International Competitive Procurement · Invitation for Bids
Plant Design, Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of 230 kV Transmission Lines Associated with the New Injibara and Debark Substations, Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Country
About 85 km and 30 km of double circuit 230 kV transmission lines feeding the new Injibara and Debark substations
Scope of Works
Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP)
Employer
2026-11-26 14:00 (Ethiopian Time)
Submission Deadline
01Project Overview
Project Name
Plant design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of 230 kV transmission lines associated with the new Injibara and Debark substations
Reference
RFB No. ET-EEP-533125-CW-RFB; World Bank procurement notice No. OP00473734
Country
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Employer
Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP)
Parent Project
Power Sector Reform, Investment and Modernization in Ethiopia (PRIME-1), World Bank Project ID P176731
Financing
IDA Credit No. 75200
Procurement Method
International competitive procurement through a Request for Bids (RFB) for plant design and installation works, two-envelope process without prequalification, under the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers, seventh edition, September 2025
Contract Duration
730 calendar days, plus a 12-month Defect Liability Period
Domestic Preference
No margin of domestic preference applies
Bid Security
All bids must be accompanied by a Bid-Securing Declaration
Bidding Document
English version, non-refundable fee of ETB 16,500 or US$100 (or equivalent in a freely convertible currency), available from 13 October 2026
Source
World Bank Specific Procurement Notice No. OP00473734, Employer Ethiopian Electric Power, published 12 Oct 2026, verified 14 Oct 2026: https://projects.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/procurement-detail/OP00473734
Background Source
World Bank project page for the Power Sector Reform, Investment and Modernization in Ethiopia (PRIME-1) programme (P176731), recording a commitment of US$537 million, Board approval on 26 March 2024, closing on 30 June 2028, and implementation by Ethiopian Electric Power and Ethiopian Electric Utility: https://projects.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/project-detail/P176731; Ethiopian Electric Power corporate site: https://www.eep.com.et/
02Project Background
The Power Sector Reform, Investment and Modernization in Ethiopia (PRIME-1) programme is financed by the World Bank under Project ID P176731, with a commitment of US$537 million, approved by the World Bank Board of Executive Directors on 26 March 2024 and scheduled to close on 30 June 2028. It is implemented by Ethiopian Electric Power and Ethiopian Electric Utility. The programme uses a multi-phase approach and 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; its investments include expansion and strengthening of the electricity network to support accelerated access and improved reliability of supply.
Ethiopian Electric Power, as Employer, invites bids for the associated 230 kV transmission lines of the two new substations at Injibara and Debark. The notice states that the works comprise two line sections: approximately 85 km from the existing Azezo substation to the new Debark substation, and approximately 30 km from the existing Burie substation to the new Injibara substation. The contract duration is 730 calendar days, plus a 12-month Defect Liability Period.
The procurement uses a two-envelope process without prequalification, with the technical and financial envelopes opened in separate stages. Payments are processed using the Direct Payment disbursement method under the World Bank's Disbursement Guidelines for Investment Project Financing, except for payments that the contract provides to be made through a letter of credit. The notice states that rated criteria, including technical and non-price factors, carry a weighting of 60 per cent and bid cost 40 per cent.
