A2J/ Team of Two National Consultants to support the Centre for Legal Medicine (CLM) and Police Forensic Centre in accreditation to ISO/IEC 17020:2012 standard.
Vacancy Number: Pr22/02437
Contacts:
Ms. Victoria Muntean.
victoria.muntean@undp.org
Background
The UNDP project “Strengthening Efficiency and Access to Justice in Moldova” (A2J) is a multi-year institutional development project designed to contribute to an increased efficiency of justice services and to improved access to justice of men and women in Moldova, in particular from vulnerable and marginalized groups, through enhanced capacities of forensic institutions to provide qualitative justice services, strengthened capacities of the justice sector actors in the selected pilot areas to provide coordinated response to men’s and women’s justice needs and strengthened civil society able to claim the respect of rights and engage in a constructive dialogue with the justice chain actors. Project interventions will offer and encourage equal opportunity for the participation of men and women.
Although important efforts have been deployed at national level during the last years to advance the efficiency, transparency, fairness and accessibility of the justice sector, improvement is further required to ensure coherent coordination among law enforcement, security, and justice institutions for effective administration of justice, so that men and women, particularly from marginalized or minority groups, are able to claim their rights and access justice effectively.
The national forensic institutions are an integral part of the justice system, as the expert opinions provided by these institutions are critical for the objective and evidence-based delivery of justice. The quality and accuracy of forensic investigations and examinations have an extensive impact on the quality of justice and affect the overall perception of users about the justice system. Despite their importance for the administration of justice, forensic institutions benefited from limited assistance and support in their modernization endeavours as compared to other justice chain actors.
The forensic institutions are also in need of further ISO certification to strengthen the institutional management, confirm compliance with internationally recognized quality standards and demonstrate that they operate competently and generate valid results, thereby promoting confidence in their work both nationally and around the world. Thus, while the laboratories of the National Centre for Judicial Expertise (NCJE) and the Forensic Centre of the General Police Inspectorate (Police Forensic Centre) have already obtained accreditation in line with ISO/IEC 17025:2005 standard with UNDP’s support, whilst this process at the Centre for Legal Medicine (CLM) is ongoing.
In 2018, CLM launched the process of accreditation to SM SR EN ISO/IEC 17025:2017 of a number of laboratory investigations within the Toxicology Laboratory and will continue with the process, with the support with a national consultant, engaged by UNDP Moldova. The work of the consultant transpired in line with the 2020 – 2021 Plan of Activities on accreditation to SM SR EN ISO/IEC 17025:2017 of the Toxicology Unit of CLM, which reached at the end of 2021 a 100% completion rate; all activities scheduled have been completed and CML management submitted the documents to MOLDAC (national accreditation body) in December 2021, whilst the accreditation audit visits are scheduled for the first quarter of 2022. Furthermore, starting with 2020 UNDP also supported CLM in establishing a quality management system certifiable to ISO 9001:2015 Standards, which concluded with CLM obtaining certification in December 2021. In addition to this, UNDP is providing assistance to CLM in accreditation of the Molecular Genetics Laboratory within the Forensic Biology Department of CLM to SM SR EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018.
To ensure that CLM is operating in line with the internationally acknowledged requirements in the field of medical forensic examinations and are thus competent to produce reliable products and/or services, UNDP will support CLM in the process of accreditation in compliance with standard ISO/IEC 17020:2012 in the field of forensic medical examinations, as well to ensure that Police Forensic Centre is operating in line with the internationally acknowledged requirements in the field of forensic examinations and are thus competent to produce reliable products and/or services, UNDP will support Police Forensic Centre in the process of accreditation in compliance with standard ISO/IEC 17020:2012 .
In this regard, UNDP is seeking to hire a team of two National ISO Consultants to offer support to the International Consultants engaged within the A2J Project to deliver technical assistance to the Centre for Legal Medicine (CLM) to achieve the international accreditation of its inspection activities in line with ISO/IEC 17020:2012 standard for its operations related to forensic medical examinations of living persons and dead bodies and to the International consultant to support the Police Forensic Centre in accreditation to ISO/IEC 17020:2012 standard to provide guidance and advice on the forensic operations and areas of expertise recommended for accreditation to ISO/IEC 17020:2012 standard, considering the Police Forensic Centre mandate and scope of work as well as international best practices and assess the readiness of the institution towards applying for international accreditation of its inspection activities in line with ISO/IEC 17020:2012.
Scope of work
The expected output for the National Consultants’ assignment is to support the UNDP International Consultants contracted by A2J Project to assist and enhance the institutional capacities of the CLM and Police Forensic Centre in order to achieve the international accreditation of their operations, as inspection bodies, in line with ISO/IEC 17020:2012 standard.
They are expected to ensure analytical support, facilitate the communication and cooperation with different stakeholders on:
- Forensic medical examinations related issues;
- Crime Scene Investigation,
- Inspection in construction,
- Inspection in auto accidents.
The assignment shall be carried out in close cooperation with the CLM and Police Forensic Centre.
To achieve the stated objective, the National Consultants shall perform the following tasks and activities:
- Consultant 1. Support to the International Consultant engaged within the A2J Project to deliver technical assistance to the Centre for Legal Medicine.(CLM) to achieve the international accreditation of its inspection activities in line with ISO/IEC 17020:2012 standard:
- Provide substantive inputs to the UNDP International Consultant in the process of preparing the Inception Report related to the assessed area and facilitate the consultation process (including both meetings and interviews part of the data and information collection necessary for the review as well meetings organised throughout the assignment);
- Provide substantive and logistic support to the International Consultant, in relation to the:
- Review of inspection methodologies applied in CML in connection to the 17020:2012 standard requirements;
- Review of CLM’s regulations relevant for the international accreditation in line with ISO/IEC 17020:2012 standard and propose amendments, where necessary;
- Assessment of CLM`s policy documents in connection to international accreditation in line with ISO/IEC 17020:2012 standard and propose amendments, where necessary.
The support shall include, but is not limited to:
- Identify and submit to the International Consultant the list and copies of the relevant national legal framework, internal regulations, existing guidelines/ manuals and reports detailing current practices and methodologies connected to the assessed area;
- Provide translation of short excerpts from the national/institutional regulatory framework covering the assessed area, facilitate organisation and conduct of meeting and/or in-depth interviews, validation and/or clearance discussions with relevant counterparts and stakeholders;
- Contribute to the analysis of the collected information and provide substantive inputs, provide necessary references and legal grounds to substantiate the findings and suggested recommendations.
- Provide substantive support in the process of developing the Assessment Report covering the findings of the review of inspection methodologies applied in CML, review and assessment of CLM`s regulations and policy documents, addressing the identified gaps and proposed recommendations for way forward in assuring the CLM readiness to accreditation in line with ISO/IEC 17020:2012 standard and development of the Action Plan for accreditation of CLM to ISO/IEC 17020:2012 standard. The support shall include, but is not limited to:
- Provide necessary references and legal grounds to substantiate the findings of the Assessment Report and actions included in the Action Plan for accreditation of CLM to ISO/IEC 17020:2012 standard;
- Provide necessary references and legal grounds to substantiate the recommendations and solutions for way forward in assuring the CLM readiness to accreditation in line with ISO/IEC 17020:2012 standard;
- Provide support to proof reading of the Assessment Report, as to ensure compliance with the specialised language and national regulatory framework covering the assessed area;
- Support organisation and facilitate discussions and consultations with the relevant stakeholders, when necessary, in relation to validating and or clearing the findings and recommendation in the Assessment Report and Action Plan for accreditation of CLM to ISO/IEC 17020:2012 standard.
- Develop in close coordination with the International Consultant the applicable documentation required by ISO/IEC 17020:2012, such as, but not limited to:
- Procedures on forensic medical examinations of living persons and corpses, as well as operation and calibration of identified equipment used in the inspection (for the scope of the assignment up to 6 procedures on forensic medical examinations of living persons and corpses are expected to be developed),
- System Management Procedures in line with ISO/IEC 17020:2012 requirements (mandatory procedures required by the standard);
- Other documentation identified as necessary in the context of accreditation to ISO/IEC 17020:2012 standard (for the scope of the assignment up to 7 documentation items are expected to be developed);
- ISO 17020 System Management Manual.
- Provide upon necessity ad-hoc translation of documents relevant for the activity of the UNDP International Consultant as well as interpretation during meeting and interviews, as well as coordinate with the A2J Project Team engagement of any such specialised services;
- Provide throughout the assignment administrative support related to organisation and conduct of meetings, interviews, validation workshops with the stakeholders, including other support necessary for preparation of the UNDP International Consultant missions to the Republic of Moldova.
- Consultant 2. Support to the International Consultant to support the Police Forensic Centre in accreditation to ISO/IEC 17020:2012 standard:
- Provide substantive inputs to the UNDP International Consultant in the process of preparing the Inception Report related to the assessed area and facilitate the consultation process (including both meetings and interviews part of the data and information collection necessary for the review as well meetings organised throughout the assignment);
- Provide substantive and logistic support to the International Consultant, in relation to the:
- Conduct review of inspection methodologies applied in Police Forensic Centre in connection to the 17020:2012 standard requirements;
- Conduct a review of Police Forensic Centre regulations relevant for the international accreditation in line with ISO/IEC 17020:2012 standard and propose amendments, where necessary;
- Assess Police Forensic Centre policy documents in connection to international accreditation as inspection body in line with ISO/IEC 17020:2012 standard and propose amendments, where necessary.
The support shall include, but is not limited to:
- Identify and submit to the International Consultant the list and copies of the relevant national legal framework, internal regulations, existing guidelines/ manuals and reports detailing current practices and methodologies connected to the assessed area;
- Provide translation of short excerpts from the national/institutional regulatory framework covering the assessed area, facilitate organisation and conduct of meeting and/or in-depth interviews, validation and/or clearance discussions with relevant counterparts and stakeholders;
- Contribute to the analysis of the collected information and provide substantive inputs, provide necessary references and legal grounds to substantiate the findings and suggested recommendations.
