Deadline: 23-May-2023
Research Triangle Institute International, LLC (RTII) invites (through an open and locally advertised competitive process) proposals from qualified Zambia-licensed and legally organized civil engineering firms with expertise and demonstrated experience to provide oversight of design and construction involving extension/upgrade of water supply systems, and rehabilitation of small solar and gravity water schemes, rural borehole rehabilitation, new borehole siting, water quality analysis, drilling and construction of toilets.
These works will be performed in peri-urban, rural growth centers, and rural areas of Muchinga, Northern, Western and Southern Provinces in 12 selected districts namely Chinsali, Nakonde, Mpika, Lunte, Mungwi, Kazungula, Kalomo, Nalolo, Kalabo, Mongu, Kaoma and Sesheke.
The purpose of the USAID Expanding Water and Sanitation Project (USAID Expanding WASH) is to professionalize water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services, to promote accountability for reliable and high-quality WASH services, and to enhance the enabling environment for private sector engagement (PSE) in service delivery in Zambia. This project will incorporate a series of interventions that support and strengthen sector governance and enhance public-private partnerships for improved WASH service delivery in a manner that:
- institutionalizes marketbased WASH service delivery through financially sustainable and inclusive management models;
- increases accountability of WASH service providers, policymakers, and civic leaders; and
- increases private sector participation.
These interventions together will provide increased access to safe water, improved sanitation, and enhance the capacity of Zambian government, private sector, and civil society organizations
Objectives
- The overall objective of the assignment is to oversee the design, construction, and handover of water supply and sanitation facilities in 12 selected districts covering four provinces, including Northern/Muchinga, Western and Southern.
- The following is an illustrative description of the types of proposed infrastructure that will be covered under the construction component of the project. The total number of each infrastructure will be determined during the project site selection process.
- New borehole siting, drilling, development, pumping test, water quality testing, civil works and installation of new hand-pumps.
- Rehabilitation of existing boreholes, including development, pumping test, water quality testing, civil works and installation of new hand-pumps.
- Extension and rehabilitation of distribution networks, as well as borehole siting, drilling, development, tank and distribution network installation, water quality testing, pumping test, installation of submersible pumps, and gravity/solar systems installations. The extensions and distributions systems will supply water to kiosks or individual house connections and may be connected to innovative surface water compact filtration systems in some districts.
- Construction of sewer networks, VIP Latrines and/or water borne toilets in schools, clinics, public spaces, and other specified locations.
- All design and oversight activities will be executed in adherence to the approved Construction Implementation Plan (CIP).
Logistics and Coordination
- The Local Engineering Support Firm is expected to manage the following logistical and travel components. Note that both technical and cost proposal should factor expected and estimated costs associated to logistics, administration, and travel, including but not limited to:
- Travel costs (lodging, meals, incidental and ground transportation where applicable when traveling away from designated post).
- Any cost associated to the supervision of construction site, which are in remote areas in Zambia.
- Cost of Reports and Production of contract deliverables
- The Prime will provide the following services:
- With a signed Non-Disclosure Agreement, the Prime will make available all relevant documentation, previous reports, maps, and Construction Implementation Plan.
- Make all necessary arrangements for facilitating the work of the Local Engineering Support Firm and facilitate access to government authorities and other sector entities as needed.
- Workspace for CSE at the Lusaka Headquarter, fully commissioned with desk, chair, laptop computer, and cellphone.
- Workspace for the Field Engineers at the USAID Expanding WASH provincial offices, fully commissioned with desk, chair, laptop and cellphone.
Tasks and Responsibilities for the Local Engineering Support Firm
- Phase 1: Pre-Design and Site Selection July 2023 – September 2023
- Site Selection Process: the CSE shall, under the supervision of the Service Delivery Lead, determine the viability of each proposed construction site based on the applications from the CUs, LAs, and other stakeholders, using the project’s weighted criteria that includes factors such as community need, operations and maintenance capacity, land tenure, willingness to pay, potential for private investment, and constructability.
- Site Assessments: the CSE shall, under the supervision of Service Delivery Lead and supported by CUs, conduct follow-up site assessments that will include, where appropriate, hydrologic surveys, land tenure certification, and community surveys to ensure construction feasibility. At minimum each site will have a latitude and longitude, community point of contact, future operator and construction description tracked throughout the process.
