UNDP-LKA-00013 - Consultant – Proposal Development for Solar Energy- GCF - IC/EMB/2210/45

Contract

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

Background

SPECIAL NOTICE TO APPLICANTS:

This specific Vacancy is managed via the new supplier portal system of UNDP which will in the future replace the online Job Application for Consultants / eTendering system currently in use. If you are interested in applying for this vacancy, you must subscribe following the instructions in the user guide. If you have not registered a profile with this new system, you can do so by following the link for Supplier Registration.

If you already have a supplier profile, please login to the Supplier Portal, then search for the negotiation using the reference number UNDP-LKA-00013, following the instructions in the user guide.

BACKGROUND

Sri Lanka is currently facing an economic crisis of unprecedented proportions. The crisis was caused due to acute fiscal, and balance of payment imbalances caused by weak macro management policies and made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine. The economic crisis has undermined Sri Lanka’s considerable socioeconomic and human development achievements over the past several decades. Poverty and inequality are expected to have widened considerably with a particular impact on the highly vulnerable, women and youth. The crisis has exposed the people of Sri Lanka to four principal security concerns: energy security, food security, social security, and financial security. Among them, energy security is currently the most acute, impacted by both availability and affordability concerns. There are widespread shortages of essential fuel items – gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and LP gas. The country has also been enduring regular power cuts. The lack of foreign exchange for imports of fossil fuels has been the main reason for the crisis. Long queues for fuel are experienced in almost all parts of the country with frequent violence in filling stations. The government has also raised fuel prices considerably. The energy crisis has had ripple effects on all sectors of the economy whilst also undermining essential social services such as health and education.

In this backdrop, UNDP Sri Lanka seeks to complement the Government of Sri Lanka’s (GOSL) relief efforts, within which, the conditions for achieving and sustaining the country’s longer-term development needs will be set. The inability of the country to meet the demand for energy creates a host of interlinked challenges within Sri Lanka’s current socioeconomic context. Lack of energy has become a bottleneck for revenue generation, crippling production systems, livelihoods and value chains, and supply systems. UNDP Sri Lanka’s proposed strategy for interventions in the broader energy sector, including transportation, seeks to address the country’s immediate energy security concerns and pave the way for long-term sustainable economic growth, and also provide a greener, cleaner transition to renewable energy by reducing the dependency on imported fossil fuels in an equitable manner.

Under the overall guidance of the Policy Specialist and Team Leader – Climate and Environment Team, and under the direct supervision of the Programme Coordinator – Climate and Environment Team, the Consultant will work on development a concept note, and a pre-feasibility study to be submitted to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) on solar energy, which seeks to ensure equitable energy access to the most marginalized and vulnerable communities, support the government in achieving its renewable energy targets, while contributing to economic recovery through green development, enhancing the resilience of those worst-affected by the socioeconomic crisis, and advancing the energy security of the country.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the assignment is to support the DFCC to develop a concept note on solar energy. The concept note for transitioning to renewable energy will be submitted to GCF through DFCC bank which will also fulfill the bank’s obligation final leg in accreditation with GCF . To this end, UNDP has recruited an international consultant to prepare the concept note and prefeasibility studies on solar PV aligned with GCF requirements.

The consultant will work closely with DFCC bank and the international consultant to develop the project concept and prefeasibility studies for solar power.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

The consultant will report to the Programme Coordinator of the Climate and Environment Team, for contractual purposes in carrying out the key responsibilities of the assignment.

• Develop a concept note together with a prefeasibility study, to be submitted to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) on solar energy while increasing equitable access to energy among the most marginalized and vulnerable communities in Sri Lanka, and accelerating the transition to renewable energy.
• Study the GCF requirements for submission of proposals for accreditation
• The consultant can build on the concept note developed by UNDP for transition to renewable energy.
• Develop an initial financial model for solar power for review and clearance from UNDP regional team and GCF and complete concept note based on their recommendations
• Liaise with the International consultant to formulate and finalise the concept note and prefeasibility studies with the guidance of Regional Technical Specialists
• Assist the DFCC bank to consult the relevant stakeholders inorder to obtain the necessary information to formulate the project
• Liaise with the relevant local stakeholders to facilitate the necessary consultations with the DFCC bank
• Liase with Country Office team and Bangkog Regional Hub technical experts for guidance and technical inputs
• Study latest national priorities and existing plans of the government towards a sustainable energy sector in the country.
• Study the supply and demand trends and challenges of the power sector in the current socio-economic context to ensure energy security for the people
• Study the impact of the crisis on the poor and vulnerable groups, using already available secondary information

• Analyse, with most recent data available, the contributions of the following interventions in towards energy security , green recovery and equitable access

  • providing standalone/offgrid solar pv systems to low end electricity consumers to improve equitable access to energy
  • Setting up solar pv systems at distribution level
  • Establishing larger scale (MW scale) solar energy power plants

