Request for Expressions of Interest Pre-Qualification of Construction Contractors

Purpose of this Request for EOIs

ECODIT Beirut LLC (henceforth ECODIT) is soliciting expressions of interest and submission of pre-qualification data (Phase 1) from qualified Bidders/Construction Contractors for the construction of three organic waste composting stations, including land preparation works in the following three towns in Lebanon:(1) Jezzine - Jezzine District, (2) Rachaya el-Wadi - Rachaya District, and (3) Qaraoun – Western Bekaa District - see Attachment A. A Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) formed by ECODIT will evaluate all Expressions of Interest (EOIs) received and short-list up to eight bidders/contractors based on the eligibility for pre-qualification and the evaluation factors described in this request for EOIs.  Subsequently, for each town, ECODIT will issue a separate Request for Quotes (RFQ; Phase 2) to all short-listed contractors, inviting them to submit detailed quotes in response to the final tender documents for that town. ECODIT may issue the three RFQs for the construction works in the three towns in a staggered fashion (i.e., spread over time). For each town, the TEC will evaluate the offers received based on the evaluation criteria that will be listed in the RFQ and select one contractor for the construction works for that town. All short-listed contractors will be encouraged to bid on all three RFQs. ECODIT may award more than one construction contract to the same contractor -for example, two construction contracts for two of the three towns or three construction contracts for the three towns.

Background

ECODIT is implementing the USAID Diverting Waste by Encouraging Reuse and Recycling (DAWERR) Activity (2020-2025), which aims to improve the social, environmental, and economic well-being of the Lebanese citizens through establishing sustainable and replicable integrated solid waste diversion and valorization solutions in rural areas of Lebanon.

DAWERR has the following three objectives:

1. Build the capacity and commitment of municipalities to provide improved SWM services either directly or indirectly;
2. Empower communities to sort at the source and participate actively in various stages of the Recycling Value Chains (RVCs); and
3. Develop successful business models that create green economic opportunities and generate net incomes along the value chains. 

DAWERR is developing sustainable composting value chains for organic waste and strengthening existing RVCs for recyclable materials in six pilot municipalities, including Jezzine, Rachaya, and Qaraoun, and will support the replication of the successful pilots in additional municipalities across Lebanon. In addition, DAWERR will develop integrated solid waste management solutions in three unions or clusters of municipalities.

Scope of Work for the Construction Works

This Request for Expressions of Interest, and the subsequent RFQs, concern the construction works for the three composting stations in the pilot municipalities of Jezzine, Rachaya, and Qaraoun. DAWERR will support Jezzine, Rachaya el Wadi and Qaraoun Municipalities and their local communities to develop sustainable composting value chains for organic waste, including source separation, collection, and composting of organic waste through the construction of small-scale, low-tech, low-cost composting stations, creating local demand for the compost produced for agricultural, landscaping, or other uses as soil conditioner/fertilizer supplement. Specifically, DAWERR will construct one central composting station (composting bunker or container composter) in each of these three municipalities.

In Jezzine and Rachaya el Wadi, DAWERR is planning to install Container Composters that will be fabricated separately by another contractor, who will bring the container composters to the site and install them after the construction works have been completed. For Qaraoun, DAWERR is planning to build composting bunkers. Exhibit 1 (presented in the attached Request of EoI) outlines the scope of work (SOW) for the municipality, the construction contractors, and other DAWERR contractors to complete the construction of the composting station in each town.  The Construction Contractor will be expected to take possession of the site and begin construction, noting that the municipality and other DAWERR contractors will contribute to construction works as detailed in Exhibit 1.

Eligibility to Pre-Qualify

To be eligible to submit an EOI and be considered for pre-qualification, a construction contractor must:

1. Be classified in the second category and above of buildings and public works classification at the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, and provide proof of such classification;
2. Be registered in the Commercial Registry with a valid registration, and provide a copy of registration showing validity through September 30, 2023, or beyond;
3. Be registered with the Directorate of Value Added Tax (VAT) and provide a copy of the certificate of registration;
4. Operate a non-bankrupt business and provide (1) a non-bankruptcy statement issued by the competent bankruptcy court and (2) a statement of the Bidder that he/she is not under judicial liquidation, issued by the Commercial Court; both statements should be dated no more than six months before the deadline for submitting the EOI;
5. Have a Professional Liability Insurance Policy with coverage for at least $500,000 for any one claim and $1,000,000 in the aggregate and provide a copy of it or provide a signed Commitment letter to obtain such insurance prior to contract execution;
6. Provide a signed Commitment letter to obtain a Contractor’s All Risk (CAR) insurance policy, Contractor General Liability Insurance policy, Workers’ Compensation Insurance (all-in-one or separate policies) prior to contract execution; and
7. Have implemented at least one similar project worth at least $100,000 successfully in the past three years and provide relevant supporting documentation.

Procurement Timeline