Open Call: PPP Project Development Advisory for Priority Sectors (Pakistan)

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is seeking an experienced legally registered consulting firm to support the Punjab Public Private Partnership Authority (P4A) and relevant government departments in developing six bankable and investment-ready PPP projects in Punjab, Pakistan. The eight-month assignment covers technical feasibility, financial modelling, transaction documentation, SDG, gender and ESG assessments, and stakeholder coordination, with applicants required to demonstrate relevant PPP experience, financial capacity and strong technical expertise.

What Is the UNDP Punjab PPP Assignment?

The UNDP opportunity is designed to strengthen the capacity of the Punjab Public Private Partnership Authority (P4A) and participating line departments to prepare priority infrastructure and development projects for private-sector investment.

The selected consulting firm will provide integrated advisory services to help transform six priority projects into bankable, investment-ready Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects.

The assignment will combine:

Technical advisory.
Financial advisory.
Commercial advisory.
Transaction advisory.
Feasibility assessment.
Project structuring.
Stakeholder coordination.
Investment-readiness support.

The assignment will run for eight months from the date of contract issuance.

Why It Matters

Well-structured PPP projects can help governments mobilize private-sector financing and expertise for infrastructure and public services.

However, projects must be technically feasible, financially viable, commercially attractive and appropriately structured before they can successfully reach potential investors.

This assignment seeks to address those requirements by developing comprehensive project documentation and strengthening the capacity of P4A and government departments.

Key Objectives

The primary objective is to develop six priority PPP projects that are sufficiently robust for investment and transaction processes.

The selected firm will help P4A and relevant departments:

Assess project feasibility.
Identify technical and commercial requirements.
Develop detailed financial models.
Assess financial and investment viability.
Structure appropriate PPP arrangements.
Prepare transaction documents.
Identify and address project risks.
Engage potential stakeholders and financing partners.
Integrate sustainability considerations.
Prepare projects for investment and eventual transaction.

Scope of Work

The successful firm will provide a broad range of integrated professional services.

Technical Feasibility Studies

The firm will conduct technical assessments to determine whether the proposed PPP projects are technically feasible.

This may involve evaluating:

Project requirements.
Technical options.
Infrastructure needs.
Implementation considerations.
Operational requirements.
Technical risks.

The findings will contribute to the overall feasibility and investment-readiness assessment.

Financial Modelling

Detailed financial models will be prepared for the six projects.

Financial analysis should help stakeholders understand:

Project costs.
Revenue assumptions.
Financing requirements.
Cash flows.
Financial viability.
Investment requirements.
Potential risks and sensitivities.

The models should provide a credible basis for assessing the commercial attractiveness of each PPP project.

Transaction Documentation

The assignment also includes preparing important PPP transaction documents.

These include:

Information Memoranda
Draft concession agreements
Other relevant transaction documentation required to advance the projects.

These documents will help communicate project opportunities to potential investors and establish the framework for PPP transactions.

SDG, Gender and ESG Assessment

The projects must also be assessed using broader development and sustainability considerations.

The consultancy will incorporate:

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) considerations
Gender considerations
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) considerations

This approach is intended to ensure that the projects are not assessed solely on their financial and technical characteristics but also on their wider development impacts.

Stakeholder Engagement

The selected firm will coordinate with a range of stakeholders throughout the assignment.

Stakeholders may include:

Punjab government departments.
P4A.
Regulatory agencies.
Financial institutions.
Potential financiers.
Development partners.
Other relevant public and private-sector stakeholders.

Effective coordination will be important for validating project assumptions, resolving implementation issues and improving investment readiness.

Who Is Eligible?

The opportunity is open to legally registered firms with demonstrated experience in relevant PPP and financial advisory services.

Sole proprietors are not eligible.

Applicants must demonstrate experience in areas such as:

PPP consultancy.
Private-sector advisory.
Feasibility studies.
Financial modelling.
Transaction advisory.
Related infrastructure or investment advisory services.

Minimum Experience Requirements

Applicants must have:

At least four years of relevant professional experience.
At least three relevant contracts completed within the last four years.
A combined value of those contracts of at least PKR 15 million, stated in the opportunity as approximately USD 55,000.

Relevant contracts should demonstrate the firm’s ability to deliver assignments comparable to the proposed PPP advisory work.

Financial Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate adequate financial capacity.

The requirements include:

Valid tax registration.
Audited financial statements.
Average annual turnover of at least PKR 20 million, stated in the opportunity as approximately USD 80,000, over the last three years.
A current ratio of at least 1.0 for each of the last three years.

These requirements are intended to ensure that the selected firm has sufficient financial stability to undertake the assignment.

Required Company Documentation

Applicants should prepare a comprehensive submission demonstrating both technical capability and organizational capacity.

Required documentation includes:

Company profile.
Organizational structure.
CVs of key professionals.
Evidence of relevant contracts.
Client performance certificates.
Financial statements.
Tax registration documentation.
Declaration confirming no blacklisting or relevant litigation.
Other completed and signed annexes specified in the solicitation.

