Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive growth sustainably to improve the quality of life for everyone. On the ground over 170 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations.

UNDP is seeking a videographer/photogrpaher(s) to support its video production and photography on a series of projects. The video and photo products will highlight UNDP’s work on poverty reduction, women’s empowerment, crisis response, and protecting the environment. UNDP collaborates with many partners including governments, civil society groups, NGOs, and other UN agencies.

The productions include short news features for broadcasters, short and long documentaries, public services announcements, promotional videos for social media and events, photo coverage of events and projects, and video messages both internal and external to UNDP.

The video production unit is part of the Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy (BERA)/Communications Group (CG) of UNDP and is responsible for video production both for HQ and Country Offices. UNDP BERA seeks to compile a Roster with qualified consultants to provide videography and photography services. Most of the production takes place at UNDP HQ in New York City. For this purpose, UNDP is requesting bids from videographers based in New York City (home-based).

The consultant(s) will be engaged on as ‘as needed’ basis. In other words, when the CG requires the services of the Consultant, a selection will be made based on availability at the needed time, value for money (fee rate), and expertise for type of film being produced and/or photography required.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the UNDP Media & Advocacy Team, the consultant will be responsible for the following:

• Ensure highest broadcast quality of videography: HD 1920x1080 or better;

• Ensure that all requests and instructions from UNDP pertaining to videography and photography requirements are fulfilled;

• Ensure that all required videography/photography services are completed on deadline;

• Ensure that correct video/photo formats are used as requested by UNDP;

Work with the highest professional ethical standards and in keeping with UNDP’s and the UN’s core messages.

Expected outputs and deliverables:

Under the supervision of the UNDP Media & Advocacy Team, the consultant will work on various aspects of video production and/or photography for several projects, including the following deliverables

• Filming interviews and photo coverage of various UN system events including Social Good Summit, General Assembly, Executive Board, the Sustainable Development Goals;
• Producing videos and photos of UNDP projects;
• Producing promotional material for UNDP such as public service announcements;
• Filming footage and B-Roll for UNDP, its partners and media;
• Filming and editing videos, photos and photo editing on UNDP’s work on the ground.

The timeline for deliverables (including deadlines) will be agreed upon with the supervisor on an on-call basis.

Possession of high quality equipment is a requirement for selection; selected candidates will need to use their own high-quality audio-visual equipment. UNDP BERA will not provide any equipment.

Working arrangements:

• The consultant(s) will be engaged on as ‘as needed’ basis. In other words, when the CG requires the services of the Consultant, a selection will be made based on availability at the needed time, value for money (fee rate) and expertise for type of film being produced;

• Individual contract (IC) as Framework Agreement are for services on an intermittent and repetitive basis;

• Upon request for services, the consultant must advise within 48 hours as to their availability for said services;

• Financial commitments will only be established each time the services are requested within the scope of the IC;

• Corresponding payments shall be made following certification by UNDP that the services requested have been satisfactorily performed and Deliverables have been achieved by or before the due dates;

• The addition on an individual in the Roster does not guarantee a contract with UNDP;

• Repeated lack of availability and/or interest may result in removal from the roster.

Competencies

Functional:

• Demonstrated ability to film broadcast quality video and audio: HD 1920x1080 or better;

• Demonstrated ability to produce professional quality photographs;

• Have Final Cut Pro X editing skills (or other professional editing software i.e., Avid, Premiere…);

• Have knowledge of different video formats and video file conversions;

• Have knowledge of converting video files in multiple formats;

• Have online video publishing and file transfer skills;

• Have working knowledge of publishing on social media sites;

• Have knowledge of lighting for video and photo.

  Core:

• Interest in the UN system and general knowledge of development issues;

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;

• Ability to work in a multicultural environment.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic qualifications:

Bachelor’s Degree in a related field or at least three years of professional experience.

Experience:

• At least 3 years of working experience in video production and FCPX editing, or other professional editing software;

• At least 3 years’ experience filming professionally.

  Language:

• Fluency in English, required; knowledge of other UN languages (French, Spanish, Arabic) an asset.

Application Procedure

The application package containing the following (to be uploaded as one file):

• Online application with brief description of why the Offer considers her/himself the most suitable for the assignment; and

• Updated Personal CV, indicating all past experience from similar projects and specifying the relevant assignment period (from/to), as well as the email and telephone contacts of at least three (3) professional references.

