Construction of 60 transitional shelters (T-shelters) in Herat province, Afghanistan.

New clarification added: Question # 22.Please explain how we can fill the Schedule 4.1.B [Daywork Schedule], if it will be filled like BOQ each item has to enter, or enter the  price of each lot?Answer # 22.Bidders can complete this if required, for details of the description refer to Sub-Clause 9.4 of the General Conditions.Question # 23.Please explain a little bet for the Schedule 4 [Contract Schedules from the Bidder] as well how we can fill this section?Answer # 23.For schedule 4.1A, bidders are required to submit the filled, signed and stamped BoQs for both lots (Lot1 and Lot2) as well as excel versions.Question # 24.Do we need any JV legal license from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce in the bidding stage, or after the winning of contract and during the further selection process of our JV?We may need to act to obtain such official documents?Answer # 24.The completed and dully signed form schedule 0.3 joint venture partner information is required at the bid submission stage. Any other additional requirements for the validation of the JV may be requested later. Question # 25.If there is a huge difference between the technical and financial capabilities of both JV partners. In case, can a weak partner lead a JV? Can we submit the bidding documents through the e-sourcing/UNGM of a weak partner?Answer # 25.The submission shall come from the leading partner (50+).Although the submission must come from the lead partner, it is important to note that both partners must be registered in the UNGM.Question # 26.Do you need any specific JV contract, or the standard JV Form of UNOPS is acceptable? Answer # 26.The completed and dully signed form schedule 0.3 joint venture partner information is required at the bid submission stage. Any other additional requirements for the validation of the JV may be requested later.Question # 27.We could not find the 2nd revision of the BoQs in the mentioned tab. Kindly upload them at your earliest convenience.Answer # 27.Both BoQs (Rev2) are uploaded to e-sourcing under the Documents tab:Annex 3 BoQ - Lot 1 - 40 SQM T Shelters-Rev2Annex 3 BoQ - Lot 2 - 40 SQM T Shelters-Rev2

New amendment added #2: Dear Bidders,Kindly find below the amendments made to this tender:The formula sum and quanties for the BoQs of both lots have been updated and uploaded to e-Sourcing under the Documents tab. Please refer to Rev 2.The due date for clarifications has been amended from 20 May to 21 May 2025.Please be advised that the 'Small Works - 6 Solicitation - RFQ 04 Sections II, III, IV, V-Rev1' document has been uploaded to the e-sourcing under the 'Document' tab. Refer to Rev1. For your reference, please note the following revisions made to this document:A minor revision has been made to the Qualification Criteria on page 3 (highlighted in yellow).A minor correction has been made to the Key Personnel requirements on page 26 (highlighted in yellow).Ensure that you always use the latest documents uploaded under the Documents tab of eSourcing.Thank you,UNOPS

New clarification added: Question #21.  Do we have specified labor job days for this project or not?Answer #21.No, there are no pre-specified labor job days.

