Individual Consultant – Consultant (Procurement and Contract Management)

Background

UNDP strives to have a workforce, which reflects diversity and gender balance, and applies an equal opportunities approach. UNDP does not solicit or screen for information in respect of HIV or AIDS status. All selections are on merit.

Background;

The UNDP has engaged with the State Government of Uttarakhand to provide technical support in several sectors for implementation of flagship Government programmes, externally aided projects and State schemes and programmes. Under this collaboration UNDP in Uttarakhand will also be supporting the Department of Skill Development and Employment in mobilisation of  high quality human resource within and implementation of capacity building training plan of existing and newly recruited professionals will lead to directly in achievement of the World Bank funded  Uttarakhand Workforce Development Project (UKWDP) objectives of improving the quality and relevance of training at priority Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and of increasing the number of labor-market-relevant workers through short-term training in Uttarakhand.

The UKWDP will contribute to these objectives by supporting Uttarakhand to strengthen the delivery of skills and training programs to produce higher-quality workers with relevant market skills and increasing access. This state-level skills development project would also play a strategic role in the World Bank’s engagement in the skills agenda at the national level. An in-depth experience and lessons from Uttarakhand would inform the national-level engagement and could also provide a demonstration effect. There would be close linkages and synergies between the proposed project and the national-level engagements.

UNDP will therefore support the Uttarakhand Workforce Development Project in hiring of team of professionals and provide capacity building support through trainings, workshops, exposure visits and Knowledge Management along with documentation of best practices. The team of professionals will help the project in implementation and monitoring of project activities while as UNDP team of experts will provide timely capacity building trainings to strengthen the delivery of skills and training programs and to produce higher-quality workers with relevant market skills and increasing access.

In context of above, UNDP is looking to hire a Consultant (Procurement and Contract Management) to support the State Project Implementation Unit of UKWDP /Department of Skill Development and Employment in implementation of the project.

The Consultant (Procurement and Contract Management) would be placed with the SPIU of UKWDP, DSDE Uttarakhand.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Ensuring full knowledge and systematic application, including by key staff officials, of the World Bank’s procurement and consultancy guidelines.

• Preparing documentation required for the procurement of Goods, consulting and non-consulting services, including assisting the SPIU in drafting and issuing bidding documents (Terms of References, Request for Expressions of Interest, Requests for Proposals, bidding documents), specifications, cost estimates, work schedules, evaluation criteria.

• Assist in preparing and updating the project procurement plan at regular intervals. Managing the procurement of Goods and consultancies required for state level activities under the project.

• Executing NCBs.

• Providing relevant information and suggesting possible solutions on any procurementrelated issue

• Building procurement and contract management capacity building of SPIU staff.

• Acting as a support and reference person for all project-related procurement tasks.

• Submitting quarterly procurement progress reports to the SPIU Director.

• Acting as first line for dealing with enquiries and complaints referred to the SPIU.

• Preparing monthly progress reports of procurement activities, project account and regular progress reports in acceptable format to the World Bank;

• The Agency and consultant will be required to follow a high standard of ethics and be restrained from the activities listed below:

• The Consultant shall report to the Project Director/ Joint Project Officer/Deputy Project Officer on a regular basis.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

 Knowledge Management and Learning

• Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture;

• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in the subject area of the project, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.

• Strong Oral and Communication skills.

• Strong analytical, assessment and project planning skills.

Development and Operational Effectiveness:

• Ability to apply conceptual models in support of implementation of the various activities assigned by the SPIU/DSDE, Uttarakhand;

• Good knowledge of the results-based management of the activities/initiatives;

• Good working Knowledge of Computers, MS Office, ICT Tools;

• Ability to lead implementation of initiatives.

Corporate Competencies:

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;

• Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards.

 

Required Skills and Experience

Educational Qualifications:

Essential – Bachelor’s degree in Technology/ Master’s Degree in Business Administration

Experience:

• Essential – More than 6 years of work experience in procurement/operational activities with any multinational agency/ organisation at state/ national level.

• Must have experience of working with Govt. at national/ state level.

• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.). Experience in handling of web-based management systems.

Language:

Fluency of Hindi and English Language is required.

Duration of the Work:

The contract will be awarded for one year initially. Working days will be as per the State Government policy.

Official Travel:

 All official travel must be authorized and certified in advance. Candidates will be entitled to get TA/DA as per government rules from SPIU, DSDE and in case of official journey outside the State, prior approval shall be required from relevant authorities.

Schedule of Payments:

Consolidated Annual Consultancy Fee (Remuneration) of INR 720000/- payable in equal installments @ INR 60000 per month, upon submission of monthly progress report certified by the reporting officer.

Institutional Arrangement:

• Contract will be administered by UNDP on behalf of the state government of Uttarakhand;

• The consultant would report to Director,UKWDP, Government of Uttarakhand;

• All the logistic support related official travel will be borne by the Government of Uttarakhand as per their prevailing rules;

• Consultant will be entitled for 2 days per month (non-encashable)

Documentation required:

• Personal CV, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references. 

Evaluation method and Criteria:

• Educational Qualification - 30 Marks;

• Relevant Experience - 40 Marks;

  Step 2: Personal Interviews (Face to Face/ Skype)

• Suitability for the assignment - 30 Marks;

Only shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview. The interviews will be conducted based on the competencies (skills) required as per the ToR. Final selection will be done on the basis of merit/marks secured in interview process.

If face-to-face interviews are conducted, travel costs will be borne by the shortlisted candidate.

For any clarifications, please write to ic.india@undp.org

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.