Mercy Corps – Afghanistan

SCOPE OF WORK

Lifesaving integrated emergency response to

vulnerable crisis-affected populations in Afghanistan
Program-(BHA)

Rehabilitation of Robat-e-Sangi Olya Water Supply Network

in Kushk-e-Robat Sangi District of Herat Province,
Afghanistan
Lifesaving integrated emergency response to vulnerable crisis-affected populations in
Afghanistan-(BHA)

1. Project title:

Rehabilitation of Robat-e-Sangi Olya Water Supply Network.

2. Project Location:
Province: Herat
District: Kushk-e-Robat Sangi
Village: Robat Sangi Olya
GPS Coordinates: Lat: 34.776394, Lon: 62.120369

3. Background:

Afghanistan is facing a severe water crisis due to the combination of climate change, conflict,
and mismanagement. The country is experiencing one of the worst droughts in a decade,
affecting over 80% of its territory and more than 12 million people. The drought has reduced
the availability and quality of water for drinking, irrigation, and hydropower generation.

On 7 October 2023, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck 40 km west of Herat City in Herat
Province, western Afghanistan. Several aftershocks have occurred since, with the initial quake
felt in neighboring Badghis and Farah provinces. UNOSAT identified 491 destroyed structures,
1 potentially damaged structure, and 179 temporary shelters.

Mercy Corps Afghanistan, with the support of BHA, is implementing a program to rehabilitate
the water supply network in Robat-e-Sangi Olya village which is one of the villages hit by the
6.3 earthquake, where 296 families (1362 individuals) live. The village has been facing a
severe water crisis for the last five years, due to the drought and the conflict in the previous
government of Afghanistan. The water network is a gravity-fed system, which consists of a
Kariz water source, a stone masonry water reservoir, and a distribution system. The network
is in poor condition and needs urgent repair. The source is dried, the reservoir is broken and
doesn’t have standard elevation to provide sufficient pressure to the network, and the pipes
are damaged and clogged. The network has been unfunctional for the last five years. And with
the current situation of the earthquake families do not have access to any protected water
source.

The villagers have been relying on an unprotected spring as their alternative source of water.
However, this spring is also contaminated and poses a serious health risk to the population.
The spring is shared by both humans and animals, which increases the chances of waterborne
diseases. Mercy Corps conducted water quality tests of the spring and found out that it has
high levels of E. coli bacteria, which indicates fecal contamination. The physical quality of the
water, such as color, odor, and turbidity, is within the WHO standards, but the bacteriological
quality is unacceptable. The villagers reported that they have been suffering from diarrhea
and other problems due to the poor quality of water.

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4. Purpose and description of the project:

Our program aims to address the critical situation of water scarcity and contamination in
Robat-e-Sangi Olya village, where families are living without access to safe and clean drinking
water. The village has been suffering from the effects of drought and conflict, which have
damaged the existing water supply network and forced the villagers to rely on an unprotected
spring that is shared by animals and humans, in addition this village was struck by the recent
earthquake which caused people to leave the muddy houses and in the tents. The poor quality
of water has caused many health problems, such as diarrhea, among the villagers.

With the intervention of Mercy Corps, the planned rehabilitation of the system is designed
for a period of 15 years which will serve 296 families, delivering over 61.4 cubic meters of
water daily and effectively meeting the needs of 1888 individuals (296 families) in the village.
Exceeding the WHO recommendation of 20-30 liters per person and adhering to MRRD
standards of 25 liters per day per person, we are ensuring more than 32 liters per day per
person, which meets the current basic requirement and future demand. To ensure long-term
sustainability, Mercy Corps is establishing a Water User Committee (WUC) comprising diverse
members to oversee the operation and maintenance of the system. Additionally, we will
equip the WUC with spare parts, pipes, chlorine, and tools for future maintenance. The
previous water supply system is a household connection system in which each household has
a tap. With proper operation and maintenance protocols in place, we believe this project is
positioned for sustainability and durability over the long term.

To improve the situation, we will rehabilitate the water supply network in the village by
implementing the following activities:

• Mercy Corps through another contractor will change the gravity-fed system to a solar
pumping system, which will use renewable energy to pump water from the Indian protected
dug well to the reservoir. This will reduce the dependency on electricity and increase the
reliability and efficiency of the water supply, in addition to having enough water pressure in
the network due to insufficient pressure from the gravity-fed system.

• Mercy Corps through the contractor will re-construct a reservoir on the hill, which will have
a capacity of 30 cubic meters and will be made of reinforced concrete. The reservoir will be
equipped with a water level indicator, an overflow pipe, and regular chlorination by WUC.
The reservoir will ensure enough water pressure and storage in the system, as well as improve
the water quality by disinfecting it with chlorine.

• Mercy Corps through the contractor will dig a protected Indian dug well. This will prevent
any contamination of animals or humans.

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• Mercy Corps will organize a water user committee in the village, which will consist of 5
members representing different groups and interests. The committee will be responsible for
managing and maintaining the water supply network, collecting user fees, resolving conflicts,
and ensuring equitable and sustainable use of water in addition to maintaining the quality of
water by chlorination and regular water quality testing. Mercy Corps will train the committee
members on how to operate and maintain the system, as well as how to monitor and address
any issues or problems.

