"MA IMPLIC - Phase 2" project is hiring Technical consultant(s) in the field of Solid Waste Management, Water Supply and Sanitation, Street Lighting, Roads and Local Transport, Public Infrastructure and Urban Planning

REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS (RFQ)

Service:  Technical consultant(s) in the field of Solid Waste Management, Water Supply and Sanitation, Street Lighting, Roads and Local Transport, Public Infrastructure and Urban Planning

Project name: Project MĂ IMPLIC Phase 2 (2023 – 2027)

Contract duration: August 2024 – October 2027

Contract type:  framework service contract with legal entities (consulting firms)

Indicative starting date: 1^st of August 2024

1. BACKGROUND

The project “MĂ IMPLIC” aims to contribute to strengthening local governance and increasing the population’s access to better public services.  The project will support partners at the local and national levels to improve local governance in three fundamental dimensions:

• First-level LPA groups will be supported in the efficient management of resources and the promotion of sustainable and inclusive local development.
• The government will be encouraged to promote and coordinate local public administration reform in an efficient, effective, and transparent manner.
• Citizens in partner communities will be actively involved in the local governance process and will positively influence the quality of managed public services.

Following a competition launched in December 2023, the Project MĂ IMPLIC selected 14 groups of partner local public authorities (LPAs) from the North, Center, South, and Gagauzia regions for the second phase of the project, The complete list of selected partner LPAs can be downloaded by accessing this link.

More information about the project can be found on the project’s website www.ma-implic.md

The “MĂ IMPLIC” Project is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by Skat Consulting, from November 2023 to October 2027. The project covers the entire territory of the Republic of Moldova (except for administrative-territorial units on the left bank of the Dniester River).

2. PURPOSE OF THE CONSULTANCY

In the scope of this assignment, Ma Implic is looking to contract consulting firms which can provide a pool of individual experts to support project activities in rural LPA groups. Project activities in these LPA groups (comprising between 3 and 9 individual LPA) include (but are not limited to) investments in infrastructure for communal service delivery and local government functions. The main objective of the individual experts is to facilitate the implementation of selected local interventions on water supply and sanitation, public street lighting, solid waste management, roads and local transport as well as technical and consultative expertise of infrastructure construction and/or rehabilitation and urban planning projects.

We expect that at least three individual experts will be required to support the projects in the field of water supply and sanitation;

We expect that at least two individual experts will be required to support the projects in the field of waste management;

We expect that at least one individual expert will be required to support the projects in the field of street lighting;

We expect that at least three individual experts will be required to support the projects in the field of roads and infrastructure construction and/or rehabilitation, urban planning;

We expect that at least one individual expert will be required to support the projects in the field of local transportation.

At this point, the number of individual projects in each of the 14 partner LPA groups is not yet known in detail. Subsequently, the total number of projects in each field is not yet known. The identification of the (ca. 3) priority sectors (types of services) in each partner LPA group will be the result of a participatory analysis and consultation process which the Ma Implic project will facilitate in each of the 14 partner LPA groups.

At the first stage of their involvement the technical consultants will undertake a technical assessment of the current situation of the existing corresponding infrastructure and technical documentation, identifying major issues and determining the most appropriate and well-argued intervention options for each of the target projects. The Consultant(s) will provide technical assistance among beneficiaries in technical evaluation, preparation of interventions for investments, ensuring the compliance of projects with the national normative framework, thus ensuring cost effective capital investment and efficient use of resources. Before the investment phase the Consultant(s) will advise the project team and the beneficiaries on the best applicable solutions and will propose a set of recommendations for each intervention.

At the second stage (Investments) the consultant(s) will be expected to closely monitor the progress of works and supervise infrastructure sites and civil works within the target projects in accordance with technical design, contract requirements and the legislation of the Republic of Moldova. The consultant(s) will also support the project beneficiaries in the process of accepting the final work.

