Construction of Bwanje Valley Irrigation Scheme Extension Works and Lembani Irrigation Scheme

The Government of Malawi
Ministry of Agriculture
Malawi Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP)
Request for Bids – Works (Two-envelope Bidding Process Without Prequalification)

Country: Malawi
Name of Project: Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP)
Contract Title: Construction of Bwanje Valley Irrigation Scheme Extension Works and Lembani Irrigation Scheme
Credit Number: IDA-E1840
RFB Reference No.: MW-MOA-566643-CW-RFB
Date of Issue: 6th November 2026

1. The Government of Malawi has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP) and intends to apply part of the proceeds toward payments under the contract for Construction of Bwanje Valley Irrigation Scheme Extension Works and Lembani Irrigation Scheme.
2. The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development now invites sealed bids from eligible bidders for the construction of irrigation infrastructure under the following two lots in Malawi:

Lot 1: Bwanje Valley Irrigation Scheme Extension Works (Dedza District) – construction and commissioning of irrigation infrastructure at the Bwanje Valley Irrigation Scheme (approximately 1,446 ha gross / 1,227 ha net irrigable), including headworks, sedimentation facilities, pipelines, road and railway crossings, night storage reservoirs, canals, a flood-protection dyke, roads, scheme buildings, testing, commissioning and handover.

Lot 2: Lembani Irrigation Scheme Works (Neno District) – construction and commissioning of irrigation infrastructure at the Lembani Irrigation Scheme (approximately 489.5 ha gross / 440.6 ha net irrigable), including Lisungwi River headworks, sedimentation facilities, main and distribution pipelines, a pipeline crossing beside the Nacala railway bridge, night storage reservoirs, field distribution and canal works, a flood-protection dyke, roads, scheme buildings, testing, commissioning and handover.

The construction period is expected to be 24 months for Lot 1 and 18 months for Lot 2, followed by a Defects Liability Period of 12 months.

3. Bidding will be conducted through international competitive procurement using Request for Bids (RFB) as specified in the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” dated September 2025, 7th Edition, and is open to all eligible Bidders as defined in the Procurement Regulations.
4. Bids will be evaluated in accordance with the evaluation process set out in the bidding documents. Weightings: Rated Criteria (technical and non-price factors) 60%; Bid Cost 40%.
5. Interested eligible Bidders may obtain further information from the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development – Food Systems Resilience Program, The National Program Coordinator, Email: [email protected] copy: [email protected], [email protected] and inspect the Bidding document during office hours 07.30 to 16.30 hours at Address 1 below.
6. The Bidding document in English may be purchased by interested eligible Bidders upon the submission of a written application to Address 1 and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee of Fifty thousand Kwacha (MK50,000) or equivalent in a freely convertible currency. The method of payment will be on cash basis. The document will be sent by physical/courier or electronic mail.
7. Bids must be delivered to Address 2 on or before 18th December 2026 at 10.00AM local time. Electronic bidding will not be permitted. Late bids will be rejected. The outer bid envelopes marked “ORIGINAL BID”, and the inner envelopes marked “TECHNICAL PART” will be publicly opened in the presence of the Bidders’ designated representatives and anyone who chooses to attend, at Address 2 on 18th December 2026 at 10.00AM local time. All envelopes marked “FINANCIAL PART” shall remain unopened and will be held in safe custody of the Employer until the second public Bid opening.
8. All Bids must be accompanied by a Bid Security of US$600,000 (Lot 1) and US$300,000 (Lot 2), a Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) and/or Sexual Harassment (SH) Declaration, and a Local Labour Method Statement.
9. Attention is drawn to the Procurement Regulations requiring the Borrower to disclose information on the successful bidder’s beneficial ownership, as part of the Contract Award Notice, using the Beneficial Ownership Disclosure Form as included in the bidding document.

Address 1 (inspecting and obtaining the bidding document): The National Project Coordinator, Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP), Off Paul Kagame Road, Opposite MRA Domestic Taxes Offices, P.O. Box 727, Lilongwe. Email: [email protected] Tel: +265 992 380 086, +265 992 305 479. Copy: [email protected], [email protected]

Address 2 (bid submission, delivery and bid opening): The Chairperson, Internal Procurement and Disposal Committee (IPDC), Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP), Off Paul Kagame Road, Opposite MRA Domestic Taxes Offices, P.O. Box 727, Lilongwe.