REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA

INITIATIVE TO NURTURE SUSTAINABLE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGH RENOVATIONS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY (INSPIREE)

Expressions of Interest

 

The the Government of Moldova has received a financing from Agence Française de Développement ("AFD") and from the German government / Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development via KfW to fund the following project Initiative to Nurture Sustainable Public Infrastructure through Renovations for Energy Efficiency (INSPIREE).

The Project’s overall objective is to improve Moldova’s energy security and the quality of public services through energy efficiency renovation of public buildings. The short list of buildings to be renovated under the Project includes 14 regional hospitals, distributed in all districts of the country, and 16 higher education buildings, mainly located in Chisinau (totaling about 93 000 m2).

The Project is estimated to last 5 years from the moment the Project Implementation Consultant (PIC) is contracted.

Specific objectives of the Project include the following:

• Improvement of the energy efficiency of selected public buildings in Moldova;
• Reduction of final energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions of the selected public buildings;
• Improvement of the working and living conditions for the users of the selected public buildings;
• Improvement in the accessibility of the selected public buildings;
• Improvement of the resilience of the selected public buildings to extreme weather events.

The Project will be structured into two main components:

• a physical investment component for the renovation of public buildings, and
• a technical assistance component that will provide support to the Implementing Agency for the successful completion of the Project as well as institutional support aimed at maximising and making the Project's impact sustainable in the long run.

The Moldova Energy Project Implementation Unit (MEPIU) is responsible for the implementation of the project and will mobilize the services of a consultant for its execution.

The Consultant (hereafter PIC) will be resposable for the second main component of the Project.

The tasks of the PIC shall include but not be limited to:

- Support the MEPIU in Project management incl. financial and contractual management, and in monitoring of the Project progress;

- Develop a Project operation manual together with the MEPIU to ensure clarity on the implementation process;

- Develop a methodology and tool to monitor the indicators from the Results Matrix and support the MEPIU in regular reporting as per the Co-financiers’ requirements;

- Support the MEPIU in the preparation and implementation of tender for design, technical managers and construction works in accordance with AFD Procurement Guidelines and the procurement plan;

- Assist in obtaining construction permits and other approvals and in preparing the memorandum of understandings with the owners / managers of the selected buildings;

- Review the detailed energy audits (to be conducted by locally certified auditors before the start of the PIC) and the detailed designs;

- Supervise construction, incl. monitoring of Project progress, quality control, site inspections, oversight of technical managers;

- Issue energy performance certificates (by sub-contracted locally certified evaluators);

- Ensure the submission of the operation and maintenance (O&M) plans to be developed by the construction companies, and review thereof;

- Carry out institutional support activities, such as:

• Activities to stimulate the market by training local designers and contractors to respond to the Project’s tenders, e.g. through liaising with the Chamber of Commerce and other relevant organizations
• Capacity building of designers and the MEPIU related to the promotion of gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) in the Project
• Training of building managers / owners and technical operators on efficient building management incl. training of trainers
• Development and implementation of a communication plan (through a sub-contracted communication agency);

- Conduct Environmental, Social and Health and Safety (ESHS) assessment and asbestos management, support with the implementation of the ESCP, develop and implement E&S instruments, perform monitoring according to the ESCP.

The selected Consultant are required to work physically at the MEPIU offices during the duration of the engagement. Remote work will not be considered for this project due to the nature of the tasks and the need for close collaboration with the internal team. However, back-office staffing will also be considered for specific tasks, depending on the project’s needs. All consultants must either be present on-site or fulfill their responsibilities from a back-office setup, as per the client's expectations and operational requirements.

Consultant Team Composition should include, but not be limited to:

1. Team Leader;
2. Energy Efficiency Expert;
3. Construction Management Expert;
4. Technical Experts (architecture, structural, electrical, and mechanical engineering, EHSH);
5. Environmental and Social Expert;
6. Procurement Expert.

