Historique

As problems of water management, energy consumption, land degradation (salinization), and agricultural productivity are all closely intertwined in Turkmenistan, so too are potential solutions.  The project Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy for Sustainable Water Management in Turkmenistan (EERE project) financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and being implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will address these problems through integrated activities, with a goal toward achieving multiple benefits in different areas.  Thus, improved water management along with application of new energy efficiency and renewable-energy solutions will lead not only to greater water availability, but also to significant energy savings, avoided GHG emissions, and reduced salinization.  This integrated approach will be practically applied and technically proven first at specific sites in the Akhal velayat, then replicated across the country through region-specific planning and outreach, as well as supporting policies and investment at the national level.

The project’s activities are organized into four components:

• Component 1 will introduce new technologies in irrigated agriculture and pumping for energy efficiency, water conservation, and sustainable land management (SLM);
• Component 2 will scale-up investment in new and expanded efficient water-management infrastructure;
• Component 3 will deliver local and region-specific planning and educational outreach for IWRM and SLM among farmers and water-sector designers and managers;
• Component 4 develops and supports implementation of policy reform for IWRM.

The first two components will constitute the technical foundation of the project.  For agriculture and infrastructure, respectively, these components will identify, verify, and document the most promising ways to save water, increase energy efficiency, and reduce water-related root causes of land degradation in Turkmenistan.  The components will generate technical and financial performance data and practical experience to be used to plan and provide necessary justification to scale-up public investment and technology deployment nationwide. 

The need to reduce water losses and associated land salinization from canal infiltration extends across the entire Turkmenistan, at all levels of the water management system, from long-distance distribution to farms.  The cost and effort required to line tens of thousands of kilometers of supply and drainage canals is truly vast. 

The greatest potential for the project to generate rapid, cost-effective, large-scale results with canal linings lies on the domestic production side, where there are urgent untapped opportunities to improve materials (by making it more water-proof), increase output, and raise efficiency. The project’s key partner, State Committee for Water Management of Turkmenistan (SCWM), currently operates the factory in Ashgabat, which produces mostly reinforced concrete pipes and plates for canals.  UNDP and the SCWM have identified priority area in which production at the plant could be effectively expanded, redirected, and made more efficient and cost-effective. As recommended by the project experts, one lining option to verify in testing field is the canal lining with high density polyethylene (HDPE) membrane of 0.3 mm thickness protected by a layer of 5 cm of sand and a layer of hexagonal precast concrete slabs. Necessity of the intermediate sand layer is to protect the membrane against puncturing by hexagonal slabs during installation. The merit of this option is the lower consumption of raw material for HDPE membrane and the membrane can be produced in country very soon. In case this option will prove to be safe, then all materials used to build this lining type could be produced domestically. For this purpose, Kiyanly Polymer Plant (brief information could be found e.g. at https://business.com.tm/multimedia/4725/kiyanly-petrochemical-plant-produces-over-80-thousand-tons-of-polymers could be used for production of the HDPE membrane.

Under the Second component of the EERE project equipment and facility upgrades, and corresponding funding are considered.  Its main focus, however, will be on technical assistance (TA) in formulating the products, preparing production lines, conducting field research and testing, and then planning and implementation of expanded production and installation.  The EERE project and SCWM will work jointly on field testing and demonstration of all new products.

Following the request of SCWM which is project’s key national partner, the EERE project is planning to purchase a production (extrusion) line and the tender was announced at http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=60552. The greatest challenge now is to purchase such a production line, which could be working on the domestic raw materials (semi-materials).

Consequently, the UNDP seeks the services of a qualified expert to provide required expertise towards meeting the above-mentioned objectives and act as an International Consultant – Specialist on Polymers and Extrusion.

Devoirs et responsabilités

In accordance with the above-mentioned objective of the assignment and under the supervision of the Project Manager and Portfolio Manager, the International Consultant (IC) will be tasked to perform the following duties and responsibilities:

• Action 1: Read the relevant sections of the project document, reports of international and national consultants, project targets and indicators related to lining of irrigation canals as well as other relevant information provided by the project team;
• Action 2: Conduct assessment of the proposals (around five bids) to the UNDP tender on Procurement, supply and installation of an extrusion line for the production of high-density polyethylene film (HDPE) and prepare a report on the compliance/suitability of the technical specifications of proposed extrusion equipment and raw materials to the range of locally available polymers manufactured by Kiyanly and Turkmenbashy Polymer Plants. Prepare questions to bidders to clarify and/or obtain more information;
• Action 3: Using own and/or international experience in the film extrusion and based on the market research, determine a market price of the extrusion line, and conduct a “value for money” analysis of bids as well as comparison (technical, financial) of bids in order to select the best “value for money”;
• Action 4: Utilise own network and in-depth chemical industry knowledge to conduct an analysis of the specifications of generally used polypropylene (PP) and/or HDPE raw materials required for production of membrane for canal lining;
• Action 5: Prepare a detailed list of technical data to be collected and obtained by the local experts to make sure that proposed equipment compatible with the available facilities;
• Action 6: Visit the project pilot polymer plant, collect, examine and analyze the existing data and get / request new data if needed;
• Action 7: Participate in testing of supplied and installed extrusion equipment on the project pilot polymer plant and check if all processes and systems (heating, extrusion, automatic gauge control, cooling, etc.) of the supplied equipment are working as required;
• Action 8: Participate in training for national operators and make sure they acquired all knowledge and skills required for operation of extrusion equipment;
• Action 9: Prepare a detailed final report on the assignment, including challenges, lessons learned and recommendations for implementation of projects activities;

