| Project name | Hungary: EU/EBRD MFF MFFEE Window - Project Consultant (PC) |
| Country | HUNGARY |
| Business sector | Energy Efficiency |
| Project ID | 25111 |
| Funding source | EC Municipal Finance Facility TC Special Fund |
| Type of contract | Consultancy Services |
| Type of notice | Invitation for Expressions of Interest |
| Issue date | 16 Dec 2008 |
| Closing date | 26 Jan 2009 |
Assignment Description: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the "EBRD" or the "Bank") intends to engage a consultant (the "Project Consultant") to provide assistance to Participating Banks with the implementation of the EU/EBRD Municipal Finance Facility ? Energy Efficiency Window (the "MFFEE" or the "Facility").
There is still a substantial potential for energy efficiency improvements in the public sector in Hungary. It is driven by increasing energy prices and lack of attention to energy efficiency investments in the past. There are numerous municipalities, which have investment needs in energy efficiency. There is also a need for technical assistance in identification, development and implementation of energy efficiency projects.The barriers that prevent municipalities from implementing energy efficiency have the potential to be overcome through cooperation with Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) and possibly through bundling of projects as part of joint procurement initiatives. ESCOs have a successful track record in Hungary, and are strongly positioned to support municipalities in energy efficiency; in fact they themselves see municipalities as their largest untapped market.Through the Facility the Bank will extend dedicated loans to Participating Banks (PBs) worth up to EUR 50 million for energy efficiency investments which will contribute to the improvement of the energy performance of municipal infrastructure, including buildings. The Facility is expected to be supported by a grant from the EU of about EUR 10 million to fund incentives to the sub-borrowers and PBs. The Bank intends to award two separate consultancy contracts as follows:
1) A Project Consultant (the "Project Consultant" or "PC"), the subject of this procurement notice, will market the MFFEE, raise awareness of the Facility, establish technical eligibility criteria, prepare/appraise sub-projects and provide overall administration and monitoring of the Facility.
2) The second consultant will be a Verification Consultant ("Verification Consultant " or "VC") that will verify the completion of all municipal infrastructure and municipal building sub-projects against set criteria and advise their eligibility for incentive payments.
There will be a separate procurement notice for the VC which will be published in the next two to three months. Eligible consulting firms may apply to more than one notice; however consulting firms awarded the contract for this assignment cannot be awarded the contract for the VC assignment and vice versa.The main objective of the assignment is to assist with the design, launch and implementation of the Facility in Hungary. The Facility will provide credit lines to PBs for financing for energy efficiency projects implemented by municipalities, municipally-owned companies, private companies providing municipal services and also ESCOs implementing energy efficiency projects for municipalities (with no restriction on the population size of the municipality). The Project Consultant will ensure that participating banks become familiar with appraising and financing energy efficiency projects, and that their experts / local engineers have the technical expertise to identify and prepare technically feasible, bankable projects. As a result, the Facility is expected to initiate a self-sustaining market for investment in sustainable energy projects in municipal sector when the Facility is successfully implemented.Assignment Duration: Anticipated start date is March 2009 for a duration of 24 months. There is a possibility for contract extension in time and money subject to project needs, satisfactory performance of the consultant and availability of funding.
Maximum Budget Available for the Assignment: EUR 1,750,000.00; exclusive of VAT.
The consultant must determine whether any VAT would be chargeable on the services and the basis for that determination, without taking into consideration the Bank's special status as an IFI and state this to the Bank in their response to the Invitation for Expressions of Interest. To the extent that a consultant incurs input VAT on goods and services purchased in connection with the provision of services (e.g. VAT on airline ticket) which is not otherwise recoverable by the consultant from the local tax authority, the gross cost to the consultant of such expenses shall be treated as a reimbursable expense.
Funding Source: This assignment is expected to be financed by the EU/EBRD Municipal Finance Facility Special Fund.
Eligibility: There are no eligibility restrictions. Please note: There will be a separate procurement notice for the VC published in the next two to three months. Eligible consulting firms may apply to more than one notice; however consulting firms awarded the contract for this assignment cannot be awarded the contract for the VC assignment and vice versa.
Consultant Profile: Corporate services are required. The Project Consultant will be an international consulting firm (or consortium) and should have relevant experience in all areas needed for the performance of the Assignment as described above, including relevant sector and regional experience.The Project Consultant should also show the knowledge of ESCO business. For the purpose of this Assignment the Project Consultant is also expected to maintain a local representation and make extensive use of (accredited where appropriate) qualified locally based experts, as most tasks will be carried out in the field and in local language.
The project team should consist of:
1. An International Project Manager with
a) extensive expertise in managing complex energy projects;
b) proven expertise in project implementation planning, including those related to energy management and energy efficiency financing schemes;
c) familiarity with the EU Directive on Energy Performance in Buildings; and
d) language skills (must be fluent in spoken and written English, while knowledge of local language would be advantageous).
2. Marketing Expert with
a) significant experience in public outreach and marketing with the ability to communicate to large audience, preferably in energy efficiency.
b) references to marketing successful projects in both a business to business as well as consumer marketing contexts;
3. Engineer(s) with
a) significant relevant professional experience; and
b) proven experience in energy efficiency projects, including conducting energy audits, development of feasibility studies, assessment of investment project plans including its risks and mitigation strategy, commercially based energy efficiency projects financing, and calculation of greenhouse gas emission reduction for such projects. A wide range of expertise is needed to cover a wide range of potential projects (municipal infrastructure, buildings) including knowledge of ESCO financing;
c) language skills (must be fluent in spoken and written English, knowledge of local language would be highly advantageous)
4. Financial/Economic Expert(s) with
a) significant experience as corporate finance expert, bank loan officer or economist with specialisation in financial analysis (including capital investment appraisal);
b) proven expertise in investing particularly in financial structuring of cash flow based lending projects; and
c) language skills (must be fluent in spoken and written English, while knowledge of local language would be highly advantageous).
5. Communication/IT Expert for the Facility's communication, IT, including a web-based facility to inform, report upon and assist in transactions with
a) a significant relevant professional experience;
b) proven experience with the design, implementation and operation of web-based information, transaction and monitoring systems; and
c) language skills (must be fluent in spoken and written English, while knowledge of local language would be advantageous).
Submission Requirements: Interested consulting firms are hereby invited to submit expressions of interest. In order to determine the capability and experience of the firms seeking to be shortlisted and selected, the information submitted shall include the following:a) cover letter including full contact details, inclusive of address of the company submitting the expression of interest, phone and fax numbers, email address;
b) company profile, organisation and staffing;
c) details of experience or similar assignments undertaken in the previous five years, including their locations;
d) a table printed in landscape listing the proposed experts, indicating proposed position in the project, the years of relevant professional experience, level of language skills (English and local language) and a short summary of the relevant knowledge and experiences required for the assignment. The above information should not exceed 15 pages, excluding CVs.
Expressions of Interest should be submitted, in English, electronically through eSelection, to reach the Bank not later than the closing date.
EBRD contact person: Mr Andrea Baldan; Telephone number: +44 (0)20 7338 7307
Email address: BaldanA@ebrd.com (submissions should be sent through eSelection and NOT to this email address).
Note: Following this invitation for Expression of Interest, a shortlist of qualified consultants will be formally invited to submit proposals. Shortlisting and selection will be subject to the availability of funding.
91 3080161
2008
