Overview

In emergency situations, UNICEF uses tents and pre-fabricated structures for schools, health clinics, and bathroom facilities. These structures have proven highly useful; however, improvements can be made, with a focus on decreasing the weight of the structures without losing any of the stability. Further improvements can be made regarding ease of assembly and options for modular extensions.

CHALLENGES TO CURRENT MODEL:

Over the years, UNICEF has received feedback from country offices calling for temporary structures that can serve a variety of purposes. The basic tent has not been able to satisfy the multiplicity of environmental, cultural, or programmatic needs in the contexts where UNICEF functions. Due to these reasons, country offices prefer solid structures versus tents. Therefore, UNICEF will hire a market research company to screen the market for innovative designs and will proceed to procure once a suitable solution has been identified. 

SPECIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:  

The range of specifications for the new structures:

1. Modular buildings and temporary structures should be proposed in a variety of sizes, with clear span widths ranging from 5 meters – 30 meters and with eave heights ranging from 2.2 meters – 3 meters.
2. The design should fully comply with regional site-specific wind and snow conditions.
3. The structures need to be rapidly assembled, be easily extended, taken down, or fully relocated.
4. Various long-lasting solutions for the roof and walls will be considered. Options for the roof include: inflatable (energy efficient) and composite steel panel roofs. Side wall options include: soft PVC, corrugated steel walling, insulated composite panel walling (40mm, 60mm, 80mm and 100mm). Additionally, windows should be equipped with mosquito netting and options for blinds.
5. Accessories should include lighting, power distribution, HV/AC, and furniture for the respective functions. These accessories should be integrated into the structure as much as possible.
6. Structures should be tempered to adapt to both cold and warm climates.
7. As power grids are often absent, the structures should include options to connect to external generators (2 and 3 phase) or should be equipped with auto-generated power supply options (solar panels, etc.).
8. The packaging for the structures should make them easily transportable, with an emphasis on light weight solutions; additionally the packaging should take into consideration sea container dimensions. Finally, the structures should have the capacity to be transported and erected without mechanical support (crane).