International Consultant in Hydrometerology

Contract

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Background

GCF board secretariat approved a 7-year (August 2018- July 2025) project for Georgia entitled: “Scaling-up Multi-Hazard Early Warning System and the Use of Climate Information in Georgia” (hereafter GCF project). The project is implemented under National Implementation Modality (NIM) with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture (MEPA playing) an executing entity’s/implementing partner’s role for it.

An overall objective of the project is to reduce exposure of Georgia’s communities, livelihoods and infrastructure to climate-induced natural hazards through a well-functioning nation-wide multi-hazard early warning system and risk-informed local action. The GCF project will provide critical climate risk information that would enable the Government of Georgia to implement a number of nation-wide transformative policies and actions for reducing exposure and vulnerability of the population to climate-induced hazards. The project will thus catalyse a paradigm shift in the national climate risk management, climate-proofed disaster risk reduction and early warning approaches. The project innovation and transformative change will also include (a) participatory “Last Mile” communication solutions tailored to the needs of local communities, including CBEWSs; (b) increasing implementation capacities for carrying out cost-effective risk reduction and community resilience measures through such innovative approaches as watershed/floodplain restoration, agroforestry, etc., and combination of structural and non-structural protection measures aimed at reducing exposure and increasing effectiveness of the early warning; (c) combining best available science and local knowledge for vulnerability assessment, hazard and risk mapping, disaster modelling and forecasting; (d) (e) carrying out a comprehensive community, municipal and national-wide awareness raising, education and capacity development activities on multi-hazard risk reduction, including preparedness, response and EWSs.

The project objective will be achieved through three outputs: i) expanded climate-induced natural hazard observation network and modelling capacities secure reliable information on climate-induced hazards, vulnerability and risks; ii) multi-hazard early warning system and new climate information products supported with effective national regulations, coordination mechanism and institutional capacities; iii) improved community resilience through the implementation of MHEWS and priority risk reduction measures.

As a part of the assignment under expanded climate-induced natural hazard observation network, project aims to procure, install and operationalize new hydro-meteorological monitoring equipment. The project will contribute significantly to the establishment/expansion of the national observation network covering multiple climate-induced hazards, including hydrometeorological and agrometeorological network. The observation network of all hydrological, meteorological and agrometeorological variables will be established to provide an appropriate level of spatial resolution of these variables.

At proposal stage, the following equipment was identified as necessary for the expansion of the network: 12 automatic meteorological stations, 73 automatic meteorological posts, 44 hydrological posts, 10 snow measurement stations, upper air sounding equipment (x2), 1 super computer for strengthening early warning system; 4 ii) technical assistance in the expansion of the network in the form of training, technical supervision and O&M.

The purpose of the assignment is to review and finalize detailed specification for air sounding system equipment based on the market research; oversight and monitoring of ICT update; Assist NEA in the procurement and installation of the observation network equipment. In addition, review a set of procedures for O&M of hydrometeorological (including air sounding system) and agro-meteorological observation network. Assess the long –term institutional capacity of O&M for the optimized network.

Throughout 2022-2023, installation of 12 automatic meteorological stations, 73 automatic meteorological posts, 44 hydrological posts, 10 snow measurement stations, 2 upper air sounding equipment and the first quarter of 2023 HPC for the forecasting center is envisaged.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under technical guidance from Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) and direct supervision from Projects Coordinator, the International consultant will be responsible for: i) optimized expanded hydrometeorological observation monitoring network (according to preliminary developed design), including the identification of locations for hydro meteorological stations/posts; ii) reviewed document of technical specification of air sounding system equipment and services to be procured, and the installation of the equipment according to developed technical specifications and iii) technical assistance in the expansion of the network in the form of training, technical supervision in line with O&M strategy and plan for the expended network; iv) ICT update considering requirements of forecasting needs for 7 hazards and NEA and supervision of ICT installation with compliance of ICT ToR. The consultant will work closely with the Project team leader in Hydrometeorology.

More specifically, he/she will:

• Provide technical assistance during installation of hydrometeorological and agromet observation equipment and identification of locations for Hydromet equipment considering forecasting needs for 7 hazards;
• Provide monitoring of hydrometeorological (including air sounding systems) and agromet stations installation and support final acceptance of operationalized hydrometeorological and agromet stations, including support process of Agromet Stations Integration with NEA observation Network.
• Review/revise and finalization of already developed technical specifications of air sounding systems based on market research process.
• Provide technical support during market research process for the procurement of air sounding system (checking bidders offers with ICT ToR), bid evaluation process and installation of air sounding system;
• Support NEA in oversight for the installation and final acceptance of air sounding system in 2 locations;
• Oversight and monitoring of ICT update (checking compliance with ICT ToR) with collaboration with NEA and contracted company taking into consideration O&M procedures and forecasting needs of 7 hazards;
• Review hydrometeorological network O&M plan for the optimized hydrometeorological monitoring networking including optimized institutional arrangements, and financing requirements for O&M
• Review of detailed training curriculum for training to be delivered during the project and identify long- term training needs as part of the institutional capacity development plan.
• Oversight trainings for corresponding staff in the O&M of upgraded hydrometeorological and agro meteorological stations and air sounding systems to be delivered from systems provider’s side and develop trainings report and deliver training reports;

In close cooperation with NEA review and update (as needed) developed document of set of procedures for operation and maintenance of hydrological, meteorological, air sounding systems, agro-meteorological observation networks and ICT infrastructure (SDC project).

