INVITATION TO TENDER

GEF 6 - Integrated Ecosystems Management and 

Restoration of Forests in the South East Coast Project

INVITATION

The Government of Saint Lucia, through the Department of Sustainable Development (Ministry of Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training), is inviting consultants to submit tenders to provide consultancy services to undertake the development of a spatial database system (GIS), using free and opensource software and  training in the use and maintenance of the same. 

PROJECT LOCATION

Saint Lucia, with particular focus on the South East Coast, from Mandele Point in Dennery to Laborie.

TERMS OF REFERENCE

1.0     BACKGROUND AND INFORMATION

1.1 The South East Coast (SE Coast) of Saint Lucia is considered to be the home of many rare and endemic animal and plant species. Animal species, including birds (such as the Saint Lucia Black Finch) and reptiles (like the Saint Lucia Racer), are particularly well represented in this area; in addition, there are rare and restricted range plants. Their habitat is best represented by deciduous tropical dry forests, mangroves and xeric scrublands, which are threatened throughout the Eastern Caribbean.  

1.2 The island currently boasts 12 Forest Reserves and 24 Protected Forests which cover about 15% of the land mass.  The reserves perform essential functions in safeguarding and regulating the island’s water supply, mitigating soil erosion and landslides, supporting the country’s present and future renewable fuel supplies and providing many services such as nutrient enrichment, and pollination through its wildlife species. Main threats are habitat modification and destruction. Habitat change is occurring at an alarming rate and is expected to increase in tandem with the increased projected future urban, commercial, hotel and recreational activities that are being earmarked for the coastal regions. In addition, dry forests continue to be adversely impacted in response to meeting the increasing housing stock demands as well as the infrastructure required to support the various developments.

1.3 The participatory threat analysis carried out in 2009 under the EC funded National Forest Demarcation and Bio-physical Resource Inventory Project^[1], identified habitat modification and destruction as the main threats and pressures on forest biodiversity. Habitat change is occurring at an alarming rate and is expected to increase even further in the future from ongoing degradation and loss of deciduous seasonal forests, mangroves and freshwater swamp forests due to residential, touristic or other developments^[2], invasive alien species; and, the over-exploitation of certain species.  

Results from the analysis have revealed that forests outside of the Forest Reserve system were at least four times more at risk from severe threats than forests inside the reserves: thus, highlighting the effectiveness of the reserves management.  A preliminary analysis of the carbon storage of Saint Lucia’s forests was also conducted as part of the 2009 Biodiversity Assessment of Saint Lucia’s Forests.  The analysis showed that approximately 1.8 million tonnes are stored within the Forest Reserve and 1.2 million tonnes are stored outside the Forest Reserve, with clear potential for the latter figure to increase by enabling young secondary forests to reach maturity.

1.4 The South East Coast has been documented as a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) and an Important Bird Area (IBA). Priority ecosystems of the South East Coast comprise Makoté Mangrove and Savannes Bay Mangrove, both of which are designated as Reserves, and adjoin private estates which are likely poised for development.  Immediate threats at the local level to these areas include proliferation of invasive alien species (IAS), degradation of conch habitats, dumping of refuse in mangrove areas, and sand mining. Permission in principle has been granted by the Development Control Authority (DCA) for developments which could have the potential to damage or destroy Marine Reserves, should these developments not implement measures to avoid or mitigate adverse impacts, whilst in other cases, damaging activities seem to continue without appropriate action taken by the relevant authorities.  Effective management of forest, riparian, mangrove and marine areas outside the established reserve areas is either weak or absent, and sustainable livelihoods options based on ecosystem services provided by these areas are limited.  

1.5 Many regional and national level interventions have sought to address the negative impacts of the absence of development planning framework that takes into account maintaining ecosystem health, which is often exacerbated by poor land management processes.  

Despite the aforementioned, the implementation of these often project-driven interventions remains disjointed in their ability to target the challenges specific to  poor land use planning,  with the outcome being a largely under-developed framework for land use planning and ongoing national scale land degradation, the impacts similarly manifested in the South East Coast of Saint Lucia.  

