Request for Expressions of Interest 
Country: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia 
Name of the Project: Contract for the Design and Supervision of STATCOM 
Grant No.: CET1135 05
Ref.No. EEP/AFD/STATCOM/CS/02/2026 
Client: Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) 
The Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) has received a financing from the European Union ("EU"), the management of which has been delegated to the Agence Française de Développement ("AFD"), and intends to use part of the funds thereof for payments under the following project Design and Supervision of STATCOM.  
1.	Objective of the assignment
The primary objective of this assignment encompasses comprehensive Project Procurement, Contract Administration, Supervision and commisioning to ensure the successful execution of ±80 MVAr STATCOM implementation Project for the existing Hurso (230kV) substation. The Consultant will provide expert support in detail engineering design, specification preparation, tender document preparation, procurement, contract management, Test and commissioning, capacity building for the STATCOM implementation project and oversight from project inception to closure. 
Services are expected to start in August 2026 and have an approximate total duration of thirty-six (36) months.
a.	Ensure Compliance with International Standards:
	Align all procurement documents with EEP’s Procurement Regulations and the AFD’s Procurement Regulations Guidelines and Standard Bidding Documents and relevant international guidelines
	Ensure conformity with the Financing Agreement requirements and mitigate legal and procedural risks.

b.	Ensure Technical Accuracy and Quality:
	Prepare detailed engineering designs and technical specifications for ±80 MVAr STATCOM at Hurso (230kV) substation including all necessary switchgear and all bay equipment’s and ensure both quality standards and sustainability goals.
	Ensure that all components of the engineering design (including equipment, materials, and construction methodologies) are current, appropriate, and reliable for the intended use in the project
	Ensure that the designs are optimized for efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and ease of implementation.
	Ensure whether the tender document and design reflect the latest technological advancements, regulatory changes, and industry trends.
	Ensure that specifications are comprehensive, addressing all aspects of the STATCOM construction, including electrical, protection and control schematics, mechanical, civil, and Ensure Environmental, Social, and Occupational Health & Safety Compliance considerations, in compliance with EIB (Environmental and Social Sustainability Framework, 2 February 2022) and AFD (Environmental and Social Framework, August 4, 2016.)’s E&S standards and national regulations	
c.	Standardize and Optimize Procurement Documents :
	Develop a comprehensive, standardized package of bidding documents for ±80 MVAr STATCOM for the existing Hurso (230kV) substation.
	Harmonize specifications, methodologies, and evaluation criteria to ensure consistency across all procurement activities.
	Prepare complete and clear tender document to ensure that it effectively communicates all technical, financial, and legal requirements.
	Review and validate STATCOM feasibility study document, environmental and social and other technical study reports (such as EEP’s E&S screening) for the preparation of tender document including technical specifications, scope of works, cost estimates based on the latest standards and lessons learned.
	Ensure that critical path analysis is conducted to identify potential risks and ensure that the timeline for delivery is reasonable given the project's scope and complexity.
	Prepare cost estimates based on updated designs, specifications, and market conditions.
d.	Environmental, Social, and Occupational Health & Safety Compliance:
	Ensure the tender document fully reflects compliance with Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP), Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMP) and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) regulations, if necessary, Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF).
	Address the environmental mitigation measures and ensure that the tender documents incorporate sustainability criteria and social safeguards for local communities.
	Review and validate the environmental and study report and Prepare site-specific Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs), including mitigation and monitorings plans, Waste and Hazardous Waste Management Plan, Biodiversity Management Plan, Health and Safety Management procedures, Grievance Redress Mechanism for Workers, and Labour Management Plan.
e.	Legal, Regulatory, and Compliance :
	Undertake a detailed legal and compliance check to verify that the tender document aligns with national regulations, international standards, and funding agency requirements (e.g. AFD, World Bank, other financiers).
	Ensure the project complies with environmental regulations, health and safety laws, and local codes of practice.
	Integrate international best practices to attract reputable bidders and enhance project outcomes
	Develop the qualification and evaluation criteria to ensure that bidders are assessed on their ability to meet both the technical and financial requirements of the project.
	Ensure that evaluation criteria are clear, comprehensive, and objective, considering previous performance, financial stability, technical expertise, and capacity to deliver large-scale infrastructure projects.
f.	Project Procurement and Contract Management :
	Provide procurement support, including bid evaluation assistance, contract negotiation guidance, and compliance monitoring.
	Ensure contract execution aligns with project timelines, cost estimates, and quality standards.
	Support in prepapring the answers to the bidders’ clarification requests
	Support the employer in addressing contractual disputes and risk mitigation strategies.
	Provide continuous support during the bidding period, managing any technical clarifications requested by bidders and ensuring responses align with the original scope of work and specifications.
	Review all design documents, technical submissions, and drawings provided by the contractor to ensure they comply with the contractual requirements and project specifications.
	Review and approval of the contractor’s procedures for switch-on, performance testing, and acceptance testing to ensure they align with the contract specifications, safety protocols and industry standards.
	Ensure that the necessary resources, tools, and personnel are available for all testing and commissioning activities.
	Actively participate in acceptance testing (post-energization), ensuring that all tests meet the requirements stipulated in the contract.
g.	Mitigate Risks and Strengthen Project Execution:
	Identify potential procurement and contractual risks and propose mitigation strategies.
	Ensure that the tendering process is structured to avoid delays, cost overruns, and technical failures.
	Identify potential project risks related to construction, schedule, budget, and quality, and develop mitigation strategies to address these risks.
	Monitor and enforce safety audits, site inspection and trainings on occupational health, safety hazards and first aid.
	Incorporate mechanisms for monitoring, reporting, and compliance enforcement to strengthen accountability.
	Provide continued and strong Supervision and Contract Administration up to commissioning.
Through these objectives, the consultant will contribute to a more efficient, transparent, and high-quality procurement process, ensuring the successful implementation and supervision of ±80 MVAr STATCOM installation project for the existing Hurso (230kV) substation in alignment with global best practices.


