UNDP Jobs - 94986- Procurement Consultant - Quality Assurance of Heal

Procurement Consultant - Quality Assurance of Health Products

Location :

Home-based

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

30-Nov-2020

Application Deadline :

15-Nov-20 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

130 days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

30 November 2020 to 30 June 2021

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life, as envisaged by 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We are on the ground in more than 170 countries and territories, working with governments and people on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners that can bring about results.

UNDP’s partnership with the Global Fund is a powerful contributor to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development including SDG 3 and UNDP’s Strategic Plan (2018-2021); through this partnership, UNDP plays a key role in supporting countries facing challenging circumstances to deliver the SDGs, to strengthen institutions to progressively deliver universal access to basic services (Outcome 3) and a return to sustainable development pathways in post conflict and post-disaster settings (Outcome 6). In strategic terms, in 2016 and 2017 the partnership between UNDP and the Global Fund was marked by increased convergence among implementation support, capacity development/systems strengthening and policy.

First, UNDP continued to strengthen its status as a key implementer of Global Fund grants in crisis and early recovery environments, including procurement and supply management and quality assurance of health products in line with UNDP’s Quality Assurance Policy for Health Products (2018) (QA Policy). Second, UNDP responded to increasing demand for capacity development from national entities and the Global Fund to strengthen resilient systems for health through a new generation of capacity development plans. A key area for support is on procurement and supply chain management, including quality assurance. And third, as UNDP’s policy and implementation roles increasingly converge and reinforce each other, UNDP is supporting the Global Fund to increase engagement on human rights, key populations and gender aspects of disease responses at a strategic, policy and program level (as priority objectives in the Global Fund Strategy, “Investing to End Epidemics” (2017-2022). As of January 2017, UNDP served as the temporary Principal Recipient (PR) for 34 Global Fund grants covering 19 countries and 3 regional grants. Given the importance of the partnership with the Global Fund, UNDP continues to provide high value-added services both in its PR role, increasingly as a significant technical partner to governments, and to civil society organizations (CSOs) who implement Global Fund grants. This is overseen by the BBPS/HHD Global Fund/Health Implementation Support Team (GF/HIST) in close coordination with Country Offices, Regional Bureaus, the Legal Office and the Bureau of Management. In addition, the GF/HIST oversees the implementation of the QA Policy, the revision and refinement of the Policy to reflect lessons learnt in line with international standards.

The national and international health landscapes are rapidly changing: new health initiatives are emerging and bring to light pressing challenges connected with health systems strengthening including, health procurement and supply management that require a new modus operandi to optimize UNDP’s investments into global health. These opportunities go beyond UNDP’s partnership with the Global Fund. In addition, there is a need for UNDP to continue to expand opportunities for partnerships with key stakeholders on health procurement including GAVI, World Bank and UNITAID. UNDP has a broad range of partnerships including with technical partners (e.g., WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, Stop TB) and emergency and humanitarian partners (e.g., UNHCR, IRC, OCHA).

UNDP’s Support to COVID-19

COVID-19 is a critical issue for UNDP. It is as much a health and development emergency as it is a human security crisis. In order to deliver on its mission eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities and building resilience to crisis and shocks, UNDP must help countries to urgently and effectively respond to COVID-19 in the context of the 2030 Agenda. Drawing on UNDP’s experience with other outbreaks such as Ebola, HIV, SARS, TB and malaria, as well as our long history of working with the private and public sector, UNDP is helping countries to urgently and effectively respond to COVID-19 as part of its mission to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and build resilience to crises and shocks. UNDP, together with our UN family and other partners, are prioritizing, supporting the health response including the procurement and supply of essential health products, under WHO’s leadership, strengthening crisis management and response, and addressing critical social and economic impacts. UNDP is participating as a member of the Joint UN Task Force on Procurement of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), providing technical assistance including, quality assurance. UNDP has procured over US$140 million of PPE and Medical Devices (MDs) since the beginning of March 2020. To draw lessons on the implementation of the QA Policy in response the COVID, the GF/HIST will review the work undertaken in coordination with the Bureau of Management Services.

Objective of the assignment

The consultant will support the GF/HIST team in the review, revision, implementation and the monitoring of UNDP’s QA Policy (2018) with a focus on MDs and PPE, drawing lessons learnt from UNDP’s support to countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. The consultant will support the development of training packages for use by UNDP’s Country Offices and to develop and revise guidance materials, SOPs and tools and support on training activities for UNDP. The Consultant will also contribute to corporate reporting on the implementation of the QA Policy during 2019 with a focus on the COVID-19 response and support on training activities. In addition, the Consultant is expected to review the specifications and QA criteria for MDs and PPE that UNDP is requested to procure by Country Offices and through the joint UN market solicitation processes for MDs and PPE, to assess the sources (manufacturers, distributors/wholesalers, products).