03Scope of Work & Technical Specifications
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Line Section 1 | Approximately 85 km of double circuit 230 kV three-phase transmission line from the existing Azezo substation to the new Debark substation, of which the first 11 km is built with quadruple circuit configuration towers and the remaining 74 km with double circuit configuration |
| Line Section 2 | Approximately 30 km of double circuit 230 kV three-phase transmission line from the existing Burie substation to the new Injibara substation |
| Conductors | Twin AAAC "ASH" conductors |
| Shield Wire | Single optical fibre cable shield wire (OPGW) |
| Towers | Self-supporting, tapered configuration, vertical formation galvanized steel lattice towers |
| Foundations | Each tower leg on a separate footing of the pad and chimney concrete type |
| Contract Duration | 730 calendar days, plus a 12-month Defect Liability Period |
| Contract Form | Plant design and installation contract, bid through a two-envelope process with separate technical and financial envelopes, without prequalification, priced on the bill of quantities in the bidding document |
| Submission | Electronic bidding will not be permitted; paper bids are delivered to EEP's International Procurement and Logistics office before the deadline, with the outer envelope marked "ORIGINAL BID" and the inner envelope marked "TECHNICAL PART"; technical envelopes are opened publicly at the deadline, while financial envelopes are held in safe custody until the second public opening |
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04Key Commercial Terms
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Payment | Payments processed by the Borrower using the Direct Payment disbursement method under the World Bank's Disbursement Guidelines for Investment Project Financing, except for payments the contract provides to be made through a letter of credit |
| Evaluation Weighting | The notice states rated criteria, including technical and non-price factors, at 60 per cent and bid cost at 40 per cent |
| Bid Security | All bids must be accompanied by a Bid-Securing Declaration; no bank-guarantee form of bid security is used for this procurement |
| Bidding Document Fee | ETB 16,500 or US$100, or the equivalent in a freely convertible currency, non-refundable, payable in cash, by cashier's cheque or by telegraphic transfer to the Employer's designated accounts |
| Domestic Preference | No margin of domestic preference applies |
| Performance Security and Warranty | Plant design and installation contracts of this type commonly require a performance security for a percentage of the contract price and provide for a defects liability period; the period for this contract is 12 months |
| Governing Rules | Contract conditions follow the World Bank Standard Procurement Document for Plant Design and Installation, subject to the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers (seventh edition, September 2025) |
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05Bidder Qualification Requirements
01
Financial Situation
Submission of audited balance sheets, or other financial statements acceptable to the Employer where auditing is not required by the law of the Bidder's country, for the last five years to demonstrate the soundness of the current financial position and prospective long-term profitability
02
Average Annual Turnover
Minimum average annual turnover in the power sector of US$26.5 million, calculated as total certified payments received for contracts in progress or completed within the last five years
03
Financial Resources
Access to financial resources such as liquid assets, unencumbered real assets and lines of credit must be demonstrated, with a cash-flow requirement of US$4.5 million, in addition to meeting the overall cash-flow requirements for this contract and current commitments
04
General Experience
Experience in the power sector under contracts in the role of contractor, subcontractor or management contractor for at least the last ten years starting from 1 January 2016
05
Specific Experience (Contract Size)
Participation in at least two similar contracts for the design, supply and installation of 230 kV overhead transmission lines within the last seven years, each valued at no less than US$21 million, or in at least one such contract valued at no less than US$42 million, in each case successfully and substantially completed; substantial completion is based on 80 per cent or more of the plant and installation being completed
06
Specific Experience (Key Activities)
Detail engineering design for at least 115 km of 230 kV or above transmission lines in total; erection of at least 300 towers for 230 kV or above transmission lines; stringing of at least 115 km for 230 kV or above transmission lines
07
Design Capability
The engineering design activity may be met through a specialized contractor
08
Environmental and Social Risk Management Experience
Between 1 January 2020 and the submission deadline, experience as prime contractor, joint venture member or subcontractor in managing environmental and social risks and impacts in community health and safety on project and working areas, traffic management, emergency management, wastewater management, management of labour camps, stakeholder engagement and grievance management, biodiversity and critical habitat management, and SEA/SH risk management
09
Eligibility
Bidders must be eligible as defined in the World Bank Procurement Regulations; bidding is open to all eligible Bidders
06Key Milestones
12 Oct 2026
Notice Published
13 Oct 2026
Bidding Document Available
26 Nov 2026, 14:00 Ethiopian Time (technical envelopes opened publicly at that time)
Bid Submission Deadline and Opening
Opened publicly at a later date after completion of the technical evaluation
Financial Envelope Opening
730 calendar days, plus a 12-month Defect Liability Period
Contract Duration
07Evaluation Criteria
Technical Evaluation60%
- Rated against the criteria set out in the bidding document for the plant design and technical performance, key personnel, construction arrangements and work methods, and environmental and social management
Price Evaluation40%
- The evaluated bid price is calculated from the price schedules in the bidding document and converted into a score, which is combined with the technical score to determine the ranking of bidders
