Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is one of the 4 (four) Implementing Agencies (IA) designated by the Multilateral Fund (MLF) to implement the Montreal Protocol´s Ozone Depletion Substances (ODS) phase-out projects.
 
Under this International Treaty, the Article 5 countries committed to phase-out its ODS consumption.  Furthermore, the Parties to the Montreal Protocol agreed under the Decision XIX/6 on the “Adjustment to the Montreal Protocol with regard to Annex C, Group I substances (HCFCs)” to “accelerate the phase-out of production and consumption of the hydrochlorofluorcarbons (HCFCs)”, and the Article 5 (A5) countries have been requested by the ExCom to adopt a staged approach to the implementation of their HCFC Phase-out Management Plans (HPMP).
 
The HPMPs involve:
  • Assistance to determine related institutional, policy and legislation framework in line with strategies and action plans for compliance with the 1st Stage;
  • Implementation of investment projects in the Polyurethane (PU) Foams sector for technological conversion of HCFC consumers (end-users);
  • Verification of compliance met by the investment projects and finalization of activities (Project Closure Reports).

Duties and Responsibilities

The Senior Expert will work with UNDP, under the direct coordination of the UNDP MPU Regional Programme Coordinators in portfolio development regions, and will supervise and guide other MPU (International and National) Experts serving the countries of Mexico, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Egypt Brazil and Nigeria, carrying out the following services:
  • Review technical specifications of relevant equipment and guide UNDP MPU/Chemicals and the Experts (or companies, when required) in the procurement processes throughout all its phases;
  • Provide technical support to other MPU International and National Experts and maintain technical discussions with companies and equipment suppliers;
  • Provide guidance to MPU Experts when implementing field activities for beneficiary companies in their associated projects of the technology conversion;
  • Provide guidance to MPU Experts related to the follow up on project implementation in each assisted company, providing technical evaluations and recommendations to assure the achievement of the objectives described in the Project Documents (ProDocs);
  • Provide guidance to the MPU Experts by undertaking final revision and evaluation on technology issues, including formulation development, safety issues and production processes optimization;
  • Lead the MPU Experts through the project completion process and its related documentation issuance;
  • Support on the preparation, review and/or endorse Hand Over Protocols (HOP), Certificates of Completion (COCs) and Project Closure Reports (PCRs) delivered by MPU Experts;
  • Assist with preparation of technical inputs for tranche requests for the HPMPs (including technology related discussions);
  • Conduct final safety audits for system houses and other beneficiary companies;
  • Provide technical support on issues related to Flammability, Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) issues, and conduct safety audits associated with project closures.
Expected Deliverables
 
