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FORM AM 10-8:

Request for Expression of Interest (EOI)

Limited International Competition (LIC)

Country of Destination: Tokyo, Japan

Reference Number: KAB/17/CLT/EOI/003

Description: The Future of the Bamiyan Buddha Statues: Technical Considerations & Potential Effects on Authenticity and Outstanding Universal Value

Deadline for Submission of EOI: 03 March 2017

Posting Date: 20 February 2017

[Budget Code and Amount]: [536AFG4006]

United Nations Educational, Science and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) hereby invite qualified entities to submit their expression of interest for a planned solicitation process as follows:

Objectives and Scope

The destruction of the Bamiyan Buddha statues in Afghanistan in 2001, and the subsequent destruction of archaeological sites across the Middle East by so-called Islamic State, have catalysed debate about the ethics and methods of conservation and preservation of destructed cultural properties in post-conflict settings.

Moving away from material-focused conservation methodologies developed in Western schools of practice, today’s conservation ethics are coloured by diverse perspectives that recognise the multiplicity of values attributed to heritage sites. In particular, there is a growing overlap between conservation ethics and the principles of human rights. To destroy cultural heritage is to deny people’s heritage, their identity, and even their dignity. To rebuild cultural heritage, therefore, requires a sensitive approach to human rights.

A three-day technical meeting and one day international symposium will take place in Tokyo from 27th - 30th September 2017, to discuss the ethics of conservation and reconstruction in Bamiyan. Although the Symposium will focus on Bamiyan specifically, it will be universally relevant, creating an important precedent for post-conflict reconstruction. The workshop shall be followed by a two-day Bamiyan Working Group from 1st-2nd October 2017 to coordinate additional conservation activities in Bamiyan, other than those at the Buddha site.

The technical meeting and Symposium will bring together global experts in conservation, archaeology and restoration, as well as Afghan community representatives and Government officials, to exchange ideas about a suitable way forward in Bamiyan. Experts will be asked to submit papers in advance of the events in order to generate debate and discussion. These papers, along with the output of the gathering, are planned to be published widely through academic peer review platforms.

A scientific committee of leading academics and conservation practitioners will invite experts to submit their papers, which shall be selected to present at the technical meeting and Symposium.

UNESCO would like to collaborate with the Contractor to manage this event. Terms of reference for an institutional partnership are detailed below:

Expected Procurement Components:
Under the overall authority of the Director of the Kabul Office and direct supervision of the Head of Office, within the framework of the ‘ Safeguarding of the Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley, Phase V’ (hereinafter referred as to the ‘Project’ – Budget code 536AFG4006) , the Contractor shall:
Manage all logistics and administration to facilitate the technical meeting and international Symposium: ‘The Future of the Bamiyan Buddha Statues: Technical Considerations & Potential Effects on Authenticity and Outstanding Universal Value’ to be convened in Tokyo, Japan, in 27th - 30th September 2017 and the Bamiyan Technical Working Meeting Group meeting from 1st-2nd October 2017.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall authority of the Director of the Kabul Office and direct supervision of the Head of Office, the Contractor shall:
A)  Participants
1.  Draft and issue invitations to all participants;
2.  Manage the visa process for Afghan officials;
3.  Manage flight bookings for all participants;
4.  Manage hotel bookings for all participants;
5.  Manage transport logistics for all participants, including airport collection and drop off at Narita and Haneda airport, and transport between the hotel and the venue;
6.  Manage restaurant reservations for lunch and dinner for all participants;
7.  Arrange excursion for participants on day 4 on 30 September, 2017 (transport, location, meals).
B)  Venue hire and set up
1.  Provide a suitable venue for the symposium and workshop;
2.  Install the equipment and/or facilities, including (but not limited to): tables, chairs, projector, PC, microphones, audio-visual equipment, writing paper, pens, printing of agenda and other documents as necessary for all participants, name plates;
3.  Collaborate with UNESCO to design a suitable banner. Manage the printing of the banner;
4.  Arrange all meals and associated facilities during the symposium and workshop, including morning and afternoon tea and coffee.
C)  Translation
1.  Provide simultaneous translations in the following languages only at one-day symposium on 30 September, 2017:
-  English/Japanese; Japanese/English
2.  Provide the service for the full duration of the symposium;
3.  Install the translation cabins, including the supply of a suitable number of earphones for all the participants for six days (at least 100).

D)  Proposed Participants

Provisional number of participants (total 20 people) staying four nights and five days for the Technical Meeting of Revitalisation of Bamiyan Buddha Statues:
Japan – 1, USA – 3, France – 2, UK – 2, Australia – 1, China – 1, Sweden – 1, UAE – 1, Canada – 1, Italy – 3, Bosnia – 1, Syria – 1, Germany – 1, Israel – 1;

E)  Required documents

1.  Timeframe with a detailed activity plan
2.  Budget breakdown for all the service for the full duration of the symposium and workshop;
3.  Explanation of secretariat arrangement

F)  Special Procurement Conditions and Additional Information:

In order to be considered, interested entities should submit their Expression of Interest including the following information:

• brief presentation of your enterprise including number of staff, turnover, years in business

• reference list demonstrating your qualifications for participating in this possible upcoming solicitation process

• other requirements documents listed in E) 1.2.3

• contact information (full name and address, country, telephone and fax numbers, e-mail address, website and contact person)

The Expression of Interest and accompanying documents must be received by UNESCO no later than 03 March 2017 to the email address:

UNESCO reserves the right to change or cancel the requirement at any time during the EOI and/or solicitation process. UNESCO also reserves the right to require compliance with additional conditions as and when issuing the final solicitation documents.

UNESCO Contact Information

Jonathan Rider

UNESCO Kabul, Green Village Compound, PD#9, Kabul, Afghanistan

E-mail:

Issued: October 2012 BFM/FPC