According to EETC, the purpose of issuing this Request for Prequalification (RFPQ) is to invite experienced independent power producers / developers / PV module manufacturers to submit their qualifications to build, own, and operate (BOO) 600MW PV Power Plant on predetermined site on the banks of the West of Nile. The winning company is required to design, finance, build, own, and operate the PV power plant for a term of 25 years. The Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC) shall purchase the energy generated from the PV Power Plant during the term of operation according to the terms and conditions of the power purchase agreement (PPA) guaranteed by the Ministry of Finance of Egypt (MoF). Bidders' qualifications will be evaluated in accordance with the evaluation criteria set forth in this document. A shortlist of qualified bidders will be selected to participate in the subsequent Request for Proposals (RFP). Electricity Sector Structure At present, the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC) owns 91% of the total installed generation capacity of 29GW. Three private BOOT thermal power plants (2 GW) contribute around 7% of the installed generation capacity. Solar Energy Potential in Egypt Egypt is one of the sunbelt countries that enjoy high solar radiation. Thus, Egypt makes for one of the largest potential countries for solar energy applications. The solar Atlas was issued in 1991, indicating that the average direct normal solar radiation ranges between 2000–3200 KWh/m2/year from North to South with very few cloudy days (sunshine duration ranges between 9 – 11 hr/day). Figure (1) shows the annual average global solar radiation over Egypt in kWh/m /day, and Figure (2) show the annual average direct solar radiation over Egypt in kWh/m /day.
Local Manufacturing Starting from the first Solar Photovoltaic (PV) projects, Egypt has a history of local production of Solar PV components like assembly of PV module, steel structure, electrical components like cables, transistors, and civil works. SCOPE OF WORK: The project company will be required to design, finance, build, own, operate, and maintain (1×600 or 2×300 or 3×200) MW PV power plant, including operation and maintenance of the substation(s) at it for 25 years and selling the electric energy generated to EETC. The RFP will provide the framework and specific requirements for the project. The project company will be responsible for the detailed design of the PV power project within certain broad design parameters established by EETC and specified in the forthcoming RFP. The final time schedule will be defined in the RFP. EETC will select the winning bids on the basis of MWh price/prices as well as the technical and commercial capabilities of the bidder. The project company will provide the energy produced on the 220kV side of the step-up substation built and owned by the project company. EETC is responsible for interconnecting the power project to the national grid. Detailed information for system interface will be provided in the RFP. The project company shall use the land of designated project site(s) under a Usufruct Agreement (UA) to be signed between the Project Company and NREA; a draft UA will be included in the RFP. (A usufruct agreement is a lease contract for a specific, limited economic use of a land area during a defined term. The usufruct agreement for these projects will grant the winning bidder the right to use the site for Solar energy conversion only, and not for any other purpose.) The project company shall operate and maintain the PV farm(s) for an agreed number of years 25 after the date of commissioning, and EETC shall purchase the electric energy generated under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) that will be signed by EETC and the project company. The draft PPA will be included in the RFP. The bidder is fully responsible for financing the project. To provide assurances to the Project Company and financing institutions, the RFP will include a Government Guarantee from Ministry of Finance (MOF) of Egypt, which will cover all financial obligations of the EETC under the PPA. The bidder will be required to provide a Solar PV resource evaluation report and a preliminary PV modules layout plan as part of their bid in response to RFP. The Solar PV measurements report will complement the Solar PV Atlas for Egypt for future tendering rounds in the area. EVALUATION CRITERIA I. GENERAL The objective of the Request for Prequalification is to identify a shortlist of bidders who are capable of successfully completing the proposed 600MW BOO PV Power Project, and who are expected to submit a competitive bid, if selected for the shortlist. II. EVALUATION CRITERIA AND SCORING The evaluation will be based on a 1000 points scoring system for the requested information. The general points and the points assigned to each section of the RFPQ are: General Format and Completeness 50 Points Points will be awarded to bids that follow the format requested in the RFPQ. A. Title Page 0 Points No points will be awarded directly to the title page. However, the completeness of the title page will be assessed in awarding points for "General Format and Completeness." B. Introduction 50 Points The successful completion of the IPP/BOO PV project will require expertise in several major areas. The required expertise may be provided by the bidder, participating firms in the bidder's consortium, or by firms that provide services to the bidder's consortium through subcontracting agreements. Such services might include engineering, procurement, and construction (either individually or collectively in an EPC agreement) for PV modules and balance of plant operation & maintenance. Points for the introduction information will be awarded based on the clarity of the bidder's description of the bidder's consortium, the responsibilities of each consortium member, and clarity of the bidder's description of the role and identification of major subcontracting companies, if any. The combined responsibility of the bidder and subcontracting companies must cover the major components of the phases of the 600MW BOO PV Power Project. If the bidder does not have a committed consortium member or subcontractor for one of the major components of the 600MW BOO PV Power Project, the bidder should indicate the potential firms. C. Project Approach RFPQ 100 Points Points will be awarded based on the bidder's demonstrated understanding of the scope of the 600MW BOO PV Power Project, the description of the approach to complete the major activities of each phase of the projects: (Phase I; Development, Site