Feasibility study, detailed design, technical specifications, Environmental and social impact assessment study (ESIA) and Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) for an Electricity Access Project.

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)

The Gambia

Electricity Restoration and Modernization Project (GERMP)

Loan No./Credit No./ Grant No.: IDA-D6530

Assignment Title: CONSULTING SERVICE FOR FEASIBILITY STUDY, DETAILED DESIGN AND TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR A RURAL ELECTRICITY ACCESS AND URBAN REHABILITATION PROJECT

Reference No. (as per Procurement Plan): GM-NAWEC-463123-CS-QCBS

Republic of the Gambia has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Electricity Restoration and Modernization Project (GERMP) and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services for Feasibility Study, Detailed Design and Technical Specifications for a Rural Electricity Access and Urban Rehabilitation Project.

The Gambia electricity sector has elaborated a vision to attain universal access by 2025. Electricity operations is under the domain of a vertically integrated utility, NAWEC. Over the years, the country with the support of various partners has worked towards attaining this goal ahead of the SDG7 target of 2030. Operationally, the sector is characterized by heavy dependence on fuel (HFO/LFO) imports for electricity generation, which is costly and exposes the country to the volatile fuel market prices, which negatively affects the cost of service and delivery.

The strategic thrust of the energy sector has been anchored on the development of an electricity sector roadmap for 2021-40, with ambitious targets on the integration of renewables and imports to improve the affordability profile of the sector. The roadmap has aligned to The Government of The Gambia's renewable energy targets of 30% of total installed capacity by 2025. The Government of The Gambia has started on the path towards actualizing the lofty goals of the roadmap particularly the integration of renewables and penetration of imports primarily through the OMVG (the Gambia River Basin Development Organization) interconnector. Through World Bank's Gambia Electricity Restoration and Modernization Project (GERMP - P163568), NAWEC integrated the first utility scale solar plant in The Gambia of 23MWp plus 8 MWh battery storage. The Gambia has commenced receiving hydropower supplies from October 2024 through its power purchase agreement (PPA) signed with Electricite du Guinee (EDG), which will benefit from the OMVG interconnector. Combined, these would increase available generation capacity by 55% and most significantly accelerate the shift away from expensive HFO generation that has crippled the sector.

The roadmap has also elucidated a bold vision for universal access to electricity in The Gambia by 2025. A number of active projects are ongoing and upon completion will provide access to over 700 communities by end 2025. This feasibility study will support the ongoing activities by (i) conducting detailed studies in an additional 225 communities mainly in the Central River and Upper River Regions of The Gambia and (ii) assess the feasibility of system reconfigurations in the Greater Banjul Area.

Scope of the Services

The scope of work includes, but is not limited to the following:

Phase 1: Feasibility Studies (Electricity Access and GBA Rehabilitation)

• Feasibility Study

• Preliminary Design

• Economic Study including detailed cost estimates

• Potential environmental and social risks summary

• Financial Study

PRELIMINARY DESCRIPTION OF THE FACILITIES WITHIN THE SCOPE (GBA)

• This section includes a preliminary description of the facilities that are to be covered by the feasibility study and associated documents. The description is just indicative and the Consultant should verify and propose optimal configurations according to on-site data collection and subsequent analysis.

Substations

New project of 2 x10MVA, 33/11kV New Mazda Substation

• Voltage class: 33/11kV

• 33kV outgoing line: to be defined by the consultant in coordination with NAWEC Preliminarily: four outgoing lines in the future stage and two outgoing lines in the current stage, applying a sectionalized single-bus connection.

• Reactive compensation: to be defined by the consultant in coordination with NAWEC.

Medium Voltage Lines

(1) 9 km of 33 kV single or double circuit transmission line from Buffer Zone to Kotu Tank substation.

(2) 11 km of 33kV double circuit of Distribution line from Jambur Solar Plant to the Jabang 225/33KV Substation/Jambanjally Village

(3) 10KM of 11KV Line Single circuit from Brikama Medina Substation to Farato/Buzumbala/ Jambur .

Rehabilitation and upgrade of primary substations

The Consultant will propose the rehabilitation and upgrades necessary on the existing primary substations. In particular in three of them: Buffer Zone and Brikama Medina. The needs will be discussed with NAWEC and analyzed and optimized by the Consultant. For the secondary substations, upgrades will be contingent on loads/ capacity as shared by NAWEC.

The consultant will evaluate, over the study period, the internal economic rate of return (IERR) as well as the net present value (NPV), which is calculated for a discount rate of 10%.

Phase 2: Detailed Studies (Electricity Access)

• Detailed Technical feasibility study and Topographical and Land Use Survey

• Detailed Design (Electricity Access):

Prepare cost estimates- Studies for Distribution Transformers

• Prepare and issue detailed Engineering Design for substation and lines. The Consultant shall perform, but not limited to, the following activities:

• Provide design (single line diagrams and layouts) and specification of the equipment required in the substations and lines.

• Carry out detailed route surveys including route alignment and line profiling, tower spotting, optimization of tower locations for transmission lines.

• Carry out site survey, prepare contour plan of each substation site.

• Carry out necessary geotechnical surveys (soil investigation reports etc.) of each new site of substation sites.

Phase 3: Bidding Documents (Electricity Access and GBA Rehabilitation)

• Preparation of Bidding Document:

• Employer's Requirements document.

• Data sheets of all equipment.

• Price schedule.

• Final Bill of Quantities (BoQ)

Duration:

It is anticipated that the total level of effort for this assignment is 15 staff-months.

National Water and Electricity Company Limited (NAWEC) 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:

• The Consultant should be a consulting firm or a consortium of consulting firm with minimum 10 years’ experience in conducting feasibility studies, and utility planning for transmission projects and electricity expansion projects.

The Consultant must demonstrate that it has the necessary experience and capacity to successfully perform the assignment.

The Qualifications and Experience of Key Experts shall not be included in the shortlisting criteria. Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage.

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” September 2023 (“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 Firm will be selected in accordance with the Quality-And-Cost Based Selection method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

The TOR and further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours:

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by fax, or by e-mail) by January 21st, 2025.

Attention: Mrs. Haddy Njie - Project Coordinator

Address: National Water & Electricity Company Limited,

Project Implementation Unit

Emporium III Building, Fajara

114 Kairaba Avenue

Floor/ Room number: Conference Room, 1st Floor

City: Banjul

Country: The Gambia

Telephone: +220 3664125/ 3182113/ 7009342

Electronic mail address: [email protected], (and copy to [email protected],

[email protected] )