RFQ- Impact Assessment Of The Water Quality Programme (Arsenic, Iron, Fluoride & Bacterial Removal Units) In Assam And Tripura

Apply by: 12 Sep 2026

Environment, Climate, Energy, Water, Sanitation

1. Background

The Centre for Microfinance and Livelihood (CML), an Associate Organisation of Tata Trusts, has been implementing a Water Quality and Security Programme (WQSP) in Assam and a parallel water quality initiative in Tripura, addressing arsenic, iron, fluoride and bacteriological contamination in groundwater. Under this programme, CML has installed Arsenic Removal Plants (ARPs), Iron Removal Plants (IRPs), Fluoride Removal Units and Bacterial Removal Units across 200 villages in Assam (90 villages in Kamrup and 50 villages in Nalbari, along with additional villages under source-based interventions) and 60 villages in Tripura.

CML now wishes to commission an independent Impact Assessment (IA) of this Water Quality Programme, to document and quantify the changes brought about through these interventions and generate evidence-based recommendations for scale-up, sustainability and convergence with government schemes.

2. Objectives of the Assessment

Assess and quantify the changes observed among beneficiary households and communities as a result of the Arsenic, Iron, Fluoride and Bacterial removal units installed by CML;

Assessment of usage of Point of Use filter for Arsenic Removal

Assess the extent and drivers of adoption of purified water (JJM-supplied water treated through CML-installed units) among target households;

Assess the overall impact of the programme on community behaviour change around safe drinking water practices;

Assess how community ownership has been generated, including the functioning of Water User Committees/local caretakers and the collection of community water tariffs; and

Develop actionable recommendations for strengthening adoption, behaviour change, ownership and sustainability of the installed units.

3. Key Thematic Areas for Assessment

Adoption of JJM water through CML-installed purification units — extent of usage, reasons for adoption/non-adoption, and comparison with alternate water sources still in use;

Behaviour change — shifts in household water collection, storage and consumption practices attributable to the programme; and

Ownership & sustainability — functioning of community institutions (Water User Committees), regularity of community water tariff collection, and local arrangements for operation and maintenance of the units.

4. Scope of Work & Coverage

The assessment will cover a sample of 40 villages, constituting approximately 20% of the total 200 programme villages across Assam

and Tripura, as detailed below:

State District(s) Villages Covered IA Sample (20%)

Assam – Kamrup – Villages Covered: 90 – IA Sample (20%): 18

Assam – Nalbari – Villages Covered: 50 – IA Sample (20%): 10

Tripura – Dhalai / North Tripura – Villages Covered: 60 – IA Sample (20%): 12

Total Villages Covered- 200 and IA Sample- 40

The final list of sample villages will be shared by CML in consultation with the selected agency, ensuring representation across technology types

(ARP/IRP/Fluoride/Bacterial units), districts, and years of installation.

5. Methodology

The assessment is expected to adopt a mixed -methods approach, drawing on both qualitative and quantitative tools, including at minimum:

Group Discussions (GDs) with beneficiary communities/Water User Committees in each sample village;

Interpersonal communication and informal interactions with community members, Jal Mitra (Pump operators) and frontline

functionaries; and

Individual household interviews/surveys to capture quantifiable indicators of adoption, usage, and behaviour change.

Bidders are encouraged to propose an appropriate sampling framework, survey tools and analytical approach in their technical

proposal, in line with the objectives and scope outlined above.

6. Deliverables

Inception note, including finalised methodology, sampling plan and data collection tools;

Cleaned primary data sets (quantitative and qualitative);

A detailed Impact Assessment Report, covering findings against each objective and clear, actionable recommendations; and

A summary PowerPoint presentation of key findings and recommendations, for presentation to CML and its partners.

7. Timeline

Milestone Indicative Timeline

Issue of RFQ 1 September 2026

Last date for submission of quotations 12 September 2026

Selection & award of assignment By 15 September 2026

Field data collection (GDs, interviews, KIIs) Third week of Sept – 15 October 2026

Submission of draft report & PPT Within 5 working days of field completion

Submission of final report & PPT (post feedback) Within 5 working days of CML's comments

8. Estimated Budget & Payment Schedule

Total Budget: INR 8,00,000 (Rupees Eight Lakh only), inclusive of GST, covering all professional fees, field travel, logistics and reporting costs

Payment Schedule

On award / mobilisation – 30% – Trigger: Signing of agreement & submission of field plan

On completion of field work – 40% – Trigger: Submission of raw data & field summary

On acceptance of final report & PPT 30% Submission of final report and presentation,incorporating CML's feedback

9. Eligibility Criteria for Bidding Agencies

Registered organisation/firm (Society, Trust, Section 8 Company, or Consultancy) with at least 3 years of experience in conducting social/development impact assessments, preferably in WASH, water security or public health;

Demonstrated field experience in Assam and/or Tripura, or the wider Northeast region, will be preferred;

Proven capability in qualitative and quantitative research methods, including GDs, KIIs and household surveys; and

Valid PAN and GST registration, including MSME (if applicable)

10. Composition of the Proposed Team

Bidders must field a multi-disciplinary team, with, at minimum, the composition below. Detailed CVs of all proposed key personnel, along with

their specific role on this assignment, must be submitted with the Technical Proposal; this will be a key input to CML’s evaluation of proposals.

Proposed Team Composition (continued):

Team Leader / Research Lead 1 10+ years WASH/public health impact assessments; mixed -methods

Expertise continued: research design; report writing & presentation

Water Quality / WASH Technical Specialist – No. Required: 1 – Minimum Experience: 7+ years

Expertise: Water quality & water security programmes; drinking water treatment technologies

Expertise continued: Water quality & water security programmes; drinking water

Expertise continued: treatment technologies (ARP/IRP/Fluoride/Bacterial removal

Expertise continued: units), preferable to be a civil engineer or environmental engineer

Social Scientist / Behaviour Change Specialist – No. Required: 1 – Minimum Experience: 7+ years

Expertise: Community mobilisation, behaviour change communication,

Expertise continued: gender & social inclusion

Statistician / Data Analyst – No. Required: 1 – Minimum Experience: 5+ years – Expertise: Quantitative survey design, sampling, statistical analysis and

Expertise continued: data management

Field Researchers/Enumerators – No. Required: 6–8 (as required) – Minimum Experience: 4+ years – Expertise: Household surveys, GDs and KIIs; working proficiency in Expertise continued: Assamese/Bengali or relevant local dialects

Bidders may propose an alternate but equivalent team structure, provided the combined expertise and experience levels above are demonstrably met; any such

deviation should be clearly justified in the Technical Proposal.

11. Submission Requirements

Technical Proposal — organisational profile, relevant past experience/references, proposed methodology, sampling approach, team composition & CVs, and work plan;

Financial Proposal — itemized budget in INR, inclusive of GST, in a separate sealed document/file; and

Statutory documents — PAN, GST registration certificate, and registration certificate of the organisat