As part of World Bank Project P145054, the “Central Asia South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Project” (“CASA-1000”), the Governments of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Republic of Tajikistan (the “CASA Countries”) intend to utilize a portion of the proceeds ofWorld Bank financing towards the cost of Consulting Services “To Manage Procurement and Support Mobilization of a DC Operator to Operate and Maintain the CASA-1000 HVDC Power Transmission System”.

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)

CASA-1000 Project

Intergovernmental Council Secretariat

(on behalf of theGovernments of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Republic of Tajikistan)

World Bank Project No.: P145054

Assignment Title: Consulting Services to Manage Procurement and Support Mobilization of a DC Operator to Operate & Maintain the CASA-1000 HVDC Power Transmission System

 Reference No. : CASA-1000 0001

Electronic Submissions via email: [email protected]

As part of World Bank Project P145054, the “Central Asia South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Project” (“CASA-1000”), the Governments of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Republic of Tajikistan (the “CASA Countries”) intend to utilize a portion of the proceeds ofWorld Bank financing towards the cost of Consulting Services “To Manage Procurement and Support Mobilization of a DC Operator to Operate and Maintain the CASA-1000 HVDC Power Transmission System”.

The CASA-1000 Intergovernmental Council Secretariat (“CASA Secretariat”), on behalf of the CASA Countries, intends to request proposals from short listed consulting companies to manage the procurement and support mobilization of a DC Operator to operate & maintain the CASA-1000 High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Power Transmission System comprising the ± 500 kV, 1300 MW HVDC converter station terminals in Tajikistan and Pakistan and the 800 km HVDC Bi-Pole Transmission Line from Sangtuda, Tajikistan to Nowshera, Pakistan via Afghanistan. The US$1.2 billion CASA-1000 Project is funded by the World Bank, European Investment Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Islamic Development Bank, USAID and UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO, formerly DFID). The Project’s Construction Phase began in September 2018. Further details regarding the Project can be found on the website www.casa-1000.org. 

The scope of consulting services (“the Services”) to be provided includes: 

- Preparation of a Scope of Services and O&M Agreement for the DC Operator, in accordance with the CASA Technical Code and other ancillary documents, regulations as per the respective Countries, international industry standards/benchmarks, and requirements pertaining to the Project. 

- Planning and executing the DC Operator procurement, including specifying the tender procedure, bidding documents/Request for Proposals (“RfP”), bid evaluation process, negotiation and award for the DC Operator Contract. 

- Support mobilization of the DC Operator through system commissioning and commercial operations date. 

- Support Services related to translation of all Deliverables & Documents into the Russian language 

- Deployment of Key & Non-Key personnel in the area of HVDC Technical Experts, Commercial Expert, Legal Advisors, Project Management Specialist and Translators. 

- Continuous engagement with the CASA-1000 Secretariat and representative of the National Transmission Companies (NTCs) of the CASA Countries in all activities

The indicative draft Terms of Reference are also available on CASA-1000 website. The implementation period for the consulting services will be about 24 Months. 

Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The qualification criteria of the Consultant are as follow:

Experience inproviding consulting services to a Long Distance HVDC Power Transmission Project as a Prime Consultant or as Lead Member/Partner (in the case of a Joint Venture) in the area of Design & Engineering and/or Project Construction and/or Operation & Maintenance and the aforesaid HVDC Project is in satisfactory operation at the time of submission of their Expression of Interest (“EoI”).

Consultants shall be shortlisted based on the qualification and experience details furnished by them in their EoIs. The Consultants are requested to submit the qualification and experience information in the formats which are available on the CASA website and can be downloaded from  www.casa-1000.org.

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 World Bank Borrowers, July 2014 and its latest revision (“Consultant Guidelines”), 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. 

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost-based Selection (QCBS) method set out in the World Bank’s “Consultant Guidelines”.

Further information can be obtained at the address given below during office hours i.e., 10:00 to 17:00 hours Almaty, Kazakhstan Times on working days, Monday to Friday.

Attention:                   Mr. Gregory Osadetz, Executive Director

                                   CASA-1000 Project Secretariat 

Street Address:          20 A, Kazybek Bi Str

Floor/Room number:  4th Floor

City:                             Almaty

Postal Code:                Kazakhstan 050010

Country:                      Kazakhstan

Tel No-                        +7 727 293 0120  

   Email:                          [email protected]                                   

Expressions of Interest must be submitted in English and delivered electronically in written form to the secured email [email protected] on or before 26th April, 2021; 15.00 hours Almaty Time, Kazakhstan. The EoI submission shall be in the form of a single attached PDF file & the total size of this PDF file should be less than 10 MB. It is requested that Consultants limit their EoI to a focused, concise and tailored submission not to exceed 15 pages. Consultants are advised that their EoI must be readable through open standard interfaces and with minimum 12-point font size. 

