Request for Proposals (Selection of an Individual Consultant) for Head of Project Implementation Unit (PIU)

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (SELECTION OF AN INDIVIDUAL EXPERT) Country: Ethiopia Name of Project: ADDIS ABABA BRT B2 PROJECT Assignment Title: Head of BRT Project Implementation Unit (PIU) Employer: Addis Ababa City Government Transport Bureau (AATB) - Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project Implementation Unit (BRT PIU) Duration: Initially for 12 months (with 6 months trial period), renewable up to 24 months under AFD financing based on the individual expert’s performance. Reference No.: RFP-IE No: AATB/IB/04/2026 The Government of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia has received financial support from the “Agence Francaise de Développement” (AFD) to implement the BRT B2 line in the City of Addis Ababa (the ‘Project”). AATB, one of the two Project Implementing Agencies, intends to apply a portion of this financial support for the recruitment of a PIU Head position within its BRT PIU. The PIU Head will be responsible for: o Lead and manage the PIU, ensuring clarity of roles, performance accountability, and professional development. o Oversee preparation of annual work plans and budgets for BRT Operations, ensuring timely implementation of key milestones. o Establish internal controls for contract administration, payment processing, and risk management. o Ensure reporting to AATB leadership, project financiers, and external auditors is accurate and timely. o Lead the operationalization of the BRT B2 Services, ensuring readiness of all systems and services (vehicles, stations, control center, ITS, fare collection, Depots, etc.). o Oversee the procurement and implementation of all contracts related to BRT Operations. For the BRT B2, the PIU will be supported by an “Operations Consultant” (OC) – already mobilised – who will be in charge of assisting AATB and the PIU in the structuring of the O&M phase of the BRT, and of drafting all the related contracts. o Supervise the preparation and application of operational documents (e.g., handbooks, emergency response plans, O&M plans), with quality assurance of consultant inputs and alignment with BRT business model and contractual KPIs. o Provide high-level guidance on the definition and implementation of institutional arrangements for O&M. o Ensure performance of the BRT Services during the O&M phase, and ensure a data-driven mindset is fostered in the PIU. o With the support from the ODBM Consultant, and the PIU team members, supervise the overall lifecycle of all O&M-related contracts:  Preparation/review of ToRs, KPIs, and technical specifications.  Support to tender processes, bid clarifications, and evaluation committees.  Contract negotiation, execution, and monitoring.  Claims and risk assessments, and payment approvals. o Ensure that contractual frameworks are consistent, enforceable, and aligned with operational objectives. o Provide strategic direction on options analysis for alternative delivery and governance models, including PPP or hybrid arrangements. o Supervise and provide strategic direction to the BRT Contract Specialist and other PIU members involved in contract preparation, monitoring, and compliance. o Develop and maintain systems for routine performance audits of operators and contractors. o Lead integration and validation of real-time data from the ITS, Control Center, and fare systems for operational decision-making and performance benchmarking. o Monitor compliance with KPIs and recommend penalties or incentives in line with contract clauses. o Oversee preparation of analytical reports for AATB leadership and donors (e.g., AFD), including service reliability, fleet utilization, revenue flows, and customer satisfaction. o Act as the principal liaison for BRT operations across institutional stakeholders including AACA, AACRA, AACBSE, power utilities, donor coordination teams, and other stakeholders. o Convene and lead operational coordination platforms involving service providers, contractors, consultants, and AATB departments. (especially regarding the interface management between the traffic management system, intersections management, ITS, TRANSIP project, Control Centre, etc.) o Represent AATB at public events, meetings, technical workshops, and peer-learning sessions domestically and internationally. o Ensure adequate staffing of the PIU to deliver the BRT Systems’ objectives by drafting the org chart, job descriptions, etc. o Secure approval from AATB decision makers o Supervise recruitment process o Ensure Capacity of AATB is built and the PIU is staffed to become a BRT System Manager, with a specific focus on building capacity on data collection and management, contract management, Procurement, ITS to ensure optimised BRT Operations. o Lead and supervise the design and implementation of staff training and institutional strengthening initiatives. o Ensure all operational manuals, SOPs, and emergency procedures are institutionalized and periodically updated. o Guide the preparation and dissemination of knowledge products from BRT B2 operation