Objective and Purpose of the Assignment
 | The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is a mandated Transaction Advisor for the Galle Non-Revenue Water (NRW) PPP Project and is supporting the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) in the project definition and project preparation stage. The project aims to reduce water losses, improve water supply systems, and optimize service delivery for the city of Galle and its surrounding areas. The objective is to structure a PPP project where a private partner will identify and implement solutions for reducing both physical and commercial water losses, thereby enhancing the sustainability and efficiency of the water supply system. As part of the transaction advisory support, ADB seeks to engage a Technical Expert (individual consultant) to lead and supervise technical activities in partnership with the local technical team. The expert will work on assessing and developing the technical parameters for the project, guiding the project team on the preparation of the technical feasibility study, drafting key tender documents, and supporting project preparation and competitive tender to select the most suited private partner for the project. The main objective of this assignment is to provide technical expertise in the feasibility assessment and competitive tender of the Galle NRW PPP Project. The Technical Expert will be responsible for guiding the local team and stakeholders in identifying the technical scope of the project, assessing NRW levels, analyzing existing infrastructure, drafting the technical feasibility, and recommending digitalization strategies to optimize value-for-money (VfM) and operational efficiency. The Technical Expert will assist ADB in conducting a competitive tender process by conducting market sounding, drafting tender documents and preparing tender evaluation documents. |
Scope of Work
| The Technical Expert will carry out the following tasks: 1. Technical Supervision and Team Collaboration – Supervise and collaborate with the local technical team in developing the technical scope and parameters for the Galle NRW Project. – Provide technical oversight and ensure quality control in the technical activities performed by the local team and other stakeholders. 2. Water Loss Assessment and Water Balance Development – Conduct a comprehensive assessment of the sources of water losses, including both physical and commercial losses. – Develop a detailed water balance for the project area, identifying key sources of water loss and opportunities for improvement. 3. GIS Network Mapping and Water Balance and Infrastructure Review – Review the existing water supply infrastructure, operational systems, and management practices to assess their effectiveness in reducing NRW. – Identify gaps and recommend improvements based on international best practices for NRW reduction. – Complete a GIS network mapping study for the water supply systems in the project area. – Develop a base-line water balance for the project and relevant Water Supply Systems (WSS), using GIS mapping and field data collection. 4. Technical Feasibility Report – Draft the technical feasibility study for the Galle NRW Project, in collaboration with local technical consultants. – Provide detailed analysis of the technical options available, the proposed interventions, and the expected impact on NRW reduction. – Prepare the initial outline design for the NRW reduction interventions. – Prepare lifecycle cost estimations for the proposed technical interventions, considering long- term operation and maintenance costs. – Provide necessary technical inputs to the financial advisor to be engaged later. 5. Market Soundings and Investor Interest – Assist in conducting market soundings to determine investor interest in the project, including discussions with potential investors and the private sector. – Support the preparation of an investor-friendly business case for the project. 6. Capacity Building and Training – Support the development of a capacity-building plan for the sustainability of NRW reduction efforts in the long term. – Supervise and provide guidance to the domestic technical expert(s) and ensure alignment of local expertise with the project’s objectives and technical requirements. – Design and deliver training programs, as necessary, for local consultants and water utility staff on NRW reduction techniques, technologies, and best practices for managing water systems. 7. Tender Process – Support drafting the request for proposal (RFP) and Performance Based Contract (PBC) & other relevant Bid Documents a) Prepare functional engineering, procurement and construction specifications to be included in the tender documents for the project. b) Prepare for the draft PBC including key maintenance indicators and key performance criteria. c) Review and recommend possible digitalization measures to be implemented over time to optimize VfM for the client, and which may be included in tender specifications. d) Assist in drafting relevant technical and financial sections of bidding documents including qualification and bid evaluation criteria and other sections as required. – Support throughout the tender process a) Assist in responding to bidders’ technical queries during the Request for Qualification (“RfQ”) and Request for Proposal (“RfP”) phases. b) Support ADB in assisting GoSL in negotiating with potential bidders. c) Join meetings, pre-qualification conferences, bid conferences, and others as required. d) Support ADB and GoSL in the bid evaluation process and in particular conduct evaluation of technical proposals and bids to advise on compliance with technical requirements. e) Advise ADB and the Government on other technical and financial matters as required during the tendering process. |
Detailed Tasks and/or Expected Output
| The detailed tasks and/or expected outputs are: 1. Data Gathering report 2. Water Balance, NRW Forecast, and Investment Requirement report 3. NRW Technical Feasibility Report 4. Teaser for market sounding meetings 5. PBC draft including technical schedules 6. Prequalification Evaluation Report 7. Evaluation of technical proposal 8. Final PBC signed by the selected private partner All deliverables and communications shall be provided in English. Estimated submission date for each deliverable is subject to adjustments as per the progress in overall project development activities. Hybrid or online meetings may be prioritized for efficiency as the case may be when concurred by ADB. Field visits to be determined by ADB as per the progress in overall project development activities. |
Minimum Qualification Requirements
| Education: A degree in engineering or a related field to NRW and water distribution systems. Experience: • At least 5 years of relevant experience in water supply systems, with a focus on Non-Revenue Water (NRW) reduction, water loss management, and technical project development. • Proven experience in leading the technical aspects of large-scale water infrastructure projects, particularly in developing countries. • Expertise in GIS mapping, water balance modeling, and developing technical feasibility reports. • Experience with market soundings and private sector engagement for infrastructure projects, especially in water supply and NRW sectors. • Experience in working with PPPs and/or Performance Based Contracts. • Experience in working on water distribution projects in Sri Lanka and Asia Pacific region. • Knowledge of digital technologies in water systems, including smart metering and data analytics, will be an advantage. Language Skills: Proficiency in English (both written and spoken) is required. |
