Public procurement notice: Contract Notice
Published: 2025-03-28
Buyer: SOUTHERN REGION WATER BOARD
Country: MW
Region: LU000
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Restricted procedure
CPV classification: 71313000: Environmental engineering consultancy services
Estimated value: 50000 EUR
Submission deadline: 2025-04-25
EU fund: eu-funds

Technical requirements: In March 2022, the European Investment Bank (the “EIB” or the “Bank”) Group’s Complaints Mechanism (“EIB-CM”) received two complaints regarding the Southern Region Water Board Water Supply and Sanitation Programme in the Balaka, Liwonde and Mangochi provinces (the “Project”) in the Republic of Malawi (“Malawi”). In October 2020, the EIB approved the financing of the Project. The Project comprises several components, including the Liwonde and Balaka components (financed by the Bank) and the Mangochi component financed by the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, later referred as the “KF”). The complaints concern the Mangochi component and, in particular, the facilities located within Lake Malawi National Park (“LMNP”). The park is designated a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (“UNESCO”) World Heritage Site for its outstanding biodiversity and landscape value.
The complaints include multiple allegations of non-compliance of the Project’s Mangochi component with the EIB environmental and social (“E&S”) standards (the “Standards”), among which: gaps in the biodiversity studies and non-alignment with UNESCO transposed conventions and UNESCO guidelines.
The Mangochi component, financed by the KF, was integrated into the EIB financed Project. However, the EIB is financing only the two other components of the Project. Therefore, the EIB and the KF are considered parallel co-lenders. Under parallel co-financing, lenders generally administer their own part of a project although joint supervision or agreements are possible, on a best effort basis. In this case, the KF had signed its financing agreement before the EIB started its appraisal. As per its procedures, the Bank should assess the differences between the co-lenders’ standards and duly take into account any gaps. Additionally, the Bank has a duty to appraise E&S risks associated with any component financed by the co-lender (in this case, the Mangochi component), define the appropriate mitigation measures and monitor their implementation. However, since it does not supervise the procurement process nor the disbursement for the works of a component that it does not finance, the EIB has limited control on the implementation of the Mangochi component (i.e. during monitoring).
Conducting biodiversity assessment of the Mangochi component to the satisfaction of the Bank in order to confirm whether the site is a critical habitat or not and accordingly determine if residual impacts (taking into account the implementation of existing mitigations) need to be further mitigated or offset.
Southern Region Water Board through the Malawi Government has acquired funds from Kuwait Fund for Arab and Economic Development (KFAED) to extend Mangochi water supply system to lakeshore areas. In this project, SRWB will extend the system to un-served areas along the Lakeshore from Mpondasi to Mtakatata Turn-Off and will cover the trading centres of Namiasi, Maldeco, Makawa, Mtakatata Turn-Off and the holiday resorts along the lake. 
The Mangochi component is located on the shore of the south-eastern part of Lake Malawi. The complaints submitted to the EIB-CM refer to the Mangochi component and, in particular, to the facilities located on Nkhudzi Hill within the LMNP: a water reservoir of 4,000 m³, an access road and the connecting pipes. The complaints refer as well to other facilities and operations adjacent to the LMNP that are also part of the Mangochi component, such as the water intake system from the lake and the water treatment plant.
The LMNP has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site  since 1984. The site was selected for its outstanding landscape and biodiversity values, which support habitats for hundreds of fish species, nearly all of which are endemic and of importance to the study of evolution.
Overall objective of the study is to confirm whether the site is a critical habitat or not and accordingly determine if residual impacts (taking into account the implementation of existing mitigations) need to be further mitigated or offset. This is also in line with the UNESCO main recommendation. 
The specific objectives are: 
•	To assess the current status of biodiversity (floral and faunal), habitats condition in the Nkhudzi Hill where a water reservoir has been built and determine whether the site is a critical habitat.
•	To evaluate the impact of siltation on the fish breeding grounds in the two bays around Nkhudzi Hill. 
•	To identify the mitigation measures proposed in the ESIA and determine whether they are sufficient of if there is a need to further mitigate or offset the impacts.
All tenderers must execute and attach to its Expression of Interest a Covenant of Integrity and the Environmental and Social Covenant. The Covenant of Integrity and the Environmental and Social Covenant can be obtained from the address in 12 below
Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or courier) by 14:00 hours Central African Time (CAT) on 25th April, 2025 at which time they will be opened in the presence of the bidders who wish to attend. Electronic submission of EoIs by email is permitted.
Attention:         The IPDC Chairperson
Street Address: Southern Region Water Board
    Along M3 Road
    Private Bag 72 
Floor/Room number: Ground Floor, Procurement Unit Office - Tender Box. 
City:  	              Zomba
Country: 	             MALAWI
Telephone: +265 991 949631
Facsimile number: +265 1 525 054
Electronic mail address: jackdias13.jd@gmail.com &
                                               srwb-ipdc@srwb.mw 
11.0	Address for clarifications
              	Attention:         Procurement Manager
Street Address: Southern Region Water Board
 Along M3 Road
 Private Bag 72 
City:                 Zomba
Country:           MALAWI
Telephone:     + 265 999345755/+265 886678689    
Fax number:   +265 1 525 054
Email address: sean-mandala@srwb.mw
                         srwb-ipdc@srwb.mw
Opening of the tenders will take place at : Southern Region Water Board Boardroom - Along M3 road - Private Bag 72 - Zomba - MALAWI. All bidders or their representatives are eligible to attend Bid Opening.


Winner: Publications Office of the European Union