RECRUITMENT OF CONSULTANT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL POLLUTANT INVENTORY (NPI) FOR SIERRA LEONE

Procurement Number: EPASL/EHS/ RFP/2025/004

 Date of First Issue: 12^th May, 2025

Background

The Government of Sierra Leone through the Environment Protection Agency has secured funds and is seeking to Address the challenges that requires a coordinated approach to pollution management at the national level. In response to these challenges, the Environment Protection Agency of Sierra Leone (EPA-SL) is launching a National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) that will help track the release of contaminants into the air, water, and land, and create a central, publicly accessible repository of pollution data nationwide. This initiative is a critical step towards improving oversight of pollutants and enabling evidence-based policy interventions. The NPI will catalogue a wide range of pollutants grouped into three broad categories:

• Physical pollutants: Material substances such as particulate matter, sediments, plastics, scrap materials, and noise.
• Chemical pollutants: Substances released through chemical processes (intentionally or accidentally); examples include pesticides, excess nutrients, heavy metals, greenhouse gases, petroleum hydrocarbons, emerging contaminants, and acid mine drainage.
• Biological pollutants: Harmful biological agents that contaminate the environment and resources, for example, pathogenic fungi, bacteria, and viruses.

Objectives

The objective of this consultancy is to develop a National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) for Sierra Leone, aligned with international best practices and customised to national needs. The NPI will serve as a decision-support tool for pollution prevention, regulatory enforcement, and public information. The consultant will identify key pollutant sources, compile emissions data, determine emerging pollutants that will inform community exposure levels and health care costs, and recommend measures for improved environmental monitoring and control.

Specific Tasks:

The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks and activities and the scope of the consultancy shall cover five key areas.

1. Capacity Building and Training
2. Desktop Research
3. National Pollutant Data Collection
4. National Pollutant Inventory Report
5. Finalise NPI and draft National Pollution Prevention Plan (N3P) and draw on lessons from global best practices, such as Australia’s NPI, Canada, the USA, and West African Countries, which provide a detailed template for pollutant tracking, including publicly accessible data and stakeholder engagement.

Academic qualifications:

Education:

An advanced degree (master’s or higher preferred) in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Chemistry, Environmental Management, or a related field. Additional qualifications or certifications in data science, information systems, or web development would be an asset.

Experiences:   

Applicants should have strong evidence of knowledge and a minimum of five (5) years of experience in environmental data management, pollution control, and information system development. Given the multidisciplinary nature of the assignment, the successful consultant is encouraged to form a team of experts to cover the various areas of the task.

• Environmental Sector Knowledge: Strong knowledge of industrial processes and pollution in sectors relevant to Sierra Leone. Experience working on similar projects in Sierra Leone on environmental projects is a significant advantage.
• Data Management and Analytical Skills: Proficiency in data collection, statistical analysis, and database design. Skills in using database software (such as MS Access, SQL, or specialized environmental data tools) and data visualization software will be important.
• Training and Capacity Building: Proven experience in conducting training and capacity building, especially in an environmental or technical field. The consultant should be skilled at communicating complex information in an understandable way, developing training curricula, and facilitating workshops. Experience developing user manuals or guidelines is also desired.
• Project Management and Communication: Excellent project management skills, including the ability to deliver outputs on schedule and manage resources effectively. The consultant should have strong interpersonal and communication skills, capable of engaging with a range of stakeholders from government officials and industry managers to community representatives. Experience writing formal reports for government or international organizations is expected, with an ability to produce high-quality, well-structured documentation.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in written and spoken English. All documents are expected to be produced in English.

Evaluation method and criteria

Technical Criteria weight 70%

Financial Criteria weight 30%,

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% of the total technical points (49 points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Financial Proposal:

Financial proposal that indicates all-inclusive fixed total contract price supported by a breakdown of costs (including professional fee, and specified other costs if applicable, but excluding travel costs and DSA).

The international or National consultant/firm is requested to prepare and submit their technical and financial proposal to be submitted to the address not later than 10^th June at (1:30 Pm).

Note: The consultant/firm shall be ranked and the first ranked on the list shall be selected for the proposed assignment given that, their fee rates are within the budget.  The selection process will be based on the Least Cost Selection

Service Required: The Environment Protection Agency SL is soliciting the services of an international Consulting expert /firm to develop a national pollutant inventory (NPI). The Agency has secured its own fund and is therefore inviting International consultants who can provide a statement of capability and experience indicating that they are qualified to perform the service (description of similar assignment, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc.) to submit Technical and financial proposals for the assignment. The Technical Proposals will be publicly opened on [10^th June, 2025] at [1:35 pm], in the presence of the bidders’ designated representatives and anyone who chooses to attend, at the address below.

This advertisement is open to both international and national Consultants.

 Kindly submit the following documents;

• Technical proposal
• Financial Proposal, that indicates all-inclusive fixed total contract price supported by a breakdown of costs (inclusive professional fee and specify other costs if applicable.
• A Cover Letter
• Personal CV indicating educational background/professional qualifications. contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
• Individual / firm Profile
• Samples of previous work/ experience from similar project.

Duration of work:

The assignment is expected to be undertaken within 6 (Six) Months from the date of signing the contract.

Duty Station: Home Base with travelling within Sierra Leone to visit industrial sites and stakeholders in various provinces. Consultant will be responsible for all its logistics

Interested consultant may obtain further information and collect the terms of reference (TOR) at the address below between [9am to 4pm Mondays to Fridays] or send an email to the below email address.

Technical and Financial proposals must be delivered either by hand or mail to the address below on or before [10^th June, 2025] at [1:30 pm],

Proposals along with relevant documents must be submitted in sealed envelope boldly marked: “THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL POLLUTANT INVENTORY (NPI)’’ at the address below.  Late proposal will be rejected and returned unopened. In addition to the original of the proposals, the number of copies required is 2.

WOMEN ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY

Bids must be delivered to the address below or by email to kamara.isatu2000@gmail.com/isatu.kamara@epa.gov.sl and copied to massaquoiabubakar@gmail.com no later than 10^th June,2025.

Executive Chairperson

Environment Protection Agency-SL;

2^nd Floor

38 Freetown Road, Wilberforce Village

Freetown