The United Kingdom's Department for International Development (DFID) is financing the Africa Community Access Programme (AFCAP). AFCAP is a research initiative designed to address the challenges of providing reliable access for poor communities in Africa. AFCAP is based around a portfolio of research, demonstration and training projects, which identify and support the update of low cost, proven solutions for rural access that maximise the use of local resources. For more information, please visit https://www.afcap.org. DFID has contracted Crown Agents to manage AFCAP.
AFCAP has been approached by the Mozambique National Road Administration (ANE) to support a research consultancy for the mapping of calcrete deposits in Inhambane Province, and the preparation of a classification system for Mozambique calcretes, and specifications for the use of calcrete in road construction.
Objective
The purpose of the project is to build on existing experience of the use of calcrete in road construction in the SADC region. Deposits of calcrete will be identified and mapped using geological and soils mapping, satellite imagery and field investigations, and technical specifications will be developed for its use in road construction.
The objective of the project is to provide guidance to ANE and the Inhambane provincial authorities on the location of calcrete deposits in the province as well as their classification as road building materials and technical specifications for their use in road construction.
Scope of the Services
The project will be managed and funded by AFCAP.
The Consultant will provide the following services:
- Undertake an extensive review of previous research and studies on the use of calcrete in road construction in the region;
- Develop a sampling and testing matrix in line with existing classification systems;
- Develop a draft classification system for calcrete materials found in Inhambane;
- Develop technical specifications for their use in all layers of the road pavement from sub-grade to its use in wearing course and bitumen surfacings;
- Identify and Map Calcrete Deposits;
- Organise and host a two day workshop to review the draft recommendations and outputs of the study;
- Finalise Guidelines including draft classification system, specifications and GIS database.
The total duration of the project is 8 months.
Staff required
The Consultant will be required to provide the following staff:
- Project Manager/Roads Materials Specialist
- Materials Testing Specialist
- Other specialist as deemed appropriate by the Consultant e.g. GIS experts.
All experts should have a minimum of a Batchelor's Degree in the relevant field and must be fluent in spoken and written English. Direct experience of working in Southern Africa and using calcrete materials would be an advantage.
The inclusion of local experts and female experts on the team is encouraged.
The anticipated time input is 110 person days over the duration of the project.
Consultants with relevant research and consultancy capability are invited to express interest in implementing this project. Expressions of Interest from organisations should be no more than 5 pages (excluding CVs) and should include:
- Full contact details
- Relevant areas of expertise
- Examples of similar work (stating the value of projects) with a focus on similar work in other countries of comparable climatic and geographic conditions
- Brief details of the relevant experience of key staff (abridged CVs of no more than 2 pages each may be included as an appendix).
Expressions of Interest should be submitted in English by email to Katie Macleod, katie.macleod@crownagents.co.uk. Expressions of Interest must be submitted by 24th February 2012.