National Consultant – To provide infrastructure projects technical support services for UN Women Fiji MCO (Markets for Change - M4C Project) in Fiji

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Contract

This is a National Consultant contract. More about National Consultant contracts.

Background

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

The Fiji Multi Country Office (MCO) covers 14 Pacific countries, with field offices/presence in 6 countries, and six ‘focus countries’ (Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Tonga and Samoa). Each field presence is led by a national Country Programme Coordinator with a Programme Officer in Tonga. UN Women, in partnership with Pacific Islands Governments, regional organizations, CSOs, donors and UN agencies, focuses on delivering within four interlinked programme areas:

UN Women’s Markets for Change (M4C) Project is a multi-year initiative that focuses on ensuring that marketplaces in rural and urban areas in Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. Given that between 60-80% of market vendors are women, with many more women reliant on market produce, the project’s goal is to ensure that marketplaces in rural and urban areas are safe, inclusive and non-discriminatory, promoting the gender, social and economic empowerment of market vendors, with specific attention to the needs and aspirations of women market vendors.

M4C has four main outcome areas: the creation of representative groups in marketplaces, a focus on economic security, the strengthening of local government institutions, procedures and development approach, and the design and building of gender-responsive infrastructure. Project interventions aim to ensure that market vendors will be able to influence decision-making on market management and resource allocation, supporting the economic and social empowerment of market vendors, and the advancement of women market vendors. M4C works with 13 market sites in Fiji, 3 sites in Solomon Islands and 3 municipal and 5 ring road markets in Vanuatu.

Work required under this contract supports Outcome Four, which is the infrastructure component of the M4C Fiji Project.

Outcome Four - Physical infrastructure and operating systems are improved to make markets more sustainable, resilient to disaster risks and climate change, safer and more accessible

The ToC for Outcome 4 is, “improved infrastructure and on-site services that are developed in a gender-responsive manner will contribute to improved social and economic security for women market vendors”.

Output 4.1: Marketplaces reached by the Project are resilient to disaster risks, including climate change

Output activities include assessments of vulnerability of the markets and market vendors to climate and natural disasters and supporting local government / market management to develop disaster risk preparedness plans.

Output 4.2****: Marketplace physical infrastructure promotes safety and access

Information on the Context of the Engagement

UN Women invites eligible National consultants to submit Proposals for the following scope of works.

Services of an individual with tertiary education in technical fields and or urban planning background who is expected to oversee the infrastructural projects to support market infrastructure development in line with project goals and systems in 4 markets in Fiji. All markets are in different stages of infrastructure development; some are currently being built, while others are undergoing various repairs or renovations and others in planning phase.

M4C Fiji has a project team managed by a Project Coordinator, Country Lead. The teams is supported by a regional Project Manager based in the UN Women Fiji MCO office. It is expected that the consultant will work closely with the Fiji M4C Project Coordinator, Country Lead.

UN Women through its Consultant will carry out an assessment of local partners’ ability to undertake desired construction work with transparent and competitive procurement mechanisms. Where the local authorities have sufficient capacity to undertake procurement and construction of work; the Consultant from UN Women will provide technical support. Where the capacity of the Local Councils is not in place to undertake the design, procurement and construction process, UN Women through the Consultant will assist the Council in the contracting process of a reputable company. The UN Women Consultant and M4C Project Coordinator, Country Lead, will work closely with the Councils and the construction contractor on the infrastructure works.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectives of the assignment

Infrastructure development under Outcome 4 will require particularly careful oversight due to the technical nature of the work involved, in all four markets that will have the standard of Category 5 cyclone resistance structures. UN Women, as the implementing agency, will focus particular attention on assisting council in submitting project proposals, tendering procedures, and financial oversight, working with governmental departments and local councils charged with overseeing implementation.

Scope of Work / Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the UN Women M4C Fiji Project Coordinator Country Lead, working in collaboration with the M4C Fiji team, the Consultant will perform and support the following key activities and tasks:

  1. Provide technical support in the design and planning of the market infrastructure plans in consultation with the local government partners.
  2. Ensuring market vendors’ needs, as described in consultation reports are addressed in the design of the market plans.
  3. Ensuring the design of the market infrastructure project is in accordance with the relevant national government standards and global best practice.
  4. Ensure all relevant approvals are obtained from the respective approving authorities in Fiji, and documents are sighted and submitted with the structural plans to M4C Project team as per the UN Women infrastructure checklist.
  5. Ensure Environmental Impact Assessments are carried out and reports made available prior to any market design.
  6. Review existing Environmental Impact Assessments if already in existence with the Local Council.
  7. Ensure market plans are designed in an inclusive, gender inclusive and responsive manner and addresses universal access components.
  8. Ensure technical specifications, drawings and conditions of contract are of preapproved standards of Fiji national standards set.
  9. Highlight any issues/risks prior to designs being approved by relevant authorities including signs of project delays on the ground.
  10. Ensure safety audits, mapping and project design information on infrastructure issues is incorporated into the design, drawings and contract documentation.
  11. Support project team in providing quality assurance technical support of the market Infrastructure projects through joint inspections.
  12. Provide technical support to the local government partners and local contractor (if applicable) to prepare effective construction schedule and advice civil works contractor to follow activities.
  13. Provide support to the local government partners in all construction works to ensure quality of works as per technical specifications, drawings and condition of contract.
  14. Highlight any issues/risks and design in the risk management strategy.
  15. Monitoring construction and quality control methods and certify that quality of works conform to the approved project specifications and drawings, in conjunction with local government assess the adequacy of the contractors input material, labour and construction methods, furnish all revisions and detailed drawings.
  16. Conduct site inspections at all stages of the construction and provide timely reports accordingly.

Duration of the Assignment

The duration of this assignment will be for 8 months with 80 working days capacity. The scope of work will cover 4 markets in Fiji including stakeholder engagement as required, and implementation of plans, plus selected Markets for Change project market sites for assessment and data gathering.

Expected Deliverables

The National Consultant is expected to work with the deliver the following results:

#

Key Deliverables

Time Frame / Key Dates and Tentative # of days required for accomplishment of task

Deliverable due date (tentative)

1

Provide updates/report on support to relevant national government and market vendors in designing and planning of the market infrastructure plans in accordance with the relevant national government standards and global best practice. Highlight any issue/risks prior to design being approved by relevant authorities.

May – June

(7 days)

3rd June

2

Ensure technical specification, drawings and conditions of contract are of pre-approved standards as per Fiji national standards and specific standards set by project document.

8 days

1st July

3

For each marketplace, submission of a written report containing an assessment against the UN Women infrastructure checklist on the elements of a safe, inclusive market infrastructure specific to the needs of the markets in the Pacific.

9 days

1st August

4

Provide updates/report on technical support to the local government partners and local contractor (if applicable) to prepare effective construction schedule and advice civil works contractor to follow activities.

9 days

19th August

5

Provide updates/report on support to the local government partners in all construction works to ensure quality of works as per technical specifications, drawings and condition of contract. Highlight any risk/issue and support risk management strategy.

8 days

9th September

6

Develop a quality assurance and control plan together with its monitoring and enforcement plan for each project.

8 days

22nd September

7

Monitoring report on construction and check that quality of works conform to the approved project specifications and drawings, in conjunction with local government assess the adequacy of the contractors input material, labour and construction methods, furnish all revisions and detailed drawings.

9 days

7th October

8

Completed projects and assessment report on all components and stages of inspections to be submitted one week after meeting/site inspection and collated as annexes to a monthly report.

9 days

28th October

9

Final report containing summary of all work completed as per the deliverables including lessons learnt

(10 pages per market)

8 days

1st November

10

Reporting templates (narrative and financial reporting) for designated markets once projects are completed.

5 days

9th December

1st Tranche payment 20% upon submission of finalised programme and workplan

3rd June

2nd Tranche payment 60% upon submission of the first complete Draft Report with conclusions

4th November

3rd and Final Tranche payment 20% to be done upon submission of invoice and evidence of # of days / outputs covered.

12th December

TOTAL

Up to 80 Days

(Final submission for payment to be 1 week before 31st December 2022)

All the documents, including the training materials, mapping exercise, video footage and images materials and reports should be submitted in written English language.

Note that all materials, including images will remain property of UN Women and cannot be used without UN Women’s permission.

Upon receipt of the final deliverables and prior to the payment of the instalment, the deliverables, related reports, and documents will be reviewed and approved by UN Women at least within one week of submission.

Inputs

UN Women will provide the National Consultant with necessary information on the activities and materials for a better understanding of the context and for the successful fulfilment to the above-mentioned tasks.

The individual is expected to work remotely using her/his own computer(s) but may access the UN Women office for printing of relevant documents or should he/she be required to work on-site at any point during the assignment.

UN Women will cover the costs of printed materials as required throughout the duration of the assignment.

Management Arrangements:

The Consultant will work under the guidance and supervision of the UN Women Fiji M4C Project Manager, who will provide overall management and supervision.

The M4C Project Manager will review and approve all outputs and shall work in close coordination with the Consultant with technical support from UN Women Fiji MCO M4C Project Team.

Performance evaluation

The Consultant’s performance will be evaluated based on timeliness, responsibility, initiative, communication, accuracy, and quality of the products delivered.

