Recruitment of a consultant (FIRM) for the realization of a Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA) of the management works of the Classified Forests of HAUT-BANDAMA, N’ZI SUPERIEUR, and PIERRHE

Bid Reference: CI-FIP2-535001-CS-CQS
Procurement method: Consultant Qualification Selection
World Bank project No. : P175982

NOTICE OF EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

(CONSULTANT SERVICES/FIRM SELECTION)

COTE D’IVOIRE

FOREST INVESTMENT PROJECT – PHASE II (PIF II)

Credit No. : 7187-CI

Mission Title: RECRUITMENT OF A CONSULTANT (FIRM) FOR THE REALIZATION OF A STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL ASSESSMENT (SESA) OF THE MANAGEMENT PLANS OF THE CLASSIFIED FORESTS OF HAUT-BANDAMA, N’ZI SUPERIEUR AND PIERRHE    

Reference: CI-FIP2-535001-CS-CQS

1. The Government of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire has received from the International Development Association (IDA) a credit of 148 million US dollars for the implementation of phase 2 of the Forest Investment Project (PIF 2) and plans to use part of the funds for consulting services.

2. The Consulting Services (“the Services”) aim to carry out a Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA) of the management plans of the classified forests of Haut-Bandama, N’Zi Supérieur, and Pierrhé.

The detailed terms of reference for the mission can be obtained at the address indicated below.

3. This Notice of Expression of Interest aims to select one (1) consultant (firm, study office, consultancy) whose expertise is proven in carrying out similar missions to provide the Services.

4. The Project Coordination Unit of the Forest Investment Project phase 2 (PIF 2) invites eligible firms (“Consultants”) to express their interest in providing the above-mentioned Services. Interested firms should provide a file including a letter of expression of interest and relevant information indicating that they are qualified to execute the requested services (brochures, certificates of good execution regarding the execution of similar contracts, experience under similar conditions, years of performance, costs, clients, copies of Diplomas, and Curriculum Vitae (CV), etc.).

The Consultant will be a firm approved by the Ministry of Environment and Ecological Transition (MINETE), with experience in environmental and social assessments of projects and/or programs/plans/policies. The study office must meet the following profiles:

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  • Have five (5) years of legal existence;
  
  
  • Completion of ten (10) Environmental and Social Assessment missions (Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA); Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), Detailed Environmental and Social Impact Study (ESIA), Environmental and Social Audit, Simplified Environmental and Social Impact Study (SEIS), PAR, etc.);
  
  
  • Have conducted at least five (05) environmental and social assessment missions of projects and programs funded or co-funded by donors (World Bank, AfDB, AFD, EU, UNDP, etc.);
  
  
  • Have conducted at least two (02) environmental and social assessment missions of projects and programs funded or co-funded by donors (World Bank, AfDB, AFD, EU, UNDP, etc.) in accordance with the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) of the World Bank;
  
  
  • Have conducted at least two (02) Strategic Environmental and Social Assessments (SESA) of a development program, plan, or project;
  
  
  • Have conducted at least one (01) Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA) related to a management plan financed or co-financed by donors (World Bank, AfDB, AFD, EU, UNDP, etc.);
  
  
  • Have experience in developing a Participatory Forest Management Plan (PFMP) or SESA of a forest management plan.
  
  
  
  

The effective execution of each mission must be justified by a certificate of good execution issued by the client of the study.

The consultant must present and coordinate a team composed of five (05) key experts as follows:

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  • One (1) Environment Manager, specialist in Environmental and Social Assessments / Climate change – Team leader;
  
  
  • One (1) Sociologist ;
  
  
  • One (1) Specialist in natural resources and climate change;
  
  
  • One (1) Lawyer;
  
  
  • One (1) Agro-economist.
  
  
  
  

The minimum qualifications of key personnel are described in the terms of reference.

5. Attention of interested consultants is drawn to the provisions of paragraphs 3.15 and 3.16 of the Procurement Regulation for Borrowers Seeking Investment Project Financing (IPF) from the World Bank Edition of September 2025 (the “Procurement Regulation”) which defines the World Bank's policy regarding conflicts of interest. Consultants must be free from any risk of conflicts of interest in light of these provisions.

6. Firms may associate with other firms to strengthen their respective competencies. However, they must clearly indicate whether the association takes the form of a joint venture and/or a consortium. In the case of a joint venture, all partners of the joint venture will be jointly and severally responsible for the entire contract, if selected.

NB: Only candidates who are up to date with their regulatory fee are allowed to participate in the public procurement procedure. The certificate of no tax arrears issued by the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority in Côte d’Ivoire (ARCOP) is proof of this.

In the absence of a non-arrears certificate from a candidate, the contract can only be awarded if it is established by ARCOP that they were up to date, at the deadline for receiving tenders, with the regulatory fee for all contracts awarded to them.

7. The recruitment of the firm will be carried out following the method of Selection Based on the Consultant’s Qualifications (QC) in accordance with the Procurement Regulation. Firms will be evaluated based on their references, particularly their experiences and qualifications of the key personnel proposed for the mission.

The evaluation criteria and their respective weights are as follows :

At the end of the evaluation of the expressions of interest, the firm that obtains the highest final score justifying the skills and qualifications of the Consultant described in point 4 will be selected and invited to submit a technical and financial proposal for the negotiation of the contract.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours from 9 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 5 PM (local time).

9. The expression of interest must include :

1. The letter of expression of interest;


2. In case of a consortium, a copy of the consortium agreement or the letter of intent to form a grouping;


3. The candidate's information form;


4. The candidate's presentation (legal existence, organization chart, personnel);


5. Relevant references relating to the execution of similar missions (project sheets or Certificates of good execution);


6. A copy of the RCCM or any other equivalent document for foreign companies;


7. Copies of diplomas and Curriculum Vitae (CV) of the key personnel proposed for the mission;


8. Any other relevant information

10. Expressions of interest must be submitted electronically or in a sealed envelope containing five (05) copies including one (01) original and four (04) copies and one (01) USB key, all placed in the same envelope and clearly stating « Expression of interest for the Recruitment of a consultant (firm) for the realization of an Environmental and Social Strategic Evaluation (ESSE) and an Action and Resettlement Plan (PAR) for the management plans of classified forests of Haut-Bandama, N’Zi Supérieur and Pierrhé » no later than Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 10:00 AM GMT to the address below. The public opening of the bids will take place on the same day at 10:30 AM GMT.

In case of submission by electronic means, the submission procedure is as follows:

• Submission electronically is allowed only to the following email address: cellulemarches@pif2.ci with a copy to comoemf@pif2.ci and zadid@pif2.ci against the client's acknowledgment of receipt;


• All documents transmitted electronically must be in a non-modifiable format.

11. The address is :

Coordination Unit of the Forest Investment Project phase 2 (PIF 2), located at Cocody II Plateaux les Vallons, Rue Sainte Cécile, Building No. 338 located 100 meters from the Sainte Cécile pharmacy, 20 BP 650 Abidjan 20, Côte d'Ivoire

Phone: (+225) 07 07 12 20 30

Email: cellulemarches@pif2.ci with a copy to comoemf@pif2.ci and zadid@pif2.ci