation Act (214 Lots)

DEADLINE: 16TH AUGUST, 2021
RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AGENCY
INVITATION FOR PRE-QUALIFICATION OF CONTRACTORS FOR RURAL ELECTRIFICATION PROJECTS UNDER THE 2021 APPROPRIATION ACT

(1.0) INTRODUCTION
The Federal Government of Nigeria has allocated funds to the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) under the 2021 Appropriation Act to procure goods, works and services. In compliance with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2007, the Agency hereby invites competent and experienced Nigerian contractors to submit bidding documents to compete for the projects listed below:

(2.0)  SCOPE OF WORKS

(3.0) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Prospective bidders are required to submit genuine copies of the following documents as proof of their eligibility:

(i) Evidence of Certificate of Incorporation issued by Corporate Affairs Commission including copies of Form CAC1.1 or CAC2 and CAC7;

(ii) Evidence of Company’s Income Tax Clearance Certificate for the last three years – 2018, 2019 and 2020 expiring 31st December, 2021;

(iii) Evidence of Pension Clearance Certificate valid till 31st December, 2021 (applicable where number of staff is at least 15);

(iv) Evidence of Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Compliance Certificate valid till 31st December, 2021 (applicable where number of staff is at least or at least N50m turnover);

(v) Evidence of current Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Clearance Certificate valid till 31st December, 2021;

(vi) Evidence of Registration on the National Database of Federal Contractors, Consultants and Service Providers by submission of Interim Registration Report (IRR) expiring on 31 /12/2021 or valid Certificate issued by BPP;

(vii) Sworn Affidavit:

– disclosing whether or not any officer of the relevant committees of Rural Electrification Agency or the Bureau of Public Procurement is a former or present Director, shareholder or has any pecuniary interest in the bidder and to confirm that all information presented in its bid are true and correct in all particulars;

– that the company is presently NOT in receivership or subject to any form of insolvency or bankruptcy or winding up petition or proceedings;

– that no Director of the company has ever been convicted in any country of any criminal offence bordering on fraud or financial impropriety;

(viii) For Category’ A, B and C, current valid NEMSA License for contractors or Individual Director’s category A licence in the Electric Power Sector issued by the National Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA);

(ix) Verifiable evidence of two (2) contracts of similar nature and complexity executed in the last five (5) years (Please attach Letter of Award together with interim or valuation certificates, job completion or payment certificate).

(x) Evidence of financial capability to execute the project by submission of Reference Letter from a reputable commercial bank in Nigeria, indicating willingness to provide credit facility for the execution of the project when needed;

(xi) Attach last 3 years Audited Account (2018, 2019 and 2020).

(xii) Evidence of ownership or lease of relevant equipment for execution of Rural Electrification project e.g. Side Drop Crane, Pick Up Van etc. (Please attach proof of ownership or lease agreement as applicable).

(xiii) Duly executed Power of Attorney or Board Resolution authorizing a designated officer of the company to act as a representative and to bind the company by signing all bids, contract Agreement and other documents with REA on behalf of the company, duly signed by the Chairman and Secretary

(xiv) Company’s Profile, Curriculum Vitae of Technical Staff, including evidence that one of the key personnel of the company is a COREN-Registered Electrical Engineer

(xv) A clear copy of the certified Receipt of Payment for Non-refundable Tender fee of N10,000.00 (Ten Thousand Naira) only.

(xvi) Bidders for projects in DG001, DG003 and Category B: SOLAR MINI GRID must provide evidence that they are Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) or accredited agents of the OEM

(xvii) DG002: Evidence of current registration/accreditation with Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria and National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA);

(xviii) Evidence that all documents for submissions were transmitted with a covering/forwarding letter on the company’s Letter Headpaper, bearing among other things the Registration Number (RC) as issued by Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Contact Address, Telephone Number (Preferable GSM No.) and E-mail address. Tire Letterhead paper must indicate the names and Nationalities of Directors of the company at the bottom of the page duly signed by the authorized person of the company.

(4.0) COLLECTION OF BIDDING DOCUMENTS
(4.1) Interested Bidders are to collect the authenticated hard copy of the Standard Bidding Documents from the Procurement Directorate, REA Corporate Headquarters, 22 Free Town Street, Wuse 2, Abuja upon production of evidence of payment of the Non-refundable Tender fee of N 10,000.00 (Ten Thousand Naira) only per Lot. All payments are to be made through Remita in favour of National Rural Electrification Agency (NRBA) using GEFMIS code 1000024043 AND NOT Nigeria Electricity Project (NEP) after which bidders should proceed to REA Finance & Account Department with their RRR to obtain Receipt of payment.

(4.2) Original and photocopies of the Certified Receipt of Payment shall then be presented to the REA Procurement Directorate for collection of Standard Bidding Documents. Collection of Documents shall be between the hours of 10:00am and 5:00pm Monday to Friday.

