Consultant Services for Works Supervision of Sewerage and Drainage Infrastructure in Dutch Quarter, Sint Maarten

New clarification added: Q12: Section V Schedule 3, 3.1, item B-7: The contract amount for tests is Lump Sum. However, the number of tests to be carried out (at least 30%) is not specified. The scope of works for the Works Contractor seems to be variable (Unit Rate based), i.e. earthworks, concrete woks, etc. Please specify for which parts the 30% independent tests are required and how many tests the Contractor have to take. This is needed to determine the 30% in quantity and type of tests. Or alternatively to allow all bidders to have the same basis, it is suggested to add a Provisional Sum of say USD 30,000 for all types/quantities of independent tests.A12: Please refer to Amendment No. 2. The 30% independent testing requirement under Section V: Requirements, Clause B.7 is replaced with a rigorous Quality Audit and Witnessing Protocol. The Consultant will be contractually required to perform a comprehensive due diligence audit of the Contractor's proposed laboratory, witness a minimum of 30% of all physical tests on-site and in the laboratory, and perform a 100% verification of all raw data and calibration records. Bidders must NOT include any laboratory testing fees or third-party laboratory costs in their Lump Sum financial offer under Schedule 4.1.A. Bidders should only price their personnel's time for witnessing, auditing, and administering the quality control process.Q13: Section V Schedule 3, 3.1 item 8.2: the testing labs must be accredited. As far as known, there are no accredited labs for soil or concrete testing in St Maarten. Sending the samples out of St Maarten will be costly and may not serve the purpose. Please clarify if labs without accreditation can be used.A13: Please refer to Amendment No. 2. Item 8.2 in Section V, 3.1 has been removed.Q14: Section V Schedule 3, 3.9 Public Insurance: can the amount be reduced to the same as for the Professional Liability (USD 300,000)? The Consultant is not using heavy equipment that can cause severe damage to third parties.A14: Please refer to Amendment No. 2. The public liability insurance has been revised; offerors must consider the new limit of liability of USD 300,000.00 (three hundred thousand United States dollars)Q15: The mandatory qualification stated for the Project Manager is a BSc. in Civil Engineering. Could UNOPS please confirm whether a BSc. or higher degree in Hydraulic Engineering or Sanitary Engineering, combined with the required minimum ten (10) years of relevant experience and the required experience under FIDIC or similar international standard conditions, would be considered an equivalent and acceptable academic qualification for the Project Manager position?A15: Please refer to Amendment No. 2. UNOPS confirms that a BSc. or higher degree in Hydraulic Engineering or Sanitary Engineering is considered an equivalent and acceptable academic qualification for the Project Manager position, provided all other experience and professional requirements are fully met.Q16: Section V Schedule 3, 3.1, item B-7: The contract amount for tests is Lump Sum. However, the number of tests to be carried out (at least 30%) is not specified. The scope of works for the Works Contractor seems to be variable (Unit Rate based), i.e. earthworks, concrete woks, etc. Please specify for which parts the 30% independent tests are required and how many tests the Contractor have to take. This is needed to determine the 30% in quantity and type of tests. Or alternatively to allow all bidders to have the same basis, it is suggested to add a Provisional Sum of say USD 30,000 for all types/quantities of independent tests.A16: Please refer to question 12.Q17: Section V Schedule 3, 3.1 item 8.2: the testing labs must be accredited. As far as known, there are no accredited labs for soil or concrete testing in St Maarten. Sending the samples out of St Maarten will be costly and may not serve the purpose. Please clarify if labs without accreditation can be used.A17: Please refer to question 13.Q18: Section V Schedule 3, 3.9 Public Insurance: can the amount be reduced to the same as for the Professional Liability (USD 300,000)? The Consultant is not using heavy equipment that can cause severe damage to third parties. Or else please guide us with the link on the UNOPS platform to the answers.​A18: Please refer to question 14..

New amendment added #2: Amendment No. 2Potential proponents are notified of the subsequent adjustments to the request for proposal (RFP/2026/63045) documentation, which should be reflected in their respective submissions:1. Section II: Evaluation Method and Criteria,  3 Technical Criteria:​​​The technical criteria 2.7 has has been updatedThe technical criteria 3.2 has been updated2. Section V: Requirements, Schedule 3: Requirements of the Employer3.1 Scope of Services, 3. Comprehensive and explicit scope of the Services, B.7 Commissioning and handover has been updated3.1 Scope of Services, 8. Quality Management System: The item (8.2) has been deleted3.7 Key Personnel Requirements: The qualifications for the Project Manager position have been revised3.9 Insurance Requirements: The limit of liability of the public liability insurance has been revised3. Documentation Updates:The document specified below has been withdrawn: 2. RFP_2026_63045 Section II, III, IV, V- AMENDMENT No. 1.pdf and RFP_2026_63045_Schedule 4.1.A Breakdown of the Fees and Reimbursable cost.xls The following items have been incorporated: 2. RFP/2026/63045 Section II, III, IV, V_Amendment No. 2.pdf    and  RFP_2026_63045_Schedule 4.1.A Breakdown of the Fees and Reimbursable cost - Amendment 2.xlsPlease note: Bidders are informed that added text is highlighted in purple bold, while removed text is indicated by red strikethrough.Except for the modifications detailed in this amendment, all other aspects of the document remain valid and unchanged.UNOPS

