Supervision of the Construction of the Point Blanche Prison and House of Detention in Sint Maarten, Dutch Caribbean.

New clarification added: This clarification serves as a reminder regarding the upcoming deadline for the submission of offers for the Request For Proposals No.RFP/2024/55092 for the Supervision of the Construction of the Point Blanche Prison and House of Detention in Sint Maarten, Dutch Caribbean.Please note the following critical information:Submission Deadline: May 26, 2025, at 21:00 UTC (17:00 Sint Maarten time).UNOPS strongly recommends uploading your offer well in advance of the deadline to avoid any last-minute technical inconveniences.We kindly request to confirm your intention to submit an offer, please do it in the eSourcing platform and by sending an email to: sint.maarten@unops.org

New clarification added: QUESTION No. 34:We respectfully request an extension of two weeks to the submission date to allow for required edits, changes, and updates required by answers to questions.ANSWER No. 34:See Amendment No. 6. The deadline has been updated to May 26, 2025, at 17:00 Sint Maarten time.

New amendment added #6: AMENDMENT No.6Offerors are advised to review the following modifications carefully and incorporate it into their proposals:1. In the "TENDER INFORMATION / GENERAL INFORMATION" tab of the eSourcing platform, "Deadline" section, the deadline for submitting offers has been revised as follows:  Deadline: 2025-05-26 21:00 UTC  Corresponding to 26th May 2025 until 17:00 hrs (Sint Maarten time). All other sections and documents of the RFP No. RFP/2024/55092 remain unchanged and in full effect.

New clarification added: QUESTION No. 33:One (1) additional point for each position held by a woman within the Organization at these levels, up to a maximum of two (2) additional points. Please confirm that these positions are not limited to the five key personnel requested and that points will be awarded for women in within the organization in administrative management positions.ANSWER No. 33:It is confirmed that the additional points apply to all women holding administrative management positions at the specified levels within the organization, not limited to the key personnel. Points will be awarded for women in management positions across the organization.

New clarification added: QUESTION No. 31The contract and clarifications require key personnel (e.g., Consultant’s Representative, HSE Specialist) to be on-site within 10 days of signing. However, foreign firms must first obtain a business license, a director’s license, work permits, and residency permits, which—according to Sint Maarten’s legal framework—can take at least 6 months to process. Additionally, Sint Maarten’s laws prohibit applicants from residing or working on the island while their permits are being processed.Given that delay damages of 0.1% per day will apply if the consultant fails to mobilize on time, can UNOPS clarify whether:-          Bidders are expected to demonstrate that their proposed key personnel will have all necessary work permits in place prior to the contract’s effective date?-          UNOPS would accept a contingency plan where locally registered personnel temporarily fulfill key roles on-site, while foreign staff work remotely until their legal approvals are finalized?ANSWER No. 31:Work permits are not a requirement for the purposes of the evaluation process. Nevertheless and as detailed in subclause 1.6 Compliance with Laws, of the General Conditions of the Contract, the Consultant shall bear the sole responsibility and all costs for ensuring that its Personnel performing any part of the Services are registered and licensed in full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, and requirements of any relevant Authority.QUESTION No. 32:The Terms of Reference require certain specialists—such as structural, electrical, etc—to conduct at least one on-site inspection per week during the periods when their respective disciplines are active.Considering that some personnel may reside outside of Sint Maarten and may intend to enter the project site periodically, could UNOPS please clarify whether all individuals physically performing professional duties in Sint Maarten Dutch Side—regardless of the frequency or duration of their visits—must hold valid work permits and comply fully with Sint Maarten’s labor and immigration regulations?ANSWER No. 32:The awarded consultant must take into account that all individuals physically performing professional duties in Sint Maarten Dutch Side—regardless of the frequency or duration of their visits—, must hold valid work permits and fully comply with Sint Maarten’s labor and immigration regulations