Deliverables and timeframe:

Deliverable 1 prepared through actions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 above:

• Assessment of the UNDP tender proposals against tender requirements including detailed specifications of HDPE granules suitable for offered equipment to produce HDPE membrane prepared;
• Value for money analysis and comparison of selected proposals and market price conducted;
• Analysis of the specifications of generally used PP and/or HDPE raw materials required for production of canal lining membrane prepared;
• Technical analysis of the required conditions at the production facility for operationalization of the extrusion equipment conducted;
• Detailed list of technical data to be collected and obtained by the local experts prepared;
• Regular email/skype communication with the project team maintained;
• Report on overall assignment, including challenges, lessons learned and recommendations for implementation of project activities prepared.

Location: Home based. Number of days: 10 days (tentatively 15.02.2020-30.03.2020).

Deliverable 2 prepared though actions 6, 7, 8 and 9 above:

• Guidance and technical support to project team during the implementation of the pilot project provided;
• Detailed list of technical data to be collected by the local experts over the implementation of the pilot project prepared;
• Testing of supplied and installed extrusion equipment on the project pilot polymer plant conducted and strengths and weaknesses in the processes and systems identified and improved/corrected by supplier;
• Knowledge and skills of national operators/workers required for operation of extrusion equipment checked;
• Recommendations on the operation and maintenance of extrusion equipment provided;
• Final consultancy report on overall assignment, including challenges, lessons learned and recommendations for implementation of project activities prepared.

Location: Home based and 10 days mission to Turkmenistan. Number of days: 20 days (tentatively 01.04.2020-30.07.2020).

Payment conditions:

This is an instalment-based contract that should cover the costs of consultancy required to produce the above deliverables. The final schedule of payments will be agreed upon in the beginning of consultancy. Payment will be released in two instalments: 1st instalment: 30% (for deliverable 1), 2nd instalment: 70% (for deliverables 2) – upon timely submission of respective deliverables and their acceptance by UNDP Turkmenistan.

Compétences

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling 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 favouritism;
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Functional Competencies:

• Good knowledge of polymers and membrane extrusion technology, processing and testing;
• Good understanding of polymers and membrane extrusion customer requirements, markets and product applications;
• Good understanding of polymers and membrane extrusion industry, including polymer conversion, market technology trends and product developments, especially around the film/membrane and pipe industry;
• Excellent facilitation and communication skills;
• Results driven, ability to work under pressure and to meet required deadlines.

Qualifications et expériences requises

Education:

• University Bachelors’ degree in one of the related fields including Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Plastic Extrusion Engineering, Polymer Technology, Polymer Chemistry, Surface Chemistry and other related fields. Higher degree in these fields is an advantage.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of experience in the polymers and membrane extrusion industry including polymers production, testing, processing both manufacturing and downstream conversion techniques;
• Good knowledge of international standards and technology developments in the field of polymers/plastics particularly around the film/membrane and pipe industry;
• Previous relevant work experience with the UN or other international organizations is an asset;
• Knowledge and experience of work in the CIS, Central Asia and other countries with similar environment is an advantage.

Language requirements:

• Fluency in English. Knowledge of Russian is desirable and will be considered as an advantage.

Submission of applications:

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

All experts applying for this position are required to provide:

• Brief (1-2 pages) description of the methodology for the assignment;
• Cover Letter which contains a brief description of approach to work/technical proposal of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a proposed methodology on how they will approach and complete the assignment; (maximum 1 page);
• A summary of experience in similar assignments;
• Financial Proposal with the references to (1) the daily rate for the assignment and within the timing scale indicated in the present TOR, and (2) any other expenses (including transportation costs, accommodation costs, the possibility of vaccination and etc.). Template of the form named "Offeror's Letter to UNDP confirming interest and availability" can be found at http://www.tm.undp.org/content/turkmenistan/en/home/procurement.html. The UNDP will enter into an Individual Contract based on a lump sum amount. The financial proposal shall represent a detailed, justified and “all inclusive” amount.  In order to assist UNDP in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount, including: a daily fee for the tasks and an estimated duration as specified in this announcement, travel (to and from the missions), per diems, any other possible costs (including vaccinations, dwelling, communication etc.);
• Personal CV form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees.

Evaluation of proposals:

Individual Consultants will be evaluated based on the combined scoring methodology. When using this method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/compliant and
• having received the highest score – out of 100 points

Out of the maximum score, the score for technical criteria equals 70% - maximum 70 points, and for financial criteria 30%.

The technical evaluation will take into account the following as per the scoring provided:

• Education in Chemical Engineering and other related fields –30 pts;
• The experience (at least 5 years) in polymers industry including polymers production, testing, processing –30 pts;
• Knowledge and experience of work in the CIS, Central Asia and other countries with similar climatic conditions – 10 pts;
• Methodology-10 pts;
• Fluency in English –10 pts;
• Fluency in Russian –10 pts.

Financial proposal – 30% of total evaluation..

Additional requirements for recommended contractor:

Recommended contractors aged 65 and older, and if the travel is required, shall undergo a full medical examination including x-ray, and obtain medical clearance from the UN-approved doctor prior to taking up their assignment. The medical examination is to be cleared by the UN physicians, and shall be paid by the consultant.