Consultancy Service for National Raw Water Resource Master Plan

**Project:** Sierra Leone Water Security and WASH Access Improvement Project

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRM SELECTION)

Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone Water Security and WASH Access Improvement Project (SLWSWCIP)

Grant No.: E5500

Project ID: P507588

Issue date: 29th July, 2026

Assignment Title: Consultancy Services for the Development of the National Raw Water Resources Master Plan.

Reference No.: SL-MWRS-558188-CS-QCBS

The Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Sierra Leone Water Security and WASH Access Improvement Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Service”) include the preparation of a National Master Plan for raw water resources that serves as the authoritative, enforceable, and adaptive national framework for integrated water management and governance in Sierra Leone. This will be a strategic instrument to guide the allocation, protection, development, and climate-resilient management of the country's raw water resources over time horizons including the next four, twelve, and twenty-four years.

The assignment is expected to commence in or around November 2026. The anticipated duration of the assignment is twenty-six (26) months from contract commencement, inclusive of consultant preparation periods and agreed review/comment periods by the National Water Resources Management Agency and the WASH Implementation Team (WASHIT) of the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation.

The detailed Terms of Reference can be obtained electronically upon request from the email addresses stated below:  aktommy@nwrma.gov.sl, ppalmer@nwrma.gov.sl, Cc kawenikargbo7@gmail.com, gibriljabba@hotmail.com or in paper form at this address : The Director General, National Water Resources Management Agency Office, 29 King Harman Road, Freetown, Sierra Leone.

The Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, through the National Water Resources Management Agency (NWRMA), the implementing entity responsible for this assignment, invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.

The shortlisting criteria are:

1. Core business and years of experience (how it is relevant to the assignment);
2. Number of years in business, both as a registered business entity and in providing services in the sector(s) that are relevant to this assignment;
3. Management structure, number of directors and total number of staff – full time, on contract and as associates (however, Key Personnel and their specific experiences are not evaluated at this stage);
4. Financial performance (e.g. turnover and profitability) in the last three years;
5. Enlist firm’s experience. For each similar assignment undertaken by the firm, it is required to state the cost, whether it undertook the job solely, in partnership with other firms (name them and the role of your firm), and name of the client, the duration of the assignment, the number of staff/person-day(s) your firm engaged on the assignment, cost of the assignment (and cost of the project, if available), status of completeness as at time of expression of interest for this assignment, a brief scope of work for the assignment, etc. (It must Demonstrated experience preparing water resources master plans, basin plans, or national/ regional water strategies of similar scale and complexity).
6. Regional and comparable-country experience
   Demonstrated experience in Sierra Leone, West Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, or other countries with comparable hydrological, climatic, institutional and data-availability conditions

Please note that the Key Expert will not be evaluated at the Shortlisting stage.

The shortlist will contain a minimum of Three  (3) firms and not more than Eight (8) eligible firms.

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” Revised September 2025 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest, as per paragraph 3.17 of the Procurement Regulations.

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.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) method set out in the Revised Procurement Regulations, September 2025.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours, 09:00 to 17:00 hours, Mondays to Fridays.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person) or by e-mail.

The Director General

National Water Resources Management Agency Office

29 King Harman Road

Freetown, Sierra Leone

(Sierra Leone Water Security and WASH Access Improvement Project)

OR

Via e-mail to: ppalmer@nwrma.gov.sl, aktommy@nwrma.gov.sl, with Cc to: kawenikargbo7@gmail.com, fmmusa@nwrma.gov.sl, gibriljabba@hotmail.com

When submitting, please clearly indicate in the sealed envelope, or electronically in PDF format. The subject line shall read: ‘EOI – Consultancy Services for the Development of the National Raw Water Resources Master Plan – Ref. SL-MWRS-558188-CS-QCBS.’ All Expression of Interest submissions (electronic or paper) must be received no later than 16:00 hours GMT on 12th August 2026.