CONSULTANT: Pelagic Fishery Survey and Assessment in Fishery Management Area 572 (Code: Fishery-Data-Collection)

Konservasi Indonesia is a national foundation established to support sustainable development in the country. We are the main partner of Conservation International in Indonesia.

We envision a healthy and prosperous Indonesia where biodiversity is valued and preserved. With offices and project sites across Indonesia, we promote a sustainable landscape-seascape approach and establish partnerships with multiple stakeholders across sectors and jurisdictions to deliver lasting impacts for people and nature in Indonesia.

As we are constantly expanding, we are currently looking Consultant to fill the following Terms below:

CONSULTANT (Group/ Company)

Pelagic Fishery Survey and Assessment in Fishery Management Area 572

(Code: Fishery-Data-Collection)

Request for Proposals

Title: Pelagic data collection in WPP 572

RFP No:

Date of Issuance: 22 April 2024

1. Background

The Government of Indonesia (GoI) seeks to improve its fisheries regulatory framework to address issues of over-exploitation and Illegal, Unregulated, Unreported (IUU) in its 11 Fisheries Management Areas (FMA; WPPNRIs). To address IUU fishing, the GoI is developing a quota-based fishery management system that would transition Indonesia’s fisheries from less effective input control to catch control management³. As the second-largest seafood producer globally, sustainable fisheries management is critical to conserving Indonesian fisheries and the millions of livelihoods that depend on them.

However, to ensure sustainable fisheries management, we need to ensure long-lasting improved data collection and robust research. Further, we also need to invest in building the capacity of communities and forge meaningful partnerships with government institutions. Community-based data collection and research is an opportunity to communicate governmental data needs, build local research capacity, and empower communities to manage their own resources.

Our region of interest, WPPNRI 572, especially would highly benefit from better understanding of its fishery resources. Effective sustainable fisheries management requires both top-down policy approaches as planned by the GoI but also bottom-up, community-based activities that build enduring collaboration, understanding on monitoring needs, and community feedback on what data collection and research projects would work best in the local context.

Our approach

We aim to pursue an integrative marine conservation and fisheries management approach that closes the ecological and economic loop between ocean production and protection. When our ocean’s resources are protected and well managed, the environmental benefits  will impact livelihoods, equity, and food security. Correspondingly, sustainably managed ocean economic activities can help fund conservation activities.  Konservasi Indonesia (KI) would pilot this approach in WPPNRI 572 (west coast of Sumatra) with plans to upscale the approach across the WPPNRIs.

This integrated approach supports the GoI’s blue economy goal of marine production through sustainable fisheries management and marine biodiversity and ETP (endangered, threatened, and protected) and migratory species protection through improved marine protected areas. The Blue Halo S is aligned the GoI’s ambition to develop a sustainable blue economy as outlined in several national documents: the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) 2020-2024 and National Long-Term Development Plan (RPJPN) 2005-2025. More granular roadmap and implementation of the blue economy vision is outlined in the Blue Economy Development Framework for Indonesia’s Economic Transformation set up by the National Planning Development Agency (BAPPENAS).  Both MPA Vision 30×45 and quota-based fisheries programs have been included in the background studies as inputs of RPJMN 2024-2029 and RPJP 2025-2050 currently developed by BAPPENAS.

The projects outlined in this concept note would address data and research needs to directly fisheries management and build capacity of the local communities and academic institutions in our pilot area. This project is a bottom-up approach to complement the top-down policy from the GoI.

2. Project Overview

The objectives of this project are:

1. With Konservasi Indonesia, attend a kick-off meeting with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) and the National Committee on Fish Stock Assessment Indonesia (Komnaskajiskan / Komisi Nasional Pengkajian Sumber Daya Ikan) to inform them of the upcoming survey and data collection effort.
2. To conduct a frame survey where:
   1. The distribution of the target fishery is identified (tuna, neritic tuna/ tuna, tongkol, cakalang) in coastal waters.
   2. Total capacity / fishing effort of target fishery are quantified
   3. Major harbors and supply lines are identified
   4. Opportunistic survey of fleet distribution or supply line information on other fisheries in the same area
3. Conduct primary data collection on pelagic fishery to determine:
4. Catch composition
5. Fishing grounds
6. Calculate catch-per-unit-effort and conduct preliminary length-based stock assessment
7. Formulate recommendations for management and next steps
8. With Konservasi Indonesia, attend a wrap-up meeting with KKP and Komnaskajiskan to share results and recommendations for management.

3. Terms of Reference, Deliverables and Deliverables Schedule

Timeline

It is estimated that the Consultation will have a period from 1 May 2024 – 1 September 2025 for a series of activities to survey and collect primary catch data on pelagic fisheries in WPPNRI 572.

Location

Frame survey and data collection will be conducted in WPPNRI 572. Consultants may be based outside of WPPNRI 572, with some field personnel to be based in key field locations (i.e., high fishing activity areas) as identified by the frame survey.

Deliverables

Method

Species-specific length-based stock assessment to assess the pelagic fishery in WPPNRI  572.

