REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

Country - India
Project – Assam Integrated River Basin Management Program (AIRBMP)

Assignment Title: Procurement of project Management and Technical Consultants (PMTC)

Reference No.: IN-FREMAA (AIRBMP) -PMTC-221411-CS-QCBS

1. The Flood and River Erosion Management Agency of Assam(FREMAA), a Special Purpose
Vehicle (SPV) created to implement externally aided projects of the State Water Resources
Department (WRD), Assam, has applied for financing from the World Bank toward the cost of
theAIRBMP project and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

2. The objective of the PMTC is to provide project management, technical assistance, and
capacity building to the client to help implement the activities under AIRBMP. The PMTC is
expected to provide support to FREMAA, WRD and Assam State Disaster Management
Authority (ASDMA) and other partner institutions/stakeholders in project planning, studies,
procurement, financial management, environment and social safeguards, technical aspects,
training and capacity building, etc., in addition to progress monitoring, evaluation and
reporting.

3. FREMAA now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in
providing the services. Annex 1 provides a summary Terms of Reference of the assignment.
Interested consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required
qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The following information is
requested:

a. Brief Profile and General experience of the Firm(s);

b. Experience in similar projects of compatible size, complexity and technical specialty
in the required areas;
c. Experience in execution of project management assignments for projects financed by
multilateral agencies.
d. List of ongoing projects with their tenure.
e. Financial capacity of the firmincluding turnover from consulting services for the last
five years which should not be less than US$ 5.0 million or INR 38.0crores (though
more is desired);
f. Managerial capability for monitoring team performance including Complaints
Redressal Mechanism, Staffing and Logistics of the firm;and
g. List of permanent staff relevant for the assignment.
While indicating information relating to (b), it shall be made clear whether responsibility of the
firm was in the capacity of a principal firm (lead partner) or as an associated firm (sub-
consultant/JV partner) with detail scope of the service.

Consultants are requested to submit the following supporting documents against the above-
mentioned criteria:(a) Registration certificate of the firm(s); (b) JV agreement/letter of intent (if
applicable); (c) Firm’s brochure; (d) Audited financial reports for last five years. Annual
turnover should be equal or more than USD 5.0 million; (e) service experience

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 record/completion certificate (including nature, total cost, total input in terms of staff month,
employer, location of service, scope of services etc.). The experience of a parent company,
subsidiary company, group company or associates (whatever the names) of the Applicant shall
not be considered in evaluation.

Submission of the REOI/documents in chronological order as mentioned above (a-g) will be

given additional weightage. Non submission of the documents listed above may lead to
rejection.

4. The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraphs 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the
“World Bank Procurement Regulations, 2016” for IPF Borrowers (Revised November 2020),
setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

5. Consultants may associate with other firms in the form of a joint venture or a sub-consultancy to
enhance their qualifications. In the case of an association, all members of such “association”
should have real and well-defined inputs to the assignment and the total number of firms
including their associates shall be maximum of three. In case of association in the form of sub-
consultancy, the experience of sub-consultant shall not be considered in evaluation.

6. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS)
method as set out in Section VII, paragraph 7.3 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations
for IPF Borrowers” July 2016, revised August 2018 (“Procurement Regulations”).

7. The detailed Terms of Reference for the assignment can be found at the following weblink:
www.assamtenders.gov.in, and www.fremaa.assam.gov.

8. Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours. Queries may also
be mailed at [email protected] and [email protected] subject line –
“Query- EOI/PMTC -FREMAA<Name of the Firm>” latest by 7/12/2021.The consolidated
replies of queries will be uploaded at www.assamtenders.gov.in on or before 17/12/2021 at
17:00HRS.

