EARLY MARKET ENGAGEMENT NOTICE

NAME OF PROJECT: MALI WATER SECURITY SUPPORT PROJECT (PASEMa)

SUBJECT: PRELIMINARY CONSULTATION FOR WORKS ON DRILLING EQUIPMENT, STORAGE AND SUPPLY/INSTALLATION OF DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS (4 LOTS)

1. INTRODUCTION

The Mali Water Security Support Project (PASEMa) wishes to initiate a dialogue with market players in order to gather information and opinions on the construction of works, equipment for boreholes, storage works and supply/installation of distribution networks in Mopti/Sévaré and San in Mali. This preliminary consultation aims to gauge market appetite, analyze feasibility, and refine the design of the project to ensure its success.

2. OBJECTIVES OF THE CONSULTATION

The objectives of this approach are as follows:

Gauge market interest in the proposed project.
Gather feedback on key project requirements, risks, and opportunities.
Identify potential private sector partners.
Optimize the structuring of the project before launching a possible call for tenders.

3. PROJECT PRESENTATION

Given Mali’s vulnerability to climate change and other water security challenges, an integrated approach is essential to support economic development and reduce fragility and conflict in Mali. The proposed project will strengthen resilience to drought and floods by supporting sector development through a comprehensive water management approach, focusing on improving access to drinking water supply in continuation of the Kabala investment program in Bamako and priority areas, while protecting related water resources at the sub-basin level. This will be achieved by supporting key climate-resilient water investments for water supply and water source conservation, as well as operational and institutional measures to improve sector performance, including reduction of non-accounted-for-water and support to the definition of priority reforms. The project will not only address immediate water access and quality concerns but also lay the foundation for long-term resilience and contribute to growth in employment and economic activity in the water sector. By supporting these activities, the project contributes to building a more stable and sustainable future for the country, reducing the risk of water-related conflicts, and supporting economic growth in vulnerable regions.

The activities planned for the call for tenders currently being prepared are:

San Center:

The works to carry out the project are defined as follows:

Drilling of boreholes (a separate tender document), works to build a treatment plant, works to rehabilitate the existing treatment plant, works to build storage facilities, works to expand the water distribution network, and works to build household connections.

Mopti/Sévaré Center:

The works to carry out the project are defined as follows:

Drilling of boreholes (a separate tender document), rehabilitation of the existing treatment plant, construction of pumping stations, construction of storage facilities, works to extend the water distribution network, and work to build household connections.

The objectives of the project in the centers of San and Mopti/Sévaré can be summarized as follows:

Strengthen water resources (production),
Securing the long-term supply of safe drinking water in these centers and improving the quality of the water served,
Increase sustainable access to safe drinking water,
To meet the water quantity and quality needs of a growing population.

Expected results:

San Center:
14 productive boreholes drilled,
14 boreholes equipped (electromechanical equipment, power supply, and installation of a remote management system) and connected to the water supply system;
One (1) new raw borehole water treatment plant with a capacity of 10,000 m3/d expandable to 15,000 m3/d completed;
The existing treatment plant rehabilitated,
One (01) new treated water pumping station was built;
One (01) 2,000 m3 water tower was built,
Approximately 135 km of pipeline supplied and laid
Approximately 52 standpipes built,
Approximately 10 hydrants constructed.

Mopti/Sévraé Center:
12 productive boreholes drilled (7 in Sévaré and 5 in Mopti),
12 boreholes equipped (electromechanical equipment, power supply, and installation of a remote management system) and connected to the water supply system;
The existing treatment plant in Mopti rehabilitated,
One (01) new treated water pumping station was built in Sévaré,
One (01) 2,000 m3 water tower was built in Sévaré,
One (01) 2,000 m3 water tower was built in Mopti,
Approximately 245 km of pipeline provisioned and laid,
Approximately 140 standpipes built,
Approximately 29 hydrants constructed.

These works are to be carried out through a call for tenders and are divided into four lots:

Lot No. 1: Works to equip and connect boreholes, processing and storage facilities in the center of San Servia for a period of 18 months;
Lot No. 2: Works to equip and connect boreholes, recovery and storage facilities in the center of Mopti/Sévaré, for an implementation period of 18 months;
Lot No. 3: Supply/installation works for distribution networks and BF in the center of San for a 16-month implementation period;
Lot No. 4: Works to supply/install the distribution and LV networks in the center of Mopti/Sévaré, for an implementation period of 18 months.

For technical and financial aspects:

San Center :

The bibliographic analysis of the hydrogeology of the study area as well as the interpretation of satellite images carried out in the context of the development of the Master Plan, show that the alluvial strip located to the north and north-west of the current well field and to the north of the existing treatment plant would be favorable to the mobilization of groundwater resources depending on the ease of acquiring these lands. and could lend itself to drilling new boreholes.

A detailed hydrogeological study will be required, including geo-electric soundings to confirm the capacity of the aquifer. Drillings 50 to 120 m deep may be drilled in the form of a line or arc with a distance of 150 to 200 m between these drills. The flow rates will be similar to those of existing boreholes, in the order of 40 to 50 m3/h per borehole.

Assuming a flow rate of 40 to 50 m3/h and to meet daily peak demand at the end of the project, the production of raw water will be enhanced by the creation of 17 boreholes (850 m3/h, or 17,000 m3/d, with 20h/d operation).

According to the preliminary study, the mobilization of groundwater resources should not pose any particular problems, and the option of opting only for the construction of boreholes has been retained.

Mopti Center:

The Bani River and its accompanying aquifer is a priori the logical solution of the water resource to be mobilized for the water supply of the city of Mopti over various horizons, despite the constraints linked to the evolution of its watershed over the coming decades (risks of accidental or diffuse pollution caused by the development of agricultural activities in the upstream watershed, urban infrastructure).

