Consultancy and Design Services in relation to the Assessment of physical conditions of WHO owned real estates

New clarification added: Clarification Request 11: In our firm's preparation to adequately equip ourselves to participate in this bidding, reference was made to the UNOPS Geotechnical Investigations Guidance. We are expected to review & report on available geotechnical information with the geotechnical reports,soil borings & analysis,foundation systems, studies,etc) so as to equip us with the knowledge of the soil type,geotechnical features & the potential of soil liquefaction in the event of an earthquake. Could you please refer to this Geotechnical Investigation Guide to confirm either that you would provide us with the Specifications for the site investigations,seismic hazard report, liquefaction report,soil profile report,foundation analysis which were already carried out by some other parties for the Tunis,Manila & Kabul sites,respectively or that our firm should assume its responsibility in our Technical & Financial Proposals? Remarkably, our references to the recently-recorded earthquake activities in the Tunis, Manila & Kabul locations in an earlier clarification request were not commented on. Could you please confirm the urgent need that a competent multi-disciplinary team shall be required & included in your listing to join & undertake the site visits in the site inspections so as to proceed with the expected tasks that would generate the foregoing information details?UNOPS Clarification Response 11:UNOPS advises the scope of services for the project can be found in the following documents: "RFP-2023-46720_ANNEX 2 - PRELIMINARY DESIGN FOR EXTENSION OF WHO OFFICES" for Tunisia, and "RFP-2023-46720_ANNEX 1 - CONDITION ASSESSMENT REPORT" for Afghanistan and the Philippines. It is important to note that there is no requirement to conduct a geotechnical survey for this project.To obtain detailed information regarding the required team for the services, kindly consult the document titled "RFP-2023-46720 - Consultant Services." Specifically, please refer to Section II, III, IV, V, SECTION V: REQUIREMENTS, and Part 3: Key personnel proposed. This section will provide clear guidance on the composition and qualifications of the team necessary for the project.

New clarification added: Clarification Request 10: 1.  On Page 17/22 of one of the Bid Documents, ''material deficiencies in their structural integrity' shall be determined. These are requirements for compressive testing of concrete, determination of concrete cover, etc. Thus the Key Personnel listing is likely to include the Geotechnical, MEP& Environmental Engineers for the Tunis, Kabul & Manila site visitations except if there could be other arrangements for local experts to join. 2a. Regarding the Tunis preliminary design, could the design brief, its objectives,scope,feasibility studies, type of structures to be designed, etc be made available for our study  soonest? 2b. Has the design category been defined as either a simple,average,complex or very complex design? 2c. Is it planned that there will be an underground at Tunis? 2d. Are there environmental assessment, project environmental management & site environmental management plan reports available for it?2e. Is it going to be a middle or high risk project & what is the likely budget? UNOPS Clarification Response 10: 1. UNOPS advises that "..material deficiencies in their structural integrity.." referred to in “RFP-2023-46720 - Consultant Services - Section II, III, IV, V”, SECTION V: REQUIREMENTS, refers to any visible issues or flaws that affect the physical strength, stability, or overall soundness of a specific construction material.2a. Kindly note that the selected consultant will be responsible for preparing the design brief, scope, feasibility studies, and types of structures to be designed. This process will involve consultation with the WHO representatives in the Tunisia Office.2b. The design category specified in the document "RFP-2023-46720_ANNEX 2 - PRELIMINARY DESIGN FOR EXTENSION OF WHO OFFICES" is defined as Preliminary Design.2c. Please note that the precise definition of the design category will be determined through discussions with the WHO office.2d. Please be informed that although the information you requested does exist, it cannot be shared with the public.2e. Please note that the Preliminary Design being requested through this Request for Proposal (RFP) pertains to the extension of the WHO offices located in Tunisia.

New clarification added: Clarification Request 09:Can you please confirm if we can do the proposal security in insurance company or only through bank?UNOPS Clarification Response 09: UNOPS advises that yes, the Proposal Security is acceptable if issued by an insurance company. 

New clarification added: Clarification Request 08: When you say the beneficiary is from all countries do you mean is only for those three sites or the WHO premises around globe.UNOPS Clarification Response 08: Kindly be informed that if the reference is being made to UNOPS Clarification Response 05, it is important to note that the question pertained to vendors. UNOPS has advised that this is an open competition, allowing vendors from around the world who meet the criteria to participate in the bidding process.However, concerning the beneficiary, it should be noted that the WHO (World Health Organization) is the beneficiary in this case, with offices located in Tunisia, Afghanistan, and the Philippines.

New clarification added: Clarification Request 07: Our apologies for pointing out Clause 4.3.1 that there was an error. It had since been amended to 5 months as the completion period. That your update had been well noted & reckoned with.UNOPS Clarification Response 07: Thank you for your information.

