Request for Expression of Interest (EOI): Provision of Village Liaison Officers (VLO) Services for Field Operations tender at East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP)

Reference No. REQ-00001193

East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Limited (COMPANY) invites experienced and reputable companies or organizations to express their interest in the Provision of Village Liaison Officers (VLOs) Services for Field Operations.

The EACOP Project involves the construction and operation of an underground buried, cross-border pipeline to transport crude oil from Lake Albert area in Uganda to eastern coast of Tanzania for export to international markets. The pipeline will run from Kabale, Homa District in Uganda to the Chengoleani peninsula in Tanga, Tanzania. The length of the pipeline is 1,443 km, of which 296 km will be in Uganda and 1,147 km in Tanzania. In Uganda the pipeline will traverse ten (10) districts including Hoima, Kikwabe, Kakumiro, Kyankwazi, Mubende, Gomba, Sembabule, Lwengo, Rokoti and Kyetera crossing a total 173 villages. In Tanzania, the PPL covers eight (8) regions comprising of Kagera, Geito, Shinyanga, Tabora, Singida, Dodoma, Manyara and Tanga, 27 administrative District Councils, and 231 villages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SCOPE OF THE SERVICES

EACOP Limited invites experienced and qualified Ugandan Companies to express their interest in providing recruitment and management services for the following (30) Village Liaison Officers (VLOs) for Field Operations during the Operations Phase of the EACOP Project. The services will cover the entire pipeline route and associated facilities within the Uganda section.

SPECIFICATIONS

Specifically, the successful supplier will be required to deliver the services in a manner consistent with applicable National labour laws, EACOP requirements, and internationally recognised environmental, social and labour standards, including relevant principles of the IFC Performance Standards and the World Bank Environmental and Social Framework. The supplier shall:

• Recruit VLOs through a transparent, fair, inclusive, and nondiscriminatory process.
• Manage VLO onboarding, including due diligence and background checks, while respecting privacy, confidentiality, and equal opportunity.
• Coordinate with EACOP to provide induction, training, and capacity building on VLO roles, community engagement, conduct, grievances, health and safety, and environmental and social commitments.
• Support VLO administrative requirements, including bank account opening and employment formalities for timely, lawful remuneration.
• Prepare and manage VLO employment contracts and records in line with labour laws, contractual requirements, and fair employment terms.
• Implement structured VLO performance management, including supervision, feedback, documentation, and corrective support where needed.
• Provide VLOs with logistical, administrative, and operational support, including tools, communication, transport, and safety requirements as needed.
• Demobilise VLOs responsibly and orderly, ensuring compliance with contractual, legal, HR, and social performance requirements, including timely settlement of employment obligations.

EOI SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Interested Ugandan Companies or Organizations are invited to express interest and submit evidence meeting the minimum requirements:

• Company Profile including organization structure and contact details.
• Legal entity with proof of Certificate of Registration or Incorporation and Ownership details including Beneficial Owners Particulars (URSB Form 1) and Appointment of Directors (URSB Form 2.0). (attach copies).
• Proof of registration with the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and Tax Clearance Certificate for the latest year.
• Compliance statement to meeting the Local Content Regulations 2016 and local Company definition.
• Proof of up-to-date Registration with the National Supplier Database (NSD) maintained by the Petroleum Authority of Uganda.
• Brief description of experience and expertise in delivering the required scope of services in compliance with national and international standards.
• Demonstrated manpower management capacity with evidence copy of company Human Resources and Administration Policy.
• Evidence of Anti-corruption, Anti-bribery, Compliance, and Human Rights policies.
• Evidence of a Quality Health, Safety, and Environment (QHSE) Management system, organization, and process in compliance with applicable Local and Industry standards.
• Bank confirmation letter of financial capacity including submission of audited financial accounts for the past three years.
• Any joint venture/partnership arrangements are encouraged.

Companies, joint ventures or organizations which have the ability, capacity, and resources to supply the services listed above should express their interest by sending an Expression of Interest (EOI) via email, together with the above listed documents through an email to procurement.ugeacop.com (max. email size 20MB) on or before 17:00 hours East African Time (EAT) on 4th September 2026. Email subject should be: REQ-00001193 Supply of VLO Services for Field Operations.

Statements of EOI should be no more than twenty (20) pages long. All Expression of Interests should be submitted in the English language.

NOTE: EACOP LTD will review and assess the documents provided by companies, organizations or joint ventures that have expressed interest in accordance with this EOI, and conduct evaluations based on internal criteria to determine which companies, organizations or local joint ventures will be included in the list of prequalified companies, organizations or local joint ventures. Only the pre-qualified companies, organizations or local joint ventures will, after signing a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), receive an invitation to bid as a continuation of the call for tender process. EACOP LTD reserves the right at its sole discretion to make the decision to select or reject a company, organization or local joint venture and maintain its decision without having to give reasons to the company, organization or local joint venture concerned.