Individual National Consultancy for the technical support in the monitoring and supervision for the construction and rehabilitation of WASH infrastructures for schools and health care facili

Contract

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

Background:

Children and adolescents in Karakalpakstan experience a high incidence of acute intestinal infections over the past decade (188 per 100,000 population), which is 1.4 times higher than the average for the Republic of Uzbekistan. Anaemia prevalence among adolescent girls (10-19 years of age) (31 per cent) in Karakalpakstan was 1.7 times the national average (15 per cent). To address these pressing issues, starting from 2021, a consorcium of UNICEF, UNFPA and UNODC have launched a project "Investing in a resilient future of Karakalpakstan by improving health, nutrition, water, sanitation, hygiene and wellbeing of adolescents and by harnessing the talents of youth during and after COVID- 19" in coopration with MOPE, MOH and Youth Agency.

The project will be implemented in Kungrad, Bozatau, and Muynak districts of Karakalpakstan in 2021-2022. The budget of project is 3.5 mln. USD. The funding is provided by Multi-Partner Human Security Trust (MPHSTF) for the Aral Sea Region. Within the framework of this project, it is planned to improve WASH infrastructure in 15 Schools, provide micronutrient supplementation to students, and improve health education among youth. There will be also WASH infrastructure improvements in 20 HCFs, installation of telemedicine and lab equipment, and strengthening online in-service educational for health professionals. In addition UNICEF will invest in improvment of WASH infrostructure in 8 health car facilities of Termez district of Surkhandarya region.

Under the framework of this work, the Consultant will provide technical assistance to the WASH construction and infrastructure improvement to the selected schools and health care facilities in the Districts of Muynak, Bozatau and Kungrad in Karkalpakstan and Termez distric of Surkhandarya region.

Additionally, within the frame of the GAVI project, the newly constructed vaccine warehouses in Tashkent city and other regions of Uzbekistan require warranty inspection by the construction consultant to monitor the functionality of installed equipment, including air compressors with pipelines and other ancillary infrastructure in warehouses. Based on the results of the regular (bimonthly) inspections, the contractors will rectify all identified shortcomings under the technical supervision of UNICEF’s construction consultant.

Objectives:

Under the overall guidance and direction of WASH Officer, the consultant will support the management and supervision of the WASH construction and infrastructure improvement that comply with the WHO’s and national standards on WASH in schools and healthcare facilities (HCFs), contributing to the quality of infrastructure activities which private sector contractors will execute.

Under the guidance of the Immunization Officer, the Consultant will carry out warranty inspection of cold chain facilities and ensure that all technical issues are timely addressed. The Consultant will provide technical/operational support throughout all the stages of the project implementation to facilitate the management and delivery of results and to strengthen processes that ensure efficiency, quality assurance, and value for money.

The Consultant will contribute to various construction phases, including preparation and evaluation of tender documents, the management of all phases of the construction work, dealing with an array of private construction and consulting firms. The Consultant will also contribute to achievement of concrete and sustainable program/project results according to plans, budget allocation, result based-management approaches, methodology and UNICEF’s strategic plans, standards of performance and accountability framework.

Timeline & Deliverables

Start day of the assignment: Feb 2022

End day of the assignment: Dec 2022

The consultant is responsible for the following deliverables

Tasks:

1. Providing technical guidance, including briefing and updates to supervisor on project related matters

2. Review of the design documents proposed by the hired architectural design firms for the WASH projects, and other infrastructure upgrade and renovation projects, and verification of the respective BoQs, ensure receipt of all expertise conclusion documents for construction sites from respective government institutions

3. Preparation of relevant ToRs and assisting in the preparation/evaluation of tender dossiers for hiring construction companies to execute the works related to the WASH in schools and in health care facilities projects.

4. Preparation of relevant documents and conditions for construction WASH facilities and initiation of construction and renovation 5. Close coordination with the hired supervision consulting firms, monitoring the progress of work carried out by the construction firms for ongoing activities

6. Coordinating with consulting firms and with construction firms to monitor the work progress at all sites and to ensure quality construction work

7. Monitoring and supervision of the construction work related to the WASH in schools and in health care facilities by checking: • The layout of WASH structures and their reinforcement elements before starting with concrete work • The work related to foundations, columns and beams • The quality of construction material used • Plumbing, water and sewage networks, water reservoirs and septic tanks • Electrical works

8. Conducting warranty inspection of the cold chain facilities across the country: - Preparing updates - Identifying technical issues in cooperation with national partners - Technical supervision of the repair works performed by contractors