New clarification added: QUESTION No.26:Where can we find Appendix 4.8 Insurance details?ANSWER No.26:Offerors must fill out and submit Schedule 4.8 (Section IV: Returnable Schedules) according to the requirements stated in Section V: Requirements - Schedule 3.9 Insurance Requirements.QUESTION No.27:Submission requirements include returnable Schedule pages. Please confirm cover pages and introductory text to the UN's forms are also acceptable.ANSWER No.27:Offerors are required to complete all the returnable Schedules, sign them and return them as part of their proposal submission by uploading each returnable Schedule under the relevant entry in the document checklist tab in the UNOPS eSourcing system. The offeror shall fill in all forms in accordance with the instructions indicated. No alterations to its format shall be permitted and no substitutions shall be accepted.QUESTION No.28:Please provide expectation for onsite services. (Full time, part time, as needed.)ANSWER No.28:Offerors must take into acccount that the Contract to be signed with the awarded consultant is to cover all the scope of services indicated in Sections IV: SCHEDULE OF DETAILS and Section V: REQUIREMENTS of the contract. For key personnel, please refere to Section V: REQUIREMENTS, Schedule 3: Requirements of the Employer, Sub-clause 3.7 Key Personnel Requiremets.QUESTION No.29:Multiple sections of RFP documents reference the General Conditions document; however, there is no General Conditions document available. Are RFP documents referencing a different document or can UNOPS issue the General Conditions document that is referenced?ANSWER No.29:The link to the document "General Conditions of Contract for Consultant Services Contract for Works", can be found in SECTION III: CONDITIONS OF CONTRACT / GENERAL CONDITIONS OF CONTRACT, of the tender documents.QUESTION No.303.4 Programme Requirements requests submission of a. Schedule for Consultant Services Programme. However, some of the requirements are either geared toward General Contractors or not possible given that the work packages have yet to be released. Please clarify the requirements for submission in Schedule 4.2 Programme.ANSWER No.30:Yes, it is required. Bidders are expected to prepare a preliminary program that complies with the requirements detailed in Section V: Requirements, Annex 3.4 Programme Requirements, and adheres to the established execution period. This initial program will allow for verification of their capacity to adequately plan the development of the services. However, according to Sub-Clause 4.3 (Programme) of the general conditions of the Contract, the selected Consultant shall submit an updated program within 14 days after the contract comes into effect. It is important to note that this updated program must integrate the Contractor's construction schedule.

New clarification added: QUESTION No.20:Article 20 required submissions to be signed with "indelible ink." Please confirm that electronic submissions with signitures are acceptable as this is not a printed paper copy submission.ANSWER No.20:We confirm electronic signatures are allowed.QUESTION No.21:Proposal Security, or bid bonds, are typically used for construction contracts and not for CMa services. Please confirm that security / bonds are not required for CMa services for this proposal.ANSWER No.21:See Amendment No. 5. The offerors must submit a Bid Securing Declaration. We confirm that secutiry/ bonds are not required.QUESTION No.22:Please confirm that substiantially complete projects will meet criteria for 0.4 Capacity and Experience.ANSWER No.22:To pass the qualification criteria No. 2 and to be awarded points for technical criteria No. 1.2, offerors must provide evidence of projects 100% completed within the fifteen (15) years prior to the proposal submission deadline.QUESTION No.23:Part 1: Offeror's Capacity and Expertise (2_RFP-2024_55092_Consultant_Services_RFP_Section_II_III_IV_V pg.5) "Supporting documentation of belonging." Is this a request for a Letter of Commitment from the subcontractor?ANSWER No.23:To support their experience declared on the Schedule 0.4 the offerors must submit Copies of contracts, invoices, certificates, letters of reference indicating a contact person, etc., that describe the declared experience. Please note that only experiences 100% completed during the fifteen (15) years prior to the deadline for submission of the proposal will be considered during the evaluation.QUESTION No.24:4.7 Equipment and Machinery is typically for general contractors. Please confirm this section is Not Applicable (NA) to CMa services (construction supervision).ANSWER No.24:Yes, you are correct. There are no specific requirements for equipment and machinery in this RFP. However, if the Offerors consider it pertinent to declare any equipment or machinery to be used in the performance of the Engineer's duties, particularly in relation to supervision, such details may be provided in Schedule 4.7 "Consultant's Equipment and Machinery". Please note the offeror must submit this schedule through the eSourcing platform. The declared equipment will not be evaluated.QUESTION No.25:Schedule 0.3 Joint Venture information - This schedule states it should only be returned for Joint Ventures; however, the form is listed as "Mandatory" through the submission checklist website. Please confirm we must submit Schedule 0.3 with "NA" to comply with document checklist submission requirements.ANSWER No.25:Correct. If submitting as a single offeror and not as a Joint Venture, you should submit Schedule 0.3 with "N/A" or leave it blank to comply with the document checklist submission. Only Joint Ventures are required to complete the information on Schedule 0.3 

