[sustran] Bus network/Regulatory system reform

[Jonathan Richmond]

Hello from Dhaka, where we are moving forward with major efforts to improve the 
public transport system. We are awaiting proposals to develop a BRT system, and 
are now requesting Expressions of Interest for a related assignment to redesign 
Dhaka's bus network, improve its bus fleet, and reform its regulatory system 
and fare structure.

I hope some of you might be interested in involvement with this project.
I am including the text of our short advert below. Please be in touch if
you would like to receive any further information. As before, I am prepared to 
announce the availability of individuals to a professional mailing list to help 
you get associated with an appropriate team.

Best,

                          --Jonathan!

1. Introduction
The People’s Republic of Bangladesh has received a credit from the 
International Development Association (ida) towards the cost of the Clean Air 
and Sustainable Environment (case) Project to be implemented by the Dhaka 
Transport Coordination Board (dtcb) in coordination with other government 
entities, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consultancy services 
for a bus network and regulatory reform implementation study and design work 
for bus and related human hauler and rickshaw services with Dhaka area local 
and suburban operations.

2. Background
There are currently approximately 103 bus and minibus urban routes operating in 
Dhaka, with an additional 38 “human hauler” (passenger carriage mounted on 
pickup truck) lines and a half million cycle rickshaws. Intense congestion 
slows bus operations, while no central bus service planning system currently 
exists.

3. Scope of Tasks/Service
The consultants will:
• Review existing institutional and operational arrangements and evaluate
    a:  The range of desirable new institutional/regulatory/licensing 
frameworks, business models and route/service restructuring options available 
for application to  Dhaka area public transport.
  b:   Those options that have a high probability of successful implementation 
within one year, 2-4 years, and 5 or more years, given industry, governmental 
and political constraints.
• Conduct a consensus process to identify preferred options.
• Provide detailed organizational, managerial and regulatory system design 
together with detailed route/service designation/planning and specification of 
bus system service standards and criteria for operator selection including 
transition arrangements.
•For any franchising proposal, designate franchise packages.
• Identify any legislative actions required for implementation.
• Designate an implementation plan and schedule.
• Provide Client  training in key technical/software and managerial procedures.
• Maintain a presence in Dhaka to oversee initial stages of implementation for 
the short term reforms as designated by the consensus process.
In connection with bus route structure redesign consultants will:
• Develop an information system for use on this assignment and for future 
client use.
• Collect any required new data and conduct needed forecasting.
• Recommend strategies for reform of bus flow/stop/terminal arrangements.
• Recommend traffic management and bus priority measures.
• Recommend a basis for calculating fares and an integrated fare structure, and 
supply software for fare assignment.
• Recommend strategies for fleet
replacement.
• Undertake a simplified environmental and social assessment in compliance with 
the Environmental and Social Management Framework developed for the case 
project.

4. Qualification/ Selection Criteria
The project director now invites consulting firms to express their interest in 
providing the above services.
The eois will be reviewed on the following basis to prepare a shortlist:
•	 Registration of the firm
•	 Availability of appropriate skills among staff
•	 Demonstrated capacity to handle such assignments in terms of resources
•	 Experience in similar tasks

5. Associations
  Applicants may associate to enhance their qualifications but should clearly/
explicitly mention whether the association is in the form of a “Joint Venture” 
or “Sub-
consultancy.” In the case of a “Joint Venture,” all members must have real and 
well defined inputs to the assignment, and it is preferable to limit the total 
number of firms including associates to a maximum of 3 (three).

6. Selection Procedures
The consulting firm will be selected in accordance with procedures set out in 
the World Bank’s guidelines, Selection and Employment of Consultants by World 
Bank Borrowers May 2004, Revised October 2006.
A maximum of six firms will be initially shortlisted according to evidence of 
their understanding of the tasks to be performed and capacity to perform them 
in terms of appropriate expertise and experience along with a demonstrated 
ability to apply creativity to address complex problems in the Dhaka local 
context.

7. Commencement of Service
It is expected that the service will commence in October 2010 at Dhaka, 
Bangladesh.

8. Further Information
Further details and instructions should be obtained from http://www.dtcb.gov.bd 
or by email to the project director from whom background documents are also 
available.

9. Submission Due Date
Expressions of Interest (eoi) for the above study must be delivered to the 
address below by 26 May 2010 at 5 pm. The envelopes must be clearly marked “eoi 
for Bus Network/Regulatory Reform in Dhaka.”

10. Right to Select/Reject
The procuring entity reserves the right to accept or reject all eois.
Project Director, piu, dtcb, Clean Air and Sustainable Environment (case) 
Project,
Dhaka Transport Coordination Board (dtcb),
13/14th Floor, Nagar Bhaban, Dhaka-1000 Bangladesh.
Telephone: +8802-9569262
Fax:            +8802-9568892
Email:          rahman2005 at gmail.com


-----
Jonathan Richmond
Public Transport Advisor
Dhaka Transport Coordination Board
Ministry of Communications
Government of Bangladesh
Nagar Bhaban, 13-14th Floor
Dhaka-1000
Bangladesh

Phone: +880 (0)1714 179013
Fax:   +880 (0)2 956-8892

e-mail: richmond at alum.mit.edu
http://the-tech.mit.edu/~richmond/