Mexico
  • D1 (DR Component) – Domestic Refrigeration reconversion project component closed: certification of commissioning and safety audit and preparation of project closure paperwork.  Mission to Mexico (Mexico City): 5 days, expected to take place in April, 2014;
  • D2 (SH Component) – System Houses reconverted: certification of retrofit activities at SH level and safety audits in 12 system houses.  Mission to Mexico (Mexico City): 5 days, expected to take place in July, 2014:
  • D3 (End-users Component) – Support and guidance delivered to end-users on retrofit activities and technology transfer.  Mission to Mexico (Mexico City): 5 days, expected to take place in September, 2014;
  • D4 –flammability/hygienic study for alternative blowing agents that include the concept note and TORs prepared, effectively support on team´s settlements and technical supervision of field work.  Mission to Mexico (Mexico City): 3 days, expected to take place in December, 2014.
 Dominican Republic
  • D5 – Support and guidance delivered to MPU Experts in foam panels manufacturing retrofit activities and technology transfer.  Mission to Santo Domingo city: 3 days, expected to take place in September 2014
 El Salvador
  • D6 – Support and guidance delivered to MPU Experts in foam panels manufacturing retrofit activities and technology transfer; Mission to San Salvador city: 3 days, expected to take place in September 2014.
 Trinidad & Tobago
  • D7 – Reconversion projects started up at 5 end-users including guidance on technology transfer and retrofit activities (PU boxes and spray foam manufacturers); Mission to Port Spain: 3 days, expected to take place in May 2014;
  • D8 – Technical assistance delivered on Hydrocarbons production plant retrofit in TT; Mission to Port Spain: 5 days, expected to take place in July 2014.
Jamaica
  • D9 – Safety audit on 1 spray foam manufacturer conduced and project completed; Mission to Kingston: 2 days, expected to take place in July 2014. 
Egypt
  • D10– Reconversion projects for system houses started up and supported including guidance on technology transfer, project implementation plans and MoAs, ITBs, safety audits and project’s closures, where ready.  Mission to Cairo: 15 days, expected to take place in May 2014;
  • D11 – Technical assistance delivered on HCFC-free production tests, finalization of HC complementary report for ExCom, safety audit; and, assistance to MPU/EEAA/UNDP-Egypt in preparing Stage II proposal.  Mission to Cairo 12 days, expected to take place in September 2014.
 Nigeria
  • D12 – Foam Conversion technology transfer.  Mission to Abuja: 10 days, expected to take place in May 2014;
  • D13 – HC project (Pamaque) completion.  Mission to Abuja: 8 days, expected to take place in August 2014. 
Other Home Based work
  • D14 – Technical support and training provided to MPU Team/Experts on technology transfer;
  • D15 – Advisory provided on the preparation activities and sector plans on FOAM for 2nd stage HPMPs;
  • D16 – Development of project proposals related to PU Flame Retardants;
  • D17 – Development of project proposals on bilateral/multilateral funding sources;
  • D18 – Pilot PU dispensers commissioned under Brazil MF/ML projects. HOPs, COC/SOC and  PCRs duly emitted and signed by the beneficiary companies.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:
  • Knowledge of Montreal Protocol related policy/issues is desirable;
  • Knowledge of equipment use/retrofit/installation/design;
  • Knowledge on use and application HCFC alternatives in RAC sector, mainly with flammable refrigerants;
  • Knowledge of Montreal Protocol related policy/issues is desirable;
  • Knowledge on application of European and/or equivalent international standards related to safety of equipment and processes with flammable refrigerants is desirable. 
Core Competencies:
  • Demonstrate integrity by modeling UN values and ethical standards;
  • Promote the vision, mission, and strategic in goals of the UNDP and the CPR Unit;
  • Displays cultural, gender , religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
  • Engineering/Bachelor (or equivalent) degree in Chemistry, Mechanics (or related field);
  • Masters or equivalent degree in related area is desirable;
Experience:
  • Working experience of at least 10 years with activities in environmental and/or chemical area;
  • Working experience in  research, development or in the implementation of PU Foams industry-related projects is desirable;
  • Profound knowledge of Montreal Protocol related issues and its associated Policies and Agreements is desirable;
  • Knowledge of foaming equipment use, commissioning and retrofit at system house and end-user levels is desirable;
  • Experience in industrial and environmental-related projects in developing countries is desirable:
  • Experience with certification/audit in industrial hygienic safety is desirable.
Language:
  • Proficiency in English.
Fees

The consultant will receive payments based on delivery of the expected Outputs listed in the list of expected deliverables. The candidate is expected to quote his/her including the travel costs.
 
Best value for Money approach will be used in the evaluation and will lead to a combined score for technical capabilities and the financial offer.
 
The short-listed candidates, based on their technical capabilities, will receive the standard format that they must fill out to submit their financial offer.
 
Criteria and method of evaluation
 
The Best value for Money approach will be used in the evaluation and will lead to a combined score for technical capabilities and the financial offer based on the following criteria:
Total = TSx + FSx

Qualification (cut-off) criterion (to long list candidates)
  • Engineering/Bachelor (or equivalent) degree in Chemistry, Mechanics or related field);
  • Working experience of at least 10 years with activities in environmental and/or chemical area;
  • Proficiency in English;
 Classification criterion (to short list candidates):
 
Educational and Professional Background (TS): 70%
 
The following equation will be applied:
 
TSx = [ (Tx / Thighest) * (70%) ] ,where:
 
TSx           = Total Technical Score for candidate x,
Tx             = Technical score for candidate x,
Thighest       = Highest technical score obtained among all responsive candidates
Criteria scores
  • Desirable masters or advanced degree in relevant discipline.  10 pts
  • Desirable Working experience in PU Foam specialty area.  15 pts
  • Knowledge in Foaming equipment, installation, retrofit (also at SH level). 10pts
  • Desirable experience in safety audits in industrial settings.  15 pts
  • Desirable experience in working with system houses/end-users.  10 pts
  • Profound knowledge on Montreal Protocol and Multilateral Funds issues.  5 pts
  • Desirable experience in related projects in developing countries.  5 pts
  • Interview.  30 pts
Financial Offer (FS): 30%
 
The short listed candidates, based on their technical capabilities, will receive the standard format that they must fill out to submit their financial offer, and will be evaluated according to the equation:
 
FSx = [ (Flowest / Fx) * (30%) ] , where:
 
FSx           = Total Financial Score for candidate x,
Fx             = Financial Offer for candidate x, and
FLowest           = The lowest Financial offer of all evaluated prices among responsive candidate.