SELECTION OF CONSULTANTS BY THE WORLD BANK

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

Electronic Submissions through World Bank Group eConsultant http://www.worldbank.org/eConsult

Assignment Overview

Assignment Title: Ship Recycling Industry in South Asia: Environmental Compliance and Market Competitiveness Analysis

Assignment Country: Bangladesh, India and Pakistan

Assignment Description

The Project comprises three interrelated activities. The first activity will be related to the economics of the SBRI at the global, regional and country-specific level, the second to the environmental impacts of the SBRI at the regional and country-specific level and the identification of Convention compliance gaps and options, while the third area of activity will be related to engaging stakeholders and disseminating information about the first two activities and their outcomes:

I. SBRI Economics: Building on the already existing analysis, this activity calls for SBRI economic, financial, and market assessment for Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, including the economic, social, and political economy aspects as well as “downstream” demand and industry linkages. The demand and cost analysis for (providing) scrap steel and other SBRI products should take account of different levels of implementation of the international regulations regarding the environmental impacts of the industry. Country-specific and comparative assessments of the profitability and sustainability of the SBRI in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan should look at both at the “business as usual” scenario and at the “Convention compliance” scenario; competitiveness analysis vis-à-vis the other major SBRI centers (e.g. China and Turkey); and in terms of industry relocation risks. The outcomes of these assessments should be synthesized with the indications from the analyses (activity II below) of environmental impacts of the industry in specific locations and the costs of their mitigation to derive the financial impacts of different possible levels of implementation of the international regulations in respect of the countries’ SBRI.

II. SBRI Environmental Impact: This activity will establish pollution inventory and baseline data on Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan SBRIs’ current handling practices, based on the environmental audits of the hazardous waste materials present in a structured sample of recycling yards/ships for recycling as well as other information and data that is available and relevant (with particular focus on POPs identification, management, and disposal). The audits will cover the identification and quantification of the SBRI chemicals/hazardous waste loads imposed at each country’s main recycling location and should be sufficient to establish a baseline and for the subsequent estimation of the costs of remediation and avoidance of future contamination in line with the draft Convention. The activity further calls for capacity and facility gap analysis for implementing guidelines required under the international conventions by the public (national and provincial) and private sector institutions involved in the respective countries’ SBRIs. This includes the identification and assessment of options (including costing) for hazardous waste management to close the gap between current SBRI practices and achieving increasing levels of compliance with the Convention and related international instruments.

III. Stakeholders outreach and dissemination: This activity calls for engaging interested parties and agencies in the analyses, and ensuring that they are aware of the options being considered and that their perspectives are taken into account in reaching conclusions and recommendations. Consultants will be expected to undertake and/or provide input and participate in related workshops and other specific participatory activities.

Expected duration of assignment: 11 months starting in June/July 2008.

INVITATION AND SUBMITTALS

The World Bank now invites eligible consulting companies with considerable experience in this field and understanding of the region’s economies and SBRIs to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested consultant companies must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc.). Consultants are also invited to indicate their interest even if they are interested and qualified to perform only activity I or only activity II. Depending on the response, the Bank will proceed with one assignment if there are a sufficient number of interested firms to establish a shortlist or otherwise may decide to split it into two assignments.  Activity III must be included in the assignment regardless of whether the firm expresses interest in the first two activities or only in one of them.

Consultants may associate to enhance their qualifications; however the potential project manager of this study should be identified as well as some indications of the project team be provided. It is envisioned that at least 30%-40% of the consultancy will comprise nationals from within the SAR region.

A consulting company will be selected in accordance with the procedures as specified in the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers (May 2004, revised in October 2006).

Interested consulting companies may obtain further information from Mr. Milen Dyoulgerov (E-mail: mdyoulgerov@worldbank.org; Tel: [(1-202) 473-6359] from 0900 to 1700 hours, Washington, DC time (address below).

Expressions of interest must be delivered by 23 May 2008.

Funding Source:

The World Bank intends to finance the assignment/services described above under a trust fund.

Eligibility:
There are no eligibility restrictions.

Individual/Firm Profile:
The consultant will be a firm or consortium.

Submission Requirements:

The World Bank now invites eligible consultants to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc.). Consultants may associate to enhance their qualifications.

Interested consultants are hereby invited to submit expressions of interest.

Expressions of Interest should be submitted, in English, electronically through World Bank Group eConsultant http://www.worldbank.org/eConsult.

Notes:
Consultants will be selected in accordance with the procedures set out in the current edition of the World Bank's Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers.

Following this invitation for Expression of Interest, a shortlist of qualified firms will be formally invited to submit proposals. Shortlisting and selection will be subject to the availability of funding.

Contact Information:
Mr. Milen Dyoulgerov; E-mail: mdyoulgerov@worldbank.org; Tel: (202) 473-6359
Ms. Adriana Jordanova Damianova; E-mail: adamianova@worldbank.org (202) 473-2159