Background

The Montreal Protocol (MP) on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer has the objective to phase-out the ozone depleting substances (ODSs) that are released to the atmosphere. Contrary to the Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) that pursue reductions in the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG), the MP focuses on the elimination of the sources of these ODS: their production and consumption (imports);

Under the Montreal Protocol, the Article 5 countries are eligible to receive financial support to comply with the phase-out of ODS consumption by deploying a series of technical assistance and industrial conversion projects, at country level, so producing and consuming sectors can abandon the use of these chemical substances.

Furthermore, in order to further protect the climate and the ozone layer, in October of 2016, during the 28th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer held in Rwanda, more than 170 countries agreed to amend the Protocol through what was called the “Kigali Amendment”.  The Kigali Agreement establishes specific targets and timetables to phase-down the production and consumption of HFCs and carries an agreement by developed countries to help finance the transition of developing countries to climate-friendly substances, through a global commitment that will avoid more than 80 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by 2050.

In addition, countries also agreed to begin examining opportunities to enhance the energy efficiency of the appliances and equipment to achieve additional GHGs mitigation, while also delivering additional sustainable development benefits such as better air quality, improved public health, improved energy access and energy security. It is important to note that the efforts made by countries to phase-down the HFCs can be part of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), under the Paris Agreement of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Under this scenario, 19 philanthropies had announced a contribution of US$52 million to support developing nations in the transition to more energy-efficient cooling solutions through a separate funding mechanism called the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Programme (K-CEP), with the goal to “significantly increase and accelerate the climate and development benefits of the Montreal Protocol refrigerant transition by maximizing a simultaneous improvement in the energy efficiency of cooling.

The government of Bangladesh, through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has received financial assistance from the K-CEP in the form of two technical assistance projects to improve energy efficiency capacities in the country and to achieve the K-CEP goals under its windows 1 and 2.

The K-CEP projects will be implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) under the National Ozone Unit (NOU), and with assistance from UNDP. The projects will assist Bangladesh in developing policies, standards and the appropriate regulatory framework and to integrate energy efficiency interventions to the current work underway within the overall Montreal Protocol programme, by providing complementary training and capacity building in energy efficiency to Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) technicians and engineers. As well as in developing policies, standards and the appropriate framework to implement minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) and to develop a roadmap for accelerating market transformation in the domestic refrigerator and air-conditioning sectors, which are growing rapidly in the country since country’s aspiration towards middle income country (MIC) by 2021.

Therefore, these Terms of Reference (TOR) identify and specify the scope of services required for the fulfillment of the components related to the development of a National Cooling Plan under the K-CEP´s framework for Bangladesh, and, therefore, UNDP, on behalf of the National Ozone Unit of the MoEFCC would like to engage an Individual National Consultant for the fulfillment of the activities listed below.

This national consultant is intended for an engagement for a period of five (5) months. Any extension is subject to satisfactory performance review, project funding situation or other factors impacting the project operating environment.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will report directly to Programme Specialist (Environment Sustainability and Energy). S/he will also closely coordinate tasks with UNDP Country Office through other team members in the cluster and in the regional office at Bangkok. S/he will liaise on a day-to-day business with UNDP Montreal Protocol, Regional Technical Adviser based at Bangkok Regional Hub. S/he will also work closely with the other national consultants of the chemical team recruited by UNDP, National Ozone Unit and the relevant stakeholders of the Government. S/he will keep UNDP informed of any issues that emerge during the preparation of national cooling plan.

 Duties and Responsibilities:

The consultant should work on identifying the importance of the RAC sector in Bangladesh, the gaps in terms of energy efficiency, mechanisms that can be used to work towards energy efficiency in the cooling sector and identifying the various policy and legislative requirements to do so.  The work will be consolidated into the National Cooling Plan which must be in line with the Kigali requirements and Bangladesh NDC, National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Master Plan and other relevant strategies and action plans.  Advisory support and assistance will be made available through the UNDP international group of experts and national experts working in this field.

Key Expected Outputs:

1. Data Collected and Analyzed: The consultant should gather basic information about the importance of RAC sector for Bangladesh and assess climate protection actions.  The consultant shall conduct the desk review of the HCFC Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) and the existing regulations related to ODS and RAC sector, and energy-related data in Bangladesh. (10 Days)
2. Conducted Electric Sector Overview of Bangladesh: The consultant should describe the current condition of the electricity sector production and distribution in Bangladesh and the existing national plans, regulations, targets and main consumers. (5 Days)
3. National policies and Programmes that target energy efficiency and conservation assessed: The consultant should undertake surveys and interviews to provide more information about the RAC sector in Bangladesh and cross-cutting energy efficiency and conservation policies that drive the RAC equipment manufacturing, importing, use and disposal. (10 Days)
4. National Cooling Plan (NCP) drafted: From the data collection and analysis, the consultant shall prepare the draft report of NCP and shall be presented during the national stakeholder workshop, consultation, etc. which will be organized by NOU/UNDP CO.  The consultant shall participate in the national stakeholder workshop to present the report and discuss the potential opportunities for achieving objective (10 Days)
5. NCP finalized: After the national stakeholder workshop, the consultant shall incorporate comments/feedback from stakeholders to finalize the document. The final draft document shall be submitted through NOU to UNDP for its review and further comments before approval. A validation workshop needs to be organized to incorporate feedback from the relevant stakeholders on the draft NCP. The comments will be addressed, and final NCP will be submitted- (5 days)

