REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (ROIE)

Individual Consultant for Consultancy Services
to Provide Architectural and Engineering Services
for the African Union Representation to the United Nations Office’s Conference Rooms in New York (TOR)

SUPPORT FOR CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT OF THE AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION AND OTHER AFRICAN UNION ORGANS PROJECT (P126848)
Grant No. IDA H9390

Reference No.: AUC/CDP/IC/03-2016

The African Union Commission has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the "Support for Capacity Development of the African Union Commission and Other African Union Organs Project (P126848)", and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services for the captioned assignment.

Development Objective of the Project (P126848): Strengthen African Union Commission’s capacity to facilitate economic development results and transformation through enhanced institutional efficiency. This will be achieved by enhancing the AUC's internal human resources and management systems, and supporting result-oriented external partnerships and collective actions designed to enhance the implementation of regional economic development initiatives in priority areas (e.g. regional trade, energy, infrastructure, governance, natural resource management) for the benefit of African Union member states, the Regional Economic Communities and African citizens.

Background

The African Union, established as a unique Pan African continental body, is charged with spearheading Africa’s rapid integration and sustainable development by promoting unity, solidarity, cohesion and cooperation among the peoples of Africa and African States as well as developing a new partnership worldwide. The Institution has the ambition to further enhance its effectiveness and efficiency to constantly adjust its operations to the evolving needs of the African citizens and drive the Continent’s integration and the institutional transformation process, a prerequisite for organization capacity and systems enhancement, which is required to support it.

In support of the AUC's 2014 strategic plan and Agenda 2063, essential elements for success of the AU Vision, the African Union Commission has received a grant from the International Development Association (IDA) to strengthen and develop its Capacity and other African Union Organs. In an effort to strengthen capacity of AUC and its organ, the Administrations and Human Resources Management Directorate (AHRMD) of AUC is undertaking several capacity development initiatives to modernize its systems that enable it to deliver on its mandates and vision of being "An integrated and prosperous Africa at Peace with itself".

Accordingly, AHRMD wishes to modernize one of the Conference Rooms of AU Representation to the UN in New York, USA with modern Multimedia Conferencing System and refurbishing to accommodate modern technology for Member States uses. The modern Digital Conference System will enhance the Commission's capacity in hosting and undertaking meetings by Member States with the expected business standards. It will also improve the existing information systems by providing complete and secure information storage, retrieving and sharing mechanisms. Thus, modern digital conference systems will meet the expectation of Member States by giving convenient platform to attend and undertake meetings.

The current conference system, which is 13 years ago, is outdated and the equipment are malfunction and some are broken. The model and make of the product which is being currently used is not manufacture by the manufacturer and the product line is discontinued. The Commission is not able to replace the product sine the manufacturer does not manufacture such product line anymore. The system has very week audio visual quality and get interrupted while session. The screens are very old model with low quality outputs. The lighting system is outdated and mostly the room has a very low brightness and is not completely convenient for users to read. In addition, the furniture used in the meeting room are very old and are not convenient for use for longer meeting sessions. Some of the furniture are broken and are not suitable for use. The roof has no sealing and the installed electromechanical and sanitary system are visible on the roof that leads the sound is the room is not absorbed within the room.

Objective of the Assignment

The objective of this assignment is to undertake designing, supervision and administration for execution of modernizing the African Union Representation to the United Nation Conference Room in New York, USA, with modern Multimedia Conferencing System and refurbishing to accommodate modern technology for Member States uses

Scope of the Assignment

To attain the specific objective, the consultant will carry out the below major tasks in three major stages; i, programming and drafting schematic design, ii, design and develop final requirements and biding documentation, and iii, supervision and administration of supply, installation and commission of work, under the supervision of the AHRM Director, who is a project manager under this assignment. The consultancy service will cover AU Representation Office in New York conference room. The assignment doesn’t require traveling to other AU offices outside New York.

The existing conference room was built in 2003. The capacity of the room is 116 participants. The building is located 346 East 50th Street, 10017, New York, NEW YORK, and the conference room is on 5th floor.

The Consultant would be selected based on the following minimum educational and experience criteria stated below:

• Architectural and engineering services (acoustics, audio visual, interpretation equipment and systems) and (Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing) MEP
• Valid and relevant practicing professional licence
• Advanced University degree in Engineering Related Fields
• Similar nature and complexity and who has done the design and construction administration’
• Five years’ experience in specifying requirement, designing and preparation of biding document for an audio/visual supply and installation contracts.
• Five years’ experience in supervision and contract administration of such audio/visual supply and installation contracts.
• Proven confirmation of documentation for complete set of architectural and engineering documentation for permitting and construction purposes.

The African Union Commission now invites eligible Individual Consultants to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Individual Consultants must provide information demonstrating that he/she has the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. Consulting firms may propose individual consultant, but only the experience and qualifications of individual shall be used in the selection process, and that his or her corporate experience shall not be taken into account, and the contract would be signed with the proposed individual.

This Call for Expression of Interest will lead to the preparation of a Short List of qualified Individual Consultants. For evaluation of the expressions of interest the following criteria will be applied:

a) Relevant Education Qualification and Relevant Training (25 points);
b) Experience Related to the Assignment (65 points);
c) Relevant experience working in the region, (10 points)

The attention of interested Individual Consultants is drawn to paragraph 1.9 of the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants by World Bank Borrowers dated January 2011. The Guideline is available on www.worldbank.org/procure. “Consultant Guidelines”, setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the with the procedures set out in the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants by World Bank Borrowers dated January 2011.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 8:00-13:00hrs and 14:00-17:00 hours Local Time.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (by mail, or by fax, or by e-mail) not later than 15:00 hours local time, May 13, 2016.

African Union Commission,
Attn: Carine Toure Yemitia
Head of Procurement Travel and Store Division
Building C, Room 327
P.O.Box 3243, Roosevelt Street
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tel: +251 (0) 11 551 7700 – Ext 4305
Fax: +251 (0) 11 551 0442; +251 11-551-0430
E-mail: tender@africa-union.org