Technical Assistance for Improved Urban Water Sector Management and Strategic Planning Tender

Procurement Summary

Country : Central African Republic

Summary : Technical Assistance for Improved Urban Water Sector Management and Strategic Planning

Deadline : 29 Sep 2022

Other Information

Notice Type : Tender

TOT Ref.No.: 71782255

Document Ref. No. : 1282615

Financier : World Bank (WB)

Purchaser Ownership : Public

Tender Value : Refer Document

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Tender Details

Expression of Interest are invited for Technical Assistance for Improved Urban Water Sector Management and Strategic Planning in Central African Republic.

SODECA, the national urban water utility, was established in 1949, partially privatized in 1991, and largely renationalized by 2003. While SODECA is officially classified as a semipublic company, the Government currently holds 97.5 percent of SODECA shares with the remaining 2.5 percent held by the private Ecobank. A 2001 agreement between the Government of the Central African Republic (CAR) and SODECA granted it a concession to manage drinking and industrial water production, treatment, distribution, and sale in Bangui and seven secondary towns (Bambari, Berberati, Bouar, Bozoum, Bossangoa, Carnot and Ndele).

The World Bank-Supported Water and Electricity Upgrading Project (Projet dAmélioration des Services dEau et dElectricité, PASEEL) supports CAR in improving water and electricity service provision through SODECA and the Central African Energy Company (Energie Centrafricaine, ENERCA) with an International Development Association (IDA) grant of SDR 14.3 million (US$20 million equivalent). The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to enhance SODECAs and ENERCAs operational performance and to increase access to improved water supply and electricity in Bangui and selected towns. PASEEL became effective on May 24, 2018 and has a closing date of June 30, 2023.

While Component 1 (Water Supply Infrastructure) funds the construction and rehabilitation of water supply infrastructure in Bangui, Bambari, and Berbarati, Component 3 provides technical support to SODECA and ENERCA towards improved operational efficiency and sustainability. However, emergency water shortages in Bangui that emerged in April 2019 resulting from the failure of existing pumping stations and additional network rehabilitation in Berberati necessitated the reallocation of project funds from Component 3 to Component 1. Accordingly, Component 3 financing was reallocated through the cancellation of select technical assistance to SODECA, including support in the development of: (i) a financial model; (ii) a human resource plan; and (iii) a five-year utility strategy. While these activities are critical to improve urban water service delivery, the immediate needs of the population were determined to take precedence.

With the goal of addressing this gap, the World Bank has therefore attained additional support through the Quality Infrastructure Investment (QII) Partnership to inform its dialogue with SODECA and identify potential activities to be funded under a subsequent World Bank-supported project.

The selected firm will conduct five primary activities simultaneously: (1) organizational study of SODECA; (2) recommendations for SODECAs strategic development plan; (3) tariff study and financial modeling; (4) assessment of SODECAs human resources development plan; and (5) assessment to inform World Bank technical assistance in support of the renegotiation of SODECAs concessions contract.

The selected consortium shall possess the following qualifications: (i) Experience and demonstrated understanding of urban water supply, including infrastructure, policies, institutions, regulation, funding/financing, and human resources; (ii) Experience in conducting research within the urban water sector of developing sub-Saharan countries, preferably in Central African Republic; (iii) Experience in developing sector policies, strategies, and financial models; and (iv) Excellent professional analytical and writing skills in French.

Publication Date: 15-Sep-2022.

Expression of Interest Deadline: 29-Sep-2022 at 11:59:59 PM (Eastern Time - Washington D.C.).

Documents

 Tender Notice