TERMS OF REFERENCE

Consultancy to provide technical support on implementing household roof-top Solar Energy

in Thap Muoi District, Dong Thap province.

1.     BACKGROUND INFORMAION:

Since its initiation in 2001, Habitat for Humanity International has been actively involved in Vietnam. Habitat Vietnam has consistently pursued a comprehensive housing approach, dedicated to enhancing living conditions and eradicating poverty housing by empowering communities to take ownership of the improvement process. Our housing services have fostered collaboration with various stakeholders, facilitating the support of families and community members in building strength, stability, and self-reliance. This commitment is realized through increased access to affordable and safe shelter, guided by thematic areas such as inclusive housing, safe and resilient communities, housing affordability, and government-people engagement. Our project footprint extends across various regions, including Thai Nguyen, Hoa Binh, Phu Tho, Thai Binh in the north; Ha Tinh and Quang Nam in the central; and Long An, Dong Thap, and Tien Giang in the southern part of Vietnam.

A noteworthy initiative currently underway is the implementation of the "Clean Energy-Green Community" project. This project aims to assist impoverished and low-income families not officially connected to the national electric grid in accessing solar energy sources. Through the "Clean Energy-Green Community" project, Habitat Vietnam reaffirms its unwavering dedication to improving the living conditions of the Vietnamese population.

2.     OVERAL OBJECTIVES:

Habitat Vietnam is presently in the process of contracting consulting services, either from an individual expert or a proficient team, possessing specialized knowledge and practical experience in household-level solar energy. The primary objective of this initiative is to conceptualize and design a domestic electric system utilizing solar panels tailored to meet the essential living needs of disadvantaged families in Thap Muoi District, Dong Thap province. The designated consultant(s) will assume a crucial role in providing support to Habitat Vietnam's bidder selection board. Responsibilities encompass a meticulous review of bidding documents and furnishing technical advice to facilitate the selection of the most suitable bidder for the project. Additionally, the consultant(s) will be entrusted with formulating a comprehensive training content and plan, intended to serve as a cornerstone for the integral training activities of the project.

Furthermore, the appointed consultant(s) will be responsible for on-site monitoring and evaluation of the solar electric system installation. The key requirements and objectives that the consultant(s) are expected to deliver encompass the following:

2.1  Community Engagement and Needs Assessment:

• Conduct on-site visits to Thap Muoi District for a thorough needs assessment.
• Engage with local communities to understand their unique requirements and challenges related to energy access.

2.2  Conceptualization and Design:

• Develop a conceptual framework for the household roof-top solar energy system..
• Create detailed design specifications that cater specifically to the essential living needs of disadvantaged families.
• Integrate sustainability principles into the design, ensuring the long-term viability of the solar energy systems.

2.3  Bidding Document Development:

• Prepare bidding documents to call for applications from bidders to provide the roof-top solar energy system.
• Provide insightful feedback to the bidder selection board to ensure a comprehensive understanding of each proposal.
• Offer technical expertise to the bidder selection board for evaluating the feasibility and effectiveness of proposed solar energy solutions.
• Help identify potential challenges and opportunities associated with each bidder's proposal.

2.4  Training Content and Plan:

• Formulate a comprehensive training content that covers all aspects of the domestic electric system.
• Design a training plan that ensures effective knowledge transfer to both end-users and local technicians.
• Provide training for local technical teams and beneficiary groups.

2.5  Monitoring and Evaluation Framework:

• Develop a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to assess the impact of the solar energy project over time.
• Define key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success of the initiative.

2.6  Documentation and Reporting:

• Maintain detailed documentation of all project-related activities.
• Provide regular progress reports to Habitat Vietnam, highlighting achievements, challenges, and recommendations.

3.     SCOPE OF WORKS & TIMELINE:

No	Tasks	Deliverables	Details	Proposed Timeframe
1	Community Engagement and Needs Assessment	Field trip report	Working with Habitat Vietnam’s program teams to plan the field trip for needs assessment. The consultant(s) will have 1 day for assessment at 1 commune (not including travel time)	3 days in February 2024
2	Conceptualization and Design	Designing Drawing BOQ	-       Based on the collected and analyzed information from the field trip, the consultant(s) will develop suitable solutions for solar electric systems.	5 days in March 2024
3	Bidding Document Development and provide input for technical aspects of the contract	Bidding document developed	The consultant(s) will work with Habitat’s project leader to review and provide feedback on the proposals of the bidder. Review and provide inputs for the contract with the selected bidder	3 days in April 2024
4	Training Content and Plan	Curriculum	The consultant(s) will work with Habitat’s project leader to curriculum on household-level solar system operation and maintenance.	5 days in April 2024
5	Monitoring and Evaluation Framework	M&E plan M&E report	The consultant(s) will work with Habitat’s project leader to agree on the M&E plan. The consultant(s) will send the M&E reports after conducting M&E duties (Maximum 5 trips).	5 days in May and June 2024
6	Provide training course	Training report	The consultant(s) will work with Habitat’s project team to provide 1 training for local staff and 2 training for local people.	5 days in April 2024

The consultant is expected to engage in this consultancy service in 26 days. The working day may change to reflect the need and reality.

4.     QUALIFICATION:

The consultant(s) will be required to meet the following requirements:

• Demonstrate a deep understanding of household roof-top-solar energy systems; and related products, technologies and market price.
• Showcase hands-on experience in designing and implementing similar projects;
• Good analytical, presentation, and writing skills;
• Fluent Vietnamese and good English is preferable.

5.     APPLICATION:

Habitat for Humanity International is an equal opportunity organization and committed to safeguarding. We pay high attention to the safeguarding of stakeholders in our operations. We recruit people based on their suitability compared to the requirements. Interested candidate(s) should include the below documents in the application package:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV) showing relevant experiences.
• Technical proposal that meets all the goals, describing how you will accomplish the tasks including a time frame, method, and any other ideas.
• A detailed budget estimation including consultant fees and other costs based on the estimation of 26 working days, specify daily consultant fee rate); associated costs for travel, meals, and accommodation will be arranged and covered by Habitat Vietnam as per its cost norms.

While we appreciate all responses, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Note: These documents in English or Vietnamese are accepted. 

Applications should be submitted via e-mail to [email protected] with the subject line “[Your name] _Household Roof-top SOLAR”, no later than 29 February 2024.

Organization: Habitat
Location:
Application deadline: 2024-02-29
Send application to: [email protected]