Clarifications to Inquiries to Invitation for Pre-Qualification of Consulting Firms (2)

Transcription

1 Clarifications to Inquiries to Invitation for Pre-Qualification of Consulting Firms (2) 1. Would you please extend the submission deadline? Or is it acceptable that we mail out the Hard copy by October 31, 2016, 5.00 p.m. by providing proof that the package was shipped out by the specified date/time), instead of your office receiving the hard copy by the stated date/time to meet the requirement? ANSWER: Extension of deadline is not possible but it is acceptable that firms send us the proof to show the mailing time by 31 Oct while the soft copy should be sent to AIIB through by 31 Oct. 2. Under the evaluation criteria, the first theme of criteria is called "evidence of project finance" should this be interpreted in a narrow sense or in broader sense, such as evidence in "preparing bankable studies for infrastructure projects"? We assume that a broader definition is more appropriate, please confirm. ANSWER: Confirmed. 3. What kind of association/partnering/consortium arrangements would be deemed as satisfactory? My question refers to the relationship between the partners, for example, does it need to be exclusive, legally binding, and or teaming arrangements need to be fixed for projects later on? Can we add or change partners after the pre-qualification? Do the partners have to contract as a sub consultant to one another or can have separate contracts with AIIB or the client body directly for actual projects? ANSWER: Association among firms to provide experts as required for comprehensive project processing. Once association arrangements are made and included in the expression of interest, it assumes no change when bidding at a later stage. 4. Is there any limit to the number of Key experts to be presented in the CV format in Annex 2? ANSWER: No.

2 5. My company wants to submit an EOI for any forthcoming projects in the near future. If we are not shortlisted this time, can't we even submit any EOI for them? ANSWER: Only those shortlisted firms will be invited to submit bids for individual infrastructure projects till the Bank opens for another round of EOI. 6. Should we combine all the required documents (As detailed in Section 3.3 of the Invitation) in a single documents arranged into sections and appendices or does your Procurement department prefer separating them into different attachments (Cover Letter, Statements and Declarations and Certified Financial Capacity Statements?) ANSWER: Please follow instructions indicated in the letter of invitation. 7. Does the pre-qualification process allow multiple firms specializing in different service offerings (i.e. financial, legal, engineering, environmental, etc.) to submit a combined response to AIIB? ANSWER: It is acceptable if multiple firms submit a combined EOI in the form of association in which a firm takes lead. 8. Please advise if the term Sound experience in infrastructure technologies refers to the practical implementation of infrastructure technologies from an engineering perspective. ANSWER: The term entails any experience in infrastructure technologies, including practical implantation of infrastructure technologies. 9. Please advise if the term In-depth knowledge of relevant laws, regulations and construction guidelines reflects the need for a legal advisory role or it is implying that financial and technical consultants need to be well aware of the laws and regulations applicable to infrastructure projects. ANSWER: The consultants should be familiar with the required knowledge. 10. Please confirm if the 10 page presentation limit applies to each individual firm. That is, if my partners with an engineering firm, both firms will be able to provide a presentation no greater than 10 pages (a total of 20 pages maximum). ANSWER: Page limit refers to the whole EOI instead of EOI of each associated firm, to make the short listing process effective.

3 11. Please advise if references provided need to include client contacts. ANSWER: Yes. 12. I understand from the CV template that we are requested to list all deliverables/tasks as in TECH-5 in which the Expert will be involved. Please advise where can I find TECH-5. ANSWER: Please disregard the reference as it is typo. 13. Do you require the Audited Financial Statements from each member of the consortium? Or will a certified statement from our auditors stating the annual turnover suffice? ANSWER: Certification is adequate for the shortlisting process. 14. In regard to forming an association to bid together, will there be any difference on the score between bidding by an association and by each firm alone? ANSWER: The evaluation will focus on the adequacy of expertise as required for each project regardless they are from one single firm or an association. The difference may be reflected on team leadership who should be from the lead firm. 15. When editing the pre-qualification documents, do you prefer us to a) introduce each firm in the association separately or 2) introduce ourselves as a whole by separating different topics? ANSWER: Either way can best illustrate the overall qualifications and strength of the EOI. 16. Could please send us the Attachments I and II? ANSWER: Attachment I and II are technically Annex 1: Invitation for Pre-Qualification and Annex 2: Form Curriculum Vitae (CV) for Proposed Personnel. 17. I am an individual consultant and wish to express my interest in the provision of 'environmental and social expertise throughout project preparation'. How can I be competitively selected for a position such as Environmental and Social Safeguard (ESS) Consultant in your organization? ANSWER: You are welcome to file your EOI, given AIIB s diversified opportunities. 18. We are unclear as to whether, in responding to this Invitation, we need to propose a formal consortium arrangement? Alternatively, would it be acceptable for our submission to

4 include written letters of support from a number of other organizations which will state that they will support us on specific projects if the circumstances of that project require such support? ANSWER: An intention of association is practical at this stage, given only the generic and outline TOR available. 19. In relation to clarification point 14, what is meant by the term..organizations shall associate with possible supporting organizations at the time of formal bidding? Is association achieved by a letter of support or does this require a more formal arrangement? ANSWER: Association among firms to strength the qualifications and competence for bidding for a specific assignment is a practice in consulting services industry and formation of association should be more formal than a letter of association to indicate the roles of each firm. 20. When is the time of formal bidding? Is that now in responding to this Invitation, or at the time of bidding for specific projects? ANSWER: At the time of bidding for specific assignment. 21. In relation to clarification point 10, if two major firms intend to work in consortium does there need to be a lead, or can the firms work in partnership? ANSWER: One of the associated firms must be designed to take lead. 22. What originals signatures are required and if e-signatures are deemed acceptable? ANSWER: Personal signing on the original hard copy of EOI is required. 23. Can achievements/experts from an applicant consulting firm s mother company or brother companies/subsidiaries under the same mother company be referenced directly as the applicant s achievements/experts without necessitating a joint-venture or association agreement? ANSWER: In evaluation of the firm s qualifications, relevant project experience borrowed from mother or sister companies should be clarified. As team candidates, it is internal arrangements between mother and sister companies what type of agreement is needed. 24. Is it necessary to stamp/sign on each and every page of the submission documents?

5 ANSWER: No. It is required that the authorized representative signs the cover letter of EOI. 25. Can a firm be associated with more than one lead firm for the pre-qualification? ANSWER: No. One lead firm one association. 26. Clarification #3 stated that legal services could be included as part of the overall services, however simple or separate legal services are not considered. Following this, we wish to be clarified if a consortium can opt to nominate a legal firm only during the bidding for a specific assignment and not yet during the pre-qualification stage? Or does AIIB require already that such legal firm be identified and included as a member of the consortium as early as the prequalification stage? ANSWER: It is more practical at the stage of formal bidding if legal service is required for any specific consulting assignment. 27. Presentation of consulting firm is limited to 10 pages. Is it permissible to submit additional materials in the annex to the main presentation? ANSWER: No. 28. Will an individual expert, who is listed as part of the pool of experts in one consortium, allowed to also be included as part of the expert pool of another consortium? ANSWER: Yes at this stage. 29. What kind of support information should be provided for project experience e.g. list of project information is sufficient? ANSWER: List of projects, including names, location, range of contract value and a brief description of each project. 30. As per the Annex -1 Invitation for Pre-Qualification, Clause 3.3, item v. Brief CVs format was provided, however for item vi. whether the expert pool only provided in list is sufficient rather than as per the format in Annex 2? ANSWER: A list is acceptable.