The run-of-river project, on the river Brenwe, approximately 4.5 km north of Brenwe village in northwest Malekula, will entail the construction of a powerhouse to be equipped with twin impulse turbines, an intake weir, headrace tunnel, forebay, penstock, tailrace, switchgear, transformer, 20-kV three phase transmission cable (to public road) and access roads to the intake, forebay and powerhouse.
Construction of the project is expected to be completed in 24 months. The hydropower plant is to be constructed within the framework of the Vanuatu Energy Access Project (VEAP), which aims to support development of least-cost renewable energy for the population of the archipelago’s two main islands whilst displacing diesel generation. VEAP is being funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Vanuatu. Canada-based consultancy Stantec is the design supervision consultant for VEAP and will work in partnership with local consultant Noreve Vanuatu.
International Competitive Bidding (ICB) will be conducted in accordance with ADB’s ‘Single-Stage, Two-Envelope’ bidding procedure and is open to bidders without nationality restrictions.
The tender notice with minimum qualification requirements can be viewed on the ADB’s website at https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/tenders/van49450-veap-bhp-ifb.pdf.
A complete set of bidding documents can be obtained at no cost by registering with the Vanuatu Project Management Unit, Prime Minister’s Office Complex, Ground Floor, Director’s Office, Emmanuel Brunet Street, Port Vila, Vanuatu.
A pre-bid meeting and site visit will be held in the week of 6- 10 May 2019 and details are in Appendix A of Instruction to Bidders. Attendance of the pre-bid meeting and site visit must be confirmed by the bidder in advance to ensure sufficient time for organizational logistics. A site inspection will also take place the same week. Whilst attendance at the pre-bid meeting and site visit is not mandatory, potential bidders are encouraged to participate to ensure they have a thorough understanding and appreciation of the project and site logistics. Staff from the VPMU and its Design Supervision Consultant will be available on 9 May 2019 to answer any further questions that may arise from the pre-bid meeting and site inspection.
For further information, contact: Fatiaki Gibson, Project Manager; Email: fatiaki.gibson@gmail.com.
