DEADLINE: 13TH SEPTEMBER, 2021
MINISTRY OF MINES AND STEEL DEVELOPMENT SOLID MINERALS DEVELOPMENT FUND
16 YEDSERAM STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR THE ENGAGEMENT OF A GEOLOGY CONSULTANCY FIRM TO CONDUCT MINING VIABILITY AND FEASIBILITY STUDIES FOR AN AGRO-MINERAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
(1) INTRODUCTION
The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved the development of agro-mineral deposits in Ebonyi State.
(2) BACKGROUND
A key factor in agricultural productivity is yield Improvement, and one way of achieving this is using cheap and readily available fertilizers, the Solid Minerals Development Fund and its partners plan to undertake the exploration, mining, and production of a critical agro-mineral for the local market and subsequent exports.
(3) OVERVIEW OF THE SOLID MINERALS DEVELOPMENT FUND
The Solid Minerals Development fund (“SMDF” or the “Fund”) is a Government-owned Fund established to drive Investments in Nigeria’s mining sector. The Fund was established in 2007 by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the 2007 Minerals and Mining Act. SMDF is a unique government funding vehicle focused on driving critical Interventions that maximize the recovery and impact of capital deployed.
(4) REGIONAL GEOLOGY AND AREA OF INTEREST
Ebonyi State is underlain mainly by the Asu River Group and Eze Aku Group, occurring in most of the northern and central parts of the State. The Nkalagu Limestone outcrops Nkalagu and Nkalaha areas in Ishielu and Ezza North Local Government Areas. The Amasiri Sandstone outcrops as the main sandy facies of the Eze- Aku Group in Amasiri and Akpoha areas, extending into Itigidi and Ugep in Cross River State.
(5) SCOPE OF WORK
The scope of work for the Geology Consulting Firm(s) will include but is not limited to.
- Studies at all levels, Including pre-feasibility studies, feasibility studies, and bankable documents
- Due diligence assessments
- Mining risk assessments
- Multidisciplinary study management
(6) PROCUREMENT SCHEDULE
LOT1: Pre-feasibility Stage
(A) Topographical land surveying over the 3.19km2 area on a scale of 1:10,000
(B) Detailed geological mapping over the 3.19km2 area on a scale of 1:10,000
(C) Detailed geophysical survey over the 3.19km2 area on a scale of 1:10,000
LOT 2: Feasibility Stage
(A) Reverse Circulation (RC) and Diamond Core (DC) Drilling over three (3) number mining blocks of 500m x 500m area each (total area of 75,000m2). Twenty-Five (25) holes (of 20 RC and 5 DC) to be drilled per block at a spacing of 100m between holes to be drilled down to 50m depth.
(B) Chemical Analysis of Drill Samples for major elements (including Si02, CaO, MgO, AI2O3, MnO, etc.) from representative samples obtained from drilling.
(C) Bulk ore metallurgical testing
LOT 3:
Mining Economics and Finance Assessment (A) Carry out resource/reserves evaluation of the resource and determine the feasibility analysis of the production of the reserves. The report is expected to be endorsed by a Competent Person
(B) Develop and prepare the appropriate plant design and extraction flowsheets for agro-mineral production.
