International Competitive Procurement — Request for Bids
Plant Design, Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of Transmission Lines and Associated Substations at Shashemene II, Bale Robe, Bensa Daye and Durame, Ethiopia
Oromia and Southern Regions, Ethiopia
Location
About 90 km of double-circuit 230 kV and 132 kV lines, 4 new substations
Scale
Design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning
Contract Nature
2026-11-10 14:00
Bid Deadline
01Project Overview
Project Name
Plant design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of transmission lines associated with the Shashemene II 230/132/33/15 kV, Bale Robe 132/33/15 kV, Bensa Daye 132/33 kV and Durame 132/15 kV substations
Reference
Request for Bids No. ET-EEP-532480-CW-RFB; World Bank procurement notice OP00469179
Country
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Employer
Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP)
Parent Project
Power Sector Reform, Investment and Modernization in Ethiopia, Phase 1 (PRIME-1), World Bank project P176731
Source of Funds
International Development Association (IDA) Credit 75200
Procurement Method
International competitive procurement through a Request for Bids (RFB), two-envelope process, without prequalification, under the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers (July 2016, revised September 2025)
Contract Duration
548 calendar days, plus a 12-month defect liability period
Domestic Preference
No margin of domestic preference applies
Source
World Bank Specific Procurement Notice OP00469179, employer Ethiopian Electric Power, published 17 Sep 2026, verified 2 Oct 2026: https://projects.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/procurement-detail/OP00469179
Background Sources
World Bank project page for the Power Sector Reform, Investment and Modernization in Ethiopia (PRIME-1) programme (P176731), which records USD 537 million in commitments, board approval on 26 Mar 2024 and closing on 30 Aug 2030, implemented by Ethiopian Electric Power and Ethiopian Electric Utility, with the objective of supporting a medium-term transition of the electricity sector towards universal access, reliable supply, utility financial sustainability, increased private investment and a climate-resilient diversified generation mix: https://projects.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/project-detail/P176731
02Project Background
The Power Sector Reform, Investment and Modernization in Ethiopia (PRIME-1) programme is financed by the World Bank under project P176731, with USD 537 million in commitments, board approval on 26 March 2024 and a planned closing date of 30 August 2030, implemented by Ethiopian Electric Power and Ethiopian Electric Utility. Structured as a multiphase programme, it supports a medium-term transition of the electricity sector towards universal access, reliable supply, utility financial sustainability, increased private investment and a climate-resilient diversified generation mix, with transmission network construction and substation expansion forming part of its investment content.
Ethiopian Electric Power, as employer, invites bids for the above transmission line and substation works, covering the four new substations at Shashemene II, Durame, Bensa Daye and Bale Robe together with their associated transmission lines. The notice states an expected contract duration of 548 calendar days plus a 12-month defect liability period, and applies a two-envelope process without prequalification in which rated criteria weight technical and non-price factors separately from bid cost. The notice also records that payments are processed using the Direct Payment disbursement method under the World Bank Disbursement Guidelines for Investment Project Financing, except for payments that the contract provides to be made through a letter of credit.
