By ALEXANDER RICHTER From Think Geo Energy

A request for expressions of interest has been launched for the Coordination of a Geothermal Energy Project on a consultancy basis for Grenada in the Caribbean has been launched.

The Caribbean Development Bank has issued a request for Expressions of Interest, for a Geothermal Energy Project Coordinator on a consultancy basisfor Grenada, in the Caribbean.

The Government of Grenada (GOG) has applied for financing under the Sustainable Energy Facility (SEF) for the Eastern Caribbean, managed by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) towards the cost of Geothermal Resource Development Project and intends to apply a portion of the proceeds of this financing to eligible payments under a contract for which this invitation is issued.  Payments by CDB will be made only at the request of GOG and upon approval by CDB, and will be subject in all respects to the terms and conditions of the Financing Agreement.  The Financing Agreement prohibits withdrawal from the financing account for the purpose of any payment to persons or entities, or for any import of goods, if such payment or import, to the knowledge of CDB, is prohibited by a decision of the United Nations Security Council taken under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations.  No party other than GOG shall derive any rights from the Financing Agreement or have any claim to the proceeds of the Financing.

The Ministry of Finance and Energy, the Executing Agency, now wishes to procure consultancy services for a Geothermal Energy Project Coordinator (GE PC) for the overall management of the Government’s exploration drilling campaign including costs, schedules and resources.  The Consultant will work closely with relevant Government agencies, international funders, technical specialists and legal experts to achieve this.

The objective of the consultancy is to strengthen the capacity of the Energy Division of the Ministry of Finance and Energy to manage the implementation of GE project in Grenada.

The GE PC will report to the Permanent Secretary, or an officer designated, and will be responsible for, but not limited to, the following tasks and activities:

The GE PC will be the focal point for internal and external communication regarding geothermal energy within the Government, and will therefore be required to:

1. Establish and Chair a working group comprised of key Government Ministries to identify and deliver on various inputs from Government; and work with the Ministry of Works and other Ministries to encourage budgetary allocations for the related works. GE PC will also liaise with statutory and non-statutory bodies with responsibility for enablers of the project (i.e. NAWASA, Grenada Ports Authority, etc).
2. Develop and implement a communication and stakeholder engagement strategy to increase government and public awareness of the benefits and limitations of geothermal energy.
3. Identify sources of technical and financial assistance which may be available from the international community.
4. Coordinate a detailed project implementation plan (including workplans and budgets) for the exploration drilling campaign (including infrastructure requirements) by working with local and international technical experts to identify the scope of works, budget requirements and implementation schedule.
5. In line with Government and donor requirements, develop a transparent, robust process for the tendering, evaluation and award of contracts, including the development of terms of references and technical specifications. He/she will also be required to assist in the preparation of tender documents, negotiations and procurement of services for the execution of infrastructure works, exploration drilling, etc.
6. Facilitate the execution of an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment(s).
7. Submit to the Permanent Secretary monthly Progress Reports on the status of tasks undertaken. Progress Reports will be provided to the Working Group and funders.
8. Monitor costs, schedules and resources and alert relevant agencies of any risks to the project.
9. Supervise and oversee the work of Consultants and Contractors hired, including the approval of payments against contractual milestones.
10. Advise the Ministry of Finance and Energy on key actions to be taken based on the results / outcome of drilling activities.

The duration of the assignment is expected to be for a period of 24 months.

The Ministry of Finance and Energy now invites interested eligible individualconsultants to submit Expressions of Interest (EOI) indicating qualifications and experience required to fulfil the role of: Consultant Geothermal Energy Project Coordinator (GE PC), and provide the relevant consultancy services, per the Terms of Reference (which can be also electronically accessed via:http://finance.gd/docs/TORsforGrenadaGeothermalProjecti.pdf, orhttp://www.gov.gd/egov/pdf/vacancies/tor-grenada-geothermal-project.pdf.

The GE PC will be stationed on a full time basis, at the Energy Division of the Ministry of Finance and Energy, Financial Complex, The Carenage, St. George’s, Grenada.

Consultants shall be eligible to participate if:

1.  the persons are citizens or bona fide residents of an eligible country; and
2. in all cases, the consultant has no arrangement and undertakes not to make any arrangements, whereby any substantial part of the net profits or other tangible benefits of the contract will accrue or be paid to a person not a citizen or bona fideresident of an eligible country.

Eligible countries are member countries of CDB and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of CDB’s Guidelines for the Selection and Engagement of Consultants (2011), setting forth CDB’s policy on conflict of interest.

In the assessment of submissions, consideration will be given to qualifications and experience on similar assignments.    All information must be submitted in English.  The full terms of reference may be accessed athttp://finance.gd/docs/TORsforGrenadaGeothermalProjecti.pdf; orhttp://www.gov.gd/egov/pdf/vacancies/tor-grenada-geothermal-project.pdf   Further information may also be obtained from the first address below between 0800 and 1600 hours Monday to Friday.

Interested eligible candidates must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services and are invited to submit their EOI which should consist of:

1. A signed Cover Letter that is no more than two pages (letter size) in length; and
2. A Curriculum Vitae (CV): including employment records, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills, previous remunerations etc.

Deadline for submission of EOI, is no later than 1600 hours (Grenada Time) February 28, 2017, to the first address below, and copy sent simultaneously to CDB, at the second address below.  An electronic version of EOI in PDF format, OR a hard copy version may be submitted. The submission should include the Consultant’s name and address, and shall be clearly marked “Expression of Interest – Consultant Geothermal Energy Project Coordinator”.

Following the assessment of submissions, the most technically capable and appropriately experienced applicant will be invited to negotiate a contract to provide the consultancy services.   GOG reserves the right to accept or reject late applications or to cancel the present invitation partially or in its entirety.  It will not be bound to assign any reason for not engaging the services of any applicant and will not defray any costs incurred by any applicant in the preparation and submission of Expressions of Interest.

1.

Kim Frederick
Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Finance & Energy
Financial Complex
The Carenage
St. George’s
GRENADA, W.I
Tel: +(473) 435-8708
Email: [email protected]

2.

Procurement Officer
Procurement Policy Unit
Caribbean Development Bank
P.O. Box 408
Wildey, St. Michael
BARBADOS, W.I. 11000
Tel: + (246) 431-1600
Fax: + (246) 426-7269
Email: [email protected]

Source: Caribbean Development Bank