Geohydrological and archeological analysis for the HydroConnect project

Terms of Reference (ToR)

Geohydrological and archeological analysis for “Global Hydroconnectivities beyond Ocean, Seas and Rivers” ERC-funded project

September 2025

Background
The “Global Hydroconnectivities beyond Ocean, Seas and Rivers” (HydroConnect) project represents an anthropological study with multidisciplinary feedback circuits from archaeology, geology and geohydrology to advance knowledge of islands without surface water sources in the era of rising sea levels.  The aim is to examine how coastal aquifers have been crucial in the Indo-Pacific region, and how Indigenous knowledge that secured continued access to these fresh water sources made large-scale migration and settlement possible even in times of changing sea levels. The project draws on mixing data from different sources, including land, islands, and seas, offering an in-depth understanding of lifeworlds on the verge of annihilation due to economic and climate precarities.

Islands in the Indo-Pacific are highly vulnerable to climate and sea level changes. The project integrates anthropology, archeology, and geohydrology to answer the question of how human occupation connects to the sea level.

HydroConnect pursues the following objectives:

1. Provide hydrogeological and geomorphological characteristics that control the nature and distribution of coastal groundwater discharge, naturally as springs and seeps or through human impacts
2. Assess the relationship between fresh water well or well-like features and wellfields
3. Cataloging fresh water wells or well-like features
4. Provide a physical and hydrological framework to address the more general study of the project programme

Christian Michelsen Institute (CMI) is now seeking a partner with strong experience and expertise in geohydrology, geomorphology, and water systems in archaeology. The partner will be commissioned with literature review, remote sensing, GIS, geological and archeological fieldwork on 5 selected island settings, ground proofing, hydrochemical samplings and chemical analysis, inventory mapping, cataloging of wells, and mapping of well distributions, reports and publishing. Under these Terms of Reference (TOR), the CMI is looking for scientific and financial proposals from experts that can provide these services and expected outputs as specified herewith.

Objective
The main objective of the assignment is to build archaeological and geological programs that provide a temporal and spatial framework of what is and how it may have changed over time and hence influenced the occupation not only of each island setting, but collectively across a range of widely dispersed islands. A list of the specific islands for data collection will be provided by the Principal Investigator Edyta Roszko who leads the ERC-funded project ‘HydroConnect’.

Geological and archeological fieldwork
The occupation of the oceanic islands is primarily enabled by the presence of fresh groundwater lenses, which are in turn strongly linked to sea levels first reached  prior to the period of initial Austronesian-speakers’ migration. For groundwater availability, island morphology especially relief is a significant factor. The Geological/ Hydrogeological component will provide a physical (geomorphological and hydrogeological) framework for each island study within the perspective of sea level change, topography and water availability.  It will undertake preliminary literature reviews and hydrological studies by means of various remote sensing techniques, including air photo interpretation and SRTM producing digital elevation models etc, with a view to understanding the habitability potential based on geomorphological and groundwater resource mapping of the 5 island sites. While preliminary, it is likely that this work will be an ongoing aspect of the study, as required.

The mapping results will be recorded within a GIS system to enable the production of high-resolution maps and figures characterizing the physical attributes of the islands, including relief central to any analysis. This preliminary understanding will be followed by ground proofing, including water sampling where necessary to confirm and aid the understanding of the islands' hydrology stemming from the literature review and remote sensing. Further analysis, drafting, and writing of reports will be carried out following the inspection of the five islands.

Archeological fieldwork starts with the landscape reconnaissance and the selection up to 5 wells or wells and similar features on each island for cataloging and survey, while linking them to historical accounts of occupation. The landscape reconnaissance will be supplemented with ARS and GIS of wells to analyze and integrate coastal landscapes, human settlements, wells and springs, and hence provide important insights into settlement patterns, human mobility and access to resources.

Timeframe
The timeframe of the assignment will be approximately five years, starting in January 2026. It will be planned in line with the implementation stages of the research (see above) and the timeline suggested below. Dates provided in the timeline provide for indicative deadlines for the completion of the respective stages. The timeframe will be revised and finalized with the successful bidder as part of the contract negotiations.

Conditionality
The contract between CMI and the archaeological and hydrological study providing organization will span the implementation of all ground-proofing of the five selected sites. However, given that part of the work would be undertaken prior to the fieldwork phase, an interim payment may be required within the first 6 months of its start, and additional payments after the completion of each phase/islands report and PI’s positive review.

Roles and Responsibilities
The geological and archeological data collection partner will:

• Collaborate and communicate efficiently with PI Edyta Roszko to understand, discuss, and agree on task requirements and working methodologies.
• Execute all data collection activities, ensuring the data is high-quality, and the collection is timely and efficient.
• Oversee the recruitment, training, and supervision of postdoctoral researchers.
• Manage the logistics and security of fieldwork, ensuring the safety and well-being of all involved parties.
• Submit drafts of TOR-required deliverables to the PI for discussion and comment.
• Deliver cleaned datasets and comprehensive scientific reports and maps in alignment with the agreed timelines and standards.
• cooperate closely with members of the HydroConnect project team who will accompany parts of the ground–proofing fieldwork (i.e. training, sample interviews).

PI Edyta Roszko will:

• Provide clear guidance and direction on the task requirements and working methodologies.
• Actively participate in the enumerator training workshop, contributing to the training material and methodology.
• Continuously monitor the data collection process, assisting with troubleshooting and problem-solving as needed.
• Review and approve all deliverables, providing timely feedback to ensure the smooth progress of the project.
• Foster effective communication and collaboration among all parties involved in the project.
• Disburse installments to the hydrological and archeological data collection partner in accordance with the agreement.

Proposals
The submission deadline for proposals is the 31 October at 23.59pm. All proposals should be submitted electronically as one PDF, and all pieces of the proposal must be labeled clearly. The proposal should include a signed cover page. All documents related to this tender should be in English and all costs should be expressed in Euro. Proposals should contain the following elements:

1. Institutional Capacity (1 -2 page ): The applicant must present in narrative format a description of: (a) institutional profile, (b) the organizational capacity to conduct the scope of work, (c) previous experience conducting similar work including references from previous clients, and (d) the profile of the lead person involved in this project.
2. Scientific Proposal (1-2 pages): The applicant should describe in the scientific proposal their approach for data collection, addressing all the elements listed under “Geological and archeological fieldwork” above.
3. Budget: The applicant should include a budget in excel format. The applicant may use any budget template of their choosing, but it should be broken out by year and include the following details:
1. Standard fee per day or month
2. Per diem and travel
3. Any other relevant costs

CMI will evaluate the proposals received on its technical merit and cost estimates. The review will consider the following general criteria: Institutional Capacity/Institutional Credentials (30%), Technical Proposal (40%), and Cost estimate (30%).

Award of a proposal does not imply acceptance of its terms and conditions. CMI reserves the option to negotiate the final cost and scope of work. Upon failure to reach agreement on the contents of the contract as stipulated in this document, CMI has the right to terminate the negotiations and invite proposals from other providers.

Proposals shall be sent to tender@cmi.no.