Provision of Two (02) Multi Task Team (MTT) and One (01) Area Reduction Team in the Territory of Western Sahara

New amendment added #6: Dear Offerors, The following articles of Section II Schedule of Requirements have been amended as per below:-  Under II. Definition of Terms, a paragraph under 'Guideline to Requirements' has been added. Please refer to RFP_ Section _II_ Schedule_of_Requirements_WS_2020-2023_Mine_Action_v6Following a requestion for clarification for the Status of Mission Agreement (SOMA) covering Western Sahara / Morocco / Algeria, three documents have been added: - SOMA Algeria- SOMA Morocco- SOMA Mauritania Lastly, please use the updated Section III - Returbable Bidding Form with the following changes: - Form C: Financial Proposal Form was updated; - Form D: Technical Proposal Form was updated with an additional paragraph on 'Supplementary Section' Please refer to RFP_Section_III_Returnable Bidding Forms_PSC_RFP_2019_12839_v2  

New clarification added: Question: Could you please share a copy of the SOMA agreement where it states the contractor will be exempt from taxes in Morocco / Western Sahara & Algeria?UNOPS Answer: Apologies for the oversight of this question. The documents will be shared in the upcoming amendment.  

New clarification added: Dear Sirs, Could you please share a copy of the SOMA agreement where it states the contractor will be exempt from taxes in Morocco / Western Sahara & Algeria?UNOPS response: Yes, these documents will be shared shortly, in the upcoming amendment. 

New clarification added: Good afternoon, We have a couple of questions:1.  Please confirm whether the USD3,000 monthly rental reimbursable includes provision of power, water and sewage?   UNOPS answer: This needs to be budgeted for separately. 2. Is the USD1,000 per month fuel reimbursdable solely for vehicles or is the fuel for generators included in this? UNOPS answer: Fuel usage is at the discretion of the contractor. Re-submitting these responses due to technical issue.  

New clarification added: Dear Sir/Madam,Can you confirm if a new ‘RFP_Section_III_Returnable Bidding Form C’ Word Document will be issued following the inclusion of serial 7 ‘Reimbursable Costs’ within the summary table on the ‘Form C Financial Proposal’ Excel Document?UNOPS answer: Yes, the document will be issued shortly. 

New clarification added: Good afternoon, We have a couple of questions:1.  Please confirm whether the USD3,000 monthly rental reimbursable includes provision of power, water and sewage?   UNOPS answer: This needs to be budgeted for separately. 2. Is the USD1,000 per month fuel reimbursdable solely for vehicles or is the fuel for generators included in this? UNOPS answer: Fuel usage is at the discretion of the contractor. Best regards 

New amendment added #5: Dear Offerors, Please be advised that the tender deadline has been extended until 23 March 2020 and the deadline for clarification has been extended to 12 March 2020. In addition, the following articles of Section II Schedule of Requirements have been amended as per below: - on page 25 (XI. Administration and Logistics), some additional language regarding the operating base and reimbursable component has been added; - on page 26-27 (XI. Administration and Logistics), some language regarding the reimbursable costs has been added.Please refer to RFP_ Section _II_ Schedule_of_Requirements_WS_2020-2023_Mine_Action_v5Lastly. please use the updated Form C found under 'Documents' where the reimbursable components have been put into a separate tab. Please refer to the revised Form C Financial Proposal Breakdown_WS_RFP_2019_12839_v3

New amendment added #4: Dear Offerors, The following articles of Section II Schedule of Requirements have been amended as per below: - on page 10 (Section IV.), a paragraph related to the training has been removed; - on page 12 (Section IV.), the word 'national' has been added in order to align it with the requirements on page 7-8;- on page 15-16 (Section VI.) the equipment table format has been updated in line with the format provided in the Reimbursable Form D. Please refer to the revised RFP_ Section _II_ Schedule_of_Requirements_WS_2020-2023_Mine_Action_v4.docxIn addition, an updated Form C has been uploaded into the 'Documents' section.Please refer to the revised Form C Financial Proposal Breakdown_WS_RFP_2019_12839_v2.docx

