Overview : The deadline for submission of bids has been extended to Friday 07 May 2021 (16 00 pm Mauritius time). Request for Proposal - Coral Resilience and Genetic Connectivity consultancy services for the UNDP supported Adaptation Fund financed 'Restoring Marine Ecosystem Services by Rehabilitating Coral Reefs to Meet a Changing Climate Future’ project (Reference: RFPMUSCRR2021-001) Project Description The ‘Restoring Marine Ecosystem Services by Rehabilitating Coral Reefs to Meet a Changing Climate Future’ project was approved by the Adaptation Fund in October 2018 following a regional call for proposals under the themes of Food Security and Disaster Risk Reduction. The project budget of USD 10 M will benefit Mauritius and Seychelles through coral restoration activities as well as capacity building programems and knowledge exchange for the region. The project is implemented under the Direct Implementation Modality (DIM). Executing partners involved are the Mauritius Oceanography Institute (MOI) and the Albion Fisheries Research Centre (AFRC) under the aegis of the Ministry of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping in the Republic of Mauritius, the Marine Conservation Society (MCSS), Nature Seychelles, the Seychelles National Park Authority (SNPA) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment (MACCE) in the Republic of Seychelles. The project implementation started in 2020 and the duration is six years (72 months). The overall objective of the project is to reduce the impact of climate change on local communities and coral reef-dependent economic sectors in the Republic of Mauritius and the Republic of Seychelles by implementing coral reef restoration with thermal tolerant corals as adaptation to climate change. The project objective will be achieved through the following outcomes in the Republic of Mauritius and Republic of Seychelles: (i) Development of a sustainable partnership and community-based approach to reef restoration; (ii) Establishment of coral farming and nursery facilities, and (iii) Active restoration of degraded reefs. The outcomes under the regional component of the project are: (i) Improved understanding and knowledge management of using coral reef restoration as an adaptation to climate change; (ii) Sharing regionally and globally the experienced learned in sustainable coral reef restoration;and (iii) Training to build capacity for long-term sustainable coral reef restoration.
Climate change has intensified coral bleaching events and mortality in Mauritius and Seychelles over recent decades. To reduce the adverse impact of climate change on local communities and coral reef-dependent economic sectors in both countries, this project proposes the rehabilitation of coral reef using naturally thermal tolerant corals as an adaptation measure to increase climate resilience at regional and local levels.
Under this project, the service provider awarded the contract is expected to:- • Elaborate specifications of equipment required -; • Conduct capacity building to the stakeholders in Mauritius, Rodrigues and Seychelles on the use of genetics for the determination of clade diversity and genetic connectivity (if any) in selected coral species; • Provide technical assessment on clade analysis of resistant/ resilient coral species in Mauritius, Rodrigues and Seychelles, and • Provide technical assistance and guidance on the assessment of genetic connectivity amongst selected coral species in Mauritius, Rodrigues and Seychelles. Duties and Responsibilities of the service provider Phase 1: Baseline Assessment and Drawing of Specifications (Home -based) (i) The consultancy team will liaise with MOI, AFRC and Seychellois staff to identify and assess their training needs in relation to the investigation of clade diversity, coral resilience and connectivity of corals. The consultancy team will also develop a work plan for a regional training workshop for clade analysis, coral resilience and genetic connectivity of corals for stakeholders in Mauritius, Rodrigues and Seychelles. (ii) Baseline assessment on clade analysis of resistant/ resilient coral species in Mauritius, Seychelles and Rodrigues and genetic connectivity of selected coral species among Mauritius, Rodrigues and Seychelles. In this regard, the consultancy team will liaise with staff of the MOI. (iii) Elaborate the specifications for the equipment and laboratory supplies to be purchased to conduct the coral clade/resilience and genetic connectivity analyses at the MOI. (iv) Assist the Project Management Team in the evaluation exercise for the procurement of equipment and laboratory supplies as evaluation panel member, if required. (v) Conduct a needs assessment/feasibility analysis for equipment required to carry out the coral clade/resilience and genetic connectivity analyses in Seychelles.
