RFP for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Handbook and Customized Toolkit for Southeast Asia Regional Programme on Combating Marine Plastics (SEA-MAP) Regional Project

New clarification added: QUESTION "Examples of communication and dissemination products can include infographics, stakeholder-specific guides (digital/podcasts/videos)". Videos and podcasts could be produced by a production house, however, if we add this cost position to the offer, it will significantly increase the budget. Can it be marked as an optional service? There is inconsistency in the TOR when it comes to travelling. Page 18: "The project is expected to be conducted mainly as desk work and through online meetings but could require travel for in-person technical consultation meetings. If a bidding company sees a need for additional traveling as part of the assignment, this should be indicated in their proposal, including explaining why these travels are necessary for producing the required deliverables and outcomes". Page 10: "In-person consultations are expected (...)", and page 11: "Deliver the agreed upon in-person consultation events in the chosen AMS host location". Therefore, it is unclear whether the consultations will be in-person, and thus travel cost should be assumed in the proposal, or remote. Page 11: "Make necessary logistic arrangements (rental of venues/rooms, equipment, catering, and other necessary arrangements; event and invitation management; travel arrangements for the participants and resource persons, including per diem, accommodations, and so on)". This makes us think that consultations should be in-person. Also, this requirement means that the bidder should cover not only its own travel cost but also the rental of the room and travel of at least 50 participants/event, including their tickets, accommodation and per diem. This cost position will be worth more than the consultancy service itself. Also, not knowing the exact dates of the consultations, it is impossible to accurately assess the ticket costs. Please provide your opinion here. Page 11: "Bidders need to add a summary table describing all consultations and events. The table must contain the following information (...):". Is this expected in the proposal already or in the course of the project?ANSWERExamples mentioned in the ToR are not mandetory. Bidders can select their own type of communication materials as appropriate to the assignment they have designed. Comms work is a significant part of this assignment, therefore it should be added in the proposed budget.The project is expected to be conducted mainly through online meetings. However, if bidders considers its necessary, they can include in-person events with proper justifications. Any event, which will require expense, must be budgeted.Please see the response 9.2 above. Additionally, if bidders consider its deem necessary to include in-person events. All expenses must be included in the budget. At this point, no date can be anticipated as it will be set later in consultation with AMS authorities.Bidders must include a clear picture of the of events (number, modalities etc.) in the proposal. The table is the summary of information related to consultations.

New clarification added: QUESTIONPlease explain the following requirements: In the case of a JV, at least one of the JV members must have a liquidity/quick ratio in the last two years. What exactly do you mean by liquidity/quick ratio?ANSWERQuick ratio/ liquidity ration is the ratio to analyze the capability of the bidder to pay for the current liability, hence we use the current assets to calculate this ratio, to show the bidder is able to pay their debt quickly without impacting our works in case of award

New clarification added: QUESTION In Section III, it is stated that the JV shall prove a turnover of 500.000 USD annually over the last 2 years. As the year 2023 has only ended recently, can these figures be accounted to the years 2021 and 2022?In Section I, Art. 19 and 35 and Form B, it is stated that the offeror shall include a proposal security in their proposal. Would it be possible to give a broad estimation of the amount of the proposal security wished for?In Form D, the CVs from Form E shall be summarized in Section 2. However, in the assessment criteria the role of the Associate Event Manager is not included. Is this role not part of the assessment and shall thus not be summarized here, or is it mistakenly not included?Indicator - IR2.3 sets out that at least 3 consultations (thereof 2 technical consultations and 1 consultation with the AMS governments) shall take place. Task 3 defines that at least some of these consultations shall be held on the ground in AMS, thus we want to clarify what a rough budget for each stakeholder consultation shall be.Is there a maximum word count / length of the technical proposal?Form B Point c states that the offeror shall set a period of time the proposal will be valid for. This number of days shall not be less than the specified the Tender Particulars section. However, in the Tender Particulars section, we are unable to find such a defined number of days. Please clarify on this.Can you share any budget restrictions?ANSWERYes, it refers to the years 2021 and 2022Based on the Tender Particulars section, the proposal security is not requiredIt's not a key position and there is no assigned score for this position. But the summary can be addedWe are unable to indicate any budget-related information. However, we suggest bidders to determine the number and types of participants and accordingly prepare budget for any online and in-person events.There is no maximum of words for the technical proposalThe proposal validity period is 60 daysNo, there are no budget restrictions, and UNOPS is not at liberty to disclose the available budget for its tenders

New clarification added: QUESTION I would like to seek clarification on whether it is necessary to include the summary table of planned events in Task 3 within our current offer. I am uncertain as to how we can accurately mention the potential venue without knowledge of the number of participants and their current locations. Additionally, could you please specify the number of in-person consultation events required? Should the expenses related to travel and venue already be covered within the final financial offer?ANSWERWe expect bidders to suggest the appropriate venue according to the audiences. Bidders will also determine how many in-person events are needed as per their work strategy. The financial offer must include complete expenses of the events.

