Consultant to Supervise the Construction and Rehabilitation of Components of Urban Water Supply Schemes at Mercy Corps Nigeria (Abia, Imo & Delta)

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action - helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Consultant to Supervise the Construction and Rehabilitation of Components of Urban Water Supply Schemes

Locations: Abia, Delta and Imo
Employment Type: Contract

Background

• Mercy Corps Nigeria is implementing a USAID-funded program to design and construct water and sanitation infrastructure projects in the Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) States. A detailed assessment for selected water supply schemes in Imo, Abia, and Delta States was completed by a consultant hired by Mercy Corps in November 2022. Recommendations for rehabilitation, improvement, and repair of existing water facilities in those areas in South-East and South-South regions of Nigeria based on a global systems assessment were included in that assessment (Phase One Assessment).
• Based on the Phase One Assessment, the desired project outcome, and the available funding, recommended preliminary lists of improvements and associated engineer’s estimates of probable construction cost were developed for water supply schemes within each state. The recommended schemes are summarized in “Updated: Recommendations for Downsizing STWASH Water Supply Schemes (WSS) to meet USAID Approved Budget” dated 15 February 2023.
• The consultant conducted a detailed engineering design including planning, design, and development of construction tender documents for the southern states of Abia, Delta, and Imo. After validation in a stakeholders' review meeting, the final design report, and all the associated bidding documents for procuring the works were submitted to Mercy Corps in January 2024.

The works have been packaged as follows and contracted per state for implementation:
Construction and Rehabilitation of components of urban water schemes in Abia State – Package A:
Lot A1: Ariaria Water Supply Scheme:

• Location: Ariaria Water Supply Headworks, Aba, Abia State.
• Coordinates: 5.112986, 7.344069

Lot A2: Ubakala Water Supply and Solar Installation Scheme:

• Location: Ubakala Well Field/Elevated Water tank, Ubakala, Umuahia, Abia State.
• Coordinates: 5.473467, 7.445536

Construction and Rehabilitation of components of urban water schemes in Delta State – Package B:
Lot B1: Ogwashi-Uku Central Water Supply Scheme:

• Location: Ogwashi-Uku Central Station Headworks, Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South, Delta State
• Coordinates: 6.175514, 6.524758

Lot B2: Ogwashi-Uku General Hospital Water Supply and Solar Installation Scheme:

• Location: General Hospital Premises, Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South, Delta State
• Coordinates: 6.185617, 6.515414

Construction and Rehabilitation of components of urban water schemes in Imo State – Package C:
Lot C1: Otamiri Water Supply Scheme Site, Owerri, Imo State:

• Location: Otamiri Water Treatment Plant, Off Egbu Road, Owerri, Imo State
• Coordinates: 5.476536, 7.043694

Lot C2: Egbeada Booster Pump Scheme site, Owerri, Imo State:

• Location: Egbeada Booster Pump Station, Egbeada, Owerri, Imo State
• Coordinates: 5.536094, 7.019344

Purpose

• This request for proposal is for Phase Three of the project and includes construction quality control for the six water supply schemes in Abia, Delta, and Imo States as stated above, up to the defect liability period. However, the assignment will involve providing remote support and only periodic site visits by consultant staff to support the Mercy Corps Infrastructure team.
• The consultant will also support the Mercy Corps Infrastructure team to respond to the contractors’ daily requests and clarifications as would be requested by the on-site Mercy Corps team through emails and telephone calls. The purpose of this scope of work is for the consultant to submit a 12-month spreadsheet that includes the level of effort of the site supervision staff.

Scope of Work
The Consultant will conduct the following separate but interrelated construction quality control tasks as detailed below:
Task 1 – Project Management:

• This task includes project management activities necessary to complete the construction quality control phase of the project including:
• Communication with Mercy Corps via telephone, emails, and meetings to maintain project coordination throughout the project construction quality control phase.
• When requested by Mercy Corps, assist with monitoring the scope of the Contractors’ contracts and offering input regarding the management of the contracts.
• Support in reviewing notes from weekly and monthly site meetings with contractors, and stakeholders, produced by the Mercy Corps infrastructure team as requested. The consultant may be requested from time to time to join some weekly and monthly meetings remotely to address some technical site issues as directed by the Senior Infrastructure Manager.
• Consultant Quarterly invoices with monthly and quarterly progress reports.
• Assistance with verification of contractors’ invoices (Milestone Payment Certificates) with progress reports, in relation to payment BOQ for actual work done and as will be requested by Mercy Corps.
• Contribute to weekly and monthly project reports compiled by Mercy Corps as and when requested.

