UNDP Jobs - 60727- Consultation Program Enabling Standards & Metrolog

Consultation Program Enabling Standards & Metrology Directorates to Operate as a "National Certification Body" in the Scheme Operated by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)

Location :

Manama, BAHRAIN

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

17-Oct-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

10 Days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The Kingdom of Bahrain's economy is well equipped and competitive in several respects, including low taxation, openness to global trade, and financial market development. The government has focused on diversifying the economy in non-oil sectors, and the country is currently leading trade negotiations in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states to increase levels of freedom in business, monetary and financial areas.

UNDP is implementing the Programme, entitled “Support to Enhancing Institutional Capacity for Global Economic Environment and Governance” aimed at enhancing institutional and technical capacities in order to improve the efficiency of the economic governance system, targeting the primary stakeholder, The Ministry of Industry and Commerce, followed by the private sector and other line institutions. The activities will support the creation of adequate national capacities for effective trade policy administration. Following are the expected results of this Programme:

Enhanced Negotiation, application and implementation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Development Agenda (DDA), Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and Trade Policy Review outcomes;
Institutionalizing procedures under the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) agreements for Intellectual Property systems of registration are consistent with national objectives and international requirements;
Strengthened capacity of Bahrain in implementing the World Trade Organization (WTO) Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement.

The main beneficiary for result ‘iii’ is the Directorate of Standards & Metrology (BSMD) in the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. BSMD, as part of its 2015 work plan, would like to execute an intensive consultation program enabling BSMD to operate as a National Certification Body (NCB) in the international scheme operated by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) titled : "IEC System of Conformity Assessment Schemes for Electrotechnical Equipment and Components” and known as the "CB Scheme". For BSMD to operate as a NCB, the internal quality systems and technical capacity of BSMD must meet specific requirements based on the rules of the CB Scheme. Enabling BSMD to operate as a NCB will aid in the following:

Facilitating the implementation of the Gulf Technical Regulation for Electrical Equipment which depends on the acceptance of the IEC certification program;
Improving the efficiency of the economic governance system to conform to the principles of the WTO Technical Barriers to Trade TBT Agreement by promoting the harmonization of national regulations with international standards;
Implementing an accepted worldwide program that would bring product manufacturers closer to the ideal concept of “one test”, recognized and accepted internationally.

Duties and Responsibilities

The main objective of this assignment is to provide technical assistance and conduct training activities that will contribute to strengthening the capacity of BSMD in understanding, analyzing and preparing negotiation positions in the subject areas covered. The consultant will work with the BSMD staff throughout this assignment and remain in constant liaison with the UNDP Programme Manager. BSMD will provide essential information to conduct the review and assessment.

Output & Scope of the Work:

Perform a gap analysis of BSMD as a NCB;
Explain the rules and procedures for the operation of the NCB in the IEC CB Scheme to BSMD employees;
Provide technical assistance to BSMD to implement/establish the required procedures and systems to be a NCB in IEC CB Scheme;
Identifying the national differences (regulatory requirements) related to the Gulf Conformity Program for Electrical Equipment from IEC standards;
Assisting BSMD to prepare for the IEC Assessment in order to acquire the status of a NCB;
Offering hands-on training in the CB scheme database, accessing online certificates, as well as the process of recognizing other CB Test Certificates.

Deliverables:

After the fulfillment of the abovementioned assignments, the consultant will be responsible for delivering the following:

Gap analysis report on BSMD as a NCB;
Consultancy Report on points 2-5 above; sections of the report to be determined in consultation with BSMD;
Presentation on the rules and procedures for the operation of the NCB in the IEC CB Scheme;
Training report on the CB scheme database, accessing online certificates and the process of recognizing other CB Test Certificates.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling 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 Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Technical Competencies:

Technical assistance experience in the development and implementation of the Regulatory Regime for Electrical and Electronic Equipment;
The candidate should be active in IECEE working groups and active Lead Assessor and Trainer/Peer Assessments Trainer in the IECEE-CB Scheme;
Extensive practical experience in dealing with the compliance issues arising out of preferential trade agreements or WTO obligations;
Work experience in, or for, the WTO, UNCTAD, World Bank, OECD or similar organizations is desirable.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications:

Bachelor in Electrical or Electronic Engineering or related areas.

Experience:

Minimum of 10 years experience in IEC System of Conformity Assessment Schemes for Electrotechnical Equipment;
Extensive knowledge of and experience in IEC System of Conformity Assessment Schemes for Electrotechnical Equipment and Components;
Previous consultancy work assisting in the establishment of National Certification Bodies.

Language Requirements:

Excellent communication skills in English.

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

Proposal:

Explaining why they are the most suitable for the assignment;
Provide a brief methodology on how they will approach and conduct the assignment;
Financial proposal;
Personal CV including past experience on similar projects and at least 3 references.

Lump sum contracts:

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).

Travel:

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to and from the duty station and repatriation travel. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class, he/she should do so using their own resources.

In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Evaluation:

The shortlisted applicants will be evaluated using Cumulative Analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant 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: Technical Criteria weight; 70%, Financial Criteria weight; 30%.

Only candidates obtaining scoring of a minimum of 70 % on the technical criteria would be considered for the Financial Evaluation as well as will be included in the competitive consultant roaster (prequalified consultant roaster).

Technical Evaluation (70%):

Relevant Experience - 40;
Specific experience in IEC System of Conformity Assessment Schemes for Electrotechnical Equipment and Components and consulting experience in establishing National Certification Bodies - 10;
Relevant Qualifications - 20.

Financial Evaluation (30%).

In this methodology, the maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal is allocated to the lowest price proposal. All other price proposals receive points in inverse proportion.

A suggested formula is as follows:

p = y (µ/z)

Where:

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated;
y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal;
µ = price of the lowest priced proposal;
z = price of the proposal being evaluated.

The proposal obtaining the overall highest score after adding the score of the technical proposal and the financial proposal is the proposal that offers best value for money.

p = y (µ/z)

Where:

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated;

y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal;

µ = price of the lowest priced proposal;

z = price of the proposal being evaluated.

The proposal obtaining the overall highest score after adding the score of the technical proposal and the financial proposal is the proposal that offers best value for money.

While using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant 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.