Strengthening the functional units of expressways and high capacity highways

Source: World Bank — Ethiopia- Expressway Development Support Project

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVE BIDDING

(CONSULTANCY SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

For

STRENGTHENING THE FUNCTIONAL UNITS WITHIN THE ETHIOPIAN TOLL ROADS ENTERPRISE (ETRE) FOR EXPRESSWAY AND HIGH CAPACITY HIGHWAY MANAGEMENT

1.     Project Background

The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) has received financing from the World Bank towards the cost of the Ethiopia Expressway Development Support Project; and intends to apply part of the proceeds to build the institutional capacity of the Ethiopian Toll Roads Enterprise (ETRE). ETRE is currently operating the Addis-Adama Expressway, which is the first modern expressway in the country, with ITS and Toll Systems applications and it was opened for traffic in 2014. This new agency (ETRE) was also established in the same year (2014). The procurement of the project is being undertaken by another sister transportation agency, named, Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA). ERA is responsible for construction of expressways in the country; while ETRE is in charge of operations and maintenance of the expressways; along with their ITS/Toll Systems.

The Addis-Adama Expressway stretches approximately 80 Km long, with a 6 lane-two way-roads (two divided carriageways, each 3 lanes). It connects the capital city, Addis Ababa with the city of Adama, in the Oromia Regional State. Currently, on a typical workday, it serves more than 20,000 vehicles per day. In addition to Addis-Adama Expressway, ETRE will soon be responsible for operating a newly built Modjo-Hawassa Highway, which is currently under construction; and is expected to be operational in approximately within three years’ time. This new highway is also planned to include ITS/Toll Systems. 

2.      Objectives of the Assignment

The aim of this project is to build the institutional capacity of this relatively new agency (ETRE); so as to enable it to effectively manage, operate and maintain the current and upcoming expressways around the country; along with their respective ITS/Toll systems. This is expected to ensure the agency will continue to provide sustainable, safe, efficient and reliable customer services to travelers on these expressways, for years to come.

In addition to this capacity building project, the project aim is also to upgrade ITS/Toll Systems so as to enable them to provide full-scale traffic and incident management operations and quality services for travelers on both highways, which will be interconnected; and operate under a Regional ITS Architecture. Therefore, this Institutional Capacity Building effort for Addis-Adama Expressway will have to complement and be closely coordinated with the Modjo-Hawassa-ITS/Toll Systems Deployment Project; in particular the Gap Analysis Task for Addis-Adama Expressway. 

3.      Scope of Services

The service consists of primarily two categories 1) Planning and 2) Design & Implementation Support Services, as laid out below:

 3.1 Planning service

It involves primarily field surveys, data gathering and investigations as well as data analysis and recommendations. These will include observations of the key functional areas and corresponding service centers in ETRE. The Study Areas and Tasks will include, but not be limited to the following: 

               Data Collection Tasks (including field surveys & investigations):

·         Road Safety Operations: audits, accident data collections, analysis & reporting mechanisms,

·         Customer Service Practices vis-a-vis ETRE’s Mission and Goals;

·         Finance, Planning & Budget Operations: Capital/Operating budget, Revenue Collections & Verification systems;

·         Human Resource allocation and management systems, processes & practices;

·         Organizational hierarchies, reporting mechanisms, communications & efficiencies,

·         IT applications & systems operations: Network Management, data gatherings, storages, disaster recovery, cyber security, firewalls, Internet & Intranet, web applications, data center & data warehouse;

·         Facility Management &Operations methods and systems; procedures & guidelines’;

·         Internal Security Systems & Management Practices;

·         Capacity Building, Knowledge & Technology Transfer& Training Practices; and  

·         Project Management practices, guidelines, procedures & templates.

              Data Analysis, Final Reports and Recommendations:

·         Institutional, Organizational & Manpower hurdles to capacity building and recommendations;

·         Risk Management & Analysis: safety, security, data storage, disaster recovery, revenue collection systems etc.;

·         ICT applications, Productivity, Efficiency analysis & Recommendations to scale-up;

·         Cost/Benefit Analysis to improve and scale up services, functional centers and operations;

·         Institutional relationships with major stakeholders, including Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA),

·         Legal and operational environments, including linkages with partner agencies and jurisdictions;

·         High Level Conceptual Design and Implementation Alternatives, Priorities & Phases to build ETRE’s capacity; and

·         Deliver Final Reports with Findings, Analysis and Recommendations. 

3.2 Design & Implementation Support Services

Based on the results and final recommendations of the Planning phase of the service the Consultant will have to provide Detailed Design and Implementation Support Services to ETRE; as directed by project manager; senior management and policy makers of the agency. The final agreement to be signed with the prospective consultant for the specific tasks under this phase would be contingent on the nature and scale of final recommendations accepted for implementation, by client, to build capacity and enhance ETRE. This agreement may determine the final budget, scope and schedules for this particular phase of the project. Below are highlights of the tasks to be performed by the prospective international consultant during the Design and Implementation Support Services phase of this project. 

·         Provide detailed design alternatives and strategies, along with cost/benefit analysis and final recommendations to implement the best solutions and measures to build and enhance the Capacity of ETRE, its functional areas, services operations:

·         Provide advice on procurement, budgets, schedules, priorities and implementation phases of recommendations:

·         Provide policy, planning, management and organizational development advisory and consulting services,

·         Assist client during procurement and negotiation phases while selecting vendors, bidders, system designers and integrators;

·         Provide technical support services to supervise System Acceptance Tests (SAT); verifications and validations;

·         Provide Project Management Support Services during implementation;

·         Provide training and assist in advancing Knowledge & Technology Transfer to ETRE; and

·         Provide all other related Supports Services; as directed. 

4. Required Qualifications

Interested Consultants must provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience for a minimum of ten years to perform the Services. The following criteria will be used to assess the Expression of Interest documents;

1. Eligibility,

2. A minimum of ten years general experience of completed Institutional Capacity Building and Enhancement related projects;

3. At least 10 years of experiences (preferably in a toll agency environment); in management consulting services, in such areas as Institutional and Organizational Capacity Building; Process Reengineering; Planning & Budget; Human Resources; ICT Applications and Facility Operations. Familiarity and profound knowledge of ITS/Toll systems including Traffic operation center and facility operations and management practices is mandatory.

4. Company establishment, number and diversity of permanent personnel related to the service

5. Familiarity and general understanding of environmental and institutional issues in the Region. 

5. Project Duration

The entire assignment is expected to be completed within a period of two years (Twenty four months) after contract signing; i.e. 12 months for Phase I Services (Planning) and 12 months for phase II services (Design & Implementation Support Services).

6. Selection of Applicants

The Ethiopian Roads Authority, now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services.

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) (Revised July 2014) (“Consultant Guidelines”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

Consultants may associate with other firms in the form of a joint venture or a sub consultancy to enhance their qualifications. Consultants are advised to specifically indicate the type of association in their application.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost Based selection method set out in the above mentioned Consultants Selection Guidelines.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours from 09:00 A.M to 12:30 A.M hours and from 2:00 P.M to 5:00 P.M hours, Mondays to Thursdays and 09:00 A.M to 11:30 A.M and 2:00 P.M to 5:00 P.M hours on Fridays.                          

Expressions of interest must be delivered in three (3) hard copies or electronically to the specified address (in person, or by mail) on or before October 30, 2017. Please note that the number of pages of the Expression of Interest document shall not be more than 50 (fifty) pages.