Consultancy Recruitment: National Consultancy on “Energy Audit for UNICEF Iran Office”

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, a Champion

Consultancy on “Energy Audit for UNICEF Iran Office”

Location: IRAN

Type of Contract: Individual Contract

Languages Required: English / Farsi

Background

To comply with UNICEF global strategies to reduce the environmental footprints of its offices through the internal procedures and operations, UNICEF Iran has aimed for an energy audit of its office building to identify the gaps in terms of energy efficiency and to find out solutions accordingly. In this respect, an evaluation of various energy-consuming operations and procedures as baseline assessment to determine energy-saving opportunities is needed. Moreover, the audit will determine and assess any wasteful and energy-conserving practices, operations and procedures and recommend adjustments to improve wasteful and maintain/reinforce energy-conserving practices/operations.

Scope of Work

1. Review the existing operational characteristics of the building: Through a series of meetings and site visits, identify the operating characteristics of the facility, energy system specifications, operating and maintenance procedures, preliminary areas of investigation, unusual operating constraints, anticipated future expansions or changes, training needs and other concerns related to facility operations.

2. Review existing documentation and management practice: All available facility documentation is reviewed by site representatives (where possible). This documentation should include all available architectural and engineering plans, facility operation, Interviews with facility managers/engineers, UNICEF EFAAT reports and maintenance procedures and logs, and utility bills for the current and previous year. The review should cover at a minimum:

a. Building energy intensity (e.g. heating, cooling & lighting systems)

b. Fuel sources

c. Maintenance contracts

d. Building energy management policies (if any)

e. Maintenance reports

g. Maintenance budgets

h. Utility bills

Revised 30 November 2021

i. Characteristics of the Building Automation System (if any) especially on monitoring of electricity consumption

3. Detailed inspection of site and preliminary energy audit: After a thorough review of the construction, operation and management documentation, the major energy consuming processes in the facility are further investigated. The inspection and energy audit shall focus on all passive and active systems available on site.

4. Formulation of Investment Grade Audit report: Upon the completion of the preliminary audit report and installation of the necessary energy monitoring tools/equipment on site for data collection, an Investment Grade Audit (IGA) report is to be produced for submission to UNICEF and the building owner. The report will recommend a series of no/low, medium and high investment grade measures. The IGA will look into details of technical measures including the economic benefits of implementing them. IGA report will also propose suitable financing modality including its approach for bankable proposals.

Methodology

The methodology requires a clear focus on the objective of improving overall energy utilization. This will be achieved through coordination with stakeholders, document review, facility inspection, utility analysis, energy calculations, economic analysis, data collection, desk research, interviews, meetings, report writing and so forth.

The UNICEF project team will not provide any equipment or technicians in executing the audit measurements. The consultant must sufficiently resource himself/herself in carrying out the audit work (where it shall be included in the Financial Proposal).

Expected Outputs

Investment Grade Energy audit report of the building to review and analyze existing operational and management characteristics of the building, including current GHG emission level, as baseline assessment. The report must provide a description of the methodology employed, equipment used, calculations, charts, findings and recommendations for energy efficient retrofits justified/accompanied with a cost and benefit analysis of the recommendations. The report shall address potential energy saving including the amount of GHG emission reduction. The report should address at a minimum the following (where possible):

a. Calculation of existing building energy intensity

b. Inventory of high impact energy consuming equipment

c. Review of purchased fuels sources

d. Review of utility bills and tariffs imposed

e. Review of operational procedures and constraints

f. Review of maintenance contracts

Revised 30 November 2021

g. Review of energy policies

h. Review of maintenance reports

j. Review of maintenance budgets

k. Review of training regimes

l. Recommendations of no/low, medium and high investment grade measures.

m. Potential energy savings including amount of GHG emission reduction.

a. Orientation and footprint

b. Window shading/glazing levels

c. Window design and leaks

d. Day light

e. Insulation

h. Natural ventilation

j. Air conditioning system (fan coils, air handling units, pumps, water temperatures, coefficient of performance, temperature, carbon dioxide emission levels, relative humidity levels and air change)

k. Boilers or hot water systems (flue gas, insulation and steam)

l. Lighting (operating schedules, zoning, lux levels, power densities)

m. Ventilation system and Indoor air quality

n. Building automation system (operational characteristics, maintenance requirements and accuracy)

o. Small power or plug loads

p. Lifts and escalators (operating schedule, harmonics, motors)

q. Electric supply and distribution (distribution profile, harmonics, power quality, power factor, maximum demand), emergency power systems efficiency and possible alternatives

Duration and Timeline:

Expected Duration of Assignment: 4 months

Verification:

Compliance of the contract implementation processes and its results with these Terms of Reference will be verified by UNICEF’s Greening Team and the Operations section.