How to Apply

Applicants should carefully follow the UNDP submission procedure.

Step 1: Confirm Organizational Eligibility

Verify that the applicant is:

A legally registered firm.
Not a sole proprietorship.
Financially capable of undertaking the assignment.
Experienced in PPP, feasibility, financial or related advisory services.

Step 2: Document Relevant Experience

Compile evidence of at least three relevant contracts from the previous four years.

The evidence should demonstrate:

Client name.
Assignment scope.
Contract value.
Completion or implementation period.
Relevance to PPP advisory services.

Step 3: Prepare the Technical Proposal

The technical proposal should demonstrate how the firm will deliver the eight-month assignment.

It should address the proposed approach to:

Technical feasibility.
Financial modelling.
Commercial assessment.
PPP structuring.
Transaction documentation.
SDG, gender and ESG analysis.
Stakeholder engagement.
Project coordination.

Step 4: Prepare the Financial Proposal

Develop a separate financial proposal covering the firm’s proposed costs for delivering the assignment.

The financial submission should follow the format and requirements specified in the solicitation documents.

Step 5: Complete the Required Annexes

All required annexes should be completed, signed and included with the submission.

Applicants should check that organizational, financial and technical supporting documents are consistent across the application.

Step 6: Submit Through UNDP Quantum

The technical proposal and financial proposal must be submitted as separate PDF files through the UNDP Quantum system.

Applicants should ensure that all required supporting documents and signed annexes are uploaded according to the submission instructions.

Important Selection Considerations

A strong proposal should demonstrate a combination of:

Proven PPP advisory experience.
Strong technical feasibility expertise.
Advanced financial modelling capabilities.
Understanding of PPP transaction structures.
Ability to prepare investor-oriented documentation.
Strong stakeholder management.
Experienced key personnel.
Financial stability.
Understanding of SDG, gender and ESG considerations.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

Applying as an ineligible sole proprietor.
Providing fewer than three relevant contracts.
Submitting contracts that do not demonstrate relevant experience.
Failing to meet the four-year experience requirement.
Providing financial statements that do not establish the required turnover.
Failing to demonstrate a current ratio of at least 1.0 for each required year.
Combining the technical and financial proposals into one PDF when separate files are required.
Omitting signed annexes.
Providing incomplete CVs for key professionals.
Failing to provide client performance certificates.
Making unsupported claims about PPP or investment advisory experience.

UNDP Punjab PPP Opportunity at a Glance

Organization: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Location: Punjab, Pakistan
Beneficiaries/Counterparts: P4A and relevant Punjab government departments
Assignment: Development of six bankable and investment-ready PPP projects
Duration: 8 months
Applicant type: Legally registered firms
Sole proprietors: Not eligible
Minimum relevant experience: 4 years
Relevant contracts: At least 3 in the previous 4 years
Minimum combined contract value: PKR 15 million
Minimum average annual turnover: PKR 20 million over the previous 3 years
Current ratio: At least 1.0 in each of the previous 3 years
Core services: Technical, financial, commercial and transaction advisory
Key outputs: Feasibility studies, financial models, Information Memoranda and draft concession agreements
Cross-cutting assessments: SDGs, gender and ESG
Submission platform: UNDP Quantum
Proposal format: Separate technical and financial PDF files

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of the UNDP Punjab PPP opportunity?

The assignment aims to help P4A and relevant government departments develop six priority PPP projects into technically feasible, financially sound and investment-ready projects.

How many PPP projects will the selected firm support?

The selected firm will provide advisory support for six priority PPP projects in Punjab, Pakistan.

How long is the assignment?

The expected duration is eight months from the date the contract is issued.

What expertise must applicants have?

Applicants should have relevant experience in PPP consultancy, private-sector advisory, feasibility studies, financial modelling, transaction advisory or closely related fields.

What is the minimum financial capacity required?

Applicants must demonstrate an average annual turnover of at least PKR 20 million over the last three years and a current ratio of at least 1.0 for each of those years.

How many relevant contracts are required?

Applicants must demonstrate at least three relevant contracts during the last four years, with a combined value of at least PKR 15 million.

How must proposals be submitted?

Technical and financial proposals must be prepared as separate PDF files and submitted through the UNDP Quantum system, together with the required signed annexes and supporting documentation.

Conclusion

The UNDP Punjab PPP advisory opportunity is aimed at firms with substantial expertise in PPP project development, feasibility assessment, financial modelling and transaction advisory. The successful firm will play a central role in transforming six priority projects into bankable and investment-ready opportunities while strengthening P4A’s institutional capacity.

Firms considering this opportunity should focus on demonstrating comparable PPP experience, strong financial and technical credentials, qualified professionals, and a practical methodology for delivering high-quality feasibility studies and transaction documentation within the eight-month implementation period.