Early Market Engagement is a common business term used to describe organized interactions between an employer and prospective contractors, outside of the actual bidding process. In World Bank financed projects, it relates to the Borrower’s approach for discussing their requirements with contractors in each market and encouraging their participation, before bidding documents have been published and a formal process commences.
| Title: Early Market Engagement for Rehabilitation and strengthening of the electricity distribution networks in Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Yap |
| Sector: Energy |
| Country: Federated State of Micronesia |
| Project Name: Access and Renewable Increase for Sustainable Energy Project (ARISE) – P181253 |
| Email: arise@rd.gov.fm; anurag.raizada@tetratech.com |
Government of the Federated States of Micronesia, represented by the Department of Resources and Development (DoR&D) has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Access and Renewable Increase for Sustainable Energy Project (ARISE) P181253, and intends to apply part of the proceeds toward payments under the contract for Rehabilitating and Strengthening the electricity distribution network in Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Yap.
The Department of Resources and Development (DoR&D) invites you to participate in an Early Market Engagement (EME) session for our upcoming procurement package for Rehabilitation and strengthening of the electricity distribution networks in Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Yap. This session is designed to collaborate and gather your valuable insight, input and feedback for best outcome of the bidding process as we are now developing our procurement approach and bidding documents.
Brief description of works across the three utilities is as below.
| Pohnpei Grid Upgrade (Estimated Budget: USD 5.40 Million) Rehabilitation and strengthening of the Pohnpei electricity distribution network, including automation, protection, resilience improvements, SCADA integration, fibre optic communication, switch replacement, feeder protection, reclosers, pole and line replacement, and conductor upgrades. |
| Kosrae Grid Rehabilitation (Estimated Budget: USD 1.91 Million)Rehabilitation and strengthening of the Kosrae distribution network, including relocation of poles in shoreline erosion areas, replacement of deteriorated poles and accessories, line upgrades, and protection system improvements. |
| Yap Grid Resilience (Estimated Budget: USD 6.70 Million)Construction of underground distribution feeders and associated network works in Yap main island to improve supply reliability for critical facilities, including substation extension, fibre optic communication, switching and recloser equipment, pad-mounted transformers/switchgear, trenching, and road restoration works. |
- Objectives of the Early Market Engagement
- To enhance the diversity of the market and encourage potential contractors to participate in the procurement process.
- Assess overall market experience, capacity, and willingness to participate either individual or as joint ventures
- Receive feedback on the procurement approach including any suggestion on evaluation criteria and qualification requirements.
- Approaches of Early Market Engagement
The EME will be conducted via a webinar and a survey questionnaire. Responses will be kept confidential, used only to inform procurement planning, and anonymised in the Market Engagement Summary Report.
| Date of Webinar | July 07th, 2026 |
| Time of Webinar | Pohnpei Time (PONT, UTC+11) 14:00 – 15:00 |
| Webinar Registration Link | Webinar registration |
| Google link details for survey questionnaire. | Market Outreach survey questionnaire: DoRD (FSM) |
| Last date for receiving responses | July 10th, 2026. |
- Timeline for Procurement Process
| Estimated date of publication for Bid Invitation on Employer &World Bank website | August ’2026 |
| Deadline for bid submission | Minimum of 30 business days after publication |
| Intended Contract Award | Fourth Quarter of 2026 |
| Works Commencement Date | First quarter of 2027 |