Task 1 Deliverables:

• Communication with Mercy Corps via periodic telephone calls, emails, and meetings
• Submission of Consultant’s Quarterly invoices with monthly and quarterly progress reports
• Assistance with verification of Contractors’ milestone payment invoices with progress reports as will be requested by Mercy Corps.
• Weekly and monthly meeting minutes.
• Contribute to Weekly and Monthly reports as and when requested.

Task 2 – Construction Quality Control:

• This task includes activities related to the construction supervision of the six water schemes in Abia, Delta, and Imo States and includes:
• Support in providing construction quality control of the six water supply schemes in the three southern states of Abia, Delta, and Imo as requested by the Senior Infrastructure Manager and ensure compliance with specifications, schedules, plan and design stipulations, contractual agreement, and required standards.
• Support the Mercy Corps infrastructure team to conduct special inspections of structural, mechanical, solar, and electrical components of the project that require coordination with the design or specialized inspection for compliance with building codes and other requirements from time to time as requested.
• Support in coordinating site inspections with the WASH Utility Engineer and Site Supervisors.
• Support the Mercy Corps Infrastructure team to document construction activities by taking photos.
• Support in preparing weekly and monthly progress reports to the senior infrastructure manager as will be requested.
• Support the Mercy Corps team to monitor and witness all material and structural tests of the works.
• Support Mercy Corps in responding to all requests and clarifications concerning the design of the water schemes during the tendering and construction stages of the project as requested.
• Support the WASH Utility Engineers and Site Supervisors to collect and verify measurements and assist with the review of milestone payment requests of the contractors as and when requested.
• Support in validating work changes/variations that may occur during the implementation, and support Mercy Corps in preparing change orders as requested.
• Support Mercy Corps in preparing project completion reports and contractors’ final payments as requested.
• Perform any other assignments associated with the construction quality control of the six water supply schemes as directed by Mercy Corps.

Task 2 Deliverables:

• Review reports of contractors’ drawings and material submissions.
• Site measurement reports of contractors’ installations for payment with photographic evidence in collaboration with WASH Utility Engineers and Site Supervisors.
• Review reports of contractors’ implementation schedules and reports in collaboration with WASH Utility Engineers and Site Supervisors as requested.
• Contractor’s site mobilization reports.
• Facility design reports for activities or works not envisaged at the design stage.
• Verify reports of contractors’ documentation, insurance, payment guarantees, etc.
• Environmental compliance, monitoring, and mitigation reports.
• Change orders review reports as and when requested.
• Material and equipment testing reports.
• Site meeting report for requested site visits to include.
• Observations including the status of progress and quality of work
• Discussions and decisions
• Any items to be addressed
• Photos and other notes

Task 3 – Post-Construction:
This task includes the following:

• Review contractors’ Operation and maintenance Manuals with emphasis on service sustainability through effective management and financial viability approach.
• Support the WASH Utility Engineer and Site Supervisors to generate a snag list and ensure contractors’ remediation before the commencement of the defect liability period.
• Coordinate test commissioning of the system with the WASH Utility Engineer and Site Supervisors, before handover to the beneficiaries.

Task 3 Deliverables:

• Project completion reporting
• Test commissioning reports.
• Project handing over report

Site Visit Schedule:

• The site visits shall be determined by need and the consultant shall be given one week’s notice before the visit to remobilize the respective team for a visit based on the intended site visit requirements. However, the site visits are anticipated to be quarterly but purely determined by need.

Timeframe / Schedule:

• The consultant shall be able to mobilize and complete the assignment (which shall be conducted on-site through requested site visits and remotely through telephone calls, emails, and meetings, etc.) within 12 months after the issuance of notice-to-proceed (NTP) and submit the deliverables at the stipulated project construction intervals.

Budget:

• The consultant should, therefore, provide a cost for conducting the on-site and remote construction quality control service with the key experts detailed under “Required Experience and Skills” section.