It should be noted that direct water withdrawals from the Bani River will require varying degrees of treatment. Water taken directly from the river exhibits significant turbidity during flood periods.

Thus, different food options, in terms of type of resource, can be considered:

Scenario 1: Surface Water Supply Only
Scenario 2: Groundwater Supply Only
Scenario 3: Mixed surface/groundwater recharge (selected scenario).

These three scenarios were compared in more detail in the first phase of the study.

The scenario selected at the end of the workshop to present and validate the first mission (review of the master plans) in October 2019 is Scenario 3: Mixed surface/ground water supply.

Indeed, the dependence solely on surface water carries a certain risk in the event of very high turbidity and in the event of pollution in the Bani River. More generally, for disseminating risks of service interruption, supply from both sources (surface and groundwater) should be considered as an advantage.

In addition, the hydrogeological conditions in the alluvial zone of the Bani River, are favorable for the exploitation and extraction of groundwater. The sandy aquifers, in direct contact with the Bani and Niger, thus ensuring their recharge, allowing flows of about 50 to 80 m3/h per borehole. The water quality is very good (disinfection is sufficient), the depth of the boreholes is only about 50 to 60 m, and the dynamic level of the boreholes does not drop more than to about 25 to 30 m.

Assuming that the production capacity of a borehole is of the order of 60 m3/h, or 1200 m3/d for a 20h/day operation, five boreholes will be needed to cover peak demand in the city of Mopti in 2030, i.e. an additional volume of 6000 m3/d in addition to the daily volume available in the city.

Sevaré Centre:

The technical design of the production reinforcement project for the city of Sévaré is essentially based on the reference framework for technical solutions for groundwater supply.

The town of Sévaré is currently supplied from 5 boreholes, which capture sandy horizons from the alluvial deposits located on the west side of Sévaré, constituting a total resource of about 325 m3/h, i.e. a daily production of about 6,500 m3/d. The aquifers are in direct contact with the Niger and Bani rivers.

Boreholes with a depth of 45 to 60 m each yield 50 to 80 m3/h. The water from the separate boreholes is of very good quality and does not require any specific treatment, apart from disinfection (chlorination).

The mobilization of more groundwater to ensure the production of drinking water in the city of Sévaré in the long term should not come up against any particular hydrogeological constraints. It is possible to drill more boreholes with a daily production of about 1000 to 1200 m3 per borehole in the same area, respecting a distance of 300 to 500 m between boreholes to avoid interference.

4. PROJECT RISKS

Mastery of the technical aspects (quality supervision) has a major influence on the smooth running of the procedure and on the expected results. The technical aspects are relevant before and during the procurement phase and during and after the execution phase.

The need expressed by the beneficiary must be in a form that complies with competitive procedures and is sufficiently elaborate to avoid risks of poor quality of products and services or cancellation of the process. The weaknesses identified at this stage (the expression of need) are:

Inaccurate or inappropriate technical specifications; Most beneficiaries specify dimensional characteristics and do not know how to describe quality specifications; the absence of quality supervision (quality standards not specified in the bidding documents) is often the cause of the reception of bad products;
- Technical specifications written on the basis of suppliers’ catalogues and which lead to oriented contracts; source of complaints and cancellation of some procurement processes;
- Lack of indication in the bidding documents of proof of compliance; Indeed, it is not a question of defining specifications, but at the same time it is necessary to indicate how the verification of conformity will be carried out;
- « Failure » to take into account safety, environmental or end-of-life recycling requirements;
- Difficulty for beneficiaries in drafting Terms of Reference (TORs) that allow for an adequate definition of the need; An evasive description does not guarantee quality and a restrictive description limits the benefit of the provider’s qualification.

The aforementioned defects have a negative effect during the bid evaluation phase as well as during the acceptance phase. Indeed, a bid can only be rejected for nonconformity on the basis of the characteristics set forth in the bidding documents, even if it is realized that it does not meet the desired quality. Likewise, the goods and services supplied by the contract holder may be rejected only if they do not conform to his bid (which has been found to be responsive).

In addition to the above, the risks incurred during the reception are:

Contractual terms of reference that do not take into account the relevant elements of the methodology selected after negotiation in the case of consultants;
- The poor quality of deliverables owing to the inadequate qualifications of the acceptance body, whether for works, supplies, or especially for consultants;
- The lack of interactivity between the beneficiary and the project management unit during the expression of need, the evaluation of bids, and especially during execution (e.g., delays in the provision of work sites and the release of rights-of-way);
- Delay in the execution period because of the lack of rigor in the application of contractual clauses.

Technical risks are rated as medium. Risk mitigation in this component will be achieved through capacity building of component managers and good cooperation between them and procurement specialists.

5. HOW TO PARTICIPATE

Interested parties are invited to engage in the following activities:

— Early Contract Engagement Meeting: works, drilling equipment, storage facilities, and supply/installation of distribution networks in Mopti/Sévaré and San, Mali ;

— Date/Time: 05/19/2025 at 10h00;

— Place: SOMAPEP S.A., Magnambougou Faso Kanu district, opposite the Moroccan Embassy, Bamako (Republic of Mali) – Meeting Room on the 2nd floor of the annex building, Tel. ‪+(223) 20 22 00 26 ;

— Format (virtual/in-person), how to register: Please request the link by emailing coordination3@somapep.ml for companies wishing to participate online.

5. Next Steps

The information collected will allow SOMAPEP-SA to refine the project modalities and adapt the procurement strategy. Any subsequent formal procurement will be communicated through official channels.

6. Contact Information

For more information or to express interest, please contact: