procurement notice

THIS NOTICE IS AMENDED IN RESPECT OF DETAILS OF SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Batumi Public Transport Project - Corporate Development (Twinning) Programme for the Batumi Bus Company

Assignment Description: Batumis Avtotransporti, the Batumi Bus Company (the “Company”) intends to engage a private operator (the “Twinning Partner”) to assist it in commercialisation and corporatisation, including implementation of a Business Plan, Management Information System, Accounting System, Ticketing System and conclusion of a Public Service Contract. 

The Twinning Partner will also develop recommendations for the optimal form of private sector participation in the operations of the Company.

The objectives will be achieved by means of a Twinning Partnership that will assist the Company in the following areas:

a. Organisation & finance;

b. Operations;

c. Marketing;

d. Management.

Assignment Start Date and Duration: It is anticipated that the assignment will start in September 2008 and will take approximately 18 months to complete. 

Maximum Budget available for the Assignment: EUR 200,000; Exclusive of VAT. 
The Consultant must determine whether any indirect taxes/VAT are chargeable on the proposed services and state the basis for such determination in the Financial Proposal. If any indirect taxes/VAT are payable, the Client (the Executing Agency) will have to pay indirect taxes/VAT element to the services directly to the consultant unless otherwise agreed.

Funding Source:  The EBRD Early Transition Countries (the “ETC”) Fund

Eligibility: There are no eligibility restrictions.

Consultant Profile:  Interested firms should be private companies that can demonstrate public transport operating experience in more than one country or forming part of a group with such experience in more than one country.

The Twinning Partner is expected to provide the following expertise:

• public transport management;

• operations planning;

• marketing;

• management information systems and cost-accounting.

All experts need to have extensive job experience in a “best in class” bus operating company.

Status: Interested firms are hereby invited to submit expressions of interest.

In order to determine the capability and experience of firms seeking to be shortlisted, the information submitted should include the following:

• company profile, organisation and staffing;

• details of experience or similar assignments undertaken in the previous five years, including their locations;

• CVs of staff who could be available to work on the assignment.

The above information should not exceed 20 pages excluding CVs.

One original and 3 copies of the above information in English and 3 copies in Russian should be submitted by post to the Executing Agency in an envelope marked “Expression of Interest for Corporate Development (Twinning) Programme for the Batumi Bus Company”, to reach the Executing Agency not later than 16:00 hrs on 4 July 2008.  Alternatively, respondents can submit their expressions of interest by email to reach the Executing Agency by the same closing date and time.

The Executing Agency: Batumi Bus Company “Batumis Avtotransporti”
Contact Person: Giorgi Loria
Director,  Batumis Avtotransporti
2 Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani Street, Batumi,  Georgia
Fax: +995 222 75230
Email: avtotransporti@gmail.com

Further 2 hard copies in English only should be submitted to the EBRD by the same closing date:

The EBRD’s Contact Person: Yvonne Wilkinson
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
One Exchange Square, London EC2A 2JN
Tel: + 44 20 7338 7123, Fax: +44 20 7338 7451
E-mail:  wilkinsy@ebrd.com

Note: Following this Invitation for Expression of Interest, a shortlist of qualified firms will be formally invited to submit proposals.