Consultancy services for environmental and social impact assessment — Project ASCENT (Rwanda)

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (REOI)

Kigali, on 05/09/ 2025

Ref No: RW-REG/EDCL-502929-CS-QCBS

Project: Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation (ASCENT)

Tender Name: Consultancy services to support the government of Rwanda for environmental & social impact assessment and technical site studies for geotechnical, hydrology, seismic, topography and biodiversity

• BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

The Government of Rwanda (GoR), , has received financing from the World Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) for the “Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation (ASCENT)” Project and plans to utilize part of the funds towards financing of consultancy services for environmental and social impact assessment studies and technical site studies as more described in this terms of reference.

The present technical assistance will be financed under the World Bank ASCENT project and needs to be aligned with the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESF).

• OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The GoR plans to conduct an IPP solar park auction. These terms of reference aim at hiring a consultancy firm/consortium (the Consultant) to prepare with support from the Government of Rwanda (the Client) in the preparation of:

• An environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA).

• Resettlement Action Plan (RAP)and Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP)

• Technical sites studies including topographic survey (Site maps), hydrological study, seismic conditions, biodiversity analysis and geotechnical investigations) for proposed sites to generate 100MWp of Solar PV plant (sizing of the sites will be finalized with the support of the consultants) in one/two sites of approximately area in hectares will be determined in this assignment (together the Projects) including the right of way for the grid connection infrastructures.

• CONSULTANT’S SCOPE OF SERVICES

The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

Phase1: ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL: Environmental & Social: An Impact Assessment, Environmental and Social Management Plan, and a Resettlement Action Plan

Phase2: TECHNICAL SITE STUDIES: Geotechnical, Hydrology, Seismic, Topography and Biodiversity

• DURATION OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The Consulting Firm will process all deliverables under the assignment within Nine (9) months accounted from the commencement date of the assignment.

• QUALIFICATION OF THE FIRM

• The interested consultant firm should meet the following requirements:

• Having Ten (10) years of general experience with four (4) completed studies, specifically two (2) completed assignments related to solar project studies of size greater to 30MWp including evacuation line, sites survey, geotechnical investigation, social and environmental studies related successfully completion certificate (2) to demonstrate a track record of services

• The Consultant should have solid experience working within Sub-Saharan Africa (at least one (1) completed project proven by completion certificate

b. The Consultant’s main experts shall include the following senior staff members:

• Lead Environmental experts: ESF expertise, track record on E&S impact assessment/ auditing of power projects including solar, with a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience.

• Lead Social Expert: ESF expertise, track record of social impact assessment, resettlement, and livelihood restoration activities for infrastructure projects, with a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience.

• Biodiversity Specialist: Nationally or internationally recognized for knowledge of biodiversity values and with proven expertise in carrying out the desired activities, including: (i) experience working in similar habitats around interest, country or the broader region; (ii) experience with the application of ESS6 and working with associated databases, assessments or approaches (e.g. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, Critical Habitat Assessment), with a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience.

• Geotechnical/Hydrological/Seismic experts: with a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience, especially in conducting projects studies.

• GIS/Topography Specialist: with a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience.

• National E&S Consultants: It is required that an international firm work with a national firm. The local stuffs should have the need for education (academic testimonials) and a minimum of 5years of experience and should include the following: Environmental Specialist, Social Specialist, Engagement Specialist, Community Laision Officer, Gender and live Hood Specialist,

• The Consultants shall also or as part of a subcontract or as part of their internal expertise be able to conduct the site technical studies.

The Consultants may submit a proposal as part as a Consortium; in this case the Consortium will appoint a Lead Consortium member as the main point of contact with the Client. The Lead Consortium members shall be responsible for managing the advancement of different tasks and organizing the different experts. It is critical and required to leverage local knowledge by partnering with local experts familiar with aspects of the region/area, local context, and applicable national/local legislation. While such partnership is essential to ensure contextual risks and the local legal environment are understood and their effects on the Project accounted for, the (Lead) Consultant will retain the ownership and quality control of any output prepared by the local expert.

The TOR will be published on REG website: www.reg.rw

• HOW TO APPLY

Interested consultants should provide the following:

• Expression of Interest

• Registration certificate/certificate of incorporation

• Experience of the firm (in table indicating name, scope, period of execution, employer’s name and address)

• List of Team leader and key staff with their qualification (academic testimonials) and experience (in table)

• SELECTION PROCESS

Consultant Firm may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications. 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 Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost-Based Selection (QCBS) method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

Shortlisted firms will be ranked based on the compliance of key staff and provided experiences consultancy firms (with proof).

The expression of interests must be submitted in written form (electronically) addressed to the Managing Director of the Energy Development Corporation Limited (EDCL) through the following emails: [email protected], copy to [email protected], [email protected] not later than 06/10/2025 at 5:00pm Kigali time (GMT +2).

Sincerely,

Done at Kigali, on 05/09/2025

Félix GAKUBA

Managing Director