3. PERIOD OF ASSIGNEMENT and SCOPE OF WORK

Consultants for projects in the field of water / sanitation: August 2024 - July 2025, with a possibility for extension, subject to progress of the individual projects. The estimated scope of work is 40 days for one project.

Consultants for projects in the field of waste management: August 2024 - April 2025, with a possibility for extension, subject to progress of the individual projects. The estimated scope of work is 10 days for one project.

Consultants for projects in the field of street lighting: August 2024 – April 2025, with a possibility for extension, subject to progress of the individual projects. The estimated scope of work is 10 days for one project.

Consultants for projects in the field of roads and infrastructure construction and/or rehabilitation: August 2024 – April 2025, with a possibility for extension, subject to progress of the individual projects. The estimated scope of work is 10 days for one project.

Consultants for projects in the field of urban planning: August 2024 – December 2025, with a possibility for extension, subject to progress of the individual projects. The estimated scope of work is 20 days for one project.

Consultants for projects in the field of local transportation: August 2024 – December 2025, with a possibility for extension, subject to progress of the individual projects. The estimated scope of work is 10 days for one project.

4. ACTIVITIES AND EXPECTED RESULTS

The Consultant(s) will undertake the following tasks for each selected intervention (regardless of the sector / type of service)

5. QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

The technical consultant should have an education and knowledge in civil engineering, water and sanitation, national construction codes and standards, building laws, local transport as well as extensive experience in implementing community development projects. In particular:

• Education: University Degree in civil engineering, water, sanitation or architecture, and/or other relevant area;
• Work experience: at least 3 years of work experience in the field of civil engineering;
• Technical-professional attestation certificate issued by national authority INCERCOM;
• Extensive experience in monitoring/supervision/supporting infrastructure and civil works, preferably street light renovation, water and sanitation networks. Working experience with the community of Ma Implic project (phase I) is an advantage:
• In depth knowledge of national legislation related to the construction works;
• Experience within community development programs is an asset;
• Language skills: excellent command of written and spoken Romanian and Russian is required; knowledge of English is an asset;
• Computer proficiency, including knowledge of MS Office products (Word, Excel, Power Point);
• High level of responsibility and organization capacities, creative approach to solving issues;
• Excellent communication and reporting skills;
• Ability to meet deadlines and prioritize multiple tasks;
• Capacity to communicate fluently with different stakeholders (civil society, local authorities, local communities, project staff);
• Driving license category B and availability of travel with own car.

6. APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Qualified and interested consulting firms are requested to apply.

The application must contain:

a) Company Profile;

b) CVs of involved experts in Romanian or (preferably) English language. Expert CVs shall indicate the education background and professional qualifications of the individual experts, their relevant experience, as well as contact details of the candidate/s;

c) No less than two, but no more than 5 professional references which give information about the work of the company.

d) A Financial offer for a fee per one working day, including all types of expenditures (admin costs, salaries, transportation etc.). The offers must be presented with a 0% VAT exemption applied.

Interested candidates are requested to submit their application to info@int.skat.ch , quoting “Technical consultant(s)” in the subject line. The deadline for applications is 28 of July 2024.

Engineering consulting firms are eligible for this assignment. Applications by individual consultants (acting as physical persons) will not be considered.

Interested candidates could have several options to apply: a) for one Lot and  b) for several Lots/all Lots
Applications need to include a clear and unambiguous reference to one or several of the Lots from the list below.

7. AWARD OF CONTRACTS

MĂ IMPLIC Project will first evaluate quotations for compliance with the mandatory requirements/ elements of this RFQ. Quotations that do not contain all mandatory requirements/ elements will not be considered.

Each Lot will be evaluated individually

Evaluation of offers will be performed according to the following evaluation criteria:

The project reserves the right to consider awarding separate contracts for individual Lots or for several, or all Lots to one contractor.

The project may engage in negotiations with bidders for clarification if deemed necessary.