Technical assistance for carrying out the independent technical audits of civil works on the municipal sub-projects under LRCP implementation

Project: P170267 - North Macedonia: Local Roads Connectivity Project Reference: LRCP-9034-9210-MK-CQS-A.3.1.15 Procurement method: Consultant Qualification Selection Financing: World Bank Request for Expressions of Interest Consulting Services Implementing Agency: Ministry of Transport Country: Republic of North Macedonia Project: Local Roads Connectivity Project - P170267 Assignment Title: Technical assistance for carrying out the independent technical audits of civil works on the municipal sub-projects under LRCP implementation Loan No.: 9034-MK and 9210-MK REoI Reference No.: LRCP-9034-9210-MK-CQS-A.3.1.15 Estimated cost: EUR 200 K Issued on: November 28 , 202 5 The Republic of North Macedonia has received a financing from the World Bank - International Bank for Reconstruction and Development in the form of a loan toward the cost of the Local Roads Connectivity Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services. Local Roads Connectivity Project (“the LRCP”) is financed by the Loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development - World Bank in order to improve the government’s and municipalities’ capacities to manage local roads and to improve the access to markets and services. One of the project components includes civil works for reconstruction and/or rehabilitation of about 260 km of local roads/streets in 287 sections, to improve their quality, safety and resilience, as well as respective consulting services for supervision. The number of Contracts is 50, with 20 Contractors and 3 Consultants for Supervision under 5 Contracts. The loan’s closing date is September 30, 2026. The Ministry of Transport from the Republic of North Macedonia has established a Project Implementation Unit for implementation of Local Roads Connectivity Project (“the LRCP”) which is being financed by the World Bank. Technical Audits will be carried out to enable the PIU/Ministry of Transport to critically assess the implementation of the Project, in particular to determine does the civil works under construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation of the local roads works were performed with a high quality. The present Terms of Reference describe the Services of a Consultant firm to be retained for carrying out the Technical Audits for the period between February to June 2026. The main objectives of the technical audits are to verify independently the extent to which (i) the roads are being constructed, reconstructed, or rehabilitated in accordance with the relevant civil works contracts, the relevant standards and specifications and good international practice, (ii) the documentation, timeliness and overall quality of project management, supervision and construction is appropriate, and iii) to identify lessons learned and opportunities to improve practices for ongoing or future similar civil works. The technical audits will be a part of the due diligence activities for the Project Implementation Unit Local Roads Connectivity Project (“the LRCP”) within the Ministry of Transport and the World Bank. The Terms of References in the English language may be obtained by interested eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) from the website of the national electronic system for procurement: “ЕСЈН-Заеми/Донации/Грантови-Огласи од меѓународни институции” (https://www.e-nabavki.gov.mk) and from the website of the Ministry of Transport: http://mtc.gov.mk/javniOglasi. The Ministry of 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 qualification criteria are: The Consultant/technical audit firm shall be a firm or association of firms in the form of a joint venture or sub consultancy with following qualifications:, The technical audit firm must have previous successful experience with carrying out technical audits or similar quality assurance/supervision services in the road sector, in at least 3 (three) projects during the past 10 years. Experience within the European Union or EU pre-accession countries as well as knowledge of conditions/legislation in subject area in North Macedonia is considered as an advantage; The Consultant must be fully independent and must demonstrate in its technical proposal that has no conflict of interest. In particular must demonstrate that is not related in any way to contractors, supervision consultants and/or project management professionals currently working for or in contract with LRCP. Same applies for engaged key professional staff by the technical audit firm. The credibility of mentioned experience shall be presented in a list of at least three (3) project references with similar nature, within last ten (10) years with description of services provided (including information on contract value, contracting entity/client, project location/countr