A.     Title of the Project: “Achieving Kuwait 2035 Vision Towards Persons with Disability Project”

This assignment is implemented within the framework of the Project: “Achieving Kuwait 2035 Vision Towards Persons with Disability Project”. The project is supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Kuwait office and implemented by the Public Authority for Disabled Affairs of Kuwait.

B.     Background of the project

Project Description       

The project “Achieving Kuwait 2035 Vision Towards Persons with Disability” supports PADA to enhance its human capacities and organizational effectiveness towards achieving its mandate. It supports its efforts at integration of PWDs in schools, employment, and social life in partnership with CSOs working for disabilities and supports it to ensure an inclusive physical environment for PWDs. The project will continue until December 2018. It seeks to achieve three outputs:

• Output 1.1: Enhanced human capacities and institutional effectiveness for prevention, early detection, diagnosis and rehabilitation of disabilities.
• Output 1.2: Coordinated and well organized efficient efforts towards removal of barriers to social, economic and educational inclusion of persons with disability.
• Output 1.3: Increased technical expertise and organizational capacities for implementation of Universal Design and countrywide use of technology enablers.

The Public Authority for Disabled Affairs (PADA)

The Public Authority for Disabled Affairs (PADA)[1] of Kuwait is responsible for all matters related to care and rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities. Its mandate includes, inter alia, setting the disability policy; setting regulations and procedures for care and rehabilitation of PWDs and developing and overseeing an integrated action plan responsible for all aspects of Persons with Disabilities’ welfare in coordination with relevant government entities. Furthermore, care and rehabilitation centers were recent, in 2016, transferred to the responsibility of PADA. PADA was established as per law no.8 for 2010[2] as a governmental entity. The law is concerned with protecting the rights of Persons with Disabilities in Kuwait and covers their inclusion in society, rehabilitation and employment in addition to care and other government services and entitlements. PADA developed a five-year strategy 2014 – 2019, which includes 15 themes and goals and provides a guiding framework for implementation and has an annual development plan.

Central Agency for Information Technology (CAIT)

The Central Agency for Information Technology (CAIT) is a central body under the auspices of the Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs. CAIT's main tasks are set policies, plans and implementation of IT among government agencies at the national level. In addition, CAIT develops and manages the methodologies and standards for the IT services. CAIT also responsible for the capacity building and awareness raising in the field and the technology industry in government agencies, in coordination with other stakeholders[3].

The Communication and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA)?

The Communication and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA)? was established in 2014 and is responsible for overseeing the telecommunications sector, monitor and protect the interests of users and service providers and regulate the services of telecommunication networks in the country while ensuring transparency, equality of opportunity and fair competition. CITRA regulate and advise on the country’s IT sector and educate the public about the positive impact of IT on the economic and social development of the country[4].

Technology enablers and adaptive strategies:

Within the different universal design topics, accessibility to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) has a major importance. Considering the current impact of ICTs within all sectors of the community, the digital services and ICTs should be fully usable by persons with disabilities.

Therefore, Section 5 of the 2010 law is concerned with societal inclusion. It stipulates in articles 18-23 the need for inclusion in 1) sports, cultural and entertainment activities by providing accessible environments for PWDs, encouraging them to participate in sports 2) Public buildings and facilities that are designed in line with Universal Design standards 3) in public transport 4) by access to news, cultural programmes and parliamentary sessions through sign language as a measure by the Ministry of Information 5) and by launching societal awareness programmes for PWDs, ensuring all curricula (educational, religious, life, sports) meets their needs and creating a positive image of PWDs in media. “Universal Design” is defined in the Kuwait law as “design of public buildings, or private buildings that have a public use, as well as products, programmes (ICT) and services in a way suitable for the use by PWDs”.

Finally, the Kuwait National Development Plan and Actionable vision include Universal Design as one of the main objectives. For this assignment, PADA is focusing on accessibility in the virtual environment and thus requires the services of an Information and Communications Technology consultant to support accessibility and adaptive strategies in Kuwait.

[1] http://www.pada.gov.kw

[2] The law no.10 for 2010 on Disability available at http://www.pada.gov.kw:8000/MainLaw.aspx

[3] https://www.cait.gov.kw

[4] http://citra.gov.kw

The assignment will contribute to Output 1.3 of the project above to ensure implementation of technology enablers and adaptive web strategies through inclusive ICTs enabling strategy that focus on the role of web services (including social media and mobile website) to enable and accelerate the social and economic inclusion of persons with disabilities.

Specific tasks include:

1. Develop national web accessibility guidelines and standards in line with the international standards:
   1. Conduct an initial review of current ICTs related accessibility frameworks, guidelines and legislation within Kuwait in coordination with PADA , CITRA, and CAIT.
   2. Produce an inception report include the results of the initial review, suggested methodology and work plan for the whole assignment.
   3. Develop, in consultation with various stakeholders as necessary, web accessibility guidelines and standards for Kuwait that may include but not limited to:
   4. The current, up-to-date International standards to ensure its accessibility to PWDs, as a first step of the strategy, in full cooperation with the IT Department at PADA.

