CAR Mini-grid Technical Characterization and Business Model Identification Tender

Procurement Summary

Country : Central African Republic

Summary : CAR Mini-grid Technical Characterization and Business Model Identification

Deadline : 25 Feb 2021

Other Information

Notice Type : Tender

TOT Ref.No.: 50204222

Document Ref. No. : 1272880

Competition : ICB

Financier : World Bank (WB)

Purchaser Ownership : -

Tender Value : Refer Document

Purchaser's Detail

Purchaser : THE WORLD BANK GROUP
Banque Mondiale Rue des Missions Bangui Tel: +236 21 61 61 68
Central African Republic
Email :caralert@worldbank.org
URL :https://www.worldbank.org/en/

Tender Details

Expression of Interest are invited for CAR Mini-grid Technical Characterization and Business Model Identification.

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR SELECTION # 1272880

This Request for Expression of Interest is for a Firm Selection. Please log in as a valid Firm User if you wish to express interest in this selection.

Selection Information

Assignment Title

CAR Mini-grid Technical Characterization and Business Model Identification

Publication Date

11-Feb-2021

Expression of Interest Deadline

25-Feb-2021 at 11:59:59 PM (Eastern Time - Washington D.C.)

Language of Notice

English

Selection Notice

Assignment Country

· CF - Central African Republic

Funding Sources

The World Bank Group intends to finance the assignment/services under:

· BB - BANK BUDGET

· TF0B2371 - Support for the promotion and implementation of solar PV projects in Central African Republic

Individual/Firm

The consultant will be a firm.

Assignment Description

SELECTION FOR CONSULTANTS BY THE WORLD BANK GROUP

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

Electronic Submissions through World Bank Group eConsultant2
https://wbgeconsult2.worldbank.org/wbgec/index.html

ASSIGNMENT OVERVIEW

Assignment Title: 1272880 - CAR Mini-grid Technical Characterization and Business Model Identification

Assignment Countries:
- Central African Republic

ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION

The assignment aims to conduct pre-feasibility studies and techno-economic analysis of RE-powered mini grid sites in selected 30 provincial and district cities. The assessment and conclusion will be the basis to identify upcoming priority WB investments and engage consultations with the Government of CAR (GoCAR) to discuss and agree on potential project design and components. The study will incorporate GIS planning and will recommend optimum technical solutions focusing on solar PV solutions with battery storage and mini-hydro solutions where possible. The consultant will then recommend appropriate business models for the sustainable operation of these mini-grids either by the utility ENERCA, community-based solutions or with private sector participation where feasible.

FUNDING SOURCE

The World Bank Group intends to finance the assignment / services described below under the following:
- BANK BUDGET
- ESMAP Trust Fund

ELIGIBILITY

Eligibility restrictions apply:
[Please type list of restrictions]

INDIVIDUAL / FIRM PROFILE
The consultant will be a firm.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
The World Bank Group now invites eligible firms to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested firms must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc. for firms; CV and cover letter for individuals). Please note that the total size of all attachments should be less than 5MB. Consultants may associate to enhance their qualifications.

Interested firms are hereby invited to submit expressions of interest.

Expressions of Interest should be submitted, in English, electronically through World Bank Group eConsultant2 (https://wbgeconsult2.worldbank.org/wbgec/index.html)

NOTES
Following this invitation for Expression of Interest, a shortlist of qualified firms will be formally invited to submit proposals. Shortlisting and selection will be subject to the availability of funding.

Only those firms which have been shortlisted will receive notification. No debrief will be provided to firms which have not been shortlisted.

