Gabinete do ministro

REPÚBLICA DEMOCRÁTICA DE TIMOR LESTE

MINISTÉRIO DAS OBRAS PUBLICAS, TRANSPORTES E COMUNICAÇÕES

GABINETE DO MINISTRO

Invitation to Submit Expression of Interest

and Curriculum Vitae Proposal

I. INTRODUCTION

1. 
   The Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste has received a Grant from the European Union administered by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) towards the cost of Road Network Upgrading Project (RNUP) – District Roads Rehabilitation and Maintenance Project. Part of the proceeds will be used for financing consulting services for the position of Avifauna Specialist / Wildlife Specialist (International) of the Project Management Unit.
   

For implementation purposes, the Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Communications (MPWTC) is the Executing Agency for the Project through the Project Management Unit (PMU).

2. 
   The MPWTC will engage the services of qualified individual consultant, directly, or through a consulting firm to perform the services, as detailed in the Terms of Reference (TOR) hereto attached as Appendix I.
   

3. 
   Provided that the individual consultant, directly, or through a consulting firm is interested in undertaking the assignments under the Project, the consultant is hereby invited to submit an Expression of Interest together with the curriculum vitae. There will be a ranking of shortlisted consultants and the first ranked will be invited for financial negotiations and ultimately a contract between Consultant and the MPWTC. It is anticipated that contract negotiation with consultant would commence around April 2017 and the assignment would commence in May/June 2017.
   

4. 
   The submission of Expression of Interest with the Curriculum Vitae shall remain valid for a period of 45 days after the submission date on 03 March 2017. During this period, the availability of the consultant’s nominated in the proposal shall be maintained.
   

The MPWTC will make its best effort to complete negotiations within this period. If the negotiation cannot be completed on the said period of time, the MPWTC may request an extension of the validity period of the proposal.

The consultant has the right to refuse to extend the validity period of the proposal.

II. CONTENTS OF THE PROPOSAL

5. 
   The curriculum vitae submitted together with the Expression of Interest will be used for the selection of the Consultant. The individual consultant should demonstrate the knowledge of his field in road projects.
   

6. 
   The MPWTC requires that the proposal shall have the signature of the consultant and if submission by an organization, the proposed Consultant(s) and the authorized representative of the organization must certify the curriculum vitae. Both the Consultant’s signature and the organization’s authorized representative, and date of signing should be provided in the curriculum vitae.
   

III. TRANSMISSION ARRANGEMENTS

7. 
   The Expression of Interest and detailed curriculum vitae should be prepared in English and should be submitted in three (3) copies each (for hard copy submission) or a copy each (for email submission) to reach the following address not later than 03 March 2017, 3:00 PM Timor Leste time;
   

Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Communications

Project Management Unit

Avenida Martires da Patria

Dili, Timor-Leste
Attention : Ms. Odete GV da Costa

Project Manager

PMU - ADB

Telephone : [phone]

Facsimile : ([phone]

Email : [e-mail]

It is recommended strongly that you send your proposal to MPWTC through Project Management Unit by personal delivery or international courier or email.

IV. EVALUATION OF CURRICULUM VITAE

7. 
   The curriculum vitae will be evaluated, prior to the invitation for financial negotiation, on the basis of the qualification of the individual consultant to be assigned. A summary of criteria to be used for evaluating the curriculum vitae is given in Appendix II. It is expected that the curriculum vitae will score a minimum of 75 percent of the total points.
   

7. 
   Following the completion of evaluation of curriculum vitae, the financial negotiation will be conducted with the Consultant.
   

V. FINANCIAL NEGOTIATION

7. 
   Financial Negotiation will be held at the PMU Office to be relayed by the person indicated in III above, following MPWTC’s invitation to attend negotiation.
   

7. 
   If nominated by consulting firm, the invited firm must as a pre-requisite for attendance at the negotiation, confirm the availability of the nominated Consultant(s). Failure to satisfy the requirement may result in the MPWTC’s decision to invite another Consultant.
   

7. 
   Representatives conducting financial negotiation on behalf of the Consultant must have written authority to negotiate financial matters and other terms and conclude a legally binding agreement.
   