New clarification added: Question #14.I am seeing a mistake in  BOQ item #2. the quantity is 30, however it will again multiply by 30 in Total cost. The Quantity should be 1 like Item1, 3 and 4, since it will multiply 30 in the Total. Please clarify.Answer #14.Answer: Both BOQs are corrected, find the revised BOQs uploaded to e-sourcing under Documents tab:Annex 3 BoQ - Lot 1 - 40 SQM T Shelters-Rev2Annex 3 BoQ - Lot 2 - 40 SQM T Shelters-Rev2 Question #15.We have been observing almost all RFQ/RFPs of UNOPS Afghanistan, there are highly restricted requirements. I mean there is focus on chances for all those companies, who have obtained experiences and Financial capability, during the last five years. It means the relative market is controlled by a specific mass of companies. While there are no chances for renewed, newly established and damaged companies, who have the technical capability, widely financial resources, but no chance of work and business with UNOPS Afghanistan. My question is; do you have any evaluation policies for mentioned matters with donors, or will it be going on for next year as well?Answer #15. Given the complexity of the project and the involvement of community engagement, UNOPS finds the requirement criteria suitable. However, the tender allows for a joint venture in cases where an interested bidder cannot fully meet all the requirements on their own.    Question # 16.Can an NGO submit their quotation who has recently constructed 10 schools with a UN agency and also got a three year Framework agreement with the same UN agency for construction of 400 shelters all over Afghanistan?Answer # 16.The tender doesn’t exclude NGOs from bidding. However, bidder must have successfully completed at least three (3) contracts of similar size & scope (2 of vertical construction contracts and one shelter construction works contract, at least 30 units of T shelters, full construction and not repairs) with a UN or similar international organization prior to quotation opening within the last five (05) years. Ongoing contract (s) can not be considered in the evaluation process.Question # 17.As mentioned in the RFQ, the bidder shall submit a stand alone detailed work plan (gantt chart) to indicate the sequence of activities and complete the subproject in (240) days. A stand alone DETAILED Gantt chart or work plan should be submitted for a minimum 8 months or 240 days. This can be attached to the technical proposal outlining each step and activities required to successfully construct 60 T shelters and meet the requirements stated in the TOR.Does this 240 days for 60 T shelters, means for both lots?If we prepare a separate work plan for each lot (for 30 T shelters) how long would be the duration of each lot?Do you award both lots for one contractor?Answer # 17.As stated in the solicitation documents, separate work plans must be submitted, each with a duration of 240 days per lot.As indicated in the evaluation method details under the particular tab of eSourcin, the award is limited to one lot per bidder, if a bidder is the lowest priced most technically acceptable for more than one lot, award will be divided to the bidders as per the UNOPS interest i.e best value for all lots.Question # 18.If a bidder is not registered in Afghanistan at the moment, however they have the means to operate in Afghanistan if the contract is awarded, is it acceptable to submit a bid and register in Afghanistan once the contract is awarded?Answer # 18.No. Only a bidder who has a valid license at the time of bid closure to operate in construction industries in Afghanistan can participate in the bidding process. In case of Joint Venture (JV), each joint venture member must meet the requirement.Question # 19.The formula in the revised BoQs still has a problem; the first 4 rows are summed in the total cost of 1 unit shelter, which is incorrect. The first 4 rows are costs that are LS and will be utilized for all 30 units not a single one. Please clarify.Answer # 19.Answer: Both BOQs are corrected, find the revised BOQs uploaded to e-sourcing under Documents tab:Annex 3 BoQ - Lot 1 - 40 SQM T Shelters-Rev2Annex 3 BoQ - Lot 2 - 40 SQM T Shelters-Rev2 Question # 20.In (Small work-6 Solicitation II, III, IV, V)/3.9 Key Personnel Requirement- Number of needed Community Liaison Officers is 2 persons per lot "1 male and 1 female" but in TOR page 36,  number of needed community liaison officers is 4 persons ( 2 male and 2 female) which one is accepted?Do we have specified labor job days for this project or not?Answer # 20.Community Liaison officer: Qty 4 (2 male and 2 female) per each lot. Small work-6 solicitation - RFQ 04 Sections II, III, IV, V Rev1 uploaded to e-sourcing under Document tab. Refer to Rev1.No, there are pre-specified labor job days. This is a measure and pay contract. The successful contractor will be paid as per the work done. However, the contractor will be obliged to adhere to UNOPS’s labour management guidelines.

New amendment added #1: Dear Bidders,Kindly find below the amendments made to this tender:The pre-bid meeting minutes have now been updated under the Documents tab.The tender deadline has been extended from 18 May to 25 May 2025, while the due date for clarifications has been extended from 12 May to 20 May 2025.The updated drawings are uploaded to e-sourcing, under Documents tab.Bricks specifications in BOQ for both lots have been updated and uploaded to the Documents tab in e-sourcing. Refer to revision 1.Thanks,UNOPS

New clarification added: Dear Bidders,Kindly find below clarifications and updated response for question #12 and Question #13.Question # 12.The required burnt brick for T- Shelter is not available in Herat province (20 MPa Compressive strength and 22*10*7 cm). as we have experience of work there the maximum compressive strength will reach up to 10.5 MPa and size of Brick are 19*10*6 cm.Therefore, we are requesting for clarification.Answer # 12.Bricks specifications in BOQ for both lots have been updated and uploaded to e-sourcing.Question # 13.Bricks with length of 22 cm are not available in Herat and we can not find bricks with strength of 20 MPA in Herat, recently we tested many samples but the strength is between 10-12 MPa, shall we put the price for the available bricks?Answer # 13.Refer to response No. 12 above

New clarification added: 3 more questions with responses.Question # 11.Please confirm whether contractors are exempt from paying any taxes (BRT) to MOF should we include all the taxes in the unit costs or the unit costs should be exclusive of all taxes and whether the client will provide any tax exemption certificate.Answer # 11.UNOPS as a UN subsidiary organ, is exempt from all direct taxes, except charges for public utility services, and is exempt from customs restrictions, duties, and charges of a similar nature in respect of articles imported or exported for its official use. All offers shall be submitted net of any direct taxes and customs duties for the imported items. Indirect taxes, such as BRT, Income Tax payable by the Contractor's staff, personnel, consultants and subcontractors, if any, shall be incorporated in their all-inclusive rates and prices.Question # 12.The required burnt brick for T- Shelter is not available in Herat province (20 MPa Compressive strength and 22*10*7 cm). as we have experience of work there the maximum compressive strength will reach up to 10.5 MPa and size of Brick are 19*10*6 cm.Therefore, we are requesting for clarification.Answer # 12.We are discussing this question internally and UNOPS will provide a response before the deadline of this tenderQuestion # 13.Bricks with length of 22 cm are not available in Herat and we can not find bricks with strength of 20 MPA in Herat, recently we tested many samples but the strength is between 10-12 MPa, shall we put the price for the available bricks?Answer # 13.Refer to response No. 12 above

New clarification added: Dear bidders,Kindly find below clarification request and responses provided by UNOPS:Question # 1.Regarding the eligibility criteria under the experience section, would the projects implemented in partnership with organizations such as the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) and the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) be considered valid experience under the clause requiring experience with “UN or similar international organizations”? We seek your confirmation on whether such experiences fulfill this requirement.Answer # 1.No, such institutions are not considered to be a UN or an international organization; thus, any experience with these institutions does not qualify under his criteria.Question # 2.In case of forming a Joint Venture (JV), are we allowed to submit our bid through the UNGM account of one of the JV partners that isn't lead partner, provided that our company is the lead partner in the JV? Kindly clarify if this approach is acceptable for the submission processAnswer # 2.No. When a joint venture submits an offer, the bid submission documents, as well as the bid security (if required), must be submitted in the name of the lead partner. Although the submission must come from the lead partner, it is important to note that both partners must be registered in the UNGM.Question # 3.Is there any  specific criteria for  the selection of beneficiaries on site?Answer #3.A selection criteria is included under section 2.3 of the Statement of Works (SOW). However, a further refinement shall be done in collaboration with theQuestion # 4.The formula which is applied for unit cost, total cost and grand total does not cover the top 4 rows of the BoQ, can you please clarify?Answer # 4.BoQs are corrected and revised accordingly  and uploaded to e-sourcing. Named as following:Annex 3 BoQ - Lot 1 - 40 SQM T Shelters-Revised Version.Annex 3 BoQ - Lot 2 - 40 SQM T Shelters-Revised Version.Question # 5.In the tender it is required that a bidder must have a minimum five (5) years experience in construction. If the bidder has two years experience in the construction section and during this period has completed one project. Is the bidder eligible for the bidding process?Answer #v5.Any bidder demonstrating less than five years of experience will be deemed ineligible for qualification, except in cases where a joint venture partner fulfills the stipulated minimum requirements.Question # 6.If the company has more than 25 years experience in construction industries and during this period has completed several construction projects but the last five years the company hasn't completed any construction project. Is the company eligible to participate in the bidding process?Answer # 6.Bidders that cannot demonstrate the minimum required construction work experience within the past five years will be disqualified, unless the necessary criteria are met by a joint venture partner.Question # 7.if the company which doesn't have any vertical construction project experience, is it acceptable to joint venture with a company which has multiple vertical construction experience before the last five years?Answer # 7.Yes, it is acceptable as long the partners combined meet the minimum required criteria. Question # 8.Upon reviewing the eligibility criteria, particularly the requirement that bidders must have completed “at least three (3) contracts of similar size & scope (2 of vertical construction contracts and one shelter construction works contract, at least 30 units of T shelters, full construction and not repairs)”, we kindly request your reconsideration of this clause.We respectfully propose removing the specific requirement for shelter construction while maintaining the core requirement of experience in vertical structure projects, which already encompasses the technical complexity and construction standards relevant to this assignment.Many qualified contractors have extensive experience in vertical structural works such as schools, clinics, and public buildings but may not have directly engaged in shelter construction as defined in the RFQ. We believe that such vertical structure projects are of equal, if not greater, relevance to the scope of this tender and demonstrate the necessary capability to perform successfully.This minor adjustment would enhance fair competition and ensure that experienced firms are not excluded due to narrow classification, while still upholding the technical and quality benchmarks UNOPS requires.We thank you in advance for considering this request and remain at your disposal for any additional documentation or clarification you may need.Answer # 8.UNOPS fully recognizes and values the technical complexity and quality standards associated with conventional vertical construction projects such as schools, clinics, and public buildings. However, it is important to emphasize that Transitional (T) Shelter construction involves a significantly different operational approach, where social engineering, community engagement, and cohesion-building are integral and inseparable components of the work.While structural competence is essential, transitional shelter projects require a deep understanding of community dynamics, vulnerability, displacement history, and socio-cultural norms. These are not merely construction assignments — they are social recovery processes delivered through built form. Due to these reasons, UNOPS insists on having this experience in this tender. However, we remind bidders that a JV is acceptable in this tender and the bidder can have a JV partner to meet such criteria.Question # 9.I would like to kindly seek clarification regarding Item No. 2 — Beneficiary Identification and Selection — in the Bill of Quantities (BoQ). The quantity mentioned is 30. Could you please confirm whether this figure refers to the identification and selection for a single shelter or for all 30 shelters combinedAnswer # 9.The quantity mentioned is 30 units, so the rate should be for one unit (unit cost)Question # 10.You have only mentioned the districts where the project will take place, while the shelters will be constructed in specific villages. We kindly request you to share the name of the villages or the exact locations so that we can provide accurate pricing.Answer # 10.The village selection will be done later by the successful bidder in collaboration with UNOPS, prices shall be quoted corresponding to the Districts shared.