Technical Direction

The main contact for contract-related inquiries is KI’s MPA-Fisheries Senior Manager and/or Oceans Program Director. Consultants will receive technical direction from experts at KI and KI Field program coordinators to ensure all tasks, results, and quality run on time. We expect the consultants to maintain an open and transparent line of communication to share updates on progress and challenges.

4. Submission Details
   2024. Proposals must be received no later than May 12, 2024. Late submissions will not be accepted. Proposals must be submitted via email to ewibisono@konservasi-id.org and grantcontractID@konservasi-id.org. All proposals are to be submitted following the guidelines listed in this RFP.
   2025. Validity of bid. 120 days from the submission deadline
   2026. Questions may be submitted to ewibisono@konservasi-id.org and grantcontractID@konservasi-id.org by the specified date and time in the timeline below. The subject of the email must contain the RFP number and title of the RFP. KI will respond in writing to submitted clarifications by the date specified in the timeline below. Responses to questions that may be of common interest to all bidders will be posted to the KI website and/or communicated via email.
   2027. At any time prior to the deadline for submission of proposals, KI may, for any reason, modify the RFP documents by amendment which will be posted to the KI website and/or communicated via email.

5. Minimum Requirements

Prospective candidates must meet the following minimum requirements:

1. An institution, organization, or team, consisting of:
   1. Team Lead (Fishery Scientist)
   2. Team Members, including field-based members
2. Team Lead should have:
   1. Knowledge and expertise in fishery data collection, fish identification, and data-poor or length-based fishery stock assessments
   2. Have a professional degree in fisheries, marine biology, environmental science or other similar fields
   3. Knowledge and experience in ethical communication with government officials and local communities
   4. Strong and organized communication skills, including report writing skills
   5. Fluent in Indonesian and English both oral and written
3. Team members should have:
   1. Knowledge and experience in fishery data collection and fish identification
   2. Have at least a bachelor’s degree in fisheries, biology, environmental science or other similar fields
   3. Knowledge and experience in ethical communication with local government official and local communities
   4. Strong and organized communication skills
   5. Fluent in Indonesian, both oral and written; understanding local dialects is a plus

Evaluation criteria:

Technical planning, including approach, methodology, work plan, and timeline (50%). Portfolio and qualifications of key personnel (25%) and proposed budget (25%). We will assess the data quality and granularity as a large component of the technical planning category.

6. Proposal Documents to Include
   1. Signed cover page on bidder’s letterhead with the bidder’s contact information.
   2. Signed Representation of Transparency, Integrity, Environmental and Social Responsibility (Attachment 1)
   3. Technical Proposal.
      1. Corporate Capabilities, Experience, Past Performance, and 3 client references. Please include descriptions of similar projects or assignments and at least three client references.
      2. Qualifications of Key Personnel. Please attach CVs that demonstrate how the team proposed meets the minimum requirements listed in section 5 (Minimum Requirements).

• Technical Approach, Methodology and Detailed Work Plan. The Technical Proposal should describe in detail how the bidder intends to carry out the requirements described in the Terms of Reference (Section 3).

1. Financial Proposal. Offerors shall use the cost proposal template (Attachment 2).

7. Evaluation Criteria In evaluating proposals, KI will seek the best value for money considering the merits of the technical and costs proposals. Proposals will be evaluated using the following criteria:

8. Proposal Timeline

9. Resulting Award KI anticipates entering into an agreement with the selected bidder by 1 June 2024. Any resulting agreement will be subject to the terms and conditions of KI’s Services Agreement. A model form of agreement can be provided upon request.

This RFP does not obligate KI to execute a contract, nor does it commit KI to pay any costs incurred in the preparation or submission of the proposals. Furthermore, KI reserves the right to reject any and all offers, if such action is considered to be in the best interest of KI. KI will, in its sole discretion, select the winning proposal and is not obligated to share individual evaluation results.

10. Confidentiality All proprietary information provided by the bidder shall be treated as confidential and will not be shared with potential or actual applicants during the solicitation process. This includes but is not limited to price quotations, cost proposals and technical proposals. KI may, but is not obliged to, post procurement awards on its public website after the solicitation process has concluded, and the contract has been awarded. KI’s evaluation results are confidential and applicant scoring will not be shared among bidders.

11. Code of Ethics All Offerors are expected to exercise the highest standards of conduct in preparing, submitting and if selected, eventually carrying out the specified work in accordance with KI’s Code of Ethics. Konservasi Indonesia’s reputation derives from our commitment to our values: Integrity, Respect, Courage, Optimism, Passion and Teamwork. KI’s Code of Ethics (the “Code”) provides guidance to KI employees, service providers, experts, interns, and volunteers in living KI’s core values, and outlines minimum standards for ethical conduct which all parties must adhere to. Any violation of the Code of Ethics, as well as concerns regarding the integrity of the procurement process and documents should be reported to KI via its Ethics Hotline at ci.ethicspoint.com.

12. Attachments:

Attachment 1: Representation of Transparency, Integrity, Environmental and Social Responsibility

Attachment 2: Cost Proposal Template