7. 
   The financial negotiation will generally request the Consultant the remuneration and the details of out-of-pocket expenditure items required for the services.
   

7. 
   If contract negotiation fails for any reason, the MPWTC will invite the second highest evaluated Consultant in the shortlist.
   

VI. REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

7. 
   In the event that you may need additional information, we would try to provide such information expeditiously but any delay in providing you with such additional information will not be considered as a reason for extending the submission date of your proposal.
   

08 February 2017

Attachments:

Attachment I - Background Information & Terms of Reference

Attachment II - Evaluation Criteria

ATTACHMENT I

Terms of Reference

Ecological Studies for the Environmental Assessment

1. 
   The Project. Since 1999 the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has been the lead development agency in the road sector in Timor-Leste. The country partnership strategy (CPS) 2011-2015¹ continues ADB’s strategic directions, concentrating on infrastructure development and management. In support of the government’s national road upgrading program, ADB has approved loans since 2012 under several projects. The original Road Network Upgrading Project (RNUP) comprise upgrading of several road west of Dili servicing major centres of population providing a comprehensive program to upgrade, rehabilitate and maintain priority road sections of the road network of Timor-Leste that provide links between major cities and towns.
   
2. 
   The European Union (EU) has prepared a project for rehabilitation of a total of 43.8 km of district roads comprising road c13 Ermera – Fatubessi (11.8 km) and roads c16 and c17 Ai-Pelu - Bazartete – Tokului (32.0 km) that will complement the scope of the RNUP with additional financing from the EU that ADB will administer. The grant will expand the RNUP to include these roads with efficient implementation arrangements for project administration and works construction supervision and monitoring.
   
3. 
   District roads c13, c16 and c17 provide direct links to the heavily populated and main coffee growing areas in Timor-Leste and connect to the Dili-Liquica and Tibar-Gleno roads already rehabilitated under RNUP.
   
4. 
   Presence of endangered species. The EU due diligence (circa 2011) indicates road c16/17 traversing Foto Fatumasin protected area and important bird area (IBA).² The report notes that 70% of c16 corridor and for c17 ‘the majority part of the road, approximately 58% of the total length near Bazarete.’ is within this area. However subsequent field reconnaissance (2016) with the protected area authority in Timor-Leste (PAD in MAF) has indicated only <9km or about 28% of the 32km c16 / c17 corridor has been designated as protected area and this is under review. Recently there has been much development along the c16 and c17 link and the authority for biodiversity is reviewing the exact boundaries proposed for the Foto Fatumasin protected area. ‘
   
5. 
   The area has been reported to be habitat for the Cacatua sulphurea (yellow crested cockatoo) which is endemic to Timor-Leste and Indonesia. According to International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and BirdLife International Cacatua sulphurea is critically endangered, even though the EU report refers to it interchangeably as 'threatened' and/or 'endangered'.
   
6. 
   A number of other bird species have also been reported to populate the Foto Fatumasin protected area such as
   
7. 
   Population and habitat. The species Cacatua sulphurea has undergone a dramatic decline, which is still ongoing, particularly in the last quarter of the 20th century, such that it is now extinct on many islands in the region and close to extinction on most others. The IUCN reports that based on recent surveys within various parts of the species' range, experts have estimated the global population at fewer than 7,000 individuals with the largest proportion of the population--estimated at between 51% and 70%--being on Sulawesi and Sumba (Indonesia), another 30% to 40% of the population is thought to live on other islands of Indonesia including West Timor, and approximately 5%-10% of the population lives in Timor-Leste. The birds inhabit forest (including evergreen, moist deciduous monsoon and semi-evergreen) forest edge, scrub and agriculture up to 500 m and 800 m (sometimes 1,500 m) it is a bird of forest savanna and more open habitats and does not occur in primary forest, and while the availability of nesting trees is critical the species does not require large areas of forest. Breeding takes place from September to May.³
   
8. 
   Major threats. The population decline is almost entirely attributable to exploitation for internal and international trade. Illegal trapping continues in many areas, including in national parks and protected areas on the smaller islands where enforcement of hunting and trading regulations is low. Large-scale logging and conversion of forest to agriculture across its range has exacerbated the decline, and the use of pesticides since around the 1980s is a further threat. On some islands, low rainfall years limit productivity considerably (due to limited availability of water sources). Competition for cavity nest sites with other parrots and owls in large trees (those targeted by logging activities) leads to low productivity.
   
