Terms

 of  Reference  
 
Independent  Technical/Engineering  Auditor  under  Sustainable  Transport  Infrastructure  
Improvement  Program  (STIIP)  funded  by  the  Solomon  Islands  National  Transport  Fund  
(NTF)  
 
1.0 Introduction  
 
1. The   Central   Project   Implementation   Unit   (CPIU)   of   the   Ministry   of   Infrastructure  
Development   (MID)   is   currently   implementing   a   five-­‐year   Sustainable   Transport  
Infrastructure   Improvement   Program   (STIIP)   being   funded   under   the   National   Transport  
Fund   (NTF)   of   the   Solomon   islands   with   contributions   from   SIG   and   donor   agencies,  
Department   of   Foreign   Affairs   and   Trade   (DFAT)   of   the   Government   of   Australia,   and   the  
Asian  Development  Bank  (ADB).    
 
2. The   Sustainable   Transport   Infrastructure   Improvement   Program   (STIIP-­‐the   program)   was  
approved   in   2016   to   improve   Solomon   Islands   transport   infrastructure   financed   by   the  
National   Transport   Fund   (NTF).   The   executing   agency   for   the   program   is   the   Ministry   of  
Finance   and   Treasury   (MOFT),   and   the   implementing   agency   is   the   Ministry   of  
Infrastructure   Development   (MID).   MID   is   responsible   for   the   development,   and  
maintenance   of   Solomon   Islands   domestic   maritime   and   land   transport   infrastructure  
through   the   CPIU.   STIIP   aims   to   improve   the   quality   of   maintenance   and  
rehabilitation/construction  of  transport  infrastructures,  i.e.,  roads,  bridges,  and  wharves  –  in  
the  Solomon  Islands.  
 
3. The   proposed   program   will   support   the   sub-­‐projects   prioritized   and   approved   for   funding  
through   National   Transport   Fund   (NTF).   The   CPIU   Director   leads   the   STIIP   and   supported  
by  a  core  Consultant  team  of  four  international  Consultants;  a  program  lead,  a  management  
accounting,   and   operations   specialist,   a   procurement   and   contract   management   specialist  
and  a  safeguards  specialist  recruited  through  an  attached  Technical  Assistance  (TA).    
 
4. The  scope  of  work  to  be  undertaken  by  the  program  over  2017-­‐2020  are:  (i)  approximately  
640   km   of   unsealed   roads   maintained,   (ii)   approximately   154   km   of   sealed   roads  
maintained,   (iii)   30   bridges   maintained,   (iv)   10   wharves   maintained,   (v)   at   least   30km   of  
sealed  roads  rehabilitated,  (vi)  4  wharves  rehabilitated,  (vii)  6  gender-­‐responsive  structures  
built,   (viii)   installation   of   traffic   calming   measures   implemented   in   10   locations.   All   works  
will   incorporate   gender   sensitive   designs   including,   where   relevant,   construction   of  
walkways  and  provision  of  laundry  facilities  in  streams  alongside  of  the  road.  
 
5. MID   intends   to   recruit   a   qualified   Individual   Consultant   (IC)   to   carry   out   a   technical  
engineering   audit   to   establish   whether   the   construction   procedure,   workmanship   and  
materials   used   for   execution   of   the   works   are   in   accordance   with   those   specified   in   the  
contract  documents  and  followed  the  international  best  practices.  This  will  provide  critical  
technical   advice   to   MID/CPIU   and   the   contractors   to   ensure   quality   of   the   civil   works   and  
recommend   measures   to   be   taken   to   avoid/reduce   delays   in   civil   work   implementation.   The  
audit  engagement  will  be  for  a  period  of  2.5  months  (50  working  days)  time  input  subject  to  
an  annual  review  of  the  implementation  under  the  STIIP.    
 
 
2.0 Scope  of  Consulting  Services  
 
6. The  audit  will  be  performed  on  representative  samples  (at  least  30%  of  ongoing  contracts)  
of   machine-­‐-­‐based   civil   works   contracts   procured   under   STIIP   to   give   conclusions   about   the  
performance   of   the   transport   infrastructure   maintenance.   Whilst   it   is   intended   that   the  
 technical   audit   will   be   conducted   on   the   selected   samples,   the   audit   approach   can   also   be  
directed   towards   the   sub-­‐projects   that   are   poorly   performing,   and   if   required,   the  
assessment  can  be  intensified  to  find  out  the  reason  of  non-­‐performance.  
 
