Study and Site Preparation for the Development of a Solar Park in São Tomé and Príncipe — ACRE Project

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES)

Country: São Tomé and Principe

Project: ACCESS TO CLEAN RESILIENT ELECTRICITY PROJECT (ACRE)

Loan No./Credit No./ Grant No.: E259-ST

Assignment Title: CONSULTING FIRM FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE PROJECT SITE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SOLAR PARK IN SÃO TOMÉ AND PRÍNCIPE, INCLUDING THE PREPARATION THE TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS AND BIDDING DOCUMENTS FOR PROCUREMENT OF CIVIL WORKS AND SERVICES FOR THE SITE PREPARATION AND SUPERVISION

REFERENCE NO.: 25/C/ACRE/2024

The Government of the Republic of Sao Tome and Principe (GoSTP) has received grant financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Access to Clean Resilient Electricity Project (ACRE) whose objective is to increase access to sustainable and clean energy in Sao Tome e Principe. This is aligned with the ASCENT MPA Program Development Objective (PrDO) of accelerating access to sustainable and clean energy and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) recruit a CONSULTING FIRM FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE PROJECT SITE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SOLAR PARK IN SÃO TOMÉ AND PRÍNCIPE, INCLUDING THE PREPARATION THE TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS AND BIDDING DOCUMENTS FOR PROCUREMENT OF CIVIL WORKS AND SERVICES FOR THE SITE PREPARATION AND SUPERVISION

The assignment will be implemented in two phases as follows:

• Phase I, includes all tasks from feasibility, technical design, environmental and social impact assessment, bid process until contract award. Phase I will be managed via a Lump Sum contract.

• Phase II, includes construction supervision and post construction activities and will be managed via a Time-Based Contract.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be obtained by sending a request to the address email: [email protected] , [email protected];

The Project Administration and Fiduciary Agency (AFAP) invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the services, sending a Letter of intent, 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 according to the TOR.

The shortlisting criteria are:

• Must have at last five- years’ experience in the field of engineering, design project and Supervision. Required experience shall be demonstrated by the presentation of at least five (5) construction projects of renewable energy power plants or associated facilities, where the Consultant has held a management or planning position. At least one (1) of the projects should be in Africa.

• Must have demonstrated experience in the development of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Studies (ESIA) for projects in the Energy Sector. Experience shall be demonstrated with the presentation of at least three (3) examples of projects that involved the assessment of environmental and social impacts and development of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Studies (ESIA).

• Demonstration that they have successfully managed and executed contracts in the preparation of the technical specifications and bidding documents for procurement of civil works and services for the site preparation in the power sector.

• The firm should be familiar with the World Bank’s environmental and social framework, including land acquisition, land use restrictions and involuntary resettlement/removal, and have a good knowledge of the country's laws and regulations on land management and public utility expropriation. Experience shall be demonstrated with the presentation of at least three (3) examples of projects that included implementation/use of World Bank’s environmental and social framework.

• Familiarity with government and multilateral funded operations is mandatory. Experience shall be demonstrated by the presentation of at least five (5) contracts with the World Bank or other International Development Agencies. At least one (1) of the projects should be in Africa.

Note: AFAP 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, February 2025 (“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 March 2025 “Consultant’s Quality and Cost-based Selection (QCBS) method”.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours, i.e., from 08:00 16:00 hours.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below in person, or through by e-mail: [email protected] , [email protected]; until June 13, 2025 at 23:45 pm (local time) and mention “Expression of Interest –CONSULTING FIRM FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE PROJECT SITE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SOLAR PARK IN SÃO TOMÉ AND PRÍNCIPE, INCLUDING THE PREPARATION THE TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS AND BIDDING DOCUMENTS FOR PROCUREMENT OF CIVIL WORKS AND SERVICES FOR THE SITE PREPARATION AND SUPERVISION.

Agência Fiduciária de Administração de Projectos 26th de May, 2025.

General Director

Hélio Silva Almeida