Category: Tenders

Fundația Centrul Moldo Elvețian pentru Cooperare SKAT, implementer of the Ma Implic Project on Civic Engagement in local governance Phase II  ( hereinafter “Ma Implic”), funded by the Swiss Agency for Developement and Cooperation (SDC) is inviting the audit companies to submit offers for performing the yearly audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing ISA 805 “ Special Considerations─Audits of Single Financial Statements and Specific Elements, Accounts or Items of a Financial Statement”. 

BACKGROUND  INFORMATION 

Ma Implic project (Phase II) aims to contribute to improved local governance and better access and quality of public services for the population of Moldova. To this end, Ma Implic project supports different stakeholders to improve three fundamental dimensions of a well-functioning local government unit:     

• Partner LPA clusters to manage resources and local development in a more sustainable, inclusive and accountable way (Outcome 1);    

• The Government to promote and coordinate the local government reform in an efficient, effective and transparent manner (Outcome 2);    

• People in partner communities to meaningfully engage in local governance processes and to influence the provision of local public services (Outcome 3).    

Ma Implic Phase II commenced in November 2023 and will run until 31 October 2027.    

Overall budget for 4 years of project implementation is 6.96 mln CHF.  

In addition to the Ma Implic Phase II contract, the donor added an “additional credit” to this project. This “additional credit” is implemented on the basis of a separate budget with a total value of 2.65 mln CHF. This additional credit will be implemented during a period of 29 months (01 August 2024 – 31 December 2026).  

The overall goal of the additional credit is to contribute to the improved access and quality of public services for the rural populations. The activities focus specifically on  

• supporting 4 LPAs to improve their water supply systems with targeted interventions, based on the technical groundwork and investments that have been made in Phase 1 of the Ma Implic project.  

• the improvement of energy efficiency in targeted rural locations, aiming at a reduction of energy consumption through energy efficiency improvement measures.  

More information about the project can be found on the project’s website www.ma-implic.md and the project’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ProiectulMaImplic   

SUBJECT OF THIS TENDER 

Subject of this tender is the audit of the project expenditures for project year 1 (period 01.11.2023 – 31.10.2024) for the Ma Implic Phase II project and the expenditures for the Additional Credit for the period 01.08.2024 – 31.10.2024.  

The audit will be carried out in December 2024 and shall comprise one audit report for both budgets.  

The final report shall be submitted in English not later than January 15th 2025. 

Subject to satisfactory performance, the contract is subject for renewal for a period of up to 4 years as illustrated in the audit schedule below. 

Audit schedule 

Time of performing the audit	Project(s) audited	Est. value of operations audited
December 2024	Ma Implic 2 (11/23 – 10/24)	Up to 1 million CHF
	Add. Credit (08/24 – 10/24)	ca. 100’000 CHF
December 2025	Ma Implic 2 (11/24 – 10/25)	ca. 2 million CHF
	Add. Credit (11/24 – 10/25)	ca. 1 million CHF
December 2026	Ma Implic 2 (11/25 – 10/26)	ca. 2 million CHF
	Add. Credit (11/25 – 10/26)	ca. 1.2 million CHF
December 2027	Ma Implic 2 (11/26 – 10/27)	ca. 2 million CHF
	Add. Credit (11/26 – 12/26)	ca. 300’000 CHF

 Only audit companies with documented experience in auditing international projects are eligible.  

 Timetable for the submission of offers:

	DATE	DEADLINE
Requests for clarifications in written format	27/09/2024	17:00
Clarifications by Fundația Centrul Moldo Elvețian pentru Cooperare SKAT	30/09/2024	17:00
Deadline for submitting offers	06/10/2024	17:00

 Eligibility criteria 

Requirements	Documentary evidence
Only complete offers will be considered
The company/organisation is registered in Republic of Moldova	Copy of the registration certificate
License in providing audit services	Copy of the license certificate

 Each offer will be evaluated in accordance with the criteria and the weighting as detailed below. 