9. 
   Conservation status and actions. Populations occur in several protected areas. Moratoria on international trade are in place, although it is likely that a large proportion of the trade is domestic. Several cockatoo subpopulations have increased on Sumba between 1992 and 2002, due to conservation efforts (including local education, eco-tourism and law enforcement), although densities remain below those typical of other cockatoo species. Capture for trade has apparently decreased in some of the habitat areas of Indonesia due to a variety of awareness-raising activities and community protection measures.⁴
   
10. 
    Critical habitat. The SPS defines critical habitat as areas with high biodiversity value, including habitat required for the survival of critically endangered or endangered species; areas having special significance for endemic or restricted-range species; sites that are critical for the survival of migratory species; areas supporting globally significant concentrations or numbers of individuals of congregating species; areas with unique assemblages of species or that are associated with key evolutionary processes or provide key ecosystem services; and areas having biodiversity of significant social, economic, or cultural importance to local communities. Critical habitats include those areas either legally protected or officially proposed for protection, such as areas that meet the criteria of the World Conservation Union classification, the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization’s world natural heritage sites.
    
11. 
    The SPS (Appendix 1 para.28) states that no project activity will be implemented in areas of critical habitat (as defined above) unless the following requirements are met: (i) there are no measurable adverse impacts, or likelihood of such, on the critical habitat which could impair its high biodiversity value or the ability to function; (ii) the project is not anticipated to lead to a reduction in the population of any recognized endangered or critically endangered species--as defined by the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species or as defined in any national legislation--or a loss in area of the habitat concerned such that the persistence of a viable and representative host ecosystem be compromised; and (iii) any lesser impacts are mitigated in accordance with SPS para. 27.⁵
    
    
    
12. 
    TOR for the studies. The environmental assessment will include an ecological study undertaken by an experienced avifauna specialist or wildlife biologist with ornithological survey experience in order to make the determinations required. The ornithological surveyor will work in coordination with the Environmental Group of the PMU. Details of the scope of works to be undertaken are presented in Appendix A and the following broad brush terms of reference are presented below. :
    

1. 
   Undertake a baseline survey of population of yellow crested cockatoo and detail as to habitat range requirements within the Foho Fatumasin protected area viz where else they exist in Timor-Leste (where and numbers);⁶
   
2. 
   Prepare mapping of the habitat for the species overlaid with project footprint. Provide specific information of the locations of the habitat (or potential habitat) for the species within the project areas of influence, including the details on the distribution of nesting and breeding habitats, and if possible estimates should be provided on the abundance of the species within the project area. The mapping will include preliminary delineation of areas that are potentially highly sensitive, no-go areas that may need to be avoided by the project;
   
3. 
   Based on the above, provide comment on the condition and relative importance of the habitat for the endangered species within the project area, and compare these to the condition of the other remaining habitats for the species in Timor-Leste, and using secondary data compare to the condition of the other remaining habitats in Indonesia. An understanding of the relative importance of different sites is therefore important in coming to a conclusion on the presence of critical habitat. Consistent with the SPS, this will require the opinion from a qualified external expert who will peer review the assessment;
   
4. 
   Obtain expert opinion on the relative condition and importance of the project area habitat in comparison to other remaining sites for the species. The report should assess if the project will impact on the long term survival of the endangered species under two scenarios namely, with and without the project. The report will identify the impacts of the road upgrading works on the species and required mitigations. Provide an assessment of how 'realistic' are the mitigation measures proposed to alleviate biodiversity impacts on the site;
   
5. 
   Based on (i) to (iv) make an assessment to include clear explanation as to how/why the project can meet the three SPS (para. 28) requirements;
   
