Federal Ministry Of Environment: Request For Expressions Of Interest

(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)

COUNTRY: NIGERIA
NAME OF PROJECT: NIGERIA EROSION AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PROJECT (NEWMAP)
CREDIT NO: 51050 UNI
ASSIGNMENT TITLE: ENGAGEMENT OF FEDERAL QUALITY CONTROL AND ENGINEERING DESIGN FIRM
REFERENCE NO.: FPMU/CS/QCBS/2A.1.3/2019/17

The Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has received a credit financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services of Engagement of Federal Quality Control and Engineering Design Firm (“the Services”) include, but not limited to the following:

1. Assist the FPMU engineer learn in the review of the project concept notes to ensure that all feasible solutions to the problem are considered and the best solution selected. Also overall plan, quality enhancement and quality control of the engineering designs under the GRASS subcomponent and completion of those in pipeline.
2. Check the quality of intervention site concept notes and engineering designs prepared by the SPMU design consultants and give both technical clearance and recommendations.
3. Build the capacity of FPMU/SPMU engineers and other NEWMAP actors as appropriate.
4. Provide GIS based mapping or aerial photography (as relevant) of possible and describing actual intervention sites, their watershed and project related areas.
5. Establish and maintain track recording of design reviewing and intervention in cooperation with M&E expert to provide progressive technical support in project monitoring, evaluation and operating in management information system.
6. In the event that the SPMU hired consultant fail to deliver quality site intervention designs on time, prepares site designs for the respective project sites as demanded by and in coordination with the SPMU engineers.
7. Control the quality of TORs for the recruitment of consultants and Bill of quantity together with the FPMU and SPMU staff engineers to be engaged on case by case basis.
8. Support SPMUs in the recruitment of consultants and contractors.
9. Provide engineering design and supervision related technical support to FPMU and SPMU staff engineers. This include, not limited to, providing necessary training for approval and/or issue the schedule, working drawings, approval of the setting out of the works and how to give instructions to the contractor;

Other Services include:

1. Ensure that technical aspects of watershed management programs are in harmony with the engineering designs so that SPMUs can effectively participate in the design process;
2. Play a critical role in integrating the site designs prepared by the SEDSFs and the activities of the UNGO to ensure that gully site engineering solutions are fully integrated into the watershed management plan of the intervention area prepared through participatory watershed planning and the technical support provided by the specialized Firm;
3. Assist in the participatory watershed management benchmarking process and ensure that information collected is adequate for NEWMAP performance monitoring indicators;
4. Review the High Spillway Discharge Impacts and Bathymetric Survey; in accordance with the following: Floodplain Mapping; Hydraulic Modeling, and the Emergency Operation Procedures and Flood Warning System;
5. Review the Tentative Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP) in accordance with the following: Spillway Rating Curves; Tentative Floodway and Floodplain Mapping; Dam Break Analysis and Hydraulic Modeling, and the Emergency Preparedness Plan;
6. Review Dam safety as well as revision of operational procedures in the States in accordance with the following: Crest Settlement Survey, Embankment Inspection, Spillway & Outlet Works Inspection, Instrumentation Inspection & Condition Assessment; and Inspection & testing of Gates, Valves and Mechanical & Electrical Systems submitted by the SEDSFs
7. Review the Diagnosis of the meteorological and hydrometric network submitted by the SEDSFs
8. Assist NEWMAP States with the Consultation and elaboration of an action plan for improved metrology and hygrometry submitted by the SEDSFs
9. Review the assessment of hydrometric network O&M budget and required manpower submitted by the SEDSFs
10. Assisting in ensuring that the structural engineering and watershed management related capacity of the Client and the SPMU, and other partners is improved through hands-on and tailored trainings;
11. Assist the Client and the Bank, in the review and clearance of all reports submitted by the SEDSFs, and the UNGO;
12. Provide a second layer assurance to the Client and the Bank by recommending payment requests (certificates) and works proposed by SEDSFs. This include recommendation for: (i) any variation orders with financial implications, (ii) variations in work quantities, (iii) sanctioning additional items, sums or costs, (iv) subletting of any part of the works; and (v) extension of contractual time limits;
13. Guide the SEDSFs, on behalf of the PMUs, to prepare reports or additional contract documents for consideration of proposals to carry out of additional works;
14. Recommend for authorization all additional services other than minor extras without materially affecting the scope of work, at rates or on a man-month basis and under conditions to be mutually agreed following the Project’s applicable contract procedures;
15. Support the PMUs and the Bank in reviewing the RAPs and ESMPs prepared by the Social and Environmental Consultancy Team (SECT); and
16. Request the SEDSFs and the UNGO to prepare any other documentation/reports on behalf of the PMUs and/or the Bank as deemed necessary.