New amendment added #5: AMENDMENT No. 5Offerors are advised that Amendment No.05 to RFP/2024/55092 has been issued and uploaded to the 'TENDER INFORMATION / DOCUMENTS' section of the eSourcing platform (File: "Amendment_No5_RFP_2024_55092.pdf"). Please take into account the following:The amendments outlined in the Amendment No.05 document supersede any conflicting information found in the original RFP.Bidders must carefully review and incorporate these changes when preparing their proposals.With the exception of the modifications detailed in this amendment, all other sections and documents of the RFP No. RFP/2024/55092 remain unchanged and in full effect.

New amendment added #4: AMENDMENT NO.04Please note the following changes to the Request for Proposals. These changes supersede any previous RFP information and must be taken into account when preparing your proposal.1. "TENDER INFORMATION / TENDER PARTICULARS / Clarifications/pre-bid meeting details". ​A second pre-bid meeting will be held. The following changes have been made:2nd Pre-Bid Meeting for RFP/2024/55092 - Supervision of the Construction of the Point Blanche Prison and House of Detention in Sint Maarten:Thursday, April 10, 2025 - 10:00 am – 11:30 am (Sint Maarten Time)Time Zone: America/Lower PrincesVirtual meeting via Google Meet accessing the following link:https://meet.google.com/ywf-woyq-catNote: Punctuality is important. Please confirm your attendance by e-mail to: sint.maarten@unops.org before 4:00 p.m. (Sint Maarten Time) on the business day prior to the date of the pre-bid / clarification meeting.2. “TENDER INFORMATION / TENDER PARTICULARS" / Expected contract award date”The following changes have been made:Expected contract award date: 2025-06-30

New clarification added: QUESTION No.18:Can UNOPS confirm that key personnel (e.g., Supervision Manager) must be physically present on-site from the beginning of the project, as stated in the RFP?ANSWER No.18:The required availability of Key Personnel is outlined in SECTION V: REQUIREMENTS, SCHEDULE 3: REQUIREMENTS OF THE EMPLOYER, Schedule 3.7 Key Personnel Requirements. The Consultant's Representative and the Health, Safety, and Environment Specialist are required to be 100% available on the Project Site. The remaining Key Personnel must be available as stated in the aforementioned requirements. Their mobilization should align with the project’s needs to ensure effective supervision and coordination. The Consultant should consider these requirements when preparing their Proposal Methodology.QUESTION No.19:Can UNOPS confirm whether the 10-day mobilization period is strictly enforced, meaning that all contractual obligations—including the full presence of key personnel—must begin immediately upon contract effectiveness?ANSWER No.19:UNOPS expects the 10-day mobilization period to be followed, but the exact timing and implementation may depend on the specific needs of the project. This includes the full presence of key personnel as required by the contractor's schedule and the nature of the work.

New clarification added: QUESTION No.16:Can UNOPS confirm the expected start date of construction works and whether this aligns with the consultant's mobilization timeline?ANSWER No.16:UNOPS estimates the construction works to commence around August 2025. The consultant should be mobilized ahead of this timeline to ensure readiness before the contractor begins work.QUESTION No.17:Can UNOPS confirm whether the Contract Effective Date is the date of signing or a separately defined date?ANSWER No.17:As indicated in the General Conditions of the Consultant Services Contract For Works, sub-clause 1.1 Definitions and sub-clause 4.1 Contract Effective Date, the Contract Effective Date is defined as follows : “Contract Effective Date” means the date of the latest signature by the Parties and on which the Contract comes into force and effect as stated in the Instrument of Agreement.

New amendment added #3: AMENDMENT No.3Offerors are advised to review the following modifications carefully and incorporate it into their proposals:1. In the "TENDER INFORMATION / GENERAL INFORMATION" tab of the eSourcing platform, "Deadline" section, the deadline for submitting offers has been revised as follows:     Deadline: 2025-05-16 21:00 UTC     Corresponding to 16th May 2025 until 17:00 hrs (Sint Maarten time). 2. In the "TENDER INFORMATION / GENERAL INFORMATION" tab of the eSourcing platform, "Deadline for clarifications" section, the deadline for submitting clarifications has been revised as follows:     Deadline for clarifications: 2025-04-30 21:00 UTC     Corresponding to 30 April 2025 until 17:00 hrs (Sint Maarten time). All other sections and documents of the RFP No. RFP/2024/55092 remain unchanged and in full effect.

