Background
Yemen is facing an unprecedented political, humanitarian, and development crisis. Yemen’s transition that started in 2011 with the support of the international community tragically unravelled after the conclusion of the National Dialogue Conference in January 2014 and spiralled into a full-blown conflict by March 2015 with uncertain prospects of a peaceful political solution. It is now estimated that more than 20 million people (82% of the population) are in need of assistance. With civilian casualties rising, Yemenis are suffering from multiple and entrenched hardships.
After more than two years of stalemate, the Special Envoy of the Secretary General for Yemen convened intra-Yemeni consultations in Sweden from 6 to 13 December 2018. The consultations successfully concluded in partial agreements between the principal Yemeni parties which were endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2451.
In this context, a Peace Support Facility (PSF) for Yemen has been established. The aim of the PFS is to accelerate rapid implementation of the agreements reached by the parties during negotiations led by the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy to Yemen. The PSF also aims to build public support for the peace process by achieving tangible, rapid improvement in the daily lives of people in priority areas identified by the UN Special Envoy and UN Resident Coordinator, in consultation with the parties. The intention is to demonstrate concrete alternatives to conflict, create local demand for peace, and incentivize parties to deepen their engagement in the Special Envoy’s peace process.
The project will undertake two lines of effort, the first of which will implement initiatives agreed by the parties, in direct support of priorities discussed during the peace consultations. By supporting specific initiatives recommended by the UN Special Envoy and parties in the peace process, the Facility will build confidence between the parties, and between the parties and the UN. It will also incentivize parties to deepen their engagement in the peace process. The first set of initiatives implemented under this component will focus on the priorities discussed in the Stockholm consultations.
The second line of work will implement initiatives identified by the Special Envoy that further support broad peace efforts and the peace process. The Facility will empower the Special Envoy to support initiatives that will generate demand for peace, especially in neglected geographical areas and among underrepresented groups. Particular attention will be paid to promoting the inclusion of women. These initiatives will help lay the groundwork for people to start rebuilding their lives, by improving conditions in conflict-impacted communities and facilitating the return of displaced families.
Possible initiatives include extensive civil, electrical and mechanical works. E.g., repairs to public infrastructure including public buildings, rehabilitation of transport infrastructure, and repair and rehabilitation of power supply infrastructure. Wherever possible, contracts will be awarded to local companies to help invigorate local markets and the private sector. The initial focus is likely to be concentrated in Hodeidah, linked to components of the Stockholm agreement, including increasing the safety, security and efficiency of the port.
The initiatives will be implemented directly by UNDP through the PSF project and will liaise closely with UNDP’s Sub-Office management team throughout Yemen.
UNDP will undertakes infrastructure works in Yemen through Yemeni contracting companies, through an open tender procedure. To ensure the works are planned and take place in a proper way, however, a Yemen-based Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QA/QC) engineer is needed to ensure regular, on-site quality control.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Objectives
The main objective of contracting the QA/QC Engineer is to:
- Conduct technical assessment to identified critical/crucial infrastructure in selected location(s) and develop a work plan with estimated cost;
- Develop and review the required procurement documents for the consultancy firm selection and pre-qualifications processes to be undertaken;
- Provide inputs during the tender and evaluation processes especially in the pre-tendering meetings with contractors
- Ensure day-to-day monitoring progress of project activities and promptly report any abnormality or risks to the respective UNDP project manager;
- Scope of work
Provide liaison and implementation support to facilitate implementation of UNDP’s PSF initiatives in Yemen:
- Assist UNDP project through assessment of identified critical/crucial infrastructure in selected location and develop a work plan with estimated cost;
- Develop and review scope of works, expression of interest, bill of quantities, technical specifications, and other required procurement documents for the public works to be undertaken;
- Provide inputs during the tender and award processes especially in the pre-tendering meetings with contractors and as a member of the Tender Evaluation Committee;
- Provide input in addressing the CAP/R/ACP questions related to submitted bids if and when required;
- Monitor day-to-day progress of project activities and promptly report any abnormality or risks to the respective UNDP project manager;
- Follow up on project implementation of approved BOQs with the contractors to ensure compliance to Yemeni standards and the signed contract
- Follow up on the adherence to compliance sheet specifications and oversee of rehabilitation civil, electrical and mechanical works at site preparation and execution of the works against the provided approved sketch and bill of quantities within the set time frame;
- Conduct daily site visits to project sites, monitor progress and submit daily reports.
- Liaise regularly with the site engineers and the local technical teams, to report technical deficiencies.
- Conduct Inspection of rehabilitation works not limited to inspection of materials, equipment’s to be installed;
- Check and certify substantial construction progress/ completion and the corresponding payments. Advice UNDP to withhold payment for any work which has been rejected or any work which is not in compliance with the contract documents;
- Certify/Issue certificates of Substantial Completion in coordination with UNDP and the contractor;
- Ensure daily and weekly submission of monitoring reports
- Report key issues to PFS Project Manager.
- Any other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the PM, UNDP Yemen.
Expected outputs:
Deliverables:
- Assess the Location (s) and develop a work plan with estimated cost and Develop and review scope of works for construction consulting firm and Contractors Pre-qualifications process other required procurement documents for the public works to be undertaken;
Submission Requirement: Work Plan with estimated cost and Two sets of TORs; one for construction consulting services and the other for Pre-qualification process.
Estimated duration to complete: One month
Location: Location(s) will be discussed with the selected candidate and Sana’a.
% of Payment (Professional fees) : 30% from total contract.
Review and Approvals Requirement: PFS Project Manager.
2-Provide inputs during the tender and award processes especially in the pre-tendering meetings with contractors and as a member of the Tender Evaluation Committee; Provide input in addressing the CAP/R/ACP questions related to submitted bids if and when required;
Submission Requirement: Submission of monthly Progress report and Submission of final report.
Estimated duration to complete: One month
Location: Sanaa with possibility travel to other Governorate in Yemen
% of Payment (Professional fees) : 30% from total contract.
Review and Approvals Requirement: PFS Project Manager
3- Any other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the PM, UNDP Yemen.
Submission Requirement: Submission of final report
Estimated duration to complete: One month
Location: Sanaa with possibility travel to other Governorate in Yemen
% of Payment (Professional fees) : 40% from total contract.
Review and Approvals Requirement: PFS Project Manager
Time and method of payment
The consultancy fee will be determined on a lump sum basis. The lump sum amount must be all-inclusive and the contract price must be fixed regardless of changes in the cost components. Living Allowance also called Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) for UN Staff, and travel fees to the duty station should be included in the lump sum. Payment will be made upon completion of key deliverables as outlined in section 4 above.
Institutional Arragements:
This consultancy is located in the office of the UNDP in Sana’a, with travels to Al-Hodeidah and other field offices upon request. The consultant will be provided with a working station with internet connectivity within the Office.
Duration of Consultancy:
The consultancy is for 3 months period (65 working days) from the date of contract commencement, it is expected to start on mid April 2019 and end in mid July 2019. The exact dates are subject to the contract commencement.
Competencies
- Ability to think conceptually and flexibly, capacity to adapt, innovate, and propose multiple options.
- Strong written and oral skills both in Arabic and English
- A team player with good interpersonal skills
- Ability to practice courtesy and diplomacy with high rank officials.
- Time management skills.
- Ability to work well under pressure and stressful environment
- Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents
- Building support and political acumen
- Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication
- Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards
- Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning
- Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking
Required Skills and Experience
Education: Bachelor Degree in Engineering.
Experience:
- Minimum 15 years of coordination and development experience including renovation and construction works.
- Preparation of work progress reports, daily, weekly, milestone, etc
- Proven ability to work with multi-disciplinary teams and liaison with authorities.
- Experience in supervising rehabilitation works and managing projects.
- Experience with UN or international organization working in crisis-affected context, especially Yemen would be an advantage.
- Knows the city of Hodeidah, and the broader Yemen context well
Technical skills required:
- Functionally-related professional management skills.
- Technical related skills.
- Ability to plan and prioritize work activities to meet organizational goals and organize and oversee work processes efficiently to achieve quality results.
- Knowledge of strategic planning processes, programming.
- Knowledge of fund raising, project and programme drafting and Reporting skills.
Language Requirements:
- High level of English proficiency, both spoken and written is required;Fluency in Arabic is required.
- Previous UN Experience: Experience from previous UN assignments and/or international companies would be an asset.
- Travel Plan:
The QA/QC Engineer is reponsibile for all the travel related arrangements and movement between the liberated areas incliding the cost of the travel. For any unforseen travel outside Sanaa not required by the terms of reference and requested by UNDP, such travel shall be at UNDP’s expenses.
- Reporting
The QA/QC Engineer will be reporting to the PSF Manager, with a secondary reporting line to the UNDP Sub-office managers for work in relevant geographical areas (depending on the projects he/she will be monitoring). Daily progress reports should be submitteed to the PSF Manager, with copies to the relevant Sub-office manager.
- Recommended Presentation of Offer:
Applicants are kindly requested to complete and sign and submit all the following documents:
- Personal CV, most updated one, 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.
- Completed Offeror’s Letter, including all requirements including the prices;
- Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer: The offers received from the candidates will be evaluated using combined scoring method. The combined scoring method assesses the offers with technical merits of the proposals – where the qualifications and methodology will be weighted a max. of 70%, and later combined with the price offer which will be weighted a max of 30%.
Eligibility criteria: Candidates must meet the Education Qualification and years of relevant experience stated in the TOR to be eligible /considered for the technical evaluation.
Academic qualifications (University Degree) in Engineering
15%
Minimum 15 years of professional experience, in infrastructure projects.
10%
Experience in site assessment, develop and review procurement documents and tender’s evaluation, design, preparation of BOQs and estimated costing of Infrastructure projects in field
15%
Experience in supervision of infrastructure works (related to field of engineering)
15%
High level of English proficiency, both spoken and written, and Fluency in Arabic is required
15%
Total
70%
The price proposals of candidates obtaining 49 points and higher (or 70% or above) will only be technically qualified; they will be reviewed and compared for the assessment of overall ranking of the proposals. Those obtaining lower than 49 points (or lesser than 70%) will be technically non-responsive proposals, price proposals of such candidate will not be compared.
Assessment of the Price Proposals (30 Points) or 30%
The lowest priced bid from among the technically qualified Offerors will obtain the full marks of 30 points in the price proposal. Price proposals of remaining qualified bidders will be prorated against the lowest priced bid using the following formula to derive the marks in their price proposal:
Marks obtained by a Bidder = Lowest Priced Bid (amount) / Bid of the Offeror (amount) X 30 (Full Marks)
- Award of the Contract/Award Criteria:The contract will be awarded to the candidate (bidder) whose proposal obtains the highest cumulative marks (points) when the marks obtained in technical and price proposals are aggregated together.
FINANCIAL PROPOSAL (OFFERER LETTER) The candidate MUST submit the Financial proposal and offerer Letter to UNDP Procurement address (procurement.yemen@undp.org)