Infrastructure Consulting Services for Benin Regional Compact   2

Background
The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is a Federal Corporation created under Title VI of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2004. It is tasked with managing and implementing the Millennium Challenge Act (MCA), which Congress approved to provide United States assistance for economic development. The MCA aims to reduce poverty through sustainable economic growth in some of the poorest countries in the world.

MCC has invested over $17 billion in various sectors including transportation, agriculture, energy, and health. On December 14, 2022, a compact agreement was signed between Benin and the United States through MCC for a grant of $202 million from the U.S. and a counterpart contribution of $204 million from Benin. The Compact will be implemented over five years starting from January 2025, focusing on reconstructing transport infrastructure and addressing institutional constraints along key transport corridors.

Work Details
The contractor is required to provide infrastructure consulting services for independent oversight of the implementation of the Benin Regional Compact. This includes:
1. Monitoring engineering, environmental, and social components of project implementation to ensure compliance with objectives and specifications.
2. Conducting periodic in-country and desk reviews to assess project progress against specifications, schedules, milestones, and budgets.
3. Assisting in identifying unforeseen impacts during implementation and providing recommendations for resolution.
4. Supporting pre-construction procurement processes including advising on procurement strategy and reviewing bidding documents.
5. Monitoring construction activities including schedule adherence, cost management, quality control, and compliance with environmental regulations.
6. Conducting inspections during turnover and completion stages to ensure project closeout procedures are followed.
7. Supporting road maintenance reforms by advising on performance-based contracts and funding sources for sustainable maintenance practices.

Period of Performance
The contract will be performed over a period starting from February 18, 2025 to February 17, 2026 with options for additional periods extending up to February 18, 2029.

Place of Performance
The services will primarily be performed in Benin.