Consultancy Services for Value for Money Assessment of EFY 2013 (2020/2021) of Investments in 35 ULGs - SNNPRS (20 ULGs), Sidama (3 ULGs), Afar (4 ULGs), Benishangul Gumuz (1ULG), Gambella Region (1 ULG), Somali (4 ULGs), Harari (1 ULG), Dire Dawa (1 ULG)

Source: World Bank — Ethiopia Urban Institutional and Infrastructure Development Program

ETHIOPIA

URBAN INSTITUTIONAL AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (UIIDP)

Project No. P163452

IDA Grant No.: D277-ET, Regular Credit Cr# 6196 and Scale up Facility Cr# 6197

Assignment Title: Consultancy Service for Value for Money Assessment of Quality of Investments for EFY 2013 (2020/2021) in 35 ULGs in SNNPRS (20 ULGs), Sidama Region (3 ULGs), Afar Region (4 ULGs), Benishangul Gumuz Region (1 ULG), Gambella Region (1 ULG), Somali Region (4 ULGs), Harari Region (1 ULG) and Dire Dawa City Administration (1 ULG)

Reference No.: ET-MUDH-245755-CS-CQS

The Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Urban Institutional and Infrastructure Development Program (UIIDP) and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) include to to hire and obtain the services of Value for Money Assessment Consulting Firm (VfMCF) to carry out a Value for Money (VfM) Assessment of quality of capital investments for EFY 2013 (2020/21) in 35 ULGs in SNNPRS (20 ULGs), Sidama Region (3 ULGs), Afar Region (4 ULGs), Benishangul Gumuz Region (1 ULG), Gambella Region (1 ULG), Somali Region (4 ULGs), Harari Region (1 ULG) and Dire Dawa City Administration (1 ULG) that are participating in UIIDP. The services will also include carrying out a full technical and financial review of the various activities/contracts and an assessment of the quality of infrastructure to provide inputs into, and evidences for, the 4th APA of UIIDP.

The assignment will also include reviewing, for each of the 35 ULGs, the list of recommendations from the previous VfM Audit Report for EFY 2011 (since there is no VfM Audit conducted in 2012 EFY) and assessing the proportion of recommendations that have been addressed by each ULG.

It is expected that the Consultant will carry out, among others, the following major tasks:-

1. visit each of the 35 participating cities listed in Table 5 of the TOR to carry out the VfM assessment for a sample of the investments based on, but not limited to, the criteria of economy, efficiency and effectiveness of the investments and funds utilization;
2. conduct a technical assessment of the conception, planning, appraisal, approval, technical design, procurement, implementation, utilization, commissioning, functionality and subsequent operation and maintenance for each of the sampled investments in the 35 participating cities; This includes physically inspecting a sample of the projects of different categories of infrastructure in each town as part of the audit and assessment (minimum and maximum of 5 projects per each ULG. 
3. assess the appropriateness of the infrastructure delivery approach; quality of procurement process including: Design documents, Bidding documents, specifications/drawings and bill of quantities for all items procured;
4. assess whether the contract award prices are within budget and market rates and that they demonstrate that proper value is achieved in the process. Where the award prices significantly vary from recently awarded similar projects or engineering estimates/contracts, the market prices/rates for comparison shall be built up from first principles using current costs of materials, labor, equipment, overhead and profit, etc.;
5. assess the quality of contracts delivery in terms of their timelines, cost and quality performance in achieving good value for money;
6. assess the delivered contracts/projects (outputs) are fit for the purpose and serving the intended objectives well;
7. verify that all funds released to the ULGs during the period have been allocated to the specific investments and the outputs match the planned levels.
8. highlight serious audit finding/recommendation that involve loss of money and/or corrupt and fraudulent practices.
9. carry out the assessment of quality of infrastructure using the VfM Assessment Tool in Annex 1 of the TOR
10. For the quality assessment of infrastructures, the Assessor shall prepare equipment such as GPS, Schmitt Hammer (for concrete test), straight edge (to test smoothness), meters, camera and required checklists appropriate to the type of test.
11. Conduct cost and price verification of the sampled contracts with methods such as: documentary price comparisons (determine the supplier’s final invoice corresponds within reasonable limits to the export market price generally prevailing in the country of supply under comparable terms and conditions); and (ii) inter contract/project comparisons (a comparative analysis of selected number of unit prices).

The implementation period is four (4) months from commencement of services and expected start date of assignment is October 15, 2021 and completion date is February 15, 2022.

It is anticipated that the firm will have three (3) teams with 3 professionals each with each team covering approximately 11-12 cities. The total key experts’ input are estimated to be about 30 staff months. The field work is expected to be on average 3.5 days per each ULG including travel days and will be done during the period from November 1, 2021 to December 15, 2021. The firm is free to propose its own team composition and staff inputs appropriate to achieve the objectives and tasks of the assignment as stated in this TOR. It is expected that the full team of the firm will have the following key staffs:

Overall Team Leader/Main Author with Masters degree in accounting, finance, procurement, economics, engineering, urban/public management, public/business administration or a related field from a recognized university  and a minimum of 10 years working experience with previous leadership of multi-disciplinary teams as a Team Leader or Project Manager/Director is essential. Specific experience. At least 5 years of participation in or managing value for money assessments in public sector entities and/or local authorities of international experience in at least two countries with recognized best practice track record;

Deputy/Technical Team Leader: first degree in civil engineering or related engineering field and minimum of 7 years working experience with at least 3 years of participation in or managing VfM assessments in public sector entities and/or local authorities in Ethiopia and/or developing countries. The Deputy Team Leader will be responsible for all technical matters of the Value for Money Assessment and will also be responsible for editing all the reports. Accordingly, excellent writing and communication skills in English are required.

Performance/VfM Assessors (#6): at least a first degree in accounting, finance, economics, engineering, urban/public management or related field. A minimum of 6 years’ experience auditing public sector entities in Ethiopia and/or developing countries and performance evaluation/assessment of projects/investments as well as economic activities/revenues and expenditures related with public sector entities and/or local government governments in Ethiopia and/or developing countries.

Civil/Infrastructure Engineers (#3): Professional civil engineer, infrastructure engineer, hydraulics engineer or related field with a minimum of 6 years’ experience auditing of infrastructure projects and development. Practical experience of national and local government procurement systems and procedures for works and goods and consultancy services in Ethiopia and/or developing countries is required and essential. The engineers should have experience in the design of infrastructures and be certified and qualified professional engineers.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment should be requested by email from the Ministry at the address given below before preparation of the Expression of Interest by interested firms and will be provided by e-mail.

The Ministry of Urban Development and Construction 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 short-listing criteria are:

 1.  Core Business (Areas of Expertise);

2. Years in Business;

3. Experience Similar Assignments; and

4. Technical and Managerial Capability.

Key Experts will not be evaluated at the short-listing stage and accordingly CVs should not be submitted.

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” (July 2016 and revised November 2017, August 2018) and November 2020 (“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 clearly indicate 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.

A consultant will be selected in accordance with the Consultants Qualifications Selection (CQS) method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours: - 8.30 AM-12.30 PM and 1.30 PM-5.30 PM from Monday to Thursday and office hours on Fridays are 8.30 AM-11.30 AM and 1.30 PM-5.30 PM.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by not later than Thursday, August 26, 2021 at 3.30 PM. 

Ministry of Urban Development and Construction;

Urban Revenue Enhancement, Fund Mobilization and Finance Bureau;

Attn: Ato Meskerem Birhane; Senior Project Procurement Management Specialist;

Telephone: 251-115- 51-38-40

Email: urefmf@gmail.com