New amendment added #3: This amendment is to Extend the submission deadline to 23 January 2024 at 5:00 PM (Jakarta time)

New clarification added: QUESTIONHello, What does it mean that bidders must provide at least two (2) client dates from which similar services have been successfully provided in the last three (3) years? What type of similar services are meant? Thank you in advance. ANSWERClients to whom consultancy services / material development services in the field of marine plastic / environment were provided.

New clarification added: QUESTIONDears, I hope this message finds you well.I am writing to seek clarification on the application process for the expert position and to inquire about the possibility of applying as a consortium.Our intention is  combine the expertise from EPR with local experience on the ground by submitting as a consortium. We believe that this approach will enhance the overall capabilities required for the position.To fulfill the necessary requirements, we are considering nominating two individuals to collectively fulfill the duties of one expert position. Could you please advise if this is permissible within the application process?If so, could you guide us on how to appropriately indicate this in the Form D? Specifically, would it be acceptable to list both names in Section 2, or is there a designated section or process for consortium applications?Thank you for your attention to this inquiry.Best regards,ANSWEROffiering more than one expert for a position is permissable. CVs can be shared in the Form D under the respective position. Its adviseable to keep CVs together, with clear information on the specific position of each individual

New clarification added: QUESTIONHi again,In the financial proposal, Table 2, Personnel costs: should an average daily rate for the whole team be provided? Or do you expect breakdown per person? There is a "number of personnel" in one of the columns so I assume you want an average only but please confirm.BR,ANSWERIt should be porvided per person

New clarification added: QuestionHello,Can you please clarify "Monthly cash-flow plan" that is mentioned in the ToR in the inception report? What I can see in the financial bid, there will be 5 payments throughout the duration of the project, meaning the bidder will not be paid on a monthly basis by UNOPS.BR,Answer Indeed the payment will not be made on a monthly basis, and will be made following the milestones indicated in the Terms of Reference. But the monthly cash flow plan will help to identify whether the ratio anticipated for each of the payment is still applicable or it needs any amendment to adjust with work plan. 

New amendment added #2: This amendment is to: 1) Upload the prebid meeting minutes and presentation

New clarification added: QUESTIONIs it correct that the technical criterias will count 80% in evauation of offers? If so, which award criterion makes up the remaining 20%?It there a upper economical frame? Is there any upper limit for acceptable hourly rates?ANSWER1) Yes, it is correct 80% of the evaluation criteria will account for the technical component, while the 20% will account for the financial criteria2) UNOPS does not have such limit and upon reviewing the financial proposal from the bidders would assess whether the price is reasonable by comparing it with other similar contracts in the past, as well as the usual market rates for the position and experience level

New clarification added: QUESTIONHello,1. We are involved in the two projects of the World Bank and IFC projects in ASEAN (EPR readiness assessment tool and EPR readiness on the city-level). We would like to make sure that our bidding in this tender will not be seen as conflict of interest by UNOPS. We ourselves do not see it as such.2. Is there any budget cap indication or person-days estimate in this project?3. Does the Team Leader have to be absolutely necessarily located in Southeast Asia/ is location of this role in a different region a no-go?BR,ANSWER1. This would depend on the nature of the work done . We would suggest referring to the RFP_Section_I_Instructions to Offerors 49578 section 4 on Offeror Eligibility2. No, there is no budget cap indication, and UNOPS is not at liberty to disclose the available budget for its tenders3. As per the ToR, It is advisable that the team or at least the team leader is based in Southeast Asia for the duration of the assignment. The compliance to this requirement will be reflected in how the proposals are assessed for the particular assessment component, based on the scoring breakdown indicated in the tender document

New clarification added:  Does UNOPS have a target budget, or budget ceiling, in mind? UNOPS is not allowed by its procurement policy to disclose this informationWill the winning bidder be allowed to plan for an earlier finish than 12 months?  Yes, it is allowed, provided that it is clearly indicated in the bid proposalAre there exclusions if a bidder is working on other parts of the SEA-MaP project with the World Bank? This would depend on the nature of the work done . I would suggest referring to the RFP_Section_I_Instructions to Offerors 49578  section 4 on Offeror EligibilityThe countries listed on the RFP -- does the work need to cover all or a minimum percentage of those countries? The countries listed in the e-sourcing tender is listing all countries in ASEAN. For the specific scope, please refer to the Terms of Reference

New amendment added #1: This amendment is to:1) Extend the submission deadline to 20 January 20242) Add the Prebid Meeting Information (Scheduled on 7 December 2023, at 2 PM JKT time)