Feasibility study for Mandalgobi Road

REVISED DRAFT

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)

MONGOLIA GOBI CONNECTIVITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT PREPARATION (P514972)

GFPP Grant No.: TF0D0692

Assignment Title: Consulting Services for Feasibility Study and Preliminary Design of Ulaanbaatar - Mandalgovi Road Reconstruction Project

Reference No . (as per Procurement Plan): ZTYa/20260804057

The Government of Mongolia has received a grant financing from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), through the Grant Facility for Project Preparation (GFPP), under Grant No. TF0D0692 to support the preparation of the Gobi Connectivity Improvement Project. The objective of the grant is to facilitate the preparation of a proposed project designed to enhance the efficiency, safety, and climate resilience of transport along the Ulaanbaatar–Mandalgovi road corridor, while strengthening institutional capacity for its sustainable maintenance.

The Ulaanbaatar–Mandalgovi (A0201) corridor is a nationally significant transport artery that forms a central spine in Mongolia’s north–south mobility network. Stretching approximately 272km, the corridor links Ulaanbaatar with the aimag centers of Tuv and Dundgobi while providing a gateway to southern regions with economies shaped by livestock, mining, tourism, and services. The road is also an important feeder into broader regional transport and trade corridors, including routes serving large scale mining operations and cross border freight movements.

Originally constructed in 2012–2013 to Asian Highway ClassIII standards, the existing two-lane road has reached a critical stage of deterioration. The corridor’s geometric design, originally intended for lower traffic volumes and slower heavy vehicle growth, no longer aligns with current or projected operational demands.

In response to these factors, the Ministry of Road and Transport (MRT) seeks a comprehensive feasibility assessment, including the preparation of preliminary design, that evaluates the potential of upgrading the A0201 corridor to a fourlane Class I standard. This upgrade would enhance freight fluidity, reduce travel times, strengthen supply chain reliability, and improve road safety outcomes. In line with the Government of Mongolia’s Action Plan for 2024–2028, which sets the objective of initiating the fourlane expansion of this corridor, the assessment and preliminary design will serve as the analytical backbone for subsequent safeguard instruments, procurement strategies, and engineering design stages, ensuring that the reconstruction approach is fit for purpose, fiscally prudent, and environmentally and socially responsible. As a crosscutting requirement, the assignment will also encompass environmental and social due diligence tasks, including screening against the World Bank's Environmental and Social Standards (ESS1–ESS10), preparation of the Environmental and Social Management Plan (PESMP), and inputs into subsequent safeguard instruments such as a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) and Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM), in accordance with the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESF). The Terms of Reference (TOR) for the consulting services for feasibility study and preliminary design can be found at the following website.

Tender.gov.mn The Ministry of Road and Transport 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:

1. General Experience

Minimum 10 years of experience in preparing feasibility studies and preliminary/detailed engineering design of major road infrastructure projects in cold climate regions, including economic/financial analysis and safeguard integration. In addition, demonstrated experience in at least one assignment involving the preparation of environmental and social safeguard instruments for World Bank-financed projects or projects financed by comparable multilateral development banks, including at a minimum one of the following: Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), Resettlement Action Plan (RAP), or Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP). Evidence should be provided in the firm's EoI.

2. Specific Experience in Similar Assignments

Proven experience in preparing feasibility studies and preliminary design of major road corridors during the last 5 years, with contract amount not less than USD 500,000 (five hundred thousand USD); Experience in projects financed by international financial institutions (e.g., ADB, World Bank, JICA, EBRD, etc.) will be considered an advantage. The consulting team must also include dedicated Environmental and Social Specialists with demonstrated experience applying the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) or equivalent international safeguard/environmental and social risk management standards. At minimum, the team must demonstrate capacity to address environmental screening, social impact assessment, resettlement risk assessment, stakeholder engagement, and GBV/SEA/SH risk management.

3. Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” seventh edition dated September 2025 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

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.

A Consultant will be selected in a