New clarification added: QUESTION No.13:What is the total square meter (m²) area of the project?ANSWER No.13:For reference, please review the BOQ for the works.QUESTION No.14:Could you please clarify what is considered as supporting documentation when it is stated: "For the Organizational Structure, the document is considered detailed and complete with the presentation of an organizational chart with positions and names of its members and supporting documentation of belonging." Specifically on page 5 of 72 of the document: “2_RFP_2024_55092_Consultant_Services_RFP_Section_II_III_IV_V”?ANSWER No.14:"Supporting documentation of belonging" refers to evidence demonstrating that the personnel listed in the organizational chart are employed by or formally affiliated with the consultant firm.  This may include, but is not limited to, employment contracts, letters of engagement, or official company records showing staff membership.QUESTION No.15:Answer 2 of the clarifications dated 17 Februari 2025 states:"Bidders should refer to the Bill of Quantities (BoQ) and Technical Specifications for a detailed breakdown of the tests required for the project."I don't believe all the technical specifications have been made available. Could this be provided? or could you indicate where we can find these specifications?ANSWER No.15:Please refer to Amendment No.2 posted on February 19th. A link to the Technical Specifications of the works has been included in the "Annexes" section of the document "Amendment_No2_2_RFP_2024_55092_Consultant_Services_RFP_Section_II_III_IV_V.pdf"

New clarification added: QUESTION No.10:The RFP States:“the Consultant's testing laboratory used to carry out the quality assurance tests during the execution of the works must be accredited under the ISO IEC 17025 standard by a national or international accreditation agency."a)      There isn’t any lab on Sint Maarten or nearby islands that is officially ISO IEC 17025 certified and executes the tests required for the construction of a building.Would UNOPS accept an alternative proposal where the consultants laboratory demonstrates its competence through: (1) a detailed list of quality assurance tests it is capable of performing, (2) evidence of its experience on past projects, and (3) the qualifications of its laboratory technician?"ANSWER No.10:Please refer to Amendment No.2 posted on February 19th. Adjustments to the requierements for the Consultant's testing laboratory,  have been included in the document "Amendment_No2_2_RFP_2024_55092_Consultant_Services_RFP_Section_II_III_IV_V.pdf"QUESTION No.11:The document ”21999_240212_ITB Major Works - Section V - Schedule 3.1 & 3.2” references a list of specifications in 3.2. A, such as:SXM-ZZZ-AR-REP-702 - Architectural technical specificationsSXM-ZZZ-EW-REP-703 - Earthworks technical specificationsSXM-ZZZ-ST-REP-703 - Structural engineering technical specifications… etc.Can a digital copy be provided of these documents?ANSWER No.11:Please refer to Amendment No.2 posted on February 19th. A link to the Technical Specifications of the works has been included in the "Annexes" section of the document "Amendment_No2_2_RFP_2024_55092_Consultant_Services_RFP_Section_II_III_IV_V.pdf"QUESTION No.12:The requirement for the key personel often require a bachelors degree and a masters degree. For example: “Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering or related field, with a Master Degree in Structural Engineering”Can you confirm whether both a bachelor's and a master's degree (or a related field) are mandatory, or if a bachelor's degree alone, combined with relevant experience and a certain amount of years of experience, would be acceptable?ANSWER No.12:Please refer to Amendment No.2 posted on February 19th. Adjustments to the key personnel profiles have been included in the document "Amendment_No2_2_RFP_2024_55092_Consultant_Services_RFP_Section_II_III_IV_V.pdf" 

New amendment added #2: AMENDMENT No.2Offerors are advised that Amendment No.02 to RFP/2024/55092 has been issued and uploaded to the 'TENDER INFORMATION / DOCUMENTS' section of the eSourcing platform (File: "Amendment_No2_RFP_2024_55092.pdf"). Please take into account the following:The amendments outlined in the Amendment No.02 document supersede any conflicting information found in the original RFP.Bidders must carefully review and incorporate these changes when preparing their proposals.With the exception of the modifications detailed in this amendment, all other sections and documents of the RFP No. RFP/2024/55092 remain unchanged and in full effect.