1.6 The application, expansion and long-term sustainability of these interventions within the South East Coast, have been impeded by inadequacies within the wider policy and also by institutional environments that do not adequately allow for mainstreaming of these interventions beyond the realm of “projectdriven, site-specific” actions. The fact that mechanisms for the implementation of appropriate and “fit-to-purpose” sustainable land and water management and biodiversity conservation interventions remain outside of traditional government programmes and budgets are areas of key concern in the South East Coast. Deficiencies in such mechanisms include:  

• Land Use Planning: Absence of planned, guided and managed development of all types (residential, agricultural, touristic and access) which takes ecosystems goods and services into account. 

• Safeguarding of Key areas: Lack of measures to safeguard key areas of global and national significance such as forest, coastal and marine whilst also taking into account national development needs.   

• Continuity: Lack of follow-up or financing for completed biodiversity assessment and priority setting exercises.   

• Sustainable Replacements: Lack of sustainable options to reduce pressures placed on ecosystem services and goods. 

1. The Global Environment Facility (GEF 6) under its sixth replenishment funding cycle provided funding for a project entitled ‘Integrated Ecosystems Management and Restoration of Forests of the South East Coast’, to the Government of Saint Lucia, through the project Executing Agency, the Department of Sustainable Development. This project focuses on Land use planning; Safeguarding of key areas; Continuity and Sustainable replacements. 

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the project Implementing Agency. The project aims to address these concerns in three distinct components with accompanying overarching Project Management and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system:- 

Component 1:  Ecosystem Management

Component 2: Rehabilitated Landscapes  

Component 3:  Sustainable Livelihoods

1. The project will seek to build on the baseline of institutional capacity to enable stronger planning and more consistent consideration of conservation priorities within the framework of development decisions in the project area.  Initial baseline assessments of marine and terrestrial resources are being conducted   and will assist in determining the value of species, ecosystems services and habitats. The project will also support the GIS mapping of forests land uses and biological resources in the Southeast Coast. This information will be integrated in a monitoring and informational system which was developed by the GEF supported CCCD project which is presently being implemented by the Department of Sustainable Development (DSD). 

Geospatial and non-spatial data gathered by the various consultancies on environmental goods and services in the South East Coast by Consultants, the Divisions of Forestry and Fisheries, the Ministry of Physical Development and Urban Renewal, the Ministry of Tourism, other Departments and collaborating agencies during the Project, will be uploaded using GEONODE or any other open-source data sharing platform which is being hosted by the Ministry of Physical Development and Urban Renewal so that it can be shared with all stakeholder agencies. This will also enable the government to collaborate with local stakeholders and to set realistic conservation targets and strategies that contribute to sustainable land use planning for the area, assess the impact of development projects, as well as, impacts of restoration activities undertaken under the project. 

1. Overall, the GEF intervention will build on existing legal frameworks to develop appropriate supporting regulations and guidelines which integrate environmental sensitivities, priorities and sustainable management options in forest, coastal and marine ecosystems.   Without the GEF intervention, the high biodiversity, priority forest, and marine areas of the South East Coast would continue to be degraded and imperiled by development initiatives which fail to take local, national and global environmental considerations into account.   

2.0 OBJECTIVE, PURPOSE & EXPECTED RESULTS

2.1 The overall objective of this consultancy is to undertake the development of a spatial database system (GIS) (through the use of free and opensource software), leveraging the existing facilities provided by the geoservices.govt.lc platform; and to conduct training in the use and maintenance of the same.  This database should include all geospatial data collected by Consultants under the various project components and other data collected by collaborating agencies involved in the project.  This should include (but not limited to):

(i.) Geospatial database System Development (GIS)

• Include all geospatial data collected by consultants under the various project components and other data collected by collaborating agencies involved in the project;

• Ensure that the datasets follow all standards required by the Department of Physical Planning and Urban Renewal;

• Implement facilities and processes for data collection, storage and management;

• Ensure compatibility for storage and upload on geoservices.govt.lc platform;

• Review Reports prepared by consultants to identify data from which spatial information can be generated.    

(ii.) Associated training 

To maintain data integrity and currency, persons should be equipped to:

• Conduct field data collection, data manipulation and uploading into the geospatial database;

• Manage and use the different GIS basic resources;

• Utilize the system and GIS applications to conduct searches and other analyses on resources and other information;

• Manage Layers and Maps by updating the styles and publishing them to the geospatial database;

• Load datasets into the geospatial database system.

