National Consultant to provide training to the district energy managers and local public authorities on the development of technical specifications for the purchase of solid biofuels.Vacancy Number: Pr22/02629
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, efficacity and environment. The country is planning to fully synchronize 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 several 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 energy 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 to synchronize its electricity network with the Continental European Network (CEN), an important step towards the integration into the EU energy system and market. 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:
The Programme duration is envisaged between 2022 – 2023 with support from Foreign Policy Instrument (herewith FPI) of EU. The Project Concept has been approved by FPI of the EU in February 2022, paving the way for development of the full project proposal. In this context, UNDP Moldova is seeking to recruit one National Consultant preparing for the training of district energy managers and local public authorities in the elaboration of specifications regarding the purchase of solid biofuels and training program. Scope of work
As a result of the Energy and Biomass Project financed by the European Union and implemented by the UNDP Moldova in 2011 – 2018, 265 public institutions from the Republic of Moldova (schools, kindergartens, community facilities and hospitals) switched from heating produced by coal and natural gas to biomass, allowing 200 thousand people to benefit from clean and affordable energy[1]. According to a Report published by the Energy Efficiency Agency in 2022, more than 280 thermal plants on biomass have been installed in the country[2]. The problem of the poor quality of purchased solid biofuels is highlighted more and more often by the authorities. In this sense, the consultant will examine the possibility of integrating in the standardized purchase template all the technical elements that regulate the solid biofuels market in Moldova. The major problems that the local public authorities are currently facing is insufficient knowledge to develop the minimum technical requirements for bio fuels (pellets, briquettes). The quality-related topic was also reflected in the report of the working group responsible for identifying solutions regarding the use of solid biofuels during the 2022-2023 heating season In this regard, the UNDP Moldova intends to contract a national consultant qualified and experienced to support the LPAs and energy managers to ensure transparent procurement procedures in the procurement of solid biofuels, including the technical specification regarding the quality. The National Consultant will work based on the methodological approach and detailed action plan that shall be developed at the start of the activities, and which shall be agreed with the local public partners and approved by the Programme. For the current assignment, the National Consultant shall be responsible of:
[1] Energy and Biomass Project official web page: 199,000 people have access to affordable and clean energy, produced in the Republic of Moldova with the support of the European Union (published: October 19, 2018), available at: http://biomasa.md/en/communication-archive/199000-people-access-affordable-clean-energy-produced-republic-moldova-support-european-union/ (Accessed: August 18, 2022) [2] Energy Efficiency Agency official web page: Moldova and solid biofuel producers (published: July 26, 2022), available at: https://www.aee.md/en/news/situa-ia-la-zi-privind-centralele-termice-pe-biomasa-din-republica-moldova-si-producatorii-de-biocombustibil-solid (Accessed: August 18, 2022) Requirements for experience
1. Academic Qualifications:
2. Experience and knowledge:
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 local consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:
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 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. 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, travel costs, accommodation costs, communication, and number of anticipated working days). | |||||||||||||||||||||
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