Tender Description

Request for consultancy services (REF: Bay- WASH/2025

Terms of Reference 

HYDROGEOLOGICAL AND GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY FOR BOREHOLE SITTING

Reference:         GREDO – Ground Water Consultancy

Area of Interest:  Hydrogeological, geophysical survey for borehole sitting 

Location: Buulo Haaway, Irinti Yarey, Qurunlow Asharafed, Goofgalool, Buulo Roobow – Baidoa District, Bay Region. 

Position Type:  Consultant/Firm

Duration:         06 days for Re-advertisement

Start Date:       06th October 2025

Closing Date:  11st October 2025

Submission Email: consultants@gredosom.org

Or Sealed bid documents to GREDO Baidoa and Mogadishu offices in a sealed envelope clearly stating the company name and its contact address not later than 3:00 PM on Friday 10 October- 2025.

Introduction

Gargaar Relief and Development Organization (GREDO) is a Somali based national NGO established in 1992 by a group of Somali intellectuals and well-wishers to respond to emergencies and bridge partnership gaps. GREDO is a local non-profit, non-governmental, humanitarian and development organization with its headquarter in Baidoa, another sub office in Mogadishu. The organization also has field offices and operational programs across south central Somalia in 18 districts. GREDO envisions to achieve a prosperous, healthy, and happy society where peace presides and people live with dignity.

GREDO has in depth experience operating in Somalia fragile context and first-hand experience working with local communities delivering a range of humanitarian, recovery, resilience and development interventions with a focus on addressing Food Security, Livelihoods, Nutrition, Health, WASH services, Education, protection, Peacebuilding, governance and advocacy funded by a wide range of donors and partners. GREDO is also a member of the following consortiums and platforms e.g.  Danwadaag Durable Solutions, Leave No Girl Behind (LNGB), BRCiS, NEXUS, GAVi Alliance, GAASHAAN and Somali NGO, Somali Humanitarian HUB, Start network, ICVA, CHS Alliance, GLobalWA, Charter for Change, Somalia Cash Consortium/ECHO HIP, CRHA consortium and BRCiS consortium

To ensure delivery of this mission, GREDO’s WASH department focuses on improving access to clean water services in vulnerable communities across Somalia. It implements projects that include drilling boreholes, rehabilitating and construction of water sources, constructing sanitation facilities, and promoting hygiene awareness.

Background/ Assignment Introduction.

The recurrent drought together with nutrition crises and other natural emergencies combined with poor WASH coverage and influx of internally displaced people (IDP) in target regions of Bay highlights the needs for GREDO to continue providing emergency and sustainable services to vulnerable communities. 

GREDO under the BRCiS-III project, is implementing interventions to booster ecosystem services e.g. Water targeting rural communities prone to droughts and water shortage. The project includes drilling of one new strategic borehole with a distribution network, storage tanks, and water kiosks.

The project aims to provide durable solutions and sustainable WASH services through the drilling of one new strategic solar-powered borehole in rural Baidoa, along with a complete distribution network, including storage tanks, new water kiosks, water troughs, fencing, and other facilities.

Before drilling, GREDO intends to conduct a comprehensive assessment in five villages (Buulo Haaway, Irinti Yarey, Qurunlow Asharafed, Goofgalool, and Buulo Roobow in Baidoa District, Bay Region) to identify the best possible site(s) for the borehole based on groundwater availability and quality. If proper borehole siting techniques, including hydrogeological surveys and groundwater prospecting, are not employed, there is a significant risk of ending up with a dry borehole. To address this challenge, GREDO will hire an individual consultant or firm to conduct a hydrogeological study and groundwater prospecting by performing geophysical surveys in the selected villages to identify suitable sites for constructing the new borehole. The borehole siting and field assessment are planned to be completed before the start of the Deyr rainy season, ideally by the last week of September.

The borehole will be drilled at the most suitable location among the investigated sites, as recommended by the consultant. A complete report will be developed for each site for internal and donor records. Therefore, the objective of this survey is to ascertain whether the drilled borehole will meet or exceed the projected water demand for the next 20 years.

Map of the villages

Scope Of the Work

The Consultant is expected to use both secondary and primary data in the exercise. Secondary data will involve desk study of available information/data on existing boreholes, drill logs, reports, and maps while primary data will be obtained by carrying out field reconnaissance and measurements of existing boreholes and geophysical prospecting within the studied area using a combination of geophysical methods as below described..: The outcome of the consultancy will be a detailed hydrogeological survey report giving details of the findings and recommendations.

Responsibilities of consultant.

• To conduct water resource mapping while also conducting the hydrogeological and geophysical investigation for the optimal sitting of a drinking water borehole in Bay region (Baidoa district) by assessing   Five Villages or sites namely, Buulo Haaway, Irinti Yarey, Qurunlow Asharafed, Goofgalool, Buulo Roobow in Baidoa rural. These target locations are aimed at determining suitability for mechanical drilling of boreholes,

Survey Approaches Required

The hydrogeological/geophysical investigations will be carried out in a multistep approach:

1. Desk study: Review of existing data, topographical maps, satellite images, existing studies and Borehole site investigations in the area, geological reports and maps (if available), borehole and surface water records, etc. 

2. Hydrogeological fieldwork: Detailed reconnaissance survey of project area. (GPS coordinates/P codes, water level measurements, condition of these boreholes, usage and performance, estimation of the hydraulic characteristics from existing well test and aquifer test), vertical geophysical prospecting at known boreholes for calibration purpose: measurement of the real resistivities of geological formations based on the existing borehole logs.

3. Preparing hydro-geological maps which include location of existing boreholes and their water quality.

4. Geophysical measurements  vertical and horizontal electric sounding, vertical electric 3D tomography, EM method and possibly seismic refraction method are recommended for this assignment.

5. Analysis and interpretation of field data for selection of potential sites for drilling

6. Presentation of the results to hydrogeologist/geologist experts from GREDO and Southwest Ministry of Energy, Water, and Resources (MoEWR) for validation of the best possible site

7. Field validation of the site to ensure there is no obstacle for drilling (explanation and agreement with the community, no land tenure or future urban planning issues, access to drilling machine, risk of contamination, …)

Reporting

The final report will be submitted to GREDO after signed off and approval from the Ministry of Energy, Water, and Resources (MoEWR of southwest, Somalia. the report will be a comprehensive account of the whole of the Consultancy; it will review the existing literature and other relevant information, such as drilling logs, satellite images, etc. The report shall include all field data, interpretations and justifications, hydrogeological evaluations, conclusions and recommendations relating to the investigated areas. In addition, appropriate maps, diagrams and data plots shall be presented. Of considerable importance will be an objective assessment of the applicability and success of the methods applied.

The outline table of contents of the final report will be as follows:

• Introduction, review of previous studies and environmental background hydrogeological information of the studied area, including history of groundwater depletion or known changes in quality : mineral content including unharmful –iron- and harmful -fluorides, nitrates…-; and toxic elements such as arsenic ;  bacteriological pathogens.

• Geology and hydrogeology (incl. Inventory of positive and negative boreholes, aquifer characteristics –storage and hydraulic- and well characteristics –sustainable discharge rate- based on available data., and water quality)

• Methods of investigations, including Geophysical Techniques

• Calibration of the geophysical instrument at known boreholes (yield, log) for the geophysic characterization of the geological formations, including the aquifer(s).

• Methods of investigations, including combination of  geophysical methods.

• Geophysical prospecting on different sites.

• Detailed resistivity survey (Wenner & VES) and seismic refraction to delineate the productive aquifer

• Aquifer potential; sustainable yield & Water quality

• Interpretation and comparison of studied sites: aquifer and borehole potentials, Most suitable drilling site and justification , target aquifer(s) for drinking water production, mentioning assumptions, risks and risk management.

• proposed drilling method, with equipment characteristics (incl. estimation of the casing and screen positions)

• Simplified Environmental and societal impact of the drilling and required risks reduction measures

• Conclusion and recommendations

Expected Deliverables

The consultant/firm is expected to deliver: 

• An inception report presenting 1/ the steps and methodology for the assignment against the present Terms of Reference and justifying any difference or discard with the TOR.  

• The implementation plan and requirements for the site investigation. A brief note with the recommended sites selected for borehole reconnaissance and  geophysical survey, for GREDO’s validation before the field deployment, 

• The presentation of the field work, interpretations and conclusions to the GREDO and the water authorities.

• The final technical report

Work Plan

ACTIVITY DESCRIPTIONTime Line-September 2025W1W2W3W4Secondary data collection, review of field documents on existing boreholes and studies, and analysis     Key informant interviews (face to face or remote)    Field work: Reconnaissance of existing boreholes, geophysical prospecting and final validation of the selected site     Presentation to GREDO and  authorities, Reporting    

GREDO responsibilities.

To ensure the assignment is smoothly and successfully implemented GREDO will provide all necessary support including coordination with stakeholders, logistics including during field surveys, local government engagement and other relevant actors, GREDO staff participation and meeting rooms, accommodations at GREDO Baidoa guest house and support in community engagement.

Remuneration and payment.

Based on the financial proposal, the consultant fee will be negotiated  and agreed before formal contract and payments will be based on successful completion of agreed deliverables. Pls note to quote all expenses inclusive e.g. travel cost, accommodation, periderms and other costs during this exercise.

The consultant/firm will be responsible for their own security; insurance while in the field and GREDO will not be responsible for any injuries or damages incurred during the assignment. The costs submitted must be inclusive of all anticipated expenses.

GREDO will select the geophysical surveyor based on their technical competence and experience. 

Mandatory Security Training

The consultant shall be expected to go through mandatory on-line security training and submit the certificate of completion to GREDO before the commencement of the task. Failure to deliver this will lead to an automatic disqualification. GREDO will advise on the security plan on appointment. 

Child Protection/Safeguarding:

GREDO holds zero tolerance for safeguarding misconducts and the agro dealer is responsible to raise awareness of GREDOs child protection and safeguarding policy and to protect children from all forms of abuse, exploitation, harassment, violence and discrimination and report any incident in relation to CP/safeguarding. GREDO is committed to safeguarding the rights of its program beneficiaries, children, girls and women and all GREDO staffs/consultants and contractors have the primary responsibility in protecting those most vulnerable and at risk.

Core Values:

• Integrity

• Commitment 

• Respect,

• Voluntarism

• Neutrality

Requirement (Qualification, Skills and Experience).

GREDO seeks to invite qualified consultants/firms who meet the following requirements to submit their detailed narrative and financial proposal on how to undertake the assignment.

1. Technical proposal on how the assignment will be conducted including methodologies, data analyses and interpretation, reports and schedules. ( List software to be used for analysis) ( 30%)

2. Proven field technical and field experience of Consultant  with Master’s degree in geology, hydrology, engineering geology, physical, or earth science, or in any related field and having good experience of working in this sector. (10%)

3. Consultancies performed in the last 10 years especially with reference letters for each hydrogeological surveys consultancy (15%)

4. Proof of availability of all the equipment’,      personnel and ability to mobilize them on short notice (Include list of equipment, Brand/Manufacturer, CVs of the personnel) to perform the survey. (15%)

5. Submit a detailed financial proposal including all professional fees, report costs and subsistence costs. Please note all costs must be broken down into details (no lump sums, no contingencies etc.) (30%).

Skills Required

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