Consultancy Service for Updating Technical Standards for the Design and Construction of LV, MV, HV and VHV Distribution Networks — Angola ESIAP Pro…

REPUBLIC OF ANGOLA

MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND WATER

ELECTRICITY SECTOR IMPROVEMENT AND ACCESS PROJECT (ESIAP)

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)

Project ID No: P166805

Assignment Title: CONSULTANCY SERVICE FOR UPDATING TECHNICAL STANDARDS FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF LV, MV, HV AND VHV DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS, ANGOLA

Reference No.: AO-MINEA - GEPE- 503989 -CS-QCBS

The Government of the Republic of Angola (GoA) has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Electricity Sector Improvement and Access Project (ESIAP) and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The Project Coordination Unit (PCU) intends to engage the services of a Consulting firm to update technical standards for the design and construction of LV, MV, HV and VHV distribution networks, Angola.

MINEA is planning to review and update the Technical Specifications of the Electricity sector, with emphasis on the construction of primary networks, distribution substations, secondary networks, public lighting and home connections for urban, peri-urban and rural areas, which must be flexible to the development of new technologies, as well as financially and technically sustainable.

The Specific Objectives of the Updating of Technical Standards are:

• Review and update the Technical Standards for the construction of primary and secondary networks, distribution substations, public lighting, and household connections to be for urban, peri-urban, and rural areas.

• Comprehensive review of current specifications.

• Conduct international comparative assessment with similar specifications.

• Identify opportunities for improvement to implement cost effective technologies in distribution for rural areas.

To achieve the specific objectives, the study will be carried out in two phases:

Task 1: Review of Existing Technical Standards

• The Consulting firm will review and evaluate existing standards (technical standards for construction of electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure in rural and peri-urban areas, technical specifications for materials and equipment, technical requirements for design and construction and related drawings), to identify the constraints of the current regulations to implement a cost-effective rural distribution system (like MALT) suitable for Angola.

• Compare existing standards (General, HV,MV and LV), including technical specifications, with international best practices and MINEA operational requirements and provide recommendations for improvements.

Task 2: Identifying specific options for improving standards, including considering climate resilience

• Identify and propose measures for improvement by incorporating: (i) smart grid and renewable integration, and environmental compliance into all sections; (ii) communication protocols, cybersecurity, and SCADA integration; (iii) DER interconnection standards, storage integration, and variable generation management; (iv)_ climate resilience, focusing on material durability, resistance to strong winds and flooding, mitigation of coastal corrosion, provision of effective lightning protection, and implementation of wildlife protection strategies.

Task 3: Stakeholder engagement and awareness raising

• Conduct consultations with MINEA and stakeholders including (ENDE, PRODEL, and RNT) in order to facilitate understanding of the proposed options and recommendations for improvement, collect feedback and adoption of the recommended improvements.

Task 4: Final Report and Presentation of Updated Standards

• Prepare a comprehensive final report describing the analysis of options and recommendations for potential improvements, including the alternatives analyzed and the justification for the proposed recommendations.

• Present final findings, recommendations and proposed improvements to relevant stakeholders through structured presentations and feedback sessions.

The Consulting firm will provide recommendations on technical specifications, Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT), Site Acceptance Tests (SAT), and associated design drawings for all additional materials and equipment (all proposed options) required to incorporate those measures into the technical standards

The implementation period is 4 months.

The Project Coordination Unit of the Electricity Sector Improvement and Access Project (ESIAP) 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 are:

General Experience of the Institution: proven experience of at least 10 years in technical standards for the design and construction of LV, MV, HV and VHV distribution networks.

Specific Experience of the Institution: experience of at least 4 similar projects on updating technical standards for the design and construction of LV, MV, HV and VHV distribution networks, of which 2 projects in countries of similar context.

Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage.

Note: ESIAP reserves it’s right to verify submitted references and use obtained information for evaluation purposes.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers, November 2020 (“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.

The consultants are strongly advised to limit their Expression of Interest to 30 pages. Company brochures may be included as an Annex and will not be affected by the limit of 30 pages.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the procedures set out in World Bank’s Guidelines: World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers”, dated November 2020 “Quality and Cost-based Selection (QCBS) method”.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours (09H00 to 15H00 hours) local time.

Expressions of interest must be preferably delivered by e-mail or delivered by mail, or in person, to the address below, , not later than the submission deadline i.e., on or before September 23, 2025 at 15H00 hours (Angola local time) and mention “Expression of Interest – “CONSULTANCY SERVICE FOR UPDATING TECHNICAL STANDARDS FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF LV, MV, HV AND VHV DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS, ANGOLA.

Ministry of Energy and Water

Electricity Sector Improvement and Access Project (ESIAP)

João Moreira Pinto Saraiva

Project Coordinator

Condomínio Privado, Belas Business Park

Edificio Cabinda, 6th Floor, Door #603, Talatona

Luanda - Angola

Tel.: +244 945 545 298

Electronic mail address: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]