Sierra Leone Energy Access Project - Sierra Leone Infrastructure Development Fund

SIERRA LEONE

ENERGY ACCESS PROJECT  - 

Sierra Leone Infrastructure Development Fund Grant (P126180)

Assignment Title: Project Coordinator for Rural Electrification (Full-time position)

Reference No. CS/7

The Government of Sierra Leone has applied for financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Energy Access Project, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services ofa Project Coordinator for Rural Electrification (full-time position) under the namedproject.

The Project will include two phases: a first phase entirely financed under the Sierra Leone Infrastructure Development Fund (SLIDF), whose implementation is expected to begin in early 2013; and a second phase financed by the International Development Association (IDA), which is currently under preparation.

The SLIDF is a multi-donor TrustFund established in 2010 with funding from the U.K.'s Department of International Development (DFID) and administered by the World Bank based on an Administration Agreement entered into with DFID.

The main objectives of the first phase of the Project funded by SLIDF are to: (i) reduce losses in electricity supply in Freetown Capital Western Area; (ii) improve commercial performance of the National Power Authority (NPA); and (iii) increase access to electricity in selected rural areas.

The project has the following main components:

Component I: Rehabilitation of Primary Distribution Network, Loss Reduction and Improvement of the electricity utility's (NPA) Operational and Commercial Performance

Component II: Rural Electrification. This component will launch a pilot program for the installation of photovoltaic (PV) systems on public buildings in 14 villages, to demonstrate applicability of the solar technology for larger deployment.

Component III: Technical Assistance for Project Implementation Management

The Project will be implemented by the Project Management Unit(PMU) already established at the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources (MoEWR) for implementing externally funded development programs. The PMU will closely coordinate the project activities with the MoEWR and the NPA.

Under Component II of the project, a consulting firm (the supervising consultant engineer) will be hired by the PMU for (i) preparation of feasibility studies, including technical specifications and bidding documents for installing solar power equipment in 14 villages, (one village in each of the 14 administrative districts of Sierra Leone), as well as (ii) supervision.

The objective of the consulting services to be provided by the Project Coordinator for Rural Electrification (the "Services") is to ensure that implementation of activities under component II of the Project (rural electrification component) strictly adhere to the policies, laws and regulations of the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) and with the World Bank's implementation policies and procedures.

The location of the assignment isFreetown, Sierra Leone.

The Project Coordinator for RuralElectrification is expected to oversee and monitor activities under the rural electrification component, ensuring timely and effective implementation, enforcing quality and safeguard standards, and facilitating achievement of identified results.

He/she will oversee and monitor, from a Client perspective, the installation and commissioning of photovoltaic (PV) systems in the selected villages.

The services include the following:

·         Oversee the hiring of the supervising consultant engineer, liaising closely with the PMU procurement specialist;

·         Review and clear feasibility studies, technical specifications, investment plans and any other documentation produced by the supervising consultant engineer;

·         Ensure that the supervising consultant engineer daily reviews the contractors' work plans and schedule and adequately supervises commissioning;

·         Ensure quality control of materials and equipment;

·         Witness factory inspection tests with the supervising consultant engineer to ensure that the manufacturing conforms to specifications;

·         Ensure that the supervising consultant engineer duly enforce conditions of the contracts and that all contractual obligations of contractors and any applicable subcontractors are fulfilled;

·         Ensure that contractor's progress payments certified by the supervising consultant engineer are consistent with the requirements of the contract;

·         Review disbursement schedules;

·         Provide final approval to recommendations made by the supervising consultant engineer in response to all claims, accounts, questions, disputes and differences raised by the contractor;

·         Endeavour to assist the supervising consultant engineer in resolving disputes in an amicable manner within the terms of the contract, in coordination with the PMU, the World Bank, and the contractor;

·         Make organizational arrangements for proper operation and maintenance of the PV systems, in close coordination with villages, chiefdom and district council authorities, as well as the Ministries of Health, Education, Regional Development and any other agencies with which coordination may be further required;

·         Oversee operation and maintenance of the PV systems in close coordination with the supervising consultant engineer;

·         Identify potential implementation issues in a timely fashion and agree on corrective measures with the General Project Coordinator, the PMU Director and other relevant counterparts as needed;

·         Coordinate implementation of rural electrification activities withrelevant departments of MoEWR, other Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, as well as district, chiefdom and village authorities;

·         Share knowledge and experience in rural electrification with MoEWR line staff concerned with ruralelectrification;

·         Carry out monitoring and evaluation of results of the rural electrification component, including collecting, verifying and collating information and data on outputs and results, in compliance with the Result and Monitoring Framework agreed with the Bank;

·         Prepare regularlyprogress reports on the implementation of the rural electrification component along with periodic briefs and minutes of meetings relevant to project.

The Project Management Unit ofthe Ministry of Energy and Water resources now invites eligible individual consultants ("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 qualification requirements(short-listing criteria) include:

·         Degree in Electrical Power Engineering. A relevant postgraduate qualification or an additional tertiary or vocational qualification in project management will be an advantage;

·         Additional background in social sciences will be an advantage;

·         Minimum 8 years experience, of whichat least 3 years outside Sierra Leone;

·         Minimum 5 years experience in supervision of rural electrification works,  with specific experience of off-grid photovoltaic systems;

·         Minimum 3 years experience in the management and coordination of rural electrification projects;

·         Ability to work under pressure and manage responsibilities within tight deadlines; 

·         Excellent knowledgeof common PC office tools;

·         Excellent English proficiency, both spoken and written;

·         Ability to produce clear, comprehensive written reports in English;

The evaluation criteria are:

1)      General qualifications: general education and training, length of experience, positions held - 20 points

2)      Previous experience in supervision of rural electrification works,  with specific experience of off-grid photovoltaicsystems -40

3)      Previous experience in management and coordination of rural electrification projects, with a preference for World Bank-financed such projects  - 20 points

4)      Previous experience of work in countries similar to Sierra Leone – 20 points

Total points: 100

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank's Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants [under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants] by WorldBank Borrowers, January 2011, ("Consultant Guidelines"), setting forth the World Bank's policy on conflict of interest.

The estimated level of effort is 12 man/months and the contracting and entry on duty is expected to take place as soon as possible upon selection of a candidate. Subject to consultants' satisfactoryperformance of the assignment, the Contract will be extended (based on the unit rate included in the signed contract).

An individual Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Consultant Guidelines.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 9.00hr to 17.00 hrs.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) byMarch 22, 2013.

Project Management Unit of Ministry of Energy and Water Resources

Attn: Mr. Ibrahim Babatunde Wilson, Project Director (SLIDF)

1^st Floor Electricity House, Siaka Stevens Street

Freetown, Sierra Leone

Tel: 00232-76452550 or 00223-33287643.

E-mail: ibrwilson@yahoo.com

Copy: abduljay@gmail.com