Financial Arrangements

Payments will be disbursed to the consultant in instalments, upon submission and approval of deliverables set forth in the section “Expected Outputs and Deliverables” above, and certification by the UN Women M4C Fiji Project Manager that the services have been satisfactorily performed.

No relocation costs will be provided for the position.

Travel

This is a home-based consultancy. As such, it is anticipated that no travel will be required for this assignment, unless agreed and authorised by the UN Women Fiji MCO. In case authorised, all travel, accommodation costs by the individual related to this assignment only, will be covered by UN Women in line with UN Women Duty Travel Policy.

Location:

Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, applicants can also be considered if they currently reside outside of Suva, Fiji and to work remotely. The position is open to Fiji nationals only.

Competencies

Core Values

  • Respect for Diversity;
  • Integrity;
  • Professionalism.

Core Competencies

  • Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
  • Accountability;
  • Creative Problem Solving;
  • Effective Communication;
  • Inclusive Collaboration;
  • Stakeholder Engagement;
  • Leading by Example.

Functional Competencies

  • Ability to think conceptually, strategically and analytically;
  • Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
  • Results oriented, flexible and problem-solving skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Required experience and qualifications

The Consultant should fulfil the following requirements:

Education:

  • Masters’ degree or equivalent in architecture, structural engineering, project management, or other related fields is required.
  • A first-level university degree with two (2) additional years of progressively responsible experience at the national and/or international level may be accepted in lieu of Master’s degree.

Experience and Skills:

  • At least 7 years (with Masters’ degree) or 9 years (with first-level university degree) of progressively responsible experience at the national and/ international level in Project oversight including development issues and working experience in infrastructure development projects with government partners and private contractors.
  • Extensive experience in developing and managing complex technical projects with different stakeholders and clients in manufacturing, construction or another relevant field.
  • Strong project management experience with proven track record of successful management of several projects simultaneously.
  • Extensive experience managing staff, contractors, and construction works.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to prioritize, meet deadlines, and achieve results through collaborations.
  • Must be flexible and adaptive to change and computer proficient, especially in MS Office.
  • Must be able to operate and work in difficult environments with low capacities.
  • Experience working in the UN system will be an asset in particular coordinating UN inter-agency work.
  • Pacific experience in related fields essential. Prior work on M4C project is an added value.

Language and other skills:

  • Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
  • Relevant Pacific Island language/s (I-Taukei and/or Hindi) is an asset.
  • Computer literacy and ability to effectively use office technology equipment, IT tools, including ability to use internet and email.

Evaluation

Initially, individual consultants will be short-listed based on the following minimum qualification criteria:

  • Masters’ degree or equivalent in architecture, structural engineering, project management, or other related fields is required.
  • A first-level university degree with two (2) additional years of progressively responsible experience at the national and/or international level may be accepted in lieu of Master’s degree.
  • At least 7 years (with Masters’ degree) or 9 years (with first-level university degree) of progressively responsible experience at the national and/ international level in Project oversight including development issues and working experience in infrastructure development projects with government partners and private contractors.

The shortlisted individual consultant will be further evaluated based on a cumulative analysis process, with a total score being obtained upon the combination of weighted technical and financial attributes.

Cost under this method of analysis is rendered as an award criterion, which will be 30% out of a total score of 100 points.

Evaluation of submitted offers will be done based on the following formula:

where:

T

is the total technical score awarded to the evaluated proposal (only to those proposals that pass 70% of 70 points obtainable under technical evaluation);

C

is the price of the evaluated proposal;

Clow

is the lowest of all evaluated proposal prices among responsive proposals; and

X

is the maximum financial points obtainable (30 points)

Technical evaluation will be represented through desk review of applications. Interviews and/or written tests will be organized if needed only, depending on the short-listed candidates’ qualifications.

Technical Qualification Evaluation Criteria: The technical part is evaluated based on its responsiveness to the Terms of Reference (TOR).

No.

Criteria

Maximum points

    • Masters’ degree or equivalent in architecture, structural engineering, project management, or other related fields is required.
    • A first-level university degree with two (2) additional years of progressively responsible experience at the national and/or international level may be accepted in lieu of Master’s degree.

First-level university degree – 8 pts, Masters’ or equivalent of 10 pts

10

    • At least 7 years (with Masters’ degree) or 9 years (with first-level university degree) of progressively responsible experience at the national and/ international level in Project oversight including development issues and working experience in infrastructure development projects with government partners and private contractors.

*7 years (**Masters’* *Degree) or 9 years (first-level university degree) – 8 pts, each year over 7 (or 9) years - 1 pts up to a max 12 pts*

12

    • Extensive experience in developing and managing complex technical projects with different stakeholders and clients in manufacturing, construction or another relevant field.