(C) Technical studies used for mineral resource and are reserve reporting and in numerous regulatory and capital market submissions
(D) Benchmarking for comparative cost-of-production analysis
(E) Financial modeling for comparative assessments of economic performance
(F) Independent verification of project value and model audits for due diligence purposes
(7) REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
The SMDF will enter into a single contract to deliver the works set out in these Terms of Reference. The Consultant(s) must be a Single legal entity with all other necessary expertise secured via subcontract or Joint venture arrangement. The skills and experience required of the Consultant should include, among other things, knowledge concerning:
- Mineral Exploration, Mining Project Evaluation, Mining Finance, and Economics, Mining Viability Studies and Technical Reporting to International Mining Standards
(8) INSTRUCTION TO NON-DOMESTIC FIRMS
Non-domestic consulting firms may associate with one or more domestic consulting firms
(9) SELECTION METHOD
The Assignment/Service shall be procured in accordance with the Bureau of Public Procurement Selection of Consulting firms Complex Lump-Sum
(10) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
All respondents to this Expression of Interest are required to provide the following documents/Information in line with Section 16(6) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, as a basis for prequalification:
(a) Evidence of Certificate of Incorporation issued by Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) including Forms CAC2 and CAC7, or business Name where applicable;
(b) Evidence of Firm’s Tax Clearance Certificate (or Personal Income Tax Clearance Certificates of all the Partner in case of Business Name) for the last three (3) years valid till 31st December 2021;
(c) Evidence of Pension Clearance Certificate valid till 31st December 2021 (applicable where number of staff is at least 15);
(d) Evidence of Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Compliance Certificate valid till 31st December 2021 (applicable where number of staff is at least 5 or at least N50m turnover);
(e) Evidence of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Clearance Certificate valid till 31st December 2021;
(f) 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;
(g) Sworn Affidavit disclosing whether or not any officer of the relevant committees of the Solid Minerals Development Fund or the Bureau of Public Procurement is a former or present Director, shareholder or has any financial interest in the bidder and to confirm that all information presented in its bid are true and correct in all particulars;
(h) Company’s Audited Accounts for the last three (3) years-2018, 2019, 2020;
(i) Reference Letter from a reputable commercial bank in Nigeria; indicating a willingness to provide credit facility for the execution of the project when needed;
(j) Evidence of the Company’s current practice license Issued by the relevant regulatory professional regulatory body(ies);
(k) Company’s Profile with the Curriculum Vitae of Key Staff to be deployed for the project, including copies of their Academic/Professional qualifications;
(l) Verifiable documentary evidence of at least three (3) similar jobs executed in the last five (5) years. Including letters of Awards, Valuation Certificates, Job Completion Certificates, and Photographs of the projects;
(m) For Joint Venture/Partnership, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) should be provided (CAC, Tax Clearance Certificate, Pension Clearance Certificate, ITF Compliance Certificate, NSITF Clearance Certificate, IRR & Sworn Affidavit are compulsory for each JV partner) Certificate of Incorporation and Tax applicable to foreign firms; and
(n) All documents for submission must be transmitted with a Covering/ Forwarding letter under the Company/Firm’s letter Head Paper bearing, amongst others, the Registration Number (RC) as Issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Contact Address, Telephone Number (preferably GSM No,), and e-mail address. The Letterhead Paper must bear the Names and Nationalities of the Directors of the Company at the bottom of the page, duly signed by the authorised officer of the firm.
(11) SUBMISSION OF EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
(a) EOI Documents, which must be prepared in English Language, and should be submitted in Seven (7) copies (one of which must be marked original copy) in a sealed envelope clearly marked: “REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR THE ENGAGEMENT OF A GEOLOGY CONSULTANCY FIRM TO CONDUCT MINING VIABILITY AND FEASIBILITY STUDIES FOR AN AGRO-MINERAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT- (LOT 1,2, and 3).”
(b) Consultants can submit applications for more than one lot, but the submission for each lot must be independently submitted.
(c) EOI Documents should be addressed and delivered not later than 12:00 noon (Nigerian Time) on 13 September 2021 to the following address:
The Chief Procurement Officer,
Solid Minerals Development Fund,
16 Yedseram Street.
Maitama – Abuja.
(12) OPENING OF EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
The EOI shall be opened immediately after the deadline for submission at 12:00 noon (Nigerian Time) on 13 September 2021.
(13) Please note the following additional information:
- Bids must be in English Language and signed by an official authorised by the bidder;
- Bids submitted after the deadline for submission would be returned un-opened;
- All costs will be borne by the bidders;
- 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;
- Bidders can submit through the post (Courier Services);
- Only shortlisted firms will be contacted at a later date for collection of Request for proposal;
- The SMDF is not bound to shortlist any bidder and reserves the right to annul the procurement process at any time without incurring any liabilities in accordance with section 28 of the Public Procurement Act 2007.
SIGNED:
MANAGEMENT