03Scope of Work & Technical Specifications
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Line Length and Voltage Levels | Approximately 90 km of double-circuit transmission lines at 230 kV and 132 kV |
| Conductors and Shield Wires | AAAC (ASH) and ACSR (TIGER, OSTRICH, YAW) conductors with single optical fibre composite shield wires |
| Towers and Foundations | Self-supporting, tapered, galvanized steel lattice towers with separate footings of pad-and-chimney concrete type on each leg |
| New Substations | Shashemene II 230/132/33/15 kV, Bale Robe 132/33/15 kV, Bensa Daye 132/33 kV and Durame 132/15 kV |
| Line-in Line-out Arrangements | The new lines connect existing lines to the new substations at Shashemene II, Durame, Bensa Daye and Bale, Woliso and Haromaya through line-in line-out arrangements |
| Line-in Line-out Works | Design, manufacture and delivery of about 2 km of double-circuit 132 kV and 230 kV three-phase line using AAAC ASH and YAW conductors with single optical fibre shield wire on self-supporting, tapered, vertical formation galvanized steel lattice towers, as line-in line-out connections from the existing Melkawakena-Yogo-Yadot 132 kV, Wolkite-Sebeta II/Woda 230 kV and Diredawa II-Harere III 132 kV lines |
| Contract Duration | 548 calendar days, plus 12 months of defect liability period |
| Contract Form | Plant design and installation contract procured through a two-envelope process, with prices submitted against the bill of quantities |
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04Key Commercial Terms
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Payment Method | Processed by the borrower using the Direct Payment disbursement method under the World Bank Disbursement Guidelines for Investment Project Financing, except for payments that the contract provides to be made through a letter of credit |
| Domestic Preference | No margin of domestic preference applies |
| Pricing and Currency | Prices are submitted against the price schedules of the bidding document, and the currencies of the bid and of payment are as specified in the bid data sheet |
| Evaluation Weighting | Rated criteria covering technical and non-price factors carry a weighting of 60 per cent, and bid cost a weighting of 40 per cent |
| Performance Security and Warranty | Plant design and installation contracts of this kind usually require a performance security expressed as a percentage of the contract price and provide for a defect liability period; for this contract the defect liability period is 12 months |
| Governing Rules | The conditions of contract follow the World Bank Standard Procurement Document for Plant Design and Installation, and the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers apply |
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05Bidder Eligibility Requirements
01
Financial Capability
Submission of audited balance sheets for the last five years, or other financial statements acceptable to the employer where the law of the bidder's country does not require audit, demonstrating the soundness of the bidder's financial position and prospective long-term profitability
02
Average Annual Turnover
Minimum average annual turnover in the power sector of USD 15.5 million, calculated as total certified payments received for contracts in progress or completed within the last five years
03
Financial Resources
The bidder must demonstrate access to liquid assets, unencumbered real assets, lines of credit and other financial means to meet a cash-flow requirement of USD 2.5 million and the overall cash-flow requirements for this contract and its current commitments
04
General Experience
Experience in the power sector as contractor, subcontractor or management contractor for at least the last five years starting from 1 January 2021
05
Specific Experience (Contract Size)
Participation in at least two contracts each of at least USD 12 million, or at least one contract of at least USD 24 million, successfully or substantially completed within the last five years and similar to the proposed plant and installation services, with similarity assessed on physical size, complexity, construction method, technology and other characteristics
06
Specific Experience (Key Activities)
Detailed engineering design for at least 100 km in total length of 132 kV or above transmission lines, and erection, testing and commissioning of at least 100 km in total length of 132 kV or above transmission lines
07
Engineering Design Resource
The engineering design activity may be met through a specialised contractor
08
Environmental and Social Risk Management Experience
Between 1 January 2020 and the application submission deadline, experience as prime contractor, joint venture member or subcontractor in managing environmental and social risks and impacts covering community health and safety on project and working areas, traffic management, emergency management, wastewater management and the management of labour camps
09
Eligibility
Bidders must be eligible as defined in the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers; the procurement is open to all eligible bidders
06Key Milestones
17 Sep 2026
Notice Published
At the address and during the office hours stated in the notice
Document Purchase and Inspection
10 Nov 2026, 14:00
Bid Submission Deadline
548 calendar days plus a 12-month defect liability period
Contract Duration
07Evaluation Criteria
Technical and Non-price Factors60%
- Rated criteria scored against the criteria set out in the bidding document, covering plant design, technical performance, key personnel, construction arrangements and environmental and social management
- This component carries 60 per cent of the total score
Bid Cost40%
- The evaluated bid price is computed from the price schedules and converted into a score
- This component carries 40 per cent of the total score
- The technical and non-price score and the price score are combined to establish the ranking
