Environmental Impact Assessment Guidelines

Objective
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a planning process used to help ensure that environmental
matters are considered early in the project planning process, along with the more traditional technical and
economic considerations. The EIA identifies, predicts, interprets and communicates information about
impacts of a proposed project on the biophysical environment (air, water, land, plants and animals) as well
as on the social and economic environment of the people to be affected.
National Water Company (NWC) considered EIA procedure as part of the Project Management Manual
(PMM) as EIA has become one of the most effective tools used for incorporating environmental
consequences into decision-making. This aligns with the Aims as set out the Execution regulations of the
Environmental Law issued in 19/11/1441 H (Royal Decree: No. M/169) : Environmental permitting for
construction and operation of projects.
In addition, NWC issued in 2020 an Environmental Policy Statement to ensure the improvement of the
environmental compliance as per the local regulations. The purpose of the Environmental guidelines is to
ensure:

 All the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) National Water Company (NWC) projects support KSA and
NWCs strategic objectives for Environmental compliance and sustainable development.

 All NWC projects are developed to at least meet the Environmental standards and requirements
within the Jurisdiction that applies to the project including but not limited to Environmental and
Social Impact Assessment (ESIA).

 Through consultation, gain the necessary permits or approvals within the jurisdiction that the project
is located.

 Through appropriate management and compliance meet and report on the successful application of
the requirements as established in the studies, permits or approvals throughout the life of the
project.

 Provide minimum standards of roles and requirements to parties involved on NWC projects and
programs.

EIA and Project Management

EIA is, ideally, an integral part of the overall planning process for projects including water projects. It
confirms that environmental considerations are incorporated into decision-making, along with technical
and economic factors. In order to achieve the desired goals, an EIA shall be developed during the initial
planning and approved prior to design and land acquisition. It seeks ways to maximize the societal benefits
of a project and avoid or reduce unacceptable impacts.
According to the Environment Law and Executive Regulations, the EIA study should include Screening,
Scoping, Baseline Data, Effects prediction, Impact Assessment, Mitigation of Effects, Environmental
Monitoring Plan, and EIA Recommendations for Implementation and Monitoring of Projects in coordination
with all stakeholders and local authorities such as National Center for Environmental Compliance (NCEC) in
KSA. The Generic EIA process that shall be followed is shown in Figure (2).

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 Figure (1): Generic EIA process for a project

Guidelines
The Consultant shall undertake all surveys and assessments for the Environmental Baseline Survey
Assessment (EBSA) study in line with the industry standards, National Center for Environmental Compliance
(NCEC) standards and guidelines and the international standards applicable. The data should be in the
report include at least the following:

 Ambient air quality.

 Climatic and metrological data.

 Noise.

 Soil and groundwater quality.

 Groundwater hydrology.

 Geology and seismology.

 Topography and natural surface drainage.

 Terrestrial ecology.

 Socio-economic information
For all projects that have environment impact (such as sewage network, water storage tank, WTP, STPs,
landfills, discharge to sea etc.), Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) study and report are required for
the purposes of obtaining approval from National Center for Environmental Compliance (NCEC) for the land

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designated for the project and obtaining permits for TSE discharges to the environment, i.e. discharges to
inland watercourse (wadi). The work should be done as per NCEC requirement.

EIA Study Management and Reporting

After the kick-off meeting of the EIA contract, the Environmental Consultant shall submit a Study
Management Plan for approval by NWC, which shall include the following:

 A detailed study schedule with an appropriate work breakdown structure showing Tasks, principal
activities, dependencies and milestones. The schedules shall be prepared in Primavera P6 and
indicate planned and actual % completion for reporting purposes.

 Details of the manpower resources, equipment and laboratory facilities that will be used during the
study.

 Quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) procedures to be applied throughout the execution of
the study Tasks and the production of the various reports.

 Weekly progress reports summarizing the status of deliverables, implementation status against the
project plan, and identifying principal risks and open issues.

 The Environmental Consultant shall participate in progress review meetings held weekly, or at other
intervals appropriate to the level of activity as agreed by NWC.

EIA Project Timeline

 The environmental studies of the projects are required to be completed during initial planning prior
to design and land acquisition and within the study contractual duration. The contractual duration
includes NWC approval and any approvals required from National Center for Environmental
Compliance (NCEC). The study timeline will be specified in RFP of projects.

