Malawi’s Northern Region Water Board (NRWB) is inviting eligible consulting firms to indicate their interest in undertaking the participation of detailed designs and rendering construction supervision for the Nkhata Bay town water supply and sanitation project.

Two Phases The Malawi government will finance the project using the proceeds of loans obtained from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries Fund for International Development.

NRWB infrastructure services director Catherine Mwafulirwa says the project will be implemented in two phases, with the first entailing the preparation of detailed designs and tender documents, as well as providing tendering phase assistance for contractors. Phase 2 will involve construction supervision of the water supply works contract and the sanitation contract.

The duration of Phase 1 and Phase 2 will be 12 months and 30 months respectively, and an overall period of 80 person months is estimated for the assignment.

The works for which the consulting firm shall prepare detailed designs and thereafter undertake construction supervision will include the installation of raw water pipelines, pressure filters, a chlorine-dosing system, transmission and distribution pipelines, and the construction of service reservoirs, faecal sludge treatment plants, solid waste management facilities, public sanitation facilities and auxiliary buildings.

Appropriate Skills

Mwafulirwa says: “Interested consulting firms must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services, including brochures, descriptions of similar assignments previously undertaken, experience in similar conditions and availability of appropriate skills among staff.

“Eligibility criteria, establishment of the shortlist and the selection procedure shall be in accordance with the AfDB’s procurement policy for AfDBunded operations.”

The deadline for submitting expressions of interest is August 17.

Meanwhile, under the same project, the water board is inviting expressions of interest for the preparation of a hygiene and investment plan for Nkhata Bay.

The selected consulting firm will, among other activities, undertake a baseline study on the water supply, sanitation, hygiene, solid waste, sludge and drainage situation in the area, undertake an institutional analysis to clarify the roles and responsibilities of all concerned with the delivery of sanitation services, constraints in delivering services, and specify the constraints of those in charge.

The firm will also recommend and develop options for collection, treatment and disposal of on-site and sewered wastewater, undertake environmental- and social-impact screening, identify the overall sanitation requirements for Nkhata Bay, prepare cost estimates for the implementation of each of the identified options, and rank and select the best alternative.

The deadline for submission of expressions of interest is August 17.