REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

SAINT LUCIA

GEOTHERMAL RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

SECTORS: Energy, Renewable Energy

Project ID: P149959

GEF Grant #TF018581 and SIDS Dock Grant #TF018390

Assignment Title: Consulting Services to Carry Out a Pre-Feasibility Study of the Geothermal Potential in Saint Lucia

Reference No.: SLU-GEOP-CQS-CS-FS 01-14

Saint Lucia has received funding from the World Bank towards the Geothermal Resource Development Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds for Consulting Services to carry out a Pre-Feasibility Study of the Geothermal Potential in Saint Lucia.

Objectives of the Assignment

The Government of Saint Lucia (GOSL) seeks to engage a consultant (“Consultant”) with geothermal expertise to carry out a pre-feasibility study,in order to formulate an informed investment decision as to whether to proceed with the exploratory drilling phase of the Geothermal Project.

The objectives of the assignment are:

1. Review and validate the technical findings on the various upstream activities carried out;
2. Evaluate the viability of the geothermal resource data (“supply”) with the power system-related data (“demand”) to develop a single pre-feasibility study that synthesizes a conceptual model for developing the geothermal resources consistent with the power sector needs and constraints in Saint Lucia.

Scope of Services

The assignment will focus on the following activities:

• A Geothermal Resource Assessment based on a review and validation of the findings of initial surface exploration studies;
• A Power Generation Assessment including an assessment of the technical requirements and costs associated with developing the steam field, the above-ground infrastructure including the steam above ground systems (SAGS) and the power plant, with consideration of the requirements for integrating the geothermal operation into the domestic power system in Saint Lucia.  This should include evaluation of likely generation technology, best fit sizing, and review of applicable legal and regulatory provisions;
• A cost-benefit financial evaluation of the total (upstream and downstream) project including the exploration drilling, steam field development and the power plant construction.  This evaluation is to assess the potential commercial feasibility of the project scope and scale identified through the geothermal resource and power generation assessments.

To ensure the coherence and consistency of simultaneously ongoing activities of the project, the Consultant will be expected to:

• Coordinate their findings with consultants separately hired to simultaneously carry out an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), and also take into consideration environmental and social inputs from the said consultants in preparing the pre-feasibility assessment;
• Work closely with LUCELEC, the national power company, in order understand its power sector expansion plans and how best to integrate geothermal into the domestic power system;
• Provide input to the Transaction Advisors in order to facilitate the ongoing negotiations with a qualified geothermal developer. 

Duration

The Consultancy is to be undertaken over a period of six calendar months.

The Department of Planning and National Development now invites eligible Consultants to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services; (Curriculum Vitae, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, clients’ references, etc).

Qualifications and Skills Requirement of the Consultant

The Consultant must demonstrate extensive experience in geothermal exploration and development including technical design, project economics and financial modeling and must have a number of geothermal development pre-feasibility studies in their portfolio of past projects. The Consultant’s expression of interest should include references to such similar work undertaken previously.  Overall experience in the Caribbean or similar Small Island Developing State settings is an asset. 

The team leader should have at least 10 years of experience with the conduct of pre-feasibility studies for natural resource development (geothermal, oil, gas or mining) and engineering design for geothermal power projects. The team leader should have at least a Master’s degree related to geothermal engineering or related discipline and should possess demonstrable leadership skills and substantial team leadership experience.

The Consultant should provide CVs of key staff proposed for the assignment which must include but not be limited to expertise in the following areas.  The key staff proposed maybe hired internally or via contract with external parties.

• Geoscientific expertise including geochemistry, geophysics, and geological expertise.
• Engineering expertise including reservoir, mechanical, piping, process, electrical and civil engineering.
• Financial and regulatory expertise including energy finance and economics, risk insurance, legal and regulatory expertise.
• Environmental and Social Expertise including safeguards

All the proposed key staff must have at least a Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline and six (6) years experience in handling similar assignments within the areas listed above.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the procedures for Selection of Individual Consultants set out in the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants Under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits and Grants by World Bank Borrowers (2011). The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants by World Bank Borrowers(2011) (“Consultant Guidelines”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. 

Consultants may associate to enhance their qualifications. The associations should clearly indicate the form of the association (Joint-venture or sub-consultancy; member in charge; other member/s and or sub-consultants). Joint ventures should submit letters of intent indicating their intent to form a joint venture if awarded the contract and shall provide the above mentioned information for each member of the joint venture.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 8:00 a.m-4:30 p.m. (0800 to 1600 hours).

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by fax, or by e-mail) by June 10, 2016.