Liberia’s Rural and Renewable Energy Agency (RREA) invites expressions of interest by 6 April from qualified engineering consultancy firms to prepare detailed designs, bidding documents, tendering and supervision of works for the construction of the 9.34 MW Gbedin Falls run-of-river hydropower plant on the Mani river and associated distribution system infrastructure.
This will involve the construction of 8 km of 33 kV line from the hydropower plant and two 33 kV substations with provision of possible future expansion, to evacuate power to the existing 33 kV cross-border line between Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire. The services also include the supervision of the implementation of the Safeguards Instruments (environmental and social management plan and resettlement action plan), for the project and provision of assistance to RREA in the recruitment of the operator of the proposed facilities. The consultant will provide training in various engineering areas such as design, planning and implementation of hydropower plant, and the management and maintenance of electrical facilities to include use of renewable energy resources. The training is expected to be beneficial to the staff of RREA, Liberia Electricity Corporation and other government agencies, to provide the country with a pool of skilled professionals in the power sector, especially hydropower generation. Specifically, the consultant will: review final reports of all studies by the other consultants for this project, and provide relevant recommendations; carry out site-specific investigations to include sedimentation and hydrological studies, topographic survey and geotechnical investigations for input to the detailed engineering design; carry out detailed engineering design, and prepare bidding document for the works contract; assist RREA in the procurement of the works contractor; review the detailed designs for any components of the works contract for which the works contractor has been assigned responsibility; and, provide project management and construction supervision services for the works contract, including coordination of the implementation of the Safeguards Instruments. The consultant will also certify milestones for payments to the contractor, assist RREA in the selection process of the operator of the facilities and initial supervision of the contract, as well as preparation of off-take agreement; training and transfer of knowledge to RREA in management, operation and maintenance of hydropower plants and mini-grid systems; provision of relevant design and plans for future connection of the hydropower plant to the interconnection grid operated by CLSG TRANSCO; and, supervision of corrections of any defects and O&M activities of facilities during the defects liability/notification period.
Consultants may associate with other firms in a joint venture or a sub-consultancy to enhance qualifications. A firm will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost Based Selection method.
For further information, contact: Joseph Williams, Executive Director, RREA, Old LEC Sub-station, Newport Street, Monrovia; Tel: +231776309880; Email: info@rrealiberia.org; lesterk@rrealiberia.org; samueln@rrealiberia.org; paschalinam@rrealiberia.org.
