Afghanistan: Sustainable Development of Natural Resources Project II

January 04, 2013

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

Selection of Consulting Services for:

Improving the Business Environment:

Development of the Natural Gas Sector of Afghanistan

Project Name: Sustainable Development of Natural Resources Project (Phase-II)

Consultancy Services: Improving the Business Environment: Development of the Natural Gas Sector ofAfghanistan

IDA Grant No.: H966-AF

Project ID No.:  P 118925

Reference:  MOMP/PMU/CT-II-44-2

The Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has received a grant from the World Bank toward the cost of the project: Sustainable Development of Natural Resources in Afghanistan.  The Project is being implemented through a Program Management Unit (PMU) within the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum. The PMU is now seeking to hire a qualified Firm to assist in updating Afghanistan's natural gas strategy, improving its legal and regulatory framework and prioritizing "next steps" for development of the sector.

The major tasks within the scope of services include:

Task 1:                        Literature Review and Consultation:

The Consultant shall review the Sufregas Natural Gas Strategy, 2004 as a starting point from which to consultthe current actors in Afghanistan's gas development, including, but not limited to, the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, Ministry of Finance, the newly formed Afghan Petroleum Authority and donor project representatives. The consultant should coordinate with all involved donors such as ADB, USAID and MIDAS. The Consultant shall review the institutional arrangements in place for supporting the development of Afghanistan's natural gas sector.

Task 2             Sector Strategy:

Consultant shall prepare an updated natural gas development strategy through a series of consultations and iterative processes using both Afghan and international advisors and experts.

Task 3             Financial Modeling:

Consultant will work with the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum to develop financial models for natural gas prices and transport pricing. This work will have particular importance on a project-by-project basis and will require detailed analysis of Afghanistan's pricing positionsrelevant to TAPI, CNG, power generation and other gas uses.

Task 4           Legal and Regulatory Basis:

The legal framework currently surrounding the Afghan natural gas sector is insufficient. The Consultant will review the current operations and gaps in the legal and regulatory system and assist with its reform.

Conditions of Engagement

1. It isenvisioned that 70% work will be performed at the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum in Kabul, with the remaining 30% conducted outside Afghanistan.
2. The Consultant shall provide a world-class team of international and Afghan technical advisors that includes a support team of translators, logistics and security.
3. The Consultant shall design its activities and tasks so as to build capacity at the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum to carry out related activities.
4. The Consultant shall work closely with the cited counterparts as well as relevant donors, contractors and other stakeholders to ensure full coverage of information and inputs.
5. All documents and information collected shall be catalogued as part of the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum' archives. Financial information shall be stored in computer database programs as agreed by the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum.
6. These consulting services shall be conducted parallel to, but separate from, consulting services related to the restructuring and corporatization of the Afghanistan State Gas Enterprise.

Qualifications

The Consultant shall be a legally registered entity with core competency as a financial, legal or natural gas consultant, expertise in related infrastructure, legal and financial matters, and international experience. Theteam proposed by the Consultant shall have relevant education certification, including academic degrees from accredited universities. The team shall have at least ten (10) years' experience in the natural gas sector specific to strategic planning, technical assessment, and legaland regulatory development. The Consultant must have provided strategic planning advisory services related to natural gas within the last five (5) years and be familiar with current natural gas markets, specifically in Asia, international best practices, and the general natural gas company operating environment.

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

The Ministry of Mines and Petroleum hereby invites eligible consultants to indicate their interest in providing the services described herein. The expression of interest shall be evaluated based on following criteria (a) Age of the firm and nature of consultancy assignment the consultant firm is registered (core competency), (b) General experience of the firm in specific sector and , (c) Experience in similar sector and country conditions, (d) availability of appropriate skills among staffsand resources.  Consultants may associate to enhance  

Interested consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc.).

Consultants may associate with other firms in the form of a joint venture or a sub consultancyto enhance their qualifications (consultants are required to clearly mentioning in either of the two terms "Joint Venture" or "Sub consultancy", refer to Para 1.9 of the Guidelines: Selection and Employment ofConsultants, January 2011).

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost Based Selection method set out in the Consultant Guidelines.

Interested firms and agencies may obtain further information at the address below during regular office hours (Saturday to Wednesday, 08:00 – 16:00 AFT).  Expressions of interest must be delivered to the email address below no later than 5^th February 2014, 16:00 AFT. Reference No. MoMP/PMU/CT-II-44-2 must be quoted on all correspondence, including the Expression of Interest.

Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, Program Management Unit (PMU)

Attention: Mohammad Haroon Naim, Director of Operations   

Afghanistan Geological Survey Building (AGS), 2nd floor, Annex Building,

Close to Abdul Haq roundabout, 2^nd Makrorayan,Kabul, Afghanistan.

Email: haroon.pmu@gmail.com, haroon@mom.gov.af and copy to zahid.pmu@gmail.com

Cell phone: + 93 (0) 700068328