Development of Rural Roads Maintenance Strategy — Improved Rural Connectivity Project

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (REOI)

IMPROVED RURAL CONNECTIVITY PROJECT (IRCP)

Project ID No. P159330

Credit No: IDA V0570001

TENDER FOR THE CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A RURAL ROADS MAINTENANCE STRATEGY AND AUGMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL ROAD MAINTENANCE STRATEGY - TECHNICAL ADVISOR

Reference No. ZM-RDA-527589-CS-INDV

The Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) through the Road Development Agency (RDA) (hereinafter called” Borrower”) has received financing from the International Development Association (IDA) in the form of a “loan” (hereinafter called “loan” towards the cost of Consultancy Services for the Development of a Rural Roads Maintenance Strategy and Augmentation of the National Road Maintenance Strategy. The RDA (Implementing Agency) intends to apply a portion of the proceeds of this loan to eligible payments under the contract for which this REOI is issued. Payments by the Bank will be made only at the request of the National Road Fund Agency (NRFA) and upon approval by the Bank, and will be subject, in all respects, to the terms and conditions of the Financing Agreement for the IRCP. The Financing Agreement prohibits a withdrawal from the credit account for the purpose of any payment to persons or entities, or for any import of goods, if such payment or import, to the knowledge of the Bank, is prohibited by a decision of the United Nations Security Council taken under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. No party other than the Borrower shall derive any rights from the financing agreement or have any claims to the proceeds of the loan.

The RDA as the implementing agency now invites eligible Individual Consultants (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the required Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.

The overall objective of the services is to develop a Rural Road Maintenance Strategy to augment the National Road Maintenance Strategy into one road maintenance strategy for the entire road sector - the Road Maintenance Strategy (2027-2037).

The specific objectives of this assignment will be to:

• Support the RDA to carry out a comprehensive review of the RMS (2015 – 2024), update the strategy to cover the period 2027 – 2037 with a corresponding implementation strategy with particular emphasis to the maintenance of rural roads and Capacity Building of the road maintenance staff and small-scale contractors on the planning and implementation of road maintenance processes and activities.

• To comprehensively assess the adequacy and appropriateness of the Road Maintenance Strategy (2015 – 2024) and its implementation and hence develop lessons learnt;

• To structure the RMS (2027 – 2037) by augmenting and updating the RMS (2015 – 2024) and develop a RMS for rural roads, taking into consideration the lessons learnt and the necessary improvements in order to enhance planning and effectiveness of road maintenance implementation activities;

• To develop a maintenance Implementation Plan and performance monitoring system of road maintenance in line with the RMS (2027 – 2037);

• To build capacity for the RDA and MLGRD and LRAs, key stakeholders and small-scale Contractors by conducting training on the provisions of the RMS (2027 – 2037) along with the Implementation Strategy and the use of the Zambian Road Maintenance Manuals (ZRMM).

The general scope of services under the contract for the Technical Advisor will be to review the 2015 -2024 RMS and develop and incorporate the RMS for roads for a ten (10) year period from 2027 – 2037 (See the TORs for the detailed Scope of Services).

The total time available/allocated for this assignment is six (6) calendar months.

• The selection criteria required to demonstrate qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services for the Highway Engineer to be engaged include the following as a minimum (i) Qualifications and skills - A qualified Engineer with a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil/Highway Engineering and a Master’s Degree in Civil/Highway Engineering or a related field; (ii) General Professional Experience - A minimum of 10 years relevant experience in Road Maintenance Management with at least 7 years in a senior management position of which over 5 years’ experience was in Africa; and (iii) Specific Professional Experience - Fully conversant with formulation of long-term strategic road maintenance and implementation plans and development of Road Maintenance Manuals. The experience should include:

• At least 10 years’ experience in road maintenance and management;

• Worked as Team Leader on at least 5 major projects involving road maintenance activities;

• Previous experience developing Road Maintenance Strategies and Road Maintenance Manuals with proven experience;

• Previous experience of training staff will be an added advantage.

• He/she shall be a member of a professional body such as the Engineering Institution of Zambia (E.I.Z) and registered to practice by an appropriate body such as the Engineers Registration Board (E.R.B).

Attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Paragraphs 3.14, 3.16 & 3.17 of the World Bank Procurement Regulations for Investment Project Financing (IPF) for Borrowers for Goods, Works, Non­ Consultant Services and Consulting Services - July 2016 (revised November 2017 and August 2018) setting forth the World Bank’s Policy on conflict of interest.

The Terms of Reference for this assignment are attached to this REOI and may also be requested for through the following email: [email protected] or [email protected] copy [email protected]. Further information can be obtained at the address below from 09:00 hours to 12:00 hours and from 14:30 to 16:30 hours local time (Zambia) on business days.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in writing to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by e-mail) by Friday, April 24, 2026 to the following address:

The Director and Chief Executive Officer

Road Development Agency

Corner of Government/Fairley Roads, Plot 33

P.O. Box 50003, Lusaka, Zambia

Telephone: 260-1-253088/254838/253801

Fax: 260-1-253404/251420

Electronic mail address: [email protected] or [email protected] copy [email protected]

Silas Simweleba

Chief Procurement Manager

For/Director and Chief Executive Officer

Date of First Issue: Friday, April 10, 2026

Copy: Acting Director and CEO - RDA