Provision of third-party monitoring services for the UNOPS IBN project in Afghanistan

New clarification added: Q 18. Table 2a (cost breakdown per component, key staff) includes the required experts as outlined in the TOR, but the duration column does not specify quantities. As the TOR indicates the service duration is 24 months, should we assume the required staff duration is also 24 months for calculation purposes? Could you please confirm if 24 months is the correct quantity for each staff member’s duration?R 18The bidder is solely responsible for having the right team who can perform all TPM tasks and duties for the 24 months duration. UNOPS has required a core team and key experts as indicated in the Chapter 7 of the RFQ Schedule II, while it is totally up to the bidder to adapt its own team structure and duration as per its approach.  Q 19. Beneficiary Lists: Could you provide the total number of beneficiaries for each intervention category, along with demographic details (e.g., age, gender, and socio-economic status)?R 19Please refer to the question 2Q 20. Project Site Details: Can you share the number and geographical locations of all project sites under each intervention category?R 20Please refer to the question 3Q 21. Intervention Scope: How many units or systems have been completed or are planned (e.g., housing units, irrigation systems, water supply systems) for each intervention?R 21Please refer to the question 3Q 22. Population Distribution: Do you have data on the population size and distribution in the communities affected by the interventions? Additionally, are there specific details about vulnerable or marginalized groups within these populations?R 22.Please refer to question 2Q 23. Intervention Timeline: Could you share the implementation timelines for each intervention to help us align the sampling with project milestones?R 23.Please refer to question 6Q 24. Sampling Confidence Levels: What level of confidence and margin of error would you like us to aim for in the sampling process (e.g., 95% confidence level, ±5% margin of error)?R 24.Please refer to question 8Q 25. Accessibility Details: What type of support by UNOPS will be provide in order for us got access the NGOs and communities? Will you provide name and contact details? •        What type of support will you provide in order for us to get work permit from the authorities?R 25.Please refer to question 9 & 10Q 26. Existing Data: Is there any baseline or previously collected data available that could guide or complement the sampling process?R 26.Please refer to question 11Q 27. Governance Structure: What type of governance structure is in place for monitoring and implementing these projects?R 27.Please refer to question 12Q 28. Data Collection Scope: Data collection happens at the sub-project level only. Correct?R 28.Please refer to question 13Q 29. Environmental Safeguards: Is detailed environmental impact analysis beyond verifying compliance with ESMP required? If yes, specify the expected scope (e.g., water, soil, biodiversity assessments)R 29.Please refer to question 14Q 30. Agricultural Outcomes: Should the monitoring extend to assessing agricultural productivity, such as crop yield and economic impact of interventions? Or is the focus limited to water infrastructure and its usage?R 30.Please refer to question 15Q 31. Scope of Analysis: Should any data on environmental impacts or agricultural productivity be collected beyond sub-project-level compliance and performance metrics?R 31.Please refer to question 16Q 32. Kindly we would like to request an extension for the submission deadline.R 32.Submission deadline is now extended until 30 Nov 2024Q 33. Could you please clarify the sampling approach given under workplan (targeting 5% of sub-projects across intervention categories)? Does it mean the TPM agent will monitor and report on(1) 5% of total sub-projects (meaning 5% of 88 sub-projects, around 4-5 selected projects) OR(2) 5% of sub-projects under each intervention area (5% of sub-projects under each intervention of A1 to B4)?R 33.Option 2 is the correct interpretation.