6. 
   Identify requirements for ongoing surveys and monitoring (avifauna monitoring and management plan) with costs. Identify the most appropriate areas for conservation action and to periodically monitor key populations;
   
7. 
   Undertake consultations with relevant government agency/ies to understand constraints on protection, identify practical ways to improve law and regulations enforcement. The report will outline measures, including possible funding mechanisms for further developing and implementing the measures, to: provide support for relevant protected areas and conservation initiatives to protect nest-trees where possible; strengthen control, law enforcement and monitoring of trade and establish greater management of captive populations; improve law enforcement in designated protected areas and other key areas for trade including ports, markets, etc; promote widespread community-based conservation initiatives including annual monitoring (linked with (vi) above);
   
8. 
   Undertake consultations with stakeholders (government agencies and CSOs) to outline requirements for program of education and awareness raising, including possibility of establishment of village managed areas and anti-poaching groups (regular patrols etc) - prepare TOR and cost estimates; and
   
9. 
   Prepare the foregoing in an ecological report which will be summarized in the environmental assessment and attached as an addendum report to the assessment.
   

Expertise required. The avifauna specialist or wildlife biologist with ornithological survey experience will have at least ten years’ experience in avifaunal impact assessment and bird survey methodologies and requirements. The specialist will be familiar with, among others, the requirements of BirdLife International and the Endangered Wildlife Trust as set out in the best practice guidelines for avian monitoring and impact mitigation.

Appendix A – Survey Details
Study, Survey & Report on District Roads C16 & C17.

(Bazartette to Tokoluli) (between Km13.5 & Km32.0).

1. 
   Overall scope and location
   

13. 
    The following shall form the Terms of Reference for a Bird / Ornithologist surveyor.
    
14. 
    Timing: The services will broadly be completed in two stages. Background (i) research and consultations resulting in a desk review report and (ii) the site surveys. Timing of the survey stages can be adjusted as agreed with the employer but if necessary to obtain seasonal data two temporally distinct surveys shall be completed in 2017 in order to establish seasonal variations (approx.. dates to be confirmed).⁷
    
15. 
    The study shall focus on indicator bird species (e.g. Cacatua sulphurea (yellow crested cockatoo) identified in the environmental assessment stage as valuable ornithological resources or other significant ornithological features contained within the project road direct area of influence near the road alignment that will be the focus of the survey.
    
16. 
    The Bird / Ornithologist surveyor shall perform the scope of work to the best of his abilities, intermittently during the contract period. The programme shall be determined on an as needed basis, mutually convenient to all parties.
    
17. 
    The Bird / Ornithologist surveyor shall work diligently to complete the scope of works in the time allowed to perform the scope of work and adjust inputs in the field accordingly.
    
18. 
    The Bird / Ornithologist surveyor shall work alongside the nominated PMU Environmental Team staff specialist to build capacity of PMU to perform bird identifications in future years and validate the exact locations and timing of the surveys and observations made.
    
19. 
    Location: The transects to be used will be decided prior to field work between the PMU and the Ecologist / Ornithologist surveyor in locations where rare species may have been identified previously that will be targeted for purposes of this survey. Other transects will be decided as mutually agreeable to the PMU and the Ecologist / Ornithologist surveyor. The transects will allow semi-quantitative identification of bird fauna in the area compared to the previous surveys available from the literature and inter-transect variation.
    
20. 
    The start, middle and end positions of transects will be recorded by GPS and by securing marker poles with flags in the ground to be easily spotted and GPS co-ordinated. The locations will be checked and presented each time the data is reported.
    

2. 
   Scope of Works - Deliverable
   

21. 
    Photograph the start mid point and finish of the transects and label with GPS coordinates Record the GPS location of the start middle and end of each transect. Record the location on the survey sheet and locate (with brief description) the start point position of the transect to view in the photograph. Make one photograph along the length of the transect so that the general location with respect to surrounding mountains can be clearly seen.
    

Figure 1: Location of Transects.

