Environmental and social studies for Tashkent-Andijan toll road construction PPP project

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION) REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN TASHKENT-ANDIJAN TOLL ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECT GFPP Grant No. TF0C8878 Project ID: P181937 Assignment Title: Preparation of Environmental and Social Reports and Studies for Phase 1 of the Tashkent-Andijan Toll Road Construction Project Reference No. (as per Procurement Plan): UZ-TAR-GFPP-01 The Republic of Uzbekistan has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the preparatory activities for the Tashkent-Andijan Toll Road Construction Project (“the Project”), and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services. The consulting services (“the Services”) include Environmental and Social (E&S) Assessment, as well as Scoping Study for the Tashkent-Andijan Toll Road Construction Project, following the requirements of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Sustainability Framework (“IFC SF”), the World Bank E&S Framework (“WB ESF”), and Uzbekistan’s regulatory requirements. The services are expected to be carried out during 3-month period, starting from December 2026. The Terms of Reference (TOR) for the primary procurement stage for the assignment are attached to this request for expressions of interest. The “Avtoyulinvest” Agency under the Committee for Roads 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 shortlisting criteria are: Criterion 1 - Legal and Regulatory Expertise in PPP and Transport The firm shall provide evidence of: (a) A minimum of 5 years of institutional experience in legal advisory services related to PPP and transport transactions, including demonstrated expertise in Uzbekistan's national legislative framework governing PPP arrangements and road tolling. (b) Successful completion of a minimum of 2 assignments in which the firm provided legal advice on PPP or transport sector projects subject to World Bank Group operational policies and standards. Each reference assignment shall be substantiated by a brief description of the scope of services rendered, the applicable standards, and the resulting deliverables (e.g., legal memoranda, regulatory gap assessments, environmental and social due diligence reports). Criterion 2 — Environmental, Social, and Climate Due Diligence Experience in the Transport Sector The firm shall provide evidence of successful completion of a minimum of 2 assignments within the transport sector involving environmental and social (E&S) and/or climate due diligence, including E&S scoping studies, Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF), Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) and Livelihood Restoration Framework (LRF), Livelihood Restoration Plan (LRP), rendered under IFI financing within the last 10 years . For each qualifying reference assignment, the submission shall include: (a) Name of the client and a brief description of the project and services provided; (b) Explicit confirmation that IFC Performance Standards and/or World Bank Group Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Guidelines were applied as the governing international framework; and (c) A description of the deliverables produced, which may include, inter alia, E&S scoping reports, RPF, RAP, LRF, LRP, Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs), and other due diligence assessments. Criterion 3 — Experience with ESIA Preparation in Uzbekistan The firm shall provide evidence of recent and relevant experience in Uzbekistan by demonstrating successful completion of a minimum of 2 Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) within the last 10 years , where each qualifying ESIA satisfies all of the following conditions: (a) The assessment satisfied the ESIA requirements of the WBG, as applicable; and (b) The underlying project was situated in the transport sector, preferably structured or financed as a public-private partnership (PPP). For each qualifying reference assignment, the submission shall indicate: the project name and location; the client; the national and international standards applied; the firm's role and scope of services; and the year of completion. Key team members should form a gender diverse team with local knowledge and relevant language skills. Since documentation and applicable laws and regulation in Uzbek, the Consultant’s team should be capable of reviewing documents in such languages. Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage. The shortlist will contain 5 to 8 firms. The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.13, 3.15, and 3.16 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” September 2025 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications, but should indicate clearly whether the association is in the form of a joint venture and/or a sub-consultancy. In the case of a joint venture, all the partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality Cost Based Selection (QCBS) method, as set out in the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers and as further detailed in the Request for Proposals (RFP). Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours. Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by September 25, 2026. “Avtoyulinvest” Agency of the Committee for Roads of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Attn: Mr. Feruz Shokirov, Director 68, Mustakillik avenue, Mirzo Ulugbek district 100000, Tashkent city, Republic of Uzbekistan Tel: +998 71 268-97-08 E-mail: piutstollroad@gmail.com