European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

LONDON

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development was established in 1991 when communism was crumbling in Central and Eastern Europe and ex-Soviet countries needed support to nurture a new private sector in a democratic environment. The EBRD provides loans to public sector and private sector borrowers to fund specific transition-oriented projects in EBRD countries of operation.

Procurement Procedures:
EBRD public sector clients are required to follow the Bank's rules and procedures for the procurement of goods, works, and consultants under Bank-financed sovereign loans. Executing agencies in the borrowing country are responsible for all aspects of the procurement process, including preparation of bid documents, public advertisement, prequalification of firms, short listing, bid evaluation, contract negotiation and award, contract supervision and payment. Private sector clients are required to use appropriate procurement methods.

Procurement of Equipment, Goods, and Works by Borrowers

Under sovereign loans, the EBRD public sector client must issue a General Procurement Notice (GPN) that advises the business community about the nature of the project. GPN's are published on the EBRD website, in UN Development Business, and in a major newspaper in the project country. Invitations to tender are also published on the EBRD website and in a major local newspaper. Interested companies should express interest directly to the executing agency. Contracts are awarded to the lowest evaluated bidder, regardless of nationality, based on the evaluation criteria set forth in the bid documents.
For more information, review the EBRD Procurement Policies and Rules.

Procurement by Private Sector Clients

Under EBRD private-sector projects, procurement is governed by regular commercial practices, although the Bank will ensure that appropriate procurement methods are used. Direct contact with the private sector project sponsor is required, as GPN's and SPN's are not published on the EBRD website.

Procurement of Consulting Services by Borrowers

The EBRD and its sovereign clients employ individuals and consulting firms for a wide range of assignments for both Bank funded projects and technical cooperation work. Consulting opportunities valued above EUR 200,000 will be advertised on the EBRD website and a shortlist will be prepared based on the responses. For contracts valued below EUR 200,000, short lists of no more than 6 potential contractors will be prepared and solicited for proposals. Quality and technical considerations should remain the primary factor in the selection of consultants although price can be a secondary consideration when assignments are of a straightforward technical nature. Contracts will be awarded to the supplier with the highest-rated proposal. The EBRD does not maintain its own database of consultants although it makes limited use of the World Bank's electronic Database on Consultants (DACON) Registration System. It is not required that consultants register with DACON to be eligible for EBRD assignments, although it is nonetheless advisable as a useful marketing tool.
For more information, review the EBRD Procurement Policies and Rules.

Canadian Consultant Trust Funds
Canadian Consultant Trust Funds allow CIDA to further dialogue and collaboration with the EBRD while giving Canadian consultants a valuable opportunity to gain relevant sectoral and country experience. The EBRD is responsible for the overall management of the Trust Funds including the selection of consultants. Interested suppliers should contact the EBRD directly as neither CIDA nor the Office of the Canadian Executive Director participates in the selection of consultants. For more information on these funds, visit CIDA's CCTF web page.

Finding Opportunities:

Pipeline and Strategies

Country Strategy
Country Strategies provide a description of the economic, social, and industrial state of EBRD countries of operation along with the priorities for Bank intervention. Country Strategies provide the first indication of the Bank's future activities. Country Strategies are available by selecting the country of interest on the EBRD Countries and Sectors page.

EBRD Project Pipeline
The EBRD lists all pipeline projects (sovereign loans only) on its website with a short description of the project, its status, and contact information for the executing agency.

Approved Projects and Approved Technical Cooperation Projects
The list of most recent project (sovereign and non-sovereign) and technical cooperation approvals is available on the EBRD website.

EBRD Project Summary Documents (PSDs)
A Project Summary Document is prepared for each EBRD transaction (both sovereign and non-sovereign). The document gives a description of the project and identifies the executing agency or project sponsor.

Procurement Notices

Procurement Notices
Procurement notices and requests for EOI are available directly on the EBRD website.

Subscription Services
A variety of companies and organizations offer online access to EBRD procurement notices and pipeline information. For more information on the services offered and institutions covered by these organizations, and how they compare with what is freely available on the websites of the multilateral development banks, see:
http://www.infoexport.gc.ca/ifinet/resources-e.htm.

Pursuing Opportunities:

Visiting the Bank and Borrower

Visiting the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
Planning a visit to EBRD headquarters in London is valuable if you are interested in consulting opportunities on technical co-operation projects or in tendering opportunities funded by sovereign loans. It is recommended that you contact the Office of the Canadian Executive Director and have the Office help you facilitate your visit, including setting up appointments with the relevant people at the EBRD. Early contact also ensures that the Office of the Canadian Executive Director is in a position to support your potential involvement with the EBRD from the outset.

Visiting the Borrowing Country
Planning a visit to the borrowing country is essential for consulting and engineering firms and should also be considered by exporters of goods and equipment pursuing sovereign loan funded opportunities. As soon as you have identified a project of interest, you should contact the executing agency and register the interest of your company. EBRD resident offices are also important contacts when visiting the borrowing country. The EBRD has decentralized its operations by strengthening its resident office network in each of its 27 countries of operations, which allows Canadian business people to contact the local EBRD resident offices for the latest information on the Bank's operations in any given country.

Preparing for Meetings
Whether meeting with Bank staff or with the executing agency, suppliers are encouraged to be well prepared for their meeting with specific topics to discuss. General inquiries about business opportunities or information available elsewhere are not well received. Clearly demonstrate what your company can do or can provide to facilitate the work of the project officer or the achievement of the project. You must clearly demonstrate your experience and capabilities, and any solutions you intend to propose.

Finding a Local Partner
Working with a local partner is highly advisable in most cases to ensure a local presence and to facilitate any necessary follow-up. Partnering with a local firm can help reduce costs while bringing in local expertise. Some of the Subscription Services that provide procurement notices also provide databases of firms interested in EBRD projects. The EBRD listing of contract awards is a good place to find potential partners.

Subcontracting
There are opportunities to participate in EBRD funded projects through subcontracting with firms awarded prime contracts on sovereign loans, or with project sponsors receiving EBRD financing. Subcontracts are not governed by EBRD procurement regulations. Interested firms should contact prime contractors and project sponsors directly.
A listing of contract awards on EBRD sovereign operations is available on the EBRD website.
Contact information for project sponsors receiving EBRD financing is available in the Project Summary Documents.