Consulting services for development of the climate resilient water supply and wastewater masterplan for Khatlon region and feasibility studies for prioritized sub-projects

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)

Republic of Tajikistan

Water Supply and Sanitation Investment Project (Phase 1)

Grant No.: E 0950-TJ

Assignment Title: Consulting services for development of the climate resilient water supply and wastewater masterplan for Khatlon region and feasibility studies for prioritized sub-projects.

Reference No. WSIP-MEWR-CS-QCBS-01

The Government of the Republic of Tajikistan has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Water Supply and Sanitation Investment Project (Phase 1), and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The project development objective (PDO) is to improve access to safely managed water supply services in selected districts; and to strengthen the capacity of institutions in the water supply and sanitation sector for improved service delivery. Project consists of four components implemented by the Ministry of Energy and Water of the Republic of Tajikistan (Component 1 and Component 3(i)) and the State Unitary Enterprise “Khojagii Manziliyu Communali” (SUE KMK) through the Municipal Infrastructure Development Project Management Unit (MIDP PMU) (Component 2 and Component 3 (ii).

The consulting services (“the Services”) include:

carrying out a comprehensive review and assessment of the existing situation in the Khatlon region with respect to water supply and wastewater/sanitation in the region;
developing a strategy for improving water supply and sanitation services, and analyzing and recommending alternative options and scenarios for efficient and effective service delivery;
developing and finalizing an integrated water and wastewater/sanitation master plan to meet demand for climate-resilient services in the year 2040; and
development of feasibility studies for 5 priority sub-projects to be selected in line with the agreed criteria

The Consultant will be tasked to develop a Master plan for providing reliable and safe drinking water supply and wastewater/sanitation services to the residents of the towns and districts (24) of Khatlon region, while taking into account both current and future climate conditions and ensuring climate resilient services. The Master plan will play a key role in planning and ensuring the sustainable and efficient functioning of water supply and sanitation systems.

All tasks described above will be carried out in close cooperation with key stakeholders. The key stakeholders will be identified, informed, and consulted as needed. The consultant will ensure that all survey and analyses are conducted in accordance with the requirements of this Terms of Reference (ToR), following international professional standards, and will ensure the high quality of the results.

The estimated level of effort (professional staff-months) is 60 men-months for key staff.

The implementation period is 20 months. The expected start date of assignment is November 20, 2025.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment are attached to this request for expressions of interest and can be found at the following link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hDaKrJC4SWnscFPpaTfB9dXO4-0_F7Uz/ed…;

The Water Supply and Sanitation Group under the Ministry of Energy and Water of the Republic of Tajikistan now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria are:

1. General experience: At least 10 years of proven experience in water supply and wastewater sector, including water systems planning, investments planning, feasibility studies, and master planning. Experience in Central Asia will be an advantage.

2. Specific experience: Proven experience in development of water supply and/or wastewater/sanitation master plans and water supply and wastewater feasibility studies demonstrated through at least (i) three (3) successfully completed assignments in the last seven (7) years involving preparation of integrated water supply and wastewater master plans and feasibility studies, preferably financed by multilateral development partners. Interested Consultants are required to include detailed description of assignments, including the scale, complexity and geographical relevance; and provide testimonials and references of their clients.

3. Technical and project management capacity: Availability of in-house professional capacity in key disciplines such as water and wastewater engineering, environmental assessment, hydraulic modeling, institutional analysis, and GIS. Interested consultants are required to submit as part of the EoI their organizational structure demonstrating firm’s core staff capacity.

Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage.

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” July 2016 2016 revised in September 2023 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. In addition, please refer to the following specific information on conflict of interest related to this assignment: a firm that has been engaged by the Borrower to provide Consulting Services for the preparation or implementation of a project (or an affiliate that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with that Consulting firm), shall be disqualified from subsequently providing Goods, Works, or Non-consulting Services resulting from, or directly related to those Consulting Services. This provision does not apply to the various firms (Consultants, contractors, or suppliers), which together are performing the contractor's obligations under a turnkey or design and build contract.

Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications, but should indicate clearly whether the association is in the form of a joint venture and/or a sub-consultancy. In the case of a joint venture, all the partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality-And-Cost Based Selection method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 09:00 to 17:00 hours (local time).

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by June 18, 2025 at 17:00hr (Dushanbe time).

Attn:

WSS Group of the MEWR

Republic of Tajikistan, Dushanbe,

5/1, Shamsi Street, Dushanbe city, Tajikistan, 734054

Fax: +992 (372) 236-03-04

E-mail: pmu.dw.mewr@gmail.com