Background

Programme:                                                         UNDP, Saudi Arabia Country Office 

A.Background

Over the last four decades, Saudi Arabia has achieved and sustained remarkable progress along the socioeconomic development pathway at all fronts, as it spanned all sectors of the economy. As a result of this, the Kingdom has been able to move from an underdeveloped status to the very high human development country with all the means of a promising and sustainable future. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP), for instance, increased from SAR 156 billion in 1969 to SAR 942 billion in 2011 and SAR 2,575 billion in 2017, putting the economy among the top 20 global economies in terms of size.

Based on the annual ranking of the Human Development Index (HDI) of the Human Development Report, Saudi Arabia has steadily moved from the middle-income category in the 1990s to the very high-income category in 2017 at 0.853 value of HDI [1].

Likewise, the population of Saudi Arabia increased from 7 million in 1974 to 32 million in 2017. According to official statistics [2], population growth averaged 4.9% per year during the period 1974-1992, but this rate declined to 2.4% for the period 1992-2004. The 2004 national census indicates that two-thirds of the population of Saudi Arabia live in three regions: Riyadh, Makkah and the Eastern region. Around 80% of the overall population is estimated to reside in urban areas. This high level of urbanization poses a host of challenges to development and its sustainability. The three pillars of sustainable development: economic development; social development; and environmental protection, are integrally linked to urbanization.

The Saudi Vision 2030 represents an ambitious blueprint packed with long-term goals and expectations grounded in the strengths and capabilities of the Kingdom. The vision is expressed in three themes of a vibrant society, a thriving economy and an ambitious nation. A thorough review of the three themes and their underlying issues of national concern would reveal a holistic approach to development that encompasses the three dimensions of sustainable development: the social, the economic and the environmental.

Prior to this, in September 2015, the World Leaders endorsed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the core of a global development agenda towards 2030. The SDGs, bundled in an integrated, and indivisible set of 17 goals, 169 targets and 205 indicators, are a global resolve to take ‘the bold and transformative steps which are urgently needed to shift the world on to a sustainable and resilient path [3]’.

Looked at from the broader perspective of sustainable development, the Saudi Vision 2030 and the SDGs are similar in their respective timeframes and their multi-dimensional approach to development. They agree on the urgency of mainstreaming ambitions into the national strategies and policies as well as to respond to the call for wide-ranging participation of the concerned communities in producing sustainable development results and in reaping their benefits. The analysis of the mapping of the Saudi Vision 2030 against the SDGs demonstrates a handful of synergies and complementarities, a fact that justifies close cooperation between

Saudi Arabia and the UN System toward the achievement of development sustainability, be it in terms of the Saudi Vision 2030 or the SDGs. These synergies and complementarities would avail the UN System of comparative advantage in a development landscape which is congested with big players and marked by demands for effectiveness, efficiency, and excellence.

Saudi Arabia has expressed commitment to achieve the SDGs. It recognizes that both the SDGs and the Saudi Vision 2030 call for inclusive processes of development whereby all stakeholders get involved, not only in the realization of an achievement but in sharing its benefits as well. For any meaningful engagement of all stakeholders, though, there is a need to design policies with the concept of inclusiveness in mind. That requires considering all aspects of inclusiveness, ranging from equity to empowerment, opportunities, and participation to satisfaction.

Duties and Responsibilities

A.     Scope of Work 

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Head of Procurement, the Consultant provides support in the execution of procurement services in CO, ensuring their effectiveness, transparency and integrity.

The Consultant promotes a client-focused, quality and results-oriented approach in the Unit.

The Consultant works in close collaboration with the operations, programme and project teams in the CO, UNDP Regional Hub and HQs staff to resolve complex procurement-related issues and information delivery.

Objectives of the Assignment:  

• Provide support to Saudi Arabia Buyer(s) in processes mapping and elaboration of the content of internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in Procurement and Logistics, control of the workflows in the Procurement Unit.
• Provide support to Saudi Arabia Buyer(s) in assisting clients with procurement planning, contract management, and complex procurement processes conducted by CO.
• Support CO with specific procurement processes, including preparation and conduct of RFQs, ITBs or RFPs, receipt of quotations, bids or proposals, their evaluation, and negotiation of certain conditions of contracts in full compliance with UNDP rules and regulations.
• Liaise with technical managers/prgramme staff, as directed by CO buyer(s), to review TOR and provide support to the technical evaluations.
• Provide support for researched information for formulation and implementation of contract strategy and strategic Procurement in the CO, including tendering processes and evaluation, managing the contract and contractor, legal considerations and payment conditions, sourcing strategy, supplier selection and evaluation, quality management, e-procurement introduction.
• Support CO buyer(s) in conducting supply market analysis of requirements received in Saudi Arabia Office in order to understand how the market works, the direction, the competitiveness of the market, the key suppliers and the value that suppliers place on the organization.
• Support with procurement activities and identify most suitable procurement strategies to meet the identified needs.
• Provide inputs to assist CO in determining feasibility of developing comprehensive supply mechanism such as LTAs, etc. to meet the identified needs.
• Preparation of Purchase orders and contracts in and outside Atlas, preparation of Recurring Purchase orders for contracting of services, vendors’ creation in Atlas.
• Develop and support efforts to enhance financial sustainability of procurement operations with focus on internal efficiencies and value for money, e.g. by streamlining internal business procedures, e.g.
• updating and maintaining the LTA Repository and IC Roster platform, etc.
• Organization of trainings for the operations/ projects staff on Procurement as need it.
• Support in conducting procurement processes leading to development of suitable procurement tools, systems, mechanisms and contracts that will ensure timely delivery of goods and services to fulfill the identified requirements.
• Provide support elaboration of contract strategy, sourcing strategy, quality management, supplier selection, and improvement of procurement processes.
• Provide support with analysis of information for preparation of procurement plans and monitoring of its implementation.
• Provide support with the development and management of the rosters of suppliers, LTAs, elaboration of supplier selection and evaluation criteria, and quality and performance measurement mechanisms.
• Identify opportunities for leveraging supply markets on the basis of consolidated needs.
• Assist with specific contractual issues and monitoring.
• Support CO buyer(s) with the preparation of submissions to the Contract, Asset and Procurement Committee (CAP) and Regional Advisory Committee on Procurement (RACP).

A.Key Performance Indicators during the implementation of Services   

• Provision of clear and comprehensive deliverables specified under outputs 
• Timely completion of deliverables 
• Appropriate coordination with all relevant parties.
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal. 

B.Reporting:

The Consultant will report directly to the Head of Procurement. They will develop a mutually agreed frequently deliverable activity plan with appropriate timelines. The Consultant will submit a progress report against the agreed activity plan on a mutually agreed template.

C.Duty Station

This Assignment will be based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

D.Contract Duration:

The intial duration of the contract duration for 6 calendar months, with possibility for an extenssion.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Strategic planning 
• Innovation
• Organizational Awareness
• Developing and Empowering People / Coaching and Mentoring
• Works effectively in Teams
• Clear and concise communication 
• Ethics and Values
• People Management

Functional Competencies:               

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

• Researches best practices and poses new, more effective ways of doing things
• Documents innovative strategies and new approaches
• Gathers and disseminates information on best practice in accountability and results-based management systems
• Prepares timely inputs to reports

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

• Understands the main processes and methods of work regarding to the position
• Possesses knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks
• Identifies new and better approaches to work processes and incorporates same in own work
• Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning
• Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments

Client Orientation

• Reports to internal and external clients in a timely and appropriate fashion
• Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines
• Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients
• Responds to client needs promptly

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity  
• Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment 
• Self-development, initiative-taking 
• Acting as a team player and facilitating team work 
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively 
• Creating synergies through self-control
• Managing conflict
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member.
• Informed and transparent decision making

Required Skills and Experience

Education: 

• BSc Degree (or its equivalent) in a Business Administration, Supply Chain, Logistics, Public Administration, Finance, Economics or related field or relevant discipline. 
• Completion of certification training in public Procurement is desirable (i.e. CIPS or similar).

Work Experience:

• General Qualification:  At least 2 years experience at the national or international level in procurement management;
• Experience relevant to the Assignment
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advanced knowledge of web-based management systems;

Languages Required:  

Fluent in English and Arabic written and oral

A.EVALUATION

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodologies:

Step I: Screening and desk review:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology.

Applications will be first screened and only candidates meeting the following minimum criteria will progress to the pool for shortlisting:

• BSc university degree in in a Business Administration, Supply Chain, Logistics, Public Administration, Finance, Economics or related field or relevant discipline.
• Completion of certification training in public Procurement is desirable (i.e. CIPS or similar).
• At least 2 years experience at the national or international level in procurement management;
• Experience relevant to the Assignment
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advance knowledge of web-based management systems;

Shortlisted Candidates will be then assessed and scored against the following evaluation criteria and then will be followed by interview by the CO.  

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70 points (70% of the total interview points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Qualification and Experience (30 marks) [evaluation of CV/Interview]:

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Financial proposal – Maximum 30 points

• Duly accomplished Confirmation of Interest and Submission of Financial Proposal Template using the template provided by UNDP (Annex II);
• Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references.

PRICE PROPOSAL AND SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS (Standard text - do not change) 

The contractor shall submit a price proposal as below:

Daily Fee – The contractor shall propose a daily fee, which should be inclusive of his professional fee, local communication cost and insurance (inclusive of medical health insurance and evacuation). The number of working days for which the daily fee shall be payable under the contract is 40 working days.

The contractor shall propose a Living allowance at Riyadh not to exceed applicable rate per night for his/her stay at the duty station. The number of nights for which the Living allowance shall be payable under the contract is # nights in Riyadh. The contractor is NOT allowed to stay in a place of his choice other than the UNDSS approved places.

Travel & Visa – The contractor shall propose an estimated lump-sum for home-Riyadh-home travel (economy most direct route) and visa expenses.

The total professional fee shall be converted into a lump-sum contract and payments under the contract shall be made on submission and acceptance of deliverables under the contract in accordance with the schedule of payment linked with deliverables

 Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications in one single PDF document:

• Duly accomplished Confirmation of Interest and Submission of Financial Proposal Template using the template provided by UNDP (Annex II);
• Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references.  

Financial proposal, as per UNDP guidelines (constituting 30%)