Consultancy Services for the Feasibility Study for Ngwempisi Multipurpose Hydro Scheme

**Project:** Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation in Eswatini

 

 

	ESWATINI ELECTRICITY COMPANY         Request for Expression of Interest (REOI)   Consultancy Services for the Feasibility Study for Ngwempisi Multipurpose Hydro Scheme FOR THE ACCELERATING SUSTAINABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY ACCESS TRANSFORMATION IN ESWATINI (ASCENT) PROJECT Project ID No: P508960

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Request for Expression of Interest (REOI)

 

Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC)

(Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini)

Consultancy Services for the Feasibility Study for Ngwempisi Multipurpose Hydro Scheme

 

First date of publication:           10 August 2026

Country:                                      Kingdom of Eswatini

Name of Project:                        Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation in Eswatini (ASCENT Eswatini) Project

Sector:                                          Energy Sector

Project ID No.:                            P508960

Reference:                                   SZ-ECC-561181-CS-QCBS

Assignment Title:                       Consultancy Services for the Feasibility Study for Ngwempisi Multipurpose Hydro Scheme

 

1. The Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini (GoKE) has received financing from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Agency (IDA) and grant funding from the Global Public Good (GPG) Facility, which are all under the World Bank. The received financing is for the purposes of implementing the Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation in Eswatini (ASCENT Eswatini) Project (P508960) (the Project), with the involvement of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy, as set out in the Loan Agreement, Financing Agreement, Grant Agreement and Project Agreements.

 

1. The EEC now invites Expressions of Interest (EOI) from interested and eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to provide consulting services for the Feasibility Study for Ngwempisi Multipurpose Hydro Scheme.

 

1. The Consultant shall undertake, but not necessarily be limited to the following tasks:

 

1. Compilation and Initial Review of Existing Documents and Data

The Consultant shall undertake a highlevel reconnaissance by collecting and reviewing existing reports, data, and policies on the Ngwempisi River and regional strategies, then synthesizing information on institutions, infrastructure, hydrology, geology, environment, and socioeconomic conditions, with further details provided in the Terms of Reference.

 

1. Review of the Pre-feasibility Study of the Ngwempisi Hydropower Cascading Scheme.

The Consultant shall review the 2018 prefeasibility study to identify gaps for further analysis and update assumptions, including assessment of dam alternatives, type options, and storage capacity, with further details provided in the Terms of Reference.

 

1. Water resources availability and water demand assessment

The Consultant shall conduct a highlevel assessment of water resources availability and future demands, including climate change impacts, water balance forecasting, and evaluation of storage structures and consumptive uses, with further details provided in the Terms of Reference.

 

1. Preliminary Studies for Agriculture

The Consultant shall conduct a highlevel assessment of irrigation potential along the Ngwempisi River downstream, including policy review, land and soil suitability, farming systems, value chains, irrigation scheme options, cropping systems, and water demand projections, with further details provided in the Terms of Reference.

 

1. Environmental and Social Impacts Assessment (ESIA) studies

The Consultant shall conduct a preliminary Environmental and Social Impact Assessment of the project including a Preliminary Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP).

 

1. Preliminary Cost Estimates, Economic Analysis and Ranking

The Consultant shall conduct a highlevel cost and economic assessment of the preliminary scheme layout, including infrastructure requirements, lifecycle cost comparisons for power production, detailed capital cost breakdowns, and preliminary financial and economic analyses, with further details provided in the Terms of Reference.

 

1. Assessment of Financing Options

The Consultant shall conduct a highlevel assessment of financing options for the multipurpose water project, considering government fiscal capacity, potential loans from multilateral development banks, and publicprivate partnership arrangements.

 

1. Preliminary Designs

The Consultant shall prepare highlevel preliminary designs to meet projected needs through 2050, optimizing infrastructure dimensions and capacity to balance water supply, hydropower, irrigation, and environmental flows, while respecting socioenvironmental constraints and international transboundary agreements, with further details provided in the Terms of Reference.

 

1. Interested consultants must provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform all the services. The following documents shall also be submitted along with the EOI applications by all the consulting firms, including each member of JV firms:
   • • Copies of certificates of incorporation/registration of the consulting firms
     • Annual Financial records of the firm(s) for the past 5 years
     • Corporate profile of the firm(s) with quality assurance plan, e.g. ISO 9001, information on organizational strength (Organization structure, number of permanent professional staff and their expertise, qualifications and number of total staff), availability of licensed software and tools.  