- Scoping and Feasibility: After completing the scoring process of the infrastructure applications, high-scoring projects will be assessed for feasibility. The CSE will provide a scoping/feasibility analysis based on the construction cost guide. that identifies which infrastructure activities will move forward and at which sites. As part of this exercise, the CSE will develop a design and oversight general scope of work and independent cost estimate.
- Phase 2: Design (September 2023 – March 2024)
- Design & Oversight identification, pre-qualification, and procurement: the CSE shall, under the supervision of Service Delivery Lead and Construction Fund Manager, support the identification, pre-qualification and procurement of qualified A&E firms in Zambia to undertake the design and oversight of construction activities in the three implementing regions.
- Design Review: The CSE will lead a design review to identify any design oversight and facilitate design reviews between CUs and LAs. The review would provide general quality check for completeness, suitability and inclusion of necessary requirements but would not take ownership of the design or check design calculations.
- Phase 3: Construction Procurement (March 2024 –May 2024)
- Construction Contractors Procurement: the CSE shall, under the supervision of Service Delivery Lead and Construction Fund Manager, support the identification and procurement of qualified construction contractors in Zambia to undertake the construction works the three implementing regions.
- Phase 4: Construction Implementation (May 2024 – October 2026)
- Carry out regular quality spot checks and support the supervision of the A&E Firm/s during the drilling of new boreholes, reconstruction/rehabilitation of existing boreholes, including development, pumping test, civil works and installation of new hand-pumps.
- Carry out regular quality spot checks and support the supervision of contractors by the A&E Firm/s in; drilling, development, pumping tests, installation of submersible pumps, water distribution network installation, and gravity/solar schemes installations.
- Oversee the supervision of contractors by the A&E Firm/s during construction of sewer networks, VIP Latrines and/or Water borne Toilets in schools, clinics, public spaces and specified locations.
- Oversee Knowledge and skills transfer to participating CUs and LAs that will take over operations and maintenance of constructed Infrastructure
- Support the CFM with change orders, differing conditions, and design changes through a request for information process. This includes but not limited to reviewing and confirming the RFI reposes, reviewing equitable adjustment/change requests and performing price negotiations.
- Support the CFM as necessary with validation of construction contractor invoices as milestone schedules are achieved.
- Phase 5: Handover (By October 2026)
- The handover process establishes a smooth transition from the construction contractors and the final owner, the CUs and rural communities with support from LAs, of each infrastructure component. The process includes the finalization and certification of completion of each infrastructure component, as well as tasks associated with operations and maintenance. Final Certification takes place after completion of the defects liability period.
Eligibility Criteria
- This Request for Proposal (RFP) is open to all registered civil engineering firms. Individual consultants will not be considered for this RFP. Applying firms should provide evidence of the required qualifications and relevant experience, including:
- Provide all required licenses, permits and statutory registrations certificates including but not limited to valid certificate of incorporation, Tax Clearance Certificate, VAT Registration Certificate.
- Provide registration and license from Engineering Institute of Zambia (EIZ) or other relevant professional engineers association, as well as registration certificate with the Association of Consulting Engineers of Zambia (ASCEZ),
- Evidence of being a well-established company have been in business 5 years or more.
- Evidence of current insurance policies, including Workers compensation, General ThirdParty Liability, Professional Liability, and Automobile Liability. Insurance coverage must be provided by reputable international carriers with preference of United States or United Kingdom underwriter or equivalent.
- The firm must be legally registered to do the work and experienced in overseeing the defining construction requirements, producing drawings and technical specifications, and preparing construction cost estimates for work that conforms with local legal requirements and standards as well as international building code standards.
- Demonstrated experience in overseeing the rehabilitation and designing of new boreholes and providing borehole drilling supervision for handpump boreholes, submersible pumps and construction of civil works.
- Demonstrated experience in overseeing the conducting geotechnical and topographical surveys, borehole siting geophysical surveys using electrical, resistivity, Vertical Electrical Soundings (VES), and remote sensing methods in a basement, metamorphic, alluvial /colluvium and sedimentary terrains with semi-consolidated and consolidated subsurface.
- Demonstrated experience in overseeing the conducting of water quality analysis for lead, arsenic, fluoride, nitrates, iron, turbidity, electrical conductivity, PH, fecal coliforms and residual chlorine.
- Demonstrated expertise in overseeing site evaluation/selection and design of borehole Locations using geophysical surveys using electrical, resistivity, Vertical Electrical Soundings (VES), and remote sensing methods.
- Demonstrated oversight of civil construction contracts involving concrete work, water reticulation, borehole design/siting projects and VIP Latrines and/or Water borne Toilets.
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