Background

With financial support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and partners in co-finance, UNDP helps countries meet the objectives of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, with the aim of reducing the vulnerability of the poor to health and environmental stresses originating from improper management of POPs.

Early 2013, the GEF was also given the role as financial mechanism for the new Mercury Convention (“Minamata Convention”), which will work towards protecting human health and the environment from mercury exposure.

UNDP has also been implementing projects that fall in the purview of the Strategic Approach for International Chemicals Management (SAICM), which at the outset were funded under its Quick Start Programme and various bilateral donors. Since GEF V the GEF also started supporting SAICM related initiatives, making it possible to fund programmes in the area of chemicals management which are not covered by the GEF-POPs, ODS or Mercury funding windows (i.e. the mainstreaming of sound management of chemicals in national planning, reduced releases of lead, other chemicals or waste concerns not covered under the Stockholm / Minamata Conventions).

Therefore, in addition to POPs, the GEF Chemicals focal area will be addressing projects in support of the Minamata Convention to reduce Mercury releases and eliminate the use of mercury as well as SAICM related initiatives. Negotiations for the sixth GEF replenishment started in 2013, which will provide the framework of GEF VI Chemicals funding cycle (2014-2018). In order to support UNDP’s Chemicals work, the Unit is looking to engage a Chemicals Management expert.

The Expert is expected to be engaged by October 21th 2019 through a non-exclusive Framework Agreement formalized through an Individual Contract (IC). A Framework Agreement is known in UNDP as an agreement that establishes the terms, conditions and prices that will govern future engagement (Thru issuance of Purchase Order) arising from the said Agreement, which could be issued at any time within the duration of the IC. 

It is important to note that, at the time of the issuance of the IC that serves as the Framework Agreement, both parties understand that no financial obligation or commitment is formed on the part of UNDP, and that such an agreement is non-exclusive (i.e., it does not prohibit UNDP from entering into another such framework agreement with another individual or entity).  Financial commitments will only be established each time the services are requested within the scope of the IC, through the agreed triggering action or document (Purchase Order) that signals the commencement of an engagement. 

This IC is intended for on-call intermittent engagement for a maximum of 80 working days spread over a period of 36 months (3 years). Any extension is subject to satisfactory performance review, project funding situation or other factors impacting the project operating environment.

Long Term Agreement Disclosure

UNDP at its own discretion showed interest to enter into a non-binding Framework/Long Term Agreement (LTA) as a result of this Individual Contract process under the following conditions:

1. The supplier/contractor shall provide the types of services, goods and/or deliverables, quoted in this bidding, which shall be reflected in a non-binding Long Term Agreement.
2. UNDP does not warrant that any quantity of Goods and/or Services will be purchased during the term of this arrangement.

In the event of any advantageous technical changes and/or downward pricing of the Goods and/or Services during the duration of this Agreement, the Supplier/Contractor shall notify UNDP immediately. UNDP will consider the impact of any such event and may request an amendment to the Long-Term Agreement.

Duties and Responsibilities

Deliverables:

Under the direct supervision of the Director of UNDP’s Montreal Protocol Unit/Chemicals, and in continuous consultation with Programme Specialists of the Unit the consultant will provide technical services for a number of project submissions and knowledge management activities, in particular:

• Finalize a programme framework document and related materials for a global GEF funded Chemicals and Waste programme on mercury and UPOPs emissions from the industrial sector.  [20 days]
• Conduct technical reviews of at least 15 UNDP chemicals-related project submissions (PIF, CEO-endorsements) [15 days, 1 day per PIF]
• Provide with technical and scientific input into ongoing and prospective topics pertaining to UNDP’s Chemicals and Waste programming. [20 days]
• Support the development of a knowledge management product on chemicals and waste and mercury. [25 days]

DURATION

The Contract (LTA) will enter into effect upon signature by both parties, expected for two (2) years of duration and can be extended up to one (1) additional period of 1 (one) year up to a maximum of three (3) years. With a total of 80 days over the entire duration of the contract.

Duty Station

Home based with possible mission

Fees

Payment shall be made with lump sum amount based on specific deliverables as described above inclusive of all travel expenses as required and the payments will be made upon satisfactory

Competencies

Functional competencies:

• Strong interpersonal skills, communication and diplomatic skills, ability to work in a team;
• Excellent analytical skills and the capacity to research and comprehend technical and strategic documentation and prepare policy and strategy  papers;
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
• Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations, and to meet tight deadlines;
• Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities;
• Experience in the preparation and review of Project Implementation Reviews (PIRs).
• Capacity to establish and maintain excellent relationships with key partners
• Good presentation skills.
• Good computer skills (Microsoft suite, email, internet, …)

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Advanced university degree. Advanced degree in engineering, chemical, physics, technology or social sciences will be an advantage.

Experience

• At least 8 years of experience in the area of the Sound Management of Chemicals (SMC), Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and/or Mercury Management at national and/or international level;
• Experience working on the subject of POPs, Mercury and Waste Management, within the context of UN projects;
• Experience with UN/UNDP programme development, implementation and monitoring;
• Knowledge and experience in the preparation of technical communications and publications;
• Working experience in developing countries and countries in transition.

Communication skills

• Excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills in English.

Application Procedures (Instructions to Applicants)

The application is a two-step process. Failing to comply with the submission process may result in disqualifying the applications:

Step 1: Interested individual consultants submit the following documents:

• CV 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
• Brief description of why the individual considers himself/herself as the most suitable for the assignment. Indicate available start date.

Step 2: Submission of Financial Proposal: Only applicants who attain a score of 70% and above on the technical evaluation will be contacted and requested to submit a financial proposal.

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments:

Financial proposals must be submitted with the following information:

1. Lumpsum Fee based on the deliverables stated under “Deliverables”
2. Travel Cost based on the possible missions stated in the TOR. 

Both should be expressed in USD and sent the proposal for this consultancy to bpps.procurement@undp.org using the financial proposal template available here: http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=45780. The proposals should be sent via email with the following subject heading: “International Consultant: Chemical and Waste Expert" by the deadline for this vacancy. Proposals to be received after the deadline may be rejected.  In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal should be all-inclusive and include a breakdown.

• Payment will be made upon submission of a certificate of payment request, indicating outputs achieved to be verified and cleared for payment by the supervisor.

The term ‘all inclusive” implies that all costs (professional fees, communications, utilities, consumables, insurance, etc.) that could possibly be incurred by the Contractor are already factored into the final amounts submitted in the proposal.

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

Criteria for selection of individual consultant for award of contract:

The selection of the best offer from the shortlisted candidates will be based on a Combined Scoring method – where the qualifications and experienced will be weighted a maximum of 70 points and combined with the price offer which will be weighted a max of 30 points out of 100 points

Method: Cumulative analysis method will be used to evaluate proposals.

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:

• 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

Technical Criteria weight: 70%

Financial Criteria weight: 30%

Technical Evaluation

Only those candidates that meet the minimum level of education, relevant years of experience and language requirements will be considered for the technical evaluation. The technical evaluation will be conducted by a desk review to select the shortlisted candidates (those that score at least 49 out of total 70 obtainable scores). The technical evaluation may also include interviews with shortlisted candidate(s).

Only applicants obtaining a minimum of 49 points on technical evaluation will be considered for the Financial Evaluation

Technical Proposal (70 Points) 70% weight

Technical proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria: 

Financial evaluation (Weight 30%)

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

Financial Proposal (30% weight of combined score)

Contract Award

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

Institutional arrangement

The Consultant will be given access to relevant information necessary for execution of the tasks under this assignment;

The Consultant will be responsible for providing her/his own computing and auxiliary equipment.

Payments will be made upon satisfactory delivery of outputs, certification of payment form, and acceptance and confirmation by the Task Manager on outputs satisfactorily delivered.

Payment modality

• Payments will be made upon submission and acceptance of deliverables. All payments are subject to the clearance and approval of the direct supervisor. The contract price is fixed regardless of changes in the cost of components.

Annexes

(click on the hyperlink to access the documents):

Annex 1 - Financial Proposal Template

Annex 2 – IC General Terms and Conditions