7. The   consultant   will   go   through   the   findings   of   the   technical   audit   undertaken   in   2015   and  
assess   what   recommendations/actions   were   implemented   in   STIIP   following   the   audit   to  
improve  the  works  maintenance  and  rehabilitation  program.  
 
3.0 Detailed  Tasks  and  Expected  Output  
 
8. The   consultant   will   thoroughly   inspect   the   works   and   recommend   remedial   actions   for   each  
location  with  shortcomings  identified.  The  consultant  will  drive  through  the  complete  length  
of  the  road  sections  and  will  thoroughly  inspect  the  civil  works,  paying  particular  attention  
to   drainage   works,   structures,   cut   slopes,   their   steepness   and   protection,   the   quality   of  
pavement  structures  and  surfaces.  The  aim  is  to  identify  the  quality  shortcomings  for  each  
section  and  propose  adequate  corrective  measure(s).  This  may  imply,  among  others,  fixing  
pavement   or   structures   or   demolishing   and   rebuilding   them.   The   consultant   may   also  
identify  the  need  for  additional  tests  to  be  carried  out  by  the  respective  construction  firms  
or  the  employer.  If  the  consultant  identifies  the  need  for  additional  test,  the  area  where  the  
test   needs   to   be   conducted   and   type   of   test(s)   should   be   clearly   specified.   The   output   of   this  
inspection  should  be  a  list  that  specifies  the  quality  shortcoming  and  the  necessary  actions  
as  remedies  for  these  shortcomings,  including  the  required  timing  for  the  remedial  actions.  
The   consultant   may   want   to   support   the   list   of   points   with   quality   shortcomings   through  
pictures.    
 
9. Provide   strategic   recommendations   to   improve   works’   quality   and   accelerate   civil   work  
implementation   progress.   The   consultant   will   assess   at   adequacy   of   facilities,   equipment,  
materials,   the   quantity   and   competence   of   staff   of   both   the   contractor   and   the   CPIU  
supervision   teams,   the   appropriateness   and   effectiveness   of   the   systems   employed,  
processes   applied   in   construction,   quality   control,   measurement   and   quality   assurance,  
payment   regularity   and   any   other   aspect   related   to   civil   work   quality   and   implementation  
speed.   Based   on   this   assessment   and   the   specific   quality   shortcomings   observed,   the  
consultant  is  expected  to  provide  strategic  recommendations  to  improve  the  overall  quality  
of   civil   works   in   a   sustainable   manner,   identify   the   real   reasons   behind   the   delays   in   civil  
work   implementation,   and   provide   advice   on   the   measures   to   be   taken   by   the   contractor,  
CPIU  team  and  the  supervision  consultants  to  make  sure  that  future  delays  can  be  avoided.  
 
10. The   consultant   is   expected   to   do   a   gap   analysis   to   identify   capacity   constraints   for   CPIU  
and  the  contractors  employed  under  the  program.  
 

3.1   Outputs  
 
11. The   outputs   of   this   activity   will   include   a   simple   report   that   lists   all   locations   with  
quality   shortcomings   and   the   necessary   remedial   actions,   including   tests,   along   the   inspected  
road  section/bridge/wharf/drain  and  specifies  and  practical  recommendations  to  improve  the  
overall  quality  of  civil  works  and  avoid  additional  construction  delays.    
 
12. The  consultant  will  discuss  the  inspection  findings,  the  necessary  corrective  measures  
and   the   strategic   recommendations   for   the   contractor,   CPIU   team   and   the   supervision  
consultants.  
 
 
 
13. The  consultant  may  also  be  required  to  follow-­‐-­‐up  on  the  remedial  actions.  
 
3.2   Audit  Reports  
 
14. The   report(s)   will   highlight   findings   of   non-­‐compliance   of   implementation   rules,  
procedures  and  requirements.    In  contracts  management,  the  report(s)  will  highlight  significant  
deviations  from  works  specifications,  construction  schedule,  and  contract’s  commercial  terms  
and  conditions.    
 
