The Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) has launched Public Call for Tender No. 005/2026 to contract a specialized institution, company, or institute to assess legal and regulatory frameworks, public policies, and institutional capacities for groundwater management at the national and regional levels, including the development of model policies and regulatory tools to support necessary reforms.
The consultancy is part of the project “Towards a better understanding of Amazonian Aquifer Systems for their protection and sustainable management” (GEF ID 11108), funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), implemented by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and executed by ACTO.
The consultancy aims to provide a validated assessment, at both regional and national levels, of legal and regulatory frameworks, public policies, institutional capacities, information governance arrangements, and the socioeconomic dimensions of groundwater management. Based on the gaps identified, the consultancy will develop adaptable model policies, regulatory tools, and prioritized reform roadmaps to support the coordinated, equitable, and sustainable management of the Amazon Aquifer Systems.
The main areas of work include assessing legal, regulatory, and public policy instruments; analyzing institutional mandates, responsibilities, and capacities; identifying gaps and opportunities to strengthen groundwater governance; and examining socioeconomic conditions, gender inequalities, vulnerability, intercultural perspectives, and the rights and knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
The assessment will consider both existing legal and institutional frameworks and their practical implementation, including institutional coordination, information management, monitoring capacities, and the enforcement of public policies.
The consultancy will also produce recommendations and practical tools to support institutional strengthening and necessary reforms, as well as technical inputs for the project’s White Paper and Strategic Action Programme (SAP).
The contract will have a duration of up to nine months from the date of signing and will include four deliverables, subject to the review and validation procedures established in the Terms of Reference (ToR).
Submission of Bids
Eligible participants include institutions, companies, or institutes duly accredited or registered in their respective countries, with the legal capacity to enter into contracts with international organizations and demonstrated experience in water resources management, environmental management, public policies, legal and regulatory analysis, institutional strengthening, governance, or related fields.
Applicants must demonstrate the satisfactory completion of at least three relevant projects within the past ten years.
Interested institutions or companies must submit their bids in three separate, duly identified digital files or folders:
- File 1 – Legal and Tax Qualification Documents: Letter of introduction, incorporation and registration documents, proof of tax and labor compliance, and other documentation required under the Tender Documents.
- File 2 – Technical Qualification Documents: Evidence of relevant professional experience, supporting documentation for at least three completed projects, and the curricula vitae and qualifications of the proposed technical team.
- File 3 – Financial Proposal and Administrative Expenses: Detailed cost breakdown, including direct and indirect costs, applicable taxes, administrative fees, and all expenses necessary to carry out the consultancy.
The legal, tax, and technical qualification files must not contain financial information.
The contract will be awarded based on the Best Technical and Economic Proposal and Administration Expenses, under a fixed-price arrangement, in accordance with the Tender Documents.
Key Dates
Deadline for inquiries: October 15, 2026.
Bid submission deadline: October 23, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. (Brasília time).
Tender opening: October 26, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. (Brasília time).
Bids must be submitted by email to projectosaa@otca.org, using the following subject line, as specified in the Tender Documents:
“Bidding Nro. 005: Assessment and gap analysis of legal, regulatory frameworks and institutional capacities for groundwater management in the region and countries including model policies and regulations toolkits for necessary reforms.”
For complete information on the scope of the consultancy, expected deliverables, eligibility requirements, evaluation criteria, and conditions of participation, please consult Public Call for Tender No. 005/2026 and its annexes, including the Terms of Reference.