New clarification added: Q9: The RFP identifies the Project Manager, HSSE Specialist and Water and Sanitation Expert as Key Personnel. However, several provisions regarding site presence and resource allocation refer to a “Resident Engineer”, while no separate Resident Engineer position is included in the Key Personnel requirements. Could UNOPS please confirm whether the Project Manager is expected to perform the role of Resident Engineer? If so, please also confirm the minimum required on-site presence of the Project Manager/Resident Engineer during the Pre-Construction, Construction, Commissioning/Handover and Defect Notification Period phases, in particular whether full-time presence is required throughout the approximately 12-month Construction Period.A9: UNOPS confirms that, in accordance with common industry practice, the Project Manager and the Resident Engineer are the same role for this Contract. Bidders should assume that the Project Manager proposed as Key Personnel under the RFP will fulfill all duties, responsibilities, and on-site presence requirements designated for the Resident Engineer throughout the project phases. Bidders are referred to Section V (Requirements), Clause 3.7 (Personnel availability and Site presence). Bidders must propose the level of effort, personnel allocation, and site presence necessary to ensure adequate supervision of the Works. The proposed approach shall be commensurate with the scope, complexity, and risks of the Project. For Defect Notification Period (DNP): The Consultant's program must schedule at least quarterly site visits to inspect the works and manage any defect rectifications.Q10: Section II, item 2 : Qualification Criteria : Is submission of 3 years of financial statement (showing the ration of assets/liabilities more than 1) sufficient? Or do we also need to submit a letter from a bank/financial institution confirming access to a line of credit?​A10: Yes, submitting the certified or audited financial statements or official tax declarations for the last three (3) years (2023, 2024 and 2025) is sufficient if your average current assets to current liabilities ratio is 1 or more.Q11: Section_I_Instructions to Offerors: in several articles reference is made to a document 'Particulars'. Please provide us with this document or else where can this document be found.A11: On the eSourcing platform, please refer to the 'Tender Information' tab and then the 'Tender Particulars' sub-tab.

New clarification added: Q4: As mentioned during the Pre-Bid meeting held on Tuesday 11th August 2026 at 2:00 p.m., the Project Manager role is required to be full time and based on-site for the duration of the project.Please clarify accordinglyA4: UNOPS clarifies that the Project Manager (acting as the "Engineer") is not contractually mandated to be present on-site full-time for the entire duration of the project.As established under Section V: Requirements, Clause 3.7 "Personnel availability and Site presence," the Consultant may determine and propose the level of effort, personnel allocation, and site presence necessary to ensure adequate supervision of the Works.In alignment with this, Schedule 4.1.A (Breakdown of the Fees and Reimbursable cost - Supervision) defines the quantities and level of effort for all Key Personnel (including the Project Manager) as "[To be indicated by Bidder]". Bidders must propose their own staffing schedule and level of effort based on their specific technical methodology and proposed management structure.While full-time physical presence on-site is not mandatory for the Project Manager, bidders must ensure that their proposed management structure provides continuous, effective supervision. The Project Manager must be sufficiently available to attend meetings, perform necessary site inspections, and execute all administrative and contractual duties of the "Engineer" under the contract. The appropriateness, adequacy, and risk mitigation of the bidder's proposed personnel site presence and management structure will be assessed during the technical evaluation.Q5: Section I, ITB: Art 19: are income taxes paid in St Maarten on salaries and company profit to be excluded from the bid? If so, will UNOPS provide a letter that can be used for the Tax Department to show that the taxes related to this assignment are not to be paid?A5: Please refer to the 'Duties and Taxes' section in the tender Particulars. All proposals must be submitted net of any direct taxes, customs duties, and indirect taxes (such as VAT) from which UNOPS is exempt. However, the Consultant remains solely responsible for the payment of all taxes levied by their government or other local authorities on income derived from this UNOPS engagement, including taxes related to employee salaries and corporate profit.Q6: Section IV, Schedule 2: item 2 and 4. It is noted that the Consultant is responsible for managing the interfaces between the works and utilities. However, this is part of the responsibility of the Works Contractor. Please clarify what is meant by this?A6: UNOPS clarifies that there is no transfer of responsibility from the Works Contractor to the Supervision Consultant (the Engineer).Under the Works Contract, the Contractor remains solely and fully responsible for the physical and operational execution of all utility-related tasks. This includes physically identifying and locating existing utilities, performing mandatory potholing/cable detection prior to mechanical excavation, protecting utility assets during construction, obtaining necessary utility-related permits, and executing and paying for any required realignments, disconnections, or reconnections.The Supervision Consultant’s responsibility to "manage" these interfaces refers strictly to supervisory oversight, contract administration, and coordination on behalf of the Employer (UNOPS).Q7: Also, who will be in charge to inform the community? This can not be the responsibility of the Consultant, but must lie with the local authorities.A7: UNOPS confirms that the Consultant (the Engineer) is not responsible for executing public information campaigns or direct community outreach.Communication responsibilities are defined as follows:- UNOPS & VROMI: Manage high-level, strategic public relations and macro-level announcements.- The Contractor: Responsible for day-to-day, coordinating access with individual property owners, and setting up the community grievance mechanism.- The Consultant: Strictly limited to supervisory oversight. The Consultant will review and monitor the Contractor communication plan and verify on-site that timely, proper notices are provided to residents before works disrupt street or property access.Q8: We kindly request an extension of two (2) weeks for submission of the proposal.A8: Thank you for your interest in this tender and for reaching out. After careful consideration, please be advised that UNOPS will not be granting an extension to the bid submission deadline for this solicitation. To ensure fairness and equal opportunity for all prospective bidders, the deadline remains firmly in effect. We encourage you to submit your offer by the established date and time, as late submissions will not be accepted.

