Construction of Mwenda Andu Water Supply: borehole, 100m³ elevated tank, kiosk and mains, Nyandarua County

What is being bought

Water Resources Authority invites sealed tenders (Open National Tendering, ref WRA/T/03/2026-2027) for the Mwenda Andu Water Supply in Nyandarua County: drilling, test pumping, equipping and solarising one production borehole, building a 100m³ elevated steel tank, a water kiosk and water distribution mains. The cover page says the tender is reserved for AGPO youth, but the Tender Data Sheet says reservations do not apply, so this must be confirmed with the procuring entity.

Key facts

Closing

Thu 19 Nov 2026, 12:00 pm
Tenders must be delivered to the submission address by 12:00 noon (12.00pm) on Thursday 19 November 2026. No later amendment to the closing time was found in the material reviewed. P

Bid / tender security

Tender security of KShs 350,000.00 as an unconditional bank guarantee from a reputable commercial bank registered by the Central Bank of Kenya, valid 156 days from tender opening, in the format in the Tender Document. D1 p.27

Tender fee

A non-refundable fee of KShs 1,000.00 applies to buy a hard copy set of tender documents, paid in cash or banker's cheque. Documents downloaded electronically are free. D1 p.5

Site visit

Optional
No pre-arranged site visit will take place. Tenderers may visit and inspect the site at their own cost and risk, which is encouraged but not mandatory. D1 p.26

Pre-bid meeting

Optional
No pre-tender meeting will take place. D1 p.26

Reserved for

Cover page and portal say the tender is reserved for AGPO youth, but the Tender Data Sheet says reservations do not apply. Confirm with WRA. Conflicting D1 p.1

Contract value

Not stated in the documents we reviewed Not stated P

Tender opening

Tenders are opened publicly immediately after the deadline at the Tender Box room (Room 1005, 10th Floor, Wing B, Ragati Road), in the presence of tenderers' representatives who choose to attend. D1 p.27

Tender validity

Tenders remain valid for 126 days from the submission deadline. Any extension request is for 30 days beyond the extended validity period for the tender security. D1 p.27

Who can apply

• Tendering is open to all qualified and eligible Water Development Contractors under Open National Tendering. D1 p.5
• A Kenyan tenderer must provide evidence of tax compliance, meaning a valid tax compliance or tax certificate issued by Kenya Revenue Authority. Standard rule D1 p.10
• Foreign tenderers (not registered in Kenya, or registered but less than 51 percent owned by Kenyan citizens) must source at least 40 percent of contract inputs from citizen suppliers and contractors and show evidence of this. This applies only to foreign tenderers. Standard rule D1 p.10

Application checklist

Tick items off as you prepare. Your ticks stay on this device only.

Required from every bidder

• Certificate of Registration or Incorporation. D1 p.29
• Current CR12 for limited companies, not older than the last 6 months. D1 p.29
• Valid KRA Tax Compliance Certificate. D1 p.29
• Valid registration as a Solar PV Contractor with EPRA, Class C or above. D1 p.29
• VAT Registration Certificate. D1 p.29
• Valid NCA registration as Water Works Contractor (NCA 6 and above) and a valid Contractor's Practice Certificate. D1 p.29
• Valid registration as a Borehole Drilling Contractor with the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation. D1 p.29
• Valid AGPO Certificate (YOUTH) is listed as a preliminary requirement, though whether the tender is reserved is disputed. Conflicting D1 p.29
• Valid business trading licence from the County Government. D1 p.29
• Signed declarations on GCF Prohibited Practices and Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (SEAH). D1 p.30
• Original tender security of KShs 350,000.00 in the form of an unconditional bank guarantee. D1 p.30
• One ORIGINAL bid document, with all pages serialised 1,2,3 including cover and attachments, perfect bound. D1 p.30
• Power of Attorney confirming the person authorised to sign for the tenderer. D1 p.30
• Duly filled, signed and stamped Form of Tender. D1 p.30
• Duly filled and stamped Form EQU (Equipment). D1 p.30
• Duly filled and stamped Form PER-1 Contractor's Representative and Key Personnel Schedule. D1 p.30
• Duly filled, signed and stamped Form PER-2 Resume and Declaration for Key Personnel. D1 p.30
• Duly filled and stamped Form ELI-1.1 Tenderer Information Form. D1 p.30
• Duly filled and stamped Form CON-2 Historical Contract Non-Performance, Pending Litigation and Litigation History. D1 p.30
• Duly filled and stamped Form FIN-3.1 Financial Situation and Performance. D1 p.30
• Duly filled and stamped Form FIN-3.2 Average Annual Construction Turnover. D1 p.30
• Duly filled and stamped Form FIN-3.4 Current Contract Commitments/Works in Progress. D1 p.30
• Duly filled and stamped Form EXP-4.1 General Construction Experience. D1 p.30
• Duly filled and stamped Form EXP-4.2(a) Specific Construction and Contract Management Experience. D1 p.30
• Duly filled and stamped Form EXP-4.2(b) Construction Experience in Key Activities. D1 p.30
• Duly filled, stamped and signed Tenderer's Eligibility Confidential Business Questionnaire. D1 p.30
• Duly filled, stamped and signed Certificate of Independent Tender Determination. D1 p.30
• Duly filled, stamped and signed Self Declaration Forms SD1 and SD2. D1 p.30
• Duly filled, stamped and signed Declaration and Commitment of the Code of Ethics. D1 p.30
• Valid borehole drilling contractor registration or licence under the Water Act, 2016 and Water (Resources) Regulations, 2025. D1 p.86
• Evidence of ownership or lease of a drilling rig and compressor meeting the minimum plant requirement. D1 p.86

