Background

 Please provide Offeror’s Letter and proposal together with your CV and cover letter (if applicable) in one single file while submitting application. And please note that the system will not accept the uploading of more than one document so please merge or scan all your documents into one prior to uploading. Below is the download link of Offeror's Letter. 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GYP7hMPX3qJAbiy7KZppiWqR4JdKFYv4/view?usp=sharing

Project name: UNDP-China Pilot Project for Low-Pressure Metal Hydride Alloy-based Onboard Hydrogen Storage and Hydrogen Refueling for Commercialization of Fuel Cell Vehicles

More than 170 countries signed the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015 with the aim of limiting global temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius, and further below 1.5 degrees Celsius. In October 2018, the “Special Report on Global Warming 1.5 ?” issued by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change pointed out that the average temperature today is already 1 degree Celsius higher than the pre-industrial level. If emissions continue at the current rate, it is expected that as early as 2030, the temperature will exceed 1.5 ?. This will result in the inundation of the coastline, more severe storms and increased poverty in coastal areas and islands, particularly in the tropics. By 2040, the temperature will reach 2?, and the population affected by natural disasters will further increase by 420 million.

Clean energy is considered one of the most effective approaches to address climate change and has been used to replace fossil fuels in many countries. In the category of clean energy, hydrogen energy is hailed as “the ultimate energy source of the 21st century”. The world's three major Bay Areas (the New York Bay Area and San Francisco Bay Area in the United States, and the Tokyo Bay Area of Japan) have already advanced the development of the hydrogen energy industry.

As a responsible major power, China has been committed to advancing the UN global sustainable development goals, especially leading the world in the R&D and utilization of clean energy. Since the country recently issued “Made in China 2025” and “Revolutionary Energy Technology Innovation Action Plan (2016-2030)”, more than 20 cities in China, including Beijing and Shanghai, have set up industrial parks the with hydrogen energy as the leading industry; Guangdong, Hebei, Hubei, Shanghai, Shandong, Hainan, and other provinces and cities have also introduced various support policies, the energy revolution is imperative.

For more than a decade, UNDP has been working on promoting a hydrogen-based clean energy solution. Together with the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), UNDP has been working on the development of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCV) in China since 2003, with the support of Global Environment Facility (GEF). In 2016, UNDP and Chinese partners launched the third phase of the project to help commercialize FCVs in China and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector. In the same year, UNDP started the first Hydrogen Economy pilot in Rugao city, Jiangsu Province, together with the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges (CICETE), with the goal of realizing an economic model that relies fully on hydrogen as the main power source to meet the energy demand of a society.

In addition to the drawbacks in the policy and enabling environment, the limiting technical/technological factors of developing a sustainable hydrogen economy have been identified such as availability of 1) affordable and efficient fuel cell technologies; 2) sustainable hydrogen supply from renewable sources; 3) onboard hydrogen storage; and 4) access to infrastructure (hydrogen refueling stations).

The proposed project aims to carry out demonstration and promotion of applicable technology of low-pressure metal hydride alloy-based onboard hydrogen storage and hydrogen refueling to facilitate/accelerate commercialization of fuel cell vehicles while helping achieve the UN SDGs.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct leadership of the Programme Manager for the project development, with the close support from PMO, the International Consultant will act as the team leader for a team of two (2) hydrogen energy specialists to work out an UNDP project document based on field visits and desk review in 21 days.

The Consultant’s approach shall be consistent with policies, rules and procedures of both UNDP and Chinese government. The International Consultant shall work in close collaboration with Sustainable Development Team in UNDP China and national consultant, as well as with Government partners, think tanks and other experts, ensuring successful completion of the assignment.

Responsibilities

  • Timely communication with UNDP Sustainable Development team members for project progress and any possible project opportunity;
  • Evaluate the development challenge that the project seeks to address and how it is relevant to national/regional/global development priorities;
  • Review China’s and international policies and legal framework for hydrogen economy;
  • Reflecting in the ProDoc the key finding based on desk review of relevant programmes in other countries;
  • Conduct field visit for discussions and interviews with government agencies and experts involved to collect relevant data related to hydrogen economy;
  • With reference to the Project Concept Note for the Project, design the project by working out a project document (ProDoc) based on UNDP template with recommended priority activities to be covered under the project in support of hydrogen economy;
  • Team up and communicate with the national experts/consultants in the process of project development;
  • Review and revise the draft project document based on comments from consultation meetings and/or project stakeholders/PSC member institutions;
  • Any other tasks as may be jointly agreed.

