RFP Energy Transition Thematic Report: Strengthening Renewable Energy Workforce Development Frameworks in Southeast Asia

New amendment added #2: This amendment is to extend the tender deadline to 5th January 2026

New clarification added: QUESTION:Would it be possible to grant an extension to the tender submission deadline for this opportunity, to allow us to prepare a more comprehensive submission?ANSWER:After internal review, we decided to extend the tender submission deadline to 5th January 2026.It will soon reflect in the tender details.Best Regards. 

New clarification added: QUESTION:Financial Capacity/financial stability: ● Bidders should have a minimum annual turnover of 150,000 USD in any of the past 2 years. ● The bidder has sufficient liquidity, demonstrated by at least one of the following:○ the ratio of “current assets / current liabilities” in any of the last five (5) years which must be equal to or greater than one (1), or  ○ The bidder has access to a line of credit or bank overdraft or other financial means to meet a working capital/cash flow requirement of USD 150,000 (should the bidder be selected).For addressing the above requirement, will including only the financial statements be enough? Then how can we demonstrate  the ratio of “current assets / current liabilities” in any of the last five (5) years which must be equal to or greater than one (1)? Should we include financial statements of last 5 years?ANSWER:Yes, 1 audited financial statements (FS) in any of the past 2 years will be sufficient to fulfil both criteria since the requirement is to meet the criterion in any of the past 5 years. We will need to review the annual turnover, current assets, and currenct liabilities. Therefore, please ensure to submit complete FS document including the balance sheets. If from the submitted financial statement the requirement is not met, UNOPS may request financial statement of the past 3 years/ 4 years/ 5 years and check whether the criterion is met in the earlier years if not met in the submitted financial statement in the past 2 years.Best Regards, 

New clarification added: 1. QUESTION:Scope and depth of analysis,The RFP mentions that the thematic report should be “high-level” but also requires detailed assessments (e.g., TVET programs, labor policy frameworks, funding mechanisms, regional integration). The question: How deep should the analysis go? Should it include quantitative modeling (e.g., workforce projections) or remain qualitative?ANSWER:The thematic report is expected to be high-level and strategic, with enough depth to provide actionable recommendations, but does not require new quantitative modelling. Consultants may incorporate light or indicative modelling if this aligns with their proposed methdology, but it is not mandatory. Quantitative insights may also be drawn from credible data that already exists. Detailed assessments on TVET programs, labor policy frameworks, funding, regional integration, and others should be grounded in sound research and evidence.2. QUESTION:Should the consultant include estimated travel costs in the financial proposal or exclude them since they are reimbursable? How will currency conversion be handled?ANSWER:Bidders must include estimated travel costs in thier financial proposal even if they are reimbursable. Proposed travel costs must be in USD. Reimbursement will be based on the UN exchange rate on the date of the receipt/purchase as per note in the Financial Returnable Bidding Form3. QUESTION:In term of evaluation criteria weighting, it is mention: Technical proposal requires 70% minimum score, but some sub-points (e.g., experience in Southeast Asia, energy sector) are “considered an asset” without clear scoring. The question is: How much weight do these “asset” criteria carry? Could they be decisive in close evaluations?ANSWER:Please clarify the sub-criteria without clear scoring. As in the technical table, the points are clearly stated. Eg: Section 1.1 sub-point 2: Experience conducting similar projects in Southeast Asia point is 5. Or Section 3.4 Key personnel for Sociologist/Gender and Social Inclusion Specialist, experience working in the energy sector (as an asset) is having 1 point. Failing the criteria (with the identified score) will be scored less (or 0).4. QUESTION:In term of GESI integration, Is there a specific GESI framework or indicators ETP expects? Or should the consultant propose its own methodology?ANSWER:Consultants may propose their own methodology.5. QUESTION:Event logistics, does the consultant need to budget for participant accommodation or only venue and meals? What about interpretation services during FGDs?ANSWER:Consultant only needs to budget for venue and meals (and meeting logistics as per Guidance on Event/Workshop/Travel Organization on section 37 of the Schedule of Requirement). No not need to budget for participants travel and accommodations. Participants will be expected to cover their own costs.Consultant should provide the necessary interpretation services during the FGDs. The cost can be part of the financial proposal.Best Regards, 

New clarification added: 1. QUESTION:The response fields in Form G: Self-Disclosure Form appear to be non-editable. Could you please advise on how we should insert our responses into this form?ANSWER:We rechecked the Form G is editable, as it's a word document along with the other Technical Returnable Bidding Forms. Bidders only need to choose Yes/No in the Response and provide explanation if applicable.2. QUESTION:If we propose additional team positions, are we required to submit their CVs in the prescribed format (Form E: Format for Resume of Proposed Key Personnel)?ANSWER:Yes, we suggest to use Form E to avoid any missing information during evaluation process. Please also fill in the details in Annex 1 - Detailed Personnel Proposed3. QUESTION:For a joint venture submission, should all JV partners complete Form F: Performance Statement Form? If so, should these be compiled into a single consolidated document or uploaded separately for each partner?ANSWER:The Form F can be a consolidated document.4. QUESTION:Regarding the Contract Manager position, do we need to submit a CV at this stage, or will this role be assigned during contract implementation?We would be grateful for your guidance on the above points.ANSWER:No need to submit CV for a contract manager if that person is not one of the key experts.Best Regards, 

New clarification added: 1. QUESTION:Travel Cost Coverage for FGD ParticipantsWe would like to clarify whether the travel costs for participants will be compensated. The TOR states that “participants cover their own travel costs,” but we want to confirm if this applies to all participants, including policymakers and government officials (e.g., politicians), or whether certain categories of participants may be eligible for reimbursement.ANSWER:The guidance covers all participants, including policymakers and government officials.2. QUESTION:Requirement on Staff LocationIt was mentioned during the pre-bid meeting that the majority of the staff should be based in Vietnam, the Philippines, and/or Indonesia. Could you please clarify whether this means that specific key members of the project team (e.g., team leader, subject matter experts) must be based in one of the three countries, or whether all key personnel need to be distributed across these countries?We would appreciate your guidance on these points to finalize our proposal accordingly.ANSWER:The qualification criteria for the in-country presence is having the firm or the JV member to be based in SEA. Or having at least one of the key personnel to be based in the Philippines, Indonesia, or Vietnam during entire project duration.From this qualification criteria, it's not mandatory to distribute all key personnel accross the 3 countries.Best Regards, 

New amendment added #1: This amendment is to upload Pre-bid Meeting Slides and Minutes