EOI for Selection of Agency to Conduct National Level Study on Municipal Solid Waste Characteristics in Indian Cities

Job Description

About the EOI

CITIIS 2.0 is the second phase of the CITIIS program, conceived by MoHUA in collaboration with AFD, KfW, EU, and NIUA. NIUA invites proposals from reputed Technical Institutes to conduct a national study on municipal solid waste characteristics. The last national waste characterisation exercise was done by CPCB in 2004-05, covering 59 cities, so the data is dated. The study sits under Component 3 of CITIIS 2.0.

Objectives

• Field-based Waste Characterisation & Composition Study across 80 geographically diverse Indian cities (coastal and non-coastal, mega/million-plus, mid-sized and small towns, tourism, industrial, religious and metropolitan typologies), following ASTM D5231-92 (latest version), in two seasonal rounds (pre-monsoon and post-monsoon)
• Generate a current, nationally representative database of waste quantity, physical composition, and physico-chemical characteristics
• Develop a hybrid System Dynamics, Machine Learning and fuzzy-logic based simulation and forecasting model for waste generation and composition
• Build a user-friendly decision-support toolkit and guidance framework for ULBs, State agencies and national programmes

Scope of work (phases)

• Inception: stakeholder engagement, finalisation of 80 cities with NIUA, methodology approval
• National Waste Characterization & Composition Study: secondary data collection, primary data collection (field sampling, household surveys, lab analysis), national database
• Methodology development and model formulation: literature review, forecasting and simulation framework, scenario analysis, validation, decision-support tool
• Guidance document, capacity building and dissemination: toolkit, guidance document, national knowledge product, workshops, policy recommendations

Key study details

• Sampling from three locations: primary collection points, secondary collection points and final dump sites
• Three-stage random sampling (five zones, ward income categories, disposal points)
• Sorting sample size 91-136 kg, using the cone and quarter method
• Household survey in 40 of the 80 cities, about 100 households per income group, 400 entities per city per phase. 48,000 households per phase and 96,000 across two phases.
• Chemical tests at NABL-accredited labs only, following BIS 10158-1982, for 14 parameters (moisture, pH, loss on ignition, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, C/N ratio, calorific value, ash, cadmium, nickel, zinc, lead)

City sample (per phase) Population range No. of cities Samples/city/phase Total samples Mega Cities 6 20 120 Million Plus 12 18 216 5 to 10 Lakh 16 15 240 3 to 5 Lakh 12 12 144 1 to 3 Lakh 12 12 144 50K to 1 Lakh 10 12 120 Less than 50K 12 12 144 Total 80 1128 Duration

• The EOI letter and Section I of the ToR say services will extend up to 15 months
• Another ToR section says the study is expected to take approximately 14 months

Indicative milestones

• Inception, city selection and methodology finalization: 1.5 months
• Study Season 1 (Pre-Monsoon) and secondary data compilation: 3 months
• Interim data analysis, literature review and parameter definition: 1.5 months
• Study Season 2 (Post-Monsoon) and data consolidation: 3 months
• Modelling and simulation development: 2.5 months
• Model run, scenario analysis and validation: 1.5 months
• Tool development, pilot validation, final reporting, dissemination and capacity building: 1 month

Indicative team

• Team Leader / SWM Expert: 1 expert, 45 man-days
• Environmental Expert: 1 expert, 180 man-days
• Data Scientist / Modelling Expert: 1 expert, 60 man-days
• Technical Institute Partner (IIT/NIT/IISc/NEERI/CSIR): 1, 180 man-days
• Regional Field Coordinators: 10
• Field Assessors (Junior): 120
• Field Assessors (Senior): 40
• NABL-accredited Laboratory Coordination: 1, 160 man-days

Key experience required:

• Team Leader: Master’s or PhD in Environmental, Civil or Public Health Engineering or an equivalent field, at least 15 years in SWM planning, 7 or more years leading, and at least two waste characterisation/SWM master plan/DPR assignments for government clients
• Environmental Expert: Master’s in Environmental Engineering or Science, at least 10 years in SWM or environmental assessment, hands-on ASTM D5231 experience in at least 5 Indian cities
• Data Scientist: M.Tech or PhD in Data Science, Systems Engineering, Environmental Modelling or related, at least 8 years in simulation and forecasting
• Technical Institute Partner: nationally reputed institute, principal investigator with 15 or more years, in-house or associated NABL-accredited labs

Eligibility

• Bidder must be a reputed Technical Institute (IITs, NITs, IISc, NEERI, IIFM, IIMs, etc.) with demonstrable experience in environmental studies, municipal solid waste management, field surveys, sampling, testing, analysis and technical reports
• Can bid as a sole bidder or as a JV/Consortium. The Lead member must be a Technical Institute and must hold a minimum 51% share.
• JV/Consortium members are jointly and severally liable
• Section 8 companies can participate if they work under Institutes of national repute and are headed by Professors/Faculty of such Institutes
• Sub-consultants’ experience and qualifications will not be considered in evaluation
• Proof of incorporation or registration, PAN and GST certificates (for both members in a JV)
• Not blacklisted by Central/State Governments/UTs/PSUs (affidavit, Tech Form 2)
• Minimum average annual turnover: INR 4.2 crore (FY 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25). Combined turnover counts for a JV.
• Net worth: positive net worth and net profit in any two of the last three financial years
• Experience in the last 10 years, any one of:
• Three similar assignments of value >= INR 3.5 crore
• Two similar assignments of value >= INR 4.2 crore
• One similar assignment of value >= INR 5.6 crore
• “Similar” means studies with field surveys, sampling, testing and analysis, and report development in sanitation, solid waste management, used water management or air pollution control, climate change, forestry, or other urban environment areas

How to apply

• For more information, please check the link: EOI for Selection of Agency to Conduct National Level Study on Municipal Solid Waste Characteristics in Indian Cities

Organisation: National Institute of Urban Affairs

Listed on the SAMS-STC social-sector RFP board.