London-based European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is seeking experienced consultancy firms to advise on the procurement process for the 13 rolling stock required by the Cairo Metro, which it has agreed to finance.

The consultant will assist Egypt’s National Authority for Tunnels (NAT) in the preparation of tender documents, including technical specifications, tender implementation, and evaluation of tenders and contracting. The consultancy contract, or assignment, is estimated to cost €270,000 ($304,000) with 7 July 2015 as the closing date for EBRD to receive expressions of interest (EoIs).

The successful consultant will advise on the best procurement process based on international practices and agreed procurement strategy with the NAT and EBRD.

This will take into consideration the procedures, specifications and documentation required by the EBRD and in compliance with the stipulations of the loan agreement between EBRD and Egypt’s Ministry of International Cooperation (MOiC), the entity which will receive and service the loan.

The €264m contract for the construction of Line 3 Phase 4a of the Cairo Metro between the Haroun and El-Nozha stations was awarded in April 2015. The winning consortium comprised French contractors Vinci Construction Grands Projets and Bouygues Travaux Publics, and their Egyptian joint partners, Orascom Construction and Arab Contractors.

Also in March, France’s Alstom was awarded two contracts totalling $85m to supply signalling systems and infrastructure work for phase 4a of Line 3.

Similar to the Jordan light rail airport link scheme, which EBRD has also agreed to finance, interested consultants for the procurement Cairo Metro’s rolling stock will not be asked to submit a proposal. Instead, the highest-ranked consultant based on an established set of criteria will be selected from a shortlist and be invited to negotiate the contract, subject to availability of funding.