International Competitive Bidding (Initial Selection)
Initial Selection for the Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Testing and Commissioning Contract of the 365.6 MW Mpatamanga Hydropower Storage Project, Malawi
Blantyre and Neno Districts, Malawi
Location
365.6 MW (306 MW plus 59.6 MW)
Installed Capacity
Engineering, procurement, construction, testing and commissioning
Contract Nature
2026-11-13 13:00
Bid Deadline
01Project Overview
Project Name
Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Testing and Commissioning Contract of the Mpatamanga Hydropower Storage Project
Reference
World Bank procurement notice OP00468967; bidding reference MW-MHPL-571342-CW-RFP (contract code MHSP-PCSA-RFP)
Country
Republic of Malawi
Employer
Mpatamanga Hydro Power Limited (MHPL)
Parent Project
Mpatamanga Hydropower Storage Project (World Bank project P165704; implementation agencies: Ministry of Energy of Malawi and MHPL)
Source of Funds
International Development Association (IDA) Grant E4480-MW, together with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and other financiers and the project developers
Procurement Method
Initial Selection stage of international competitive procurement under the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers
Lots
Single contract; the employer intends to qualify and select one to three contractors to enter into Pre-Construction Services Agreements (PCSAs)
Site
Shire River basin, Blantyre and Neno Districts, southern Malawi
Source
World Bank Specific Procurement Notice OP00468967, employer MHPL, published 16 Sep 2026, verified 3 Oct 2026: https://projects.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/procurement-detail/OP00468967
Background Source
World Bank project page P165704: https://projects.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/project-detail/P165704; project company website: https://www.mhpl.mw/; Ministry of Energy of Malawi: https://www.energy.gov.mw/
02Project Background
The Mpatamanga Hydropower Storage Project is located on the Shire River in southern Malawi. The Shire is the largest river in Malawi and a tributary of the Zambezi. The development comprises two cascading hydropower generating stations approximately 6 km apart, each with its own substation, together with two transmission lines. The project is structured as a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) scheme implemented by Mpatamanga Hydro Power Limited (MHPL) as the project company.
The project is financed by an IDA grant together with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), other financiers and the project developers. The World Bank project number is P165704, the implementation agencies are the Ministry of Energy of Malawi and MHPL, and the project was approved in May 2025 with a planned closing date of June 2031.
Malawi's power supply has long relied primarily on hydropower and is exposed to hydrological variability. By adding cascading hydropower generating capacity together with associated transmission and substation facilities, the project increases generation capacity and supply reliability in southern Malawi and provides regulation capability to the regional grid.
03Scope of Work & Technical Specifications
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Stage of Procurement | This Initial Selection concerns the Pre-Construction Services (PCS) stage and forms the first step of the award process for the EPC contract of the Mpatamanga Hydropower Storage Project; successful applicants enter the Pre-Construction Services Agreement (PCSA) process |
| Works Comprised | Two cascading hydropower stations approximately 6 km apart with a combined installed capacity of 365.6 MW (a 306 MW plant and a 59.6 MW plant), each with its own substation, plus two transmission lines |
| Selection Arrangement | The employer intends to qualify and select between one and three contractors to enter into Pre-Construction Services Agreements |
| Access to Documents | The Initial Selection Document is made available free of charge in electronic format in the employer's virtual data room (VDR). Applicants must first email MHSP_PCSA_InitialSelection@mhpl.mw and accept a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) before first access. The VDR opens on 21 Sep 2026 |
| Qualification Criteria | Minimum qualification requirements and evaluation criteria are stated in the Initial Selection Document, covering eligibility, financial capacity, technical capability and Target Price, among other items |
| Submission Method | Only electronic submission of applications is permitted; late applications will not be accepted |
| Site Visit | A site visit will be conducted from 12 to 15 October 2026 in Blantyre and at the project site |
← Swipe to view the full table →
04Key Commercial Terms
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Contract Model | The project is implemented on a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) basis, with MHPL as the project company |
| Power Purchase Arrangement | The project is supported by a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) of 35 years, comprising a five-year construction period and a 30-year operating period, with a capacity-based tariff |
| Payment Guarantee | The payment obligation under the PPA is guaranteed by the Government of Malawi |
| Bid Security | No bid security is required at the Initial Selection stage. At the subsequent EPC tender stage, a bid security or a bid-securing declaration is normally required, in the form and amount specified in the bidding documents |
| Performance Security | At the EPC contract stage, the successful contractor is normally required to furnish a performance security after receipt of the Letter of Acceptance. Such securities are commonly in the order of 10% of the contract price and are normally to be furnished within 28 days of receipt of the Letter of Acceptance |
← Swipe to view the full table →
05Bidder Qualification Requirements
01
Eligibility
Applicants must be firms or joint ventures eligible under the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers; the Initial Selection is open to all eligible applicants without country restriction
02
Financial Capacity
Applicants must meet the financial capacity thresholds set out in the Initial Selection Document and provide the corresponding financial evidence
03
Technical Capability
Applicants must demonstrate the technical capability to design, procure, construct, test and commission cascading hydropower works and associated transmission and substation facilities; the detailed technical and experience requirements are set out in the Initial Selection Document
04
Target Price
Applicants must submit the Target Price information required by the Initial Selection Document; this information forms part of the minimum qualification requirements and evaluation criteria
05
Non-Disclosure Agreement
Applicants must accept a Non-Disclosure Agreement before their first access to the virtual data room
06
Joint Ventures
Applications in the form of a joint venture are permitted, subject to the composition and change-of-membership rules set out in the Initial Selection Document
06Key Milestones
2026-09-16
Notice Issued
2026-09-17 13:00 (Blantyre time)
Pre-Application Meeting
2026-09-21
VDR Opens
2026-10-12 to 2026-10-15
Site Visit
2026-11-13 13:00
Bid Deadline (Application Submission)
Electronic submission only
Submission Method
