Advance Action on Procurement and Recruitment of Consultants

Country/Borrower: People's Republic of China

Title of Proposed Project: Hefei Urban Environment Improvement Project

Name and Address of Executing Agency:

Hefei Municipal Government
Project Management Office
Contact: Mr. Li Wuhao, Director
Fax No.: +86 551-3538413 / 2843995 / 3532058
Tel. No.: +86 551-3538413
Email: adbpmo@hefei.gov.cn, adbdecam@yahoo.com.cn, adbpmo@126.com
Address: 256 Huaihe Road, Hefei, Anhui, PR China
Post Code: 230001
Brief Description of Project:

The Project is a key initiative of the Hefei Municipal Government (HMG) to improve the urban environment to meet national environmental guidelines and ensure Hefei's sustainable growth. The Project will assist Hefei, the capital city of Anhui Province, in
  1. enhancing the quality of its water resources;
  2. strengthening the wastewater treatment facilities and sewer networks;
  3. reducing the incidence and damage of flooding in three rivers and the Chao Lake; and
  4. improving the urban air quality and reducing road accidents and vehicular emission through a more efficient city road network and integrated transport management operations in a model development zone.
The Project will also provide institutional capacity-building measures in urban environmental management and policy reforms to ensure sustainability of the Project and related facilities.

The Project includes three components:
  1. wastewater and waste management,
  2. river rehabilitation and flood control improvement, and
  3. improved road infrastructure and traffic management in the Xinzhan zone.
The Project also includes institutional capacity building for project management and operation. The Project supports the Government's 11th Five Year Program (2006-2010) to improve the living conditions and the health in the cities of the PRC and promote their sustainable economic development. It is classified as a targeted intervention because it will contribute to achieving Millennium Development Goal 7, Target 10, which calls for halving the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation. The Project is consistent with ADB's Water Policy and Urban Sector Strategy.

Brief Description of Goods and Related Services, Works or Consulting Services to be Procured and related justification for advance contracting and retroactive financing:

The Government has requested for advance contracting for procurement and consultants to expedite the award of contracts, which includes
  1. prequalification of contractors, tendering, and bid evaluation for civil works packages,
  2. preparation of tender documents to procure materials and equipment,
  3. evaluation of bids, and
  4. recruitment of consultants.
The Government has also requested for retroactive financing for civil works and equipment for the wastewater treatment subcomponents.

Date of Advance Procurement Action Approval: 23 November 2006