Federal Ministry Of Water Resources (FMWR)- Request For Qualification (RFQ) From Prospective Investors/Developers For The 136mw Manya And 182mw Bawarku Hydropower Development Project (2 Lots)

DEADLINE: 20TH MARCH, 2023
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES (FMWR)
OLD FEDERAL SECRETARIAT COMPLEX, AREA I, GARKI, ABUJA
IN COMPLIANCE WITH INFRASTRUCTURE CONCESSION REGULATORY COMMISSION (ICRC) ESTABLISHMENT ACT 2005 & NATIONAL POLICY ON PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP (N4P)
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION (RFQ) FROM PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS/DEVELOPERS FOR THE 136MW MANYA AND 182MW BAWARKU HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (UNSOLICITED PPP PROCESS)

(1.0) INTRODUCTION
The Federal Government of Nigeria (“FGN”), through The Federal Ministry of Water Resources (FMWR) (“Grantor”), seeks to Concession some of its Hydropower Development Projects (HPP). The projects entail the development and construction of dams, the construction, installation of the hydropower plant and the transmission infrastructure for power evacuation. In furtherance, therefore, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources (“FMWR”) in compliance with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (“ICRC”) Establishment Act 2005 and in furtherance of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSR 2005) seeks to develop multipurpose dams & power plants to a private sector developer(s) and operator under a concession arrangement. FMWR invites interested firms and/or consortiums of firms to participate in the qualification process for the selection of a Private Sector Operator through a Competitive Bidding process. The FMWR expects the selected Private Partners to Design, Finance, Build, Operate and Transfer (DFBOT) the facility based on Tenure, Terms and Conditions to be set out in the Concession Agreement.

(2.0) Project Objective
The overall objective of the project is to procure Concessionaire(s) with the technical and financial capabilities to finance, build, operate, maintain and manage the hydropower development project(s) for optimum power generation all year round. The Government, through these projects, aims to bridge the power generation gap that exists in the country, whilst equally diversifying the country’s energy mix with new investments in renewable energy. The Hydropower Development Projects are currently at the forefront of a new wave of large-scale, project-financed, Greenfield Independent Power Plants (IPPs) currently being developed in Nigeria. The overall objective of the project(s) is to procure Concessionaire (s) with the technical, financial and management capabilities to design, finance, build and operate the under-listed hydropower plant project(s):

(3.0)  PROJECT SCOPE
The main scope of the Hydropower development project(s) by PPP scheme include:

(i) design and detailed studies for the dam,

(ii) development and construction of a dam

(iii) the installation of the specified respective electromechanical components/power plants

(iv) the construction of the transmission infrastructure for power evacuation

(v) To fully harness the Hydropower potential available in the plant for optimal electricity generation

(vi) to supply water for irrigation/water supply

(4.0) Swiss Challenge PPP Procurement Methodology
Note that there is a private proponent who submitted the proposal on the project, however in order to ensure transparency, competition and value for money, the project will be procured under a Swiss Challenge PPP Procurement Methodology which requires that if the original project proponent is not the most responsive bidder, it will be given the right to match the most responsive bid to win the concession. However, if it is unable to match the most responsive bid, the most responsive bid then wins the Swiss Challenge PPP procurement and becomes the Preferred Project Proponent.

(4.1) Request for Qualification (RFQ)
Interested firms and/or consortium of firms may submit their Qualification Statements in response to this RFQ/Project Information Memorandum wherein firms and/or Consortia will be shortlisted for issuance of a detailed Request for Proposal. Details of the project, application submission process and requirements have been set out in the Request for Qualification (RfQ). Subsequently, the RFQ requirements will be available on the online portal for all interested parties to participate in the qualification process. Pre-qualified bidders would be duly notified through our official means of communication (the E-mail) and/or the online platform and issued with Request for (Proposal (RfP) documents.

(5.0) Eligibility Criteria and Method of Application

Qualification of interested parties will be based on the following:

(5.1) Pre-Eligibility

(i) Evidence of Company Registration with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) or its equivalent for foreign firms;

(ii) In the case of a consortium, evidence in the form of a letter of association or agreement (joint venture agreement and/or Memorandum of Understanding/Memorandum of Agreement)

(iii) Power of Attorney/Board Resolution, in case of a consortium, identifying the lead member of the consortium authorized to submit the RFQ and binding on all the members of the consortium.

(iv) Audited Financial Statements prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) of the bidding company or members of consortium for the last three (3) years (2020, 2021 & 2022).

