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National Consultant to conduct a technical inspection (verification) campaign of thermal biomass fuel plants within public institutions (emergency support).

Vacancy Number: Pr22/02569

Location:	Chisinau, Moldova
Application Deadline:	05 Sep 2022, 16:30 (GMT+2:00)
Starting date:	12 Sep 2022
Reference to the project:	Energy Security/FPI
Expected Duration of Assignment:
Submission Instructions: Proposals should be submitted online by pressing the "Apply Online" button, no later than 5 September 16:30 (Moldova local time). Requests for clarification only must be sent by standard electronic communication to the following e-mail: silvia.pana-carp@undp.org. UNDP will respond by standard electronic mail and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all applicants.
Supporting Documents: Terms of Reference Procurement Notice OFFEROR’S LETTER TO UNDP CONFIRMING INTEREST AND AVAILABILITY FOR THE INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTOR (IC) ASSIGNMENT UNDP General Conditions of Individual Contract

Ms. Silvia Pana-Carp.

Background

Moldova is part of the EU’s European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) and in the Eastern Partnership framework, which aims at strengthening individual and regional relationships between the EU and countries in its neighborhood. Moldova is also part of the Energy Community Treaty since 2010 and has signed the Association Agreement with EU in June 2014, including the DCFTA which entered into force in 2016. As a follow-up, Moldova is required to ensure transposition of the EU acquis Communautaire, which underpins the EU energy legislation on electricity, gas, oil, renewables, energy efficiency and environment. The country has recently synchronized its electricity network with the ENTSO-E to connect to European electricity market.

The energy sector is one of the top priorities for the Government and it is addressed in Government’s Plans and a number of policy documents, laws and regulations. The most important are the following: the draft National Development Strategy 2030, the National Energy Strategy 2030, Law on energy, Law on electricity, Law on promoting use of energy from renewable sources, Law on natural gas, Law on energy efficiency, Law on the energy performance of buildings, Law on the labelling of products with energy impact, Law on eco-design requirements for energy-related products, etc., as well as a list of secondary legislation, meant necessary to ensure for the implementation of the primary legislation.

In accordance with the existing strategic planning documents, one of main priorities of the Government is to diversify the energy mix with more renewable energy, which is also fully in line with commitments under the EU Clean Energy for all Europeans packages. Achieving this goal will require significant investment in the medium and long term, but also the country’s ability to attract and absorb the funds. The development of renewables, such as wind and solar, will also depend on improving the balancing capabilities of the Moldovan power system and its integration with neighboring countries.

Starting with October 2021, Moldova faced significant crisis in the gas sector, which outlined the need to undertake more actions towards improving energy security of the Republic of Moldova, both in the natural gas and electricity sectors. To enhance security of gas supply, Moldovan authorities are seeking various ways to diversify gas and electricity supply, to strengthen its energy security and enabling a transparent, fully open and well-functioning energy market.

The acute gas supply crisis in Moldova has also been subject of discussions within the Moldova-EU Association Council meeting on October 28, 2021. The EU and Moldova stressed the importance of resilience against any potential efforts by third parties to use energy as a geopolitical lever. The Association Council recalled the importance of continued energy market reform to strengthen competition and transparency in this sector. The EU has urged Moldova to ensure that the energy sector reform demonstrates full respect of the Energy Community acquis and is in line with the EU Third Energy Package. The EU side confirmed its support to the objective of Moldova for integration into the EU energy system and market, an important step being the recent synchronization of its electricity network with the Continental European Network (CEN).

Under these circumstances, the Government of Moldova will be assisted to tackle the current energy crisis and energy poverty and addressing prioritized systemic elements in the energy sector to cope with potential future energy crisis. In partnership with EU, UNDP Moldova will therefore, support the Government of Moldova: 

• To tackle the current energy crisis and energy poverty, and addressing prioritized systemic elements in the energy sector to cope with potential future energy crisis
• To support the Government of Moldova in building its capacities towards strengthening the national energy security, as well as in improving the legal and regulatory framework and operationalizing specific rapid large-scale interventions to tackle energy poverty and support most vulnerable and affected groups of population and businesses.

The Programme duration is envisaged between 2022- 2023 with support from Foreign Policy Instrument (herewith FPI) of EU. In this context, UNDP Moldova is seeking to recruit one National Consultant to conduct technical inspection (verification) of thermal biomass fuel plants within public institutions.

Scope of work

UNDP Moldova intends to contract a National Consultant to conduct a technical inspection (verification) campaign of thermal biomass fuel plants within public institutions.

The National Consultant shall work based on the methodological approach and of a detailed action plan that shall be developed at the start of the activities, and which shall be agreed with the Programme Team and stakeholders.

For detailed information, please refer to Annex 1 – Terms of Reference.

Requirements for experience

Academic Qualifications:

• University degree in energy, electronic, energy efficiency, construction engineering or other related areas.

Experience and knowledge:

• Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience in operating (expert level), testing, maintenance or construction (technical conception, technical design, or related) of thermal biomass fuel plants;
• Proven experience in conducting technical inspections of heating systems for buildings. Previous experience in inspection or operation of thermal biomass fuel plants is an advantage;
• Proven experience in preparing technical procedures and / or technical reports;
• Proven experience in organizing and leading meetings with a broad range of stakeholders;
• Advanced research skills and capacity to produce analyses using quantitative and qualitative data;
• Previous experience in development assistance or related work for a donor organization, development partners, UN Agencies would be an advantage;
• Fluency in written and spoken Romanian, Russian is required for this assignment. Good level of English is required.

The UNDP Moldova is committed to the 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:  

1. Proposal, explaining why he/she is most suitable for the work, including past experience in similar assignments, providing a brief information on above qualifications and methodology on how he/she will approach and conduct the work (if applicable). 
2. OFFEROR’S LETTER TO UNDP CONFIRMING INTEREST AND AVAILABILITY FOR THE INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTOR (IC) ASSIGNMENT
3. CV, including information about experience in similar assignments with at least 3 references. 

Important notice:

The applicants who have the statute of Government Official / Public Servant prior to appointment will be asked to submit the following documentation:

• a no-objection letter in respect of the applicant received from the Government, and;
• the applicant is certified in writing by the Government to be on official leave without pay for the entire duration of the Individual Contract.

A retired government official is not considered in this case a government official, and as such, may be contracted.

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.

Payments will be disbursed in several instalments, upon submission and approval of deliverables, and certification by UNDP Moldova Programme Specialist/Cluster Lead that the services have been satisfactorily performed.

Travel expenses from the duty station to all the inspected thermal biomass fuel plants and back, and eventual on-site accommodation will be covered by UNDP Moldova.