Feasibility Studies and Preparation of Bidding Documents for Irrigated Agriculture — National Authorising Office of the European Development Fund, …

REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA

MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND NATIONAL PLANNING

NATIONAL AUTHORISING OFFICE OF THE EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENT FUND

Request for Expressions of Interest

Position: Consultancy Services for Conducting of Feasibility Studies, Preparation of Detailed Designs, Environmental and Social Instruments, Bidding and Tender Documents for the proposed Irrigated and Sustainable Agriculture for Transformation (ISAT) Project

(Local and International Consulting Firms (Quality and Cost-Based Selection))

Project: Irrigated and Sustainable Agriculture for Transformation (ISAT) Project Preparation Grant

The Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) has requested support from the World Bank through a Project Preparation Grant (PPG) to advance the preparation of the Irrigated and Sustainable Agriculture for Transformation (ISAT) Project. The PPG is intended to support the identification, technical assessment, and preparation of priority irrigation schemes that can be taken forward under the full ISAT operation.

There are different types of irrigation investments and scheme models in Zambia: large-scale public schemes; community-based schemes; farmer-led irrigation development (FLID); and corporate irrigation enterprises sometimes in partnership with the other types. The Irrigation Development Support Project (IDSP) is an example where the government has established large public irrigation schemes serving both large commercial and smallholder farmers, which were planned to be run by private operators. IDSP aimed to increase the area under irrigation in the country. In addition, IDSP supported the rehabilitation of ten dams.

Existing irrigation infrastructures are uneven in quality and performance, and many schemes face challenges related to design adequacy, operation and maintenance arrangements, access to reliable water sources, and linkages to markets. These constraints limit productivity, resilience to climate variability, and the economic viability of irrigated agriculture.

The ISAT Project is designed to address these constraints by supporting both the development of new irrigation schemes and the rehabilitation and modernization of existing ones, combined with complementary investments in farmer capacity, irrigation management, and value chain linkages. The Preparation Grant focuses specifically on generating the technical, economic, environmental, and institutional evidence required to inform these investments.

Objectives of the Assignment

The main objective of the assignment is to conduct Irrigation Feasibility Studies, Environmental and Social Instruments, prepare detailed designs bidding and Tender documents for the establishment of new and modernized irrigation schemes under the proposed ISAT Project.

Scope of Services and Tasks

The consulting Firm will conduct the following key tasks to achieve the assignment outcomes:

Task 1 – Feasibility studies and detailed designs for 11 new irrigation schemes

Task 1 will require the consultant to conduct feasibility studies and detailed designs, including the institutional and organizational arrangements for operations and maintenance, of 11 new irrigation schemes in close consultation with all stakeholders. Up to ten of these schemes will be supplied by water from 10 dams that were rehabilitated under the Irrigation Development Support Project (IDSP) and the 11th scheme will be located at the Nanga Irrigation Research Station, drawing water directly from the Kafue River.

The feasibility studies will ascertain the technical soundness, financial feasibility (profitability and cost benefit assessment at the farm level), the economic viability (at the national level), the social and environmental sustainability, and define possible organizational arrangements for Operations, Management, and Maintenance (OMM).

Task 2 – Feasibility studies and detailed design for modernization of 21 existing community managed (COBSI) schemes

Feasibility Study of modernization options: The Community Based Smallholder Irrigation (COBSI) schemes are small and simple gravity irrigation systems where technical design and organizational development support was provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the district engineering teams. The COBSI schemes are characterized by simple diversion weirs, earthen canals and basic flow control and regulation structures, managed by volunteer community farmer organizations.

Task 3 – Feasibility study and detailed design for expansion of existing Manyonyo (Sugar cane) Irrigation scheme.

In Manyonyo the earlier feasibility studies were done more than 20 years ago, and both the data and the resulting reports are now outdated. The documentation is also not readily accessible, limiting its usefulness for current planning and investment decisions. Given the significant time lapse, changes in site conditions, evolving technical standards and updated environmental and social requirements, the existing studies can no longer be relied upon for design or procurement purposes.

Therefore, there is a clear need to undertake fresh feasibility studies, including updated technical, environmental, social, financial, and economic assessments. These studies will form the basis for comprehensive detailed engineering designs, culminating in tender-ready bidding documents that meet current national and international standards.

Task 4 – Feasibility study and detailed design for expansion of existing Magobo (Sugar Cane) Irrigation scheme.

The key tasks include undertaking detailed feasibility studies for 450-ha expansion of the Magobo Irrigation Scheme managed under the Magobo Trust, in order to determine the technical, economic, environmental, and social viability of migrating from furrow irrigation to modern pressurized systems (drip, sprinkler or center pivot). The feasibility studies will also generate the necessary inputs for detailed engineering designs and tender-ready bidding documents that comply with national and international standards. Specifically, the following tasks are expected to be undertaken:

Task 5 – Asset Registers, Operational and Maintenance Plans, and Estimated OPEX Costs and Irrigation Service Fees for all schemes

Asset register and layout plan: A simple infrastructure asset register will be generated in EXCEL format and will be referenced to a user-friendly layout plan (prepared in both hardcopy and in Google Earth KMZ format).

The operational and Maintenance plan will define the daily, weekly, and monthly operational activities for the duration of each irrigation season, including which party will be responsible for each operational action, how it will be monitored, and recorded, among others. Maintenance activities will also be clearly spelled out for sustainability of irrigation schemes.

Estimated Operating Expenses and Irrigation Service fees will be determined for planning and smooth operations of irrigation schemes.

The Coordinator and Deputy National Authorising Officer now invite eligible Consulting Firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the above Services. Interested consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria are:

• Core business of the firm and years in business.

• Experience in similar assignments in the last ten (10) years. Information to be provided should include name of assignment, name and full contact address of the Client, contract value (in equivalent US dollars) and period (dates) of execution of assignment and the role played in the assignment (Lead or JV Partner).

• Experience in undertaking similar assignments in Africa or developing countries, and

• The Technical and Managerial capability of the firm (provide only the structure of the organization, general qualifications and number of key staff. Do not provide CVs of staff. 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” Seventh Edition, September 2025 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s Policy on Conflict of Interest.

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. Therefore, each member of JV shall independently meet the requirements of the evaluation criteria. The experience, technical & managerial capability of the Sub-Consultant shall not be evaluated to enhance the qualification of the Lead Firm or JV.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) Method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours from 08.00 to 17.00 hours Local time Monday to Friday except public holidays. The detailed Terms of Reference can be obtained at this link: https://nao.gov.zm/consultancy-services-for-the-conducting-of-feasibility-studies-preparation-of-detailed-designs-environmental-and-social-instruments-and-bidding-and-tender-documents-for-the-proposed-isat-project/

Attention is drawn to the Procurement Regulations requiring the Borrower to disclose information on the successful Consultant’s beneficial ownership, as part of the Contract Award Notice, using the Beneficial Ownership Disclosure Form as included in the Request for Proposals.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by mail, or by fax, or by e-mail) by 5th June, 2026 at 10:00 Hours Central African Time (+2hours GMT), clearly marked “EXPRESSION OF INTERE