Consultancy Services to prepare Site Studies for a Solar Photovoltaic, Wind Farm and a Battery Energy Storage System Installation in Botswana

Invitation for Expression of Interest

Consulting Services

Name of Assignment: Consulting Services for: Consultancy Services to Prepare Site Studies for a Solar Photovoltaic, Wind Farm and a Battery Energy Storage System Installation in Botswana:

Reference No.: BW-MME-448915-CS-CQS

Loan No./Credit No./ Grant No.: TF0C1914

Country: Republic of Botswana

Date: 15 November 2024

All Prospective Bidders

Dear Sir/Madam

• The Government of Botswana has received financing from the World Bank (Bank) toward the cost of the Botswana Renewable Energy Scale Up Support Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds toward payments under the contract for Consultancy Services for Preparation of Environmental and Social Assessments for A Solar Photovoltaic, Wind Farm and a Battery Energy Storage System Installation in Botswana.

• The Ministry of Minerals and Energy now invites you to submit an Expression of Interest to provide the following consulting services (hereinafter called “Services”): Consultancy Services to Prepare Site Studies for a Solar Photovoltaic, Wind Farm and a Battery Energy Storage System Installation in Botswana. The Site Studies being; Topography, Hydrology, geological and route surveys.

• The Expression of Interest (EoI) under this consultancy service shall be delivered as separate deliverables.

• A Consultant undertaking the works shall assemble a team of experts to undertake the studies to ensure thorough and accurate results, and shall deliver separate reports for each study.

• In case of a Consortium, one (1) Consultant must be designated as the Lead Consultant. The Lead Consultant will be responsible for overall reporting, supervising works on-site, and managing payments. The Lead Consultant must demonstrate the capability to oversee the project effectively.

• A formal agreement must be established between the consortium members, clearly outlining the roles and responsibilities of each Consultant. This agreement must be submitted along with the tender bid.

• All consortium members will be jointly and severally liable for the performance of the contract.

• The Lead Consultant will be the primary point of contact for all communications related to the project. It is the responsibility of the Lead Consultant to coordinate and communicate with the consortium members.

• In case of clarifications, do not hesitate to contact Ms Mukani Thapelo at [email protected]; Cell No.: 73871808.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Maduo Tshoswane

For/Permanent Secretary

Ministry of Minerals and Energy

Private Bag 0018,

Gaborone

Country: Republic of Botswana

Telephone: (+267) 3656600/02

Facsimile number: (+267) 3909368/3167695

Electronic mail address: [email protected]

CONSULTANCY SERVICES TO PREPARE SITE STUDIES FOR A SOLAR PHOTOVOLTIAC, WIND FARM AND A BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM INSTALLATION IN BOTSWANA

• BACKGROUND

Botswana plans to harness its excellent Renewable energy (RE) resources and accelerate renewable energy development in the country through the operationalization of the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). The Government of Botswana is currently preparing Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for thermal solar, photovoltaic, and wind power projects on several pre-selected sites in Botswana. The Projects and Energy Development Unit (PEDU), under the Ministry of Minerals and Energy (the Client), is tasked with preparing these RFPs and is being advised on site selection by a feasibility consultant who proposes sites based on a multi-criteria selection process. This site selection process includes the utilization of preliminary solar and wind resource data from the Global Solar Atlas and the Global Wind Atlas, alongside transmission grid data, land use, land ownership, and other criteria, including a preliminary economic and social impact screening

The site studies will be done for (i) 100 MW solar PV; (ii) 100 MW wind power; and BESS in Letlhakane. The coordinates of the sites to be explored for each of the projects will be confirmed by the Client before the start of the studies and are also indicated in the feasibility study.

• SCOPE OF WORK

To select the optimal site and commence pre-development activities on the site, the client is seeking for a qualified and experienced consulting firm to undertake site studies for the solar PV, wind and BESS installations.

The consultant is expected to prepare a topographic survey, geotechnical survey, and hydrology study at the location of the proposed PV plant, wind farm and BESS, subject to the final location. In addition to the three studies, the consultant will also undertake the Route Survey for the 100MW Wind.

The areas to be surveyed are described in the provided Terms of Reference

The consultant shall also provide a capacity-building seminar on how to understand and use the topographic resource reports when their first versions are issued.

• QUALIFICATIONS

PEDU invites eligible consulting firms/consortiums ("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:

• Core Business: minimum 10 years' experience in undertaking targeted site studies

• Demonstrate experience of having satisfactorily conducted site studies for a utility scale electricity project,

• Demonstrate experience of having conducted site studies for at least minimum two (2) utility scale projects in Sub- Saharan Africa,

• The Consultant to demonstrate regulatory compliance with relevant regulations and standards governing site studies practices, environmental protection, and safety,

• The consultant shall demonstrate eligibility in working with International Financial Institutions,

• The Consultant shall no have no conflict of interest

The attention of interested consultants is drawn to Paragraphs 3.14 to 3.17 of the World Bank's Procurement Regulations for Borrowers, dated July 2016, revised in November 2017, August 2018, November 2020, and September 2023, setting forth the World Bank's Policy on Conflict of Interest.

Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications. When firms are associating, the submission must include verifiable evidence of association from all the parties

A consultant will be selected in accordance with the CS-CQS method set out in the World Bank's Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers, dated July 2016, revised in November 2017, August 2018, November 2020, and September 2023. Interested consultants may obtain further information in writing at the address below during office hours, that is, 0730 hours to 16:30 hours.

Expressions of Interest, clearly labelled "Expression of Interest - Consultancy Services to Prepare Topography Studies for a Solar Photovoltaic, Wind Farm and a Battery Energy Storage System Installation," must be hand-delivered in written form to the address below by 2nd December, 2024 at 12:00 hours local time.

Attention: The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Minerals and Energy, Third Floor, Office No DT 10, Plot No. 50676, Fairgrounds Office Park, Gaborone, Republic of Botswana. Telephone Nos: (+267) 3656657/6702. Facsimile No: (+267) 3167695. Electronic mail address: [email protected].