Notice of Public Invitation to Tender

UNION OF COMOROS Unity-Solidarity-Development Ministry of Maritime and Air Transport (MTMA) Project Management Unit (PMU) ----------------------------------- CKM1138-01V – Inter-Island Maritime Transport Project in the Comoros (PTMIC) Notice of Public Invitation to Tender PUBLIC SERVICE DELEGATION FOR THE OPERATION OF AN INTER-ISLAND MARITIME TRANSPORT SERVICE IN THE COMOROS The Government of the Union of Comoros has obtained financing from the French Development Agency (AFD) amounting to 10.5 million euros for the implementation of the Inter-Island Maritime Transport Project in the Comoros. Part of this amount is being used for the acquisition of a vessel currently under construction. This vessel, with a capacity of 272 passengers, a nominal speed of 17 knots, and the ability to carry approximately 4 tonnes of refrigerated small cargo in addition to normal baggage capacity, will be operational in 2027. The Ministry of Maritime and Air Transport, through the Project Management Unit for Inter-Island Maritime Transport in the Comoros (UGP-TMIC), hereby informs interested economic operators of the launch of a Public Service Delegation (DSP) procedure for the operation of the said vessel named MASSIWA. This tender initially concerns the operation of the Moroni-Mutsamudu route, with the possibility of developing a service to Mohéli in the near future, subject to the availability of port infrastructure on that island. The concessionaire will be responsible for operating the service, maintaining and repairing the vessel, marketing and selling transport tickets, applying the tariffs stipulated in the DSP agreement, and ensuring the continuity of public service. The tender is organized in accordance with the provisions of Decree No. 22-085/PR of October 13, 2022, promulgating Law No. 22-011/AU of June 23, 2022, amending and supplementing Law No. 11-027/AU of December 29, 2011, on public procurement and public service delegations in the Union of Comoros. The procedure is a two-stage open tender with pre-qualification, comprising: • Pre-qualification: submission, evaluation of applications, and selection of candidates admitted to submit an offer; • Initial offers and technical negotiations: submission of initial technical offers and negotiations with selected candidates; • Final offers and award: submission of final technical and financial offers, evaluation, award of the DSP, and finalization of the contract. Following the pre-qualification phase, a minimum of three (3) and a maximum of five (5) candidates will be admitted to submit an offer. Candidates may apply individually or as a consortium. Applications will be evaluated based on: • Professional capacity and experience in similar services; • Technical capacity and human resources; • Economic and financial capacity. The criteria for selecting applications are as follows (100%): • Professional capacity: 30%; • Technical capacity and human resources: 40%; • Economic and financial capacity: 30%. Criteria for judging initial offers (60 points): • Quality of proposed transport services (15 points); • Adequacy of human and material resources allocated to the delegated service (10 points); • Quality of the vessel maintenance and repair plan (15 points); • Proposals for user information, communication, and network promotion (10 points); • Quality of the training plan for personnel (5 points); • Sustainable development commitments (5 points). Criteria for judging final offers out of 100 points: • Quality of proposed transport services (15 points); • Adequacy of human and material resources allocated to the delegated service (10 points); • Quality of the vessel maintenance and repair plan (15 points); • Proposals for user information, communication, and network promotion (10 points); • Quality of the training plan for personnel (5 points); • Sustainable development commitments (5 points); • Amount of financial contribution requested from the delegating authority (20 points); • Coherence and reliability of the projected operating account (10 points); • Proposed tariff policy (5 points); • Amount of the clawback clause for improved performance (5 points) DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: October 23, 2026, at 4:00 PM, Comoros time. Applications must be submitted in a sealed envelope to: Project Management Unit TMIC (UGP-TMIC) 1st floor of the former Civil Security building (COSEP), opposite the French Embassy to the Union of Comoros, Moroni – Union of Comoros. The envelope must bear the inscription: "Public service delegation for inter-island maritime transport in the Comoros – Do not open before the committee" The submitted files