(v) Tax Clearance Certificates for the last three (3) years (2020, 2021 & 2022) expiring on 31st December, 2023.

(vi) Sworn affidavit disclosing whether or not any officer of the relevant committees of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources or the Bureau of Public Procurement is a former or present Director, shareholder or has any pecuniary interest in the bidder, that the company is not bankrupt, in receivership or under liquidation or involved in any litigation which can potentially affect the company’s ability to effectively discharge their responsibility if engaged and to confirm that all information presented in its bid are true and correct in all particulars.

(6.0) Tender Requirements
Construction, Technical, Operational and Financial capability including:

(a) Detailed company/consortium profile:

(i) A description of the company or consortium stating ownership structure, business history, management/organizational structure, Energy/ Hydropower development and operational capabilities and any other relevant information.

(ii) Ownership structure of bidding entity, Name(s) of major shareholders and percentage shareholding of participants in the bidding entity.

(b) Experience of undertaking similar projects illustrated by the following:

(i) General experience in development, operations, investment financing of energy power projects globally/locally (list all relevant projects/track records).

(ii) Specific verifiable experience and track records of Design, Construction, operations, management, maintenance and financing of hydro power Projects globally locally (list all relevant projects/track records)

(iii) Evidence of developing and managing hydropower plant capacity of at least 200MW capacity.

(iv) Emerging market experience in power generation facilities construction and operation especially hydropower experience

(v) Construction Delivery/financing Operating & Maintaining of large-scale power infrastructure in Nigeria.

(c) Evidence of financial capacity, in support of the company or consortium’s ability to undertake the Hydropower Development Project evidenced by adequate financial resources to finance investment;

(i) For applicants bidding for Bawarku only: The average turnover per annum in the last three (3) years of at least Eighty Billion Naira (N80,000.000,000) per annum and a minimum net worth of Twenty-Five Billion Naira (N25,000,000,000).

(ii) For applicants bidding for Manya only: The average turnover per annum in the last three (3) years of at least Sixty-Five Billion Naira (N65,000,000,000) per annum and a minimum net worth of Twenty Billion Naira (N20,000,000.000).

(iii) For applicants bidding for the 2 projects: The average turnover per annum in the last three (3) years of at least One Hundred and Twenty Billion Naira (N120,000,000.000) per annum and a minimum net worth of Forty Billion Naira (N40,000,000,000).

(iv) Evidence of financial support from reputable financial institutions

(d) Experience and Expertise of Key Personnel as illustrated by profiles of key management staff with relevant experience working on a similar project and at least fifteen (15) years in the relevant industry.

(i) Construction/Delivery/financing of large-scale Power Infrastructure

Note: The eligibility criteria and method of application is as contained in the RfQ document which interested parties MUST download from the E-Portal; www.manyabawarkuhpp.com.ng; www.waterresources.gov.ng and www.icrc.gov.ng

Clarifications/enquiries should be directed to the Head, PPP Unit, Federal Ministry of Water resources.

(7.0) Method of Submission

All applications shall be submitted physically only.

(i) All physical submission should be addressed and submitted to the Office of the Head, PPP Unit, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Room 205, Old Building, Old Federal Secretariat Complex, Areal, Garki, Abuja; the application shall consist of Six (6) printed and bound copies (1 original and 5 copies) in a sealed and signed envelope clearly marked “Name of Company/Consortium” and Project Title and Lot number.

(ii) Deadline for physical submission is 3:00pm on Monday, 20 March, 2023.

(iii) The RfQ shall be opened immediately after the deadline for submission at 3:00pm on Monday, 20 March, 2023.

(8.0) IMPORTANT NOTICE

(a) Interested international parties are encouraged to partner with local firms in compliance with the requirements of the Federal Government of Nigeria local content development policy.

(b) This notice shall not be construed to be a commitment on the part of the FMWR to award any form of contracts to any respondent(s) nor shall it entitle any organization submitting document to claim any indemnity from the FMWR.

(c) Late submissions will be returned un-opened (this includes submissions via courier not delivered within the stipulated time shown above).

(d) Submissions shall be in English language only.

(e) The FMWR reserves the right to verify the authenticity of any claims made in the documents submitted by the companies;

(f) Only shortlisted firms at RfQ evaluation will be invited at a later date for collection of Request for Proposals;

(g) The Federal Ministry of Water Resources is not bound to pre-qualify 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:
PERMANENT SECRETARY
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES