Re-advertise: INVITATION TO BID

Caritas Switzerland invites all eligible consultancy firm to conduct comprehensive WASH assessment

TENDER NOTICE
Reference Number:	BID NUMBER CACH-CO-3797
Office	Caritas Switzerland, (CACH)
Submission Date	June 2, 2025, before 11:30 AM (or Morning 5:30 local time)
Proposed bid opening Date	June 2, 2025, at 2:00 PM (Afternoon at 8:00 local time) It will be opened at CACH Country Office/AA, Meeting Room

Background Information

Caritas Switzerland (CACH) is an international development and humanitarian organization, a nongovernmental aid agency and member of Caritas International. Caritas works worldwide and adheres to international humanitarian principles (NGO code of conduct). Caritas Switzerland has been supporting various projects/programs in Ethiopia since 1974 and currently the organization is registered by Charities and Societies Agency (License # 3676) according to the proclamation of the country to partake on the objectives WASH, Education, and humanitarian Aid.

CACH is currently implementing a UNHCR funded project entitled “Improve Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services to Persons of Concern (PoC) in Dillo Magala and Dire Megado refugee sites”. The planned WASH response focuses on long-term sustainability and includes Solarization of the Dillo borehole, Phased maintenance of Dillo existing water supply system, Rehabilitation of Megado pressure main line, Water quality monitoring and surveillance, capacity building for WASHCOs/WUAs, latrine construction and hygiene promotion.

Therefore, Caritas Switzerland is seeking an experienced consultancy firm to conduct comprehensive WASH assessment to support and enhance the ongoing efforts of WASH initiatives for Dillo refugee site and its host communities at Borena Zone in the Oromia Region.

The current water supply system in Dillo woreda depends on grid electricity, but the area’s remoteness leads to frequent power outages, making consistent electricity hard to achieve. Furthermore, the high cost of electricity is beyond the woreda water office’s financial capacity. Although there is a generator for backup power, its fuel expenses and environmental impact make it an impractical long-term energy solution.

In Dillo, the woreda population receives water from a borehole (BH) located 44 km away. This is the only source for Dillo town and 6 rural kebeles. This 44 km existing pipeline system has surpassed its design period, creating several leakages and bursts as the pipeline is constructed with PVC, and any break or leak in the mainline impacts the entire water supply network.

The assessment will design borehole solarization, propose maintenance/ rehabilitation plan for Dillo main pipeline and evaluate the existing WASH situation in the Dillo refugee site.

GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. All consultancy firms of category tier 2 and 3 or above who have valid licenses, renewed trade license of 2017 E.C along with a VAT registration certificate and similar work experience can obtain a complete set of bid document/ ToR from Caritas Switzerland Country Office from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM starting from the first date of announcement on public medias until June 2, 2025.
2. Bidders can collect the bid document /ToR in the address given below (bidders shall bring their license or their legal delegation paper for document receiving).
3. Duplicate copies of BID OFFER shall be produced in separate envelopes marked as ORIGINAL and COPY. A sealed envelope carrying the Bidder’s Bid Security Cash Payment Order (CPO) should be included in the envelope carrying the original financial document. Bid security in the form of cash will not be accepted. All envelopes shall then be put in one big envelope together, sealed, stamped and submitted to CACH along with a BID SECURITY only in the form of CPO amounting to 2% of THE TOTAL BID OFFER FOR THE WORKS BEFORE THE DEADLINE OF SUBMISSION.
4. Essential (exclusion) Criteria
   1. Relevant & Valid Renewed licenses for Ethiopian fiscal year of 2017 E.C to operate in Ethiopia
   2. Only tier 2 and 3 or above grades could participate for competency.
   3. Submission of bid security in the name of Caritas Switzerland from a recognized bank only in the form of CPO is a must. No other mode of guarantee or bid security other than CPO will be accepted.
   4. The selection criteria will be based on Technical (70 %) and Financial evaluation (30%)

BID OPENING

The bid will be opened at Caritas Switzerland, Country Office at Addis Ababa, at the presence of bidders and/or their legal representatives who choose to attend on proposed opening date. Only financial offers shall be opened on the date of bid box opening.

TECHNICAL EVALUATION [minimum requirement]

• The consultancy firm should attach their previous works performance letter from GO or NGO in similar types of works, working tools & human resources to execute the activities
• Adequate and elaborated work plan with detailed schedule (Field assessment, designing, specification & BOQ plan) starting from date of agreement signing
• Proposed Methodology for the works in this bid document
• Up-to-date CVs of team members (especially those will be deployed on field assessment, designing and technical teams) detailing relevant experience and references from similar studies conducted in the past three years.
• Experience of the consultancy firm in detail.
• Certificates/recommendations for similar work accomplished by the consultancy firm.
• Profile of the consultancy firm including renewed license with VAT registration certificate
• At least 2-3 of previous work, along with confirmation from the previous client.

FINANCIAL EVALUATION

A detailed cost breakdown in Ethiopian Birr (ETB), including transportation.

All expenses related to the consultancy fee, including proposed days in the field, days for reporting and analysis, stationery, printing, binding, photocopying, etc.

• A narrative breakdown of all costs included in the budget, with a clear indication of whether the budget includes or excludes VAT (The amount of VAT should be calculated from the total costs and should be summed up as a grand cost).