Payment will be done in 7 installments and based on completion of deliverables:

15 % as of July 30, 2022

Upon submission and clearance by UNDP Project Team Leader of the Deliverable 1: Reviewed Plan of Hydrometeorological observation network O&M for the optimized hydrometeorological monitoring networking including optimized institutional arrangements, and financing requirements for O&M; Deliverable 2: Training report on delivered trainings for hydrometeorological staff in the O&M of upgraded hydrometeorological observation stations and Deliverable 3: updated/reviewed specifications for air sounding systems based on market research;

15 % as of November 30, 2022

Upon submission and clearance by UNDP Project Team Leader of the Deliverable 4: Mid-term report on installation of hydrometeorological observation network stations and equipment in eleven basins.

10 % as of January 30, 2023

Upon submission and clearance by UNDP Project Team Leader of the Deliverable 5: Reviewed detailed training curriculum for training to be delivered during the project and identify long-term training needs as part of the institutional capacity development plan for hydrometeorological and agrometeorological network and air sounding systems.

20% as of March 15, 2023

Upon submission and clearance by UNDP Project Team Leader of the Deliverable 6: Report on provided support to NEA in market research, bid’s evaluation and selection of winner company, for the air sounding system.

10% as of July 30, 2023

Upon submission and clearance by UNDP Project Team Leader of the Deliverable 7 Reviewed document of SoPs for hydrometeorological (including air sounding systems), agro-meteorological observation networks and ICT (SDC project).

10 % as of November 30, 2023

Upon submission and clearance by UNDP Project Team Leader of the Deliverable 8; Training report on trainings for hydrometeorological staff in the O&M of upgraded agrometeorological stations to be delivered from systems provider’s side and Deliverable 9: Training report on trainings for hydrometeorological staff in the O&M of air sounding systems to be delivered from systems provider’s side.

20 % as of December 15, 2023

Upon submission and clearance by UNDP Project Team Leader of the Deliverable 10: Final report on installation of hydrometeorological and agrometeorological network stations and equipment in eleven basins and Deliverable 11: Report on installation of air sounding systems in two locations.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards.
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

• Ability to work as a part of a team, sharing information and coordinating efforts within the team.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines.
• Very good inter-personal skills and demonstrated ability to engage and work with governmental institutions.
• Strong analytical skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• MSc in Hydrology or water resources engineering or Meteorology and Hydrometeorology (minimum requirement) - 7 Points.

Experience:

• At least 7 years of working experience in the design, installation and management of hydrometeorological networks (minimum requirement) – 10 Points.
• At least 7 years of experience in interpreting and reporting on environmental data and monitoring activities (minimum requirement) - Points 10.
• Proven of experience of conventional and modern equipment and techniques for hydrometeorological data collection, including up-to-date knowledge on remote sensing and data transmission technology (minimum requirement) – 7 Points
• Proven experience of a wide range of different monitoring methods, Hydrometeorological Systems management and the resulting data quality – 6 Points.
• Detailed knowledge of hydrometeorological data management systems – 5 Points.
• Knowledge of the design, installation and maintenance of Hydrometeorological operational monitoring equipment – 5 Points.

Language Requirements:

• Excellent English skills (both written and verbal).

Evaluation:

Offerors will be evaluated based on the cumulative analysis method, against combination of technical and financial criteria. Maximum total obtainable score is 100, out of which the total score for technical criteria (desk review and interview) equals to 70 and for financial criteria – to 30. Offerors that do not meet any of the Minimum Requirements will be automatically rejected, while the rest will form up the long list. Technical evaluation will comprise of desk review and interview stages. Candidates who collect 70% (35 points) of points obtainable as a result of the desk review will form up short list and be invited to the interview. Offerors passing 70% threshold as a result of the interview (i.e. obtain minimum of 14 points) will be recommended for financial evaluation.

Financial Proposal:

Lump sum contracts

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in instalments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the ToR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount. Maximum 30 points will be assigned to the lowest price offer. All other price offers will be scored using the formula (inverse proportion): Financial score X = 30* the lowest price offer/suggested price offer. All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal as well.