New clarification added: QUESTION No.1:The RFP states: “4.2.1, Commencement Date, Within 10 calendar days after the Contract Effective Date Estimated date: First quarter 2025”The tender submittal date is set for 19th of February and the anticipated date for contract award is 31st of March 2025.Is the first Quarter still the anticipated startup date?ANSWER No.1:Due to the postponement of the offer submission deadline via Amendment No. 1, the estimated commencement date is now the second quarter of 2025. This date remains an estimation and is subject to change. It does not represent a guaranteed start date or any contractual obligation on the part of the Employer. The final commencement date will be formally established in the contract agreement.QUESTION No.2:Which tests would the lab need to be able to do ? Does it include the tests listed in ”21999_240212_ITB Major Works - Section V - Schedule 3.1 & 3.2” 3.2.B? Which other tests?ANSWER No.2:The tests listed in "21999240212ITB Major Works - Section V - Schedule 3.1 & 3.2” 3.2.B" are for the contractor's post-completion assessment of performance, not the engineer's quality assurance tests. Bidders should refer to the Bill of Quantities (BoQ) and Technical Specifications for a detailed breakdown of the tests required for the project.QUESTION No.3:The submittal date for the bid is 19 February 2025, considering the financial requirements for the project, can this be moved up by one month?ANSWER No.3:Please refer to Amendment No.1, posted on February 7th.QUESTION No.4:Can drawings be provided of the new situation?ANSWER No.4:The drawings are considered confidential and will not be shared with bidders at this stage. Bidders are encouraged to carefully review the Bill of Quantities (BoQ) and Technical Specifications, which provide detailed information about the scope of work and the required materials.QUESTION No.5The required amount of testing will vary significantly based on the contractor's organization, schedule and unforeseen circumstances. Would it be possible to include testing as a contingency item to ensure fairness among all bidders?If so, can an updated EXCEL BOQ sheet be provided?ANSWER No.5:The Bidders are encouraged to carefully review the BoQ and Technical Specifications. These documents provide a detailed overview of the project scope and the anticipated testing requirements. UNOPS will evaluate bids taking into account their overall competitiveness, including the proposed approach to testing and that demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the project requirements and a commitment to quality assurance. QUESTION No.6:Is turn over tax applicable on this project and Bid?ANSWER No.6:Acording to the Tab "TENDER INFORMATION / TENDER PARTICULARS" of the eSourcing platform, regarding duties and taxes:"All proposals shall be submitted net of any direct taxes including customs duties, indirect taxes such as sales taxes or VAT, and taxes on commodities, such as fuel.The Consultant is responsible for the payment of all taxes levied by their government or other entities on their income derived from UNOPS.The VAT (Value Added Tax) and any other tax levied on the goods or activities related to them must be included in the price."QUESTION No.7:How and when will the Proposal Security be released for both the unsuccessful and the successful bidders?ANSWER No.7:Please refer to the document "SECTION I: INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS", Article 17 PROPOSAL SECURITYQUESTION No.8:What is the exact procedure for canceling the Proposal Security and Performance Security?ANSWER No.8:For details on Proposal Security, please refer to the document "SECTION I: INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS", Article 17 PROPOSAL SECURITYFor details on Performance Security, please refer to Section IV Schedule of Details; Schedule 5: Forms;  5.2 Form for Performance Security.QUESTION No.9:Could you kindly share the project drawings?ANSWER No.9:The drawings are considered confidential and will not be shared with bidders at this stage. Bidders are encouraged to carefully review the Bill of Quantities (BoQ) and Technical Specifications, which provide detailed information about the scope of work and the required materials.

New amendment added #1: AMENDMENT No.1Offerors are advised to review the following modifications carefully and incorporate it into their proposals:1. In the "TENDER INFORMATION / GENERAL INFORMATION" tab of the eSourcing platform, "Deadline" section, the deadline for submitting offers has been revised as follows:     Deadline: 2025-03-04 21:00 UTC     Corresponding to 4th March 2025 until 17:00 hrs (Sint Maarten time). 2. In the "TENDER INFORMATION / GENERAL INFORMATION" tab of the eSourcing platform, "Deadline for clarifications" section, the deadline for submitting clarifications has been revised as follows:     Deadline for clarifications: 2024-02-17 21:00 UTC     Corresponding to 17 February 2025 until 17:00 hrs (Sint Maarten time). All other sections and documents of the RFP No. RFP/2024/55092 remain unchanged and in full effect.