The MEPIU hereby invites Applicants to show their interest in delivering the Services described above.

This Request for Expressions of Interest is open to Consulting firms.

Eligibility criteria to AFD financing are specified in sub-clause 1.3 of the "Procurement Guidelines for AFD‑Financed Contracts in Foreign Countries", available online on AFD’s website: http://www.afd.fr.

The Applicant shall submit only one application, either in its own name or as a member of a Joint Venture (JV). If an Applicant (including any JV member) submits or participates in more than one application, those applications shall be all rejected. However, the same Subconsultant may participate in several applications.

If the Applicant is a JV, the expression of interest shall include:

• a copy of the JV Agreement entered into by all members,

or

• a letter of intent to execute a JV Agreement, signed by all members together with a copy of the Agreement proposal,

In the absence of this document, the other members will be considered as Subconsultants.

Experiences and qualifications of Subconsultants are not taken into account in the evaluation of the applications.

Interested Applicants must provide information evidencing that they are qualified and experienced to perform those Services. For that purpose, documented evidence of recent and similar services shall be submitted.

Determination of the similarity of the experiences will be based on:

• The contracts size;

- The nature of the Services: Support for Clients in implementing the energy efficiency projects funded by international donors;

- The technical area and expertise:

1. Project management/project management support for building renovation projects funded by international financial institution, with a focus on energy efficiency;
2. Development of a Project Operation Manual in accordance with international financial institution requirements;
3. Structural assessments of buildings, including risk analysis and compliance with local and international standards;
4. Development of tender documentation and conduct of tender procedures for design, technical managers and construction works;
5. Supervision of construction projects, monitoring progress, conducting quality control, and overseeing technical managers;
6. Review design documents to ensure compliance with technical specifications, safety standards, and project requirements;
7. Integration of environmental and social safeguards into project design and implementation, including asbestos management and gender-sensitive approaches;
8. Training and Capacity Building (procurement, asbestos management, ESHS management, GESI strategy).

PIC will have to subcontract the expertise for:

1. Energy performance certification at the completion of the construction works;
2. Asbestos management as per EU standards;
3. Developing and implementing a Communication Plan (CP) and communication campaigns throughout the project period, including outreach through mass media and social media, event organization, and the developement and procurement of necessary promotional materials, along with other communication activities outlined in the CP or required by the implementing and financing institutions.

 

• The location: in the region.

The Client will also take into account for the evaluation of the applications the following items:

- Skills and availability of in-house technical back-up experts provided to the on-site experts;

- Local representatives/partners.

Documented evidence of recent and similar services submitted by applicants should include information allowing for similarity of experiences to be assessed such as amount of the contract, completion period, the description of services provided, etc. for the last 7 years. Certificates of completion of services signed by the clients should be provided. Candidates should not include CVs or methodologies in their expression of interest.

In order to confirm their eligibility for AFD financing, Applicants must also include in their submission the signed Statement of Integrity, annexed to this Request for Expressions of Interest.

Among the submitted applications, MEPIU will shortlist a maximum of six (6) Applicants, to whom the Request for Proposals to carry out the Services shall be sent.

The Expressions of Interest must be submitted on paper or electronically to the address below no later than April 22, 2025.

For electronic submissions, please ensure the file size does not exceed 20MB. If the file size exceeds this limit, candidates are required to send the submission in multiple emails.

Mr. Ruslan Surugiu, Interim Director

Address: 1, Alecu Russo Street, Block A1

Floor/ Room number: Sixteenth (16th) floor, office 163

City: Chisinau

ZIP Code: MD-2068

Country: Republic of Moldova

Telephone: (+373 22) 49 67 90

Email: mepiu@mepiu.md

Interested Applicants may obtain further information at the address below during office hours: from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

 

Appendix to The Request for Expressions of Interest

1. Answer to requests for clarification 

2. Answer to requests for clarification 

3. Amendment no.1