In addition to rehabilitating the water supply network, we will also conduct hygiene
promotion activities and training for the villagers on how to use and manage the water safely
and efficiently. We will use various methods, such as posters, leaflets, demonstrations, and
quizzes, to raise awareness and knowledge on topics such as handwashing, safe water
storage, proper disposal of human and animal waste, prevention of waterborne diseases, and
the importance of hygiene. By improving the access and quality of water in the village, Mercy
Corps expects this will also improve the health and well-being of the people.

5. Objectives

The objective of this project is to ensure access to safe and sufficient potable water for the
community (296 families – 1888 individuals, it will enhance water quality at water sources, in
addition to providing enough water as per WASH and MRRD standards and improving public
health by prevention of waterborne diseases.

6. Deliverables

6.1. Nature of Contract

This contract includes installation, supply, delivering, testing and commissioning of civil
works, materials, machinery, equipment, for the works that elucidated in this Scope of Work.
Furthermore, as per the attached Technical Specifications and Bill of Quantities. The
contractor will be responsible for all aspects of the project, including design, construction,
testing, and commissioning.

6.2. Description of works.

• Rehabilitation of the water supply network that can provide sufficient and safe water
to the villagers, according to attached specifications, drawings, BoQ and as directed
by Mercy Corps Engineer.
• Construction of a reservoir that can store 30 cubic meters of water, according to
attached specifications, drawings, BoQ and as directed by Mercy Corps Engineer.
• Construction of a protected Indian dug well that can prevent contamination from
animals or humans, according to attached specifications, drawings, BoQ and as
directed by Mercy Corps Engineer.
• Mercy Corps will be organizing a water user committee that can manage and maintain
the water supply network.

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• Mercy Corps will conduct hygiene promotion sessions that can raise awareness and
knowledge on hygiene and sanitation practices among the villagers.

6.3. Transportation of Materials

The contractor will be responsible for arranging and managing the transportation of
materials, ensuring that they are delivered on time, in good condition, and in accordance with
the specifications, and all required facilitations with the checkpoints shall be the Contractor’s
responsibility.

6.4. Testing and checking

All the equipment installed, and work done by the Contractor shall be tested and
commissioned (this includes but not limited, Steel bars, Pipes & fittings). The contractor will
provide the original certificate of origin and/or catalogs for each device/ material/pipe
provided by the contractor. If the Contractor fails to provide the original documents, then a
copy of the certificate of origin will be accepted and Mercy Corps may request to visit the
vendor source of the material to match the certificates of origin. Contractor will provide all
relevant catalogs and certificates of origin of materials, and Mercy Corps reserves the right to
contact the manufacturer. The Contractor shall without additional charge whenever
requested by Mercy Corps supply samples for selection or quality control purposes. Such
supply and the selection by Mercy Corps shall be affected in good time to ensure that no delay
results. All workshop or laboratory tests will be at the Contractor's expense. The Contractor
will provide the results for acceptance by Mercy Corps within 3 days after the testing.
Contractors will provide an updated work plan as per contract and all activities carried out by
contractors are subject to the approval of Mercy Corps supervisor engineer. The final
inspection will include a full running test to ensure proper quality control of the intended
implementation process.

6.5. Materials to be provided.

The materials to be provided are the items that the contractor will supply for the project, such
as pipes, valves, pumps, filters, etc. The contractor will be responsible for ensuring that the
materials are of high quality, meet the specifications, and comply with the relevant codes and
regulations. The contractor will also be responsible for storing and handling the materials
properly to prevent any damage or loss.
The Contractor is required to provide all equipment and materials as listed under the BOQ
and specifications in accordance with the specifications provided to achieve the scope of work
completely and in accordance with the instructions of the Mercy Corps supervision engineer.
All the materials must be from a reputational brand with good quality that fits into the work,
the devices provided by the contractor must be with a minimum warranty of 12 months, and
the warranty documents will be handed over to the Provincial Rural Rehabilitation
Department to ensure proper exit Strategy for Mercy Corps.
Mercy Corps is required to follow USAID requirements on eligibility and compliance.
Therefore, items produced in Iran, North Korea (DPRK), Syria, Cuba, and Sudan cannot be

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considered. Mercy Corps can consider items from other countries in the region as well as
other countries across the globe.

6.6. Coordination to be provided.

The coordination to be provided is the service that the contractor will offer to facilitate the
smooth and efficient implementation of the project. The contractor will be responsible for
coordinating the project activities with Mercy Corps, and Mercy Corps will liaise with the local
authorities, community members, etc. The contractor will also be responsible for resolving
any issues or conflicts that may arise during the project.
All official coordination (letters and meetings) with the relevant stakeholders must be done
through Mercy Corps, and if the Contractor has any concerns or issues, then they should be
delivered to Mercy Corps to take the necessary action. The communication delivery will be in
the form of emails or official letters. Any meeting will be conducted between Mercy Corps,
Contractor then the outcomes of the meeting must be written in meeting minutes and
documented with the contract.

