Terms of Reference

Consultancy for National Survey of Alternatives to

Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) in Saint Lucia

1.0 BACKGROUND

Saint Lucia acceded to the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol on 28th July 1993 and subsequently ratified the London, Copenhagen and Montreal Amendments on 24th August 1999, and the Beijing Amendment on 12th December 2001.   As a result, the country has committed to an accelerated phase-out of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) ten (10) years earlier than the initial proposed date of 2040 set by the Montreal Protocol.

Under the Montreal Protocol’s (MP) financial mechanism, the Multilateral Fund (MLF), Saint Lucia receives funding for meeting the agreed incremental costs of eliminating ozone depleting substances (ODS). Through the Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP), Saint Lucia has successfully met the ten percent (10%) reduction in HCFC consumption by 2015 as stipulated by the Protocol’s Phase-out schedule. However, the phase-out of HCFCs has lead to the adoption of alternatives such as HFCs, a prevalent and proven group of refrigerants with hundreds to thousands more times’ global warming potential (GWP) than carbon dioxide and which are considered to be short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs).

According to Decision XIX/6, countries and the MLF should promote alternatives to HCFCs that minimize impacts on the climate, taking into account GWP. Given this decision there are ongoing efforts in the Montreal Protocol community to reach an agreement to also address and phase down the production and consumption of HFCs using the Protocol’s approach and infrastructure. It is consequently critical that the choices made on HCFC alternatives are well-informed and consistent with MP decisions.

Against this background, Saint Lucia has received financial support from the MLF to undertake a survey of ODS alternatives at the national level. Successful implementation of this project is expected to contribute to a wider adoption of low-GWP, energy efficient and safe alternatives to HCFCs.  In addition, the outcomes of this project will have a significant multiplier effect towards maximizing climate benefits of HCFC phase-out in Article 5  countries, while avoiding the introduction of high-GWP alternative technologies.

In order to achieve the expected results of the project, the Sustainable Development Division of the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development is seeking to hire a consultant to conduct a survey of ODS alternatives in Saint Lucia. The survey will be undertaken collaboratively between the NOU of Saint Lucia, UNEP and the International Expert contracted by UNEP.

2.0 OBJECTIVES
The objective of this project is to conduct a detailed national survey in order to determine consumption, distribution and uses of various alternatives to ODSs in Saint Lucia and to provide future projections of growth patterns by substance and (to the extent feasible) by sector/sub-sector.

3.0 SCOPE OF WORKS

The following activities are to be undertaken in order to conduct the national survey:

i.    Data collection:

• Interact with chemical and equipment suppliers/importers and/or their local representatives, the National Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Association(NARA)  and government departments as needed to identify the ODS alternatives used in Saint Lucia and the sectors in which they are used.
• Collect import (and export as applicable) data for the substances for the  years 2012-2015
• Correlate the import data for all substances with possible end-use in various sectors
• Establish estimated ODS alternatives use by sector from 2012-2015 and forecast their growth up to 2030.

ii.    Data Assessment:

• Review the historical use data for each substances
• Review and forecast growth for each substance and for each application
• Establish growth patterns in use by substance/sector 
• Compile data on available low-GWP alternatives for various applications;
• Identify opportunities and challenges for applying low-GWP alternatives for various applications
• Estimate the potential impact of transition to low-GWP alternatives, where feasible, in terms of contributing to the country’s voluntary CO2 emission reduction targets by 2020
• Make use of the available linkage to the countries’ HPMPs
• Review national regulations and standards related to the import and use of the various alternatives to HCFCs and identify barriers to their application

iii.    Desk based data collection and analysis from institutional sources including NOU, end users, importers, distributors and associations
iv.    Site visits
v.    Conduct 2 consultative workshops. The first workshop is to initiate the survey and the second to present the findings of the survey.
vi.    Compilation of data and analysis, including comparative analysis with HCFC data
vii.    Assessment of the institutional, regulatory and policy framework controlling ODS, GHGs and other air pollutants

4.0 REPORTING

The consultant shall report to the Chief Sustainable Development and Environment Officer in the SDED or his designated representative.

5.0 DURATION
The survey should be completed within six months of signing the contract.

6.0 DELIVERABLES

1. A work plan must be prepared and submitted within two weeks after signing of contract by the Consultant
2. A report on the first stakeholder meeting must be submitted within 14 days of the meeting being held.
3. The first draft of ODS alternatives survey report must be submitted within 30 ‘m,days after signing of contract by the Consultant
4. A report on the second Stakeholder meeting must be submitted within 14 days of the meeting being held
5. The final ODS alternatives survey report must be submitted by November 1st 2016

All deliverables must be submitted in one soft and hard copy.

7.0 QUALIFICATIONS

The consultant/firm is expected to have the following qualifications.

1. Academic Qualifications: Bachelor degree in Chemical, Industrial or Mechanical Engineering or related sciences.
2. Years of Experience

• At least two years’ experience in conducting survey/similar tasks
• Good understanding of Vienna Convention and Montreal Protocol policies 
• Good understanding of national regulations and procedures relating to import/export of ODSs and ODS alternatives

3. Competencies

• Ability to analyze and apply guidance documents, tools and other resources related to environmental protocols/conventions.
• Fluent in English, written and oral. 
• Good organizational and communication skills.

8.0 REFERENCE MATERIAL
The methodology for undertaking the survey and the reporting format was agreed to by the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund under Decision UNEP/OzL.Pro/ExCom/75/77/Rev.1, which can be accessed at http://www.multilateralfund.org/75/pages/English.aspx and should be considered an integral part of these Terms of Reference.

9.0 COMMENTS BY THE CONSULTANT
The Consultant is encouraged to make comments on, and suggestions for, improvements to these Terms of Reference.