Measurement, Financing, Bidding, Phase II; Financial closure, Construction, and Phase III; Operation & Maintenance and Dismantling) and the integration of the expertise of the firms (consortium members and/or subcontractors) identified in Section B. D. Qualifications and Experience 400 Points The qualifications and experience of the bidder (consortium members and major subcontractors) in project finance of independent power projects with emphasis on Independent PV Power Projects will be the most important factor in the selection of the bidders' shortlist. A history of successfully completed Independent PV Power and other (IPP, BOOT, BOO…) projects will be the most important aspect of qualifications and experience. This history must demonstrate that the bidders (consortium members and major subcontractors) jointly have the qualifications for fulfilling each aspect of the 600MW BOO PV Power Project; development, financing and financial closure, engineering, procurement, construction, operation and maintenance. All references will be checked, experience information must be provided for each member of the bidder's consortium and for each major subcontractor using the forms in Exhibits A1, A2, A3 and A4. The experience must match the responsibilities of the consortium members and major subcontractors, as defined in Section B. If the bidder does not have a committed consortium member or subcontractor for one of the major components of the 600MW BOO PV Power Project, the bidder should provide qualifications and experience for the potential companies. Failure to include specific individuals as reference contacts who can authoritatively discuss the status of each project and the performance of the firms (consortium members and/or major subcontractors) will result in rejection of that project from the firm's experience list. E. Resources 1. Human Resources General 50 Points Points will be awarded based on the completeness of the firm organisation charts provided by the bidder (each consortium member and major subcontractor), and on assessment of the capacity of each firm (consortium member and major subcontractor) to provide the necessary human resources to successfully complete the firm's responsibilities identified in Section B for the 600MW BOO PV Power Project, and to support other projects that the bidder (consortium members and major subcontractors) may obtain. This assessment will be based on organisation chart, number of employees in each part of the firm, and the general experience and qualifications of the firm. Project Team 50 Points Points will be awarded based on the bidder's understanding of the key responsibilities required to successfully complete all aspects of the 600MW BOO PV Power Project and the calibre of key individuals committed to the project. The understanding of key responsibilities will be demonstrated by the 600MW BOO PV Power Project organisation charts for each phase of project as specified above identifying all key positions and interfaces with the EETC. At this time, the bidder should have identified the individuals from the bidder's firm who will fill the key management positions in the project organisation charts within the responsibility of the bidder, as identified in section B. In addition, the bidder will have obtained from each consortium member and each major subcontractor a commitment for key individuals for the responsibilities of the consortium member or major subcontractor, as identified in section B. Individuals shall have experience with the same tasks allocated to them, in previous projects. If committed individuals cannot be identified because the Bidder does not have a committed consortium member or subcontractor for one of the major components of the project, resumes of potential individuals from the firms under consideration should be provided. For the prequalification stage, EETC will put emphasis on the teams, which will be responsible for site measurement activities, drafting of bid documents, and other tasks necessary for the completion of the bids in the RFP including technical, financial, and legal expertise. 2. Financial Resources 250 Points Points will be awarded based on the bidder's ability (including consortium members) to obtain financing and achieve financial closure for the project. The ability to initiate and complete the work within the firm's responsibilities, as identified in Section B, will be part of the evaluation. The bidder and each participating firm in the project equity should preferably submit their credit rating for long term unsecured debt by an international credit agency (such as S&P, Moody`s, DBRS, etc.) and the audited financial statements over the last three years, which should demonstrate their financial capability to secure the necessary financing for the project. If a participating equity holder does not have a credit rating at the time of submitting the prequalification bid, it may request a rating in order to improve its chances of being prequalified. In case no credit rating is available, it will be evaluated based on its financial statements. If the bidder is shortlisted, the equity holders must provide a credit rating with their bids. The assessment of the bidder's ability to finance the project will be based on an evaluation of the bidder's and consortium member's credit rating and financial resources to support the equity requirements of the project and other projects that the bidder and the other consortium members have or may obtain. The bidder's ability to secure financing for this project will also be judged on the success of the bidder's previous projects, volume of deals that achieved financial closure, and commitments or expressions of interest from financing sources, which the bidder has established for this project. 3. Construction Capability 50 Points If Consortium member(s) or major subcontractor(s) for project construction have been selected; the extent of each firm's resources will be assessed. If the construction consortium member(s) or major subcontractor(s) have not been selected yet, resources and capabilities of potential candidates and the actual firms used for previous projects should be provided, and clearly identified as candidate firms or firms from previous projects. In addition, the bidder should indicate the level of experience and qualifications that he will require for the construction of the 600MW BOO PV Power Project under consideration. F. Additional Information 0 Points No points are directly awarded to the additional information section. Any information provided in this section will be used to supplement the information and assessment of other sectors.