 Accordingly, the required milestone dates for the completion of the deliverables to be completed
under the environmental studies described in this RFP, and which shall be reflected in the Study
Management Plan as per the following format:
Table (1): Project delivery Milestone Dates

NCEC
Project Starting Date Deliverable Draft Report Final Report
Approval

Scoping Study
Kickoff
Example: STP EBSA*
meeting
EIA study

*Environmental baseline study

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Legislative Framework & Environmental Regulatory
 EIA study shall be in accordance with National Center for Environmental Compliance (NCEC)
regulatory processes and to include a detailed description of the relevant (NCEC) regulatory
processes which will be required for the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and to
obtain all necessary regulatory permits during development of the project.

 The work should be carried out in accordance with Environmental law and related Executive
Regulations and Rules of Implementation document that issued by MEWA as per royal decree No.
M/165 dated on 19/11/1441 H.

 In case of any future change in the environmental regulatory agency, the bidder should follow the
new authorized local agency as per laws.

Qualifications and Activities

The technical Proposal of the bidder shall include Information such as:

 Bidder information (in the format shown in FORM B1: Bidder’s Profile).

 Sub-contractor information (in the format shown in FORM B1: Bidder’s Profile).

 Profile of the Bidder and its sub-consultants.

 Qualifying Project Experience (in the format shown in FORM B2: Summary of Qualifying Project
Experience and FORM B3: Qualifying Project Experience Details).

 Proposal for Execution of the Services including approach and methodology, proposed Execution
Plan, Project team organization.

 Project experience and Curricula Vitae of core team members (in the format shown in FORM B4 and
B5)

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FORM B1: Bidder’s Profile
Separate forms to be completed by the Consultant and Subcontractor

Advisor Name

Ownership structure (Corporation,

partnership, etc.)

Company head office address

Phone

Contact email address

Brief description of the Advisor

Years in Business

Total number of employees

Advisor passed qualification process through

NWC website? (YES / NO)1

Advisors presence internationally

Advisors presence in the GCC region

Proposed role in the Consultant’s team (attach

an organization chart outlining the proposed
structure)

Number of years engaged in providing similar

advisory services as required in this RFP

1
Advisor should be qualified by NWC Consultant Relation Management before submitting the bids. For
qualification, please follow instructions from the below-link:

http://www.nwc.com.sa/English/Business/Tenders/Pages/default.aspx

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FORM B2: Summary of Qualifying Project Experience
Each advisor shall provide a summary of Qualifying Project Experience completed in the last 10 years

Ref. Client In- Country Name of Project Project Details Dura- Comple-
dustry / tion tion Date
Sector (Months
)

FORM B3: Qualifying Project Experience Details

Each advisor shall provide details of each project listed in the Qualifying Project Experience Summary in the
format below:

Advisor Name

Project name

Location

Industry / Sector

Client name

Project type

Contract completion date

Project size (USD ‘000)

Role on the project

Core Team members involved

Scope of work

Provide any additional details

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FORM B4: Project Experience of Core Team Members
Form to be completed for each core team member from each advisor

Advisor firm Description

Name

Role

Project name

Location

Industry / Sector

Client name

Project type

Contract completion date

Project size (USD ‘000)

Team member role on the project

Scope of work

Provide any additional details

(Please add rows for additional projects)

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FORM B5: Format of Curriculum Vitae of Core Team Members

1 Proposed Position Description

2 Name of Firm

3 Name of Staff

4 Profession

5 Date of Birth

6 Years with firm

7 Nationality

8 Years of professional experience

9 Years of advisory experience on

privatisations / procurements

10 Years of advisory experience on similar

projects in the GCC region

11 Membership of Professional Associations

12 Detailed Tasks Assigned

13 Key Qualifications

14 Education

15 Employment Record (Company and date from/to)

16 Project Experience
N
Project Name Primary Role Location

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 1 Proposed Position Description

o.

(add rows, as required)

16 Languages

Language Speaking Capability Writing Capability Reading Capability

17 Certification

I, the undersigned, certify to the best of my knowledge and belief, this CV correctly describes
my qualifications, my experience, and me.

Full name / signature of staff member:

Full name / signature of authorized representative:

Date:

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