New clarification added: Clarification Request 06: It was regrettable that we were unrepresented at the Pre-Proposal meeting due to unforeseen reasons & we are still seeking for these clarifications:There did not seem to be any provision for the inclusion of the costing of the air fares for the Design Team to Tunis & back in the Schedule of Rates;Please fully describe for our own education, what are the items covered under Table 2- Cost breakdown/components & Table 3- Cost breakdown per in country personnel, 2.1-Condition Survey of Building & 2.2 Technical Deliverable 1-Survey Report as per Schedule 3 including detailed estimate & Capital Master Plan;Under which category shall the reimbursable items like working tools,safety gears for the assessment,costs of the mandatory insurance premiums, be covered;The quantity (1) shown for travel costs for the assessment team needed fuller explanation since all the team members shall be required to undertake that activity;Under Section IV, item 4.3.1,the stated time for completion was 6 & not 5 months. Which is the more correct figure for this project's duration;Since there shall be no Advance Payment provision in this project, is there a need for the completion of the Advance Payment Security form? As our firm is suitably qualified to participate & would be bound by the Performance Security Form to be completed by our Banker, if we win, we would be unduly engaged with the preparation of a competent submission that we would not be freely disposed to undergo the rigour of chasing a bid bond of $5,000 given our current foreign exchange challenges in Nigeria. As a result, could you please consider the removal of that constraint in this bidding to enable our keen participation?UNOPS Clarification Response 06: UNOPS advises that the financial proposals should be submitted as a Lump Sum. This means that all expenses associated with the specified services outlined in the document titled "RFP-2023-46720_ANNEX 2 - PRELIMINARY DESIGN FOR EXTENSION OF WHO OFFICES" should be encompassed within the Lump Sum amount.As noted above, UNOPS advises that the financial proposals should be submitted as a Lump Sum. The items presented in Table 2, "Cost breakdown per component," and Table 3, "Cost breakdown per in-country personnel," are provisional items that are necessary for potential service variations. These costs are not included in the overall amounts of the financial proposals. However, they will be considered for future contractual arrangements if any changes occur.UNOPS advises that the Financial Offer, to be submitted using "RFP-2023-46720_Schedule 4.1.A - Schedule of Rates," should include provisions for Lump Sum offers. It is important that all Contract Milestones encompass the necessary services as outlined in SECTION V: REQUIREMENTS of the RFP.UNOPS advises that the services outlined in this RFP include provisions for one team member to undertake travel. The designated individual must possess the skills and experience specified in "RFP-2023-46720 - Consultant Services - Section II, III, IV, V," particularly in sub-section "3.7 Key Personnel Requirements," for the position of Building Surveyor - Team Leader. Consequently, travel expenses should be exclusively associated with this specific role.Please note that this has been amended through Amendment no.01 of this RFP and therefore time for completion is 5 months.UNOPS advises that  the inclusion of the "0.8 Form for Proposal Security" is a compulsory requirement for this RFP. Proposals that fail to meet this criteria will be disqualified under the section "1. FORMAL AND ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA."

New clarification added: Clarification request 05:Regarding the beneficiary country, which is all country, please clarify that vendors from all over the globe can bid for this tender.UNOPS Clarification Response 05: UNOPS advises that this is an open competition and all vendors from around the world who meet the criteria can bid for this process.

New amendment added #1: UNOPS Advises on the following points as below that HAVE BEEN AMENDED:Amended the document under document titled RFP-2023-46720 - Consultant Services - Section II, III, IV, V_V2, SECTION IV: SCHEDULE OF DETAILS - SCHEDULE 1 Contract Details - 1.1 Details Provided by the Employer HAS BEEN AMENDED as follows: ​4.3.1 - Time for Completion - 5 months. The amended text is marked in red.RFP-2023-46720_ANNEX 2 - PRELIMINARY DESIGN FOR EXTENSION OF WHO OFFICES_V2 HAS BEEN AMENDED as follows:Mandatory Design Requirements. The amended text is marked in red. RFP-2023-46720_ANNEX 2 A - Design Planning Manual for Buildings HAS BEEN ADDED.RFP-2023-46720_ANNEX 2 B - CAD Drawing Guidelines HAS BEEN ADDED.Minutes of Meeting for the Pre-Proposal meeting: Presentation of the Project Scope of Services and Presentation of the UNOPS Procurement Processes held on the 12 May 2023 have been included in the eSourcing "Documents" Tab.Powerpoint Presentation for the Pre-Proposal meeting: Presentation of the Project Scope of Services and Presentation of the UNOPS Procurement Processes have been included in the eSourcing "Documents" Tab.UNOPS advises to keep up to date with the published Amendment Documents and submit your Proposal Submissions accordingly with the latest versions of the documents published. Not following with UNOPS Amendments and not submitting the correct submission documents will lead to disqualification of your offer.