Expected Outputs/deliverables

  • A project Document in English reflecting all the above requirements using the template provided by UNDP China within 28 working days of signing the contract.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

  • Demonstrates strong analytical skills;
  • Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
  • Excellent teamwork skills;
  • Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
  • Can work independently.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

  • Ability to apply technical guideline production procedures;
  • Ability to analyze technical requirements in the relevant areas;
  • Ability to apply organizational policies and procedures.

Innovation

  • Generates new ideas and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things;
  • Documents and analyses innovative strategies/best practices/new approaches.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • At least Master’s Degree or equivalent in hydrogen/fuel cell, energy engineering, renewable energy, climate change, or related fields.
  • Experience with hydrogen and or fuel cell industry is preferable.

Experience:

  • Minimum twenty years of demonstrable working experience in economic analysis, renewable energy, consulting or related fields. Working experience in domestic and worldwide hydrogen energy industry development is advantageous;
  • Extensive experience with project development, implementation and/or management (direct project formulation and management experience is preferable);
  • Demonstrated technical skills in the substantive area;
  • Demonstrated leadership, facilitation and coordination skills, ability to manage technical team and long- term strategic partnership;
  • Demonstrated ability to work in an independent manner;
  • Demonstrated ability to work in a team, ability for managing timely and effective delivery of both quantity and quality before the deadlines;
  • Working experience with international organizations;
  • Knowledge of UNDP policies, procedures and practices is an asset;
  • Excellent communication (both oral and written) and partnership building skills with multi-dimension partners, people skills for conflict resolution and negotiation;
  • Experience in project formulation that addresses technical assistance and capacity development for implementing partners (IPs);
  • Familiarity with China, and with international development agencies. Working experience in collaboration with Chinese Government and international development agencies in China;
  • Master of office software packages and handling of web-based management systems.

Language Requirements:

  • Excellent English language skills, particularly for written documents.

 

Frequency of Reporting: Weekly

Progress Reporting Requirements:

The contractor is expected to:

1) maintain close communication with UNDP China (verbal via Wechat or zoom or written),

2) report on the activity progress against the mutually agreed objectives and schedule weekly and upon the completion of every phase or activity (via e-mail), and

3) raise any outstanding issues hindering the on-time and quality delivery of the final output (via e-mail).

Timetable

  • Upon contract signature

- Consultation meeting with UNDP for clarifying the objectives and specific tasks of the assignment.

  • Within 3 weeks after contract signature

- submit a draft project document, containing the above listed elements to UNDP for comments.

  • Within 4 weeks after contract signature

- Submit the final Project Document appropriately reflecting UNDP’s comments and updating  info relevant hydrogen programmes in other countries.

Payment:

  • The payment for consultancy will be made in two instalments. The first payment, which is to be paid within 10 working days of receiving the signed contract and vendor form, will be 30% of the contract value. The second payment will be the remaining 70% of the contract value, which is to be paid upon satisfactory completion of the compilation and review of the deliverables, namely project document in English, reflecting all the requirements mentioned in this TOR, using the template provided by UNDP China within 28 days of signing the contract.
  • No travel costs are involved due to the COVID-19. Should there be possibility of international travel in June, direct economy class international and domestic tickets will be provided to the contractor. All of the travel related costs will be reimbursed on the basis of UN travel policy after providing F10 and boarding pass.

Documents to be included when submitting application

Please provide Offeror’s Letter and proposal (download the format in the link provided) together with your CV while submitting application.  And please note that the system will not accept the uploading of more than one document so please merge or scan all your documents into one prior to uploading.

In the Offeror’s Letter and proposal, you will be asked to confirm your interest and availability for the assignment, and provide technical and financial proposal.

Technical proposal

  • Explaining why you are the most suitable for the work with example/former experience demonstrating your competencies;
  • Provide a brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work.

Financial Proposal

Please quote the daily rate for professional fee and others related.

Evaluation Criteria

The award of the contract will be made to the Individual Consultant who has obtained the highest Combined Score and has accepted UNDP’s General Terms and Conditions.  Only those applications which are responsive and compliant will be evaluated. The offers will be evaluated using the “Combined Scoring method” where:

  • Technical evaluation - 70% (includes 20% of Job-Related Technical Expertise; 25% of Relevant working experience; 25% of Methodology & Approach to Assignment)
  • Financial Evaluation - 30%.

UNDP applies a fair and transparent selection process that will take into account the competencies/skills of the applicants as well as their financial proposals. Qualified women and members of social minorities are encouraged to apply.

 Please provide Offeror’s Letter and proposal together with your CV and cover letter (if applicable) in one single file while submitting application. And please note that the system will not accept the uploading of more than one document so please merge or scan all your documents into one prior to uploading. Below is the download link of Offeror's Letter. 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GYP7hMPX3qJAbiy7KZppiWqR4JdKFYv4/view?usp=sharing