Guidance to the Bidding Firms
The Firm will be based in capital city of Abuja at an office provided by the FPMU. The Firm will be responsible for all office facility, transportation, accommodation, communication, support staff and support service arrangements and costs, as well as for all study data collection, survey, investigation, analysis, design and drawing/report production arrangements and cost. Bidders should therefore make provision for all such costs, as well as for the Consultant’s own assignment costs, as reimbursable expenses in their Financial Proposal. The Firm will cater for its own office equipment such as computers, printers, photocopying and cover the cost of related consumables (excluding electricity and water). The Firm will ensure all staff are computer literate and equipped with the necessary computers and ensure that all reports, technical notes and guidelines, training kits, etc. are electronically produced. Any designs produced will be presented using a GPS referencing, linked worksheets and computer-assisted drawings, provide staff with the necessary GPS equipment as required for positioning site inspections.
The Firm will travel to NEWMAP intervention sites to access/review collected data and information and for stakeholders consultation. The Firm will need to ensure staff transportation to and from the Project Area, the transportation during the study period within the project area, and all translation costs from English to local languages. All governmental stakeholders will ensure that: (i) their staff will be mobilized (and provided with transportation facilities as required) to assist the Firm according to work-plans agreed on a monthly basis with each of the involved partners; and (ii) the Firm will have effective access to all relevant documents as requested by them from each of the respective partners’ representatives.
The planning costs will be covered by the Firm including (i) purchase of satellite imagery for the planning of intervention sites once the inception report has clarified the precise location of the intervention area:; and (ii) cost for digitalizing of any map cadastre lawyers available for the gully sites. All materials purchased or developed as part of the preparation, including GIS, MIS, and other databases, survey results, computer programs, etc. will be provided to the client in standard electronic formats, as electronic annexes to the standard reports, and will be the property of the Client.
Workshops, stakeholder forums and meetings will be funded and catered for as part of the project preparation costs. The Firm will be responsible for meeting the costs of training it is going to propose. Bidders should therefore provide for such costs as reimbursable expenses in their financial proposals. The costs could include meeting venue costs and travel, accommodation, meal and incidental costs for the participants.

Duration of Services
The Consulting firm shall be for an initial two years which could be extended base on the performance of the firm. Prospective Firms are requested to propose their detailed schedule which include logically organized flow diagram describing key milestones.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be found at the following website: www.newmap.gov.ng.

The Federal Project Management Unit of the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) now invite eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.

The Shortlisting Criteria are:

1. Evidence of legal status of the firm (business and years in business) shall not be less than 10 years relevant general working experience;
2. Profile of firm including ownership structure with full contact details;
3. Capability profile of the firm (Track Records); include details of experience in similar assignment;
4. Technical and managerial capability of the firm;
5. Experience of working in a similar geographical region.

Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraph 3.14, 3.16 and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” October 2017 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

In addition, please refer to the following specific information on conflict of interest related to this assignment.

Consultants shall not be hired for any assignment that would be in conflict with their prior or current obligations to other clients, or that may place them in a position of being unable to carry out the assignment in the best interest of the Borrower, without limitation on the generality of the foregoing. Consultants shall not be hired under the circumstances set forth below:

1. A firm that has been engaged by the Borrower to provide Goods, Works, or Non consulting Services for a project (for an affiliate that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with that firm), shall be disqualified from providing Consulting Services resulting from, or directly related to, those Goods, Works, or Non-consulting services. This provision does not apply to the various firms (Consultants, Contractors, or Suppliers), which together are performing the contractor’s obligations under a turnkey or design and build contract;
2. A firm that has been engaged by the Borrower to provide Consulting Services for the preparation or implementation of a project (or an affiliate that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with that Consulting firm), shall be disqualified from subsequently providing Goods, Works, or Non-consulting Services resulting from, or directly related to those Consulting Services. This provision does not apply to the various firms (Consultants, Contractors, or Suppliers), which together performing the contractor’s obligations under a turnkey or design and build contract;
3. Neither a Consultant (including personnel and sub-consultants), nor an affiliate (that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the Consultant), shall be hired for any assignment that, by its nature, creates a conflict of interest with another assignment of the Consultant;
4. Consultants (including their experts and other personnel, and sub-consultants), that have a close business or family relationship with a professional staff of the Borrower, or of the project implementing agency, or a recipient of a part of the Bank’s financing, or any other party representing or acting on behalf of the Borrower, that is directly or indirectly involved in any part of:
   a) The preparation of the TOR for the assignment;
   b) The selection process for the contract; or
   c) The supervision of the contract, may not be awarded a contract, unless the conflict stemming from this relationship has been resolved in a manner acceptable to the Bank throughout the selection process and the execution of the contract.

Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications, but should indicate clearly whether the association is in the form of a Joint Venture and/or a sub-consultancy. In the case of a joint venture, all the partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected.
A consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost Based Selection method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

Further information can be obtained at the address below at the address below during office hours from 10:00am to 16:00pm. Mondays to Fridays, excluding public holidays.

Expressions of Interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) not later than 4:00pm on February 20th, 2019.

Salisu Dahiru
The Federal Project Coordinator,
Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management
Project (NEWMAP)
No.56, Mamman Nasir Street, Off T.Y. Danjuma
Street, Asokoro, Abuja
Telephone: +234-803-786-3662
E-mail: info@newmap.gov.ng