TERMS OF REFERENCE
Programme/Project Title:
Reducing disaster vulnerability of children in Kyrgyzstan
Consultancy/Services Title:
Consultant/engineer on school retrofitting / P3
Consultancy Mode:
National
International
Consultant
Individual Contractor
Mode of Selection :
Competitive
Single Source
Duration of Contract :
From: 3 March 2014
Application Deadline :
24 February 2014
Type of Contract :
Institutional
To: 26 May 2014
Background
In August 2011, UNICEF Country Office in Kyrgyzstan received a USAID/OFDA grant to conduct nationwide
physical assessment of education institutions (schools and pre-schools) aimed at promoting safety of education
facilities for children against natural hazards.
The overall goal of the «Reducing the Disaster vulnerability of children in Kyrgyzstan», project is to contribute to the
efforts of the Government of Kyrgyzstan in promoting and ensuring safety of education facilities for children against
natural hazards. This is fully in line with the Hyogo Framework for Action Priority 4 (Reduce the underlying risk
factors) as well as the Recommendations of the Second Session of the Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction
(Geneva, June, 2009). To this end, the project proposes to support the national government of Kyrgyzstan to carry out
physical assessment of school buildings based on the Methodology for Nationwide Benchmarking of School Safety
developed by UNCEF.
The nationwide assessment findings along with recommendations on schools, preschools retrofitting, rehabilitation
and reconstruction presented at the National Conference on schools, preschools safety conducted in July 2013.
Representatives of Government, Parliament, local governments, UN, international and donor community participated
and agreed that further steps in improving the physical safety of constructions from earthquakes and other hazards
should be undertaken.
On the whole, nearly nine out of ten preschools and schools fail to meet the standards for structural integrity and
facility and utility maintenance.
These buildings and structures require immediate structural and non-structural changes. They must be retrofitted with
improved or new safety structural engineering features, and also require extensive repairs. In some cases, preschools
and schools must be relocated to an area where they are not at immediate threat from natural disasters. Others must be
demolished and new, safe buildings and structures constructed.
Government is taking action in finalizing a draft State Programme on schools, preschools retrofitting, rehabilitation
and reconstruction and it is clear that a great investment is needed for the programme implementation. As Kyrgyzstan
is facing a deficit of the republican and local budgets, it is important to look at the methods of low cost retrofitting
that are being practiced globally and can be applied in the country context according to standards and norms for the
seismic proof construction.
Thus, it is necessary to attract an international consultant - engineer to work in collaboration with the local expert(s)
on construction on analyzing, development of the guidelines and recommendations on the low cost and effective
methods of retrofitting.
Objective/goal of the consultancy/services
A Consultant-engineer will work on development of guidelines and recommendations on low cost retrofitting methods
for the educational institutions and other public facilities in collaboration with local engineer/expert on seismic proof
construction. The methods proposed to be in line with the international and national standards and norms for seismic
proof construction and retrofitting. The final product will be presented to the State Agency for construction for review
and further approval.
The following key documents should be considered, but not limited to:
 Report and data on schools, preschools safety assessment findings and recommendations;
 Law of the KR "On individual housing construction in the KR";
 Law of the KR "On the basis of urban planning legislation in the KR";
 Law of the KR "On urban planning and architecture in the KR";
 Code of the KR on Administrative Responsibility;
 Law of the KR "Technical Regulations on safety of construction materials, products
and designs”;
 Law of the KR "Technical regulations on the safety of buildings and structures;
 State program of the KR "Seismic safety in the KR for 2012-2015" approved by the resolution of the KR
Government as August 29, 2011, № 523;
 Standards and norm on seismic proof construction;
 Other related analysis reports, methodology, guidelines on retrofitting of public buildings.
Scope of work and key tasks
The Consultant, under the guidance and supervision of UNICEF Emergency Officer, will work on the following:
1. Review; map the methods of educational and other public buildings retrofitting that proved to be low cost and
effective (3 weeks);
2. In collaboration with local experts on construction, make an analysis of what methods can be replicated in
Kyrgyzstan and meet the recognized standards and norms on seismic construction (2 weeks);
3. Based on the information collected and analyzed, develop a draft guidelines and recommendations on low cost
and effective retrofitting of educational and other public buildings and present to the State Agency of architecture
and construction (4 weeks);
4. Finalize guidelines based on the feedback from local experts of the State Agency of architecture and construction
(2 weeks);
5. Submit a final report on the assignment (1 week).
In total, the Consultant will be working for 12 weeks, of which 4 weeks the incumbent will work in Kyrgyzstan
and 8 weeks he/she will be working on-line.