- Provide substantive support in the process of developing the Brief Note on the most suitable areas to be subjected to accreditation in line with ISO/IEC 17020:2012 standard in light of the Police Forensic Centre scope of work and mandate as well as international best practices. The support shall include, but is not limited to:
- Provide necessary references and legal grounds to substantiate the findings of the Brief Note;
- Support organisation and facilitate discussions and consultations with the relevant stakeholders, when necessary, in relation to validating and or clearing the findings and recommendation in the Brief Note.
- Provide substantive support in the process of developing the Assessment Report covering the findings of the review of inspection methodologies applied in Police Forensic Centre, review and assessment of Police Forensic Centre regulations and policy documents, addressing the identified gaps and proposing recommendations for way forward in assuring the Police Forensic Centre readiness to accreditation in line with ISO/IEC 17020:2012 standard depending on the most suitable areas to be subjected to accreditation in light of the institution’s scope of work and mandate as well as international best practices and development of the Action Plan towards accreditation of Police Forensic Centre to ISO/IEC 17020:2012 standard which shall address up to three scenarios depending on the most suitable areas to be subjected to accreditation given the institution’s scope of work and mandate, but is not limited to:
- Provide necessary references and legal grounds to substantiate the findings of the Assessment Report and actions included in the Action Plan towards accreditation of Police Forensic Centre to ISO/IEC 17020:2012 standard;
- Provide necessary references and legal grounds to substantiate the recommendations and solutions for way forward in assuring the Police Forensic Centre readiness to accreditation in line with ISO/IEC 17020:2012 standard depending on the most suitable areas to be subjected to accreditation in light of the institution’s scope of work and mandate as well as international best practices;
- Provide support to proof reading of the Assessment Report, as to ensure compliance with the specialised language and national regulatory framework covering the assessed area;
- Support organisation and facilitate discussions and consultations with the relevant stakeholders, when necessary, in relation to validating and or clearing the findings and recommendation in the Assessment Report and Action Plan.
- Provide upon necessity ad-hoc translation of documents relevant for the activity of the UNDP International Consultant as well as interpretation during meeting and interviews, as well as coordinate with the A2J Project Team engagement of any such specialised services;
- Provide throughout the assignment administrative support related to organisation and conduct of meetings, interviews, validation workshops with the stakeholders, including other support necessary for preparation of the UNDP International Consultant missions to the Republic of Moldova.
- Provide throughout the assignment administrative support related to organisation and conduct of meetings, interviews, validation workshops with the stakeholders, including other support necessary for preparation of the UNDP International Consultant missions to the Republic of Moldova.
For detailed information, please refer to Annex 1 – Terms of Reference.
Requirements for experience
The contractor’s performance will be evaluated against the following criteria: timeliness, professionality, proactiveness, communication, accuracy, and quality of the products delivered. Any person applying for this Bid shall have a certain profile in terms of qualifications, skills and special professional experience required to carry out the assignment. The candidates shall have the following relevant skills, qualifications and experience:
Academic Qualifications:
- Master’s degree (or 5 years university degree) in Medicine, Chemistry, Social Science, or related fields of equivalent scope;
Work experience:
- At least 5 years of professional experience in supporting the implementation of quality management systems;
- Proven experience (minimum 2 similar assignments) in supporting governmental/ state institutions to obtain ISO/IEC accreditation, including drafting relevant documents required for accreditation and post-accreditation assistance;
- Previous experience in working with/or within inspection bodies is an asset;
- Previous experience in working with the national forensic institutions is an asset;
- Proven training/coaching experience (minimum 2 similar assignments) in implementation of quality systems according to ISO standards is an asset.
Competencies:
- Excellent understanding of the requirements and content of ISO/IEC 17020:2012 ;
- Excellent understanding of correlation of forensic examinations with ISO/IEC 17020:2012 requirements;
- Excellent analytical and report-writing skills demonstrated by previous assignments;
- Demonstrated interpersonal and diplomatic skills, as well as the ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels and to present ideas clearly and effectively;
- Previous work with UNDP and/or other development partners will be an asset;
- Fluency in English. Knowledge of Romanian and/or Russian is an asset;
- Proven commitment to the core values of the United Nations, in particular, respecting differences of culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, language, age, HIV status, disability, and sexual orientation, or other status. Please mention in CV if you belong to the group(s) under-represented in the UN Moldova and/or the area of assignment.
UNDP Moldova is committed to workforce diversity. Women, persons with disabilities, Roma and other ethnic or religious minorities, persons living with HIV, as well as refugees and other non-citizens legally entitled to work in the Republic of Moldova, are particularly encouraged to apply.
Documents to be included
Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:
- Offeror’s Letter confirming interest and availability for the Individual Contractor assignment with financial proposal (LUMP SUM) (in USD, specifying a total requested amount per working day, including daily fee and all related costs - quoted in separate line items). Financial proposal template included in Annex 2;
- Duly updated CV with at least 3 references;
- Proposal, explaining why he/she is most suitable for the assignment, including past experience in similar assignments, providing a brief information on above qualifications, and brief methodology on how he/she will approach and conduct the work.
Financial proposal
The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including fees, taxes, communication, and number of anticipated working days).
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