Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Consultancy for Philippine Digital Infrastructure Project

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (REOI) CONSULTANT’S QUALITY COST BASED SELECTION (QCBS) Name of Project PHILIPPINES DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT Loan No/Credit No/ Grant Number IBRD Loan Number 9730-PH Assignment Title Procurement of Consultancy Services for Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and Supervision of Environmental and Social Compliance Procurement Plan Ref Number PH-DICT-475110-CS-QCBS Country of Delivery PHILIPPINES The Republic of the Philippines has received financing from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) under IBRD Loan No. 9730-PH toward the cost of the Philippine Digital Infrastructure Project (PDIP) (the “Project”). The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), as the authorized implementing agency, intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

• The Services

DICT seeks a consulting firm to provide Consultancy Services for Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and Supervision of Environmental and Social Compliance (the “Services”). The Services are intended to (i) identify and assess potential environmental and social risks and impacts associated with PDIP-supported infrastructure, (ii) propose avoidance, minimization, mitigation, management, and (where relevant) offset/compensation measures that are technically and financially feasible, and (iii) support DICT’s decision-making and procurement packaging by providing timely inputs that enable E&S standards-compliant implementation. PDIP involves broadband infrastructure deployment that may generate direct, indirect, cumulative, and induced environmental and social impacts affecting the natural environment, communities, and wider society. The Services will be coordinated with, and provide inputs to, the Project’s technical and transaction workstreams, including the teams supporting the Technical Feasibility Study (TFS) and the Commercial Transaction Manual (CTM).

• Implementation Phases and Contracting Approach

The assignment will be implemented in two phases:

• Phase 1 (pre-construction/design phase): ESIA work to support feasibility/design and safeguards instruments, including the preparation of outputs required to inform procurement and implementation.
• Phase 2 (construction phase): supervision/monitoring of contractors’ compliance with the Project’s Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) and applicable requirements during implementation.

The consulting services are expected to be procured using (i) a lump-sum contract for Phase 1 and (ii) a time-based contract for Phase 2, subject to the final TOR and procurement documentation.

• Invitation for Expressions of Interest

DICT now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants shall provide information demonstrating that they have the qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.

• Conflict of Interest

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraphs 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers, Fifth Edition (September 2023), which set forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

• Shortlisting Criteria

Consultants will be shortlisted in accordance with the QCBS method under the World Bank Procurement Regulations, using the following criteria: A. Firm Experience (minimum threshold)

• The firm’s core business must include ESIA and related environmental and social advisory services (e.g., E&S due diligence, audits, risk management), with at least ten (10) years of relevant experience.

B. Relevant Experience (demonstrated track record)

• At least five (5) years of experience providing similar assignments in the ICT/telecommunications/digital infrastructure sector.
• At least five (5) similar assignments successfully completed in environmental and social risk and impact management, including ESIA and closely related work, preferably in developing-country contexts, and with demonstrated experience in the Philippines.
• Demonstrated experience in projects applying the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) (required).
• Experience with the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and/or other development partners (desirable).
• Demonstrated capacity to deliver robust and implementable ESIA outputs, including practical management measures aligned with construction realities (including monitoring/supervision of ESMP compliance during implementation).

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment is provided in Attachment 1.

• Associations (JV/Sub-consultancy)

Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications and should clearly indicate whether the association is in the form of a joint venture (JV) and/or a sub-consultancy. In the case of a JV, all partners shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected.

• Request for Further Information and Submission

Further information may be obtained at the address below during Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Expressions of Interest must be delivered in written form to the address below on or before 19 March 2026 at 4:00 PM (in person, by mail, or by e-mail). For further information, you may contact: GUADA FATIMA A. HERNANDEZ Director IV, Procurement Service Department of Information and Communications Technology 19th Floor, DICT Headquarters Studio 7, 807 EDSA, Diliman, Quezon City Telephone No. (02) 8-920-01-01 loc. 6108 Email Address: bac@dict.gov.ph or bac.secretariat@dict.gov.ph Website: www.dict.gov.ph Original Signed MARIA VICTORIA C. CASTRO Chairperson, DICT-SBAC Attachment: Terms of Reference (TOR) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AcVy6IAj0gJ5gf5UXgcVO1HyPXdDHLe2/view?usp=sharing Agency: Department of Information and Communications Technology Procurement method: Quality And Cost-Based Selection Notice type: Request for Expression of Interest Status: Published Value: 1250000.0 USD