Evaluation and development of benchmarks — Kazakhstan Partnership for Market Implementation

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST Country: Republic of Kazakhstan Partnership for Market Implementation Project Grant No. TF0B9097 Assignment title: Evaluation and Development of Benchmarks Contract No. KZPMI-QCBS-03 (as per the Procurement Plan) The Republic of Kazakhstan has received financing from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Development Association (“the World Bank”), acting as agency of the Partnership for Market Implementation Multi Donor Trust Fund, toward the cost of the Partnership for Market Implementation Project (“the Project”), and it intends to apply part of the proceeds to payments for consulting services to be procured under this project. The executive agency is the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan (MENR). Project’s objective is to enhance Kazakhstan’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) through the design of an allowance auctioning mechanism, complementary market-stability and the Carbon Fund. These measures will strengthen Kazakhstan’s carbon pricing architecture, improve price discovery and liquidity. MENR intends to apply a part of the proceeds for consulting services on Evaluation and Development of Benchmarks. The objective of this assignment is to enhance the effectiveness and fairness of Kazakhstan’s ETS by establishing technically sound and transparent benchmarks that provide appropriate incentives for emissions reduction while remaining practical to implement and update. The specific objectives include: Conducting a comprehensive evaluation of all existing benchmarks and their methodologies. Developing improved methodologies for benchmark calculation, presenting several options (at least three), with analysis of pros and cons, for MENR’s decision. Calculating new and/or update benchmarks for regulated economic sectors based on the improved methodology, ensuring results are consistent with Kazakhstan’s NDC targets and long-term decarbonization goals. Creating a user-friendly benchmark calculator tool that enables MENR and its ETS operator Zhasyl Damu JSC to perform benchmark updates independently in the future. Providing advice on legislative and regulatory changes required for the adoption and regular updating of benchmarks, including proposals for institutionalizing a review cycle. Expected duration of assignment: 12 months from the date of Contract signing. Scope of services includes the following: Task A - Project Initiation and Planning Task B - Evaluation of Existing Benchmarks Task C – Benchmark Methodology Development Task D - Calculator Tool Development Task E - Calculation of benchmarks Task F - Legislative and Regulatory Advice Task G - Preparation and Presentation of the Final Project Report The Terms of Reference for the assignment can be found at the following website https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/ecogeo/documents/details/1028078?lang=en The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan (“the Client”) now invites the eligible consulting firms (“the Consultants”) to express their interest in provision of the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services (but not biographical details of individual experts). The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” September 2023 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank policy on the conflict of interest. Consultants shall meet the eligibility requirements and shall comply with the World Bank’s policy on fraud and corruption as set forth in the Procurement Regulations, including Annex IV Consulting firms may associate with other firms in the form of a joint venture (JV), consortium or a sub-consultancy to enhance their qualifications. The type of association must be clearly stated in the expression of interest. In case of a joint venture, all the partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected. Consultants will be selected through the Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) method set out in the Regulations and in accordance with the following criteria: The shortlisting criteria are as follows : The assignment is expected to be implemented either by a consortium of international and local firms, or by an international consulting company with a permanent presence in Kazakhstan. The international partner will contribute global expertise in emissions trading systems and relevant international best practices, while the local partner will provide national context on Kazakhstan’s climate and environmental policies, support day-to-day project implementation, and assist with stakeholder engagement. Qualification requirements to the Consultant (Firm): Over 10 years of international experience, in the firm or a consortium, in providing analytical and advisory services on emissions trading systems, benchmarking, and climate policy. Proven experience in the development and/or evaluation of benchmark methodologies and allowance allocation systems. Proven experience in legal and regulatory support for emissions trading systems and/or carbon pricing instruments. Access to qualified international and national experts with demonstrated experience in project management, emissions trading systems, development and improvement of benchmarking methodologies, as well as preparation of legal and regulatory assessments and regulatory legal acts. Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage. Further information can be obtained at the address below during business hours from 09:00 to 18:00 (Astana time). The Expressions of Interest (EOI) should include a brief company profile, description of relevant assignments, client references where available, and information on association arrangements, if any Expressions of interest signed by an authorized person, in PDF format must be sent to the email address kz_pmi@yahoo.com or delivered to the address below no later than 18:00 (Astana time) on June 24, 2026. Requests for clarification may be submitted in writing to the email address indicated below. Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan Partnership for Market Implementation Project Project Implementation Unit Attn : Mrs. Nuriya Kaulanova, PIU Procurement Specialist Address: Office 22-24, 7th floor, “Eurocenter” Business Center, 47 Syganak street, Astana city E-mail: kz_pmi@yahoo.com