15. The  consultant  is  expected  to  exercise  professional  judgement  in  assessing  the  overall  
quality   of   the   construction   and   how   they   were   conducted.     Therefore,   beyond   reporting   the  
findings   of   the   audit,   the   report   should   also   contain   the   audit   consultant’s   professional  
judgement   and   analysis,   supported   by   evidence,   and   recommendations   for   future   actions.     In  
connection   with   this,   the   Client   reserves   the   right   to   request   copies   of   audit   matrices   or  
worksheets   containing   findings,   and   pertinent   documents,   including   responses   to   audit  
performed.      
 
16. Submission  dates  of  draft  and  final  audit  reports  and  other  deliverables  are  outlined  in  
Section  5.0.  
 
4.0          Qualifications  of  Individual  Consultant  
 
o University  Degree  in  civil  engineering,  Construction  Management,  transport  or  other  
area  relevant  to  the  assignment  
o At  least  5  years  of  relevant  international  work  experience  in  the  supervision,  
management,  and/or  design  of  road  works    
o Experience  in  project,  asset  and  risk  management  for  roads,  bridges,  and  other  
transport  infrastructures  involving  slope  stabilization  and  drainage  systems  
o Experience  in  pacific  countries  is  required    
o Fluency  in  English  
 
Minimum  General  Experience  5  Years  
Minimum  Specific  Experience  (relevant  to  assignment)  5  Years  
Regional/Country  Experience  Required  
 
5.0 Deliverables  
 
Following  are  the  individual  consultant’s  expected  deliverables,  their  delivery  submission  dates  
for  payment  triggers:  
 
Deliverables   Due  Dates   Percentage     Cumulative  
Payment   Payment  
Inception  Report  and  Audit  Plan   Due  within  five  (5)  working   10%   10%  
days  of  the  commencement  
of  the  assignment  
Draft  Audit  Report   Due  eight  (8)  weeks  after   70%  after   80%  
commencement  the   acceptance  
assignment     of  draft  
report  
Final  Audit  Report   Due  within  ten  (10)  working   20%  after   100%  
days  from  receipt  of  Client’s   acceptance  
comments  on  the  draft   of  final  
report   report  
  
 
Annex  A  –  Project  Work  Plan  with  List  of  Deliverables  and  their  Due  Dates    
 
WORKPLAN  
 
 
Deliverable   Due  Date  
Mobilisation   December  2020  
Audit   Plan   (inclusive   of   the   Five   (5)   working   days   after  
Inception  Reception  Report)   commencement  
Field  Trip  for  validation   To  be  planned  
Draft  Audit  Report   Eight   weeks   after  
commencement  the  assignment  
Final  Report   March   2021   (10   Working   days  
after  receiving  comments)  
 
  

Annex  B:  Breakdown  of  Contract  Prices  and  Payment  Schedule  

Notes:  
1. Remuneration:   Remuneration   fees   will   be   paid   based   on   actual   days   worked   as   per   approved  
Timesheet   linked   to   Client’s   satisfactory   acceptance   of   deliverables;   timesheets   shall   be  
signed/approved  by  the  Contract  Administrator/Coordinator.  
2. Out-­‐of-­‐Pocket  Expenses:  
i. Per  Diems:  per  diems  covers  costs  of  daily  accommodation,  food,  transport  fares  to  and  from  work  
station,  and  other  daily  sustenance;  it  will  be  paid  in  arrears  based  on  approved  timesheet  without  
receipts;  
ii. International   Airfare:   Consultant   is   allowed   1   international   round   trip.   Airfares   will   be   economy  
class,   to   be   reimbursed   upon   submission   of   used   ticket(s),   receipt   of   purchase,   and   boarding  
pass(es)  as  evidence  of  travel;  
iii. Provision   for   In-­‐country   Travel   Expenses:   reimbursement   of   expenses   incurred   during   visits   to  
project  sites  which  include  costs  of  airfares,  boat  hires,  or  vehicle  hires,  and  associated  costs;  for  
the  purpose  of  claims:  for  airfare,  must  submit  used  ticket,  receipt  of  purchase,  boarding  pass(es)  
as   evidence   of   travel;   for   boat   and   vehicle   hires,   and   associated   costs,   must   submit   proof   of  
payment;  
iv. Contingency:  Provision  for  unforeseen  costs  and  expenses  subject  to  allocation  by  Client;    
v. Communication:  fixed  amount  and  paid  in  arrears  based  on  approved  timesheets  without  receipt;  
vi. Insurance:  premium  cost  of  health  and  accident  insurance  will  be  reimbursed  on  presentation  of  
original  copy  of  receipt  or  proof  of  payment;  
3. Local   taxes:   SIG   may   require   20%   withholding   tax   (WHT)   to   be   deducted   from   gross   remuneration  
(fees)  from  fee  invoice  sums  (fee  claim).  A  WHT  payment  receipt  shall  be  issued  to  the  Consultant  as  
evidence  (for  foreign  tax  credit).  

