Background

Summary:

UNDP are seeking the services of a specialist in Waste Stabilisation Ponds (WSP), with experience of decommissioning / shutting down of ponds when taken out of service.
The Consultant will assess the current situation and review the available information, visit the site and make analysis as required.  Following the assessment of the situation and likely impact of the closure of the existing WSP, identifying potential problems, the consultant will make specific, detailed recommendations for resolving and/or mitigating the problems, with consideration of feasibility, time and cost.
This information will be given informally during the mission and confirmed in a written mission report.

Background:

Since 2001, UNDP has been responsible for the implementation of the EU funded Programme “Partnership for the Future (PFF)” in Cyprus. The PFF aims at contributing to the peace-building process in Cyprus through different levels of intervention, including urban infrastructure rehabilitation.

In the context of the PFF, UNDP has launched a project for the construction of a new Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) at Mia Milia / Haspolat in the north part of the island of Cyprus which will provide a modern, high-tech plant with a total capacity of 30.000 m3/day to accommodate the future needs of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, in addition to resolving environmental problems relating to the existing plant. The proposed new plant will use MBR process technology.

When the new WWTP goes into service, it will replace the existing WWTP, which is intended to be removed from service.  One of the problems associated with the existing plant is an odour problem, impacting residents; possibly made worse by imperfect operations, maintenance and periodic lagoon desludging practices over the years.

Technical Background of Existing WWTP:
In 2012, it is estimated that WWTP is receiving about 25,000 m3/day of sewage.  This passes through a series of ponds, as follows, with an overall retention time of around 25-35 days- currently estimated

Stage: Anaerobic

• Number of ponds: 5
• Unit Surface Area (m2): 4761
• Total Surface Area (m2): 23805
• Water depth (m): 5
• Unit volume (m3): 24180
• Total Volume (m3): 120900
• Retention time (day): 6

Stage: Aerated

• Number of ponds: 4
• Unit Surface Area (m2): 4000
• Total Surface Area (m2): 16000
• Water depth (m): 2.5
• Unit volume (m3): 10000
• Total Volume (m3): 40000
• Retention time (day): 2

Stage: Facultative

• Number of ponds: 3
• Unit Surface Area (m2): 130116
• Total Surface Area (m2): 390348
• Water depth (m): 1.3
• Unit volume (m3): 170130
• Total Volume (m3): 510390
• Retention time (day): 25.5

Stage: Maturation

• Number of ponds: 2
• Unit Surface Area (m2): 122335
• Total Surface Area (m2): 244670
• Water depth (m): 1.2
• Unit volume (m3): 146802
• Total Volume (m3): 293604
• Retention time (day): 15

Summary of key points in current situation:

• existing WWTP is in operation,  
• the new WWTP under construction,
• New WWTP due to let sewage into plant at end September 2012, with a transition phase of both plants receiving sewage in some proportion
• When the new WWTP is in full operation, then the old WWTP will stop as currently planned.

Major issues: Odour

Key Question: When the inflow of the existing WWTP stops what will be the effect? And what can be done about any problems?

Duties and Responsibilities

The key functions that the Sewerage Ponds Consultant is expected to perform include: The Sewerage Ponds Consultant shall be solely responsible for all duties related to the performance of his mission to Cyprus, including travel, accommodation, transport etc. and equipment. UNDP will make available space in the Engineer’s site offices at the new WWTP, but otherwise the Consultant is to be self- sufficient for whatever he/she needs to undertake the mission.
The mission is expected to comprise principally, but not be limited to:

Data Collection & review

• Site visit and study of existing WWTP
• Collection and review of available documents and related information relevant to the study
• Meetings and discussion with interested parties and sources of information
  

Assessment, design, feasibility analysis

• Analyse and develop assessment of the problems
• Analyse and develop possible solutions
• Prepare outline feasibility in terms of cost/benefit of possible solutions in the short term and the mid term
  

Outputs / Deliverables:

1. Mid-term review 

• In mid-point of mission / after initial assessment, report to UNDP on preliminary findings and in particular requirements for additional data requirements ( e.g. sludge/sewage sample analysis)
  

2. Presentation

• At the end of the mission before departure, give a presentation summarising the key points of the report to UNDP and other interested parties
  

3. Reporting

• Prepare a Mission report with:
  o Information on study carried out
  o Assessment of present situation and likely problems (if any)
  o Conclusions
  o Recommended solutions with ranking and preliminary cost/benefit assessment (1 year horizon and 5 year horizon)
• Draft Report to be submitted within 2 weeks of leaving Cyprus
• The draft report should incorporate eventual comments/clarifications required by UNDP-PFF for approval
  

4. Follow-Up

• Provide up to 2 days of working time for follow-up on questions arising within 3 months of original mission – by email / skype.
  