• Analyze existing regulatory and policy aspects, identify the gaps/ new policy or regulatory support system for the proposed concept

• Compare government priorities against the donor priorities and develop a techncially and financially feasible project concept, elaborating on potential distributed renewable options and household level energy solutions for the vulnerable segments
• Conduct a brainstorming session among identified key national stakeholders in the country and identify and develop the concept/actions towards a sustainable energy sector considering the local context.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

Deliverable

Number of Days

Target Date

Deliverable 1

Initial draft financial model submitted to UNDP RO for initial GCF review

4

October 2022

Deliverable 2

National situational analysis to develop the concept note on solar power to be submitted to GCF

8

End October 2022

Deliverable 3

Financial, economic and social evaluations for pre-feasibility study on solar energy for GCF submission

8

End December 2022

Duration of the Work

• The envisaged duration of the consultancy is for a period of 20 days

Competencies

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
• Strong analytical, reporting, and writing abilities skills;
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
• Ability to plan, organize, implement and report on work;
• Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
• Proficiency in the use of office IT applications and the internet in conducting research;
• Outstanding communication, project management, and organizational skills;
• Excellent presentation and facilitation skills.
• Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards;
• Positive, constructive attitude to work;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Educational Qualifications

Atleast a Master's Degree in Energy, Engineering or any other related fields.

Experience

• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in similar assignments at the national or international level
• Strong expertise in financial strategies, schemes, and evaluation as applied to RE/EE technology applications and EVs
• Familiarity with the UNDP project management requirements and procedures
• Experience in coordinating projects with government counterparts
• Ability to pick up new terminology and concepts easily
• Familiarity with UNDP policies, templates and requirements
• Experience in providing technology development support to government and private sector counterparts
• Previous experience in working with International organizations and ideally on development projects / programms
• Excellent analytical skills; very good interpersonal skills and ability to work with a multitude of stakeholder environments

Language requirements

• Fluency of the English language is required

Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

Consultant must send a financial proposal based on

Lump Sum Amount. The total amount quoted shall be all-inclusive and include all costs components required to perform the deliverables identified in the TOR, including professional fee, travel costs, living allowance (if any work is to be done outside the IC´s duty station) and any other applicable cost to be incurred by the IC in completing the assignment. The contract price will be a fixed output-based price regardless of extension of the herein specified duration. Payments will be done upon completion of the deliverables/outputs and as per the below percentages:

• Deliverable 1 - Initial draft financial model submitted to UNDP RO/GCF for initial review : 20% of the total contract amount
• Deliverable 2 - National situational analysis to develop the concept note on solar power to be submitted to GCF : 40% of the total contract amount
• Deliverable 3- Financial, economic and social evaluations for prefreasibility study on solar energy for GCF submission: 40 % of the total contract amount

In the event of unforeseeable travel not anticipated in this TOR, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging, and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and the Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Evaluation Method and Criteria

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology…

Cumulative Analysis

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as a) responsive/compliant/acceptable; and b) having received the highest score out of the set of weighted technical criteria (70%) and financial criteria (30%). The financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal received by UNDP for the assignment.

Technical Criteria for Evaluation (Maximum 700 points)

• Criteria 1 - At least a Master’s Degree in Energy, Engineering, or any other related fields – 80 points
• Criteria 2 - At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in similar assignments at the national or international level – 100 Points
• Criteria 3 - Previous experience in working with international organizations and ideally on development projects/programs – 100 points
• Criteria 4 - Familiarity with UNDP policies, templates, and requirements – 100 points
• Criteria 5 - Excellent analytical skills; very good interpersonal skills and ability to work with a multitude of stakeholder environments – 100 points
• Criteria 6 - Assessment of approach/methodology to assignment (if applicable) – 150 points
• Criteria 7 - Experience in providing technology development support to government and private sector counterparts – 70 points

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 490 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

How to apply

If you are interested in applying for this vacancy, it is requried to apply via the new supplier portal system of UNDP. Please subscribe to the same by following the instructions in the user guide. If you have not registered a profile with this new system, you can do so by following the link for Supplier Registration.

If you already have a supplier profile and after doing the registration, please login to the Supplier Portal, then search for the negotiation using the reference number UNDP-LKA-00013, following the instructions in the user guide.

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications as instructed in the particular portal.

1. Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability / Financial Proposal / Breakdown of costusing the template provided in Annex II.
2. Personal CV, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references.
3. Technical proposal, including a) a brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment; and b) a methodology, on how they will approach and complete the assignment

Incomplete proposals may not be considered.

Annexes

• Annex I - Individual IC General Terms and Conditions
• Annex II – Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability for the Individual IC, including Financial Proposal Template

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workplace, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.