(EOI) FOR HIRING A LAW FIRM OR INDIVIDUAL LAWYER TO PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN THE LISTED AREAS OF INTERVENTION UNDER THE SCOPE OF SERVICES

The Development Bank of Rwanda Plc “BRD”, a Public Company Limited by Shares, with a share capital of RWF 150,000,000,000, incorporated on August 5, 1967, company code N° 100003547, it’s head office at Kigali, Postal Office Box 1341 Kigali.

Tender No: 007/05/2022/BRD/HC&CS/CS

Assignment Title: REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) FOR HIRING A LAW FIRM OR INDIVIDUAL LAWYER TO PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE IN THE LISTED AREAS OF INTERVENTION UNDER THE SCOPE OF SERVICES

1. Background:

The Development Bank of Rwanda (“The Bank”) continues to venture into areas of business that are strategic for the country’s economic growth. The areas of intervention include but are not limited to energy, agriculture, housing, exports, education, housing, and special projects.  Undoubtedly, these business sectors come with legal questions that the Bank is always keen to resolve.

Given the expansive nature of the areas of intervention and the importance of providing efficient service, the Bank finds it prudent to hire services of legal experts to close this gap.

The legal experts would not only provide legal solutions to the Bank but would also provide capacity building to the Legal Department team of the Bank

In this regard, the Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) requests interested and potential law firms or individual lawyers to submit offers for the above-mentioned services according to the terms of reference detailed in the Request for Proposal.

1. The objective of the assignment:

Given the above context that the Bank would like to invite offers from experienced law firms or individual lawyers, (the bidder can be either a firm or an individual) to provide legal assistance in the listed areas of intervention under the Scope of Services.

1. Scope of Work

The services to be provided by the bidder include but are not limited to the following:

1. Provide legal advice and support in the following sectors:
2. Legal Operations of Development Banks
3. Finance and Banking
4. Land and property matters
5. Taxation
6. Labor law
7. Energy
8. Agriculture
9. Infrastructure
10. Manufacturing
11. Corporate governance and Company Law
12. Contract Law
13. Intellectual property
14. Environmental law

NB: The Bidder may submit a bid for areas not listed above as long as the bidder is able to explain how it aligns with the interests of a Bank.

1. Drafting of legal agreements in English or French and Kinyarwanda. It is not a prerequisite to master all three languages. Bidder need only demonstrate their expertise in the chosen language.
2. Review of the Bank’s policies to ensure alignment with local laws.
3. Providing legal opinions on areas of interest to the Bank including periodic legal updates on new laws.
4. Providing Capacity training to the Legal Team as required.
5. Represent and assist the bank before courts of law in Rwanda and in Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) proceedings in the areas of intervention listed in 1.
6. Duration of the contract

This service will be provided under a framework contract whose duration will be agreed upon on awarding of the contract.

1. Years of experience of the bidder

Bidders must comply with the following:

1. If the bidder is an entity (law firm), a minimum of 5 to 10 years of working experience in the chosen area under the scope of services is required. However, the law firm should ensure that it has lawyers with at least 5 to 10 years of working experience in the chosen area under the scope of services. Please note that more weight will be given to the profile of the individual Lawyers regardless of the experience of the law firm.
2. If the bidder is an individual lawyer (meaning they opt not to bid as a law firm), he or she should have at least 5 to 10 years of experience working in the area under the scope of services.

6.  Other requirements

Bidders shall submit the following documentation in the bid document:

1. Cover Letter addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of BRD clearly indicating the scope of services that the bidder is bidding for and clarity on whether the bidder is an entity or individual. It is not a requirement to bid for all services.
2. Valid tax clearance certificate.
3. Certificate of Company Incorporation if the bidder is an entity.
4. Lawyers Card or Individual annual license if the bidder is an individual.
5. At least three (3) letters of recommendation certifying the successful completion of services the bidder is interested in.
6. Detailed profile of the bidder(s).

7.  Selection process 

The law firm or individual lawyer will be selected using the selection based on Quality Based Selection. Set out in the procurement policy. The bidders will be required to present their proposals to a panel set by BRD

All Interested Consultants are invited to download the full Terms of Reference and template to be filled on https://www.brd.rw/brd/procurement-tender/. Further information can be submitted at the following email addresses: procurement@brd.rw and copied to the brd@brd.rw during office hours (8:00 am to 6:00 pm).

The expression of interest must be delivered in written form addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of Development Bank of Rwanda at the following address: procurement@brd.rw and copied to the brd@brd.rw no later than 27/ 05/2022 at 5:00 pm Kigali time (GMT +2).

Sincerely,

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