For the selection of an engineering company with a view to carrying out an in-depth technical-economic and financial study (Bankable Feasibility Study) and so-called feed studies (Front End Engineering and Design) for the reconstruction of units destroyed during the 31st may 2019 fire incident, and the finalization of the “SONARA 2010” project.

OPEN INTERNATIONAL INVITATION TO TENDER

            N° 021.23 / OIIT / SONARA / CIPM / 2023 OF THE 20^th/04/2023

           For

THE selection OF AN ENGINEERING COMPANY WITH A VIEW TO CARRYING OUT AN IN-DEPTH TECHNICAL-ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL STUDY (Bankable Feasibility Study) AND SO-CALLED FEED STUDIES (Front End Engineering and Design) FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF UNITS DESTROYED DURING THE 31^st MAY 2019 FIRE incident, AND THE FINALIZATION OF THE “SONARA 2010” PROJECT.

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1. SUBJECT OF THE TENDER

The General Manager of the National Refining Company (SONARA), Contracting Authority, is launching an Open International Call for Tenders for the selection of an engineering company with a view to carrying out an in-depth technical-economic and financial study (Bankable Feasibility Study) and so-called feed studies (Front End Engineering and Design) for the reconstruction of units destroyed during the 31st may 2019 fire incident, and the finalization of the “SONARA 2010” project.

2. CONSISTENCY OF SERVICES

The services to be performed as defined in the ToRs are as follows:

• Feasibility studies (APS study)

This preliminary phase corresponds to a technical, economic and financial pre-study (feasibility study, APS or FEL 1) which will initially make it possible to elaborate an execution plan and a detailed schedule for the FEED which will intend serve as guidelines for this phase of the project. Given that this Project is a “Brown field” project, or a rehabilitation/reconstruction type, the following information is expected to be provided:

• The technical bases of the studies will comprise of (A Business Case, Material balances and configuration of the new complex refinery, yields and performance of the units, Specifications of the refinery’s feed, specifications of the refined products, general data of the process units);
• The economic and financial bases of the studies (prices of feeds, prices of products, cost of utilities,)
• The financial factors and parameters such as the Business plan, Investment, reimbursement, Import Duties, Taxes, personnel, etc…).
• FEED studies by components

This part plays a crucial role for the proper preparation of investments and for the successful execution of the project while identifying the risks.

As part of the rehabilitation/reconstruction of SONARA, this phase will consist of three (03) components, namely:

• FEED studies for the finalization of the units of phase 1 of the SONARA extension and modernization project;
• FEED studies for the reconstruction, the debottlenecking and the revamping of damaged units, taking into account existing bottlenecks and the gradual startup of installations as they are progressively being rehabilitated;
• FEED studies for new conversion units (Hydrocracker, ISOM, HDS and bitumen variant).

3. EXECUTION DEADLINE :

The maximum timeframe provided by the Client for the performance of the services covered by this call for tenders is nine (09) months.

4. ALLOTMENT

This contract is not allotted.

5. ESTIMATED COST

The estimated cost of this operation will be covered by the SONARA budget.

6. PARTICIPATION AND ORIGIN

Participation to this call for tenders is open to all companies operating in this specific field of FEED study in Oil&gas.

7. FINANCING :

Services of this invitation to tender shall be financed by the SONARA investment budget (IP322-C06-3556).

8. PROVISIONAL BOND

To avoid rejection, each bidder must include in his administrative documents, a bid bond drawn up and signed by a bank or a first class financial institution registered by the ministry in charge of finance of the Cameroon Republic and which figures on document N°11 of the ITT, of an amount of CFAF 83.857.445 (eighty-three millions eight hundred and fifty-seven thousand four hundred and forty-five francs) and valid for 30 days, beyond the original date of validity of the offers.

The other administrative documents required must either be original, or the true copies certified by the issuing service or an administrative authority; Senior Divisional Officer, Divisional Officer….), in accordance with the stipulations of the special rules and regulations of the invitation to tender.

They must be dated less than three (03) months preceding the date of submission of the tender, or must have been signed after the date of signing of the invitation to tender.

9. CONSULTATION OF THE TENDER DOCUMENTS:

As soon as this notice is published, the file may be consulted during working hours at SONARA P.O. Box 365 Limbé (General Management / Contracts Division), and in the ARMP news.