Evaluation criteria of eligible offers 

Criteria for evaluation of the Technical offer 

Requirements	Documentary evidence
Company profile (activities, turnover, clients). Minimum 5 years of experience in NGO sector, audit of international projects.	Company profile. Hard copy
Three references of having audited international organizations or projects (preferably International NGOs)	Copy of references
-          CV of the lead auditor employed by the company.  -          Certified Auditor certification  -          Minimum 5 years of experience required in auditing  -          Bachelor in Economy – preferably Banking, Finance and Accounting  -          Master degree in any finance subject is an advantage.  -          ACCA, CPA certification is an advantage	-          CV  -          Diplomas  -          Certifications  -          Personal references
-          Two CV(s) of the proposed staff employed by the company.  -          Minimum 3 years of experience required in auditing.  -          Bachelor in Economy – preferably Banking, Finance and Accounting  -          Master degree in any finance subject is an advantage.  -          ACCA, CPA certification is an advantage	-          CVs  -          Diplomas,  -          Certifications  -          Personal References

  Criteria for evaluation of the financial offer: 

Requirements	Documentary evidence
“Ma Implic Project Phase II” 01.11.2023 – 31.10.2024 , inclusive Additional Credit 01.08.2024 – 31.10.2024	Financial offer document presenting price for the audit of the overall project period 01.11.2023 – 31.10.2024

 The weighting of the criteria for evaluation of technical and financial offers are as follows: 

Criteria	Max points
Technical offer*	50
Company profile (activities, turnover, clients, experience)	10
Three references of having audited international organizations or projects (preferably International NGOs)	10
CV of lead auditor employed by the company	15
Two CV(s) of the auditing staff employed by the company	15
Financial offer for Nov 2023 – Oct 2024 (VAT 0%)  Bidders must state clearly whether the price offered for this tender (one year) is based on the value of expenditure audited or a fixed price which, in case of contract renewal, will also apply in subsequent years.   SKAT will evaluate the total maximum price for the 4 year period when comparing price offers.	50
Ma Implic project Phase II, incl. additional credit	50
Total maximum score	100

 Offers must be submitted in hard copy format only. Offers must be submitted using the double envelope system: the outer parcel or envelope shall be marked as: External audit of Fundația Centrul Moldo Elvețian pentru Cooperare SKAT, Ma Implic project Phase II. This shall contain two separate, sealed envelopes, one bearing the words ‘Technical Offer’ and the other ‘Financial offer’. 

Offers must be submitted by 06 October 2024 (17:00) in English language exclusively to the following address:  Alexei Mateevici 34, MD 2012, mun. Chisinau 

The questions and requests for additional information, inclusive ToR, must be addressed in written form and send to the email addresses daria.rotaru@int.skat.ch with CC matthias.morgner@skat.ch according to the timetable.    

REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS (RFQ)

Service:  Technical consultant(s) in the field of Solid Waste Management, Water Supply and Sanitation, Street Lighting, Roads and Local Transport, Public Infrastructure and Urban Planning

Project name: Project MĂ IMPLIC Phase 2 (2023 – 2027)

Contract duration: August 2024 – October 2027

Contract type:  framework service contract with legal entities (consulting firms)

Indicative starting date: 1^st of August 2024

1. BACKGROUND

The project “MĂ IMPLIC” aims to contribute to strengthening local governance and increasing the population’s access to better public services.  The project will support partners at the local and national levels to improve local governance in three fundamental dimensions:

• First-level LPA groups will be supported in the efficient management of resources and the promotion of sustainable and inclusive local development.
• The government will be encouraged to promote and coordinate local public administration reform in an efficient, effective, and transparent manner.
• Citizens in partner communities will be actively involved in the local governance process and will positively influence the quality of managed public services.

Following a competition launched in December 2023, the Project MĂ IMPLIC selected 14 groups of partner local public authorities (LPAs) from the North, Center, South, and Gagauzia regions for the second phase of the project, The complete list of selected partner LPAs can be downloaded by accessing this link.

More information about the project can be found on the project’s website www.ma-implic.md

The “MĂ IMPLIC” Project is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by Skat Consulting, from November 2023 to October 2027. The project covers the entire territory of the Republic of Moldova (except for administrative-territorial units on the left bank of the Dniester River).