New clarification added: MINUTES OF THE SECOND PRE-BID MEETING.1. IntroductionA pre-bid meeting was held on August 11, 2026, at 02:00 p.m. (Sint Maarten local time) via Google Meet.As stated in the eSourcing platform, specifically in the particulars section in “Clarifications/pre-bid meeting details”, the clarification meeting shall be conducted on this day and date and participation is not mandatory, but is strongly recommended to avoid the risk of non-compliant proposals.2. Q&A and ClarificationsIt was emphasized that UNOPS would not provide official responses to bidders' questions regarding the Request for Proposal during the clarification meeting. All questions must be submitted in writing through the UNOPS eSourcing platform.Offerors were cautioned not to rely on any statements, assertions, or information provided during the clarification meeting unless confirmed in writing by UNOPS.3. Presentation OverviewThe meeting included a presentation covering general administrative and technical aspects of the process, as well as the use of the eSourcing platform. The following topics were addressed:Introduction to UNOPS: Details the organization's role as the operational arm of the UN.General Aspects of the Project: Covers the scope of the contract and the supervision of Works for Sewerage and Drainage Infrastructure in Dutch Quarter, Sint Maarten.Request for proposal: Explains the Request for Proposal (RFP) method, the weighting, and the evaluation criteria.UNGM and UNOPS eSourcing: Presents information on UNGM and the UNOPS eSourcing system for submitting proposals.Common Mistakes and Best Practices: Discusses common errors and best practices for proper proposal submission.4. Submitting Clarification RequestsAs stipulated in the Request for Proposal documents, attendees were informed that all inquiries or requests for clarification must be formally submitted through the "Request a Clarification" option in the "Tender Information" section of eSourcing, which serves as the sole communication channel for this process. Attendees at the presentation sought clarifications on technical, registration, and key personnel requirements of the contract. Responses were provided to the prospective offerors, but it was noted that these responses were unofficial. 5. Importance of Thorough Proposal PreparationAttendees were reminded of the importance of carefully reviewing, analyzing, and considering all information provided in the proposal documents and the eSourcing system when preparing their proposals.

