Background

UNDP and the City of Skopje implement the regional project: “Increasing Urban Resilience by use of ICT for Mainstreaming Disaster and Climate Risk Reduction in Armenia, FYR Macedonia and Moldova (ICT for urban resilience)”. The main project objective is to build disaster and climate resilience in the three countries by increasing institutional capacity, mobilizing knowledge and transferring appropriate best-practice innovation technologies. In addition, the project outcome is - urban resilience in the City of Skopje improved by use of ICT innovation in disaster and climate risk reduction.

In particular the project will resulted in strengthening the capacities of the local government to implement integrated disaster and climate risk reduction plans and programmes through development of the Integrated Urban Resilience Plan, development of the concept for Smart City solution, as well as improved availability of information and increased public awareness on disaster and climate risk in urban areas through implementation of ICT solutions and mobile platforms.

As per the project document framework the Smart City approach is based on common urban ecosystem and technology platforms across multiple service layers to optimize scarce city resources, increase resilience and generate a unified and coherent ‘customer experience’ for the citizens.  Approximately half of the population is living in the city and the number is growing. High density of the population in the urban areas increase strains on energy, transportation, water, public buildings and area, provisions of services, as well as on the climate change and the urban resilience. So solutions for these pressures should be “smart” (both highly efficient and sustainable) on one hand, and on the other hand should generate development and social wellbeing with increased resilience.  This is best achieved by mobilising all of a city’s resources and coordinating its actors using new technologies and forward looking joined-up policies. Information and communications technology (ICT) is a key enabler for cities to address these challenges in a ‘smart’ manner. ICT links and strengthens networks of people, businesses, infrastructures, resources, energy and spaces, as well as providing intelligent organizational and governance tools.

In that context, UNDP and the City of Skopje wish to engage an international consultant that will develop a concept for Smart City Solution for the City of Skopje, including the functional and technical requirements for the smart city platform

Objectives

The overall objective of the assignment is to develop Concept for a Smart City solution for the City of Skopje.

UNDP in cooperation with the City of Skopje shall facilitate the process of collection and sharing of available information and documents from the key institutions and appointment of individual meetings with relevant staff from the relevant institutions.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the Consultant shall be responsible for following:

  • Preparatory desk work to assess the state of the affairs in the area of the assignment;
  • Based on the documents and materials to be provided by UNDP, the consultant shall get familiarized with the current state of affairs in the areas relevant for the assignment (disaster risk management, climate change, energy efficiency, transport) in order to get prepared for the first field mission to the country. The preparatory desk work shall also include review of the existing concepts and Smart City solutions in the broader region as well as the EU;
  • Familiarize with the project document and the disaster and climate resilience framework in the country;
  • Familiarize with the documents from the area of climate change adaptation and mitigation (Third National Communication on Climate  Change,  Vulnerability- sensitivity of different sectors to climate change);
  • Familiarize with the relevant documents from the area of energy efficiency/transport (national/city strategies);
  • First field mission in the country  for consultations/inputs (4 days).

During the first field mission to the country, the consultant shall work closely with UNDP and the City of Skopje and other key national institutions towards a preparation of the conceptual framework of the Smart City solution for the City of Skopje.

The mission agenda will be prepared, organized and coordinated by UNDP. The focus of the field mission as well as discussion held will be on understanding the existing situation as well as on the main elements of the conceptual framework. It is expected to have a series of meetings and one participatory workshop with national and local stakeholders.

During the mission, the Consultant shall assist the relevant staff from the beneficiaries (City of Skopje, its public enterprises, and the key stakeholders) in understanding and defining the concept of the Smart City, its correlation with other related areas, sectors, and activities and provide advice as to how to ensure synergies and linkages. Also, presentation of relevant Smart City concepts from the broader region, as well as EU will be held with aim to encapsulating the best practices and relevant case studies for the City of Skopje context. In addition, ICT framework for disaster risk management and city administration will be presented.

During the first mission, all other parameters and issues to be included in the conceptual note will be clarified and confirmed by the UNDP and the City of Skopje so that the consultant can proceed to working on the document.

Drafting of the concept of a Smart City solution for the City of Skopje.

Based on the initial assessment and consultations, the consultant shall work on development of a comprehensive conceptual note for the Smart City solution for the City of Skopje incorporating the clear recommendations on development of the document, areas to be included as per the project document and City of Skopje’s needs and requirements, as well as objectives, activities and measures and implementation modalities, including the ICT platform/tools.

The consultant shall take due account of the findings from the field mission as well as factors of relevance in respect of strategical development objectives of the City of Skopje, EU accession, prioritisation, complementarity with other policy areas and activities, funding opportunities, both EU and outside of EU, absorption capacity and sustainability.

The document shall elaborate the definition and structure of the Smart City concept for the City of Skopje, time framework for implementation, review of selected EU best practices/case studies, funding opportunities, short-, mid-, and long-term priorities and implementing activities/measures and services that can be provided within the Smart City solution, recommendations for integration of the Smart City concept in the given legislative and institutional framework with synergy with other areas and sectors, roadmap for development and implementation of the Smart City solution, as well as functional and technical requirements for the Smart City technology platform including potential ICT tools that will support the implementation of the proposed concept. The user interface, accessed by citizens, local government and service providers, should be freely available via web services on mobile or desktop platforms. Open data sets should encourage a community to generate fresh insights and innovative new services.