The Ethiopian Electric Power hereby invites Applicants to show their interest in delivering the Services described above.
This Request for Expressions of Interest is open to: 

 
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 of the JV members) 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.
1. Determination of the Applicants will be based on the criterias listed in the below table:  
For each experience submitted by the Applicant, check the boxes of the criteria which are met by the experience1. 



 
Name of the Applicant: 	

	Criteria 1 - 
Experience with STATCOM or FACTS devices design, procurement, Supervision, administration and commissioning	Criteria 2 - 
Experience with minimum two (2) successfully completed STATCOM projects above 50 MVAR on >230kV transmission network	Criteria 3 - 
Experiance to deliver projects in Sub-Saharan Africa or similar developing country contexts	Criteria 4 - 
Familiarity with international financing institutions (AFD, World Bank, IDA) procurement 	Criteria 5 - 
Experience with Substation design, procurement, Supervision, administration and commissioning	Criteria 6 - 
Availability of Key and non key experts for STATCOM or FACTS devices design, procurement, Supervision, administration and commissionin	Criteria 7 - 
Experience in Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA) and Environmental and Social Management Plans ESMP, Health and Safety protocols, Waste and Biodiversity Plans, and Stakeholder Engagement Plans (SEP) preparation per national/international standards (incl. AFD, WB, EPA)	Criteria 8 - 
Experience in softwares and international Standards for modeling, system study, measuring, testing and training on DIgSILENT PowerFactory, 
PSS®E, PSCAD/EMTDC, ETAP, EasyPower, IEC 61954, IEC 61000, IEC 60076, IEC 62271, IEC 60255,	IEC 61850 IEEE 519 

[Experience A] 								
[Experience B]								
[Experience C]								
[Etc.]								
Total 								
 