Description of Service:
Retainership for professional technical advice throughout the 12 months of construction contracts’ duration with the key experts under the “Required Experience & Skills” Item Lump sum:
Total of Item 1.0:

• Reimbursable cost of visits to each of the States’ sites
• Abia’s Ubakala and Ariaria Sites
• Air return tickets no
• Accommodation no
• Per-diems no
• Miscellaneous ls

Sub-total of Item 2.1:

• Delta’s Ogwashi-Uku Central and
• Ogwashi-Uku General Hospital Sites
• Air return tickets no
• Accommodation no
• Per-diems no
• Miscellaneous ls

Sub-total of Item 2.2:

• Imo’s Otamiri and Egbeada Sites
• Air return tickets no
• Accommodation no
• Per-diems no
• Miscellaneous ls

Sub-total of Item 2.3:
Total of Item 2.0:

• Reimbursable cost of visits to all the six sites in Abia, Delta, and Imo States

Air return tickets no:

• Accommodation no
• Per-diems no
• Miscellaneous ls

Total of Item 3.0:

• The number of on-site visits will be determined by budget availability and on a need basis. The consultant should attach a spreadsheet to show how the quantities are determined.

The Consultant will report to:

• Yassin Bashir Mohammed – Chief of Party (COP)/Alfred Obeten – Senior Infrastructure Manager (SIM)
• The Consultant will work closely with:
• Chief of Party, Senior Infrastructure Manager, WASH Utility Engineers, Infrastructure Quality Assurance Advisor, and the entire Infrastructure team.

Required Experience & Skills
The preferred consultant should have a team of experts with the following experiences:
Water Treatment Plant Expert/Team Leader:

• Minimum of Bachelor’s Degree in Civil / Environmental / Hydraulic Engineering or other relevant disciplines.
• Minimum of 10 years of general working experience with the following specific experience:
  • 7 years of experience in the design and construction supervision of water supply infrastructure, including intake works, production/water treatment, pipe transmission, and distribution systems.
  • Experience as water treatment plant expert in not less than 2 previous projects similar in scale and content to this one in the last 7 years.
• Shall be a Registered Engineer equivalent to COREN and a member of any recognized engineering society.

Solar / Electro-mechanical Engineer:

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in electrical engineering or other relevant disciplines.
• Minimum of 7 years of general working experience with the following specific experience:
  • 5 years of experience in the design and construction supervision of water supply infrastructure including solar energy systems, water treatment plant electromechanical, and groundwater systems.
  • Experience as an electro-mechanical engineer in not less than 1 previous project similar in scale and content to this one in the last 5 years.
• Shall be a Registered Engineer equivalent to COREN and a member of any recognized engineering society.

Geologist / Hydrogeologist / Hydrologist:

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Geology/Hydrogeology/Hydrology or other relevant disciplines. Minimum of 10 years of general working experience with the following specific experience:
  • 5 years of experience in the design of surface and groundwater supply infrastructure
  • Experience as geologist/hydrogeologist/hydrologist in not less than 1 previous project similar in scale and content to this one in the last 5 years.
• Must be registered with a relevant professional body.

Site Supervisor / Inspector:

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in civil/environmental Engineering or other relevant disciplines.
• Minimum of 5 years of general working experience with the following specific experience:
  • 5 years of experience in the design and construction supervision of water supply infrastructure, including intake works, production/water treatment, pipe transmission, and distribution systems.
  • Experience in construction supervision on one previous water supply project similar in scale and content to this one in the last 5 years.
• Shall be a Registered Engineer equivalent to COREN and a member of any recognized engineering society.

Selection Criteria Submittals

• A copy of Business Registration Certificate (CAC)
• A copy of Tax Registration Certificate and/or Tax Clearance Certificate
• Provide an Organizational Profile, showing relevant experience in construction and construction supervision in the last 5 years of business operations
• Evidence of at least 2 water supply engineering designs and construction supervision projects, successfully implemented in the last 5 years.
• CVs (3 pages per personnel maximum) and Qualifications of the following Key Personnel – Water Treatment Plant Expert/Team Leader, Solar/Electromechanical Engineer, Geologist/Hydrogeologist/Hydrologist, and Site Supervisor/Inspector.
• Consultant shall provide a qualifications statement attesting to the firm’s experience on projects with similar size and scope in the region. In advance of any formal engagement, provide a Curriculum Vitae (CV) for Mercy Corps approval for the personnel who will work in each of the positions identified above for this project.

Application Closing Date
8th November, 2024; 12:00pm.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified Consultants should submit financial proposal and Selection Criteria Submittals to: [email protected] using RFQ 485 as the subject of the email.

Note

• It is possible that the same individual could serve in more than one of the identified positions provided they meet the qualifications, and the schedule will allow.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:

• Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.
• We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening, and evolving to become more diverse, equitable, and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

• We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics:

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our stakeholders and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs, and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.