DEADLINE: 30TH AUGUST, 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 FIRMS TO PROVIDE GEOLOGICAL, FEASIBILITY, AND RELATED CONSULTING SERVICES FOR BRINE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (LOT 1, 2 OR 3)
(1) INTRODUCTION
The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved the development of salt deposits in Ebonyi State and the Nigeria brine belt situated in the Benue Trough.
(2) BACKGROUND
The task is to evaluate the potential viability for a salt operation in Ebonyi State, specifically in the vicinity of the Okposi and Uburu Lakes. These lakes are located within the lower Benue Trough region, which hosts three major brine fields, namely Abakaliki, Keana-Awe, and Mutum Daya. The chemical profile of brine collected in the Lower region, on average, is approximately equivalent to that of seawater.
(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. The mandates of the Fund include the development of physical and human capacity in the Nigerian mining sector, funding for geoscientific data gathering, storage, and retrieval to meet the needs of the private sector-led mining industry, equipping the mining institutions to enable them to perform their statutory functions, funding for the extension services to small scale and artisanal mining Operators and provision of mining-related infrastructure in mines land.
(4) REGIONAL GEOLOGY AND AREA OF INTEREST
Water with NaCl values of 3.5% NaCl is comparable to seawater and is best exploited using solar evaporation. The climate around the lakes has an average annual precipitation of about 2000mm per year with an average annual temperature of 27.2°C. The combination of high annual rainfall and humid climate yields low potential evaporation in the order of 75-100 mm per month (Trambauer, et al., 2014). The concentration of NaCl in Okposi, Uburu, and other locations in Ebonyi state is sufficient for the development of a brine mining industry that would sustain multiple brine production and processing facilities if adequately harnessed.
(5) OBJECTIVES
To scale up the project to conventional commercial solar salt production, the following exploratory steps are recommended:
- Regional, remote sensing studies using thermal emission techniques to identify additional spots for anomalous brine concentration
- Geophysical investigations to unravel lithological layering and prominent aquifers in the known areas and newly identified grounds in the remote sensing work
- Drilling to identify brines with higher saline contents and pumping test to check yield and continuity of the brine sources
(6) PROCUREMENT SCHEDULE
LOT 1: Pre-feasibility Stage
(A) Remote sensing survey using satellite thermal emission technique to identify additional brine spots in the general area of interest
(B) Geophysical Survey to identify available brine aquifers in the areas of interest
(C) Water-well drilling to the identified brine aquifers and pumping tests to determine yields
LOT 2: Feasibility Stage
(A) Carry out resource/reserves evaluation of the brine resource and determine the feasibility analysis of the production of salt and other chemical products from the brine reserves. The report is expected to be endorsed by a Competent Person.
(B) Develop and prepare the appropriate plant design and extraction flowsheets for salt production
LOT 3: Environmental Analysis Stage
(A) Carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment (ElA), and other Mining Compliance Reports
(8) REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
The Consultant must be a single legal entity with all other necessary expertise secured via subcontract or joint venture arrangement. The SMDF will enter into a single contract to deliver the works set out in these Terms of Reference. Reports written in English and Consultants will be expected to have a strong command of written English. The skills and experience required of the Consultant should include among other things, knowledge concerning:
- Complex geological studies
- Developing feasibility and resource evaluation reports
- Remote sensing and survey of geological basins
- All ESIA stages, including scoping, baseline study, impact prediction, impact assessment, and mitigation
(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 Partners 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/Prequalification 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 FIRMS TO PROVIDE GEOLOGICAL, FEASIBILITY, AND RELATED CONSULTING SERVICES FOR BRINE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT – (LOT 1,2 OR 3)”
(b) Consultants can submit applications for more than one lot, but the submission for each lot must be independently submitted.
(c) EOI/Prequalification Documents should be addressed and delivered not later than 12:00 noon (Nigerian Time) on 30 August, 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 30 August 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 Post (Courier Services);
- Only shortlisted firms will be contacted at a later date for collection of Request for Proposals;
- 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