Upon submission of the draft document, UNDP and the City of Skopje will provide comments/inputs that shall be incorporated in the document.

Second field mission for presentation of the final draft the concept of a Smart City solution for the City of Skopje  (3 days).

Once the final draft the of concept of a Smart City solution for the City of Skopje is ready, the consultant will be expected to perform a second 3-day mission to the country for presentation (one participatory workshop) of the final draft to relevant stakeholders and final discussions in terms of fine-tuning and amending the document with any other relevant issues and considerations.

Finalization of the concept of a Smart City solution for the City of Skopje.

Upon completion of the second mission the consultant shall finalize the document including the findings and recommendation from the second field mission.

Deliverables

The Consultant is expected to prepare and submit the following outputs:

  •  Review of the existing concepts and Smart City solutions in the broader region as well as the EU (05 November 2015);
  •  Draft - concept of a Smart City solution for the City of Skopje (25 November 2015);
  •  Final concept of a Smart City solutions for the City of Skopje (10 December 2015).

Duration of the assignment, consultations and reporting

 Contract modality and duration

The Consultant shall be hired by UNDP for delivering requirements specified above under the IC (Individual Contract) modality for a period of 25 days, including two field mission, in a period of 2 (two) months. Expected starting date is 20 October 2015 and expected ending date is 10 December 2015.

 Reporting

The consultant will report to UNDP through the Project Manager.

 Travel and other associated costs

Two field missions to Skopje are expected as stated above. The first mission is expected to take place during the first week of November (4 working days in Skopje), whether the second mission is planned for the last week of November/first week of December (three working days in Skopje).

 Consultation

UNDP and the City of Skopje shall provide to the consultant electronic copies of all the relevant legislation, strategies and other materials/studies/reports (whatever available - in English. UNDP will prepare and organize the missions of the consultant, in coordination and cooperation with the City of Skopje.

Payment Schedule

Milestone                                                                                                                                Percentage %

Review of the existing concepts and Smart City solutions in the broader region as

Well as the EU  (05 November 2015) – verification by UNDP;                                                             30

Draft - concept of a Smart City solution for the City of Skopje

(25 November 2015)– verification by UNDP;                                                                                       40

Final concept of a Smart City solutions for the City of Skopje

(10 December 2015) – verification by UNDP.                                                                                      30

Competencies

  • Excellent analytical skills;
  • Proven ability for multi-disciplinary analysis;
  • Demonstrates excellent organizational skills and proven ability to deliver consultancy products within deadlines;
  • Writes clearly and convincingly, adapting style and content to different audiences;
  • Speaks clearly and convincingly, demonstrating strong presentation skills in meetings.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Master degree in relevant areas related to smart city areas (social sciences, urban studies, environmental studies, disaster management, ICT sciences). PhD shall be an asset.

Experience:

  • At least 8 years of relevant professional experience in the areas relevant for smart city area (urban resilience, environment, sustainable development, disaster management);
  • Minimum 4 similar assignments as a Consultant or a Team Leader in similar works/projects and contact details of the clients;
  • Experience in smart city policies in EU would be an asset;
  • Experience and knowledge of the region would be an asset.

Language:

  •  Fluency in spoken and written English.

Application procedure

The Consultant is expected to provide the following:

  • United Nations Personnel History form (P-11) or (CV of the Consultant);
  • Brief methodology and approach on how the assignment will be carried included detailed timetable of the proposed activities;
  • Reference list of relevant work/projects in type and scope, position held and contact details of the clients ( at least 4 relevant projects is required);
  • Financial Proposal - specifying a total lump sum amount in USD for completion of the tasks specified in this announcement. The financial offer shall include a breakdown of the lump sum amount (number of anticipated working days, consultancy fee, travel, per diem and all related costs).

Evaluation criteria

Applicants will be evaluated based on Combined Scoring Method taking into account a combination of the applicants’ qualification and financial proposal (70% technical and 30 % financial offer).

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the supplier whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

  • Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
  • Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Only the highest ranked candidates who would be found qualified for the job will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation.

 Criteria                                                                                                      Weight                           Max. Point

Technical                                                                                                     70%                                    70

Educational background:

Master degree as required.PhD is an asset                                                    10%                                    10

Minimum 8 years of relevant professional experience

In the areas relevant for smart city area (urban resilience,

Environment, sustainable development, disaster management).                     20%                                   20

Minimum 4 relevant projects of comparable nature and complexity                 20%                                   20

Methodology and approach on how the assignment will be carried

included detailed timetable of the proposed activities                                       20%                                   20

Financial                                                                                                      30%                                    30

Only candidates obtaining a minimum 70% from the maximum available technical score (49 points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation
The maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal is allocated to the lowest price proposal and will equal to 30.

All other price proposals will be evaluated and assigned points, as per below formula:

  • 30 points [max points available for financial part] x [lowest of all evaluated offered prices among responsive offers] / [evaluated price].
  • The proposal obtaining the overall cumulatively highest score after adding the score of the technical proposal and the financial proposal will be considered as the most compliant offer and will be awarded a contract.