OGŁOSZENIE O ZAMÓWIENIU PUBLICZNYM NR 1

Country: Armenia
Project: RAILWAY RESTRUCTURING PROJECT
Financing: World Bank
Abstract: TRANSACTION ADVISORY SERVICES FOR IMPLEMENTING THE CONCESSION OF THE ARMENIAN RAILWAY
Sector: Consultants
Contract/Bid Number: Expressions of Interest
Deadline: 26 March 2007

The Government of the Republic of Armenia (GoA) has applied for a grant from the Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF) and Japan Policy and Human Resources Development Fund (PHRD) and intends to apply part of the grant proceeds to make payments under the contract for transaction advisory services for implementing the concession of the Armenian Railway (AR).

AR is a state owned corporation, whose shares are controlled on behalf of the GoA by the Ministry of Transport and Communications. The railway is vertically integrated, and its management structure is production, not market, oriented. The GoA wanted to restructure the railway to make it more efficient and market responsive, and position it to support economic growth in Armenia. To support this change, PPIAF funded a consultancy that examined restructuring options. In order to improve rail transport services and reduce the pending demand for the GoA financial support, the study recommended concessioning AR; the GoA has accepted this recommendation. In order to coordinate and oversee the concession preparatory works, a Ministerial Decision Making Commission was established to make decisions regarding the concession and a Working Group of local professionals was created to support the transaction.

The assignment includes Transaction Advisory Services over a 12 months period with approximate budget of US$ 1 million to support and guide the Ministerial Decision Making Committee for the preparation and the implementation of the whole process of concession of the Armenian Railway, from pre-selection of potential investors, award of concessionaire, to the transfer of operation to the concessionaire, including but not be limited to:

• Based on a general terms of concession, refine a strategy to implement the concession
•  Prepare Information Memorandum and prepare draft Concession Agreement
•  Prepare pre-selection criteria and pre-selection documents
• Support the identification and the canvassing of concessionaire/potential investors, including Marketing/Road Shows
• Support to the pre-selection of bidders
• Prepare Offering Memorandum/Bidding documents, and make such documents and other Studies available in an appropriate Data Room for bidders
• Support the evaluation of proposals presented by bidders
• Finalize the Concession Agreement, and assist with the signing of the concession agreement
• Assist with the transfer of operations during the post-award period

The Transport Project Implementation Unit of the Ministry of Transport and Communication of Armenia now invites eligible consultants to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc.). Consultants may associate to enhance their qualifications.

A consultant will be selected in accordance with the procedures set out in the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers, May 2004 edition.

Interested consultants may obtain further information at the address below from 1000 to 1700 hours (local time).

Expressions of interest must be delivered to the address below by 26 March 2007. Expression of interest may be submitted by e-mail either in MS Word or Adobe PDF format.

Contact: Transport Project Implementation Unit.
Attn: Alexander Bakhtamyan, Director.
Ministry of Transport and Communication.
28 Nalbandyan St.
Yerevan 0010 Armenia.
Tel: (374-10) 545-748, 580-523.
Fax: (374-10) 580-523.
E-mail: atp@arminco.com
Notice Number: WB963-699/07
UNDB Print Edition: Issue No. 699, 31 March 2007
Posted Online: 6 March 2007