SOW.doc

Road Maintenance Consultancy Statement of Work

A. Introduction

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is a United States government-owned corporation responsible for the stewardship of the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA). MCC works with developing countries to promote sustainable economic growth to reduce poverty.

Selected countries develop specific investment programs in furtherance of the goal of economic development to be funded by MCC over a five year period and implemented by the country partner. After a Compact is signed, MCC has oversight responsibility for Compact implementation and retains consultants to assist with its implementation responsibilities.

B. Scope

MCC seeks a Consultant, specializing in road maintenance for the planning, funding, transportation economics, management, and execution thereof, as well as road rehabilitation and construction.

The objective of the consultancy is to support oversight of the Roads Project of the MCC Compact with the Government of Liberia (GOL) with respect to the following activities, primarily: (i) National Road Maintenance Activity and (ii) Road Sector Reform Activity.

C. Country Liberia and any other MCC eligible country, as applicable.

D. Tasks

Duties shall include (but are not limited to) the following:

1) Provide technical assistance, project management coordination, and facilitation on complex project issues on the road maintenance and construction activities of the Liberia Roads Project that relate to project milestones, conditions, and deliverables.

2) Review and assess the work completed to date on the road maintenance activities, the state of organization and operational capacity of the National Road Fund, the effectiveness to date of capacity building of the road maintenance organizations and further requirements, and the overall preparedness to proceed with the subsequent phases of the project activities.

3) Review best practices in road maintenance funding and utilization of mixed funding sources – user fees, government funding, donor funding – to support routine and periodic maintenance; identify and summarize successful transitions to self-funding of road maintenance.

4) Assist with the oversight of the incentive matching fund for periodic road maintenance, the funding schedule and conditions of release of funds, as well as the appropriate organizational design, financial and administrative procedures, and operational guidelines of the fund.

5) Assist in the review of relevant construction standards and in the preparation, review, and negotiations of maintenance contracts (including designs, specifications and bills of quantity) to ensure compliance with agreed procurement guidelines and in such a way that progress toward Compact targets and adherence to Compact timelines are ensured.

6) Assist with the planning and implementation and review of procurement, contract and financial management systems for road maintenance and of management information systems to support sound planning and investment decisions for road maintenance

7) Conduct site visits to project areas as may be required during critical points in the project lifecycle related to road maintenance and rehabilitation/construction works, construction mobilization, active construction, and completion of the works to ensure implementation in accordance with agreed guidelines and standards.

8) Provide input to the scope of technical and financial audits to be conducted of the road maintenance activities and organizations and review the resulting audit reports.

9) Ensure the application of best practices in the planning, funding, and management, and contract administration of the road maintenance and road rehabilitation/construction activities under the Compact with GOL that take into account environmental and social aspects and other MCC requirements as it relates to roads maintenance and construction activities.

10) Provide technical support and backstop technical assistance provided by others for planning, funding, and management of road maintenance with a focus on operationalization and execution of the matching fund.

11) Work in coordination as may be required with other consultants to MCC and/or to MCA-Liberia

12) Perform other related duties as required related to the Liberia Roads Project.

Specific tasks will be assigned to the Consultant through technical directives from MCC.

E. Deliverables

During the term of the consultancy, MCC will periodically issue technical directives for specific assignments, each of which will describe the required deliverables. Deliverables may include some or all of the following:

· Reports, reviews, and analyses as may be required under the above tasks according to MCC Compact timelines and project lifecycles

· Reviews of road maintenance organizations and capacity to execute mandates

· Design of road maintenance funding plans and financial arrangements

· Reviews of maintenance plans, terms of reference for technical assistance, and delivery of technical assistance to road maintenance organizations

· Comments on periodic maintenance designs and related bidding documents

· Comments on rehabilitation/construction designs and bidding documents

· Reviews of bids and contracts for periodic maintenance and construction

· Site inspection reports related to active road maintenance and rehabilitation/construction works

· Reviews of maintenance funding and technical and financial audits thereof

· Reviews of road maintenance and rehabilitation/construction contract provisions and related contract management and administration practices of MCA-Liberia and its consultants

· Final report related to road maintenance and workings of incentive matching fund

F. Period and Place of Performance

All work shall be completed between the dates of the award through a two year period of performance.

