CML Water Quality Impact Assessment RFQ 2026 – The Centre for Microfinance and Livelihood (CML), an associate organisation of Tata Trusts, has invited proposals from eligible organisations and firms for an independent Impact Assessment of its Water Quality Programme covering Assam and Tripura.
The assignment will assess the impact of interventions addressing arsenic, iron, fluoride and bacterial contamination and generate evidence-based recommendations for programme improvement, sustainability and potential scale-up.
Important: The deadline for submission is 12 September 2026 at 5:00 PM IST. Interested organisations should act immediately.
About the Opportunity
CML has been implementing a Water Quality and Security Programme in Assam and a parallel water quality initiative in Tripura.
The programme has installed Arsenic Removal Plants, Iron Removal Plants, Fluoride Removal Units and Bacterial Removal Units across communities in the two states.
The independent impact assessment will document and quantify changes resulting from these interventions and examine their contribution to safe drinking water practices, community ownership and sustainability.
Geographic Coverage
The assessment covers:
Assam:
- Kamrup
- Nalbari
- Additional programme locations covered under source-based interventions
Tripura:
- Dhalai
- North Tripura
The programme has interventions across approximately 200 villages in Assam and 60 villages in Tripura.
Objectives of the Impact Assessment
The assessment will seek to:
- Assess and quantify changes among beneficiary households and communities resulting from the water-treatment interventions.
- Assess the usage of Point of Use filters for arsenic removal.
- Examine the adoption of purified water supplied through Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) systems treated through CML-installed units.
- Assess changes in household and community behaviour around safe drinking water practices.
- Examine community ownership and the functioning of Water User Committees and local caretakers.
- Assess the collection of community water tariffs.
- Develop actionable recommendations for strengthening adoption, behaviour change, ownership and sustainability.
Key Areas of Assessment
The assignment will examine three major thematic areas:
Adoption of JJM Water
The assessment will examine the extent of usage of water treated through CML-installed purification units, reasons for adoption or non-adoption and continued use of alternative water sources.
Behaviour Change
The study will assess changes in household practices relating to water collection, storage and consumption and the extent to which these changes can be attributed to the programme.
Ownership and Sustainability
The assessment will examine the functioning of Water User Committees, local arrangements for operation and maintenance and the regularity of community water tariff collection.
Who Can Apply?
Eligible bidding organisations may include:
- Registered societies
- Trusts
- Section 8 companies
- Consultancy organisations or firms
Applicants should have at least three years of experience conducting social or development-sector impact assessments.
Relevant experience in areas such as WASH, water security or public health will be particularly useful.
Demonstrated field experience in Assam, Tripura or the wider Northeast region is preferred.
Applicants should also demonstrate capability in qualitative and quantitative research methods, including household surveys, group discussions and key informant interviews.
Required statutory documents include PAN and GST registration certificates, along with the organisation’s registration certificate.
Team Requirements
The proposed assessment team is expected to include experienced field researchers/enumerators as required.
The RFQ indicates a requirement for approximately 6–8 field researchers/enumerators, with at least four years of relevant experience.
Field researchers should have experience with household surveys, group discussions and key informant interviews and working proficiency in Assamese, Bengali or relevant local languages/dialects.
Budget
Total estimated budget: INR 8,00,000
The budget is inclusive of GST and covers professional fees, field travel, logistics and reporting costs.
Payment Schedule
- 30% on award/mobilisation and submission of the field plan
- 40% on completion of fieldwork and submission of raw data and field summary
- 30% on acceptance of the final report and presentation
Expected Timeline
RFQ issued: 1 September 2026
Last date for submission: 12 September 2026
Selection and award: By 15 September 2026
Field data collection: Third week of September to 15 October 2026
Draft report and presentation: Within 5 working days of field completion
Final report and presentation: Within 5 working days of CML’s comments
How to Apply
Applicants should submit:
- Technical Proposal
- Organisational profile
- Relevant past experience and references
- Proposed methodology
- Sampling approach
- Proposed team composition and CVs
- Work plan
- Separate Financial Proposal
- Required statutory documents
The financial proposal should provide an itemised budget in INR inclusive of GST.
Submission Email:
Subject Line:
RFQ Response – Water Quality Programme Impact Assessment (CML/HR/6687/2026)
Applicants are also required to send the quotation and relevant details to the CML office address specified in the RFQ.
Contact
Mr. Rituparno Chanda
Phone: 8013068581
Email: procurement@cmlnortheast.com
CML Office:
Executive Director
Centre for Microfinance and Livelihood
An Associate of Tata Trusts
5th Floor, Divine Plaza
Dispur Supermarket
Guwahati – 781006
Official Website
Centre for Microfinance and Livelihood:
Official Tender Page:
https://cmlnortheast.com/Tenders
Why This Opportunity May Be Relevant
This impact assessment opportunity will be relevant to organisations and research agencies with experience in WASH, water security, public health, social impact assessment and community-based research.
The assignment covers communities across Assam and Tripura and combines quantitative and qualitative research, household surveys, community consultations and assessment of institutional sustainability.
Organisations with established field capabilities in the Northeast may therefore find this a particularly relevant opportunity.
Important Note
This is an RFQ for an impact assessment service and is not a conventional grant programme.
Applicants should carefully review the complete RFQ and independently verify all requirements with CML before submitting a proposal.
The deadline is 12 September 2026 at 5:00 PM IST.
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