Expression of Interest (EoI) - Consultancy Services for the Engagement of Independent Verification Agents (IVA) for DARES Project for Southern Region of Nigeria at the Rural Electrification Agency (REA)

Title: Expression of Interest (EoI) - Consultancy Services for the Engagement of Independent Verification Agents (IVA) for DARES Project for Southern Region of Nigeria

Reference No.: REA-NEP/C/QCBS/179/2024
Location: Nigeria
IDA Credit No.: 62910

• Review of Verification Framework and recommendation of applicable improvements - Verification process; Levels of verification-Standalone Solar System (SAS) Component and Solar Hybrid Mini Grid (Mini grid) Component and Timing and triggers of independent verification;
• Report on Independent verification Activities-Standalone Solar System (SAS) Component and Solar Hybrid Mini Grid (Mini grid) Component;
• Review and establish appropriate verification strategy, with adequate justifications - Phone and Field Verification; and
• Conduct of Full Audit in the event of irregularities.
• The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be found at the following website link https://nep.rea.gov.ng/tor-for-the-consultancy-services-for-independent-verification-agent-for-results-based-finance-facilities-for-solar-home-systems-and-mini-grids-southern-region
• The Rural Electrification Agency- Project Management Unit (REA-PMU) now invites eligible consulting firms ("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.

• Must be a top tier consulting or audit firm with a minimum of five (5) years operational existence as an organization and must have been established for no less than 5 years prior to the date of the EOI; must show evidence of having supervised the construction or conducted technical audit of government nationwide projects
• The firm must have completed a minimum of two (2) similar assignments in the last seven (7) years;
• The IVA must have experience with rural economies through past assignments. Familiarity with rural interventions will be advantageous including engagement with energy access companies and productive use appliance and equipment or service providers;
• IVA must have the capacity to build and deploy technology solution that can manage and conduct the verification process seamlessly. Solution must be rural friendly and must have been used for at least 2 government projects in the last Syears; Ability to deploy a robust data collection and management system with capacity to track GIS coordinates for the field visits evidence of similar deployment in the past will be essential.
• Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting 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 forth 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 Cost Based Selection (QCBS) method set out in the Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers" dated Fifth Edition, September 2023, available on www.worldbank.org.