Nairobi Commuter Rail Project Request for Prequalification

Invitation for a Request for Prequalification (RFQ) from Consortia of Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) Contractors and Experienced Operators for the detailed design, engineering, construction and long-term contract operation of the Nairobi Commuter Rail Project

a Public Private Partnership (PPP) between Kenya Railways Corporation (KR) and InfraCo Africa

KR is a public enterprise under Cap 397 of the Laws of Kenya, mandated to provide railway commuter services in major cities in Kenya. InfraCo Africa is a donor-funded privately managed project development company.

KR and InfraCo Africa are jointly developing the Nairobi Commuter Rail Project to implement a reliable and efficient commuter rail service through the modernization and expansion of the existing railway system in the Nairobi Metropolitan Area.

KR and InfraCo Africa are seeking a consortium of an EPC Contractor and an Experienced Operator. 

The EPC Contractor will provide the detailed engineering design of the railway project, procure all components, including rolling stock, and build the rail system, and the Operator will be the contract operator for a long-term period after the commissioning of the commuter rail system. Phase 1 of the design build scope of work will include:
 

1. The rehabilitation and upgrading of track within the operating area of the commuter rail system comprising approximately 62 km of meter gauge railway, including the doubling of approximately 15 kilometers of existing lines, and the construction of a new 6.5 km line connecting the existing mainline at Embakasi Station to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA);
 

2. Construction of new stations bridges and rehabilitation of existing ones;
 

3. Construction of maintenance and fueling depots;
 

4. Design, procurement and installation of new signaling, communication and train control systems, operating equipment including ticketing systems; and
 

5. Procurement of new rolling stock.

The Operator will be responsible for the safe, reliable and efficient operation of the system. 

The system is expected to initially comprise 10-15 commuter train sets operating over 4 lines, one of which will be a new express link to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport from the Nairobi Central Station. 

The Operator will have experience in the operation of passenger rail systems, ideally in emerging market countries and have technical and operational resources sufficient to support their important role in the Project during the development and operational phases.

The PQQ and prequalification criteria will include, among other elements, the project development experience of the consortium and its capability to support the financial commitments required by bankable EPC and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) contracts.

Parties interested in receiving the Prequalification Questionnaire (PQQ) should contact both InfraCo and Kenya Railways electronically using the below coordinates and request an electronic copy of the PQQ. 

The PQQ will be sent via return electronic mail or made available through the dataroom.
 

The completed PQQ must be submitted in its entirety via electronic mail delivered to the addresses below, marked ‘’Prequalification Questionnaire for EPC Contractor & Operator Consortium – Nairobi Commuter Rail” by not later than 23.59 hours on 25th September 2012. 

Consortia deemed prequalified by InfraCo and KR will receive the Request for Proposals (RFP). 

Only prequalified consortia will receive the RFP and be allowed to submit bids.
 

Parties who have previously expressed interest in the role of either EPC Contractor or Operator or both must request a copy of the PQQ and submit a completed PQQ in line with this procedure.

InfraCo Limited
c/o eleQtra, Manager of InfraCo Africa
RFQNCR@infraco.com

Kenya Railways Corporation
info@krc.co.ke