 Duration

The Contract will enter into effect upon signature by both parties and expected for four (04) months of duration.

 Duty Station

Dhaka, Bangladesh (with visits/meetings with Government and UNDP in Dhaka/outside Dhaka)

 Fees

The consultant will receive payment based on deliverables.

A best value for Money approach will be used in the evaluation of the applicants and will lead to a combined score for technical capabilities and the financial offer.

The candidates must submit their technical and financial offer in prescribed template.

Travel

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. Communication and IT equipment: The Consultant is expected to have own laptop and mobile phone.  Cost of communication should be included in the financial proposal.

 Travel and DSA:

No DSA will be paid at the duty station. If unforeseen travel outside the duty station not required by the Terms of Reference is requested by UNDP, and upon prior agreement/approval, such travel shall be UNDP’s expenses and the individual contractor shall receive a per-diem not to exceed United Nations daily subsistence allowance rate in such other location(s).

 Payment terms against the deliverables:

The consultant will be paid on a lump sum basis under the following installments. The consultant will be responsible for the travel expense of local travel within Dhaka and field trips across the country (if required). The consultant should also include budget for conducting stake-holders consultation, workshop, meetings, etc. in the financial proposal.

Deliverables are linked with the payment schedule:

Competencies

• Demonstrate integrity by modeling UN values and ethical standards
• Promote the vision, mission, and strategic in goals of the UNDP and the PMU.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Bachelors (or equivalent) degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Science & Technology, Chemistry or closely related field. Preferable Masters (or equivalent) degree.

General Experience:

• Working experience of at least 10 years at senior level with policy planning in environmental and/or RAC sector;
• Experience in research, data collection, assessment and/or surveys, preferably in the RAC sector.
• Knowledge of Montreal Protocol and Kigali Amendment related issues and its associated Policies and Agreements is desirable;

Communication Skills:

• Proficiency in English is a must.
• Native language or full proficiency in Bengali is a must

Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

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. Lodging, meals and transport cost for field visit related to this assignment will be paid by the project as per UN standard.

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 and DSA:

No DSA will be paid at the duty station. If unforeseen travel outside the duty station not required by the Terms of Reference is requested by UNDP, and upon prior agreement/approval, such travel shall be UNDP’s expenses and the individual contractor shall receive a per-diem not to exceed United Nations daily subsistence allowance rate in such other location(s).

Evaluation Method and Criteria:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology.

Cumulative analysis-

The award of the contract will be made to the individual consultant up on Cumulative Analysis/evaluation and determined as:

1. Responsive/compliant/acceptable; and
2. Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation;

Only candidates obtaining a minimum 70% mark in technical evaluation will be considered eligible for financial evaluation.

Technical Criteria for Evaluation (Maximum 70 points)

• Criteria-01; Educational Qualification- Max Point 10
• Criteria-02; Working experience on policy planning activities in environmental and/or RAC sector-Max Point 25
• Criteria-03; Experience in research, data collection, assessments or surveys desirable - Max Point 15
• Criteria-04; Knowledge of Montreal Protocol related issues and its associated Policies and Agreements- Max 10
• Criteria-05;Proof of proficiency of Bengali and English languages is provided - Max 10

Financial Evaluation (Total 30 marks)

All technical qualified proposals will be scored out 30 based on the formula provided below.

The maximum points (30) will be assigned to the lowest financial proposal. All other proposals received points according to the following formula:

p = y (µ/

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.

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Proposers who shall not submit below mentioned documents will not be considered for further evaluation.

• Personal CV or P11, 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; P11 can be downloaded from the link below: http://www.bd.undp.org/content/bangladesh/en/home/operations/jobs/
• Technical proposal, including a) a brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment; b) a brief methodology, on how you will approach and complete the assignment, including a tentative table of contents for the final report; and c) a list of similar assignment with topic/name of the assignment, duration, role of consultant and organization/project
• Financial Proposal: Financial Proposal has to be submitted through a standard interest and availability template which can be downloaded from the link below:

http://www.bd.undp.org/content/dam/bangladesh/docs/Jobs/Interest%20and%20Submission%20of%20Financial%20Proposal-Template%20for%20Confirmation.docx

Please combine all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.