2. PURPOSE OF THE CONSULTANCY

In the scope of this assignment, Ma Implic is looking to contract consulting firms which can provide a pool of individual experts to support project activities in rural LPA groups. Project activities in these LPA groups (comprising between 3 and 9 individual LPA) include (but are not limited to) investments in infrastructure for communal service delivery and local government functions. The main objective of the individual experts is to facilitate the implementation of selected local interventions on water supply and sanitation, public street lighting, solid waste management, roads and local transport as well as technical and consultative expertise of infrastructure construction and/or rehabilitation and urban planning projects.

We expect that at least three individual experts will be required to support the projects in the field of water supply and sanitation;

We expect that at least two individual experts will be required to support the projects in the field of waste management;

We expect that at least one individual expert will be required to support the projects in the field of street lighting;

We expect that at least three individual experts will be required to support the projects in the field of roads and infrastructure construction and/or rehabilitation, urban planning;

We expect that at least one individual expert will be required to support the projects in the field of local transportation.

At this point, the number of individual projects in each of the 14 partner LPA groups is not yet known in detail. Subsequently, the total number of projects in each field is not yet known. The identification of the (ca. 3) priority sectors (types of services) in each partner LPA group will be the result of a participatory analysis and consultation process which the Ma Implic project will facilitate in each of the 14 partner LPA groups.

At the first stage of their involvement the technical consultants will undertake a technical assessment of the current situation of the existing corresponding infrastructure and technical documentation, identifying major issues and determining the most appropriate and well-argued intervention options for each of the target projects. The Consultant(s) will provide technical assistance among beneficiaries in technical evaluation, preparation of interventions for investments, ensuring the compliance of projects with the national normative framework, thus ensuring cost effective capital investment and efficient use of resources. Before the investment phase the Consultant(s) will advise the project team and the beneficiaries on the best applicable solutions and will propose a set of recommendations for each intervention.

At the second stage (Investments) the consultant(s) will be expected to closely monitor the progress of works and supervise infrastructure sites and civil works within the target projects in accordance with technical design, contract requirements and the legislation of the Republic of Moldova. The consultant(s) will also support the project beneficiaries in the process of accepting the final work.

3. PERIOD OF ASSIGNEMENT and SCOPE OF WORK

Consultants for projects in the field of water / sanitation: August 2024 – July 2025, with a possibility for extension, subject to progress of the individual projects. The estimated scope of work is 40 days for one project.

Consultants for projects in the field of waste management: August 2024 – April 2025, with a possibility for extension, subject to progress of the individual projects. The estimated scope of work is 10 days for one project.

Consultants for projects in the field of street lighting: August 2024 – April 2025, with a possibility for extension, subject to progress of the individual projects. The estimated scope of work is 10 days for one project.

Consultants for projects in the field of roads and infrastructure construction and/or rehabilitation: August 2024 – April 2025, with a possibility for extension, subject to progress of the individual projects. The estimated scope of work is 10 days for one project.

Consultants for projects in the field of urban planning: August 2024 – December 2025, with a possibility for extension, subject to progress of the individual projects. The estimated scope of work is 20 days for one project.

Consultants for projects in the field of local transportation: August 2024 – December 2025, with a possibility for extension, subject to progress of the individual projects. The estimated scope of work is 10 days for one project.

 

4. ACTIVITIES AND EXPECTED RESULTS

The Consultant(s) will undertake the following tasks for each selected intervention (regardless of the sector / type of service)

	Name of OUTPUT	Activities	Remarks
1	Technical assessment	Undertake the technical assessment with the Local Action Group to evaluate and analyze the proposed scheme as per demand collection form and decide if a scheme is feasible from a technical point of view. Sharing the findings of technical assessment with the Task manager.
2	Prepare an assessment report	As an output after the technical assessment (1), a succinct report shall be drafted (ENG or ROM languages)
3	Design technical solutions	Based on assessment report at least two suitable intervention options will be developed	Strictly follow Government of Moldova standards for design standard specifications and consider MA IMPLIC practices and methodology
4	Selection of appropriate for local needs solution	Advice Local Action Group on selection of appropriate for local needs.	Local Action group should select one from a few technical solutions proposed by Consultant(s)
5	Capacity building orientation and training	Support to the LPA to select and contract a qualified (certified) engineering bureau to develop technical specifications for the procurement. Participation as a member of the evaluation committee for the selection of contractors. This would include initial orientation on Local Action Group mobilization, construction management, and imparting required skills for management, operation and maintenance of service	Before investments, during construction/acquisition and post construction/acquisition as appropriate
6	Site layout and Material/Equipment quality assessment	The Local Action Group is given technical advice on construction material/equipment quality. The consultancy should help the community to check the standards during or after purchase. Such orientation can be done with site layout.	Inclusion of Local Action Group (population) on implementation process
7	Quality management of constructions works including site supervision, technical and managerial support to Local Action group for the management of contracts for construction works/equipment procurement.	Supervision ensures that the scheme is built according to the technical design and specifications, equipment correspond to the proposed solution	According to Investment Contract and Calendar Schedule
8	Work measurement and work completion report	Checking whether the quality of completed work is satisfactory. When the construction work is completed and meets the quality requirements, the Consultant(s) prepares a work completion report	According to Investment Contract and Calendar Schedule

