Background

The Philippines is recognized as a high user of online services: an estimated 67 million Filipinos use Facebook. Yet 59% of the population and 72% of all households lack access to the internet. The Free Wi-Fi Internet Access in Public Places Project, otherwise known as Pipol Konek, was implemented starting June 2016. Pipol Konek aims to provide free broadband Internet access to public places across the country. As of August 2018, a total of 3,509 target beneficiary sites have already been installed, with 1,592 live sites and 1,689 sites with access points installed but awaiting telco links.

On August 2, 2017, Republic Act No. 10929 otherwise known as the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act of 2017 was enacted, which mandates the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) as the lead implementing agency that will oversee the effective and efficient implementation of said Act. Under said law, the Free Public Internet Access Program was created that shall provide free access to internet service in public places throughout the country such as the national and local government offices; public basic education institutions; state universities and colleges, and TESDA technology institutions; public hospitals, health centers and rural health units; public parks, plazas, libraries, and barangay reading centers; public airports and seaports; and public transport terminals.

The vision is to reach 200,000 sites by 2026. However, challenges in the bidding and implementation process, limited access to cost-effective and up-to-date technology options, as well as limited capacity of Philippine telecommunications companies at the local level have slowed progress toward this goal.

This supports DICT’s commitment to accelerate the roll-out of the Pipol Konek project. Working in partnership with DICT, UNDP will use its National Acceleration Modality to draw international expertise and temporarily apply its procurement system for managed services contracts for designated areas that currently have no or limited access to internet in public places. This phase of the DICT-UNDP partnership aims to expand internet access in up to 6,000 additional sites.

The project will contribute to closing the digital divide in the Philippines by providing incentives to encourage new and existing local and international service providers to expand internet coverage in designated areas. The project will incorporate third-party monitoring mechanisms to ensure internet service providers meet service quality standards. The project will also include resources to develop the capacity of DICT staff to oversee the procurement, management and implementation of future large-scale Information Communication Technology (ICT) investments. Governance arrangements will be established for the project that ensure proactive management of project activities and performance.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

As key member of the project management team, the Chief Technical Advisor is expected to perform the following duties:

• Draft technical specifications and guide the overall technical direction for the procurement documents to encourage wide market participation, promote use of cost-effective technologies to reach the last mile, and enable a sustainable business model for the long-term provision of internet in public places, including livelihood opportunities for local communities;
• Work with UNDP procurement unit and PMO to determine the most appropriate process and packaging of the bidding documents to achieve intended outcomes;
• Provide technical input and review assistance to bid evaluation process;
• Draft technical input and guide engagement strategy for identifying and securing program partnerships including proposal for future phases;
• Assist in evaluating and finalizing partnership agreements;
• Provide technical input and feedback on project implementation, monitoring and evaluation;
• Provide input and support on capacity development and training activities;
• Communicate with DICT for project progress and any possible program opportunities;
• Provide overall project advisory services and technical assistance to the UNDP Pipol Konek Project Team and work in close cooperation with the Project Manager.
• Represent the UNDP Pipol Konek Project Team in external meetings and conferences, including developing external presentations.
• Assist the PMO in project implementation, monitoring & evaluation.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

• Technical inputs, substantive support and submission of final bid / procurement documents
• Technical inputs, review assistance and submission of final report to the bid evaluation process
• Technical inputs, review assistance and submission of final report / selection of partnership opportunities
• Technical inputs in the development of proposals for future phases
• Review, design and provide recommendations to overall network management and network operations of the overall DICT PK project
• Review, design and provide overall recommendations on the sustainability models for project funding, implementation and execution
• Project advisory services and technical assistance to the UNDP Pipol Konek Project Team

Institutional Arrangement

• Under the overall guidance of the UNDP Philippines Resident Representative, the Consultant will work closely with the Project Manager and the Team Leader of Democratic Governance with the final approving authority for the outputs of the consultant.   
• The IC will maintain pro-active communications with the responsible officer in UNDP and provide an interim report, highlighting main findings and any specific concerns or issues that need to be addressed during subsequent meetings and discussions.
• The IC is expected to meet with staff at the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of the Interior  and Local Government (DILG), telecoms companies, other private sector providers of internet services, internet citizen groups, and major public sector internet clients such as state universities and colleges including possible field trips to gauge the local context for internet service provision.
• UNDP will not provide any equipment but will arrange for office facilities, support personnel, and logistical support during the in-country mission dates.
• In-country travel may be required as part of the assignment.  Payment of travel costs including economy class tickets, terminal expenses and provision for accommodation allowance will be agreed upon, between UNDP and the Consultant prior to travel.

Duration of the Work

• The contract will be for 90 days spread over 6 months with an estimated start date of August 15, 2019.
• Comments will be provided to the consultant within two weeks of submission of the draft outputs. The consultant is expected to respond to comments raised and submit a final report within one week of receipt of comments provided.

Duty Station

             The position will be based in Manila to allow accessibility and availability for discussions and reporting on progress of activities as may be required by the UNDP. Though the consultant will not be required to report regularly, status reports and feedbacks on the outputs shall be expected from time to time.

Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

Consultant must send a financial proposal based on a Lump Sum Amount. The total amount quoted shall be all-inclusive and include all costs components required to perform the deliverables identified in the TOR, including professional fee, travel costs, living allowance (if any work is to be done outside the IC´s duty station) and any other applicable cost to be incurred by the IC in completing the assignment. The contract price will fixed output-based price regardless of extension of the herein specified duration. Payments will be done upon completion of the deliverables/outputs and as per below percentages:

• Deliverable 1: Upon signing and submission of detailed workplan and inception report (10% of total contract amount)
• Deliverable 2: Technical inputs, substantive support and submission of final procurement documents (20% of total contract amount)
• Deliverable 3: Technical input, review assistance, and final selection report to the bid evaluation process and technical inputs in the development of proposals for future phases (20% of total contract amount)
• Deliverable 4:  Technical input, review assistance and submission of final report / selection of partnership opportunities (20% of total contract amount)
• Deliverable 5: Review, design and recommendations to overall network management and network operations of the overall DICT PK project (20% of total contract amount)
• Deliverable 6: Review, design and provide overall recommendations on the sustainability models for project funding, implementation and execution in a final report (10% of total contract amount)

In general, UNDP shall 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 event of unforeseeable travel not anticipated in this TOR, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and the Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

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.

Functional Competencies

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills;
• Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities skills;
• Ability to plan, organize, implement and report on work;
• Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
• Comprehensiveness knowledge of IT systems and internet service provision in remote contexts;
• Outstanding communication, project management and organizational skills;
• Positive, constructive attitude to work;

Required Skills and Experience

Educational Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Business Administration, Economics, Project Management, Information Technology/Computer Science/Computer Engineering/Electronics and Communications Engineering or related subject

Experience

• Minimum of 10 years experience as a senior manager/consultant with responsibility for designing, delivering and managing the deployment of internet services
• Developing country experience in Africa and Asia
• Provision of technical guidance on implementation and completion of key project components/activities, inputs on key technical decisions at strategic moments in the project implementation

Language requirements

• Fluency of written English language is required;

Evaluation Method and Criteria

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as a) responsive/compliant/acceptable; and b) having received the highest score out of set of weighted technical criteria (70%). and financial criteria (30%). Financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal received by UNDP for the assignment.

The selection of the successful contractor must be based in the following qualifications (with the appropriate obtainable points that should be 100 points in total):

Education (30 points)

Master's degree in Business Administration, Economics, Project Management, Information Technology/Computer Science/Computer Engineering/Electronics and Communications Engineering or related subject

Experience and skills

Minimum of 10 years’ experience as a senior manager/consultant with responsibility for designing, delivering and managing the deployment of internet services (30 points)

Developing country experience in Africa and Asia (20 points)

Provision of technical guidance on implementation and completion of key project components/activities, inputs on key technical decisions at strategic moments in the project implementation (10 points)

Fluency in spoken and written English language (10 points)

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

Documentation required

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

• Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability 
• 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.
• Technical proposal, including a brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment.
• Financial proposal

You may download the editable version of the Offeror's Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability for the IC by clicking on this link: 

 http://gofile.me/6xdJm/bE9TCw8fU

Incomplete proposals may not be considered.

In view of the volume of applications UNDP receives, only shortlisted offerors will be notified.