Rehabilitation, Reinforcement and Extension of the Medium and Low Voltage Distribution Networks in Labe, Guinea, and Electrification of Surrounding Localities, Including Two Substations
01Project Overview
02Project Background
The Government of Guinea has received World Bank financing for Phase 2 of the Guinea Electricity Access Scale Up Project. The objectives of the project are to increase grid and non-grid access to electricity services in selected areas and to improve the operational performance of the power utility. The project has four components, the first of which covers the reinforcement and expansion of grid access and the improvement of the commercial performance of EDG. It is implemented by Electricité de Guinée and the Ministry of Energy, with a commitment of USD 232.30 million comprising USD 132.30 million from IDA and USD 100 million from the European Investment Bank; it was approved by the Board on 30 June 2025, became effective on 30 March 2026 and closes on 30 June 2030. Its theme composition records 100 per cent for Energy Access-Electricity and 92 per cent for Enabling Renewable Energy.
This procurement round concerns the urban centre of Labe and its surrounding localities. Labe is the principal city of Middle Guinea; its existing 30 kV medium voltage and low voltage distribution networks require rehabilitation and reinforcement, while some households remain unconnected or unmetered. The notice defines the contract as the rehabilitation, reinforcement and extension of the existing distribution networks, together with new service connections and metering, in order to raise supply reliability and improve commercial management in the city.
The contract includes work at two substations: the rehabilitation of the existing 30/30 kV Pounthioun substation and the construction of a new 30 kV transit substation at Hamda. In both cases the core scope is the supply, installation and commissioning of 30 kV medium voltage switchgear and its connection to the overhead network, as ancillary elements of the distribution network rehabilitation.
03Scope of Work & Technical Specifications
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| 30 kV Medium Voltage Trunk Lines | 105.83 km of overhead lines in Almelec conductor, cross-section 148 mm² |
| Underground Line | 1.5 km, cross-section 240 mm² |
| 30 kV Medium Voltage Distribution Lines | 138.61 km of overhead lines in Almelec conductor, cross-section 54.6 mm² |
| Low Voltage Lines | 1,247.46 km of low voltage lines, including public lighting |
| Distribution Transformer Substations | 108 H61-type units and 63 H59-type units |
| Service Connections and Metering | 65,796 service connections with metering, comprising 43,680 new connections and 22,116 connections to be regularised |
| Pounthioun Substation Rehabilitation | Rehabilitation of the 30/30 kV substation: supply, installation and commissioning of seven 30 kV medium voltage switchgear panels, including their connection to the overhead network |
| Construction of the Hamda Transit Substation | Construction of a new 30 kV transit substation: civil construction of the substation building; supply of four 30 kV medium voltage switchgear panels connected to the overhead network; supply of auxiliary service equipment including auxiliary transformers and direct current supply systems |
| Contract Duration | Up to 24 months from the effective date of the contract |
04Key Commercial Terms
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Bid Security | USD 1,000,000 or GNF 8,764,000,000 |
| Tender Document Fee | GNF 2,000,000 (approximately USD 230), non-refundable, paid as to 50 per cent to the Treasury, 30 per cent to the public procurement regulatory authority and 20 per cent by cheque to the project implementation unit |
| Payment Method | Payments are made under the World Bank Direct Payment disbursement method for investment project financing |
| Performance Security | Works contracts financed by the World Bank ordinarily require a performance security after contract signature, commonly at 10 per cent of the contract price |
| Advance Payment | Such works contracts ordinarily provide for a mobilisation advance against an advance payment guarantee, recovered in instalments as works progress |
| Defects Liability Period | Works contracts ordinarily include a defects liability period, commonly 12 months after completion |
| Insurance | Works contracts ordinarily require the contractor to carry works all-risks insurance and third party liability insurance |
| Bid Validity | International tenders of this type ordinarily require bids to remain valid for 120 to 180 days from the submission deadline |
| Beneficial Ownership Disclosure | As required by the World Bank Procurement Regulations, the successful bidder must complete the beneficial ownership disclosure form at the contract award stage |
05Bidder Qualification Requirements
06Key Milestones
07Evaluation Criteria
- Distribution network design and construction methodology
- qualifications of key personnel and the proposed construction plant
- track record in network works at the same voltage level
- quality, safety and environmental management arrangements
- responsiveness of the bid to the technical requirements of the bidding document
- The evaluated price after arithmetic correction and a completeness check of the bills of quantities
- review of abnormally low prices and unbalanced pricing
- reasonableness of the itemised pricing for lines, transformer substations and service connections
