Consulting Service for Development of a detailed Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) with Strategic Environmental Management Plan (SEMP)

Memo No.: 22.02.0000.020.14.012.26.121                                                             Date:  15/09/2026

Request for Expressions of Interest

(Consulting Services – Firm Selection)

Country: Bangladesh

Name of the Proposed Project: Host and Rohingya Enhancement of Lives Project (HELP)

Grant No.: E325-BD

Assignment Title:

Consulting Service for Development of a detailed Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) with Strategic Environment Management Plan (SEMP)

Reference No.: S-9

Project ID No: P501274

The People's Republic of Bangladesh has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Host and Rohingya Enhancement of Lives Project (HELP) and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services for Development of a detailed Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the existing and proposed Policies, Plans, Programs, and Projects in the region of Cox’sBazar District with adjoining Marine and Marine Coastal areas  as well as other impacted areas and prepare a Strategic Environmental Management Plan (SEMP) with future intervension to manage and restore the environment and ecosystem in the impacted area.

1. The broad scope of consulting services (“the Services”) includes but not limited to:

• Inception
• Screening
• Scoping
• A report on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) along with the detailed analysis of the PPPPs
• Strategic Environmental Management Plan (SEMP)
• Draft Final SEA Report including SEMP

1. The objectives of the consultancy services are to come-up with the cumulative environmental impacts of the existing and proposed Policies, Plans, Programs, and Projects (PPPPs) in Cox’s Bazar district including Teknaf Peninsula and other FDMNs-impacted areas so that the GoB can address them at the earliest phase of decision making alongside economic and social considerations. The specific objectives are:

• Consideration of environmental and socio-economic consequences of existing and proposed PPPs (national and Cox’s Bazar district including Teknaf Peninsula and other FDMNs impacted areas) that cover the target area of this assignment and promoting that these issues be addressed when formulating and implementing future, as well as existing and proposed PPPs to promote sustainable development in the target area and conservation of their environmental and ecological value;
• Identification of key stakeholders relevant to selected sectors and organizing consultation meetings to obtain knowledge on existing bio-physical settings and socio-economic conditions, impacts of current and proposed developments, and potential strategies for future development of the Cox’s Bazar district-Teknaf Peninsula and other FDMNs impacted areas;
• Development of alternative strategies to minimize the direct/indirect, domestic/transboundary and cumulative impacts of development on the study area of the Chattogram division;
• Prepare a SEMP with potential recommendations to improve environmental performance management in both the public and private sectors with regard to current and future development activities as well as to manage and restore the environment and ecosystem in the impacted area.
• Formulation of a comprehensive monitoring framework as part of the Strategic Environmental Management Plan (SEMP) for the study area of the Chattogram division including Cox’s Bazar district-Teknaf Peninsula and other FDMNs impacted areas to support decision making and monitoring of the implementation of PPPs that are likely to affect the environment and socio-economic conditions of the target area.

1. The detailed Terms of Reference (ToR) can be found at the following website: www.doe.gov.bd The ToR or any further information can be obtained at the address of the undersigned given below, during office hours from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Bangladesh Standard Time (BST).
2. The Department of Environment (DoE) 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 shortlisting criteria are:

a)   General Experience of the Firm in providing similar services (core business and years in business);

b)   Experience in similar assignments of compatible size, complexity and technical specialty in the required areas;

c)   Experience in development partners funded similar Projects.

1. Consultants are requested to submit, but not limited to, the following supporting documents in support of the above-mentioned criteria:

(i)  The Firm's Incorporation/Trade/registration documents from the country of the firm (ii) Firm’s brochures; (iii) description of similar consultancy contracts, including the scope, contract amount, name of Client, period of the contract (date of contract signing to date of completion), location/ country of the services, etc.

1. The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to the Section III, Para 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers, September 2023 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.
2. Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications but shall indicate clearly whether the association is in the form of a joint venture (i.e. all members of the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable) and/or a sub-consultancy (i.e. the Consultant will be responsible, including for the services of the sub-consultant). In case of an association, the Consultant must explain in the EoI submission (a) the rationale/ justification for the proposed inclusion of the JV members and/or sub-consultants; and (b) the anticipated role and relevant qualifications of each member of the Joint Venture and/or of each sub-consultant for carrying out the assignment. Failure to provide the above explanation in the EoI may risk the association not being shortlisted for the assignment. However, the qualifications/ experience of sub-consultants will not be considered by the Client in the evaluation of Expressions of Interest for Shortlisting purposes.
3. A Consulting Firm will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) method as set out in the World Bank Procurement Regulations.
4. Expected date for commencement of the services is March 2027 and the tentative duration of the entire assignment is 9 months.
5. Expressions of Interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person or by mail) by 1500 hours (BST) (GMT + 6 hours) on October 15, 2026.
6. The authority reserves the right to accept or reject any or all EoIs without assigning any reason, whatsoever.

            Signed