New clarification added: How does the UNOPS propose to manage the logistic equipment currently at the LSA in Tiferity (UN ROE), when handover will be required between the awarded contractor and the incumbent?  Will there be a joint meeting between the incumbent, UNMAS and awardee to ascertain handover practicalities? If so, should this be highlighted within the proposal? UNOPS Answer: UNMAS Western Sahara equipment held by the incumbent will first be handed back to UNMAS Western Sahara. UNMAS Western Sahara will then hand over equipment to the new contractor on a Right of Use (RoU) agreement.In regards to point 1, is the incumbent able to provide all technical maintenances of all handover equipment to ensure that it is all serviceable? UNOPS Answer: All available information will be handed over at the time of RoU signature. During the site visit, no bidder was allowed entry or to sight the forward logistic base at Tiferity. Considering this base is the key logistics hub for continued operations in the North, until the proposed relocation south for further tasking, can UNOPS detail what is currently the make up of the base? What is the cost of rental of these buildings and land as this will enable bidders to correctly price in any enhancement or replacement of assets at this location? UNOPS Answer: we will get back to you ASAP.In regards to point 3, is it assumed that the price proposal should consider a full new forward logistics base and costs associated with set up as an option within the proposal due to the unknown qualities and quantities of the forward logistics base or place in text paragraph as a possible variation? UNOPS Answer: we will get back to you ASAP. Contacts for SMACO have been unresponsive to multiple emails to both the Director and Director of Ops for the past 2 weeks. Will UNMAS facilitate this action as we are required to go through SMACO for qualified technical CVs and future operations, both of which impact the proposal? UNOPS Answer: Many thanks for highlighting this issue. UNMAS Western Sahara will contact SMACO and urge them to respond to any outstanding queries.

New clarification added: Dear Sir/Madam,Below, please, find first of two lists of questions for clarification for the UNOPS tender: RFP/2019/12839. Page 5 section 4. The ERT shall be made available for the full calendar year of the contract duration (365 days per year).What about national holidays? UNOPS Answer: Please refer to point 14. of the SOW. In case of medical emergencies, i.e. during Ramadan, where many businesses operate with limited hours and staff (and if UNMAS is not able to guarantee access to UN Mission air assets for CASEVAC) are there any other known MEDEVAC facilities and/or air assets within the territory of Western Sahara? UNOPS Answer: The United Nations (UN) does not scale down for Ramadan and if flights are not available, work is not carried out. Hospitals in Tindouf do not scale down during Ramadan. If no UN air CASEVAC is available, the Contractor is to make other arrangements (for example driving), but the plan should be approved by UNMAS​ Western Sahara. Page 10: Area Reduction Component - "training will be arranged and provided by UNMAS WS for the personnel using the equipment"Do we need to plan for training costs (venue, food, etc.)? UNOPS Answer: This paragraph has been removed. The Contractor is to be the sole provider of training and this needs to be budgeted accordingly by the Contractor. Or will this be organised and paid for by UNMAS? UNOPS Answer: Please see previous answer. Page 11: Operational Capacity for the Area Reduction Team - last paragraph on page 11: a one-month training period will be acceptable...this will include any training and mentoring equipment.This is unclear: Do we have to plan for the training or UNMAS will do it as stated above? UNOPS Answer: The Contractor is to organise and undertake the training and mentoring. Training team capacity, at the end of p. 11: the contractor is to supply a maximum of one month a trainer to carry out training in the driving and use of Casspir MPV.It is mentioned on page 10 that training will be provided by UNMAS for the personnel using equipment (mpv and rollers) so it is not very clear, who will be training the team? UNOPS Answer: The Contractor is to organise and undertake the training. 

New clarification added: Can we have the job description of the international IMSMA Data Entry Clerk, who will be based in UNMAS Layoune office? UNOPS Answer: Some of the responsibilities of the IMSMA Data Entry Clerk may include: maintaining and update the IMSMA and UNMAS database, conducting routine reviews, report and resolve IT issues, perform administrative duties. Please note that this is not a exhaustive list. This person will be fully supported by the contractor - does it mean contract, salary, benefits, accommodation, etc.? UNOPS Answer: Yes correct. Please, clarify, how it is expected to manage this position as staff of the contractor, if he is under the supervision of UNMAS Chief of Operations? How is it expected to monitor the performance? UNOPS Answer: The personnel will need to be in direct and daily contact with the contractor's Project Manager and will also work out of the contractor's office in Laayoune as well as UNMAS Western Sahara's office. Page 12, section 13. local staff - The contractor is to supply 1 national logistics support assistant / driver in support of the UNMAS office in Tindouf.Can we have a job description for this position? UNOPS Answer: Some of the responsibilities of the national logistics support assistant / driver may include: general administration and logistics in support of the Tindouf office; Organization and minutes taking of meetings; Translation of documents, as required. Please note that this is not a exhaustive list. We expect that the contractor can't be held responsible for the performance of this staff, as the position will be managed by senior UNMAS staff in Tindouf. So how will this work out? We will pay salary and benefits but won't be able to assess/monitor the quality of the performance job. So we assume that "he will be fully supported by the contractor" related to salary & benefit but it will be difficult to do some capacity building /coaching / mentoring / training of somebody we are not supervising and who is not based in our office. UNOPS Answer: The personnel will need to be in direct and daily contact with the contractor's Project Manager (PM). In turn, the PM will also be in regular contact with the senior international personnel in the UNMAS Western Sahara Tindouf office.  

