01 SOW.docx

Statement of Work Senior Transport Advisor

Introduction

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is a Federal Corporation created under Title VI of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2004. Its mission is to provide assistance that will support economic growth and poverty reduction in carefully selected developing countries that demonstrate a commitment to just and democratic governance, economic freedom, and investments in their citizenry.

Compacts typically include the planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of major infrastructure elements. Since its inception, MCC has developed and implemented many Compacts in various low and lower-middle income countries that included the planning, design, and construction of transport and vertical structure infrastructure. The MCC requires professional services to provide advisory expertise in transport planning, engineering construction, management, operations, maintenance and institutional capacity development as well as port related transportation logistics.

Scope

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) will be engaging with a number of countries designated as eligible to apply for MCC assistance and, eventually, will enter into a Compact for assistance with countries that submit quality proposals that support economic growth.

Each Compact will include an element outlining the mechanisms proposed to manage MCC funds, account and report for its use, and assure that funds are used for the purposes intended.

MCC seeks a transport expert (Expert) to assist MCC in francophone countries such as Ivory Coast, Niger, and other MCC eligible countries to undertake various assignments aimed at providing direct professional services and support in areas of transport economic, planning, engineering, design, construction, operations, maintenance, program management, finance, policy, regulatory, capacity building, training, for both rural and national road networks, large and small ports, and transportation logistics.

The overall objectives of this procurement are to:

1. Collaboratively assess and monitor compact development and implementation by MCC eligible countries.

2. Provide technical assistance to MCC eligible countries or countries that have signed an MCC Compact to develop, implement, and maintain transport networks including port facilities, and in supporting MCC mission.

Country

Francophone countries such as Ivory Coast, Niger, and other MCC eligible countries

D. Tasks

The Expert shall provide assessment and technical assistance services to MCC and foreign entities in the areas of transport economic, planning, engineering and management, maintenance, and institutional development in response to long-term and short-term task assignments. Experience with transport economic, planning, engineering and management, maintenance and institutional capacity development is required and overseas experience desirable. Knowledge of French and English is required. The Expert shall carry out the following specific tasks (but not limited to) related to this assignment during both the compact development and implementation stages.

D.1 TASK I: Institutional Capacity Assessment

D.2 TASK II: Network and Facility Planning

D.3 TASK III: Design, Construction, and Operations Services Procurement

· Assist in reviewing and evaluating bids and tenders for civil works.

D.3 TASK IV: Project Evaluation and Monitoring

1. Deliverables

Deliverables will be outlined via Technical Directives that will be issued by the Contracting Officer's Representative or the Project Monitor including appropriate levels of effort, field missions, deliverable requirements and timing of deliverables. Deliverables may include some or all of the following:

All deliverables shall be submitted in electronic form where feasible, and in hardcopy as necessary and/or required. Deliverables will be considered “draft” upon initial receipt. Drafts will be reviewed and accepted or concerns raised/comments provided within two weeks of receipt. The Expert shall appropriately address the Corporations’ concerns and provide final deliverables within one week of receiving the MCC response.

E.1 TASK I - Delivery of an evaluation report is required two weeks after the completion of an assessment. The report shall be completed in accordance with guidelines provided by the MCC. Elements of the report may include:

· A summary of previous diagnostic assessments conducted by other multilateral and bilateral donors,

· A summary of the strengths and weaknesses of each of the elements identified by the MCC and as generally noted above, and

· A recommendation as to whether the proposed fiscal agent can be relied upon by the MCC, whether any deficiencies can be overcome with specific changes, or whether an alternative mechanism will need to be pursued.

E.2 TASK II– Delivery of a report of the assistance is required two weeks after the completion of an assignment. The report shall be the product of the assistance with appropriate recommendations to MCC and the eligible country and how the proposed solutions meets the requirements of the MCC.

Period and Place of Performance

All work under this contract will be completed between effective date of the contract award through a one year base period for 1,000 hours per year with up to 5 trips per year. MCC may extend the contract for up to three (3) additional years, depending on MCC continued requirement, consultant’s performance and MCC’s satisfaction. MCC anticipates this level of effort but does not guarantee it, as it may decrease depending on actual project requirements.

The performance period of the contract is as follows:

The Expert shall perform the tasks under this contract in MCC offices in Washington DC and eligible countries as requested, and at his/her own facilities.

G. Subcontracting

The Consultant is authorized to subcontract specialized advisory services, translation and other related services as needed. The overall costs for subcontracting shall not exceed 25% of the consultant’s total negotiated unloaded direct labor cost.

H. Timing and Reporting

All formal communication with MCC, including reports, will be submitted to the MCC WDLN core team and Contracting Officer Technical Representative (COR) for the contract, and other designated MCC personnel. The COR for this requirement will be identified via separate correspondence.

The COR will have technical responsibility for monitoring the contractor’s performance and will review and evaluate the contractor’s performance.

Any changes in the terms of the SoW will be made in writing and approved by the Contracting Officer. No representation of the COR/PM shall serve as a basis for an alteration in the general scope of this SoW or of the terms and conditions of the SoW unless confirmed in writing by the Contracting Officer. The contractor must communicate with the Contracting Officer on all matters that pertain to the Contract terms. Proceeding with the work without proper contractual coverage could result in nonpayment for that work.

I. Conflict of Interest

The expert would be precluded from bidding on work and services (design, assessment, construction and supervision) to be procured by the local MCA accountable entity or using funds advanced under a Compact in the relevant country, unless the expert submits a mitigation plan sufficient to ameliorate any conflict of interest pursuant to the rules applicable to the procurement process.

J. Evaluation Factors

The Senior Transport Advisor shall have a background appropriate to the tasks and output set out above as well as:

Mandatory:

· A master’s or advanced degree in transport engineering, civil engineering, or the equivalent from a recognized university,

· Minimum 15 years successful experience in civil and transport engineering including planning and development of ports and related transportation logistics that include project preparation due diligence and prepare assessment reports suitable for financing by MCC,

· Minimum 15 years of experience in capacity building or institutional strengthening in the transport sector and able to demonstrate how best international engineering practice has been applied through detailed knowledge of advanced engineering and project management practices including risk management,

· Minimum 15 years of experience leading or as part of a team of experts in engineering design, project management, construction management, operations, maintenance, financial, policy and regulatory aspects and institutional capacity building

Preferred:

· Previous experience in delivering MCC project preparatory technical assistance (PPTA) projects,

· Written and spoken fluency in French and English, including ability to conduct oral presentations and to produce reports of high quality, and

· Minimum 15 years of program and project oversight experience in countries with similar institutional and social environment to those found in francophone countries. Francophone experience.

K. Other requirements:

International travel is required. The Expert may be requested to mobilize on a short notice and will be expected to deliver high quality finished products in a timely manner.