Feasibility Studies, Economic and Financial Analysis, and Conceptual Engineering Design for the Buchanan to Nimba (Legacy) Corridor.

Republic of Liberia INFRASTRUCTURE IMPLEMENTATION UNIT MINISTRY OF PUBLIC WORKS P. O Box 9011 South Lynch Street

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

Country: Liberia

Grant No.: IDA-E7460

Project ID: P518023

Assignment Title: Consultancy Services for Feasibility Study, Economic and Financial

Analysis and the Conceptual Engineering Design of Buchanan–Nimba (Legacy) Corridor

Reference No .: LR-IIU-569555-CS-QCBS

This Request for Expressions of Interest follows the General Procurement Notice for this project that appeared in the United Nations Development Business ( www.devbusiness.com ) and the World Bank website on August 17, 2026. The Government of Liberia has received a Grant Facility for Project Preparation (GFPP) from the International Development Association (IDA), toward the preparation of the Legacy Economy Corridor Project (LECO) and intends to apply part of the proceeds thereof toward payments for procuring services of a firm to conduct a Feasibility Study, Economic and Financial Analysis, and the Conceptual Engineering Design and Bidding Documents of Buchanan–Nimba (Legacy) Corridor. The Consulting Services (“the Services”) include undertaking feasibility studies and conceptual/preliminary engineering design and preparation of Bidding Documents for two distinct road corridors: (i) Compound No. 3–Gban; and (ii) Palala–Yopea. The services will be in two phases as follows:

Phase 1 – Feasibility Study:

Confirm the physical definition and baseline condition of each corridor through reconnaissance and systematic surveys. Assess traffic demand, current and future mobility patterns, freight and agricultural movements, and non-motorized travel. Develop traffic forecasts and determine appropriate functional classification, design speed, and design criteria. Investigate alternative alignments and intervention standards and select the preferred option using a transparent multi-criteria framework. Undertake geotechnical, pavement-material, hydrological, and structural investigations sufficient for conceptual design and cost reliability. Assess climate and disaster risks and incorporate adaptation measures into engineering and maintenance strategies. Assess road safety risks and incorporate Safe System principles, appropriate speed management, pedestrian facilities and roadside treatments. Identify and develop plausible development scenarios — including development of Buchanan as an export gateway and agro-processing hub, upgrade of the Port of Buchanan, and reform of the Buchanan–Yekepa railway as a multi-user railway — that could materially affect corridor traffic demand; convene a Scenario Validation Workshop with relevant stakeholders; and agree two viable scenarios beyond BAU for full feasibility assessment. Undertake economic and financial feasibility under BAU and the two agreed development scenarios, with EIRR and NPV as primary outputs for each scenario; this is the central deliverable of Phase 1. Assess road standard requirements (unpaved gravel, DBST, asphalt pavement, staged upgrading) and phasing/packaging implications under each scenario, with full lifecycle cost analysis integrated into the economic appraisal. Undertake economic and financial feasibility, including EIRR, NPV, as primary outputs, and conduct sensitivity and risk analysis; this is the central deliverable of Phase 1. Assess affordability, life-cycle costs, and future O&M requirements. Undertake environmental and social screening and define the safeguards instruments required before construction. Assess land acquisition, ROW, livelihood, vulnerable-group, and community impacts and define mitigation requirements. Produce a defensible go/no-go and preferred-investment recommendation for each corridor.

Phase 2 – Conceptual Design and Bidding Documents: Prepare conceptual design drawings, quantities, specifications, implementation strategy, and cost estimates. Assess local and regional contractor and materials-market capacity and use the findings to determine contract packaging and procurement strategy. Prepare complete bidding documents and Engineer's Estimates for each proposed works lot. Transfer knowledge and editable data, models, calculations and design files to MPW/IIU. 4. The Infrastructure Implementation Unit of the Ministry of Public Works now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria are: a) Core Business and Years in Business, b) Technical Managerial Organization of the Firm, c) Experience in Similar Assignments, d) Experience in Similar Conditions.

Key Expert will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage. 5. The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraph 3.14, 3.16 and 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers, Procurement in Investment Project Financing, Goods, Works, non-Consulting and Consulting services dated July 2016, revised November 2017, August 2018, November 2020, July 2023, and February 2025 (“Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on Conflict of Interest. 6. Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications but should indicate clearly whether the association is in the form of a joint venture and/or a sub-consultancy. In the case of a joint venture, all the partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected. 7. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Consultant's Quality and Cost-Based Selection (QCBS) method set out in the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations. 8. Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours Monday to Friday, 0900 AM to 1600 PM (Local Time). 9. Expressions of Interest must be delivered in written form to the address below in pe