 

5. QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

The technical consultant should have an education and knowledge in civil engineering, water and sanitation, national construction codes and standards, building laws, local transport as well as extensive experience in implementing community development projects. In particular:

• Education: University Degree in civil engineering, water, sanitation or architecture, and/or other relevant area;
• Work experience: at least 3 years of work experience in the field of civil engineering;
• Technical-professional attestation certificate issued by national authority INCERCOM;
• Extensive experience in monitoring/supervision/supporting infrastructure and civil works, preferably street light renovation, water and sanitation networks. Working experience with the community of Ma Implic project (phase I) is an advantage:
• In depth knowledge of national legislation related to the construction works;
• Experience within community development programs is an asset;
• Language skills: excellent command of written and spoken Romanian and Russian is required; knowledge of English is an asset;
• Computer proficiency, including knowledge of MS Office products (Word, Excel, Power Point);
• High level of responsibility and organization capacities, creative approach to solving issues;
• Excellent communication and reporting skills;
• Ability to meet deadlines and prioritize multiple tasks;
• Capacity to communicate fluently with different stakeholders (civil society, local authorities, local communities, project staff);
• Driving license category B and availability of travel with own car.

6. APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Qualified and interested consulting firms are requested to apply.

The application must contain:

a) Company Profile;

b) CVs of involved experts in Romanian or (preferably) English language. Expert CVs shall indicate the education background and professional qualifications of the individual experts, their relevant experience, as well as contact details of the candidate/s;

c) No less than two, but no more than 5 professional references which give information about the work of the company.

d) A Financial offer for a fee per one working day, including all types of expenditures (admin costs, salaries, transportation etc.). The offers must be presented with a 0% VAT exemption applied.

Interested candidates are requested to submit their application to info@int.skat.ch , quoting “Technical consultant(s)” in the subject line. The deadline for applications is 27 of July 2024.

Engineering consulting firms are eligible for this assignment. Applications by individual consultants (acting as physical persons) will not be considered.

Interested candidates could have several options to apply: a) for one Lot and  b) for several Lots/all Lots
Applications need to include a clear and unambiguous reference to one or several of the Lots from the list below.

Lot 1	Solid Waste Management
Lot 2	Water Supply and Sanitation
Lot 3	Street Lighting
Lot 4	Roads and Infrastructure Construction and/or Rehabilitation
Lot 5	Urban Planning
Lot 6	Local transportation

7. AWARD OF CONTRACTS

MĂ IMPLIC Project will first evaluate quotations for compliance with the mandatory requirements/ elements of this RFQ. Quotations that do not contain all mandatory requirements/ elements will not be considered.

Each Lot will be evaluated individually

Evaluation of offers will be performed according to the following evaluation criteria:

Category	Points
Relevant experience, capacity and proven expertise: Minimum three years of successful work experience in selected sector proven by relevant company profile.   (see Section 6, item (a))	20
Technical expertise: CVs of individual experts (see Section 6, item (b))	30
The degree to which the Offeror demonstrates a very good professional reputation as evidenced by at least 2, but no more than 5 recommendation letters. (see Section 6, item (c))	10
Price (see Section 6, item (d))	40
Total	100

The project reserves the right to consider awarding separate contracts for individual Lots or for several, or all Lots to one contractor.

The project may engage in negotiations with bidders for clarification if deemed necessary.