UNDP Zambia RFP: Data and AI Readiness Assessment for LWSC

UNDP Zambia is inviting proposals from a national consulting firm to conduct data mapping, a Data and AI Readiness Assessment, data preparation and implementation planning for an artificial-intelligence-enabled Non-Revenue Water use case with Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company (LWSC). LWSC and UNDP are exploring an AI-enabled Non-Revenue Water Decision Intelligence Platform that can bring together operational systems, improve reporting, identify trends and anomalies, detect water losses, help target interventions and support operational efficiency and revenue recovery. The assignment has an expected duration of 40 working days within an eight-week engagement. It is primarily home or remote-based, with travel to Lusaka and selected government or data-hosting locations as required. The selected firm will assess stakeholders and NRW processes; map data sources, ownership and access; evaluate data quality and readiness; establish an NRW baseline; identify and prioritise one to three AI or analytics applications; assess technical feasibility, infrastructure and integration needs; develop preliminary solution and implementation designs; support data and responsible-AI governance; and conduct a validation workshop leading to a final roadmap. The four deliverables are an inception report and workplan; a stakeholder, NRW process and data-readiness assessment; an AI, technical-feasibility and timbuktoo EDGE assessment; and final recommendations with a Phase 2 roadmap. Payments are linked to UNDP's approval of these deliverables at 20%, 30%, 30% and 20% respectively. No fixed contract value is stated in the public notice. Proposals must be submitted in English through the UNDP Quantum Supplier Portal under reference UNDP-ZMB-00609. The procurement instructions require a two-envelope submission, with the Financial Proposal placed only in the Commercial section. The price must be a lump sum in Zambian kwacha, exclusive of VAT and applicable indirect taxes, and proposals must remain valid for 90 days. Required documents include the completed and signed Proposal Submission Form; completed technical and financial offer forms; a company profile and registration certificate; evidence of relevant completed and ongoing projects with client contacts; completed and signed CVs for proposed key personnel; and tax-clearance or tax-compliance evidence. Applicants without a Quantum supplier profile must register on the portal. UNDP advises interested suppliers to create a draft response to indicate their intention to bid and receive any amendments. Search for negotiation reference UNDP-ZMB-00609 after signing in. Deadline: 29 October 2026 at 06:14 New York time, equivalent to 12:14 Central Africa Time. This is an urgent opportunity, so bidders should submit well before the portal closes.

The bidder must be a legally registered consulting, research or technology firm with at least eight years of organisational experience and at least three comparable assignments completed during the past five years. The firm should demonstrate expertise in public-sector data systems, data strategy, AI readiness, data governance, digital transformation or related advisory work. Experience in Africa and with government institutions, UN agencies or development organisations is required; experience in Zambia is advantageous. The proposed multidisciplinary team must cover data architecture and engineering, AI or machine learning, water and non-revenue-water engineering, GIS or geospatial analysis, data governance, cybersecurity and institutional change. The terms of reference identify, at minimum, a Team Lead or Data and AI Readiness Specialist with a relevant master's degree and at least seven years of experience, and a Data Architect or Data Engineer with a relevant bachelor's or master's degree and at least five years of experience. Bidders must be able to handle sensitive government and utility data under strong confidentiality and security controls. All proposed personnel require CVs and supporting academic or professional documentation. Joint ventures may identify a lead entity using the prescribed submission form, but the bid must cover the complete assignment because partial offers are not permitted.