Location	Photograp
GPS Co-ordinates	Perpendicular to chainage Km xxx + xxx	West End	Middle	East End	Comment
Transect	(Approx.)
Green
Blue
Yellow
Red

22. 
    Records of species presence to be presented in the format shown in Figure 1. Survey the transect line at 100m sampling points in sequence for species presence and numbers of individuals of the species by inspection in the format shown in Figure 2.
    
    Figure 2: Sampling Points along Transects.
    

3. 
   Deliverable: Reporting - Presentation of data – Permanent Transects.
   

23. 
    The data will be presented in summary table form for each of the three sampling areas (to show presence of species (Latin names in alphabetical order) along the transects to allow easy comparison (as shown in Figure 3). Presentation format for species lists will be agreed in advance with the PMU.
    
24. 
    In addition to the table of data the ornithologist will note any rare or protected specimens within 100m of the transects for comparison.
    
    
    

Figure 3: Data presentation – Permanent Transects.

Alphabetical order or by family	Date and time
Bird names in Latin	Common name	Green	Blue		Yellow	Red	Transect	Comment
Species
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
M

4. 
   Deliverable: Presentation of data – timing to complete.
   

25. 
    Desk report and Survey data reports (after each survey stage): The results of the desk study and the survey data data will be presented with narrative and in table format (as per Figure 3) in survey data reports within 1 week of completing the desk research and surveys. The presentation at this stage will be in the required table formats and sufficient to show presence of species across the four transects for comparison.
    
26. 
    Deliverable targets:
    

1. 
   May / June survey data - presented by June;
   
2. 
   Aug / Sep survey data - presented in September (if second season is needed).
   

27. 
    The ornithologist surveyor will respond to any questions on the data as required within 6 months of completing the survey data report.
    
28. 
    Survey completion and assessment report: The data will be summarized in a draft survey completion and assessment report by second week in May/June. The draft survey completion and assessment report will assess the ornithological status of the areas surveyed as an indication of the ecological health of the area and the Ecologist Ornithologist will respond to any comments made during the surveys and studies be annotated with necessary observations on species richness and comparisons to the literature and data collected and presented during surveys conducted for the preliminary SEIS⁸ stage report. The ornithologist surveyor will respond to any questions on the report and data as required within 1 week of completing the draft survey completion and assessment report and within 6 months of completing the final survey completion and assessment report if required.
    

5. 
   Time allowed for completion of work.
   

29. 
    Time for marking out and survey: 15 man days
    
30. 
    Time for desk study and data reports and completion reports: 15 man days Total 1 man month
    

ATTACHMENT II


Evaluation Criteria

1. 
   General Qualifications - 10 points
   

1.1 Education 7 points

1.2 Training 3 points

2. 
   Technical Adequacy for the Assignment - 85 points
   

2.1 Similar Experience 55 points

2.2 Related Experience 15 points
2.3 Experience in Similar Organization 15 points

3. 
   Country Experience - 5 points
   

3.1 Regional Country Experience 3 points

3.2 Timor Leste Country Experience 2 points

1 ADB. 2011. Country Partnership Strategy: Timor-Leste 2011-2015, Manila.

2 Government of Timor-Leste and EU. 2011. Feasibility Study of Rehabilitation and Maintenance of District Roads – Final Environmental Management Plan Report. Europe Aid/130425/D/SER/TL

3 IUCN and BirdLife International. 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (www.iucnredlist.org)

4 IUCN ibid

5 Mitigation measures will be designed to achieve at least no net loss of biodiversity. They may include a combination of actions, such as post-project restoration of habitats, offset of losses through the creation or effective conservation of ecologically comparable areas that are managed for biodiversity while respecting the ongoing use of such biodiversity by Indigenous Peoples or traditional communities, and compensation to direct users of biodiversity.

6 A population of an estimated 100 birds is thought to inhabit the Nini Konis Santana National Park, a 1,236 km2 area covering six districts (Lore, Com, Bauro, Meharo, Tutala, Muapitine) in eastern Timor-Leste.

7 Subject to resources seasonal comparisons may be omitted and one survey may be undertaken

8 PMU will conduct the SEIS in parallel with the ecological/ ornithological studies.