Malawi’s Roads Authority (RA) is inviting expressions of interest in providing design review and precontract services as well as the supervision of the construction of a $45-million project to rehabilitate the Liwonde–Mangochi road.

The project is to be financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) as part of Phase IV of the multinational Nacala Road Corridor Development Project, which covers several road projects in Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia.

The RA says the services to be provided by the selected consultancy include design review, preparation of bidding documents, tendering and recommendation for contract award, and supervision of the civil works.

Interested consulting firms were requested to provide proof that they are qualified to provide the services, including brochures, descriptions of similar assignments undertaken and the availability of appropriate skills among staff.

Shortlisting criteria include experience in the design and supervision of paved road rehabilitation projects of a similar nature in the last five years and previous experience in the region/country, besides others.

The deadline for the submission of expressions of interest was March 7.

According to the AfDB, the project development objectives are twofold: at regional level, to contribute to improving road transport and trade facilitation along the Nacala road corridor, and, at national level, to improve transport services in the Machinga and Mangochi districts to stimulate local economic activities, including agriculture, tourism and fisheries.
The Nacala Road Corridor Project also covers the ongoing construction of the Blantyre–Zomba road and the Lilongwe City west bypass road, which are being implemented by Portuguese contractor Mota-Engil.

The project also includes the rehabilitation of 348 km of road from Nampula to Cuamba, in Mozambique, 360 km of road from the Luangwa bridge to Mwami, in Zambia, and the rehabilitation of 175 km of road from Cuamba to Mandimba-Lichinga, in Mozambique.