9. Coordinating with Operations section for processing the payments to the contractors and consulting firms and for additional related contractual terms and conditions

10. Preparing monthly updates/reports for the ongoing/completed activities under WASH projects and cold chain facilities monitoring

11. Participating in coordination meetings with donors and government counterparts

12. To verify the completeness of WASH infrastructure upgrades at 35 project sites and ensure the quality of construction work

13. Providing necessary technical assistance to the Government counterparts during the construction of the WASH facilities and inspection of cold chain facilities

14. Reporting to the supervisors on the carried-out activities

Deliverables:

1. Updates on the ongoing activities are provided daily and during weekly section meetings

2. Design reviewed, discussed and BoQs approved by UNICEF before proceeding with tender for selection of construction firm, ensure all required expertise conclusion documents provided by respective government institutions

3. ToRs for construction works drafted, approved and tender dossiers prepared and published. Tenders evaluated and contracts with construction companies are awarded and signed

4. 1) Letters to state construction agencies responsible for supervision of construction 2) Name and details of construction displayed at each site

5. Weekly coordination meetings are held with hired architectural firms for design and supervision

6. Weekly progress meeting is held between consultant, architectural supervision firms and contractor

7. Regular monitoring visits carried out to the project locations. Reports for all construction sites are received from supervision firms and validated by the Consultant

8. Warranty inspection report with a list of all identified issues Punch list to be developed with local partners Technical supervision reports if repair works are carried out

9. All submitted payments are reviewed and processed in due time

10. Monthly progress reports for both projects are prepared and shared with the supervisor for approval

11. Updates on the progress of works are reflected during joint meetings

12. 1) Verification statement for construction materials and quality of services based on BoQ for 35 project sites 2) Monitoring checklist with recommendations on improvement of construction process/materials

13. Clarifications are given to MOH and MOPE upon request

14. Monthly report including the above-mentioned tasks is prepared and submitted to supervisor for approval

Management:

The Consultant will work under direct supervision of Immunization officer and WASH Officer in close collaboration with the Chief of Child Health and Wellbeing and as well as with identified national partners.

Resource requirements and payments:

The consultant will be paid on monthly basis according to completion of the above-listed deliverables from 1 Feb 2022 to 31 December 2022. The basis for payment will be monthly report with detailed information on deliverables. The basis for calculation of consultancy fee based on the complexity of work, the level of expertise, and the Administrative Instruction (ST/AI/2013/4) on Consultants and individual contractors.

All payments will be made in local currency (UZS) via bank transfer to the Consultant’s account. Should the contract be signed with denomination of fees in US dollars, the settlement will be according to the UN Operational Rate of Exchange in the month of payment.

The final decision on selection of the consultant will be set up based on the “best value for the money” principle. Payments might be partially or fully withheld in case of unsatisfactory performance of duties or failure to provide the deliverables by the agreed deadlines.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

1. University degree in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: civil engineering, construction engineering, architecture or other relevant technical areas; 2. Knowledge of local construction standards and skills. Knowledge of materials, methods and appropriate tools to construct WASH facilities. 3. Knowledge on WASH standards in school and WASH in health care facilities including health care waste management 4. At least 10 years of experience in construction supervision and contract management 5. Knowledge and experience of implementation of innovative and sustainable technologies in resource-scarce settings, e.g., wind, solar powered devices, water filtering, drilling water wells, innovative sanitation facilities etc. 6. Knowledge of UN procurement procedures and tender preparation/evaluation 7. Knowledge of Russian and Uzbek language 8. Knowledge of English is an asset

Procedures and Working Conditions

The consultant is expected to work in close cooperation with the UNICEF, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Public Education. The hired Consultant will be mainly based in Tashkent with frequent travels and site visits to the project locations. Consultant is expected to work from home and from the office. The applicants shall be required to submit a statement of good health prior to commencement of work and to take full responsibility for the accuracy of that statement. Consultants are not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to United Nations staff members. Travel expenses will be paid according to UNICEF rules and regulations. UNICEF will provide a laptop for the purpose of this assignment.

Reservations

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if deliverable(s) incomplete, not finalized or for failure to meet deadlines. UNICEF will reserve copy right of all developed materials and own primary data collected through this assignment. The materials cannot be published or disseminated without prior written permission of UNICEF. UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future. The contractor must respect the confidentiality of the information handled during the assignment. Documents and information provided must be used only for the tasks related to these terms of reference. UNICEF undertakes no liability for taxes, duty or other contribution payable by the consultant on payments made under this contract.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.