Duty Station:

Home-based with possible site visits to UNICEF Iran Office.

Qualifications of the Successful Contractor:

Selection will be made based on review of technical capacity and the financial offer provided by the consultant. In terms of technical capacity, the Consultant is required to have the following eligibility criteria:

Mandatory Qualifications:

• Minimum of master’s degree in a relevant Engineering discipline

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in energy audit

• Knowledgeable in energy policies and energy management procedures

• Ability to analyze technical requirements in energy efficiency and energy management applications,

• Ability to analyze organizational policies and procedures,

• Strong analytical skills.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in Farsi

Note: The deliverables must be in English. Therefore, in case the consultant is not proficient in English, it remains her/his responsibility to prepare and submit the report in English (Any costs associated with translation, should be borne by the consultant).

How can you make a difference? 

Deliverables and timeframe:

1- Workplan and team composition (in 1 week)

2- Zero draft of Investment Grade Audit (IGA) including the presentation of the zero draft to UNICEF. Three progress reports before submission of zero draft on the project status and achievements. (in 3 months)

3- Final Investment Grade Audit (IGA) (including addressing UNICEF comments on the draft), (in 3 weeks)

How to apply (Documents to be submitted)

1. Cover letter on how your qualifications and experience can lead towards the successful delivery of this assignment within the required timeframe and quality level. Elaborate on similar experiences. (It should not be more than 1 page)

2. Technical proposal: Provide a technical document including the methodology on how you will approach and conduct the assignment as well as your team composition and respective responsibilities.

3. Financial Proposal. (As instructed below)

4. Personal CV including areas of expertise and past experience in similar projects and at least three references (not more than 4 pages)

Financial Proposal

Please follow the below format:

From (Please Indicate full name):

Total value of financial proposal: ……………………….. IRR

Date:    Signature:

Herewith I confirm my intent on provision of services in accordance with Terms of Reference.

Given the above, please see below the breakdown of my financial proposal:

• Workplan with project team composition (Percentage: 10% of the total fee – Delivery Time: 1 Week – Requested Fee: —————– IRR)

• Detailed site investigation, meetings with relevant stakeholders, mobilization of measurement and monitoring equipment on site and other measures for preparation of zero draft of Investment Grade Audit (IGA) including the presentation of the zero draft to UNICEF. The consultant must provide at least 3 progress reports to UNICEF during this period on the project status and achievements. (Percentage: 25% of the total fee – Delivery Time: 3 Months – Requested Fee: —————– IRR)

• Submission of the final Investment Grade Energy Audit report(s) of the building (Percentage: 65% of the total fee – Delivery Time: 3 weeks – Requested Fee: —————– IRR)

Notes:

• The contract’s total payment is expected to cover travel cost to join the duty station communication costs, costs of typing and preparing the soft and hard copies of documents and any other relevant costs regarding this activity (e.g. translation costs if applicable) for the applicant and her/his team members (if any).

• Each payment will be made in Iranian Rials upon satisfactory completion of the tasks and respective deliverables as per submission of deliverables/claims by the consultant and the project/UNICEF approvals.

• Each payment will be transferred by UNICEF through Electronic Fund Transfer to the IRR account number of the contractor introduced through an official letter indicating full banking information. Payments will be made according to UNICEF regulations as explained in the contract documents. Each payment will be made in Iranian Rial within 30 days from receipt of payment request and UNICEF’s verification.

• The National Consultant shall not do any work, provide any equipment, materials and supplies or perform any other services which may result in any cost in excess of the abovementioned amount.

• The travel costs to join duty station and repatriation, if applicable, shall be included in the financial proposal. (For the applicant and her/his team members (if any)).

Travel Requirements:

If travel is required under the contract, the individual contractor shall:

• Obtain the required Security Clearance from UNICEF office (the details of travel including date of departure and arrival, accommodation and purpose of travel shall be submitted to UNICEF office 2 working days before date of travel)

• Undertake the training courses on BSAFE and provide UNICEF with the certificate. The link to access the course is https://training.dss.un.org/course/category/6

The Contractor shall consult with the delegated authorities on the bases on Travel requirements before date of departure and arrival.

CANDIDATE SELECTION MATRIX

Selection criteria:

Technical 75 Points

1. Educational background– Weight points (5) Relevant engineering degree at the required level, e.g. Mechanical engineering, etc.

2. Years of experience working/advising relevant organizations – Weight points (10), each year 1 point

3. Direct experience in analyzing or preparing energy audit projects for institutions – Weight points (30), Each year 5 points

4. Favorability of technical proposal – Weight points (30)

Financial 25 Points

5. Favorability of financial proposal – Weight points (25) 

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).  

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.  

Remarks:  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.