Independent Technical Review of the JPS System Shutdown

Jamaica, through the Ministry of Science, Energy, and Technology, has requested financing from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for the "Energy Management and Efficiency Programme". This notice invites eligible consulting firms to express interest in delivering an independent technical review of the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) system shutdown event.

Scope of consultancy Main objective: Deliver an independent, evidence-based technical assessment of the JPS System Shutdown Report and the system shutdown event itself to support regulatory oversight, policy action, and grid resilience.

Core technical domains: Protection engineering, dynamic stability, high impedance fault analysis, critical clearing time studies, power system restoration, and simulation validation.

Qualification requirements and experience

Forensic investigations: Experience leading at least three (3) independent forensic investigations of major transmission system disturbances or blackouts.

Island grid expertise: Demonstrated experience with isolated or island power systems, particularly those with high renewable energy penetration.

Technical & software proficiency: Advanced expertise in protection engineering and power restoration, alongside proven capability using DIgSILENT Power Factory (or an equivalent compatible tool) to validate disturbance simulations.

Advisory background: Demonstrated experience advising governments, regulatory bodies, or utilities on major reliability events.

Selection and submission

Selection framework: Shortlist of five (5) to eight (8) eligible firms selected in accordance with IDB Consultant Policies.

Submission mode: Written expressions of interest may be submitted in physical format or electronically. Joint Ventures and subconsultants are permitted to enhance qualifications.

Note: Bidding documents and forms are available in the country's official language. Jamaica,throughtheMinistryofScience,Energy,andTechnology,hasrequestedfinancingfromtheInter-AmericanDevelopmentBank(IDB)forthe"EnergyManagementandEfficiencyProgramme".ThisnoticeinviteseligibleconsultingfirmstoexpressinterestindeliveringanindependenttechnicalreviewoftheJamaicaPublicService(JPS)systemshutdownevent.ScopeofconsultancyMainobjective:Deliveranindependent,evidence-basedtechnicalassessmentoftheJPSSystemShutdownReportandthesystemshutdowneventitselftosupportregulatoryoversight,policyaction,andgridresilience.Coretechnicaldomains:Protectionengineering,dynamicstability,highimpedancefaultanalysis,criticalclearingtimestudies,powersystemrestoration,andsimulationvalidation.QualificationrequirementsandexperienceForensicinvestigations:Experienceleadingatleastthree(3)independentforensicinvestigationsofmajortransmissionsystemdisturbancesorblackouts.Islandgridexpertise:Demonstratedexperiencewithisolatedorislandpowersystems,particularlythosewithhighrenewableenergypenetration.Technical&softwareproficiency:Advancedexpertiseinprotectionengineeringandpowerrestoration,alongsideprovencapabilityusingDIgSILENTPowerFactory(oranequivalentcompatibletool)tovalidatedisturbancesimulations.Advisorybackground:Demonstratedexperienceadvisinggovernments,regulatorybodies,orutilitiesonmajorreliabilityevents.SelectionandsubmissionSelectionframework:Shortlistoffive(5)toeight(8)eligiblefirmsselectedinaccordancewithIDBConsultantPolicies.Submissionmode:Writtenexpressionsofinterestmaybesubmittedinphysicalformatorelectronically.JointVenturesandsubconsultantsarepermittedtoenhancequalifications.Note:Biddingdocumentsandformsareavailableinthecountry'sofficiallanguage.

Executing unit: Ministry of Science, Energy, and Technology

IDB project: JA-G1003

Contact: [contact details removed]

Financed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).