Indicative Approaches

• Gender approach: the consultant should ensure gender analysis is conducted based on the differentiated needs of girls and boys, men and women and it should be considered and explicit in all the components, especially the situation analysis and proposal.
• Participation and ownership: the consultant should ensure participation of PADA staff in the process of analysis and ensure their views and feedback is incorporated.
• Capacity Development approach: the consultant should work closely with project staff to enable the transfer of know-how as well as through the direct training component of the assignment
• Innovation and cultural: sensitivity the consultants should select contents and utilize techniques that are innovative and culturally appropriate and effective. 

1. Expected Outputs and Deliverables

All final deliverables must be submitted in hard copy and electronic format.

2. Institutional Arrangement

1. The consultant will report on a day to day basis to the UNDP Project Manager.
2. All submitted deliverables, reports, developed papers (reports, framework, strategy, training plan, etc.) are subject to PADA, GSSCPD and UNDP Programme Analyst approval. These documents will serve as a justification for payments.
3. Regular meetings will be set for updates on progress in line with the agreed work plan.
4. The consultant will be granted access to internet and printing machine.

3. Duration of the Work

The duration of this consultancy is expected to be 12 weeks (60 working days).  Expected start date of the assignment is 1st March 2018. One round trip will be covered under this assignment.

4. Duty Station

The consultant is expected to be in Kuwait for the duration of the assignment and will be based at PADA office.

5. Scope of Price Proposal

The financial proposal submitted shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. The financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel, living allowance, and the number of anticipated working days).

Travel: All envisaged travel and other related costs must be included in the financial proposal.

In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging, and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed

6. Evaluation

Cumulative analysis

Total score=Technical Score + Financial Score.

Technical Criteria weight - 70%, 700 scores maximum 

Financial Criteria weight - 30%. 300 scores maximum

The selection of candidates will be done in 3 stages:

1st stage: Prior to detailed evaluation, all applications will be thoroughly screened against eligibility criteria (minimum qualification requirements) as set in the TOR to determine whether they are compliant/non-compliant.

2nd stage: Evaluation of technical proposals

Short-listed candidates will be evaluated based on the following criteria. Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 490 points (70%) at the Technical Evaluation would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

3rd stage: Financial evaluation

The cumulative analysis will be used based on the following methodology: All the offers of individual consultants who scored 490 (70% from 700) and more points during the desk review are acceptable for financial evaluation. The lowest financial qualified proposal receives 300 points and all the other technically qualified proposals receive points in inverse proportion per the formula:

The candidate achieving the highest cumulative score for both Technical and Financial evaluations will be recommended by the Evaluation Committee for contracting.

7. DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS.

Applicants are requested to compile and submit as one PDF file the below-requested documents:

1. Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability http://www.kw.undp.org/content/kuwait/en/home/operations/procurement.html;
2. Personal CV or P11 http://www.kw.undp.org/content/kuwait/en/home/operations/procurement.html, indicating all experience from similar projects that show how the candidate meets the above requirements, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the candidate and at least three (3) professional referees;
3. Technical Proposal includes:
   1. One page that highlights your track record of work experience that demonstrates your practical skills and abilities in these areas and how you’ve been involved in these tasks in the past and explaining why you are the most suitable for this assignment.
   2. Proposed Methodology, Approach and Implementation Plan – this section should demonstrate the Proposer’s response to the Terms of Reference by identifying the specific components proposed, how the requirements shall be addressed, as specified, point by point; providing a detailed description of the essential performance characteristics proposed; and demonstrating how the proposed methodology meets or exceeds the specifications.
4. Financial Proposal that indicates an all-inclusive Lump Sum Amount with a fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided.  If an 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, the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.  The consultant should be aware that the contract price is fixed regardless of changes in the cost components.

Competencies:

• Flexibility and adaptability to uncertain environments
• Ability to work independently and find solutions
• Political and cultural sensitivity
• Promoting ethics and integrity
• Gender sensitivity
• Teamwork and cooperation with colleagues
• Creating and promoting an enabling environment for open communication;
• Sharing knowledge and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning.
• Conviction of the full rights of Persons with Disabilities and alignment with the values of human rights 

Education:

• University degree in Information and Communication Technology field (such as computer engineering, computer science, or relevant field)
• Certification in ICT accessibility is desirable

Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years’ experience in web development and accessibility, inclusive ICT strategies or related field.
• Demonstrated experience in developing, applying and utilizing web accessibility guidelines and standards.
• Fluency in English (speaking, writing, reading) required. Knowledge of Arabic is desirable.
• Relevant experience related to accessible ICT design in at least one country aside from own in the region or globally.