New clarification added: Clarification Request 04: In addition to the initially proposed duration of 5 months, which is deemed insufficient, we kindly request that you consider extending the timeframe to a minimum of nine (9) months. This extension is necessary due to several factors, including the extensive mobilization required both on-site and in the offices, the compilation of various pieces of information, the need for multi-disciplinary professional rigor to meet project requirements, the time allocated for interviewing and research, the preparation of Final Reports, and the subsequent demobilization from the three sites. Taking these considerations into account, we believe that a minimum duration of nine months would be more appropriate to ensure the successful completion of the project.UNOPS Clarification Response 04: UNOPS advises that the total duration for conducting the required services is limited due to the overall project timeline. This estimation of required time has been determined based on our experience with previously conducted projects of a similar nature.

New clarification added: Clarification Request 03: Could you please provide us with more detailed descriptions of the current state of the sites in different locations, including photographs of both the interior and exterior of all the buildings, along with the site layouts?We would like a thorough explanation for the inclusion of the Advance Payment Security and Performance Security forms in Sections 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the document. Specifically, the first line in each form refers to the contract awarded to the Consultant, but as we are currently bidding, we need clarification on this matter.On Page 17 of the document, it was mentioned that the UNOPS Standard on HSSE management would be made available along with other documents. However, these documents were not provided. Please forward the necessary UNOPS Standard on HSSE management documents.In Section 5, there is no indication of the project's duration. This omission makes it difficult for us to prepare competent bids. Could you please provide us with the expected duration of the project? Also, will the different sites be taken up simultaneously? If so, will it be handled by a single firm or multiple firms? Is there a possibility of a discount if one firm undertakes all three sites?Considering the proven need for interpreters during interviewing and research activities in Tunisia and Afghanistan, where English is not the primary language, we would like to know how the payment for interpretation services should be funded. Should it be treated as a reimbursable cost or a fixed cost item? Additionally, we would appreciate clarification on the funding for photographs and photography needs across all sites, including details on sizes, colors, numbers, and the method of funding.UNOPS Clarification Response 03: 1) UNOPS advises that due to the sensitive nature of the building, considering it is a WHO facility with high-security requirements, we regret to inform you that we are unable to provide detailed descriptions, photographs, or site layouts of the current state of the sites in different locations. 2.a) UNOPS advises that proposal securities are requested to mitigate the following proposal related risks:Withdrawal or modification of a bid or proposal after the bid receipt deadline;Failure to sign the contract;Failure to provide the required security for the performance under the contract after a bid or proposal has been accepted;Failure to comply with any other conditions prior to signing the contract specified in the solicitation documents.2.b) UNOPS advises that Performance Security is requested by the selected vendor in order to mitigate the risk of supplier non-performance and breach of contractual obligations.3. UNOPS advises that the aforementioned standards will be shared with the selected contractor once the contract has been signed.4. UNOPS advises that the combined duration for all three Contract Milestones is set at 5 months. The Offeror is required to submit a proposal outlining their intended approach for contract implementation.5. UNOPS advises that the Financial Offer, to be submitted using "RFP-2023-46720_Schedule 4.1.A - Schedule of Rates," should include provisions for Lump Sum offers. It is important that all Contract Milestones encompass the necessary services as outlined in SECTION V: REQUIREMENTS of the RFP.

New clarification added: Clarification Request 02: Further to our evaluation of the requirements of this assignment, we reviewed DIN ISO 55002:2021-02 the currently available Asset management Management Systems Guidelines for the application of ISO 55002:2018. This particular Standard is intended to be deployed in managing physical assets especially including other asset types.It does not provide any financial,accounting or technical guidance for managing specific asset types. Our own understanding of the current need is for the maintenance of those buildings. On the other hand, the NEN ISO 13822:2010 Standard provides the general requirements & procedures for the assessment of existing structures(buildings,bridges,etc) based on the principles of structural reliability & consequences of failure using the ISO 2394 Standard. Based on the foregoing, could you please confirm the applicable Standard that would be used as the reference & guidance document for this assignment? Is it going to be focued as a management or a maintenance challenge?UNOPS Clarification Response 02:UNOPS would like to clarify that the mentioned standard in the requirements is specifically related to the assessment of assets, with a specific focus on WHO-owned real estates. It is essential to emphasize that the primary emphasis of these assessments and the subsequent capital master plan will be on maintenance activities.

New clarification added: Clarification Request 01: Annex A UNOPS Design Planning Manual for buildings, IBCcode & Technical Specifications of the ICRC were all  referred to in the description of the required services but none not was attached. Could you please attach them & send to us soonest?UNOPS Clarification Response 01: UNOPS would like to inform you that an error has been identified in the document titled "ANNEX 2 - PRELIMINARY DESIGN FOR EXTENSION OF WHO OFFICES." The document contains references to standards such as "IBC code & Technical Specifications of the ICRC" that are not applicable. Therefore, these references will be removed, and the RFP will be amended accordingly.Additionally, we will ensure that ANNEX A and B, as mentioned in the document, are included in the amended version of the RFP.