The Ministry of Finance, Lao PDR (“the Beneficiary”) has been allocated grant funds (the “Grant”) from the EU – Asian Infrastructure Fund (which are administered by the European Investment Bank (“the Bank”) and loan funds (the “Loan”) from European Investment Bank toward the cost of the Vientiane Sustainable Urban Transport Project (the “Project”). The Ministry of Public Works and Transport, the executing agency, intends to apply a portion of the grant and loan proceeds to eligible payments under the contract for which this international invitation for prequalification is issued. This international invitation for prequalification relates to the contract for Project Implementation Consultant (hereinafter referred to as “the Contract”).

The Project consists of the construction of a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Vientiane, Lao PDR, and facilities for parking management, traffic management and pedestrians. The Contract will include technical and financial support services aimed at finalizing the Project concepts, recommendations and designs, as well as specialized project management and implementation services for the Lao PDR government on issues covering Project coordination, communications, marketing, business and institutional planning, operational design of project systems, engineering and civil works designs, preparation of contract documents, procurement, construction management, training, and technical support during testing and commissioning of equipment and systems.

The Contract is expected to be implemented from December 2017 to December 2022.

The criteria to be used in the prequalification evaluation are, in decreasing order of importance. Only experience from projects started or completed during the last 10 years will be recognized.

1. Detailed plan(s) prepared for "full BRT" projects (from design to operation) that the firm has implemented;

2. Project(s) the firm has implemented for setting up or reforming of urban transport management agencies;

3. Adequacy of management competence; and

4. Project(s) the firm has implemented in a socio-economic environment similar to that of Lao PDR.

All firms are invited to participate in the prequalification. Only the six (6) prequalified firms/joint ventures will be invited to tender.

Interested firms may obtain further information and ask question not later than 14 calendar days before below submission date, from: Dr. Bounta Onnavong, Deputy Director General, Department of Transport, Ministry of Public Works and Transport, email: [email protected] or fax +856-21-415563. Terms of reference, answers to questions or clarifications from applicants and guide to application for prequalification may be downloaded from http://mpwt.gov.la/en/procurement-main-en/vsutp-menu-en.

All applications to prequalify must be delivered in closed envelopes (1 original and 8 copies) marked “Prequalification for Project Implementation Consultant, Vientiane Sustainable Urban Transport Project” not later than 6 weeks after issuance of this notice by 20 March 2017 at 15:00 local time at the following address: Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Department of Transport, Att: Acting Director General, Lane Xang Avenue, Vientiane, Lao PDR.Pre-qualification applications will be opened immediately after the aforementioned date and time in the presence of firms’ representatives who choose to attend.