Consulting Service for the elaboration and Technical, Environmental, Social Studies, and Environmental Licensing for the Last-Mile Infrastructures of Huambo, Bié, and Benguela

REPUBLIC OF ANGOLA

MINISTRY OF PLANNING

ACCELERATING ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION AND JOB CREATION PROJECT

Loan No.: IBRD-95270

Project ID: P178035

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)

Assignment Title: CONSULTING SERVICE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL STUDIES, AND ENVIRONMENTAL LICENSING FOR LAST-MILE INFRASTRUCTURE IN HUAMBO, BIÉ AND BENGUELA

Reference No. 95CS2/MINPLAN/26

The Government of Angola has received financing from the World Bank Group's International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) toward the cost of the Accelerating Economic Diversification and Job Creation Project (Diversifica Mais) and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services for the Development and Technical, Environmental, Social Studies, and Environmental Licensing for Last-Mile Infrastructure in Huambo, Bié and Benguela.

Consulting Services (“the Services”) aim to provide technical support to the Ministry of Planning, through the DIVERSIFICA+ Project Implementation Unit (PIU), in all phases prior to the execution of last-mile infrastructure projects in the provinces of Huambo, Bié, and Benguela. The role of the consulting firm includes:

1. Identifying the technical, economic, and social needs of the selected productive infrastructures, mapping existing site conditions, and inventorying current infrastructure assets in the intervention areas;
2. Developing technical, economic, and financial feasibility studies for the subprojects, defining engineering and architectural alternatives, and estimating the construction, operation, and maintenance costs;
3. Preparing preliminary engineering and architectural designs to serve as a robust basis for future detailed design and construction bidding documents;
4. Preparing Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA) and associated instruments, verifying compliance with national legislation and World Bank environmental and social standards, and validating proposed mitigation measures;
5. Evaluating the national legal and regulatory framework relevant to land use, environmental licensing, and infrastructure development, identifying potential bottlenecks or risks, and providing advice and support to the PIU to address them;
6. Preparing detailed preliminary technical specifications for the core infrastructure modules, covering civil works, solar photovoltaic energy, irrigation systems, and rural road rehabilitation, ensuring technical viability, climate resilience, and sustainability.

The expected duration of the consultancy contract will be 5 months.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be obtained at the address given below.

The Accelerating Economic Diversification and Job Creation Project (Diversifica Mais) 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:

• Possess a minimum of 7 (seven) years of proven experience in preparing technical and economic feasibility studies and in developing preliminary projects for small and medium-scale infrastructure, preferably in the sectors of photovoltaic solar energy, irrigation systems, hydraulic ditches, rural access roads and rehabilitation of small road infrastructure;
• Possess a minimum of 05 (five) years of proven experience in the preparation of environmental and social studies for infrastructure projects (including ESMPs and other applicable E&S instruments, proportionate to the risk and defined by subproject.), preferably in the sectors of photovoltaic solar energy, irrigation systems, hydraulic ditches, rural access roads and rehabilitation of small road infrastructures
• Having performed at least 2 (two) tasks of a similar nature in the last 10 (ten) years, involving technical studies or preliminary projects for infrastructure to support local or productive development;
• Proven experience in carrying out at least two (2) similar projects in Angola or comparable Portuguese-speaking countries, including knowledge of Presidential Decree No. 117/20 and applicable environmental licensing procedures, and involving environmental and social studies of projects and infrastructure to support local or productive development.
• Demonstrate proven practical experience in preparing cost-benefit analyses, financial modeling, risk assessment, and market studies, including the development of sensitivity scenarios;
• Demonstrate knowledge and experience in applying the standards and procedures of international financial institutions, namely the World Bank or equivalent multilateral entities, including requirements related to environmental and social safeguards, institutional analysis, and regulatory framework;
• To demonstrate institutional capacity to operate effectively in multi-stakeholder contexts, ensuring strong technical coordination with public institutions, local authorities, and other relevant actors in Angola, while fostering meaningful engagement with local communities.
• Possess a valid Environmental Consultancy certification issued by the Ministry of the Environment (MINAMB), proving your legal authorization to conduct environmental studies in Angola. The certification must be presented as part of the Technical Proposal and must be up-to-date at the time of submission.
• Having e...