Experience, licences and financial capacity

Technical

• Experience under construction contracts in the role of prime contractor, JV member, subcontractor or management contractor for at least the last 5 years up to the submission deadline (up to 20 marks, 5 marks per contract). D1 p.31
• Specific experience drilling at least four boreholes of 300 m depth or more, as prime contractor, JV member, management contractor or subcontractor, evidenced by contract, completion certificate and WRMA borehole completion certificates (20 marks). D1 p.31
• Key personnel: Hydrogeologist with a BSc in Geology or Hydrogeology, geological or geophysical logging experience and a valid practising licence (10 marks; all documents needed for full marks). D1 p.31
• Key personnel: Rig Operator with at least a Certificate in Ground Water or Drilling Technology and drilling experience (10 marks). D1 p.31
• Key personnel: Site Engineer with at least a Diploma in civil engineering, building or related field and relevant experience (10 marks). D1 p.31
• Key personnel: Environmental, Health and Safety expert with a degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Studies or OSH, at least 5 years experience, and registration with NEMA with a valid practising lead expert licence (10 marks). D1 p.31
• Drilling rig with mud rotary (direct) and DTH or reverse rotary system, drilling capacity of 500 metres, bit diameter 24 to 8.5 inches (owned 5 marks, leased 3 marks). D1 p.32
• Test pumping unit able to carry out step drawdown test pumping on a borehole (owned 5 marks, leased 3 marks). D1 p.32
• Equipment evidence must be certified proof of ownership (logbook) or lease agreements valid until the tender validity period; full marks for leases only with the equipment logbook. D1 p.32

Financial

• Access to credit or financial resources such as liquid assets or lines of credit of at least KShs 10,000,000.00 (10 marks), shown by a bank letter (addressed to the CEO, Water Resources Authority if a credit line) or audited accounts. D1 p.32
• Audited accounts for the years needed are evidence for the financial score, but the document says both 2024 and 2025 and 2023 to 2025. Conflicting D1 p.32
• A valid ICPAK certificate is needed for the auditor who signs the accounts. D1 p.32

How and where to submit

• Tenders must be physical hard copies delivered to the tender box at the submission address by the closing deadline; electronic tenders are not permitted. D1 p.5
• Electronic tenders are not permitted. D1 p.5
• Submission address: Water Resources Authority, Chief Executive Officer, P.O Box 45250-00100 Nairobi; physical address Ragati Road off Ngong Road, SHA (Formerly NHIF) Building Wing B, 10th Floor, Room No.1005 (Tender Box). D1 p.27
• A tender package or container that cannot fit in the tender box is received at the Supply Chain Management Office, 10th Floor, Wing B. D1 p.27
• The tender must be perfect bound (no spiral binding) and all pages serialised 1,2,3 including the cover page and attachments. D1 p.5
• No extra copies are required beyond the original (the TDS shows copies as N/A). D1 p.27

Lots and categories

• Lot 1: Single contract; no lots are used for this tender. D1 p.26

What the addenda changed

• No addenda were included in the material reviewed. Check for any addenda on tenders.go.ke or from WRA before submitting. Not stated P

Not covered in the documents we reviewed

• Estimated contract value or budget (not found in reviewed pages).
• Bills of Quantities (Section V), specifications (Section VI) and drawings (Section VII) were not reviewed.
• Blank Section III financial figures: construction cash flow amount, minimum average annual turnover, number of years and similar contracts required.
• Performance security amount and timing (ITT 19.7 and the Tender Data Sheet) and any other documents required by the TDS.
• Any addenda, clarifications or later changes to the closing date or submission details.
• Whether the tender is reserved for AGPO youth (conflict between cover and TDS).
• Section IV tender forms and the bank guarantee format.
• The NCA category required for water works (NCA 6 is listed in the checklist but the ToR says the category is set by the Procurement Unit).
• About 175 of 203 pages were not reviewed, including general conditions, contract forms and other parts.

Terms explained

AGPO

Access to Government Procurement Opportunities, a reservation for youth, women and persons with disability registered businesses.

TDS

Tender Data Sheet, the tender-specific section that amends the general Instructions to Tenderers.

ITT

Instructions to Tenderers, the general rules for bidding.

Tender security

Money or bank guarantee submitted with the bid to ensure the bidder keeps its offer and signs if awarded. Here KShs 350,000.

Responsive / non-responsive

A tender that meets all mandatory requirements is responsive. One that does not is rejected without further evaluation.

Preliminary examination

Pass or fail checks of documents before technical or financial scoring.

JV

Joint venture, where two or more firms bid together.

CR12

Company return of directors and shareholders issued by the Business Registration Service.

NCA

National Construction Authority, which registers contractors by category.

Power of Attorney

A signed document authorising a named person to sign the tender for the company.

Lost bore

A borehole that is abandoned because of the contractor's fault. The contractor is not paid for it.

Supervising Hydrogeologist

The person appointed by WRA who approves each stage of the borehole works.

Lowest Evaluated Tender

The tender that passes the requirements and offers the lowest evaluated price.