10. ACQUISITION OF THE TENDER DOCUMENTS :

Once the tender notice is made known, tender documents can be obtained at the Contracts Division of the National Refining Company Ltd – P.O. Box 365 Limbé, upon presentation of a receipt of payment of a non-refundable amount of CFAF 600.000 (six hundred thousand francs) at BICEC, using the following references:

      BICEC

Account / 335 98800001 89

Special customer account CAS – ARMP

Remitter: Name of bidder/SONARA/IT n°021.23

11. SUBMISSION OF BIDS

Tenders submitted in English or French in six (06) copies, one original and five (05) copies labelled as such, should reach the Contracts Division of the National Refining Company Ltd – P.O. Box 65 Limbe-Cameroun, Tel: (+237) 233.42.38.15 or 233.33.22.38 / Fax: (+237) 233.42.41.99 or 233.33.22.35, latest on the 25^th/05/2023 at 10 a.m. local time, bearing the following label:

INVITATION TO TENDER N°021.23 / OIIT / SONARA / CIPM / 2023 OF THE 20^th/04/2023

selection OF AN ENGINEERING COMPANY WITH A VIEW TO CARRYING OUT AN IN-DEPTH TECHNICAL-ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL STUDY (Bankable Feasibility Study) AND SO-CALLED FEED STUDIES (Front End Engineering and Design) FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF UNITS DESTROYED DURING THE 31^st MAY 2019 FIRE incident, AND THE FINALIZATION OF THE “SONARA 2010” PROJECT

‘’To be opened during the tender session only”

12. ADMISSIBILITY OF BIDS

Under pain of rejection, the other administrative documents required must either be original, or the true copies certified by the issuing service or an administrative authority, in accordance with the stipulations of the special rules and regulations of the invitation to tender.

They must obligatorily be dated less than three (03) months preceding the date of submission of the tender, or must have been signed after the date of signing of the invitation to tender.

Any incomplete bid which does not conform to the prescriptions of this invitation to tender shall be declared inadmissible; such will be the case in absence of a bid bond issued by a first class bank registered by the Ministry in charge of finance.

13. OPENING OF TENDER ENVELOPES

The opening of tenders shall be done on two phases; the opening of administrative and technical documents will take place on phase one and shall be followed by that of financial proposals of bidders having obtained the required minimum technical score:

• The opening of administrative documents and technical proposals shall take place on the 25^th/05/2023 at 10:30 am in the company restaurant in Limbé, and would be done by the SONARA Internal Tenders Board (CIPM); only bidders or their duly mandated representative having full knowledge of the file can attend the tenders opening session.
• The opening of financial bids will take place at the end of technical analysis and will solely concern bidders who would have obtained a minimum score of 70 points out of a total of 100.

14. EVALUATION CRITERIA

14.1 Essential criteria

The examination of essential criteria shall consist in verifying that the bidder’s offer is in conformity with the terms of reference (TOR) and the special requirements of the tender document. The points to be verified include:

– Presentation of the bid …………………………………………………………………. 05 points

– Experience of the bidder…………………………………………….……….….……….25 points

– Quality of the offer and proposed methodology……………………………………………… 15 points

– Quality and cohesion of the team, the technical means and the Design Office…… 10 points

– Profile of the experts and specialists dedicated to the project..…………….………..30 points

– General planning ……………………………………………….…………………………15 points

TOTAL.  ……………………………………………………………………………………100 points

14.2  Eliminatory criteria

• Incomplete administrative file ;
• Presence of non authentic or falsified documents in the files (administrative/technical/financial) of the bidder;
• The bidder has no references in carrying out engineering studies (FEED) in the refining or petrochemical sector, and in particular the rehabilitation, construction or reconstruction of refining or petroleum units (Oil & Gas) over the last fifteen (15) years for projects with a minimum value of CFAF 6.500.000.000 (six billion and five hundred million francs) (join copies of order letters / Contracts / Conventions and corresponding services reports);
• The Bidder is involved in an unfinished project at SONARA (attach Sworn statement of non-involvement);
• Failure to obtain at least 70 points on a score of 100 during addition of the essential criteria’s notes.

15. SELECTION METHOD OF THE SERVICE PROVIDER

The service provider shall be selected through the Quality and Price postulate (most cost-effective bidder).

16. AWARD OF CONTRACT

The contract shall be awarded to the company technical and financial proposals put together will be assessed as the most cost-effective bid based on the formula GN = 0,7TN + 0,3FN outlined in the tender file.

17. DURATION AND VALIDITY OF OFFERS

Bidders shall be bound by their offers for a period of three (03) months with effect from the deadline of submission of the tender documents.    

18. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Further technical information may be obtained during working hours from Contracts Division of the National Refining Company Ltd, P.O. Box. 365 Limbe – Cameroon, Tel: (+237)233 42 3815 or 233 33 22 38 / Fax: (+237)233 42 41 99 or 233 33 22 35.

Done in Limbé, on the 20^th/04/2023

The Project owner

Jean-Paul SIMO NJONOU