Background

In line with the UN Partnership Assistance Framework with the Royal Thai Government (2012-2016), the project document of ‘Strengthening Capacity and Incentives for Wildlife Conservation in the Western Forest Complex (SCIWC)” was developed by the Department of National Parks, Plants and Wildlife Conservation (DNP), under the Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment (MONRE) in close collaboration with UNDP, for the funding support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The five-year, 7.34 million USD project aims to overcome threats to wildlife and habitats in the World Heritage Sites of Huai Kha Kaeng and Tung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuaries, by looking into effective management to protect the last resources of wildlife habitats and increasing number of key species i.e. Indochinese Tiger which is the indicator of biodiversity in the World Heritage Sites.

The project will also build the confidence and capacities of the World Heritage protection system by providing resources and manpower to increase protection coverage and prove effectiveness of such investment via verifiable indicators such as increasing number of tigers with scientifically proven evidence. In addition, the project also enhances the transition and transformation of enclave communities and buffer zone areas towards conservation-oriented livelihoods to reduce threats of poaching and encroachment. In addition, it will support development of appropriate incentives, establishment of an effective monitoring system, and community participation in conservation efforts.

According to the Letter of Agreement (LOA) duly signed by executives of UNDP and DNP, the Description of UNDP Country Office Support Services is attached. It indicates categories of support services to be provided by UNDP, with reference to the project Annual Work Plan. In addition, the LOA also provides description of implementing partner’s commitment to long term support to sustain the interventions undertaken in the project sites.

The nature of UNDP Support services, has stipulated needs for an experienced Technical Specialist (as individual consultant – IC) who can help starting up the initiative with proven results of the project’s intervention.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objective and Scope of Work

Focusing on the project’s intervention to help protect the World Heritage Sites from poaching, logging and damage of wildlife habitats, this TOR captures the needs for reducing systematic barriers and capacity gaps communication between the ground operation in remote areas of deep forest and timely actions against threats (including responsive emergency assistance to park rangers). The development of Network Centric Operation System is prime intervention.

The expected outputs of the Network Centric Operation System correspond to the goal of the project Component one: Strengthened on-ground conservation actions and wildlife protection. Those outputs are 1) Data captured and analyzed by the network centric operation systems 2) Information reached for decision making and 3) Actions taken to tackle the problems systematically.

Scope of work:

The expected services to be provided comprises an initial design and modification of devices that serve data gathering, data management for local response, transmission of managed data to connect internet, convey data to decision makers’ War Room. Milestones of work are:

1. Phase 1: Design and testing of the system devices in laboratory and initial testing on sites
2. Phase 2: At identified hot spots, launching of the Long Range (LORA) Wide Area Network in data gathering from remote areas, data management, and transmission of managed data to the War Room. This includes:
3. Installation of infrastructure of the network and channels for data transmission from the hot spots of encroachment and wildlife poaching to the War Room as real time information for executives’ decision and timely actions.
4. Proving transmission effectiveness and accuracy of transmitted information for decision makers
5. Phase 3: Expanding the infra structure of real time information network to cover the whole area of World Heritage Sites (three wildlife sanctuaries and one wildlife research stations).

In order to provide support services as requested by the government implementing partner, a specialist will be contracted for phase 1. This first phase will take around 5 months to confirm feasibility of the modified devices; and the next 4 months to prove the viability of the system on pilot sites.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

The consultant is expected to deliver the followings:

The consultant is expected to submit the deliverables, to the Programme Specialist, Inclusive Green Growth and Sustainable Development Unit for review and approval as agreed on the submission milestones.

Institutional Arrangement

With coordination of the Project Manager, the consultant will report to UNDP Programme Specialist, Inclusive Green Growth and Sustainable Development Unit.

• The Project manager will be an initial contact and assurance of the deliverables of the consultant’s services
• The project manager will facilitate the coordination with DNP and UNDP to ensure responsiveness of the services
• UNDP Programme analyst will approve the payment for timely and satisfying deliverables
• Office space will be provided at the project field office at Huai Kha Kaeng Wildlife Sanctuary

Duration of the Assignment

The Individual Contractor will work during the period of 1 May – 31 December 2018 with maximum 120 days of work. The Individual Contractor shall be paid on a Lump Sum basis.  This position does not qualify for overtime pay.

Duty Station

Bangkok with travel to project’s pilot sites (Huai Kha Kaeng Wildlife Sanctuary) where the infrastructure for pilot system will be installed.

Competencies

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.

Technical Competencies:

• Analytic capacity and demonstrated ability to process, analyse and synthesise complex, technical information;
• Proven ability to support the development of high quality knowledge and training materials, and to train technical teams;
• Proven experience in the developing country context and working in different cultural settings.

Communication:

• Communicate effectively in writing to a varied and broad audience in a simple and concise manner.

Professionalism:

• Capable of working in a high pressure environment with sharp and frequent deadlines, managing many tasks simultaneously;
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills.

Teamwork:

• Projects a positive image and is ready to take on a wide range of tasks;
• Focuses on results for the client;
• Welcomes constructive feedback.

Required Skills and Experience

The Individual Contractor should have the following expertise and qualifications.

I. Academic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, or equivalent work experience.

II. Experience:

• At least 5 years of experiences in data and information network development and management.
• Familiar with the government protected areas’ information system
• Experience on standard procedures in installation of the information networking system in Thailand
• Experience in international innovation on information networking
• Good writing and communication skills

III. Language:

• Good command of English both spoken and written.

Payment terms for the contract.

Lumpsum   

Price Proposal and Schedule of Payment :

Consultant must send a financial proposal based on 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 be 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:

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.

Travel costs shall be reimbursed at actual but not exceeding the quotation from UNDP approved travel agent. The provided living allowance will not be exceeding UNDP DSA rates. Repatriation travel cost from home to duty station in Bangkok and return shall not be covered by UNDP.

Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer

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.

Technical Criteria for Evaluation (Maximum 100 points)

• Criteria 1 Relevance of Education – Max 10 points
• Criteria 2 Relevant experience in data and information network development and management, -Max 30 Points
• Criteria 3 Relevant experience with the government protected areas’ information system – Max 20 points
• Criteria 4 Relevant experience on standard procedures in installation of the information networking system in Thailand– Max 20 points
• Criteria 5 Relevant experience in international innovation on information networking - Max 20 Points
•  

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% of the total technical points would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Documents to be Included When Submitting the Proposals:

Candidates wishing to be considered for this assignment are required to submit the following documents to demonstrate their qualifications. Please group them into one (1) single PDF document/ or one ZIP File as the application only allows to upload maximum one document:

1. Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability and financial proposal using the template provided in Annex III. Note: National consultants must quote prices in Thai Baht.
2. 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.
3. Conceptual framework of the Network Operation System in English on how it intends to deliver the services outlined in the ToR.

Incomplete proposals may not be considered. The short-listed candidates may be contacted and the successful candidate will be notified

Annexes

Annex I - TOR_ National Consultant_Technical Specialist (Network Centric Operation system)

Annex II- General Condition of Contract

Annex III - Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability for the Individual IC, including Financial Proposal Template

All documents can be downloaded at :http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=45402