9. Interested firms/organizations may upload Expressions of interest along with the aforesaid
supporting documents at the e procurement portal of Govt. of Assam viz.
www.assamtenders.gov.in as detailed below.

i) Online EoI proposal submission Start Date:23.12.2021 at 9.00HRS(IST)

ii) Online EoI proposal submission End Date: 31.12.2021 at 14.00HRS (IST)
iii) Online opening of EoIs through www.assamtenders.gov.in=31.12.2021 at 16:00HRS(IST)

Address for Communication:

Office of the Chief Executive Officer
Flood and River Erosion Management Agency of Assam (FREMAA)
4th Floor, Assam Water Centre (Near Basistha Police Station),
Kundil Nagar, BasisthaChariali,
Guwahati – 781029, Assam
Phone: 0361-2309896
Email: [email protected] /[email protected]

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 Annexure-1

Assam Integrated River Basin Management Program

Summary Terms of Reference for Project Management and Technical
Consultant( PMTC)
(Detailed Terms of Reference will be included in the Request for Proposal Issued to Short-
Listed Firms and this Summary TOR is subject to further refinement)

A. Background
The Northeast of India – covering the States of Sikkim and the seven ‗sisters‘ of Arunachal
Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura– is one of the least
developed parts of the country. Progress has been made in a few of the Northeastern States
(such as Mizoram), but overall growth rates over the past years have remained low, poverty
incidence (especially in Assam) is high, the natural capital on which growth depends is being
depleted at alarming rates, and the region is routinely subjected to devastating floods and
other hazards, such as high rates of erosion.

Transforming the Northeast into a vibrant center of economic activity both nationally and
regionally will require more prudent management of its natural resources, which are the basis
of the region‘s wealth and the acceleration of growth. Despite the potential, the Northeast has
not been able to manage in the destructive forces of water resources – including recurring
floods and massive rates of erosion – or make productive use of this tremendous asset. The
State of Assam is strategically important as the largest and most populous State in the
Northeast and holds great potential for development through improved water resources
management. However, Assam is one of the States hardest hit by erosion and flood hazards.
Climate change is expected to exacerbate current hazards and lead to more frequent floods
and accelerated soil erosion. A progressive and systematic approach is needed to address
the key water-related risks and opportunities in Assam.

The Assam Integrated River Basin Management Program (AIRBMP), responds to the
Government of Assam's (GoA) request to support improved water resources management for
economic growth and prosperity, including addressing flood and river erosion risks. The
program focuses on building the requisite institutional capacity, filling critical knowledge
gaps, and implementing integrated solutions to tackle the current challenges for climate
resilient growth and improved livelihoods. The expected funding is US$ 500 million following a
Multiphase Programmatic Approach (MPA). The MPA would consist of three overlapping
phases or projects over a total of ten years. The first phase of the program (referred to as
"the project" from here on) is US$ 120 million. The Project Development Objective (PDO) of
the first phase is: To strengthen institutional capacity for integrated water resources planning
and management, and to enhance preparedness for flood and river erosion risks in Assam.

Key implementing agengies for AIRBMP include Water Resources Department (WRD), Flood
and River Erosion Management Agency of Assam (FREMAA), and Assam State Disaster
Management Authority (ASDMA). Project components are presented below and subject to
adjustments as the project design evolves during the preparation stage.

Component 1: Institutional Strengthening and Strategic Studies ($15 M). This

component focuses on institutional strengthening of WRD and ASDMA. Subcomponents
include:
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1.1 Institutional strengthening of WRD ($6 M). These activities will help WRD make the
transition from a department focused structural flood control solutions, to a broader integrated
water resources management department that helps Assam sustainably develop its abundant
water uses and use a portfolio of structural and non-structural measures—including nature-
based solutions, to help reduce flood and river erosion risks in collaboration with ASDMA.

Specific activities include: i) preparing an Assam Water Policy and adjusting the functions
and structure of WRD to better meet its evolving mandate; ii) upgrading the management
information systems in WRD to move towards a paperless workflow; iii) start-up of the WRD
hydro-informatics program which includes data, modelling, and decision support-systems to
help improve flood forecasting, drought monitoring, and planning; iv) undertaking of
specialized studies to fill in critical knowledge gaps within an integrated water resources
framework, such as sediment and river morphology, fisheries and wetlands, groundwater,
water uses, etc.; and v) preparation of an Assam Brahmaputra ―State of the Basin Report‖
which will provide the foundation for the Assam Brahmaputra Basin Strategic Plan in Phase
2 of the MPA.

1.2 Disaster Risk Management ($2 M). These activities will help fulfill critical knowledge
gaps and influence ASDMA‘s policies and programs by undertaking the following studies: i)
river erosion risk management study; ii) weather-related risk financing strategy; and iii)
economics and policy of flood proofing housing and critical infrastructure.

1.3 Project-Wide Outreach and Technical Assistance ($7 M). This encompasses the
following activities: i) funding for the Project Management Technical Consultancy (PMTC) that
will provide overall implementation support and provision of technical assistance to help
WRD and ASDMA achieve the project objectives; ii) communication and outreach to help
promote the concepts of integrated water and flood risk management; and iii) FREMAA
incremental operating costs, equipment, and implementation support consultants.

Component 2: Integrated Water and Flood/River Erosion Risk Management-WRD ($83

M): This component will finance the structural and non-structural activities to reduce flood
and river erosion risks and establish a foundation of integrated water resources management
in selected sub-basins. Subcomponents include:

2.1 No-Regret Investments in Beki and Buridehing Sub-Basins and Emergency Works
($70 M). This includes anti-erosion works along critical riverbank stretches and rehabilitation
of existing levees to ensure structural integrity and enhance climate resilience. In Buridehing
this includes 18.55 kms of anti-erosion works and 20.10 kms of levee strengthening. In Beki
this includes 13.67 kms of anti- erosion works and 4.0 kms of levee strengthening. A
provisional sum, approximately US $20 million, will be reserved for emergency works that
may emerge in any part Assam over the course of the project.

2.2 Integrated Water and Flood Management Planning in Selected Sub-Basins: This sub-
component will prepare comprehensive integrated plans for the Assam parts of the Beki,
Buridehing, and Jiadhal sub-basins that include both gray and green infrastructure and
incorporate non-structural solutions to reduce flood and river erosion risk, as well as
opportunities to sustainably develop water resources. Activities for each sub-basin include: i)
developing the overall plan; ii) preparing new or updated design project reports (DPRs); and
iii) environmental and social impact assessments (ESIA),

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environmental and social management plans (ESMP) and resettlement actions plans (RAP)
for the proposed investments in each sub-basin. Some of these investments are expected to
be financed under Phase 2 of the AIRBM program.

2.3. Flood Forecasting in Selected Sub-Basins: This sub-component will assist WRD, in
collaboration with the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC) and the Assam
Water Research and Management Institute (AWARMI which is under WRD) to develop a
state-of-the art flood forecasting system in the Beki, Buridehing and Jiadhal (?) sub-basins.
WRD will work closely with ASDMA to ensure seamless integration of flood forecasts into
ASDMA‘s early warning and dissemination (EWDS) that is being upgraded under
Component 3. The flood forecasting system will be extended to other tributaries under Phase
2 and to the Brahmaputra mainstream under Phase 3 of the AIRBM program.

2.4 Baseline Information and Levee Asset Management: This component will support the
collection of baseline hydrological, topographical, and geotechnical information from cross-
section surveys, LIDAR mapping, and expansion of hydrological and meteorological
monitoring stations in the Beki, Buridehing, and Jiadhal sub-basins. This information will
support the planning and flood forecasting activities in these sub-basins. Assam has over
4,000 kms of river levees, many of them in poor and unsafe condition. This component will
also start-up WRD‘s levee asset management system and will enhance monitoring,
maintenance, and upgrading of levees using modern methods and involving local
communities.

2.5 WRD Implementation Support. This will cover WRD‘s incremental operating costs,
equipment, and additional implementation support consultants.

Component 3: Integrated Flood/River Erosion Risk Management-ASDMA ($22 M). This

components supports the development of early warning and dissemination systems, enhances
disaster response at the local levels, and helps enhance the climate resilience of selected
villages. Sub-components include:

3.1 Climate Resilient Villages ($5 M). A community driven development (CDD) process will
be used to enhance the climate resilience of approximately 100 villages located in the
Brahmaputra river basin. Communities will be offered a menu of options for enhancing
resilience at the local level, including more resilient housing and infrastructure; risk education,
early warning systems, and disaster management plans; enhancing emergency management
measures including helping to meet health, housing, food, and safety needs. The CDD
process will be facilitated by a specialized ―Social and Technical Agency‖ that will guide
planning and implementation.

3.2 Flood Shelters ($ 7 M). This involves the construction of approximately 10 new flood
shelters and the retrofitting of around 30 existing structure, mainly schools. The flood shelters
will be designed to offer people a safe haven from the floods and river erosion, taking into
account the specific needs women, children, and the vulnerable populations.

3.3 Strengthening of Circle Disaster Management Committees ($ 3M). Circle quick

response teams will be formed in approximately eight districts in Assam, along with the
establishment of emergency operation centers (EOC) at the revenue circle level. The teams
will be trained on disaster response, and be provided with emergency equipment and
supplies. An incentive-based program will be piloted to encourage the teams to effectively
mobilize and prepare for disasters.

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3.4 Early Warning and Dissemination System ($ 4 M). This will support the development of
an integrated public alert and dissemination system at multiple levels within Assam. A state-
of-the-art Assam Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will be supported for integrated
incident command and operations. A geo-spatial disaster management laboratory will be
established to better understand various hazards. Communication and IT systems will be
enhanced for first responders and to improve dissemination to affected populations.

3.5 ASDMA Implementation Support ($ 3 M). This will cover ASDMA‘s incremental
operating costs, equipment, and additional implementation support consultants.

Component 4: Contingent Emergency Response ($ 0). This allows an immediate

response to an Eligible Crisis or Emergency, as needed, from other project components to
partially cover emergency response and recovery costs. This component could also be used
to channel additional funds should they become available because of the Emergency.

B. Project Organisation
The three Implementing Agencies (IAs) under AIRBMP are FREMAA, WRD, and ASDMA.
FREMAA will be the nodal coordinating agency while WRD and ASDMA will be the
executing agencies for the program. A Project Management Unit (PMU) will be established in
FREMAA to support the implementation of the program. The PMTC will be placed in the
PMU in FREMAA for regular project management activities, and the technical consultants
supporting WRD and ASDMA. The PMU will be headed by Chief Executive Officer (CEO),
FREMAA. The PIU in WRD will be headed by the Chief Engineer. The PIU in ASDMA will be
headed by the CEO, ASDMA.

C. Objective of the assignment

The objective of the PMTC is to provide project management, technical assistance, and
capacity building to implement the activities under AIRBMP. The PMTC is expected to provide
support to FREMAA, WRD, ASDMA and other partner institutions/stakeholders in project
planning, procurement, financial management, technical aspects, construction supervision,
training and capacity building, progress monitoring & evaluation.

D. General Scope of Work

The broad scope of work includes the following:

a. Provide project management support including project planning, procurement and

financial management, monitoring & evaluation,
institutional coordination, communication/stakeholder engagement, and
preparation of subsequent phases of the program.

b. Provide technical assistance to FREMAA, WRD, ASDMA and other partner

institutions/stakeholders in the following areas: i) real-time rainfall forecasting, ii) flood
forecasting and early warning; iii) integrated water and flood management & planning;
iv) engineering design and construction supervision of river works; and v) other tasks.
In this capacity, the PMTC will be mainly assisting the client in managing various
consultant, works, and good contracts.

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 c. Support institutional strengthening, training and capacity building of key
implementing agencies and related institutions on aforementioned topics.

E. Duration and Indicative Person-Months

The duration of the contract is estimated to be four years. The estimated person-months for
the assignment are on the order of 300, which may be adjusted in the Request for Proposal.

F. Team Composition
The following list describes the indicative staff positions for the PMTC, which may be adjusted
in the Request for Proposal.
 Team Leader
 Deputy Team Leader
 WRM Institutional Expert
 Hydro-Informatics Expert
 Flood Forecasting Expert
 WRM Planning Experts (Various)
 Emergency Flood Management Expert
 Flood Forecasting Expert
 Financial Management Expert
 Procurement Expert
 Communications Expert
 Social Safeguard Expert
 Environmental Safeguard Expert
 Flood Forecasting Expert

Signature Not Verified

Digitally signed by RANJEEB
RAYBARUAH 7 | P IST
ag
Date: 2021.11.26 11:48:09
Location: Assam-AS e