Attachments

· Optional TOR File

Qualification Criteria

· 1. Provide information showing that they are qualified in the field of the assignment, including similar assignment and work experience in the Africa region. *

· 2. Provide information on the technical and managerial capabilities of the firm. *

· 3. Provide information on their core business and years in business. *

· 4. Provide information on the qualifications of key staff, including proficiency in French (writing and speaking). *




Term of Reference
CAR Mini-grid Technical Characterization and Business Model Identification
I. Background
The Central African Republic (CAR) is a sparsely populated, landlocked FCV country with a small and mostly informal economy. It has an area of 623, 000 square kilometers (km²) and is sparsely populated with uneven distribution of its people and a low urbanization level. Approximately 60 percent of the country-s 4.9 million people live in rural areas. The average population density is 8 inhabitants per km², ranging from one inhabitant per km² in the north (in the prefectures of Vakaga, Bamingui Bangoran, and Haute Kotto) to 9, 300 inhabitants per km² in the capital city of Bangui. The economy is dominated by the agriculture sector, which employs about 80 percent of the active population and provides about 50 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), which was about US$2.22 billion in 2019.
The electricity sector is characterized by a weak policy and regulatory framework, inadequate infrastructure, and a utility that is struggling to recover costs and thus to maintain and expand services. The CAR is endowed with abundant low-cost energy resources, including considerable hydroelectric and solar potential, but these remain underdeveloped. Electricity generation and transmission capacity has long failed to keep pace with the growth in demand, and the sectoral infrastructure stock is inadequate and dilapidated. Access to the national power grid is limited, and the electricity supply is highly erratic. The state-owned power utility, the Central African Energy Company (Energie Centrafricaine - ENERCA), suffers from serious technical, organizational, and financial deficiencies, and the sector lacks a clear policy vision or national energy development strategy.
Lack of access to electricity has made the country vulnerable amid Covid-19 pandemic. A mapping exercise conducted by WHO in 2016 using Health Resources Availability Monitoring System (HeRAMS) found that half the health facilities outside the capital, Bangui, no longer function. In some regions, more than 75% of health facilities are unable to offer basic services. One-third of district hospitals cannot provide emergency services; two-thirds of immunization services are not functional and only a quarter of ambulances are operating. Out of the 818 health facilities studied in this exercise, only 23% had availability to energy sources. Due to Coronavirus outbreak, these partially functioning systems are likely to be under aggravated demand and systemic pressure. The World Bank approved a grant of $7.5 million from the International Development Association (IDA) to help the Central African Republic respond to the threat posed by the Coronavirus outbreak and strengthen national systems for public health preparedness.
Due to lack of financial sustainability of the utility (ENERCA) and the fragility of the country, decentralizing the power system and promoting private sector participation is critical, and mini-grid plays an important role in the process. Outside of the main grid areas, settlements with higher economic growth potential and higher population density can optimally be electrified by mini-grid. Currently, an IDA grant is supporting the construction of mini-grid solar solutions in Bambari and Berberati, along with conducting feasibility studies for seven additional cities.
Therefore, World Bank is undertaking a 3-year programmatic Advisory Services and Analytics (PASA) which aims to provide the Government of Central African Republic with the information needed to increase access to electricity through renewable energy mini-grid and off-grid solutions, including productive uses of electricity, and attract private sector participation in a sustainable manner through targeted analysis, knowledge sharing, and capacity building. To be more specific, this assignment will develop GIS characterization and the business models for selected 30 provincial and district cities. The 30 cities will be identified with an internal GIS identification exercise based on population density, existing healthcare and education facilities, and the areas that other WB operations (especially in the health, education, and agriculture sector).
II. Objective
The assignment aims to conduct pre-feasibility studies and techno-economic analysis of RE-powered mini grid sites in selected 30 provincial and district cities. The assessment and conclusion will be the basis to identify upcoming priority WB investments and engage consultations with the Government of CAR (GoCAR) to discuss and agree on potential project design and components. The study will incorporate GIS planning and will recommend optimum technical solutions focusing on solar PV solutions with battery storage and mini-hydro solutions where possible. The consultant will then recommend appropriate business models for the sustainable operation of these mini-grids either by the utility ENERCA, community-based solutions or with private sector participation where feasible.
III. Scope of Work
The scope of work includes three main tasks:
Task 1: Mini-grid Geospatial Characterization
This task focus on assessing the demand potential for the identified mini-grid sites and identify preferable attributes and sensitivities in support of potential investments. The work will build on the geospatial identification work that has been conducted internally. This assignment should include but not limited to:
a) Segment the possible costumers and an analysis of their energy demand and their willingness and ability to pay, including:
o Households (including total number, geolocation, etc.)
o Business (including total number, geolocation, etc.)
o public buil

Documents

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