1. The purpose of the Consultancy is to increase efficiency of spatial data access and utilization to better inform environmental planning and management of the ecosystems resources in the South East Coast and to contribute to improved land use planning within the South East Coast. 

1. The results to be achieved by the Consultants are as follows:-

 (i) Spatial Database (GIS) Developed

• Spatial database (GIS) populated with relevant datasets, including all data created under the South East Coast Project and uploaded into geoservices.govt.lc with guidance from the Department of Physical Development & Urban Renewal; 

• GIS processes and standards for data collection, manipulation, analysis, and publication are defined, implemented and documented;

• All relevant metadata collected in keeping with metadata standards e.g. (Dublin core).

(ii) Training  

• Technical staff of various Government ministries and stakeholders are able to appreciate the role and apply the use of Spatial Information (GIS) in their environmental and development projects;

• The staff and stakeholders are able to collect, manipulate, and present geo spatial data;

• The staff have basic knowledge and skills in the use of GIS, and able to apply geospatial skills in their areas of implementation;

• Stakeholders are able to identify access and retrieve relevant information from the system.

3.0 METHODOLOGY

3.1 The Consultant will work closely with the following stakeholders throughout all phases of the assignment: the staff of the Department of Physical Development and Urban Renewal, various Departments within the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Tourism, Department of Finance – Central Statistics Office, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Equity, community groups and/or organisations, the Saint Lucia National Trust and NGOs in the project area.  This would facilitate the necessary synergies from tasks/activities, including completed and ongoing, that will allow for all the formulation and preparation of all reports in this Consultancy;

3.2 The Consultant will undertake a training needs assessment in order to design, organize and provide training resources, manuals and sessions for the selected trainees;

3.3 The Consultant will collate information for the preparation, completion, validation and finalization of the Project Document and other related documents.

4.0 SCOPE OF THE WORK

4.1 The Consultant will be required to (1) leverage the existing facilities provided by the geoservices.govt.lc platform; and (2) work in conjunction with technical personnel from all relevant Government agencies, including but not limited to, the Department of Physical Development and Urban Renewal, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Finance – Central Statistics Office, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Equity and community groups and/or organisations,  the Saint Lucia National Trust, other collaborating NGOs and organisations to develop the following:-

(a) The Spatial Database System (GIS)

• Develop user requirements specification for the GIS/data management system.

• Define data and metadata standards for the project.

• Collect, collate and manage all spatial data sets for the project throughout the assignment. 

• Co-ordinate with relevant GIS/geospatial data users, authorities, organisations and consultants to determine standards, protocols and tools to be used in the production of data and digital maps and to inform capacity building and training needs.

• Digital map generation from technical studies undertaken by consultants and other agencies involved in the project. 

• Ensure that all GIS data produced meets required standards and can be shared on the Geospatial database geoservices.govt.lc.

• Supporting the integration of GIS tools in the ongoing consultancies and interventions under the project as needed.

• Completion of Final Report. The report must contain but, not be limited to the various data collection processes used, data captured, the GIS specifications used to include standards and protocols, test results and applicability, the database building process, limitations, lessons learned and recommendations for sustainability.

(b) GIS Training of Staff in the Public Sector and NGOs and Post- Secondary School students

Trainees should include: Post-Secondary students within the project region; public sector and NGO staff involved in the project and those immediately expected to continue the work after the project.

A training needs assessment must be undertaken.

Training which must include:-

• Field data collection, data manipulation and uploading into the geospatial database geoservices.govt.lc;

• Managing and using basic GIS tools relevant to project-related tasks;

• Designing of training modules for training of staff and stakeholders;

• Designing of training modules for post-secondary school students;

• Facilitating the delivery of the training modules and evaluation of training;

• Completing the Final Report on the training activities.

4.2 Specific Responsibilities

4.2.1 The Consultant will also be responsible for the following:  

1. Consolidating electronically, any documents that will serve to enhance the baseline knowledge for the project implementation;

2. Consult with staff from the Department of Physical Development and Urban Renewal the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Equity, the Saint Lucia National Trust, other NGOs and project stakeholders to finalize training activities. 

