Deadline: 10-Nov-2020 at 11:59:59 PM (Eastern Time – Washington D.C.)

The World Bank, Government of Bangladesh, and their Development Partners, are supporting the Jamuna River Economic Corridor Development Program (currently, project preparation stage).

The Program Development Objectives are to (a) enhance resilience of the Jamuna Rivers riverbanks to flooding and erosion; (b) improve navigability of the Jamuna River; and (c) strengthen sector institutional capacity. The program initial phases are two phases to be implemented over 7 years; possibly overlapping by two years: Phase 1 being a preparatory and foundational phase (total $100 million); and Phase 2 comprising the bulk of investments (total $1.2 billion).

Phase 1 has the same components as the two-phase Program, investing US$100 million over four years. Its focus will be only on financing no-regret pilot-level river training structures and testing innovative ones (component 1), foundational investments on navigation (component 2), and capacity building.

The Program Component 2, Navigation channel development (US$300 million) would cost around $60 million in phase 1 and $240 million in phase 2. This component will create navigation channels that are 50m-100m in width and 2.5m-3m in draft, allowing for heavy cargo vessels sailing both ways day and night for much of the year. Support for planning and institutional frameworks will also be extended, which would include establishing relevant master plans and drafting the India-Bangladesh Bilateral IWT Agreement. Dredging to facilitate navigation will be also conducted but in phase 2, not in phase 1.

The World Bank is calling eligible and qualified consulting firms to express interest to support the Bank team (and its Developing Partners if any) in ensuring the due diligence in supporting the Government to prepare and appraise Component 2. Contract duration is around one year. Total consulting effort is estimated at 12 person months. Interested firms should demonstrate: (a) a track record in the design review and feasibility studies for Inland Water Transport (IWT) investments and (b) ability to work in Bangladesh during the contract period.

See full tender here: Support to World Bank and its Partners in ensuring due diligence in the preparation of “Navigation Channel Development” investments under the Jamuna River Program.

eConsultant2 website: https://wbgeconsult2.worldbank.org/wbgec/index.html

Tender notification: # 1271081

Assignment Countries:

BD – Bangladesh