6.7. Safety and security at work.

Safety and security at work are the measures that the contractor will take to ensure that the
project is carried out in a safe and secure manner. The contractor will be responsible for
complying with all the safety and security rules and regulations applicable to the project. The
contractor will also be responsible for providing adequate training, equipment, and
supervision to the workers to prevent any accidents, injuries, or damages to the people,
property, or environment.
It is the Contractor’s responsibility to secure the works against vandalism and interference
during the rehabilitation the time till handing over the works officially to the community in
coordination with Mercy Corps, and to take all safety conditions into consideration like using
warning tape, PPE for workers, and signs. The Contractor must also provide PPE to all the staff
in the field to mitigate any infection of COVID-19 within the staff.

6.8. Drawings
The attached drawings are to be understood and considered together with the scope of works
and the price schedule/Bills of Quantities, and further clarifications, if needed, can be
provided by the procurement team. Any modification on the design from the Contractor side
must be communicated to Mercy Corps for prior approval.

6.9. General responsibilities/requirements.

General responsibilities/requirements are the duties and obligations that the contractor must
fulfill as part of the contract. General responsibilities/requirements include:
• Preparing and submitting all the necessary documents, such as reports, invoices, etc.,
in a timely and accurate manner.

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• Cooperate with Mercy Corps Engineers/ Site supervisors in conducting field test
records at any PCC/RCC casting, Concrete temperature test, compressive strength
test, slump test, and pump test.
• Obtaining and maintaining all the required licenses, permits, insurances, etc., for the
project.
• Ensuring that all the workers are qualified, skilled, experienced, and competent for
their tasks.
• Ensuring that all the subcontractors and suppliers are reliable, reputable, and
compliant with their contracts.
• Ensuring that all the work is done in accordance with the contract specifications,
● quality standards, codes, and regulations.
• Ensuring that all changes or variations in scope, design, cost, or schedule are approved
by the Mercy Corps before implementation through proper documentation like
change orders and/or contracts amendments.
• Ensuring that all defects or errors are corrected promptly at no extra cost to the Mercy
Corps.
• Ensuring that all warranties or guarantees are honored in case of any failure or
malfunction of materials, equipment, or systems.
• Ensuring that all environmental and social impacts are minimized and mitigated during
and after the project.
• Establishment and maintenance of contacts with counterparts and other
stakeholders.
• All dismantled equipment is to be handed over either to the community or to Mercy
Corps' pre-identified location. The associated transportation costs will be the
responsibility of the contractor.
• All sites where the Contractor will perform work must remain clean from any kind of
waste during and after the work the waste must be dumped outside the site work and
at the location where authorized by the municipality.
• No claim in this regard will be considered by Mercy Corps in the case of any site
incidences.

6.10. Training of the operators

Training of the operators is the process of providing the necessary knowledge and skills to the
operators who will operate and maintain the water supply system after the project is
completed. The contractor in coordination with Mercy Corps will be responsible for
conducting the training of the operators, in accordance with the Mercy Corps requirements.
The training will cover topics such as operation procedures, maintenance schedules,
troubleshooting techniques, safety precautions, etc. The contractor will also provide manuals
and manuals for the operators.

6.11. Maintenance and water quality testing

Maintenance and water quality testing are the activities that are performed to ensure that
the water supply system is functioning properly and providing safe and adequate water to the
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users. The contractor will be responsible for providing maintenance and water quality testing
services for a specified period after the project is completed, as per the contract terms. The
maintenance services will include regular inspection, cleaning, repair, and replacement of the
system components. The water quality testing services will include sampling, analysis, and
reporting of the physical, chemical, and biological parameters of the water.

Mercy Corps will ensure all the items are functioning properly as they’re in the contractual
clause and the certificate to be handed over to PRRD. The Contractor will provide
maintenance to all the items worked on in the rehabilitation process, the period of the
maintenance is 3 months after the completion date, during this period MC WASH team would
perform repeated visits to the water network making sure all networks have any leakages.
After the completion of the 3 months’ maintenance period, the site would be handed back to
PRRD; with certificates to be submitted for Mercy Corps when a contractor interim payment
request is required.

6.12. Method of statement

The method of statement is a document that describes how the contractor will carry out a
specific task or activity in the project. It includes details such as objectives, scope, resources,
equipment, materials, procedures, risks, controls, etc. A method of statement is prepared by
the contractor and approved by the Mercy Corps before the task or activity is executed. A
method of statement helps to ensure that the work is done safely, efficiently, and effectively.
Mercy Corps contractors are obligated to submit a detailed work plan including all work steps,
to ensure rehabilitation work with minimum effect on water supply during the rehabilitation
period.

7. Timeframe / Schedule
The timeframe/schedule of this project is:
All the works shall be completed within 3 months after the site handover.

8. The Vendor management:

The vendor will be managed by the following Mercy Corps program team:
• WASH Coordinator

9. The vendor will work closely with:

The vendor will work closely with the following Mercy Corps program team:
• WASH Officer
• WASH Assistant

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