FORMATS 

FOR 

SUBMITTING INFORMATION 

ON

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)

Assignment Title: Consulting Services to Manage Procurement and Support Mobilization of a DC Operator to Operate & Maintain the CASA -1000 HVDC Power Transmission System

Reference No.: CASA-1000 0001

Date: April 05, 2021

LIST OF FORMATS  

 Note: The Consultant is requested to fill up the information & submit along with EOI

Format No 1

Form for Consulting Firm or Joint Venture (To be filled up by each Partner in case of a Joint Venture) for submitting information on Nature of Application

Note: The Consultant may also indicate any proposed subconsultant in their EoI

Authorized Signatory of the Consultant

Signature:

Name: 

Date:

Format No 2 

Form for Consulting Firm or Joint Venture (To be filled up by each Partner in case of a Joint Venture) for submitting information on their Qualification Requirements 

Note: Documentary evidence may please be attached in support of the above

Authorized Signatory of the Consultant

Signature:

Name: 

Date:

Format No 3

Form for Consulting Firm or Joint Venture (To be filled up by each Partner in case of a Joint Venture) for submitting information on their relevant Experience  

Note: Please furnish experience details of not more than ten (10) similar/comparable Projects in HVDC Transmission area carried out in the last seven (7) years. In case it is less than Ten (10) Projects in the area of HVDC Transmission, the Consultant may indicate similar/comparable Projects in the EHV AC Transmission area.

Authorized Signatory of the Consultant

Signature:

Name: 

Date:

Format No 4

Form for Consulting Firm or Joint Venture (To be filled up by each Partner in case of a Joint Venture) for submitting information on Technical Key Experts on Payroll of the Firm

Note: Column No 3 of the above table indicates total no of Technical Key Experts in the Payroll of the Firm whereas Column No 4 indicates the breakup of such Technical Key Experts in the various specialized areas.  

Authorized Signatory of the Consultant

Signature:

Name: 

Date:

Format No 5 

Form for Consulting Firm or Joint Venture (To be filled up by each Partner in case of a Joint Venture) for submitting information on Power Sector Experience in the CASA-1000 Countries viz Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan & Pakistan

Note: Please furnish experience in not more than ten (10) Power Sector Projects carried out in the last seven (7) years. In case it is less than ten (10) Power Sector Projects, the Consultant may indicate similar/comparable Projects in other areas.

Authorized Signatory of the Consultant

Signature:

Name: 

Date:

INDICATIVE TERMS OF REFERENCE

CASA-1000 DC OPERATOR CONSULTANT (draft)

This document is being made available in draft form FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY for the convenience of parties interested to provide Expressions of Interest to the Request for Expressions of Interest Reference No.:CASA-1000 0001 (“Consulting Services to Manage Procurement and Support Mobilization of a DC Operator to Operate & Maintain the CASA -1000 HVDC Power Transmission System”)

Date: April 05, 2021

Indicative Terms of Reference 

1. Preparation of Scope of Services and O&M Agreement for the DC Operator

a) Identify and develop the complete scope of services required for operation and maintenance of the DC Facilities and develop a legal agreement for the DC Operator. The activities will include:

-    Identify and document all functions, work processes and procedures necessary for safe, reliable and efficient DC Facilities O&M in compliance with the CASA-1000 HVDC Technical Code, industry best-practice, and all relevant regulations of CASA Counties. Scope of Services should include an analysis/discussion of industry best practices, key considerations/challenges given the geographic location of the Project, and any services that may have a material impact on the commercial terms of the O&M Agreement.

-     Draft and finalize the O&M Agreement which incorporates all necessary processes and procedures. Interact with the Secretariat and the CASA-1000 countries to reach consensus on the final terms and conditions of the O&M Agreement. 

-     O&M Agreement will also address/incorporate the following:

• Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) & RCM Techniques to establish a comprehensive maintenance program for the DC Facilities.

• Assess and incorporate preventive maintenance, predictive maintenance, breakdown maintenance and corrective actions for equipment maintenance and emergency situations into the scope of the DC Operator responsibilities.

• Identify issues that will require the CASA-1000 countries to seek local legal and/or regulatory guidance. Address all relevant commercial and financial considerations, including insurance and risk-sharing.

• Structure the O&M Agreement so the DC Operator will be incentivized to provide a high level of service on commercially competitive terms. Shall propose Key Performance Indicator (KPI) performance targets for the DC Operator with agreement from the CASA-1000 countries.