The estimated level of effort is up to 1,500 hours with an estimated 16 trips for the 2 years. MCC anticipates this level of effort but does not guarantee this level of effort as it may increase or decrease.

Consultant will perform the tasks under this contract in Liberia, any MCC-eligible country, in MCC offices in Washington DC, and at his own facilities.

G. Timing and Reporting All formal communication with MCC, including reports, will be submitted to the Contracting Officer Technical Representative (COR), Program Manager (PM), and other designated MCC personnel. The COR/PM for this requirement will be identified via separate correspondence.

The COR/PM will have technical responsibility for monitoring the contractor’s performance. The COR/PM will review and evaluate the contractor’s performance, and also will coordinate any communications with relevant counterparts and other donor agencies and organizations.

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.

H. Evaluation Criteria

· University graduate with degree in civil engineering, project and/or construction management, or business and/or finance (a postgraduate degree will be considered an advantage)

· At least ten years of professional experience, including at least five years in the field of infrastructure maintenance planning, funding, and management

· Field experience in Sub-Saharan Africa on infrastructure projects, their planning, development, funding, procurement, construction and maintenance

· General knowledge of road construction and road maintenance and best practices in technical, financial, environmental and social aspects of road construction and maintenance

· Specific knowledge of road maintenance planning, funding, management, and technical assistance

· Advanced level in written, reading and oral English

APPENDIX

Roads Project Description

The Roads Project comprises of two interconnected activities designed to build a foundation for national road maintenance planning and execution, and build capacity within the sector.

(i) National Road Maintenance Activity.

The National Road Maintenance Activity aims to match Government contributions for periodic road maintenance in an effort to better maintain and sustain Liberia’s primary paved and unpaved roads and increase institutional capacity in the sector. MCC Funding will support:

(A) Matching Road Maintenance Fund Sub-Activity. MCC will match Government contributions that have been deposited by the Government to an account (the “MRMF Account”) that are dedicated to periodic road maintenance on a one to one basis up to $15 million during the Compact Term, subject to measurable indicators of performance on maintenance planning, capacity and implementation.

(ii) Roads Sector Reform Activity.

The Roads Sector Reform Activity aims to build capacity and provide technical assistance at the national and regional level. [The activity will be administered by the National Transportations Systems Center of the United States Department of Transportation (“DOT”) pursuant to an agreement between DOT and MCC (the “Administration Agreement”). Accordingly, the Government will not be responsible for Activities for which DOT has sole responsibility under the Administration Agreement (including with respect to applicable Disbursements to DOT). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Government will cooperate with DOT and perform its obligations to achieve the objectives of the Roads Project consistent with this Compact, the Program Implementation Agreement and any other Supplemental Agreement.] MCC Funding will support:

(A) Network Analysis/Data Collection. In partnership with the Government, DOT will develop a national roadway inventory report and database by:

· collecting roadway condition data to support a road network analysis throughout Liberia including primary roads, secondary roads, and feeder roads,

· collecting traffic volume data separated by mode and vehicle type in the dry and wet season on the primary and secondary road network,

· collecting any other data that feeds into MCC models or would feed into future models used by the Government, and

· training future RMC staff to routinely update inventory collection work and successfully apply data for maintenance planning.

(B) Sector Reform/Institutional Strengthening/Capacity Building. This task would assist MCC to ensure that compact transportation sector investments are coordinated with and complement the projects of other major donors. Coordination would build on current efforts of the donor working group. DOT support could further institutionalize the involvement of other donors as important stakeholders in road maintenance activities and any other transportation planning and capacity building activities including:

· providing capacity building related to the axle load control law;

· strengthening the administrative and operational framework of the Road Fund.

· training and support in transportation planning methods.

· assisting in the development of a [five year] transportation asset management plan for Liberia.

· aiding urban transportation planning in Monrovia; and

· reviewing existing policies concerning road safety and developing a set of recommendations and framework of implementation.