RFP: Feasibility Study and Irrigation System Design Consultancy 39 views

RFP N°: SFL/CROP-H PROJECT/FY26/05

Date: September 24^th, 2026

Shelter For Life International (SFL) Headquartered in Minnesota, USA is an international relief and development organization with over 40 years of experience in providing sustainable development and humanitarian assistance in developing countries around the world.

Project background:

Shelter For Life International (SFL) is implementing the Cultivating Resilient Optimization for Productivity in Horticulture (CROP-H) Project using a market-based approach in partnership with multiple stakeholders across the horticulture value chain. This five-year project is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA’s) Food for Progress (FFPr) Project in The Gambia. The project strategic objectives are 1) To increase agricultural productivity in horticulture products while promoting resilient agriculture technologies and techniques; and 2) To expand the trade of agricultural products (domestically, regionally, and internationally) through improvements in the trade-enabling environment.

The program is developing and improving the horticulture value chain through the following four program goals: 1) Increase productivity and output; 2) Expand and improve quality exports; 3) Increase farmer employment; and 4) Improve incomes and standards of living for smallholder farmers in The Gambian horticulture sector.

Purpose:

The purpose of this consultancy is to engage a qualified Irrigation Design Consultant to assess the existing conditions of selected farms and conduct a Feasibility study and drip irrigation system designs for thirty

(30) farms across the six CROP-H intervention regions in The Gambia. The consultancy aims to improve water-use efficiency, optimize irrigation performance, and enhance horticultural productivity through sustainable irrigation solutions.

Overall Objective:

The overall objective of the consultancy is to assess and evaluate the existing irrigation systems and farm conditions and develop efficient, sustainable, resilient, and cost-effective drip irrigation solutions for thirty (30) selected CROP-H farms across the six intervention regions of The Gambia.

The consultancy will generate the required technical information, including water quality assessment, water availability and capacity, assessment of the condition and status of existing irrigation infrastructure, topographical surveys, and farm layouts. Based on these assessments, the consultant will develop conceptual irrigation designs, sketch designs, technical specifications, BoQ and practical recommendations to improve water-use efficiency, irrigation system performance, farm productivity, and long-term operation and maintenance, while addressing the specific water and irrigation constraints of each farm.

The SFL Application Evaluation and Award Committee (“AEAC”) now invites interested individual consultants, consulting firms to submit proposals for the following assignment:

Scope of work

• Conduct comprehensive farm assessments for the thirty (30) selected CROP-H farms, including assessment of farm size, topography, water availability and quality, and existing irrigation
• Evaluate the condition, capacity, hydraulic performance, efficiency, and operational status of existing irrigation systems and identify farm-specific technical, operational, and maintenance
• Develop farm-specific conceptual and detailed drip irrigation designs, including farm layouts, irrigation zones, mainlines, sub-mainlines, drip lines, pumping requirements, filtration, control systems, and fertigation facilities, where applicable.
• Undertake the necessary hydraulic and technical calculations to determine appropriate system capacities, pipe sizes, flow rates, operating pressures, and other design parameters required for efficient and reliable irrigation.
• Prepare technical drawings, specifications, cost estimates, and Bills of Quantities (BOQs) for the proposed irrigation improvements and/or new drip irrigation systems for the selected farms.
• Provide practical recommendations for improving water-use efficiency, irrigation performance, system resilience, operation and maintenance, and sustainable horticultural production across the thirty (30) farms.

Expected Deliverables

Under the supervision of the [Project/Technical Team], the Consultant/Service Provider shall submit or deliver the following:

1. Farm Assessment and Feasibility Report: covering farm size, topography, daily pumping capacity, and the condition and performance of existing irrigation systems for the thirty (30) farms, with practical recommendations and (as applicable) water lab reports annexed.
2. Drip Irrigation Designs and BoQs: farm-specific conceptual and detailed designs with hydraulic calculations, drawings, technical specifications, cost estimates, and Bills of Quantities (BoQs) for each farm.

Duration and Level of Effort

The consultancy period will run from October 15, 2026, to December 15, 2026, all activities inclusive, and note that the timeline may be adjusted based on project implementation needs and approval processes.

Reporting and Supervision

The consultant will report to Mr. Lamin D. Touray, who is the project’s Water and Agricultural Engineer Management Coordinator

Required Qualifications

Interested individual consultants, consulting firms, or service-providing companies should have:

• Advanced master’s degree in irrigation engineering, Water Resources Engineering, or related
• Minimum 5 years of experience in irrigation systems, especially drip
• Experience in Hydraulic
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate participatory training and produce technical
• Experience in CAD softwire specifically in irrigation

Proposal Submission Requirements

Interested applicants are expected to submit:

• Technical Proposal, including detailed methodology and approach; detailed work plan and timeline; relevant experience and past assignments. If applying as an individual consultant, include CV(s) of key personnel; if applying as a company, include company registration/business license, proofs of relevant certifications or accreditations, and at least [2-3] references from similar past assignments with proofs contract documents.
• Financial Proposal / detailed budget (state the currency to be used, based on the country office where the consultancy will take place).

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

• Technical capacity and relevant experience with proofs of contract documents
• Methodological approach
• Workplan and timeline
• Previous engineering works (reports and drawings) specifically in irrigation designs and
• Value for money
• Relevant field experience

Eligible applicants can access the budget proposal form by clicking on the link below: SFL_CROP-H_Budget_Proposal_Form.xlsx

Proposals must be submitted to the e-mail address below, quoting the title of the address as “SFL/CROP-H PROJECT/FY26/05 for Feasibility Study and Irrigation Design Consultancy,”: crophprocurement@shelter.org no later than October 08, 2026, 5:00 PM local time. Late bids will be rejected.

SFL reserves the right to accept or reject any proposals, and to cancel the procurement process and reject all proposals at any time prior to award of contract, without obligation to inform the affected applicant(s) of the ground for SFL’s action.