RFQ Consultant Services Contract for Works - Construction Supervision Services - Lilongwe Technical College, Mzuzu Technical College, Malawi Institute of Tourism, Salima Technical College - Malawi

New clarification added: Request for clarification 1Please confirm that there is no consultancy service required for the Defects Liability Period, and by extension the assignment will end at the issuance of the Certificate of Practical Completion.​Response to clarification 1We confirm that no consultancy services are required during the Defects Notification Period (DNP). Accordingly, the consultancy assignment will conclude upon the issuance of the Certificate of Substantial Completion, and there will be no requirement for post-completion or defects-period supervision services under this consultancy.Request for clarification 2Please confirm that there is no consultancy service required for As built drawings etc.Response to clarification 2We confirm that there is no consultancy service required for As Built drawings etcRequest for clarification 3Please confirm that the consultant that obtained the building permits from the city councils is not ineligible for this assignment as per ITB Article 4 ITEM ii​Response to clarification 3Bidders are reminded to carefully review the Conflict of Interest provisions under ITB Article 4, item (ii).If none of the conflict of interest situations described in that clause apply, then the bidder is eligible to participate in this assignment. Eligibility will be assessed in accordance with the ITB at the time of evaluation.

New clarification added: Request for Clarification 1The bidder must be registered under the Malawi National Construction Industry Council (NCIC) now CIRA registration under the category - Consultant ( Design and Supervision Services)Is it that the bid is not open to Foreign Consultant Firms? If not, how can they comply with the above demand?Response to Clarification 1The bid is open to both local and foreign consultancy firms.However, registration with the Malawi Construction Industry Regulatory Authority (CIRA) under the relevant category for Consultant (Design and Supervision Services) is a mandatory requirement for contract award. Foreign consultancy firms that wish to participate must therefore obtain the appropriate CIRA registration or demonstrate formal compliance in accordance with CIRA requirements prior to award, in line with Malawian regulatory provisions.Failure to meet this registration requirement at the time required under the RFQ will render a bid non-compliant.Request for Clarification 2The qualifications required for the Building Supervisor are Diploma in Civil Engineering, Diploma in Construction Technology/ NCIC relevant certificate or similar certificates with 10 years experience. Please consider alternative higher qualifications such as Degree in Engineering and 5 years experience.The qualification stated in the RFQ represents the minimum requirement for the Building Supervisor position.Response to Clarification 2Candidates with higher qualifications, such as a Degree in Engineering, may be proposed and will be considered during the evaluation, provided that all minimum requirements specified in the RFQ are met. The evaluation will be conducted in accordance with the criteria set out in the solicitation documents.Request for Clarification 3The schedules 4.6, and 4.7 as per standards in Malawi - are not requirements for consultants but for contractors. Please confirm if this is a requirement.Response to Clarification 3Please note that these schedules are a part of our templates and are required as part of this tender. Schedule 4.6 relates to the requirement in Schedule 3.8 of Document RFQ/2025/60470 - RFQ Section II, III, IV, V - Consultant Services - Construction Supervision Services - Lilongwe Technical College, Mzuzu Technical College, Malawi Institute of Tourism, Salima Technical College - Malawi. The successful bidder will be required to provide 1No laptop for use in this contract hence the applicability of schedule 4.6. If the bidder will use any subcontractors, they can complete Schedule 4,7.Request for Clarification 4Insurance Details and Insurance – As per usual standard operating procedures in Malawi, PI for consultants - the amount stated is as that for Contractors.The request for Worker's Compensation – is not for consultants by ContractorsThe insurance requirements stated in the RFQ are mandatory, and align with UNOPS risk management and contractual standards.Response to Clarification 4While it is acknowledged that, under local practice, certain insurance thresholds and workers’ compensation arrangements are more commonly associated with contractors, consultancy firms engaged in site-based supervision and oversight are still required to maintain adequate Professional Indemnity, Public Liability, and Workers’ Compensation insurance to cover their personnel and professional liabilities arising from the assignment.Accordingly, bidders are required to demonstrate their ability to secure the specified insurances upon contract award, as stated in the RFQ. Any deviations from these requirements are not permissible, and compliance will be assessed as part of the eligibility and qualification criteria.Request for Clarification 5The TOR's read - "The firm will assist UNOPS in joint measurement of activities on site for payment verification. UNOPS personnel will take the lead in the measurement process and make the final certification."This is the work of a QS - However the personnel have not allowed for a QS in the team. Please guideResponse to Clarification 5UNOPS retains full responsibility for cost control, Interim Payment Certificates (IPCs), and final certification, including taking the lead in joint measurements for payment verification. The consultant’s role in joint measurements is limited to technical support and verification, such as confirming quantities executed on site and providing site-based inputs as required. This support function does not constitute full quantity surveying or cost engineering services. Accordingly, a dedicated Quantity Surveyor is not required and has therefore not been included among the required personnel. The scope and level of involvement expected from the consultancy firm are fully covered by the roles defined in the ToR, with all commercial and certification responsibilities remaining under UNOPS’ mandate.Request for Clarification 6Project Quantity Surveyor (QS)We note that the tender documentation does not explicitly include a Project Quantity Surveyor as part of the supervision team. In our professional view, a QS plays a critical role during the construction stage, particularly in verification of quantities, assessment of variations, cost control, and review and certification of interim payment certificates.We kindly seek clarification on whether the omission of a QS was intentional, or whether these services are expected to be included within the consultant’s scope or provided separately by UNOPS.The omission of a Project Quantity Surveyor (QS) from the required supervision team is intentional.Response to Clarification 6As clearly stated, UNOPS retains responsibility for all commercial and cost-related functions, including verification of quantities for payment purposes, assessment and approval of variations, cost control, and review and certification of Interim Payment Certificates (IPCs). UNOPS personnel will take the lead in these processes and will make the final certifications.The consultant’s role is limited to technical and site-based support, including participation in joint measurements where required, verification of works executed on site from a technical perspective, and reporting. This level of involvement does not constitute full quantity surveying services and therefore does not require a dedicated QS within the consultant’s team.Accordingly, bidders are not expected to include a Project Quantity Surveyor in their proposed personnel, and such services will be provided directly by UNOPS in line with its internal procedures and contractual arrangements. 

New clarification added: Request for Clarification 7Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) SpecialistWe seek guidance on whether a dedicated Occupational Health and Safety Specialist is required or may be proposed as part of the supervision team. Given the scale and multi-site nature of the works, we consider this role essential for monitoring contractor compliance with occupational health and safety requirements and minimizing site risks on all sites.Response to Clarification 7A dedicated Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Specialist is not required to be proposed by the consultancy firm.UNOPS has a dedicated OHS/HSSE specialist within its team who provides the overall technical guidance, instructions, and oversight on occupational health and safety matters. The role of the consultancy firm is to monitor and report on the contractor’s implementation of OHS measures on site, ensuring compliance with the instructions, standards, and guidance issued by UNOPS.Accordingly, OHS responsibilities at site level are to be carried out by the consultant’s site supervision personnel as part of their day-to-day supervision and reporting duties, in line with the ToR, while strategic oversight, direction, and enforcement remain under UNOPS’ responsibility.Request for Clarification 8Environmental and Social Safeguards SpecialistWe further seek clarification on the requirement for an Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist, noting that environmental and social compliance constitutes a distinct discipline involving implementation and monitoring of environmental management plans, social safeguards, and compliance with national requirements.Response to Clarification 8A dedicated Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist is not required to be proposed by the consultancy firm.UNOPS retains overall responsibility for environmental and social safeguards oversight, including compliance with approved Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) or Environmental Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) and national regulatory requirements.The role of the consultancy firm is to monitor and report on the contractor’s implementation of the approved ESMP/ESIA measures on site, as part of routine site supervision and reporting, and to promptly flag any non-compliance or risks to UNOPS. This responsibility is integrated within the site supervision function and does not require a standalone Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist within the consultant’s proposed team.Request for Clarification 9Our preliminary review of the structural tender drawings reveals critical technical issues that risk significant project cost, schedule, and quality impacts.Key Issues Identified:Non-Standard Materials: Reinforcement is specified using unavailable European bar sizes (e.g., T14, T18) instead of local standards (e.g., Y10, Y12). This will cause severe procurement delays and cost overruns.Detailing Errors: Constructably impossible reinforcement spacing is noted in staircases (10mm) and elevator footings (20mm), suggesting wider detailing problems.Inadequate Sizing/Inefficient Design: Beam depths appear structurally insufficient for 8m spans. The specified 250mm solid slab is inefficient and represents significant over-expenditure compared to a flat or ribbed slab system.Implication: Proceeding as-is makes the project un-pricable, guarantees constant Variation Orders and delays, and compromises the supervision team's role.Recommendation: We strongly recommend a mandatory Pre-Contract Structural Design Review. This minimal upfront investment will:Verify calculations and convert materials to local sizes.Correct all detailing and optimize member sizes.Provide a clean, buildable "For Construction" package, eliminating the primary source of future variations and ensuring cost/schedule certainty.Response to Clarification 9Thank you for the detailed feedback and for the proactive technical review undertaken. We appreciate the time and effort invested in highlighting these observations, and the comments have been duly noted.However, it is important to clarify that the current RFQ is strictly for Construction Supervision Services. The scope of the consultancy is limited to site supervision, quality assurance, HSSE monitoring, reporting, and technical oversight during construction, as defined in the Terms of Reference, and does not include design review, design validation, or design supervision services.Any matters related to the adequacy, optimisation, or adjustment of the design will be addressed by UNOPS through its designated Design Team, in coordination with the contractor, should such issues arise during implementation. Where necessary, UNOPS will initiate and manage any required design clarifications, revisions, or adjustments in accordance with its internal procedures.We nonetheless appreciate the feedback provided, which will be reviewed internally by the UNOPS Design Team as appropriate.

New amendment added #1: Amendment 1This amendment is to Upload the minutes of the mandatory pre-bid clarification meeting held virtually on 16 December 2025 at 10:00hoursUpload a copy of the presentation done during the mandatory prebid clarification meetingThe minutes include responses to clarifications made during the prebid meetings and those received through eSourcing.Therefore the following documents are now uploaded to the Documents section of the ITBITB/2025/60470 - Pre-Bid Clarification Meeting Minutes_ RFQ Consultant Services Contract for Works - Construction Supervision Services - Lilongwe Technical College, Mzuzu Technical College, Malawi Institute of Tourism, Salima Technical College - MalawiITB 2025 60470 - Presentation for Pre-Bid Clarification Meeting - Construction SupervisionAll the other terms and conditions remain unchanged