New clarification added: Q 2. Beneficiary Lists: Could you provide the total number of beneficiaries for each intervention category, along with demographic details (e.g., age, gender, and socio-economic status)?R 2.Globally,  the beneficiaries are the most vulnerable persons/families including women affected by the Herat earthquake. Desagregated data are not not available at this point of time as it depends on how the project will evolve.Q 3.Project Site Details: Can you share the number and geographical locations of all project sites under each intervention category?R 3.Not available at this point of time as it depends on how the project will evolve.Estimated total number of subprojects is 88. Exact geographical location not yet determined but within the Herat Province earthquake affected areas.Q 4. Intervention Scope: How many units or systems have been completed or are planned (e.g., housing units, irrigation systems, water supply systems) for each intervention?R 4.Total estimated subprojects number is 88, specific number of units for each subproject and or subcategory depends on progressive level of utilization of the funds. For the moment the bidder can consider a total number of subprojects equal to 88. Within the subprojects that are going to be spotchecked, in some cases it will be a single infrastructure (as an example a clinic or similar) in other case a cash for work based subproject, in other a permanent shelter/houses project. Q 5. Population Distribution: Do you have data on the population size and distribution in the communities affected by the interventions? Additionally, are there specific details about vulnerable or marginalized groups within these populations?R 5.Information will be discussed at a later stage but the bidders should keep in mind that all activities will be conducted in Herat province earthquake affected areasQ 6. Intervention Timeline: Could you share the implementation timelines for each intervention to help us align the sampling with project milestones?R 6.The intervention categories will continue for the entire implementation time of the project (i.e 24 months from the signature of the contract).Q 7. Monitoring Indicators: What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) or specific metrics you aim to monitor for each intervention?R 7.Please refer to chapter 5 of RFQ Schedule II. Most importantly, we are relying on Data-driven monitoring, Field-based monitoring and communication-based monitoring.Q 8. Sampling Confidence Levels: What level of confidence and margin of error would you like us to aim for in the sampling process (e.g., 95% confidence level, ±5% margin of error)?R 8.95% Confidence Level, ±5% Margin of Error is fine Q 9. Accessibility Details: What type of support by UNOPS will be provide in order for us got access the NGOs and communities? Will you provide name and contact details?R 9.UNOPS will provide and will facilitate with names and contact details for NGOs or other organizations. For the  case of beneficiaries/communities, UNOPS team will do its best to share the most updated contacts however there might be challenges when there are  changes or no longer active.Q 10. What type of support will you provide in order for us to get work permit from the authorities? R 10.Permits to work are to be obtained by the successful bidder however UNOPS will introduce to the authority and sensitize them in order to facilitate and expedite all processes.Q 11. Existing Data: Is there any baseline or previously collected data available that could guide or complement the sampling process?R 11.No. Few activities are on-going while new ones should start soon. With the project team, the TPM entity should attempt to "reconstruct" a baseline.Q 12. Governance Structure: What type of governance structure is in place for monitoring and implementing these projects?R 12.Standard UNOPS management structure including monitoring of progress and quality. That includes Engineers and Community liaison officers active in the field.Q 13. Data Collection Scope: Data collection happens at the sub-project level only. Correct?R 13TPM scope covers both Project and Sub-project. Please refer to Chapter 5 RFQ Schedule II for more detailsQ 14. Environmental Safeguards: Is detailed environmental impact analysis beyond verifying compliance with ESMP required? If yes, specify the expected scope (e.g., water, soil, biodiversity assessments).R 14NO it is not required to go beyond the ESMP.Q 15. Agricultural Outcomes: Should the monitoring extend to assessing agricultural productivity, such as crop yield and economic impact of interventions? Or is the focus limited to water infrastructure and its usage?R 15 All related activities are described in Chapter 5 RFQ Schedule II - Paragraph A4/Measures to Secure Water Supply for Agricultural Production Q 16. Scope of Analysis: Should any data on environmental impacts or agricultural productivity be collected beyond sub-project-level compliance and performance metrics?R 16No. Kindly only address the information mentioned in the RFQ Schedule IIQ 17. The Terms of Reference (TOR) for the Third-Party Monitoring (TPM) service specifies the provision of quarterly reports but does not mention any details regarding monthly reports. However, the Bill of Quantities (BoQ) includes an item for monthly reporting. Could you please clarify the requirements for the monthly report? Specifically, we would appreciate further details on the content, and any additional expectations for these monthly reports.R 17The TPM entity should only report quarterly as  mentioned in the Chapter 6 RFQ Schedule II   All reporting formats will be communicated to the successful bidder only at a later stage.Ad hoc monthly reporting may only be agreed upon mutually if for the benefit of the project 

New clarification added: Q  1.In the schedule of requirements on p.14, it is indicated under "minimum experience for personnel", that:"Full proficiency in Dari/Pashto language" is required.Does that apply to the team as a whole? Or each individual key expert and non-key expert?I.e., is it possible to offer an international team leader?R 1.Does apply to each individual.No limitation for the team leader to be an international or national.

New clarification added: Q # 34.Form B: Price Schedule Form Table 2 includes a column for "Duration (Months)." However, since the total number of monitoring visits or sample size hasn’t been finalized yet, it’s unclear how many days the team will actually be engaged. Could you please clarify how we should present the "Duration (Months)" or the exact number of days for engagement? Alternatively, should we calculate the cost for each position based on a full 24-month period?Similarly, Table 2b has a column for "Quantity." Without the finalized number of monitoring visits or sample size, it’s also challenging to determine the exact quantity or number of days for each role. Would you prefer us to estimate costs for the entire 24 months, or should we provide rates based on a per-day or per-month basis, with the actual number of days calculated during the project implementation phase?R # 34.The bidder is solely responsible for having the right team who can perform all TPM tasks and duties for the 24 months duration. UNOPS has required a core team and key experts as indicated in the Chapter 7 of the RFQ Schedule II, while it is totally up to the bidder to adapt its own team structure and duration as per its approach. Likewise, it is up to the bidder to determine from its own approach the required “Quantity” based on the estimated number and type of subprojects (interventions) during a 24-month period.

New amendment added #1: Submission Deadline Extension:The deadline for submission has been extended from 24 November 2024 at 07:30 UTC to 30 November 2024 @ 11:30 UTC.The deadline for clarification has been extended from 19 November 2024 to 21 November 2024.