4.3 Scope of Services

The Key Activities  

4.3.1 Task 1: Meet with the Contracting Authority and prepare an Inception Report

1. Upon commencement of the project, conduct an Inception Meeting with the Contracting Authority and relevant parties to discuss and (i) review the process for conducting all activities within the project: (ii) determine roles and responsibilities; (iii) discuss the basis on which this work will be implemented; and (iv) finalize the work plan and timetable. A draft work plan and report on the outcome of the Inception Meeting will be prepared by the Consultant and submitted to the client no later than two weeks from the commencement of the consultancy;

2. Comments in response by the Contracting Authority and partners should reach the Consultant no later than ten days after receipt of the Draft Inception Report and Work Plan;

3. Submit Final Inception Report with comments included within one (1) week of receipt of comments.

4.3.2 Task 2: Prepare a Systems Specification Report

In consultation with technical officers of the Department of Physical Development and Urban Renewal, Divisions of Forestry and Fisheries, the

Department of Sustainable Development, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Equity and stakeholders from the project area, the consultant is expected to:

• List data sets to be captured.

• List intended users and their roles.

• Identify the products to be generated from the data in the system.

• Identify or develop user requirements specification for the GIS/data management system.

• Identify and develop data and metadata standards for the project.

4.3.3 Task 3: Develop an Information Management System

• Evaluate the geoservices.govt.lc platform to become familiar with its capabilities;

• Using the tools available on the geoservices.govt.lc platform, implement the necessary mechanisms for storing and disseminating the data;

• Using the tools available on the geoservices.govt.lc platform, implement the necessary web-based interfaces for dissemination of the maps and associated information;

• Populate or upload the data to geoservices.govt.lc;

• Prepare a user manual for the system developed.

4.3.4 Task 4: Generate Digital Maps from Technical Studies

• Create and publish digital maps from technical studies as directed by the National Project Coordinator, for reporting purposes, which will include inter-alia:-

• Mangrove clusters within the South East Coast;

• Sea Grass beds within the South East Coast;

• Rehabilitation work on forests on private lands;

• Rehabilitation work on forests on Crown Lands;

• Sea moss farms;

• Coral reefs within the South East Coast;

• Agro-forestry areas expanded under the project in the South East Coast;

• Any other maps that could be developed from other Consultancies.

4.3.5 Task 5: Conduct a GIS Training Programme of stakeholders

In consultation with the technical staff of Department of Physical Development and Urban Renewal, the Department of Sustainable Development, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Finance - Central Statistics Office, the Ministry of Health, the Saint Lucia National Trust, other collaborating NGO’s and other relevant stakeholders from the communities in the project area, identify the trainees for the GIS training programme and:-

1. Design and prepare the GIS training Modules to be used to conduct two training sessions for the public sector and NGO staff involved in the project and those immediately expected to continue the work after the project;

2. Design and prepare a special training module for post-secondary students within the South East Coast;

3. Facilitate the training programme;

4. Conduct post training participant evaluations.

4.4  Recommendations 

4.4.1 The Consultant/Consultant team will be expected to comment on the Terms of Reference and recommend potential refinements where necessary, including making such recommendations as deemed appropriate to enhance the quality of the assignment and outputs;

4.4.2 The selected Consultant/Consultant team will be required to advise on the final scope of works and deliverables to ensure that the consultancy meets the objectives of the project and its components

5.0     DELIVERABLES

5.1 The proposed consultancy will have the following deliverables: 

6.0       CONSULTANCY MANAGEMENT

6.1 Reporting

6.1.1 The Consultant will report to the National Project Coordinator, who will in turn provide the necessary linkages and information to the GEF 6 – Integrated Ecosystems Management and Restoration of Forests of the South East Coast –Project Steering Committee (PSC) comprising representatives of key agencies.  

6.2 Place of Work

6.2.1 The Consultant will be based in his/her personal offices but will be accommodated at the offices of the Department of Sustainable Development if necessary.   

6.3 Travel

6.3.1 The assignment will not require travel outside Saint Lucia.  However, the Consultant would be required to travel to and within the project area.  