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

• Experience in wastewater treatment by waste stabilisation ponds (WSP)
• References in decommissioning of WSP s and problems arising
• Computer literacy (Microsoft packages)

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

Professionalism: 

• Good problem-solving skills; ability to apply good judgment in the context of assignments given; ability to plan own work and meet tight deadlines; attention to detail. 

Communication:     

• Excellent analytical and document drafting skills and ability to gather, analyse and evaluate facts and to prepare and present concise oral and written reports, 
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: 

• Advanced academic qualification in engineering, environmental, or public health engineering, science or related subject; relevant to the mission 
• Equivalent experience can be accepted in lieu of academic qualifications
  

Experience: 

• Minimum 10 -12 years in water and waste water treatment, waste water management or water sanitation infrastructure projects. 
• Considerable experience in particular of Waste stabilisation ponds
• Practical knowledge of shutting down of WSP’s and follow-up action
  N.B References of actual experience must be included with application
  

Language:

• Fluency in English is a prerequisite. Knowledge of one other UN language an asset
  

Payment:

UNDP will contract the consultant according to the Organization’s IC rules and regulations. Payment will be made as a lump sum after formal approval of the expected outputs/ deliverables in 2 instalments:
• 75% after completion of output 1 and 2;
• 25% after completion of output 3, report is approved

Application Process:
Interested candidates must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

1. Proposal: Explaining why the candidate the most suitable for the work. A clear statement outlining their experience undertaking similar work and including examples of shutting down / decommissioning waste stabilisation pond systems.

2. Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references. Interested individual consultants must submit their applications online through the UNDP Online Recruitment System. Correspondence (either in hard or soft format) will not be considered until the advance stage of the selection process.

3. Financial Proposal: Applicants requested to submit financial proposal. Proposal will specify the lump-sum fee in USD and shall cover all expenditures (including consultancy fees, international travel, cost of living, etc).

4. How to Submit Application

• Merge your Personal CV, Proposals and other relevant documents into a single file 
• Click on the Job Title 
• Click “Apply Now” button, fill in necessary information on the first page, and click “Submit Application” 
• Upload your application 
• You will receive an automatic response to your email confirming receipt of your application by the system.

Application Evaluation Process:
The candidates will be evaluated based on the Cumulative Analysis methodology [weighted scoring method], where the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
• Responsive/acceptable application
• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.
Technical Criteria weight; [70%]
Financial Criteria weight; [30%]

The following criteria and allocated points will be used in the Technical Evaluation:

• Relevant experience in conducting assessments for waste stabilisation pond systems (50 points) 
• Relevant practical experience in decommissioning of such systems (40 points) 
• Knowledge of the Cyprus context or similar regional experience (10 points)

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% of the obtainable points of 100 points in technical evaluation will be invited to submit the financial proposal and considered for the Financial Evaluation.  

UNDP practices fair and transparent selection process that would take into account both the technical qualification of candidates as well as their price proposals. The contract will be awarded to the candidate obtaining the highest combined technical and financial scores. UNDP retains the right to contact references directly.

Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.

Request for Clarification Process:
The interested candidates requiring any clarifications regarding this consultancy vacancy may notify the UNDP PFF in writing to e-mail address: vacancies@undp-pff.org The Procurement Unit will respond in writing to any request for clarification that it receives earlier than 3 days prior to the application submission deadline.

Other Information:
This is a non-staff contract under the Individual Contract (IC) modality of hiring of the UNDP. Individuals engaged under an IC serve in their individual capacity and not as representative of a government institutions, corporate body or other authority external to UNDP. The incumbent shall not be considered as staff of UNDP, the UN common system or the government and are therefore not entitled to any diplomatic privileges or any other special status or conditions. The General Conditions of Contracts for IC is available on UNDP website at http://www.undp.org/procurement/documents/UNDP_GCC_IC_Final_English.pdf