LOAN 53389-001 LAO: Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Sector Project - Project Management Consultant (PMC)

LOAN 53389-001 LAO: Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Sector Project - Project Management Consultant (PMC)

Date Published: 07-Mar-2024

Deadline of Submitting EOI: 10-Apr-2024 11:59 PM Manila local time

SELECTION PROFILE

Consultant Type: Firm

Selection Method: Quality and Cost-Based Selection (QCBS)

Selection Title: Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Sector Project

Package Name: Project Management Consultant (PMC)

Engagement Period: 60MONTH

Consulting Services Budget: USD 5,345,682

Source: International

Technical Proposal: Full Technical Proposal (FTP)

Estimated Commencement Date: 01-Nov-2024

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Country of assignment: Lao People's Democratic Republic

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Primary Expertise: Project Implementation Assistance

TOR Keywords: PIA

Objective and Purpose of the Assignment

The proposed project will provide safe, reliable, affordable, and climate-resilient water supply and sanitation services to approximately 16,000 households (90,000 people). It will: (i) strengthen the regulatory environment of the water supply and sanitation sector; (ii) improve the access and quality of service of the water supply and sanitation services in participating provinces; and (iii) develop the institutional capacity of the Department of Water Supply and the provincial water utilities (provincial nam papas) to manage the water supply and sanitation sector in a sustainable manner.

The Project will have the following three outputs as listed below: (i) Output 1: Regulatory environment improved. The project will support the strengthening of the operating environment of the water supply and sanitation sector through: a. The development of a water supply and sanitation framework to improve asset planning, management and operations of water supply and sanitation infrastructure. The framework will provide guidance specifically to: (i) ensure that climate change is factored in the design of water supply and sanitation infrastructure; (ii) promote best-practice in asset planning and asset management; (iii) link infrastructure planning and design with operational aspects such as climate change and environmental sustainability, integrated catchment planning, water source management, drought management, and demand and leakage management; and (iv) promote the development of a more commercial water supply and sanitation sector through the adoption of proactive financial and performance management practices that focuses on budget planning, tariff setting and levels of service; and b. Development of technical standards that will guide the design of resilient sanitation services in urban areas. The standards will include key planning considerations and concepts for designing, constructing, and managing sanitation infrastructure and systems, including the use of nature-based solutions for wastewater treatment.(ii) Output 2: Water supply and sanitation services improved. The delivery of water supply and sanitation services in each participating province will be supported by: (i) the development of a water supply and sanitation investment plan for each participating PNP, where the projected demands and expected quality, level of service, proposed staging of delivery of the capital works and an overview of the resources that will be required to provide and maintain a resilient water supply and sanitation service in the short, medium, and long term will be documented; and (ii) the delivery of the capital works required to service the immediate demands of the population in the subproject towns. This would include the rehabilitation and upgrading of existing water supply schemes, improving non-revenue water (NRW) reduction through the establishment of district metered areas, construction of new climate-resilient water supply schemes, providing new gender-sensitive sanitation facilities in priority public places and implementing digital technologies and systems to improve operational efficiencies, that may include automated control systems, water meters, asset management systems, early warning systems and geographical information systems. The project will continue with the free connection policy initiated under the earlier ADB-funded projects for households with a sanitation facility in place. For poor and low-income households that lack a sanitation facility, the project will cover the cost of providing an improved sanitation facility (pour-flush latrines) to enable them to access the free water supply connection.(iii) Output 3: Institutional effectiveness and governance improved. The technical capacity, institutional and governance arrangements of the DWS and PNPs will be strengthened through the delivery of training and capacity development programs. The project will support the PNPs as they develop corporate business plans in line with the government’s regulations, and training will be provided to help improve corporate plan reporting and financial accountability, focusing on financial management, reporting and tariff reviews. Technical skills training through on the job training of both male and female PNP employees will also be included to: (i) improve their understanding how water supply and sanitation assets operate and how climate change can impact the O&M of these services; and (ii) promote asset management, NRW management, and proactive O&M planning. An information, education and communication awareness and outreach program will be developed to build the community’s awareness and understanding of the new water supply and sanitation services. Support will also be provided to the DWS as they build their capacity as a technical and oversight body through the promotion of peer-to-peer knowledge exchange program with development partners, technical experts, other water utilities, and by developing processes that supports its ability to monitor and assess the effectiveness of corporate business plan implementation of each PNP to ensure operational sustainability of the sector.