Terms of Reference (ToR) for Feasibility Studies of Infrastructure Projects on the ACROSS Projects in Kebbi State at Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

We invite applications for:

Title: Terms of Reference (ToR) for Feasibility Studies of Infrastructure Projects on the ACROSS Project in Bagudo and Dandi Local Government Areas of Kebbi State, Nigeria

Locations: Geza, Fingillah, Shiko, Kamba, & Buma - Dandi LGA and Matsinkai, Kende, Tuga, & Kaoje - Bagudo LGA, Kebbi

Introduction

• We are implementing the Advancing Cross-border Resilience and Opportunity for Safety and Stability (ACROSS) Project in Kebbi State in partnership with Northeast Youth Initiative for Development (NEYIF), with funding from the PATRIP Foundation.
• The project aims to catalyze inclusive, sustainable development in rural and semi-urban communities of Kebbi State through community-driven infrastructure planning and investment. Between April and June 2026, participatory infrastructure needs assessments and co-creation workshops were conducted in nine communities across Dandi and Bagudo LGAs. Each community produced a Five-Year Infrastructure Development Plan (2026–2030) containing five prioritized projects. 
• To move from planning to implementation, CRS and NEYIF require feasibility studies for the first two (2) projects of each community (18 projects in total). Given the limited resources and the need for timely progress, a rapid feasibility assessment methodology will be employed. This will rely on community-held knowledge, visual inspections, stakeholder validation, and existing secondary data.
• The output will be a concise, evidence-based report that confirms project viability, refines concept designs, provides realistic cost estimates, and identifies any critical environmental and social safeguards required

Objective of the Consultancy

• The primary objective is to conduct feasibility studies for the complete portfolio of 18 prioritized infrastructure projects across the nine target communities, confirming their technical viability, environmental and social suitability, economic justification, and institutional sustainability.

The studies will provide sufficient information to:

• Make go/no-go decisions on each project.
• Present a compelling evidence base to government and potential funding partners.
• Obtain necessary regulatory approvals such as environmental clearance, building permits, water abstraction permits, etc.
• Prepare Terms of Reference for subsequent detailed design and construction phases.

Scope of Work

• The consultancy will cover all 2 prioritized projects for each of the nine communities, as listed in the Five-Year Infrastructure Development Plans (see Annex A).
• The scope is to produce feasibility-level assessments and documentation, not final engineering designs.

The tasks include:
Inception and Document Review:

• Review all existing community infrastructure plans, needs assessment reports, and any prior technical data (maps, available borehole records, etc.).
• Hold an inception meeting with CRS, NEYIF, and relevant government stakeholders to align expectations, methodology, and deliverables.
• Prepare and submit an inception report detailing the work plan, team composition, data collection tools, and a refined schedule.

Field Assessments and Data Collection:

• The consultant shall conduct comprehensive engineering surveys for all project sites where relevant. These surveys must sufficiently inform conceptual design, accurate quantity estimation, and future detailed design.

They include:

• Visit all nine communities to verify site conditions, land ownership/availability, and community readiness.
• Conduct indicative technical surveys sufficient for feasibility determination, such as: Walk-over site inspections and visual condition assessments, basic topographical reconnaissance (not a full survey; spot levels and cross-sections as needed for cost estimation and flood risk understanding), soil/geotechnical observations (trial pits or auger holes where required for structure foundation types), Hydrological/hydrogeological rapid assessments (stream flow observations, existing borehole yield tests or records, flood level community mapping), solar irradiation data collection for energy components (using satellite data or local weather records).
• Assess the existing infrastructure conditions like buildings, roads, drains, boreholes to determine the scope of rehabilitation and an approximate bill of materials.
• Document environmental and social settings, including any sensitive receptors, using checklists and community mapping.

Stakeholder Engagement and Community Validation:

• Engage with community development associations, traditional leaders, women and youth groups, market traders, school-based management committees, WASH committees, and health facility committees to validate project scope, siting, and desired features.
• Facilitate participatory design validation sessions to ensure the feasibility study captures user needs, accessibility for persons with disabilities, and gender-specific requirements.
• Consult with Local Government Area (LGA) Works Departments, relevant state ministries (Works, Environment, Water Resources, Education, Health, Energy, Commerce), and regulatory agencies (RUWASSA, State Primary Health Care Development Agency, electricity distribution company) to align the feasibility-level proposals with government standards and secure early technical endorsement.

Environmental and Social Assessment:

• Conduct environmental and social screening for each project, using a standardized checklist or rapid assessment tool compliant with national regulations and international good practice.
• For projects with potentially significant impacts, prepare a site-specific Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) containing mitigation measures, monitoring indicators, and institutional responsibilities.
• Ensure the screening and ESMPs address gender, disability inclusion, and community health and safety.
• Produce a simple summary of stakeholder consultations and how feedback was incorporated into the project concept.