New clarification added: Q1: Hello, We kindly request an extension of the submission deadline for this tender to allow sufficient time to finalize all technical and administrative aspects of our proposal and ensure a complete and high-quality submission. Thank you for your consideration, and we look forward to your response. Best regards.A1: Please refer to Amendment No. 1Q2: We refer to Section II Evalution Method and Criteria Part 3: (page 12) Key Personnel Proposed, which identifies the following Key Personnel; 1. Project Manager. 2. HSSE Specialist. 3. Water and Sanitation Expert. We also refer to Section V: Requirements, B.2 (page 29) - On-site construction inspection, which states: ""The Resident Engineer and the HSSE Specilaist must be present on-site during Key phases and generally during working hours. Other Key Personnel must carry out at least one weekly on-site inspection relative to their discipline"". This indicates that all personnel should be based in Sint Maarten for the duration of the project, in order to be able to make the the required 'weekly site visits.During the Pre-bid Meeting held on Thursday 30th July 2026 at 9:00 a.m., it was indicated that the level of input required for the Water and Sanitation Expert and other Key and/or Non-Key personnel could be determined by the bidder, which is in contradiction to the referenced requirement above.Could you please clarify / confirm our new understanding that apart from the Resident Engineer and HSSE Specialist, who must be full-time present in Sint Maarten, all other Key and Non-Key personnel, including the Project Manager and Water and Sanitation Expert, need not necessarily be present in Sint Maarten fulltime, and can support the project remotely, along with periodic country site visits made to Sint Maarten. For a project of this nature, this model would be sufficient with the Resident Engineer and HSSE Specialist already base fulltime in Sint Maarten for the project.A2: Please refer to Amendment No. 1. To clarify and rectify this contradiction, UNOPS confirms that the statement in Section V, Requirement B.2 ("Other Key Personnel must carry out at least one weekly on-site inspection relative to their discipline") has been removed. As established under the Section V, Subsection 3.7 – Key Personnel, "Personnel Availability and Site Presence", UNOPS confirms that bidders are permitted to determine and propose the level of effort, personnel allocation, and site presence (including a model of remote support combined with periodic site visits) for their experts. However, bidders are reminded that their proposed methodology, resource allocation, and site presence must be explicitly detailed in their proposal and must be strictly commensurate with the scope, complexity, and risks of the Project. The Consultant must ensure that all Key Personnel are sufficiently mobilized and available to attend key meetings, conduct necessary inspections, and witness testing/commissioning activities as required. The appropriateness of the proposed personnel availability and management structure will be assessed during the technical evaluation.Q3: Would performance bonds issued by an insurance company be acceptable?A3: Yes, according to Schedule 1.1, 'Details Provided by the Employer', the permitted guarantors for performance security are any bank or financial institution approved by the employer. This includes insurance companies; however, this is subject to the following remarks: 1) UNOPS will only accept guarantees from banks or other financial institutions with a minimum long-term credit rating of BBB- with Standard & Poor's, Baa3 with Moody's Investors Service, or BBB- with Fitch Ratings. Any bank guarantee issued by a financial institution with a credit rating below these outlined ratings will require prior validation from UNOPS. And 2) The Schedule 5.2 'Form for Performance Security' must be followed without material deviation.

New amendment added #1: Amendment No. 1Potential proponents are notified of the subsequent adjustments to the request for proposal (RFP/2026/63045) documentation, which should be reflected in their respective submissions:Tender Information - General information tab: The deadline for Submissions has been extended. It now reads as follows:Before: Deadline: 2026-08-24 / 19:00 UTC (15:00 hrs Sint Maarten time)Now: Deadline: 2026-09-07 / 19:00 UTC (15:00 hrs Sint Maarten time) Tender Information - General information tab: The deadline for Clarification Requests has been extended. It now reads as follows:Before: Deadline: 2026-08-13 / 21:00 UTC (17:00 hrs Sint Maarten time)Now: Deadline: 2026-08-27 / 21:00 UTC (17:00 hrs Sint Maarten time) Tender Information - Particulars information tab - Pre bid meeting:A second information session has been scheduled for 11 August 2026 at 2:00 p.m. (Sint Maarten time). The content of both sessions will be identical. This additional session has been arranged for informational purposes only and to provide greater flexibility for prospective bidders who were unable to attend the first session. Tender Information - Particulars information tab - Expected contract award date:Before: 2026-10-15Now:: 2026-10-30  Documentation Updates:The document specified below has been withdrawn:2. RFP_2026_63045 Section II, III, IV, V.pdf​The following items have been incorporated:Pre-bid meeting presentation RFP_2026_63045.pdfPre Bid Meeting Minutes_RFP_2026_63045.pdf2. RFP/2026/63045 Section II, III, IV, V_Amendment No. 1.pdfPlease note: Bidders are informed that added text is highlighted in blue bold, while removed text is indicated by red strikethrough.Section IV: Schedule of details - Schedule 1: Contract details - 1.1 Details Provided by the Employer: The subclause 3.2 Permitted Guarantors for Performance Security has been updated.Section V: Requirements - Schedule 3: requirements of the Employer - 3.1 Scope of Service: The numeral 3 Comprehensive and explicit scope of the Services, B.2 On-site construction inspection has been updated.​Except for the modifications detailed in this amendment, all other aspects of the document remain valid and unchanged.UNOPS