• Statement of Interest (cover letter) with a brief narrative as to why the individual?considers him/herself (include specialty areas) as the most suitable candidate for the assignment;

• Provision of at least three video samples of your work on reel (via URL);

Note:

• Most of the Video graphing/Photographing takes place UNDP HQ in New York –for this purpose UNDP is requesting bids from Videographer/Photographer based in New York.
• The above documents need to be scanned in one file and uploaded to the online application as one document.

Shortlisted candidates (ONLY) will be requested to submit a Financial Proposal.

• The financial proposal should specify an all-inclusive daily fee (based on a 7-hour working day - lunch time is not included - and estimated 21.75 days per month).

• The financial proposal must be all-inclusive and take into account various expenses that will be incurred during the contract, including: the daily professional fee; (excluding mission travel); living allowances at the duty station; communications, utilities and consumables; life, health and any other insurance; risks and inconveniences related to work under hardship and hazardous conditions (e.g., personal security needs, etc.), when applicable; and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services under the contract.

• This consultancy is a home-based assignment, therefore, there is no envisaged travel cost to join duty station/repatriation travel.

• In the case of unforeseeable travel requested by UNDP, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between UNDP and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed. 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.

• If the Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under a Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.

The Financial Proposal is to be emailed as per the instruction in the separate email that will be sent to shortlisted candidates.

Evaluation process

Applicants are reviewed based on Required Skills and Experience stated above and based on the technical evaluation criteria outlined below. Applicants will be evaluated based on cumulative scoring. When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Being 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 where technical criteria weighs 70% and Financial criteria/ Proposal weighs 30%.

Technical evaluation - Total 70% (70 points):

• Criteria 1. Technical/creativity of video sample – at least three on a reel with focus on filming?technique, sound quality and creativity (via URLs); Maximum Points: 15 points;

• Criteria 2. Technical/creativity of photo sample – 15-20 photos with focus on technique, image quality and composition (via URLs); Maximum Points: 15 points;
• Criteria 3. Proven experience – reference will be made to CV and video samples; Maximum Points: 10 points;
• Criteria 4 Knowledge of and experience in video and photo coverage of international events, preferably within the UN system; Maximum Points: 9 points.
• Interview: Maximum Points: 21 points.

Having reviewed applications received, UNDP will invite the top 12 shortlisted candidates to interview. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% (49 points) of the maximum obtainable points for the technical criteria (70 points) shall be considered for the financial evaluation.

Financial evaluation - Total 30% (30 points)

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:

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

Framework Agreement

UNDP plans to enter into the Long-Term Agreement (LTA) with the TOP ranked successful Individual Contractors to assure resources availability at the required time fame and/or increased demand for services requested. The service of who will be used on an intermittent and repetitive basis when needed and based on the fixed unit price.  Other prospective applicants that are not contracted, at the UNDP’s discretion, may be placed in the roster of consultants to be used based on an on-call basis for similar services.

Please note that the LTA does not form a financial obligation or commitment from UNDP at the time the LTA contract is signed, and that such an agreement is non-exclusive. When a specific need arises, the successful Individual Contractor/s will be approached and be provided with a specific TOR and deliverables (and time frame) but still within the scope of the responsibilities stated in the LTA. The successful Individual Contractor(s) is expected to provide Confirmation of Interest on the specific services required at the agreed LTA Daily Rate Consultancy Fee. Financial commitments will only be established each time a Purchase Order for the specific services/TOR for Individual Contractor is committed.

This LTA has a cumulative ceiling amount that may accrue to the individual contractor during the life of the LTA, but said amount shall remain as an upper limit, and must not and cannot be interpreted nor understood as neither a financial commitment nor guarantee of business volume.

Contract Award

Candidate obtaining the highest combined scores in the combined score of Technical and Financial evaluation will be considered technically qualified and will be offered to enter into contract with UNDP.

Institutional arrangement

The consultant will work under the guidance and direct supervision of Andrew Hein; Video Specialist HQ/BERA/OC and will be responsible for the fulfilment of the deliverables as specified above.

The Consultant will be responsible for providing her/his own laptop.

Payment modality

• Payment to the Individual Contractor will be made based on the actual number of days worked, deliverables accepted and upon certification of satisfactory completion by the manager.