8

    • Strong project management experience with proven track record of successful management of several projects simultaneously.

5

    • Extensive experience managing staff, contractors, and construction works.

5

    • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to prioritize, meet deadlines, and achieve results through collaborations.

5

    • Must be flexible and adaptive to change and computer proficient, especially in MS Office.

5

    • Must be able to operate and work in difficult environments with low capacities.

5

    • Experience working in the UN system will be an asset in particular coordinating UN inter-agency work.

5

    • Pacific experience in related fields essential. Prior work on M4C project is an added value.

5

    • Fluency in written Computer literacy and ability to effectively use office technology equipment, IT tools, including ability to use internet and email. and spoken English is required.
    • Relevant Pacific Island language/s (I-Taukei and/or Hindi) is an asset.

5

Maximum Total Technical Scoring

70

Financial Qualification Evaluation Criteria: In the Second Stage, the financial proposal of candidates, who have attained minimum 70% score in the technical evaluation (at least 49 points), will be compared.

WINNING CANDIDATE

The winning candidate will be the candidate, who has accumulated the highest aggregated score (technical scoring + financial scoring).

Submission of application

Interested candidates are requested to submit fully completed application on the UNDP Vacancy Site.

Submission Package:

  1. Cover letter explaining the suitability of the consultant: applicants are encouraged to address experience and qualifications listed in the ‘criteria for technical evaluation’.
  2. Duly filled Personal History Form (P11) and/or Curriculum Vitae (CV) of Consultant including records of experience in similar assignments and specific outputs obtained; P11 can be downloaded at: https://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment
  3. Financial proposal – specifying a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this Terms of Reference. The financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (daily rate and number of anticipate working days and any other possible costs).
  4. Please read, use and complete ANNEX I and ANNEX II below to provide your financial proposal.

Applications without a complete financial proposal will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment. UN Women reserves the right to accept or reject any bid.

The consultancy recruitment process will be governed by the rules and regulations of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women).

UN Women Statement on Diversity and Inclusion:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel 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).

Deadline of all submission: 25th April 2022.

Annex I

Price Proposal Guideline and Template

The prospective Individual Contractor should take the following explanations into account during submission of his/her price proposal.

1.Lump Sum Amount

The daily price proposal should indicate a "lump sum amount" which is "all-inclusive"; All costs (professional fees, living allowances, communications, consumables, etc.) that could possibly be incurred by the Individual Contractor needs to be factored into the proposed price.

UN Women will not withhold any amount of the payments for tax and/or social security related payments. UN Women shall have no liability for taxes, duties or other similar charges payable by the Individual Contractor in respect of any amounts paid to the Individual Contractor under this Contract, and the Contractor acknowledges that UN Women will not issue any statements of earnings to the Individual contractor in respect of any such payments.

Contract price is fixed to activities/deliverables indicated in the ToR, regardless of the changes in the cost components (such as days invested for completion of the deliverables.)

2.Travel costs

No travel is envisaged for the implementation of the current assignments.

3.Daily Subsistence Allowance

Not applicable.

4.Currency of the price proposal

The applicants are requested to submit their price proposals in FJD.

In case of proposals in other currency, these shall be converted into FJD using the official UN exchange rate for currency conversion at the date of applications’ submission deadline.

Annex II

Price Proposal Submission Form

[ Mandatory document for the Consultant to complete and submit]

To: United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women

Ref: National Consultant – To provide infrastructure projects technical support services for UN Women Fiji MCO (Markets for Change / M4C Project) in Fiji

Dear Sir / Madam,

I, the undersigned, offer to provide professional consulting services to UN Women within the scope of the referred Assignment. Having examined, understood, and agreed to the Terms of Reference and its annexes, the receipt of which are hereby duly acknowledged, I, the undersigned, offer to deliver professional services, in conformity with the Terms of Reference.

My maximum total price proposal for the assignment is given below:

Estimated Costs (in FJD$)

Unit of Measure (e.g., Day, Month, etc)

Unit Price

(FJD$)

No. of Units

Total Price

(FJD$)

Consultancy Fee

Daily Fee

$

Other Related Costs (please specify)

$

Total FJD$

$

I confirm that my financial proposal will remain unchanged. I also confirm that the price that I quote is gross, and is inclusive of all legal expenses, including but not limited to social security, income tax, pension, etc., which shall be required applicable laws.

I agree that my proposal shall remain binding upon me for 30 working days.

I understand that you are not bound to accept any proposal you may receive.

[ Signature]

Date:

Name:

Address:

Telephone / Fax:

Email:

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: jobs.undp.org