Phase 2: Capacity Buiding and Technical Assessment (mission-based) – After two or three months to allow for the purchase of equipment. (vi) Conduct in-house capacity building and training workshop for Mauritian and Seychellois counterparts, on the use of genetics or any other novel techniques for the determination of clade diversity, coral resilience and genetic connectivity. (vii) Conduct a technical assessment on clade analysis of resistant/ resilient coral species in Mauritius, Seychelles and Rodrigues. The consultancy team will design and implement the pipeline for DNA analysis and also oversee the data processing aspects as well as analysis of the results obtained.
Phase 3: -Technical Assistance and Regional Workshop (Home-base and mission-based) (viii) Assist in the selection of coral species for culture. The consultancy team will support the formulation of appropriate sampling strategy required to meet the requirements of the project relating to the genetic analysis. (ix) Assist in the study to establish the genetic connectivity of selected coral species. (x) Establish an M&E Framework and oversee regular monitoring to demonstrate with clear evidence the impact of the project. (xi) Conduct a regional capacity building and training workshop on the use of genetics for the determination of clade diversity, coral resilience and genetic connectivity. The capacity building exercise will be held in Mauritius and will include stakeholders from Mauritius, Rodrigues, and Seychelles. (xii) The consultancy team will contribute in authoring scientific publications as well as technical reports, especially for parts or sections relating to coral genetics.
For detailed information on the outputs and deliverables, please refer to the Terms of reference. Duration of the Work The duration of the assignment will be 98 person days over 20 months, regardless of the number of team members proposed. Duty Station During field visits, the Consultants will be based at the Mauritius Oceanography Institute, Albion in Mauritius, the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment in Seychelles, and at the Commission for Environment, Forestry, Fisheries and Marine Parks under the Rodrigues Regional Assembly. Bidders should also take into consideration quarantine cost for 14 days while in Mauritius, if applicable, including cost for 2 x Covid-19 tests under the quarantine facility. It is a pre-requisite for Passengers travelling to Mauritius to show the Carriers and Mauritius Port Authority ‘proof of purchase of a travel package including accommodation, on a full board basis, at a designated hotel for a mandatory 14-day in-room quarantine’. Visit this link for more details: https://www.mymauritius.travel/articles/notice-alltravellers- mauritius.
Professional Qualifications of the Successful Contractor and its Key Personnel The selected contractor is expected to provide a team of a maximum of 4 members (including a Lead Consultant) consisting of experts in the field of coral genetics, with particular focus on genetic connectivity and zooxanthellae clade analysis. The Lead Consultant should have a Doctoral degree (PhD) in Biology/Marine Biology or any other field relevant acceptable to the recruiting body and at least three years of post-doctoral experience in the field of coral genetics. The consultants provided by the contractor would be expected to have recent publications in the field of coral genetics using advanced techniques, to be knowledgeable about the latest technologies in the field of coral genetics and should have good technical skills on the manipulation of genetics tools and equipment. They should also possess in silico skills in analysis coral genetic dataset and have excellent analytical, writing, advocacy, presentation, and communications skills. The consultants should preferably have experience in working in SIDS or tropical islands. The detailed evaluation criteria for the successful contractor and its key personnel are detailed in Pages 7 to 10 of the RFP. A consultant (including the Lead Consultant) may be proposed by the contractor in the role of more than one expert if they possess the required experience and qualifications. However, the contractor should bear in mind the expected delivery schedule. Having the same consultant as different experts will not constitute an acceptable justification for any delay in the submission of deliverables. Proposals may be submitted on or before Friday 07 May 2021 (16 00 pm Mauritius time) and via email to Procurement Unit at procurement.mu@undp.org The subject of email should be : 77045_RFP Coral Resilience and Genetic Connectivity consultancy services In the course of preparing your Proposal, it shall remain your responsibility to ensure that it reaches the address above on or before the deadline. Proposals that are received by UNDP after the deadline indicated above, for whatever reason, shall not be considered for evaluation. If you are submitting your Proposal by email, kindly ensure that they are signed and in the .pdf format, and free from any virus or corrupted files.
Please submit technical and financial proposals in two separate pdf documents. |