• Define the staffing plan and manning schedules for the DC Operator O&M teams, recognizing that the teams reside in different national and socio-economic environments at the converter stations in Pakistan and Tajikistan, as well as along the transmission line in Afghanistan. Include consideration of work permit and visa issues for DC Operator personnel, allowing for emergency situations (e.g., line breakage/breakdowns, major equipment failure, or other issues pertaining to fault situations) requiring immediate dispatch of personnel to any of these countries.

b) Will facilitate negotiation and signature of an Annual Maintenance Agreement (AMA), long term & short-term spare parts management with the converter station Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) supplier/sub supplier. This will require that the AMA be fully integrated with both the O&M Agreement and the existing Maintenance Support Services Agreement. 

c) Develop procedure for the Root Cause Analysis of faults & breakdowns of the Transmission System to avoid recurrences in future such that HVDC Transmission should be able to provide designed availability & reliability targets. 

d) Will identify training and developmental workshops for DC Operator and CASA-1000 country staff. Both OEM and non-OEM entities will provide these workshops at their facilities and within the CASA-1000 countries to ensure staff have sufficient technical, operational, dispatch and maintenance capabilities to effectively operate and maintain the DC Facilities. 

e) Will develop the DC Operator mobilization and commissioning plan and schedule. 

f) Develop procedure for close coordination with each Load Dispatcher of CASA Countries to operate & maintain as per respective Grid Code/Regulations for secured & reliable power system operation and the same be incorporated in the O&M Agreement. 

g) Minimum Deliverables:

B. Planning and Execution of the Procurement of the DC Operator

Propose (for CASA-1000 country approval) and then execute the elements and schedule of the DC Operator procurement process, including: 

a) Develop a schedule and plan for the DC Operator procurement/tender process, including public announcements/advertisement, road shows, RFP, site visits, bid opening, bid evaluation, contractor selection, CASA-1000 country approval and Contract award. 

b) Work with the Secretariat and CASA-1000 countries to approve the procurement plan and schedule. 

c) Prepare for and facilitate road show presentations to prospective DC Operators. 

d) Identify and prepare ancillary operations-related agreements, including as required between the CASA-1000 countries and/or related to specific issues, such as operational coordination, training, and personnel. 

e) Develop DC Operator procurement documentation to generate adequate competition, to include:

a. RFP 

b. Bid evaluation criteria 

c. Independent Cost Estimates

f) Manage the tender announcement/advertisement and bid opening process. 

g) Prepare a Bid Evaluation Report (BER) to assess all bids received against agreed criteria. 

h) Present the BER and bid evaluations to the CASA-1000 Implementation Sub-Committee (ISC) for review, and award recommendation of the lowest evaluated Consultant. 

i) Facilitate final negotiations with the selected consultant & approval from Countries & the World Bank to serve as the DC Operator and Award of Contract with approved DC Operator. 

j) Lead implementation plan and schedule development and execution for mobilization and start-up of the DC Operator’s activities, including staff selection, training, and integration with the CASA-1000 country NTCs. 

k) Minimum Required Deliverables:

C. Mobilization of the DC Operator

a) Develop and execute a DC Operator mobilization plan to be in place six months before the DC Facilities Commercial Operations Date. DC Operator staff to have full engagement in the commissioning activities and sufficient HVDC operating experience with the new DC Facilities. 

b) Monitor the DC Operator’s staff training program implementation, including onsite and offsite staff O&M training programs, and testing and maintenance workshops provided by the OEM. 

c) Minimum Required Deliverable:

D. Project Management and Coordination

a) Engage with the Secretariat and representatives of the NTCs in all above-mentioned areas and effectively facilitate their decision-making. 

b) Will provide regular updates, progress reports, and participate in working level meetings as requested by the Secretariat or CASA-1000 countries. 

c) Will participate (in person if requested) in CASA-1000 IGC, Joint Working Group (JWG), and ISC meetings to provide updates, discuss issues, and reach consensus on any of the activities described in the Statement of Work. 

d) Minimum Required Deliverables:

E. Translation 

Will professionally translate all deliverables and documents produced (draft and final) in Tasks A-D into English and Russian. However, the Secretariat may provide simultaneous translation during working meetings.

F. Key Personnel (KP)

The scope also includes:

a) Five (5) key personnel positions:

• Technical Project Lead 

• Commercial Specialist 

• Legal Advisor

b) Non-key personnel positions should include: Technical writer, translator(s), and project management specialists.

Note: 

1. Indicative Level of Efforts (LOE) is expected to be approximately 103 Man Months which shall be finalized and included in the Request for Proposal

2. Terms of Reference (TOR) is indicative. The finalized TOR shall be incorporated in the Request for Proposal to be issued to Shortlisted Consultants