CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR A FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR MASS TRANSIT ALTERNATIVES FOR GABORONE CITY

REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA

MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS

BOTSWANA INTEGRATED TRANSPORT PROJECT

Loan No. 7713-BW

Project ID: P102368

Consultancy Services for A FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR MASS TRANSIT ALTERNATIVES FOR GABORONE CITY

MTC 240/1/9B/2012-2013 (V)

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI)

This request for expressions of interest follows the General Procurement Notice for this project that appeared in Development Business No WB629-815/12 posted on 31 January 2012.

The Government of Botswana has secured a loan from the World Bank for theimplementation of the Botswana Integrated Transport Project (BITP) and desires to utilize part of the proceeds of this loan tofinance eligible payments for the Consultancy Services for a Feasibility Study for Mass Transit Alternatives for Gaborone City (hereinafterreferred to as the "Project").

Background

The Ministry of Transport and Communications (MT&C) desires to improve the overall state of road transport in Botswana; particularly public passenger transport in the capital city of Gaborone and its environs with the aim to enhance its capacity and efficiency to reduce transport-related externalities such as, road traffic congestion, road traffic accidents, environmental damage, etc. The purpose of this document therefore, is to solicit an Expression of Interest from qualified Consultants to undertake a Feasibility Study for Mass Transit Alternatives for Gaborone city to enable the Ministry to select the most viable and sustainable public transportation system for the city of Gaborone.

Invitation of Firms

The Ministry of Transport & Communications (MT&C) invites consulting firms, with a proven track record on similar projects to express their interest in providing consultancy services for the realization of this project. Owing to the complex and multifaceted natureof this project, expressions of interest from consortia are also welcome.

To ensure the successful execution of this project, it is essential that the Consultant is fully conversant with specific operations and other dynamics of variousmass rapid transit and other public transport systems, including the implementation of park and ride transport services, land use and settlement patterns, i.e. compact or sprawling, which factors inter alia, affects the cost of providing public passenger transport services, the cost of travel as well as the provision of other services such as roads, electricity, water reticulation, etc. Interested Consultants should avail information indicating that they are qualified to provide consultancy services for this Feasibility Study, which information may be in the form of brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc. Consultants may associate to enhance their qualifications.

Associations may take the form of either joint ventures (whereby firms will be severally and jointly liable for the assignment and in which case all joint venture partners are requiredto demonstrate competence in the core areas of the assignment) or subconsultancy (where a firm possesses competence in core areas of the assignment and sub contracts parts of the assignment to another firm.)

Scope of Services

The primary objectives of the project are: (i) to determine the economic feasibility of implementing the most optimal option for Public Transport,such as Dedicated Bus Lanes (DBLs); Park and Ride car parks and/or; Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) mode of transport in order to improve the overall efficiency of the public transport system, (ii) examine and determine mobility opportunities for all transport users in Gaborone and the periphery, (iii) explore various mass rapid transportation alternatives (light railtransit, elevated rail, metro/subway, etc.) with a similar potential to: mitigate the negative effects of road traffic congestion in Gaborone, encourage densification of the city in the long term through appropriate land use policies; improve walkability in the city, promoteother 'active' transportation modes such as, non-motorized transport (NMT), implementation of congestion charging scheme and vehicle registration/licensing charges to arrest the rapid and inimical growth of the national fleet, etc., measures of which are designed to improve traffic flows in the capital,(iv) confirm the attractiveness of the project for private sector investment, and; (v) prepare a conceptual transport plan for optimal solutions, and determine the preliminary cost estimates for the preferred solution/s. (The project is to be completed within a period of 8 months).

Submission of EOI

One original and four (4) copies of the Expression of Interest must be submitted in a sealed envelope clearly marked "Feasibility Study For Mass Transit Alternatives For Gaborone City" and should be delivered at the address below and addressed to "The Secretary, Ministerial Tender Committee, Private Bag 00414, Gaborone, Botswana" at or before 0800 hours local time (GMT+2:00) on 9th November, 2012. The submissions shall be opened immediately thereafter in the Conference Room of the offices of the Ministry of Transport and Communications in the presence of firms or their representatives who decide to attend.

LATE SUBMISSIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED and will be returned to the consultant unopened.

Selection Criteria

Selection of consultant firms will be in accordance with the procedures set out in the World Bank's Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers, published in May 2004, revised May 2010. It should be noted that the Ministryof Transport & Communications is not obliged to invite or, participate in the subsequent bidding process with any particular or, potential consulting firm that has expressed interest in this project.

Interested Consulting firms may obtain further information at "Ministry of Transport & Communications Headquarters, MTC Building, Westgate Mall, Gaborone, Botswana" (Physical address) or "The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport & Communications. ATTN: Mr. Kabelo Patrick Ranko, Ministry of Transport & Communications, Private Bag 00414, Gaborone, Botswana" (Postal address) Tel: +267 361 200/ 390 7230, during working hours (i.e. 0800hrs to 1230hrs and 1400hrs to 1600hrs) email: [email protected]

Interested potential firms should forward their expression of interest to the following address:

Physical:

The Secretary

Ministry of Transport and Communications

Secretariat Office,

K. T. Motsete Drive

Ground Floor, MTC Building, Westgate Mall

Gaborone, Botswana

Tel: +267 3612000

Postal:

The Secretary

ATTN: Ms M. Thomas

Ministerial Tender Committee

Private Bag 00414

Gaborone, Botswana