New clarification added: In section 31 page 26 it is stated that the bidder / contractor should budget a maximum of $1,000 per month for fuel which at current rates equates for approximately 1100 litres. Please confirm that this applies only to the logistic vehicles and not the MPV elemet that will use consdierably more fuel per month. Please confirm. We however assume that this will be on a reimbursable basis.UNOPS Answer: The monthly maximum of $1,000 per month for fuel will remain as this has been adequate throughout the previous years. When the MPVs come into full use and if the fuel usage is deemed to be considerably higher, the issue will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

New clarification added: Dear Sir/Madam,1. In regards to the ‘Total Cost RFP’ tab of Excel Form C, it states that the demobilization period commences in ‘Jul23’. However, as per page 21 in the amended SOW, the demobilisation period is from 24Jun23 to 30Jun23. Please confirm if a revised Excel Form C will be issued or can bidders ammend the dates accordingly?UNOPS Answer: Apologies for the typo, bidders can consider 'Jul23' to read as 'Jun23'. This will be reflected in the updated Form C.2. Within the ‘Summary of total cost for all years of RFP’ section on the ‘Total Cost RFP’ tab of Excel Form C, there are columns for both stand down and remobilisation. However, the costs breakdowns for standown and remobilization are included within the same tab. Please confirm how bidders should link the cost breakdown for combined stand down and remobilisation tab to the seperate stand down and remobilisation columns on the ‘Total Cost RFP’ tab or will an updated excel Form C be issued ?UNOPS Answer: This will clarified in the updated Form C.  

New clarification added: Please would you clarify the following:  1. Para 14 of the SOW states that the contractor is required to maintain full operational capacity throughout the operational phase whilst Para 45 - Rotational staff leave cover does not stipulate that additional personnel are should be provided in order to maintain full operational capacity.  Please confirm whether additional leave personnel should be provided or nott?UNOPS Answer: The Contractor is expected to maintain full operational capacity throughout the operational phase and is free to present any appropriate solutions in order to do so.

New clarification added: Dear Sirs, Could you please confirm the required format to submit the equipment table? Should contractor's proposal include the table format on page 15 in the SOW or the table format in the returnable bidding form D on page 9? UNOPS Answer: Apologies for the discrepancy. Please use the table from the Returnable Bidding Form D. 

New clarification added: Dear Sir/Madam,A few additional questions for clarification for RFP/2019/12839:Page 13, section 16, All maintenance, servicing and relocation are to be conducted outside the operational working hours, or during non-operational days.This will entail additional cost to be included in the proposal. Please, confirm these costs are eligible UNOPS Answer: Costs are eligible and to be included in the full proposal.Employees entitlements defined as per organizations regulations and national laws. Correct? UNOPS Answer: Correct. Page 13, section 3. The default minimum production to assist in planning will be the following: 1.       BAC Surface search per day per team  25,000m2; 2.       BAC Sub Surface search per day per team       10,000m2; 3.       Manual Mine Clearance per day per team         1,500m2­­­a.       Is the above estimate based on previous results? UNOPS Answer: Yes, correct. These figures are based on over 10 years of operations in the region.

New clarification added: Dear Sirs, Could we please request a copy of the Local Mine Action Standards (LMAS)?UNOPS Answer: The link to the LMAS was previously shared in the slides of the pre-bid briefing, found in the ‘Documents’ section. Please find them here again for reference: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1hbyFibRT43Cge7LnqKh7kjlwskgeVT1B?usp=sharing

New clarification added: 1. Considering costs and budget financials, what is the estimated dollar value for the LSA base at Tifferity currently administered and managed by Safe Lane Global? This would be required to project costs for any R.O.E UN asset and insurance. Answer: Please be aware that the base is not owned by the United Nations. The current contractor has made separate arrangements for the occupation of the base outside of the United Nations' control. 2. During the site visit the pre- bidding personnel representing several companies were not allowed access to the LSA at Tifferity to inspect or view its facilities. Considering the requirement to cost this against the financial requirements and develop a concept of operations as well as a statement of work for the proposal, difficulty is apparent as well as an unfair advantage to the current incumbent. May we please have clarification? Answer: This question will be answered separately.  3. Will the UN provide a complete list of assets and liabilities and pricing for the LSA Forward Logistics base at Tiferity for proposal purposes? Anwer: Please refer to the answer provided to question 1 above. The assets available and owned by the United Nations and available for the use of the IP are included on the list under point VI. Equipment Required in the SoW (RFP Section II).  4. There has been a noted statement that UNMAS envisage the project to prioritize operations in the south (Mijek) at the end of the first contract calendar year.  Are the bidders to include the cost summary the movement of the forward operating base to this area in the proposal budget or will this be a separate variation cost? Answer: This is up to the contractor to decide based on the information from the SoW and should be budgeted accordingly. Please refer to IV. Activities, point 9 on page 6 of the SoW.  5. Will the UN please provide the average monthly fuel cost or consumption /(per liter)? Answer: This is up to the contractor to decide based on their own approach and market research, including planned usage of equipment and other assets etc. 

