Consultancy Services for Environmental and Social Framework Tools for Absheron Lakes Cleanup

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST CONSULTANT’S QUALIFICATIONS BASED SELECTION (CQS) Name of Project: Livable Baku (Preparation Stage) Grant Number: TF-C8884 Assignment Title: Consultancy Services for the Preparation Support of the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) Tools for Absheron Lakes (Zygh, Khojasan, and Boyukshor) Sustainable Cleanup and Area Rehabilitation Procurement Plan Ref Number: AZ-MOEC-CS-CQS-03 Country of Delivery: Azerbaijan

• The Republic of Azerbaijan has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Preparation Stage of the Livable Baku Project (TF-C8884) and intends to apply part of the proceeds for the following consulting services.
• The consulting services (“the Services”) include Preparation Support of the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) Tools for Absheron Lakes (Zygh, Khojasan, and Boyukshor) Sustainable Cleanup and Area Rehabilitation.

The Consultant will assist the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Implementing Agency) with the development of the Environmental and Social Risk Management (ESRM) document package for the cleanup of Absheron Lakes and the rehabilitation of the area based on the Feasibility Study. The overall duration of the assignment is 6 months from the contract signature date. The assignment is expected to start in April 2026. The estimated total cost of the assignment is USD 300,000. The list of deliverables and the corresponding expected timelines are detailed in the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the assignment, which can be accessed through the following link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/0t818yf5o5tqoatin8tz3/ToR_Absheron_Lakes_ESF_Tools_13.02.2026.docx?rlkey=yh934alh3dyqcoeg40eezjmrw&st=56pabtf2&dl=0

• Implementing Agency now invites eligible consulting firms (“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.
• The best qualified firm to carry out the services will be selected in accordance with the Consultant’s Qualifications-based Selection (CQS) method set out in the Regulations of the World Bank and evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:
• General Experience: At least 10 years of experience in consultancy business and experience with International Financial Institutions (prior engagement with the World Bank will be an advantage).
• Specific Experience:
• Expertise and successful track record in conducting ESIAs for complex environmental remediation and water-related projects including for lake remediation, urban water bodies, or contaminated site clean-up projects, preferably funded by international financial institutions.
• Experience in the application of the World Bank’s ESF.
• Strong technical knowledge of environmental remediation technologies, hydrological systems, and urban ecological restoration.
• Ability to engage meaningfully with a variety of stakeholders, build consensus, and generate cooperation.
• Regional Experience and Staff Mobilization Capacity: Experience in Azerbaijan or the South Caucasus or in the region with similar climatic conditions and understanding of local environmental and social regulatory frameworks is an advantage. Capability of mobilization of the qualified experts required for the assignment under the ToR.

While key experts will not be individually evaluated at the shortlisting stage, in the next stage, the evaluation of the selected Consultant’s qualifications will include the qualification, experience and availability of key experts specified in the TOR. It is expected that the Consultant’s team will include both international and local experts.

• To demonstrate their qualifications and experience in meeting the above selection criteria, Consultants are requested to submit, as a minimum, the supporting documentation listed below. A consultant firm can only use its own qualifications and experience and not of its parent, sister or subsidiary companies or its employees.
• The firm's incorporation/registration documents issued by the concerned government authority of the country of the firm.
• The firm’s company brochures describing the core areas of business.
• Completed Form-1 (link to the form: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/hulzprh5xzvtzsl0goehf/Form-1-Similar-Contracts.docx?rlkey=qvhme2yl126m609f5wilwi5w0&st=wvya8boj&dl=0 ) to provide information of similar contracts. Copies of completion certificates/references of clients of completed contracts are not required to be submitted with the EOI. In the subsequent stage at the time of submission of proposals, the Client may request the selected consultant to submit such supporting completion certificates.
• A list of available qualified experts relevant to the assignment, accompanied by brief information on their qualifications and relevant experience.
• If consultants choose to associate to enhance their qualifications and capability for the assignment, then such associations may either be as a Joint Venture (i.e. all members of the joint venture shall be jointly and severally responsible) and/or Sub-consultants (i.e. the Consultant will be responsible, including for the services of the sub-consultant). In case of an association, the Consultants must explain in the EOI submission (a) the rationale for forming the association and (b) the anticipated role and relevant qualifications of each member of the Joint Venture and/or of each sub-consultant for carrying out the assignment, to justify the proposed inclusion of the JV members and/or sub-consultants in the association.

Note: For assessing compliance with the specific experience requirement under Item 4 above, the experience of sub-consultants will not be considered.

• The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraphs 3.14, 3.16 and 3.17 of the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers, dated February 2025 (the Regulations), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.
• Expressions of Interest must be submitted in a written form as a signed document to the e-mail address provided below, no later than February 27, 2026.

Further information can be obtained at the e-mail address indicated below. Attn: Mr. Nijat Huseynov, Project Coordinator, Project Implementation Unit of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan Address: 155 Heydar Aliyev Avenue, AZ1029, Baku, Azerbaijan Tel: +994 12 310 28 00 (extension: 2227) E-mail: nhuseynov@economy.gov.az Agency: Ministry of Economy Procurement method: Consultant Qualification Selection Notice type: Request for Expression of Interest Status: Published Value: 300000.0 USD