INVITATION FOR PROPOSALS

The Ministry of Environment is seeking a consultant/firm for a period of 03 months to provide consultancy service for the development of certification and licensing system for refrigeration and air-condition servicing technicians.

Background

Maldives is a Party to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and has acceded to the Vienna Convention and Montreal Protocol in May 1998.  As a party to the Vienna Convention and Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, Maldives has phased out several ozone depleting substances (ODS). To comply with its obligations under the Montreal Protocol, Maldives is currently implementing the phase-out of Hydrochlouroflourocarbons (HCFCs) by 2020.

As part of the implementation of this program and relevant other programs of ODS include several technical components addressing the needs of the servicing sector. Training of servicing sector is an important part of the phase-out program as servicing technicians in the refrigeration and air-conditioning play a vital role in the protection of the ozone layer by adopting good practices during commissioning and decommissioning, maintenance and servicing of refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment. 

The phasing out of HCFCs has led to the increased in other alternatives including HFCs and many flammable and toxic refrigerants. Many of these refrigerants are different from commonly used refrigerants such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and HCFCs. Therefore, technicians need to be trained and certified to undertake the installation, servicing, repair and dismantling of refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment operating with such refrigerants.

Licensing and Certification are important in order to verify the competence of the personal handling equipment and refrigerants to ensure best practices and prevent leakage of the refrigerants. The competence of the personnel handling these refrigerants is important both from the environmental perspective (e.g. ozone depletion and climate change) and for safety reason.

Objective

 The main objective of the assignment is to develop the license and certification system to the refrigeration and air-conditioning servicing technicians.

Scope of services

1. Identify the existing mechanism to introduce the licensing and certification system
2. Review the existing national occupational standard for refrigeration and air-conditioning
3. Develop the competency standards in consultation with relevant Technical Panel (TP) and gain approval from sector council
4. Develop the instructional materials for the approved standard based on the guidance or format provided by the TVET Authority
5. Develop assessment resources for the approved standard based on the guidance or format provided by the TVET Authority
6. Identify and assess the institutes to conduct the trainings
7. Develop a mechanism and standard operating procedures for the license issuing authority to review and assess, and approve the requests for permits/license

Qualifications

• Hold an undergraduate degree in a relevant field OR a technical high school education with more than 5 years’ experience in training and development  
• Excellent verbal and written skills in English and Dhivehi
• Sound understanding of good servicing practices followed under Montreal Protocol will be an added advantage
• Ability to work in close cooperation with all key stakeholders
• Prior experience in standards development, especially in the management of technical and vocational education sector, will be an added advantage.

Financial Proposal

The consultant is expected to include in his/her proposal a lump sum fee in MVR for carrying out the tasks.

Schedule for the assignment

The consultant is expected to complete the tasks within 3 months.

Institutional Arrangement

The Consultant will report directly to Ozone Unit at Ministry of Environment and will be closely working with the TVET Authority. Consultant will be home based, however, the Consultant will be required attend all the relevant meetings arranged by the TVET Authority, Ministry of Higher Education and Ministry of Environment.

Weekly meetings will be scheduled at Ministry of Environment with Ozone Unit, TVET Authority and relevant institutions to provide updates, targets for the week, share and gather information and discuss way forward.

Selection Criteria

Selection will be based on academic qualification and experience. The consultant will be selected based on the following criteria:

Application and Submission

Interested consultant/firm may submit their proposals in a sealed envelope indicating the following:

• Summary of similar assignments performed in the past
• Curriculum Vitae of the consultant
• Attested copies of the academic certificates
• Financial proposal (fees for the assignment)
• Copy of National Identification Card(or Passport) / Sole proprietorship Certificate
• Company registration certificate/Company profile

Proposals shall be delivered to the Ministry of Environment, on or before 0900 hours of 27^th October, 2019. Proposals will be opened at 0900 hours in the presence of the parties who submitted the proposals and wish to attend the proposal opening. Late proposals will be rejected. Electronically submitted proposals are not acceptable.

Proposals must be addressed as below

Procurement Section                                                                                              

Ministry of Environment

Green Building, Handhuvaree Hingun, Maafannu­

Male’, 20392, Republic of Maldives

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.environment.gov.mv

For additional information:

[email protected]

3018361 / 3018369