New clarification added: Dear Sir/Madam,Please see below a list of clairfications questions:1.      Following the new dates and project duration stipulated in the revised scope of work (SOW), there are inconsistencies between the SOW and Form C Excel.  Please confirm if a new Form C Excel will be issued or if can bidders manually amend Form C Excel to reflect the new dates and durations? Answer: Apologies for the oversight, an updated Form C Excel will be uploaded to the ‘Documents’ section which reflects the mobilisation duration of 2.5 months (15 April to 30 June 2020).  2.      In the SOW, there are phases titled “Preparation for the stand-down or de-mobilisation”. However, these phases are not presented on the ‘Total Cost RFP’ tab of Form C Excel, for each year of operations. Please confirm where bidders are to include the costs for these phases? Is it within the last month of operations? Answer: Yes, bidders can add these costs in the last month of operations. 3.      In the SOW, the remobilization phase for years 2 and years 3 are between 01 – 10 September, followed by the operations phase. However, within the ‘Total Cost RFP’ tab in Form C Excel, the whole of September is stated as the remobilisation period. Please confirm if bidders are to include two weeks of remobilization and operations in the month of September or will an updated Form C Excel be issued, which splits September into remobilisation and operations? Answer: Yes, bidders can include the two weeks of remobilisation and operations in the month of September. 4.      Within Form C Financial Proposal - Word, Returnable Bidding Forms, please confirm that costs for the stand-down periods are to be included within the operations phase column. Answer: Yes, costs for the Stand-down periods are to be included within the operations phase column in Form C Financial Proposal - Word.  

New clarification added: Dear SirsPlease see below further clarification questions:1) Vehicle tracking system: can you confirm all 20 vehicles (including the 3 MPV) supplied by the UN will be fitted with a vehicle tracking system? If yes - can you please advise who will be responsible for the monthly running costs for the trackers? Answer: UNMAS Western Sahara will be responsible for the installation, maintenance, and running costs of the vehicle tracking system during the duration of the contract.2) Please advise if there is any RoU vehicles available for the management capacity in Laayoune or are all RoU vehicles located East of the Berm? Answer: there are no RoU vehicles currently located in Laayoune and available for the management capacity. 3) Please advise if the UN will provide a vehicle in Tindouf for the logistic support assistant/driver? If yes - is this vehicle one of the 17 soft skin available under RoU equipment? Answer: An UNMAS vehicle will be available for use for UNMAS business only. This vehicle is not one of the 17 available under RoU. 4) Please confirm the number of LLMDs per MTT Team. Answer: Two LLMDs per team as well as one spare.  

New clarification added: Good morning, Please would you provide the following:1. Updated Form D - Technical proposal form reflecting the changes to the SOW. Answer: The changes in the SOW do not affect Form D. 2. Values for equipment to be provided under ROU for insurance purposes. Answer: as per the pre-bid briefing (minutes posted under 'Documents'), the estimated value for the equipment that can be provided to the IP is about USD 1 million.Many thanks 

New clarification added:  Dear Sir/Madam,Please find below our clarifications:Please confirm the minimum equipment requirement per MTT for the main component regarding Large Loop Metal Detectors (LLMD) should be read as 5 in total for the two teams? If this understanding is incorrect, please advise how you see bidders utilising 5 LLMD per MTT during operations. Answer: The total for both teams is 5. Each team is capable of running 2 LLMD a day simultaneously, plus 1 spare.Following discussions on the site visit regarding the reimbursable budget for explosives, can you please confirm that should the 1000 USD limit for explosives be exceeded by the contractor due to operational requirement, the additional expentiture will be reimbursed to the contractor? Answer: Experience has shown that the set yearly limit has not been exceeded in the past. However, should the selected contractor be faced with such a situation, this will be dealt with on a case-by-case. 