− The nature of the Services are: Detail design, preparation of technical specifications, tender documents for STATCOM, evaluation, clarification response, contract negotiation, supervision, project management, test and commissioning, capacity building, test witness and issue payment certificate for the Design and Supervision of STATCOM project.
− The technical area and expertise is on contract management of the project as consultant specifically detail STATCOM Design, preparation of technical specification, procurement, Installation, Supervision Testing and Commissioning, detailed technical studies on Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA) and Environmental and Social Management Plans ESMP, Health and Safety protocols; The consultant firm should have key expertise related to the project scope. The applicant should specify and list one or several technical areas.  
− The location is in the region (Africa), in the Client’s country (Ethiopia) or other. 
2. Determination of the similarity of the experiences will be based on: 
− Core business and years in business for field of assignment; 
− Relevant Experience in the field of assignment;
− Technical and managerial capability of the firm for field of assignment. 
         − The contracts size for the field of the assignment;
A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality- and Cost-Based Selection (QCBS) method set out in the Procurement Regulations. 
3. Guidelines for the expressions of interest 
Expressions of Interest should be submitted in one (1) hard copy and a soft copy in PDF format. 
In order to ease the evaluation process, it is required that the application documents do not exceed eighty (80) pages written in English language, gathered in one (1) file with a maximum size of 10 MB. 
The expression of interest file shall include, at a minimum:  
- The letter of expression of interest signed by the Applicant or    representative of the JV;
 - The copy of the co-contracting (joint venture) agreement (if relevant); 
- The presentation of the main Applicant (legal existence, organizational chart &    staff, financial statement/turnover over the last 5 years etc., certificate of non-bankruptcy if available); 
- The relevant past and ongoing references of the Applicant since January 2015 (see “Determination of the similarity of the experiences above”) with brief description (year(s) of implementation, duration of Services, brief description…) 
- A concept note of up to Two (2) pages describing briefly the understanding of the service, its methodology, its organization including articulation of international and local expertise, its recommendations and prerequisites; 
- The signed Statement of Integrity, Eligibility and Social & Environment responsibility (see appendix). 
Among the submitted applications, Ethiopian Electric Power will shortlist a maximum of six (6) Applicants, to whom the Request for Proposals to carry out the Services shall be sent 
The submittals should be presented in English. 
Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below in person and by email no later than April 3, 2026, 4:00 PM local time (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia). Interested Applicants may obtain further information at the same address address below during office hours from Monday to Friday, 8 :30 AM to 5 :00 PM local time (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia).
The submittals should be presented in English.
Note: In addition to the Email submission the applicants must submit One (1) original hard copy and One (1) electronic version on a flash drive physically or by courier to the address below.
The address referred to above is:
Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP), Procurement & Logistics Office
Attn: Eng. Tsion Birhanu, 
Executive officer, Procurement & Logistics 
Yeka Sub-city, Woreda 09, (Former Kotebe 02)
Infront of Kotebe Metal Tools Factory,
Ethiopian Electric Power Compound, Block Number 09, First Floor, 
Office Number 203
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
E-mail: tsion.birhanu@eep.com.et,tsionnaod@gmail.com  
Copy to: Mr. Kefyalew Mergiya, Manager, Foreign Procurement office 3
Yeka Sub City, Worda 09, (Former Kotebe 02)
In front of Kotebe Metal Tools Factory,
Ethiopian Electric Power Compound, Block Number 09, First Floor, Office Number 103
E-mail: kefyalewmergiya2127@gmail.com  
For EOI Submission;
Mrs.Weyinshet Dejene, Procurement Officer, Foreign Procurement 3
Yeka Sub City, Worda 09, (Former Kotebe 02)
In front of Kotebe Metal Tools Factory,
Ethiopian Electric Power Compound, Block Number 09, First Floor, Office Number 101
Email: weyinshetd@gmail.com  
Request for clarification have to be sent in a written form exclusively to the Client, not later than ten (10) working days (from Monday to Friday, 8 :30 AM to 5 :00 PM local time) before submission.  Answers will be sent to all potential Applicants having withdrawn the Request for Expression of Interest from DG Market. 
An application that does not meet the above listed requirements will be rejected.