REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)
COUNTRY: Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) region - Malawi and Zambia
Projects Grant No.: TF-A4772
Assignment Title: Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and Resettlement and Compensation Action Plan (RAP) for the Malawi - Zambia 400 kV Transmission Interconnector Project
Background
The Governments of Malawi and Zambia have, in line with the call for greater regional integration, agreed to strengthen their existing bilateral cooperation by among others, constructing the Malawi-Zambia Power Interconnector. To this effect, an Inter-Governmental Memorandum of Understanding (IGMoU) between Malawi and Zambia was signed in August 2015 in Lusaka, Zambia. During the same time an Inter-Utility Memorandum of Understanding (IUMoU) was also signed between ESCOM and ZESCO, the two respective national power utilities. Historically Malawi and Zambia have had cross border power trade at distribution level dating back to the year 2000 in which ESCOM supplies power to Zambian towns in the border area. This was undertaken in response to a resolution of the then SADC Council of Energy Ministers. From 2018, Malawi has also been benefiting from the cross-border power supply from Zambia through a 33kV line from Chipata to Mchinji.
This was undertaken in response to a resolution of the then SADC Council of Energy Ministers.
Project Description
A complete Feasibility Study for the Malawi–Zambia 330/400 kV Transmission Interconnector up to the Bankable stage and complete with Conceptual Design, Specifications, Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and Resettlement and Compensation Action Plan needs to be carried out. On the Malawi side, a full Feasibility Study and ESIA for the line from Nkhoma Substation to the border with Zambia in Mchinji has already been completed as part of the Malawi 400 kV Transmission Backbone Project and only an update of this Feasibility Study and ESIA will be required as part of the joint Feasibility Study and ESIA for the Interconnector. On the Zambian side, no previous work has been done and the Feasibility Studies.
Objectives and scope of consultancy assignment
The main objectives of the assignment are to support route selection work, with E&S Route Screening Studies; and undertake an independent Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) of the Project. The ESIA will consider construction and operation of high voltage transmission lines in both Malawi and Zambia.
The Scope of work has been presented and will include the following activities:
Malawian portion of the line, the consultant is required to: For the:
- develop and implement a Stakeholder Engagement Plan.
- review and update the existing Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) report and Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) for the line from Nkhoma Substation to the border with Zambia in Mchinji, in line with international best practice standards on environmental and social sustainability, such as the WB Environmental and Social Standards (ESS).
For the Zambian portion of the line, the Consultant is required to:
- develop and implement a Stakeholder Engagement Plan.
- participate with the Feasibility Study Consultants in the initial (prefeasibility) investigation to identify and assess network and route options, culminating in the selection of a preferred option to carry into the ESIA and full Feasibility studies.
- prepare an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment report including Environmental and Social Management Plans compliant with international best practice standards on environmental and social sustainability, such as the WB Environmental and Social Standards (ESS).
The scope of work that will be undertaken for the entire line i.e. Malawian and Zambian portions include the following:
- To prepare a Resettlement Action Plan (RAP).
- To participate in the preparation of the full Feasibility Study, including the Conceptual Design and Tender Documents.
- To secure the necessary environmental licenses or license updates, as required, from the Malawian and Zambian environmental regulators and to advise about any other permits or licenses related to environmental and social safeguards.
Required Qualifications and Experience
The Consultant shall be a qualified, internationally recognized firm with at least 15 years general and specific experience in similar projects.
This shall involve at least 2 or more similar assignments executed/under execution by the firm, including at least 1 similar assignment in the Sub-Sahara region.
The firm should be able to field registered highly experienced multinational teams, covering at a minimum, the following key experts: Lead Environmental Planner; Lead Social Development Planner; Gender and GBV/SEA Expert; Resettlement Expert and the Avifauna Expert.
The SAPP now invites 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 is as follows:
- Years in business with relevant power sector consulting services experience.
- Availability of qualified and experienced key experts.
- Evidence of having executed relevant projects in terms of similar size / volume and complexity including a sub-Sahara region project.
Consultants may associate with other firms in the form of a joint venture or a sub-consultancy to enhance their qualifications.
A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the QCBS method set out in the Consultant Regulations.
Further information can be obtained by email listed below.
Expressions of interest must be emailed to the email below, on or before 02 April 2021 at 15:00 hours Central African time and mention "Expression of Interest for Consultancy Services for the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) for the Malawi - Zambia 400 kV Transmission Interconnector Project“
Contact: Southern African Power Pool
Attention: Thembekani Luthuli, SAPP Procurement Specialist
Tel: +27 10 446 9600/+27 72 709 7252
Email Address: thembekani.luthuli@sapp.co.zw