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Project Support Team (Consulting Firm)

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION) (Date of Publication: May 5, 2014) Nepal Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Project (RWSSIP) (Credit: IDA 5446-NP Grant: IDA H945-NP) Assignment Title: Project Support Team (Consulting Firm) Reference No .: RWSSIP/CS/QCBS-1 1. The Government of Nepal has negotiated for financing from the World Bank towards the cost of the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Project (RWSSIP), and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services. 2. The consulting services ("theServices") include the provision of a Project Support Team to assist with the management and implementation of the Component 2 Promoting long-term sustainability of community managed schemes during the six-year project duration. The Project Support Team (PST) will provide technical and project management support to the Project Management Unit (PMU) within the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD); provide technical support by mobilizing district support teams to the District Water Sanitation and Hygiene (D-WASH) units to be established in each ofthe five Component 2 districts ( Dolakha, Lamjung, Makwanpur, Salyan and Sunsari) ; carry out baseline and endline evaluations for this component of the project; and develop grant eligibility and WSUC grading criteria for repairs, rehabilitation and replacement costs. 3. The Sample Expression of Interest (EoI) format and draft Terms of Reference (ToR) can be downloaded from the website at www.moud.gov.np . 4. The PMU-MoUD now invites eligible consulting firms 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 (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availabilityof appropriate skills among staff, etc.). 5. Essential Information: The expression of interest must include the following information that would provide a basis for short listing. i) Background, general and overall experiences of the firm/JV with company profile; ii) Experience of the firms on similar assignments in the past five (5) years, experience in similar conditions of the firm. iii) List of key professionals with qualifications; and iv) The consulting firms are encouraged to submit the EOI in the suggested EoI format, but not mandatory v) Indicate, where applicable, if the firm's engagement was as principal firm or as partner in association. vi) The indicative criteria for evaluation of EoIs are: Management, Technical, Geographical and Financial Competences. 6. National firms should include copies of firm's registration, VAT and PAN registration certificates,. 7. The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank's Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants by World Bank Borrowers, January 2011 ("Consultant Guidelines"), setting forth the World Bank's policy on conflict of interest. 8. Consultants may associate with other firms in the form of a joint venture or a sub-consultancy to enhance their qualifications, where all the JV members shall be jointly and severely liable for the entire assignment. EOI should indicate whether association is in the form of JV or sub-consultancy and indicate the Lead firm. 9. A Consulting Firm will be selected in accordance with the Quality and CostBased Selection (QCBS) method set out in the Consultant Guidelines. 10. Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours from 10:00-17:00 hours local time, Sundays to Fridays inclusive, except Public Holidays. 11. Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in personor by mail) no later than 17:00 hours on June 4, 2014. 12. PMU/MoUD reserves rightto accept or reject the Expression of Interest (EoI) submitted by thefirm without disclosing the