BACKGROUND
	PROJECT OBJECTIVES
	CURRENT STATUS

Gaza is experiencing a serious water shortage, where the demand for potable water significantly exceeds the available supply. The current primary water source is the coastal aquifer that underlies all of Gaza, supplemented by a limited amount of water secured from Mekeroth, the Israeli water company. Groundwater extraction is roughly double the natural recharge. The water table is falling and quality is deteriorating due to seawater intrusion and up-coning of deeper saline water. At the same time, high population densities and a lack of adequate sewerage facilities have resulted in contamination from cesspits, septic tanks, and leaking sewage lagoons. Desalination offers the only viable option for meeting the rapidly growing demands and mitigating the environmental problems associated with over-extraction of the aquifer. As international experience with desalination plants has expanded in recent years, the construction and operating costs have fallen, making the plants increasingly attractive. USAID/West Bank and Gaza is considering financing construction of a desalination plant in Gaza. The mission is seeking technical support through the Water Indefinite Quantity Contract (IQC) for the preparation of all relevant bidding documents and a draft engineer-procure-construct (EPC) and operation and maintenance (O&M) contracts, as well as in bid evaluation and negotiations with the winning bidder.