REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)

The Republic of Kazakhstan has received funding from the World Bank acting as administrator of the Trust Fund of the Global Environment Facility (GEF-7) to cover the costs of the WB-GEF-7 Project on landscape restoration in Kazakhstan.

The goal of the WB-GEF-7 Landscape Restoration Project in Kazakhstan is to increase the country's capacity to restore landscapes in target areas in the interests of communities, through pilot projects and the provision of institutional and technical support aimed at neutralizing land degradation.

1. Background information on the project.

1.1 Stakeholders: the Republic of Kazakhstan, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

1.2 Project name and identification number: WB-GEF-7 Landscape Restoration Project in Kazakhstan, P171577.

1.3 Name of the customer (Executive Agency): Committee of Forestry and Wildlife of the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

1.4 Name of the service: "Design and survey work for the development of an organizational and economic plan of a forest nursery, including an irrigation project on the territory of the Kazalinsky State Institution for the Protection of Forests and Wildlife of the Kyzylorda region, with an area of 33.5 hectares."

1.5 Location of services: A site of the state forest fund subject to soil survey in the Kazalinsk State Institution for the Protection of Forests and Wildlife of the Kyzylorda region for which there is a state act on the right of permanent land use.

1.6. Terms of services: Design and survey work for the creation of a forest nursery on the territory of the Kazalinsky State Institution for the Protection of Forests and Wildlife of the Kyzylorda region, with an area of 33.5 hectares, will be carried out until November 1, 2022.

2. Source of funding: A grant to cover the costs of the WB-GEF-7 Landscape Restoration Project in Kazakhstan was provided by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) from funds funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in accordance with the Grant Agreement between the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the World Bank.

3. The Forestry and Wildlife Committee of the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan invites eligible consulting companies to express interest in providing the service "Design and survey work for the development of an organizational and economic plan of a forest nursery, including an irrigation project on the territory of the Kazalinsky State Institution for the Protection of Forests and Wildlife of the Kyzylorda region, with an area of 33.5 hectares".

Interested companies need to provide information demonstrating their relevant qualifications and experience for the provision of these services (a presentation certificate signed by the head, documents confirming qualifications and eligibility, work experience describing similar tasks, availability of qualified personnel, licenses, recommendations, etc.).

4. Selection criteria:

1) The availability of a state license to perform works and provide services in the field of environmental protection - environmental design and standardization.

2) Availability of a state license for project activities.

3) Availability of a state license for exploration activities.

4) Availability of vehicles with high traffic.

5) Availability of soil laboratories for laboratory analyses of soil samples in order to confirm their forest suitability.

6) Availability of office equipment and software for the development of planning and cartographic materials using GIS technologies.

7) Availability of a production base (including an office) and qualified, including attracted specialists:

- three forestry engineers;

- agrochemist-soil scientist;

- environmental specialist;

- topographer-surveyor;

- hydraulic engineer.

8) The experience of design and survey work on the creation of forest nurseries.

5. The attention of interested companies is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank Guidelines: "Selection and hiring of Consultants on IBRD Loans and IDA Loans and Grants by World Bank Borrowers (January 2011)" ("Guidelines for the Selection of Consultants"), which sets out the World Bank's conflict of interest policy.

6. Organizations may merge with other companies in the form of a joint venture, consortium or subcontractor to improve their qualifications. The type of association should be clearly indicated in the expression of interest. All members of the joint venture must be jointly and severally responsible for the entire task. However, the experience of the sub-consultant will not be taken into account in the evaluation.

7. Consulting companies will be selected according to the Consultant Qualification Selection Method (OCC) in accordance with the procedures specified in the Consultant Selection Guide. The most qualified and experienced company should be selected and only this selected company will have to submit a combined technical and financial proposal.

8. Interested consulting companies can get more detailed information during business hours from 9.00 to 18.00 local time at the address indicated below.

Expected Contract Signing:                                   end-April, 2022

Expected Duration of the Assignment:      9 months from the Contract Signing date

To facilitate the shortlisting, the Consultants are encouraged to submit Russian translation of their Expressions of Interest.  However, non-submission of such will not affect the shortlisting in any way.

Consultants may submit their Expressions of Interest as an individual firm or in association in the form of a joint venture or sub-consultancy. All the members of the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire assignment.  The experience of sub-consultant will not be considered while short-listing. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost based Selection (QCBS) method set out in the Consultant Guidelines. 

As part of the Expressions of Interest, the Consultant should provide the required information in the following format:

• Consulting Firm Information

• Associations (Joint Venture or Sub-consultancy)

Present the rationale for and benefits of working in association (JV or Sub-consultant) with others rather than undertaking the assignment independently (as appropriate). Describe the proposed management and coordination approach of the association and the role of each firm.

• Projects references

Present relevant projects to demonstrate the firm’s technical qualifications and geographical experience (maximum 10 projects).

• Summary for the Projects listed above:

The attention of the interested Consultants is drawn to paragraphs 1.9 and 1.11 of the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants [under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants] by World Bank Borrowers, January 2011 edition (Consultant Guidelines), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest and eligibility. 

9. Expressions of interest with the attached documents must be sent to the address below (personally or by mail, or by e-mail) no later than 18:00 on February 15, 2022.

Address:

The World Bank-GEF-7 project on landscape restoration in Kazakhstan.

Project managing union.

Muratov E. K. - Head of  PMU.

010000, Republic of Kazakhstan, Nur-Sultan city, 16 Orynbor str., administrative and laboratory building of the Botanical Garden, floor 1, office 2.