New clarification added: Dear SirsIt states in the latest batch of CQs we are required to submit CVs and certificates for national management staff, does this include Team Leaders and Deputy Team Leaders?Answer: No, this does not include the Team Leaders and Deputy Team Leaders. Please consult version 3 of the SoW for clarification on this part. 

New amendment added #3: Dear Offerors, Please be aware that the minutes from the site visit and the pre-bid briefing and the corresponding presentation slide show, together with a fact sheet on UNMAS Western Sahara, have been uploaded into the 'Documents' section. In addition, the following articles of Section II Schedule of Requirements have been amended as per below: - on page 6-8 (Section IV.), additional language has been added in order to clarify the key personnel. The requirement for CVs for non-key personnel has also been removed - on page 7 (Section IV.), the minimum number of personnel for IMSMA data entry clerk and Trainer MPV and Rollers has been clarified;- on pages 15-18 (Section VI.), the table listing the equipment to be provided by UNMAS Western Sahara has been updated and the following sentence has been added: "Please note that the use of the above-listed equipment is not mandatory but strongly recommended. If the bidder would like to propose the use of another piece of equipment different from the ones in the above list but with the same purpose, this will need to be duly justified in the narrative."- on page 18 (Section VII.), the date for the mobilisation start has been updated from 1 May 2020 to 15 April 2020 in line with the remainder of the document. Lastly, the deadline for clarifications has been updated to 26 February 2020. Please refer to the revised RFP_Section_II_Schedule_of_Requirements_WS_2020-2023_Mine_Action_v3.docx

New clarification added: This is note that this clarification was answered by the clarification. 

New clarification added: Dear SirsPlease see below our clarification questions: 1. Please confirm if the contractor will be exempt from paying taxes and import duties as per other UN contracts and SOFA agreements? Answer: Yes, this is correct as per the SOMA. 2. Could you please provide fuel cost per litre East of the Berm - supplied by the UN? Answer: Cost of fuel supplied by MINURSO (bill dated April 2019) 8.16 dirham per litre. MINURSO used the exchange rate of 9.752 dirham per USD.3. Are there specific MRE banners and leaflets that have to be used in the Eastern Berm when conducting MRE? If yes - will these be provided by UNMAS? Answer: There are no specifc materials to be used. UNMAS does have limited numbers of UN booklets that are used when RE is given to UN/NGO personnel.4. If the CL/MRE team have to enter a refugee camp is there a focal point who must be first contacted? Is there a protocol the team must follow - i.e: be accompanied by a senior member of the area? Answer: On tasking by UNMAS will inform SMACO of the intended task, the contractor will seek permission from SMACO, by form of email. As the refugee camps are all in Algeria permission can also be sought by visiting the SMACO office.   5. If there is an issue storing trauma bag drugs in the contractor's accommodation - can they be stored at UNMAS/MINURSO compound? Answer: Ready use drugs cannot be stored in the UNMAS/MINURSO camps due to the lack of emergency entry if needed. Stock drugs could be stored in MINURSO team sites as they have medical units attached, but MINURSO will not take responsibility in case of loss or damage.6. Please confirm the key positions that require Forms E and F for submission. Answer: The Contractor must include CVs with the technical proposal including qualification certificates of all international personnel and national management staff. The Contractor must be able to deploy all personnel mentioned in their proposal (or any changes as approved by the UNMAS Western Sahara through the Programme Manager) within 1 week of the Contract being signed. Please consult the upcoming amendment 3, particularly the SoW, which should clarify which personnel is considered key.

New clarification added: This is note that this clarification was answered on 3 February 2020. 

New amendment added #2: Dear Offerors, Please be advised that the pre-bid briefing is scheduled for 11 February 2020 at 10am local time and can be accessed via Skype link: https://join.skype.com/c6ORp9pxASC5 or in person at the MINURSO HQ (UNMAS Western Sahara will faciliate access).   

New clarification added: Hi A site visit to East of the Berm (EoB), will take place Monday 10th Feb 2020 transportation to pick up personnel in Laayoune at 0700 that morning will be available and on return to Laayoune to drop off. It is important to note that if a signed waiver was not submitted before the 25th Jan 2020, you will not be allowed to board the UN flight to EoB.On the morning of the 11th (time yet to be confirmed), a briefing will take place in MINURSO HQ, access to the mission HQ will be arranged by UNMAS staff. On completion of this briefing, participants will be free to carry on with their own plans.

New amendment added #1: Dear Offerors,The following articles of Section II Schedule of Requirements have been amended as per below:·         The date by which interested organizations are to supply the relevant details for the site visit has been changed from 19 January 2020 to 25 January 2020Please refer to the revised RFP_ Section _II_ Schedule_of_Requirements_WS_2020-2023_Mine_Action_v2.docx