 

1. The qualifications and shortlisting criteria are:
   • • At least ten (10) years’ of demonstrated experience in undertaking consultancy services of a similar nature and complexity.
     • Demonstrated experience of at least two (2) relevant assignments involving water resources planning, hydropower, multipurpose dam development, irrigation, environmental and social assessment, feasibility or prefeasibility studies, economic analysis or related infrastructure advisory services.
     • Demonstrated experience of at least one (1) relevant assignment in Africa involving water resources planning, hydropower, multipurpose dam development, irrigation, environmental and social assessment, feasibility or prefeasibility studies, economic analysis or related infrastructure advisory services.
     • Demonstrated experience of at least one (1) relevant assignment in hydropower development, specifically in planning and delivering projects that enhance electricity generation through the establishment of hydropower plants.
     • Demonstrated experience of at least one (1) multidisciplinary studies covering technical, environmental, social, economic, financial, and institutional aspects of infrastructure.

 

1. The purpose of this EOI is to establish a shortlist of not more than eight (8) Prequalified Respondents for the subsequent Request for Proposal and to invite technical and financial proposals from these Respondents. All responses shall be assessed for completeness. The qualification criteria in (v) above shall be assessed on a Yes/No basis to determine a PASS or FAIL result. Respondents who attain a Pass shall be shortlisted on the following weighted aspects:

• General Corporate experience in undertaking consultancy services.[10]
• Specific experience in hydropower development, specifically in planning and delivering projects that enhance electricity generation through the establishment of hydropower plants.[25]
• Specific experience in multidisciplinary studies covering technical, environmental, social, economic, financial and institutional aspects of infrastructure development.[20]
• Specific experience in assignments involving water resources planning, hydropower, multipurpose dam development, irrigation, environmental and social assessment, feasibility or prefeasibility studies, economic analysis or related infrastructure advisory services[30]
• Regional (African) experience in assignments involving water resources planning, hydropower, multipurpose dam development, irrigation, environmental and social assessment, feasibility or prefeasibility studies, economic analysis or related infrastructure advisory services.[15]

 

 

1. In order to substantiate the aforementioned consulting jobs/contracts, the Consultant shall submit the Completion Certificates or End User Certificate from clients depicting description of services provided. All Completion Certificate or End User Certificates should be in English; Completion Certificates/ End User Certificates in other languages should be translated and notarized. Incomplete Consulting Contracts will not be taken into account and hence will not be evaluated.

 

1. Consultants may associate with other consultants to enhance their qualifications. For a JV/consortium, the qualifications and experience of the members may be combined to meet the qualification requirements. The Lead Partner shall demonstrate substantial relevant experience and shall be responsible for contract performance. Consortium members may combine qualifications and experience to meet the overall qualification requirements.

 

1. All submittals from the consulting firms shall be in English language.

 

1. The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraphs 3.15 to 3.16 of the Seventh edition of the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers dated September 2025, setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. 

 

1. The Consultant(s) shall be evaluated and shortlisted based on the qualifications, experience and capability. Qualifications and Experience of key personnel will not be evaluated at this stage. Shortlisted Consultants will subsequently be invited to submit Technical and Financial Proposals and Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost Based (QCBS) selection method as per the Seventh edition of Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers dated September 2025.
2. Interested eligible consultants may obtain further information by sending an email to the address below or visiting during office hours from 10.00 to 16.00 hrs. The Terms of Reference for the proposed consulting services can be accessed on the link: https://www.eec.co.sz/electricity/projects/ascent/docs/TERMS_OF_REFERENCE_NGWEMPISI_MULTIPURPOSE_HYDROSCHEME_PRE_FEASIBILITY_STUDY.pdf

 

1. Expression of interest must be delivered in a written form (in person or by e-mail) to the address below no later than 11h00 SAST on 01 September 2026

 

The Procurement Manager

ASCENT Eswatini Project

Eswatini Electricity Company

Eluvatsini House, Mhlambanyatsi Road,

Mbabane, Kingdom of Eswatini

Tel: +268 2409 4165 / 4062

Email: bongani.chauke@eec.co.sz  copied thobeka.gama@eec.co.sz  

 

The procedures for making a Procurement-related Complaint are detailed in the “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers (Annex III).” If an Applicant wishes to make a Procurement-related Complaint, the Applicant shall submit its complaint following these procedures, in writing (by the quickest means available, that is either by email or fax), to:

 For the attention: Mr Mphumuzi Maziya

 Title/position: Managing Director

 Employer: Eswatini Electricity Company

 Email address:  mphumuzi.maziya@eec.co.sz

In summary, at this stage, a Procurement-related Complaint may challenge any of the following:

1. the terms of the Prequalification Documents; and
2. the Employer’s decision not to prequalify an Applicant.