Request for Proposals: Update Feasibility Studies for the Huro and Rualae Mini-Hydropower Schemes (Solomon Islands)

The Pacific Islands Greenhouse Gas Abatement through Renewable Energy Project (PIGGAREP) is a continuation of the close collaboration between the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), UNDP and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to build the capacity of the PICs to deal with the challenges of Climate Change

The global environment and development goal of PIGGAREP is the reduction of the growth rate of GHG emissions from fossil fuel use in the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) through the removal of the barriers to the widespread and cost effective use of feasible renewable energy (RE) technologies. The specific objective of the project is the promotion of the productive use of RE to reduce GHG emission by removing the major barriers to the widespread and cost-effective use of commercially viable RE technologies (RETs). PIGGAREP consists of various activities whose outputs will contribute to the removal of the major barriers to the widespread utilization of RE technologies (RETs). The project is expected to bring about in the PICs: (1) Increased number of successful commercial RE applications; (2) Expanded market for RET applications; (3) Enhanced institutional capacity to design, implement and monitor RE projects; (4) Availability and accessibility of financing to existing and new RE projects; (5) Strengthened legal and regulatory structures in the energy and environmental sectors; and, (6) Increased awareness and knowledge on RE and RETs among key stakeholders.

The Solomon Islands Government SIG) is one of the participating PICs in the PIGGAREP and one of the activities in its 2009 Work Plan and Budget is a –Update Feasibility Studies for the Huro (Makira / Ulawa Province ) and Rualae ( Malaita Province ) Mini-Hydropower Schemes.

In 1996, the German Government (GTZ) supported the study of three (3) mini-hydropower scheme in the Solomon Islands . The GTZ supported the construction of the Jejevo (Buala) Hydropower scheme ( Santa Isabel Province ), but did not fund the construction of the Huro and Rualae Mini-Hydropower Schemes in Makira and Malaita Provinces respectively. This was due to changes in policy of the German Government and furthermore, the projected cost of the civil works for the two schemes were said to be too high.

The SIG gives priority to developing renewable energy resources in the country, thus funds to update the feasibility study for the two proposed schemes including estimate costs for civil works and the overall cost for the construction of the schemes.

It is the SIG’s plan to revisit these two mini-hydropower schemes and update the feasibility studies, so that the Huro (Makira) and Rualae (Malaita) Mini-hydro Schemes can be developed.

The SIG through the Energy Division of the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification is hereby putting out a Request for Proposals (RFP) to qualified and experience registered consultancy firms to undertake update Feasibility Studies for the Huro and Rualae Mini-Hydropower Schemes in Makira/Ulawa and Malaita Provinces respectively

Instructions to Offerors:

•  The Proposals must cover all the objectives, outputs and activities as specified in the ToR

•  The Proposals must include costs for professional fees and logistics

•  US$ only must be used in the Proposals

•  The Proposals must include:

i)   An updated CV of the individual/s who will undertake the update feasibility study

ii)   A summary of recent work in the areas to be covered in this consultancy (including client and work produced);

iii)   Information on availability;

iv)   Total person days proposed for the work on the consultancy and daily rate in US$ and

iv)   A methodology and work plan (maximum 10 pages)

•  As this task will involve specialized skills, experience and qualification, the Proposal must specify such experience and qualification of the individual(s) who will undertake the assigned task(s);

•  The consultancy preferably should commence by July 2009;

•  The offer must be in the English language only;

•  The above-mentioned documents, information and requirements are mandatory and as such are required to form a complete tender. An offer will be rejected unless it is substantially responsive;

•  If the Proposal is received prior to the formal submission date corrections/modifications can be made up to that date;

•  The Proposals must be submitted in electronic format only (Word and PDF format, 1 MB max) by email to the e-mail address specified below and

The job must be undertaken at the specified sites (Huro in Makira Province and Rualae in Malaita). The exact number of working days will be determined subsequently between the successful Contractor, the Solomon Islands Government and PIGGAREP Project Management Office (PMO).

The final working plan will be determined subsequently between the successful Contractor, the SIG and the PIGGAREP PMO. Acknowledgements of the receipt of quotations will be provided by e-mail. Successful as well as unsuccessful offerors will be informed by e-mail once the evaluation and selection process are completed.

Award of Contract and Evaluation Criteria:

Quotations will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

1.   Price (30%)

2.   Specific Experiences in Hydropower Assessment and installations (30%)

3.   Experience in the Solomon Islands or SIDS, Qualifications & Experiences of the Team who will be directly involved in conducting the consultancy (20%)

4.   Methodology/Work Plan (20%)

All quotations must be addressed to:

Solomon Islands Energy Division and copied to the PIGGAREP PMO. Note that the contract will be between SPREP and the winning bidder.

For project supervision purposes, the PIGGAREP PMO will make sure that an open, competitive and transparent process is used. Proposals must therefore be copied electronically to the PIGGAREP PMO.

Deadline for the submission of quotations is on the 10 th June 2009

Contact Information:

Nixon Kua

Deputy Director of Energy

Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification

P.O. Box G37

Honiara , Solomon Islands

Telephone: (677) 21522 ext 206

Facsmile: (677) 25811

Email: n_kua@mines.gov.sb