Technical Feasibility Assessment:

• For each project, describe the proposed intervention at a conceptual/preliminary design level, including:
• Key dimensions and specifications (e.g., length and width of road, span of bridge, number and size of classroom blocks, borehole depth and estimated yield, capacity of market sheds, lumens and number of solar streetlights).
• Functional layout descriptions (e.g., room arrangement in a health post, stall layout in a market) supported by simple hand-drawn or computer-generated schematics but not detailed architectural/engineering drawings.
• Proposed construction methods and materials, with justification based on local availability and sustainability.
• Identify any major technical risks and propose mitigation measures.

Cost Estimation and Economic Viability:

• Prepare indicative Bills of Quantities (BoQs) and Class D (feasibility-level) cost estimates for each project, based on prevailing unit rates in Kebbi State and lumpsum estimates for grouped items where detailed measurement is not feasible.
• Estimate recurrent operation and maintenance costs over 5 years.
• Highlight any assumptions about community contributions (labour, materials) and their monetized value.

Implementation Planning:

• Propose a realistic implementation schedule for each project, accounting for seasonal constraints (rainy season) and community labour mobilization.
• Identify the next steps required to proceed with detailed design and construction, including additional surveys or assessments needed.

Institutional Capacity and Sustainability Assessment:

• Review existing community management structures (WASHCOMs, School-Based Management Committees, Market Management Committees, Community Health Committees, Infrastructure Management Committees) and their capacity to operate and maintain assets.
• Recommend any training or organizational strengthening required and outline a simple sustainability plan for each project.
• For energy systems (solar boreholes, streetlights), include a maintenance and spare parts plan.

Reporting:

• Produce a stand-alone feasibility study report for each community, clearly structured with an executive summary, site assessments, conceptual project descriptions, ESMP summary, cost estimates, implementation plan, and sustainability plan. The report should include simple schematics, photographs, and maps as necessary to illustrate the proposal.
• Produce a consolidated summary report covering all nine communities, with comparative tables of projects, costs, timelines, and key findings.
• Provide all raw data (survey notes, geotechnical observations, water quality results, cost estimation spreadsheets) in digital format.

Methodology

• The technical proposal should detail the survey methodologies for each type of project, including equipment to be used, number and location of tests, and how data quality will be assured
• The consultant is expected to employ a participatory, evidence-based methodology that includes:
  • Desk review of existing plans and data.
  • Rapid field appraisals using checklists, visual inspections, and community mapping rather than full-scale engineering surveys.
  • Environmental and social screening using rapid assessment tools.
  • Cost estimation based on local market surveys and validated rates.
  • Regular coordination with CRS, NEYIF, and government technical partners.
• The consultants should detail their proposed methodology in the technical proposal, clearly indicating the level of technical detail that will be achieved for each sector (water, transport, buildings, energy, drainage) and how the outputs will meet the "next-step" readiness requirement without detailed engineering designs.

Deliverables

• All deliverables must be of a quality suitable for presenting to government authorities, donors, and other external stakeholders.
• Inception Report (within 2 weeks of contract signing): Detailed work plan, methodology, tools, and timeline.
• Draft Feasibility Study Reports (one per community, plus a consolidated summary): Including feasibility-level technical descriptions, indicative BoQs and cost estimates, ESMPs, implementation schedules, and sustainability plans.
• Community Validation Workshop Briefs (per community): Summary of the validation session, participant list, key feedback, and how it was addressed.
• Final Feasibility Study Reports (3 hard copies per community, plus electronic copies in PDF and Microsoft Word/Excel): Incorporating all review comments. Simple schematics, sketches, and photos should be embedded; no CAD or detailed architectural drawings required.
• Consolidated Final Summary Report: Synthesising findings across all nine communities, with a clear comparative matrix of projects, costs, and implementation sequencing.
• Raw Data Package: All field observation notes, cost estimation spreadsheets, environmental screening forms, and any hydrogeological/geotechnical data collected.

Duration and Timeline

• The assignment is expected to be completed within 8 weeks from contract signing, to accommodate the scope of the surveys across nine communities. The timeline is described below:

A detailed Gant chart is required in the technical proposal.

Consultant Qualifications
The consultancy team should include the following expertise:
Team Leader / Project Manager:

• Advanced Degree in Civil Engineering, Development Studies, or related field.
• At least 10 years’ experience in managing rural infrastructure feasibility studies or similar pre-investment assessments, preferably in northern Nigeria.
• Strong project management and community engagement skills.

Infrastructure Engineer:

• Professional degree in Civil Engineering or related field; COREN registration is an advantage.
• Experience in rapidly assessing multiple infrastructure types (roads, drainage, small buildings, water points) and producing feasibility-level cost estimates and specifications.