(5.0) SUBMISSION OF BIDS
(5.1) Bidders shall submit three (3) hard copies i.e. one original and two copies of both Technical and Financial Document in two separate sealed envelopes clearly marked “TECHNICAL” and “FINANCIAL” respectively on the top left corner with LOT NUMBER, PROJECT TITLE and PACKAGE NUMBER on the back of each envelope. Both envelopes should then be placed in a third (bigger) envelope also sealed and marked with LOT NUMBER, PROJECT TITLE and PACKAGE NUMBER on the top left corner. Bids should be addressed to:

The Managing Director/CEO
Rural Electrification Agency
Corporate Headquarters 22,
Freetown Street Wuse 2, Abuja.

(5.2) The reverse side of all the envelopes used must bear the BIDDER’S NAME and address as well as the authorised contact person’s phone number (All written out in capital letters)

(5.3) Completed Bids are to be dropped in the tamper-proof “Tender Box” at designated points within the Agency Corporate Headquarters, 22 Freetown Street, Wuse 2, Abuja not later than 12:00 Noon on Monday, 16 August, 2021 for Category A and not later than 12:00 Noon on Tuesday, 17 August, 2021 for Categories B, C & D. Bidders are hereby advised to identify their bid boxes before dropping their bids. Bids submitted after the above specified deadlines shall be returned unopened to bidders who submitted them.

(6.0) OPENING OF BIDS
(6.1) The Technical Documents for Category A shall be opened immediately after close of submissions at 12:00 Noon on Monday, 16 August, 2021 while the Technical Documents for projects in Categories B, C & D shall be opened immediately following close of submissions at 12:00 Noon on Tuesday, 17 August, 2021 at REA Corporate Headquarters, 22 Freetown Street, Wuse 2, Abuja.

(6.2) All Bidders are enjoined to ensure that they sign the Bid Submission Register and obtain Bid Acknowledgment Receipt before dropping their bids in the Tender Boxes, as REA will not be held responsible for lost, misplaced or -wrongly submitted bids.

(7.0) IMPORTANT GENERAL INFORMATION
(i) Bids must be in English Language and signed by an official authorised by the bidder

(ii) Each bidder is permitted to submit bid only for a maximum of TWO LOTS which must be selected from different project categories. Any bidder discovered to have submitted bid for more than one (1) lot in the same category or for more than two (2) lots in total shall be disqualified.

(iii) Companies found to be related or which have the same directors or personnel shall be disqualified;

(iv) Failure to adhere to the instructions in the FGN Standard Bidding Documents adopted for this Procurement shall result in disqualification. It is mandatory to complete all the relevant Sections of the Bidding Documents.

(v) Contractors with history of abandonment/non-completion of Rural Electrification projects or other Government contracts need not apply, otherwise, shall be disqualified.

(vi) Every page of submitted bidding documents (hard copies) must be signed by the person duly authorised to represent the company.

(vii) Submission of fake documents in support of a bid may lead to prosecution as all documents received shall be referred to the issuing authorities and/or security agencies for verification.

(viii) Only technically qualified bidders will be invited at a later date for financial bid opening, while financial bids of unsuccessful bidders shall be returned un-opened;

(ix) Bid documents can also be collected in soft copies and Bidders can submit through Post (Courier Services)

(x) Presence of bidders/representatives and members of the public shall not be required during the bid opening ceremony in compliance with COVID-19 Guidelines. The Bids Opening will be covered by video recording (link will be sent to bidders) with the presence of two (2) representatives of private sector professional bodies and Civil Society Organisation in the areas of Anti- Corruption/Transparency;

(xi) Because of the Covid-19 pandemic that is currently ravaging the country, bidders are to note the following:

• For collection of bidding documents, only Ten (10) bidders will be allowed to enter into the Agency’s premises at a time.
• Bidders should also note that all the guidelines put in place by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19 shall be strictly adhered to. This includes the use of face mask, hand sanitizer and the enforcement of social distancing.

(8.0) DISCLAIMER
(i) This advertisement is published only for information purposes and does not constitute an offer, commitment or obligation by REA to transact with any party’ nor entitle any contractor to make any claims, whatsoever or seek any indemnity from the Agency.

(ii) The bidder shall bear all costs and expenses incurred in connection with preparation of Documents or submission made in response to this invitation or in response to any enquiry or clarification arising from this exercise.

(iii) The Rural Electrification Agency pledges fair and equal treatment of all bidders, but is not bound to prequalify any bidder, and in line with Section 28 of the Public Procurement Act 2007, the Agency reserves the right to annul this procurement process at any time in the best public interest without incurring liabilities to itself.

ENQUIRIES
All enquiries and request for clarification regarding this publication may be directed to:

The Director (Procurement)
Rural Electrification Agency Corporate Headquarters,
22, Freetown Street, Wuse 2,
Abuja.

Signed:
Management