Notes:
Engagement period: 50 working days from December 2020
International travel: 1 international round trip;
 
 
B2.   Schedule  of  Payment  
 
Payment   of   remuneration   fees   upon   Clint’s   satisfactory   acceptance   of   the   following  
deliverables/reports  for  individual  mission  inputs:  
 
• Inception  Report  (which  contains  the  Audit  Plan)  
• Draft  Report  
• Final  Report  
 
Payment   by   the   Client   to   be   no   later   than   thirty   (30)   days   upon   Client’s   satisfactory   acceptance  
of  the  Final  Report  for  each  individual  payment  triggers  as  discussed  in  Section  5.0.    Consultant  
invoices   to   include   timesheet   and   receipts   as   per   Annex   B1   Breakdown   Contract   Prices   and  
Payment  Schedule  of  Contract  Agreement.        
 ANNEX  C  –  Reporting  Requirements  
 
 
A. Inception  Report  
 
Consultant’s  Inception  Report  (Mission  No._)  
As  of  [Date]  
 
[Note:     This   Report   documents   the   Consultant’s   Audit   Plan   methodology.   It   also   documents   the  
problems  and  difficulties  he/she  encountered  in  prior  missions  and  these  will  be  addressed  in  this  
mission].    
 
 
 
1. Audit  Plan:  
 
[The   Client   needs   to   know   the   Consultant’s   proposed   Audit   Plan   and   scope   of   work.   It   also  
needs  to  address  issues  raised  in  prior  missions,  if  any,  the  reasons  and  actions  to  overcome  
anticipated  challenges].    
 
Prepared  by:    
   
 
   ____________________            
                       (Consultant)    
 
Date  _________________    
 
  
 
 
B. Final  Report  
 
 
Consultant’s  Completion  Report  
Date  _____________  
 
[Note:    This  Report  summarizes  the  Consultant’s  experience  in  performing  the  assignment..]  
 
 
 
1. Background  
 
[This   section   describes   the   tasks   the   Consultant   was   engaged   to   perform   and   the  
corresponding  outputs/deliverables  he/she  was  expected  to  produce  and  deliver  on  promised  
dates  indicated  in  his/her  approved  Work  Plan.      
 
2. Accomplishments  
 
[This   section   summarizes   the   Consultant’s   accomplishments,   and   non-­‐accomplishments,   if  
any,  after  having  completed  the  assignment].    
 
3. Problems  Encountered  and  Actions  Taken    
 
[The   Client   is   interested   to   know   the   key   problems   and   difficulties   encountered   by   the  
Consultant   in   the   course   of   performing   the   assignment   and   the   actions   taken   in   dealing   with  
those   problems.   It   would   be   interesting   to   know   which   approaches   worked   and   which   ones  
did  not.  (If  those  same  problems  occurred  again  in  the  future,  how  would  the  Consultant  have  
dealt  with  them].    
 
4. Lessons  Learned  and  Recommendations  
 
[Briefly  describe  the  lessons  that  can  be  learned  from  the  assignment  such  as  best  practices  
developed,   bad   practices   that   should   be   avoided,   etc.   The   Client   will   value   any  
recommendations  that  the  Consultant  think  the  Client  should  consider].  
 
 
Prepared  by:    
   
 
   ____________________            
                       (Consultant)    
 
Date  _________________