REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
CONSULTING SERVICES-FIRM SELECTION
NIGERIA
NIGERIA ELECTRIFICATION PROJECT
IDA Credit No.: 62910
Assignment Title: Consultancy Services for Independent Verification Agent for Results Based Finance Facilities for Solar Home Systems and Mini Grids (Southern Region)
Reference No.: REA-NEP/C/QCBS/179/2024
Issued Date: 11th November 2024
The Federal Government of Nigeria has received financing from the World Bank for a Credit towards the cost of Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP) and Rural Electrification Agency, the implementation Agency intends to apply part of the proceeds of this credit to payment under the contract for the Consultancy Services for Independent Verification Agent for Results Based Finance Facilities for Solar Home Systems and Mini Grids (Southern Region).
The consulting services (“the Services”) include:
- Review of the Verification Framework and recommendation of applicable improvements - Verification process; Levels of verification Standalone Solar System (SAS) Component and Solar Hybrid Mini Grid (Mini grid) Component and Timing and triggers of independent verification;
- Report on Independent verification Activities-Standalone Solar System (SAS) Component and Solar Hybrid Mini Grid (Mini grid) Component;
- Review and establish appropriate verification strategy, with adequate justifications - Phone and Field Verification; and
- Conduct of Full Audit in the event of irregularities.
The approximate effort level for the assignment is 106 man-months. The implementation period for the assignment is twenty-four (24) months.
The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be found at the following website link https://nep.rea.gov.ng/tor-for-the-consultancy-services-for-independent-verification-agent-for-results-based-finance-facilities-for-solar-home-systems-and-mini-grids-southern-region
The Rural Electrification Agency- Project Management Unit (REA-PMU) now invites eligible consulting firm (“Consultant”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.
The short-listing criteria are:
- Must be a top tier consulting or audit firm have with a minimum of five (5) years operational existence as an organization and must have been established for no less than 5 years prior to the date of the EOI; must show evidence of having supervised the construction or conducted technical audit of government nationwide projects
- The firm must have completed a minimum of two (2) similar assignments in the last five (5) years;
- The IVA must have experience with rural economies through past assignments. Familiarity with rural interventions will be advantageous including engagement with energy access companies and productive use appliance and equipment or service providers;
- IVA must have the capacity to build and deploy technology solution that can manage and conduct the verification process seamlessly. Solution must be rural friendly and must have been used for at least 2 government projects in the last 5years;
- Ability to deploy a robust data collection and management system with capacity to track GIS coordinates for the field visits evidence of similar deployment in the past will be essential.
Please note that only the experience of the firm and not that of the key experts are required at this stage.
The attention of interested Consultant is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” September 2023 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.
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. Each member must be reasonably qualified and meets the stated criteria. For sub-consultancy association, the experience of the sub-consultant shall not be considered in the evaluation.
A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality Cost Based Selection (QCBS) method set out in the Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” dated Fifth Edition, September 2023, available on www.worldbank.org.
Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours i.e. 0800 to 1700 hours.
Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) on or before 25th November, 2024.
Rural Electrification Agency (REA)
Head, Nigerian Electrification Project (NEP)
No. 26 Babatope Ajakaiye Crescent Jahi District FCT, Abuja
Nigeria
Tel: +2348033252544
E-mail: nep@rea.gov.ng
Website: www.nep.rea.gov.ng