Expression of Interest (EoI) - Consultancy Services for the Engagement of Grants Administrator for the Nigerian DARES Project at the Rural Electrification Agency (REA)

Title: Expression of Interest (EoI) - Consultancy Services for the Engagement of Grants Administrator for the Distributed Access Through Renewable Energy Scale-Up (DARES) Project

Reference No.: REA-NEP/C/QCBS/180/2024
Location: Nigeria
IDA Credit No.: 62910

Introduction

• The Grant Administrator will be responsible for providing accountability of funds disbursed to grantees for components 1, component 2 and component 3 by reporting on utilization of funds in line with the project requirements including monitoring and tracking of milestones, reviewing of reports from grantees, preparing disbursement forecasts and disbursement instructions for the PMU and generally administering the grants.
• The detailed scope of works of the prospective Grant Administrator are contained in Section 4 of the terms of reference (TOR).
• The Grant Administrator will report to the REA-PMU. Actual grant payments to the grantees will be made by the PMU upon satisfactory presentation of requisite documentation by the Grant Administrator. The overall governance of DARES is described in the Project Implementation Manual (PIM), and it will be updated on a regular basis. Specifics of the program are outlined.
• The approximate effort level for the assignment is 90 man-months. The implementation period for the assignment is twenty-four (24) months.
• The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be found at the following website: https://nep.rea.gov.ng/tor-engagement-of-grants-administrator-for-the-distributed-access-through-renewable-energy-scale-up-dares-project/
• The Rural Electrification Agency- Project Management Unit (REA-PMU) now invites eligible consulting firm ("Consultant") 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.

• The Consultant will be a firm or consortium of firms with a demonstrated track record of managing similar performance-based grants and challenge funds in similar markets.
• The firm should have successfully delivered at least two similar assignments within the last Syears for a fund size of between $500m to $1 billion. Similarity being size, complexity, technology, operational context and economic and social settings of the client country. Experience in managing and implementing large scale IDA funded renewable energy programs and projects in the last 5 years.
• Experience managing reporting relationships with government stakeholders and large development finance organizations is highly desirable;
• Experience in, and understanding of, the off-grid and mini-grid solar market in Sub Saharan Africa (demonstrable experience in the last 5 years working with IDAS and particularly with the REA will be an added advantage).
• A track record of administering and managing grant funds aimed at market stimulation, ideally funds created by multilateral development banks and/or development finance institutions and/or bi-lateral development assistance agencies (demonstrable experience in the last 5 years working with IDAS and particularly with the REA will be an added advantage). Other related experience in Nigeria will be considered as a plus).
• Please note that only the experience of the firm and not that of the key experts are required at this stage.
• The attention of interested Consultant is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank's "Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers" September 2023 ("Procurement Regulations"), setting fifth the World Bank's policy on conflict of interest.
• Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications but should indicate clearly whether the association is in the form of a joint venture and/or a sub-consultancy. In the case of a joint venture, all the partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected.
• Each member must be reasonably qualified and meets the stated criteria. For sub-consultancy association, the experience of the sub-consultant shall not be considered in the evaluation.
• A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) method set out in the Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers" dated Fifth Edition, September 2023, available on www.worldbank.org.