REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST CONSULTING FIRM SELECTION

Project Title: Regional Off-Grid Electrification

Project preparation Advance No. V074

Assignment Title: Audit for the Advance Agreement for Preparatory Phase: Regional Off-Grid Electrification

The ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) has received from the World Bank, financing for the preparation of a proposed Regional Off-Grid Electrification Project, in West Africa and in some Sahel Countries. ECREEE therefore, intends to use consulting services, for part of the proceeds.

The overall objective of the audit of the Project Financial Statements (PFSs) is to enable the auditor to express a professional opinion(s) on the expenditure and revenue as stated in the Financial Report of the Project for the relevant accounting period.

The audit of the project will be carried out in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (ISA) promulgated by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), and will include such tests and auditing procedures as the auditor will consider necessary under the circumstances.

The auditor should verify that the project PFSs have been prepared in accordance with the agreed accounting standards and give a true and fair view of the financial position of the project at the relevant date and of resources and expenditures for the financial audit period ending on the 31^st of August 2019.

The audit of the PFSs, the auditor is required to verify all SOEs or IFRs used as a basis for the submission of loan withdrawal applications to the World Bank.  The auditor will apply such tests and auditing procedures as considered necessary under the circumstances.  Annexed to the PFSs should be a schedule listing individual SOE or IFR withdrawal applications by specific reference number and amount.

In conjunction with the audit of the Project PFSs, the auditor is also required to review the activities on the Designated Account associated with the project. 

ECREEE now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants must provide information on their qualifications, competence and relevant experience to perform the Services (Brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc.).

Consultants may associate with other firms in the form of a joint venture or a sub-consultancy to enhance their qualifications and are encouraged to associate with qualified local firms.

Consulting Firms will be shortlisted based on the following criteria:

1. General experience in financial and accounting audits;
2. Specific experience in World Bank project audits, similar to the ones required to Regional Off-Grid Electrification project;
3. Experience with audits in ECOWAS member states or experience in audits of International Organizations
4. Firm structure, i.e. human resources adequacy to perform the tasks.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraphs 3.14 to 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for Investment Project Financing Borrowers for Goods, Works, Non-Consulting and Consulting Services, of July 2016, revised November 2017 and August 2018, setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost-Based Selection (“QCBS”) method set out in the Consultant Guidelines.

More information can be obtained at the address below during office hours (09:00 to 17:00 hours).

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail at tender(at)ecreee.org and CC slima(at)ecreee.org; famoyaw(at)ecreee.org; rboamah(at)ecreee.org) by June 6^th, 2019, clearly indicating the title of the assignment and the name of the project.

ECOWAS Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

Attn: Festus Amoyaw, Ag. Project Coordinator

Achada Santo Antonio, Electra Building, 2nd floor, C.P. 288, Praia, Cabo Verde

E-mail: famoyaw(at)ecreee.org