7.0     QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

The Lead Consultant should demonstrate experience in similar assignments with at least one (1) successfully completed contract within the past five (5) years. The Consultant should have experience working in the region and on projects involving producing GIS databases or information systems for sustainable land management activities and terrestrial ecosystems.

7.1 General Qualification 

The GIS Consultant should have the following qualifications:

A Master’s Degree or equivalent in GIS or Management Information Systems with at least 5 years of experience in Geographic Information Systems

OR

A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in GIS or Management Information Systems with at least minimum 10 years of experience in Geographic Information Systems Additional qualifications:

(i)      Previous experience in GIS database development for national level programs

(ii)    Minimum 5-10 years of being involved in a similar activity or activities

(iii)  At least 3 years’ experience in undertaking training needs analysis and developing manuals and providing training in GIS for on-the-job capacity development 

(iv)  Some experience with Environmental Management issues, as well as, some knowledge of terrestrial ecosystems 

7.2 Experience and Ability

The Consultant should have the following experience and ability:

i.At least 10 years of professional GIS experience in conducting GIS project(s) involving data management, map production, and spatial analysis.

2. Good communication skills

3. Good organizational and time management skills

4. Practical experience in database-system application development and database management

5. Excellent computer skills, including full working knowledge of standard word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software packages

6. High level of proficiency with GIS applications

7. Experience in database management in GIS software

8. Experience in developing manuals for training in GIS 

9. Experience in training needs analyses

10. Experience in conducting on-the-job training in GIS 

11. Experience in working in Caribbean countries on a similar assignment

12. Experience with interaction with government agencies, private sector and community groups

13. Knowledge and experience with environmental management issues

7.3 Languages

● Excellent command of written and spoken English

8.0     TIMEFRAME FOR CONSULTANCY

8.1 The consultant will be contracted for a period of six (6) months. The consultant will not be expected to be solely engaged during the time frame for the consultancy. The consultant is also expected to liaise with the other consultants attached to the Project.

9.0     SUBMISSION

9.1 A complete proposal consisting of separate technical and financial proposals should be contained in individual sealed envelopes and should be placed inside a sealed outer envelope. The sealed outer envelope containing submissions should be marked:-

                                   CONFIDENTIAL

“Proposal - Consultancy Services for preparation of the Project Document for Integrated Ecosystems Management  and Restoration of Forests in the South East Coast of Saint Lucia –  GIS and Geospatial Database and Training Specialist”  

The envelope should NOT contain company logos or the Consultant’s name.  

9.2 The envelope containing the technical proposals should be marked:-

“TECHNICAL PROPOSAL - Consultancy Services for Integrated 

Ecosystems Management and Restoration of the Forests in the  South East Coast of Saint Lucia – GIS and Geospatial Database  and Training Specialist”  

9.3 The envelope containing the financial proposals should be marked  

“FINANCIAL PROPOSAL- Consultancy Services for Integrated 

Ecosystems Management and Restoration of Forests in the  South East Coast of Saint Lucia – GIS and Geospatial Database  and Training Specialist”  

Submissions should be made to the following address by 4.00 PM on Wednesday, October 18, 2024.

The Chairperson

Departmental Public Procurement Committee 

Department of Sustainable Development 

John Compton Highway, Castries

SAINT LUCIA

All information must be submitted in English. Five (5) hard copies of the submission must be received.

9.4 The Technical and Financial proposal can also be emailed to the Chairperson of the Departmental Public Procurement Committee at e-mail address sustainable.devt@govt.lc.

9.5 All queries should be e-mailed to Ms. Diana Joseph at e-mail address                      southeastcoastproject.sded@gmail.com. 

9.6 The deadline to submit queries is Wednesday October 2 , 2024 

All information must be submitted in English. If the Consultant chooses to submit hard copies, five (5) hard copies of the submission must be received.

9.7 Please note that for companies or firms which are selected and are being considered for the assignment, the Company’s Bye Laws, the Company’s Directors and a Certificate of Good Standing will be required to be submitted prior to the signing of a contract for the consultancy. If the documentation is not provided to the Department within 2 months of the request being made, all contact will be severed with the Consultant and the next consulting firm will be considered for the consultancy.