Water Supply / WASH Specialist:

• Expertise in borehole condition assessment, solar pumping, and rural water supply.
• Familiarity with WASH infrastructure in northern Nigeria.

Environmental Specialist:

• Experience in environmental screening and preparation of ESMPs for small-scale rural infrastructure.
• Knowledge of Nigerian environmental regulations and international safeguards.

Social Development / Gender Specialist:

• Demonstrated experience in participatory community engagement, gender-sensitive and disability-inclusive design.
• Fluency in Hausa and/or local languages of Kebbi State is highly desirable.

Quantity Surveyor / Cost Estimator:

• Experience in producing indicative BoQs and cost estimates using local market data.
• Familiarity with construction costs in rural Kebbi State is an advantage.

Conclusion

• These Terms of Reference outline a comprehensive yet time-sensitive assignment to produce robust feasibility studies for 18 prioritized infrastructure projects across nine communities in Bagudo and Dandi LGAs of Kebbi State. The engagement demands a highly experienced multi-disciplinary team capable of executing full-scale engineering surveys, participatory design validation, environmental and social assessments, and detailed cost estimation within a compressed 8-week period.
• The successful completion of this consultancy will transform the community-driven Five-Year Infrastructure Development Plans from aspirational roadmaps into bankable, technically validated investment proposals. The feasibility studies will serve as the critical bridge between participatory planning and tangible implementation, enabling Catholic Relief Services, its partners, and the benefiting communities to approach government, donors, and private investors with the confidence that each project is viable, cost-effective, and sustainable.
• CRS invite qualified consulting firms to submit proposals that demonstrate not only technical competence but also innovative approaches to meeting the 8-week delivery schedule without compromising quality. This is an opportunity to contribute to a landmark, community-led resilience-building programme in the rural communities of Dandi L.G. and Bagudo L.G., Kebbi State, Nigeria, with potential for replication and scaling across the region.

Application Closing Date
30th September, 2026 (5pm).

Method of Application
Interested and qualified consulting firms should submit separate Technical and Financial Proposals to: tenders.ngr@crs.org using "NG20303 - ACROSS Infrastructure Feasibility Studies - Kebbi State" as the subject of the mail.

Application Instruction
The Technical Proposal must include:

• Understanding of the ToR and how the proposed approach meets the requirement for full-scale surveys.
• Detailed methodology and work plan, including survey techniques, equipment, and quality control.
• Team composition with CVs of key personnel.
• Evidence of similar experience (minimum three references with contact details).
• Implementation schedule (Gantt chart).

Evaluation Criteria

Annex A: First two proritized projects per community (18 Projects)

Bagudo Local Government Area:
Matsinkai Community:

• Priority 1 Project: Construction of one block of 3 classrooms and rehabilitation of the existing one-classroom block, including sanitation facilities for male and female pupils.
• Priority 2 Project: Construction of drainage channels and embankment for flood water.

Kende Community:

• Priority 1 Project: Construction of Flood control embarkment/Retaining Wall.
• Priority 2 Project: Construction of drainage channels.

Tuga Community:

• Priority 1 Project: Construction of a bridge, drainage, and culverts.
• Priority 2 Project: Rehabilitation of rural roads in the community (approximately 3 km).

Kaoje Community:

• Priority 1 Project: Erosion control through restoration of land destroyed by gully erosion around the Allied Bank area and rehabilitation of damaged drainage channels.
• Priority 2 Project: Rehabilitation of non-functional boreholes for water supply (3 units).

Dandi Local Government Area:
Geza Community:

• Priority 1 Project: Construction of market sheds with 2 VIP toilets and upgrade of existing boreholes to solar-powered.
• Priority 2 Project: Construction of 2 blocks of 3 classrooms (one at Government Day Secondary School and one at Ilela Primary School).

Fingillah Community:

• Priority 1 Project: Rehabilitation of 3 community boreholes.
• Priority 2 Project: Rehabilitation of hospital building and its dedicated borehole.

Shiko Community:

• Priority 1 Project: Construction of an embankment to block and divert flood water.
• Priority 2 Project: Construction of 4 culverts and drainage channels.

Buma Community:

• Priority 1 Project: Upgrade of the flooded access road (approximately 2.5 km) from the highway to the community, including raising, side drains, and culverts.
• Priority 2 Project: Rehabilitation of primary school buildings.

Kamba Town (Semi-Urban):

• Priority 1 Project: Erosion control through construction of drainage channels and repair of broken drainage.
• Priority 2 Project: Rehabilitation of non-functional boreholes, including drilling one borehole.

Note

• The Financial Proposal must provide a fixed-price budget covering all professional fees, survey equipment, laboratory testing, travel, accommodation, community engagement, and incidental costs. The budget should be broken down by major activity and deliverable.
• For any inquiries, please feel free to reach out via: nigeriaprocurement2@crs.org copying: nura.sadiq@crs.org on or before 25th September, 2026.