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Quality Assurance Advisor (Copenhagen), the Consultant will:

Provide support to QA Advisor in the review and refinement of the QA Policy for MDs and PPE;
Provide support to the QA Advisor to develop and revise the training packages for use by UNDP’s Country Offices and guidance materials and tools, including the writing of new SOPs and development of related tools;
Provide support on QA training activities for UNDP Country Offices and other Business Units;
Provide support for the development of appropriate specifications and QA criteria for key MDs and PPE, submitted by Country Offices and through the Joint UN market solicitation processes for MDs and PPE;
Review of international norms and standards to include in UNDP’s QA Policy;
Provide support on the technical issues raised by COs related to the quality of medical devices and PPE;
Assist the QA team in the maintenance of the QA database of COVID MDs and PPE and in the production of QA corporate reports;
Assist the QA Advisor in the communication related to the procurement of MDs and PPE (participation to inter agency meetings, writing of reports).

Expected Deliverables:

Revisions of the QA Policy for MDs and PPE;
Training modules on QA for MDs and PPE.
Training reports;
Reports to the QA Advisor on technical issues raised by COs on MDs and PPE required by COs and proposed by suppliers including for COVID 19;
Reports reflecting the outcome of the assessment of medical devices and PPE including for COVID 19;
Reports on the development of appropriate specifications and QA criteria for key MDs/PPE product dossiers;
Written update on international norms and standards for MDs and PPE and recommendations for updating the QA policy;
Regular maintenance of the QA database of COVID MDs and PPE and extraction of summary reports;
Reports on level of compliance and deviations from UNDP QA criteria;
Benefits/risks analysis on sources proposed and recommendations for decisions;
Draft SOP’s for procurement of Quality Assured MDs and PPE.

Reporting: The consultant will report to the GF HIST Quality Assurance Advisor.

Travel: The Consultant will be home-based.

If unforeseen travel is required, travel costs will be covered by UNDP according to its rules and regulations. Travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses will be agreed upon, between UNDP and the Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be covered and paid by UNDP. The fare will always be “most direct, most economical” and any difference in price with the preferred route will be paid for by the expert.

Evaluation: Applicants will be screened against qualifications and competencies specified below through a desk review or an interview. Applicants will be evaluated based on: Cumulative analysis method that combines the results of technical and financial evaluation results

Technical Evaluation Criteria (maximum 70 %):

Criteria 1: Experience in the international health procurement sectors (20 points);

Criteria 2: Experience in the assessment of quality assurance dossiers of medical devices and personal protective equipment (20 points);

Criteria 3: Experience in the procurement of medical devices for health facilities located in the Global Harmonization Task Force (GHTF) founding member countries (15 points);

Criteria 4: Experience with UN organizations or international NGOs in the area of international health procurement (15 points);

Criteria 5: Good knowledge of WHO norms and standards and international regulations for medical devices and personal protective equipment (20 points);

Criteria 6: Second UN language (10 points).

Financial Evaluation Criteria (maximum 30 %):

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

Payment Method:Payment: All-inclusive daily fee

The consultant will be paid as a daily rate (based on the number of days worked);
Payments will be based on the Certificate of Payments that will be submitted on a monthly basis;
Time Sheet will be attached and verified by the direct supervisor; and
Final tranche upon performance evaluation from the direct supervisor.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Strong communication skills, including ability to produce high quality practical advisory reports and knowledge products.

Project and Resource Management:

Ability to work independently, produce high quality outputs.

Partnership building and teamwork:

Demonstrated flexibility to excel in a multi-cultural environment;
Provides constructive coaching and feedback.

Communications and Advocacy:

Strong ability to write clearly, adapting style and content to different audiences and speak clearly and convincingly;
Strong presentation skills in meetings with the ability to adapt for different audiences;
Strong capacity to communicate clearly and quickly;
Strong inter-personal, negotiation and liaison skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Pharmacist or equivalent biomedical background.

Experience:

At least 10 years’ experience in the international health procurement sectors;
At least 5 years’ experience in the assessment of quality assurance dossiers of medical devices and personal protective equipment;
Experience in the procurement of medical devices for health facilities located in the Global Harmonization Task Force (GHTF) founding member countries;
At least 3 years’ experience with UN organizations or international NGOs in the area of international health procurement;
Good knowledge of WHO norms and standards and international regulations for medical devices and personal protective equipment.

Languages:

Fluent in English;
A second UN language is an asset.

GUIDELINES FOR APPLICATION

Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP below. The Financial Proposal should specify an all-inclusive daily fee in USD. The Financial Proposal should be all-inclusive and consider various expenses that will be incurred during the contract and supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided.
Personal CV or P11, indicating all experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
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.

*Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. rent of dwelling, fee, health insurance, vaccination, visa costs and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...). All envisaged costs (except of the unforeseen travel costs for missions, if any) must be included in the financial proposal. Unforeseen travel costs for missions, if any, will be paid separately according to UNDP rules and regulations. All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. Per diems cannot exceed UN DSA rates (http://icsc.un.org/rootindex.asp).

Security: Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under https://trip.dss.un.org

Annexes (click on the hyperlink to access the documents):

Annex 1 - UNDP P-11 Form for ICs

Annex 2 - IC Contract Template

Annex 3 – IC General Terms and Conditions

Annex 4 – RLA Template

Annex 5 –Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability