National Consultant - Engineer to design Ecotourism Facility

Background

Project Title:

Building Shoreline Resilience of Timor-Leste to Protect Local Communities and Their Livelihoods (Coastal Resilience Building Project)

Project Description:

Building shoreline Resilience of Timor-Leste to protect local communities and their livelihoods project is funded by UNDP-GEF and its main objective is to strengthen the resilience of coastal communities by the introduction of nature-based approaches to coastal protection. In addition, it supports inter and intra-ministerial coordination for collaborative development planning ensuring protection of coastal areas, as well as identify and research potential revenue streams for long term sustainability.

The project is under implementation in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries(MAF) of the Government of Timor-Leste (GoTL) and its replicas in the seven target municipalities, local authorities, communities, Ministry of Public Works, UNTL and implementing partners NGOs. It employs an integrated approach, while tailoring activities to address the specific needs, challenges and priorities of the coastal communities of Timor Leste.

The coastal population of Timor-Leste is vulnerable to the threats of sea level rise and extreme events. Approximately 40% of the population lives in the coastal areas. This is comprised of almost 560,000 people residing in coastal and lowland areas with an elevation of up to 500 meters. The coastal zone and habitats of Timor-Leste are thus subject to a high degree of human dependency and resource use.

Over the past two decades, mangroves, which serve as a natural defense to the sea, have been severely degraded leaving the country’s shoreline and coastal communities vulnerable to coastal inundation, erosion, salt water intrusion, and impacts of sea-borne natural hazards (e.g. waves, storm surges, and in extreme cases, small scale tsunamis).

The major non-climate impacts on mangroves include large-scale, land clearance and conversion for rice farming and traditional salt production, and also, their use as fuelwood, for cooking and household income. Mangroves are also illegally cut for house construction, boatbuilding, and also, for fuel wood to support traditional salt-making livelihood activities.

With high levels of food insecurity, limited cash income and limited knowledge of climate risks, the coastal protection benefits of mangroves, and broader ecosystem goods and services (EGS) benefits of mangroves, there are currently very limited incentives for coastal communities to protect and conserve mangroves.

There is limited knowledge about the win-win solutions, whereby protection of natural assets such as mangroves can effectively protect and sustain physical and economic assets against climate change induced hazards and at the same time deliver on social and economic benefits.

This project will systematically strengthen the synergistic relationship between coastal communities and mangroves ecosystems and ensure that communities have economic incentives to maintain and safeguard these protective natural systems, without compromising their livelihood options.This will be achieved through community-led adaptation interventions, that include mangrove re-afforestation, conservation and livelihood diversification options (such as ecotourism, agroforestry, fish ponds, intensive gardening, fruit trees planting, developed through integrated community-based land use models and adaptation plans. Accordingly, the proposed ecotourism facility will strengthen the livelihoods of the community and enhance awareness about the importance of protecting and conserving mangroves for social, economic and environmental benefits at large.

In line with this, UNDP would like to hire a senior Architect or Engineer to design below listed ecotourism facilities for the Timor-Leste’s largest Metinaro, Dili Mangroves ecosystem.

OBJECTIVE:

The overall objective of the consultancy assignment is to design ecotourism facility in the mangrove ecosystem of Metinaro, Dili municipality in congruence with the existing land use plan environment, tourism and forestry policies and procedure of Timor Leste. The ecotourism facility will significantly promote tourism in the country and increase income for the local community as well as enhance community-based protection and restoration of mangroves ecosystem.      

Duties and Responsibilities

SCOPE OF SERVICE:

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager/Chief technical Advisor and General Director of Forestry, Coffee and industrial Plants(MAF) and in consultation with local authorities and community, the Consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

• The consultant will perform a field inspection and site observation at the commencement of his assignment in Metinaro, Dili
• In congruence of existing above mentioned national laws, and policies develop detailed designs, architectural drawings and Bill of Quantity(BOQs) of the facilities of the ecotourism packages (bearing in mind the cost of the project) that would at least include:  
• Nature trails (walking path)
• Mangrove research and interpretation center (Visitors center) – the facility should include research center where students and researchers explore about the mangroves ecosystem as well as visitors briefing center where interpretive displays and explanation about the park/protected mangroves area and wetlands provided; a visitor convenience facility (a toilet).
• Observation hide-out (bird watching tower)
• Other structures necessary for the facility
• The consultant will prepare Quality Assurance system 

Competencies

1. EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND DELIVERABLES

The successful consultant- Engineer will perform the tasks listed under Section D and deliver the following outputs as presented in table below.

Timeline for implementation

No	Deliverables/ Outputs	Estimated Time to Complete	Target Due Dates	Review and Approvals Required
1	Field inspection and site observation and short report on understanding of the assignment and planned methodology	2 days	05 June 2018
2	Submit and present detailed designs, architectural drawings and Bill of Quantity(BOQs) of the facilities of the ecotourism	20 days	03 July 2018	Director General, Forestry, Coffee and Industrial Plants, UNDP PM/CTA
3	Incorporate comments and inputs from key stakeholders and finalize and present the design and all relevant documents	3 days	06 July 2018	Director General, Forestry, Coffee and Industrial Plants, UNDP PM/CTA
	Total days	25 Days	06 July 2018	Director General, Forestry, Coffee and Industrial Plants, UNDP PM/CTA

1. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

The consultant will report directly to the Project Manager/ Chief Technical Advisor for the Coastal Resilience Building project.  National Project Coordinator, Dili municipality Field Coordinator and Finance and Operation Officer coordinate and support throughout the duration of the assignment. The consultant will be provided office space in the Coastal Resilience Building project office (if required). The consultant will be expected to facilitate consultations and meetings with key government sector offices, officials, local community and authorities.

• The LC will work under the close guidance of the UNDP Timor Leste Country Office (CO), MAF and the UNDP-Regional Technical Advisor
• Conduct frequent communication and advisory services with project team and relevant MAF staff
• The LC will undertake her/his assignment with prior clearance by the MAF authorities and UNDP CO and direct consultation with local authorities
• The LC will maintain a dialogue with the national counterpart and project team/UNDP-CO as and when problems emerge during the assignment
• Frequent communication will be maintained through e-mail, telephone and skype correspondence with all relevant parties mentioned above for smooth accomplishment of the assignment

1. DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT:

The assignment will be completed in 25 working days and will be started on 04 June 2018.

1. DUTY STATION

The duty station of the work is Dili, with field visit/travel to project site, Metinaro.

1. LANGUAGE OF THE SPECIFIC CONTRACT AND DELIVERABLES

The language of this specific contract shall be English and all the design and related reports

1. SUBCONTRACTING

        Subcontracting under this contract is not allowed.

Required Skills and Experience

1. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE OF THE SUCCESSFUL INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTOR

        Education:

Minimum BSc Degree in Architecture, Civil or Landscape Engineering, Coastal Landscape Engineering or other very related discipline to the assignment

        Experience:

• Minimum of ten (10) years of professional level experience in architectural designing, and management
• Regional, national and local level experience and substantial knowledge of landscape architecture and engineering
• Practical work exposure to municipalities and understanding of the landscape, environment and coastal ecosystem of Timor Leste.
• Extensive practical experience in leading construction work preferability, irrigations, roads, landscape constructions
• Demonstrated strong interpersonal and motivational skills and sensitivity to the local environment as well as the ability to work with minimal supervision and proven ability to accomplish and present work with a high degree of accuracy and technical quality, in relatively short time.
• Ability to communicated effectively orally and in writing, in order to communicate complex, technical information to both technical and general audiences, including strong policy advice skills.

Language requirements:

• English language – excellent written and oral communication skills. In addition to excellent command of English, proficiency in Tetun, Bahasa Indonesia and Portuguese will be an advantage.

1. FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

The financial proposal must be expressed in the form of an “all-inclusive” lump-sum amount, supported by breakdown of costs as per template provided. The term “all inclusive” implies all cost (professional fees, travel costs, living allowances etc.) Under the lump sum approach, the contract price is fixed, regardless of changes in cost components. For duty travels, and other costs required to perform the demands of the TOR must be incorporated in the financial proposal.

Schedule of Payments

The payment will be made based on the deliverables. The selected consultant must submit design and documents as per deliverables which must be duly approved and serve as the basis for the payment of fees. The consultant will be expected to produce the following deliverables within the agreed timeline Section 3 of this TOR to be reviewed and approved as specified in the TOR.

No.	Deliverable/Output	Target Due Date	% Disbursement
1	Field inspection and site observation and short report on understanding of the assignment and planned methodology	3 days	10%
2	Submit and present detailed designs, architectural drawings and Bill of Quantity(BOQs) of the facilities of the ecotourism	20 days	50%
3	Incorporate comments and inputs from key stakeholders and finalize and present the design and all relevant documents	10 days	40%
	Total days	33 days	100%

1. RECOMMENDED PRESENTATION OF OFFER

• Letter of application with duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Statement of Availability for the entire duration of the assignment;
• Copy of sample work/design
• Personal CV and P11 Form, indicating all past relevant experience, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) and three (3) professional references;
• Brief description of methodology on how she/he will approach and complete the assignment;
• Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided by UNDP

1. CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF BEST OFFER

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis:

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

1. Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
2. Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

* Technical Criteria weighting: 70%

* Financial criteria weighting: 30%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the technical evaluation criteria would be considered for the Financial Evaluation

Technical Criteria	Maximum Obtainable Points	Weight Percentage
Education:	10	10
Minimum BSc Degree in Architecture, Civil or Landscape Engineering, Coastal Landscape Engineering or other very related discipline to the assignment	10	10%
Experience and Knowledge of the Scope of the Assignment	55	55%
Minimum of ten (10) years of professional level experience in architectural designing, and management	15	15%
Regional, national and local level experience and substantial knowledge of landscape architecture and engineering	15	15%
Practical work exposure to municipalities and understanding of the landscape, environment and coastal ecosystem of Timor Leste	10	15%
Extensive practical experience in leading construction work preferability, irrigations, roads, landscape constructions	15	10%
Language requirements:	5	5%
Excellent Written and Oral Communication Skills. In addition to excellent command of English, proficiency in Tetun and Bahasa Indonesia and Portuguese	5	5%
Total technical score	70	70%
Financial: 30%	30	30%
Final Score	100	100%

1. ANNEXES TO THE TOR
2. Approval

Prepared by: Sinkinesh Beyene, CTA

1. Annex: Sample Ecotourism Structure (please note, this is just an example, the Architect/consultant will design feasible ecotourism facilities for the selected site based on site visit and consultation with DG, Forestry, Coffee and Industrial Plants (NDFCIP, MAF), UNDP and other key responsible bodies).

1. Waking Path

1. Bird Watching Tower,

1. Research and Visitors Center