Consultancy services on preparing a pre-investment study – pre-feasibility study (according to international practices) for the transport corridor M-15 Odesa – Reni

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (REOI) QUALITY AND COST-BASED SELECTION (QCBS) Country: Ukraine Project Name: Preparation of Sustainable Projects to Promote the Recovery of Ukraine (PREPARE Ukraine) Project No.: P508490 Grant No.: TF0C8992 Assignment Title: Consultancy services on preparing a pre-investment study - pre-feasibility study (according to international practices) for the transport corridor M-15 Odesa - Reni Procurement Reference No. (as per Procurement Plan): PREPARE-C2-03 The public investment project "Development of the Public Highway of National Importance M-15 Odesa - Reni (to Bucharest)" ("Project") has been initiated by the Service for Infrastructure Restoration and Infrastructure Development in Odesa Region in cooperation with the State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine ("Agency for Restoration" or "Beneficiary") which is the central executive authority responsible for project implementation upon completion of the pre-investment study preparation phase. It has been allocated by the Project Preparation Unit (PPU) and selected for preparation by the Ukraine Government PPF managed and implemented by the State Organization Agency on Support Public-Private Partnership ("PPP Agency") jointly with Ukraine FIRST PPF carried out by EIB/JASPERS. The World Bank operation PREPARE supports and funds the Ukraine Government PPF activities through a grant provided by the Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction, and Reform Trust Fund (URTF) donors, including the US and UK FCDO. The Agency for Restoration coordinates the implementation of national infrastructure projects within the recovery process, ensures alignment with state priorities, and is responsible for the further integration of the study results into the investment cycle. The PPP Agency ("Client") intends to use grant funds from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) ("Bank") under the PREPARE Ukraine project to finance the procurement of consultancy services to elaborate a Preliminary Feasibility Study for the M-15 Odesa-Reni transport corridor. The Ukraine FIRST PPF (through EIB/JASPERS) will conduct a pre-investment study in parallel to this Assignment to assess the strategic transport system development of the wider Odesa Region. This assignment will coordinate with the study. The main objective of this Assignment is to carry out a Pre-Feasibility Study to assess the proposed Project of the development of the M-15 Odesa - Reni transport corridor and its defined sub-projects (e.g., road widening, rehabilitation, reconstruction, bridges, bypasses or suitable combinations thereof) with respect to strategic, technical, economic, social, environmental and social grounds and to prioritize and structure the investment(s) for phased implementation. To achieve this objective, the Consultant within Pre-Feasibility Study is expected to conduct: A multi-dimensional preliminary assessment of the identified transport corridor development plan, covering technical, legal, regulatory, and land acquisition requirements - in line with the PREPARE Project Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) and related environmental and social instruments, including the Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP) and Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) - as well as revenue potential, affordability and value-for-money analysis, limited market sounding, risk assessment, and prioritization and financial structuring of subprojects. Recommendations on the structure and scope of feasibility-stage studies and design (if needed) required to prepare the corridor (or its subprojects) for investment and implementation. The results of the Pre-Feasibility Study will serve as the basis for further preparation of the investment(s) with the aim of making a decision on investment(s), which will be implemented under the leadership of the Agency for Restoration. The consultancy services ("the Services") include, but are not limited to, the following key components: Task 1. Preliminary technical analysis Task 2. Preliminary analysis of traffic and revenue potential Task 3. Preliminary legal / regulatory analysis Task 4. Preliminary Environmental & Social screening, and climate assessment, and stakeholder engagement Task 5. Economic analysis Task 6. Support to the PPP Agency in conducting limited market sounding, including drafting of marketing materials (teaser and project presentation). Analysis of delivery (procurement) options. Task 7. Preliminary risk analysis Task 8. Preliminary Value-for-Money and affordability analysis Task 9. Define a Short-list of Subprojects and Prioritize Them Task 10. Recommendations on project preparation approach and studies to be conducted at the Feasibility Stage and further preparation stages All deliverables shall be submitted in English (editable Word, PowerPoint, Excel), with translation into Ukrainian as agreed with the Client. The assignment is expected to be completed within twelve (12) months from the contract signature date. The PPP Agency 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. Mandatory requirements Substantial corporate experience of the Consultant over the past ten (10) years in preparation of projects, including conducting Feasibility Studies (FS), Pre-Feasibility Studies (Pre-FS), and other Pre-Investment Studies for large scale investment projects according to EU standards, IFIs requirements or other international good practices. Proven strong international experience over the last five (5) years in the preparation of Feasibility, Pre-Feasibility and other Pre-Investment Studies, including conducting technical, economic, financial, legal, and environmental/social assessments of transport corridor p