Key questions to be addressed
Review existing low cost methods of retrofitting of educational institution and other public buildings; develop a draft
guidelines with recommendations in collaboration with local experts on constructions; present draft guidelines to State
Agency for architecture and construction; finalize guidelines based on feedback received.
Final deliverables
Products
Deadline
Write up on low cost methods for retrofitting practiced and
proved effective that can be possible analyzed for replication in
Kyrgyzstan;
Draft guidelines with recommendations based on analysis
conducted with local expert against national standards and
norms on seismic proof construction and retrofitting presented
21 March 2014
2 May 2014
Payment
structure
50%
Final guidelines on educational and public buildings low cost
retrofitting complying with national standards and norms on
seismic proof construction and retrofitting
Final report on the assignment.
20 May 2014
25 May 2014
50%
Note: In all cases, consultants may only be paid their fees upon satisfactory completion of services. In such cases
where payment of fees is to be made in a lump sum, this may only be payable upon completion of the services to
UNICEF’s satisfaction and certification to that effect, and any advance on the lump sum may not exceed 30% of the
fees. In such cases where payment of fees is to be made in installments, the final installment may not be less than ten
per cent (10%) of the total value of the contract, and will only be payable upon completion of the services to
UNICEF’s satisfaction and certification to that effect.
Qualification requirements
Education: Advanced university degree in architecture and construction, engineering, or other related fields.
Specialized training, experience in disaster risk reduction is highly desirable;
Work Experience: Ten to fifteen (10-15) years of progressively responsible professional work experience at national
and international levels in safety/seismic assessment, civil construction, retrofitting, architecture, engineering.
Experience in disaster risk reduction is an asset.
Key competencies:
 Proven experience in safety assessments of buildings including educational institutions, retrofitting, construction
and in monitoring of the works;
 Proven experience in development of guidelines, manuals on retrofitting, construction, safety assessment;
 Proven ability to conceptualize and develop analytical documentation with recommendations (provide a copy of
previous report/publication/manual)
 Good communication and writing skills.
 Ability to work in an international or multicultural and team environment and develop partnerships.
 Computer literacy
Languages:
Fluency in English language is required. Fluency in Russian is desirable.
Performances indicators
Timeliness, quality, and completeness of deliverables;
Definition of supervision arrangements
The Consultant will work under the direct supervision of the UNICEF Emergency Officer.
Duty station and official travel involved
Duty station: It is planned that Consultant will be working both on-line and, where necessary, will be traveling to
Kyrgyzstan (up to 3 visits to Kyrgyzstan).
The monitoring and travel plans developed by Consultant in consultation with the UNICEF project team must be
approved by the UNICEF Emergency Officer.
Consultant is responsible for assuming costs for obtaining visas and travel insurance.
Travel paid for by UNICEF in advance, and travel costs reimbursed after travel, shall be based on economy class
travel, regardless of the length of travel, subject to exceptional approval of business class travel by the Head of Office/
Division Director, for example for medicals reasons when certified by UN Medical Services in New York.
Costs for accommodation, meals and incidentals shall not exceed applicable daily subsistence allowance (DSA) rates,
as promulgated by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC).
Estimated cost of consultancy and amount budgeted
To be proposed by an applicant and selected based on the “best value for money” approach. The consultant will be
paid upon successful completion of assignments and submission of the deliverables through bank transfer.
Source of funding: KIRA/2011/00000280, to be expired on 31.08.2014
DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED PRIOR TO SIGNING THE CONTRACT:
For Consultants and Individual Contractors:
1. Completed P11 form, copy of CV(s);
2. Self-statement of good health;
3. Proof of life and health insurance, if the Consultant is traveling outside of their home country;
4. Copies of security trainings\ certificates (Basic Security in the Field: http://bsitf.un.org.kg and Advanced
Security in the Field: http://bsitf.un.org.kg/asitf);
5. If the Consultant is a government employee, a written clearance of the Government has been provided;
6. Completed and signed Change or Revocation of Beneficiary form.
Note: In all cases, consultants may only be paid their fees upon satisfactory completion of services. In such cases
where payment of fees is to be made in a lump sum, this may only be payable upon completion of the services to
UNICEF’s satisfaction and certification to that effect, and any advance on the lump sum may not exceed 30% of the
fees. In such cases where payment of fees is to be made in installments, the final installment may not be less than ten
per cent (10%) of the total value of the contract, and will only be payable upon completion of the services to
UNICEF’s satisfaction and certification to that effect.
Drafted:
Tatiana Ten, UNICEF Kyrgyzstan Emergency Officer
Reviewed:
Jamilya Jusaeva, UNICEF Kyrgyzstan Operations Manager
Approved:
Jonathan Veitch, UNICEF Kyrgyzstan Representative
Date: