NATURE CONSERVANCY INDIA SOLUTIONS PRIVATE LIMITED

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) FOR DEVELOPMENT AND DEPLOYMENT OF DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR NCIS

INTRODUCTION

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a leading conservation organization working to make a positive impact around the world in 76 countries and territories. Founded in 1951, TNC’s mission is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. With our core values of integrity beyond reproach, respect for people communities and culture, and commitment to diversity we aim at environmental conservation through lasting tangible results.

TNC has been advancing projects in India since 2017 to support India’s efforts to “develop without destruction”. We work closely with the Indian government, research institutions, other NGOs, private sector organizations and local communities to develop science-based, on-the-ground, scalable solutions for some of the country’s most pressing environmental challenges.

Nature Conservancy India Solutions Private Limited (NCIS) is a Private Limited Company incorporated under The Companies Act, 2013. It is a subsidiary of The Nature Conservancy, one of the largest not-for-profit conservation organisations in the world. NCIS was incorporated with the objective of providing research, consulting, technical support, and advisory services to various stakeholders in and outside India relating to conservation of nature, environment, biodiversity, and climate change.

PURPOSE

The Aravalli Green Wall project was announced by the Government of India (MOEFCC) in March 2023 with a vision to create green corridors across the country to combat land degradation and desertification. Aravalli Range, one of the oldest geological features on the planet, runs from Northeast to Southwest spanning a length of 692 km through the states of Delhi, Haryana (6 districts), Rajasthan (17 districts) and Gujarat (5 districts). This undulating terrain stands as a wall checking the expansion of the Thar desert eastwards and is characterized by rich floral and faunal diversity. This ecologically sensitive and mineral rich area is under threat from various developmental activities. Hence, the Aravalli Green Wall Project aims to restore the ecological health of the Aravalli range and foster sustainable development and provide livelihood opportunities for the local communities through afforestation, agro-forestry and water conservation activities that would not only generate income but also provide employment, food security and social benefits.

TNC in India: Nature Conservancy India Solutions is presently implementing the Aravalli Green Wall Landscape (AGWL) Programme. Given the requirement of the AGWL project and to provide single window access to all relevant data and information on Aravalli to all stakeholders, Aravalli Green Wall Decision Support System (AGWL DSS) has a critical role to play in bringing in timely and reliable relevant data access, thereby, easing the conservation and restoration of the Aravalli.

NEED FOR AGWL DSS

The need for a AGWL DSS is to enable easy and logical decision-making processes in present day data rich ecosystem. AGWL DSS would provide the stake holder and decision makers at varying levels of the decision hierarchy, a reliable, timely and large database and tools to help organize data in a manner for decision-making pertaining to conservation and restoration of the fragile natural systems of Aravalli. As the Aravalli spans across four different States, and land is under different jurisdictions ranging from forest department, agricultural department, water resource departments of four different states AGWL DSS will play crucial role in bringing in data from four different states (under different governance) and diverse government departments under one umbrella, thereby synergizing and enhancing cross- department collaboration as well as de-centralizing decision making by offering the application over the web (as a web portal), thereby facilitating better and effective decisions towards conservation of nature and providing livelihood opportunities to the local communities.

CONTRACT TYPE AND CONTRACT SERVICES

NCIS will entertain under this, RFP Cost-Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) completion type contract(s).

PROPOSALS

NCIS solicitates proposals from project proponents for successful completion of the activities as mentioned in ‘Key Objectives’, i.e., to undertake the development and deployment of AGWLDSS. NCIS reserves the right to postpone or cancel the bidding process for one or more clusters with no prior notice.

PLACE FOR PERFORMANCE

Data emanating from project locations of NCIS and partners.

Delhi, Haryana (Gurgaon, Faridabad, Nuh, Mahendargarh, and Rewari districts) Rajasthan (Ajmer, Alwar, Bhilwara, Dungarpur, Jaipur, Jhunjhunu, Nagaur, Pali, Rajsamand, Sawai Madhopur, Sikar, Sirohi, Chittorgarh, Pratapgarh, Banswara, and Udaipur districts) and in Gujarat (Banas kantha, Sabarkantha, Mehsana and Aravalli districts). Shape file will be provided for the Aravalli Green Wall project area.

PERIOD FOR PERFORMANCE

3 Months (April to June 2025).

KEY OBJECTIVES

Considering the requirement of the AGWL project and to provide single window access to all relevant data (maps) and information on Aravalli (collected through freely available sources) to all stakeholders the current RFP is requesting proposal to develop AGWL DSS (Spatial Decision Support System) by covering the following aspects through freely available sources but not restricted to:

1. Available data sets on Land Use and Land Cover with major LULC classifications
2. Available data sets on hydrological information
3. Available meteorological and climate information
4. Available soil information
5. Available agricultural and forest cover information
6. Available information on Climate vulnerability and threats
7. Available Information on air pollution, waste disposal and other environmental hazards
8. Demographic information and settlement status by classification type

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The Consultant (the company) shall have at least 10 years of demonstrated experience dealing with similar work, especially developing Spatial Decision Support System/Tool for climate and environmental planning and policy and have technical team of professionals to deliver the assignment. Below are the desirable experience, skills, and competencies of the team:

1. Team Leader: Team leader should have minimum 10 years of experience working on environment and climate change with demonstrated experience in developing data driven spatial decision support tools. Team Leader should have in depth understanding of the web- based dashboard preparation and Team Leader should have PhD/MS in environmental / climate / data management.
2. Data & IT Expert: At least 10 years’ experience in designing, developing and implementing projects in the field of IT/establishment of data centers/Remote Sensing and GIS/ development of web GIS application/web based major GIS projects/ development and deployment of geoportals in India or abroad.
3. GIS/RS Expert: GIS/RS Expert should have experience of having completed minimum of one project involving spatial DSS development or WEB GIS application development.

The consultant (the company) should be able to demonstrate spatial DSS developed by them.

PRE-BID QUERIES AND CLARIFICATIONS ON RFP

To clarify technical queries (excluding cost and fee) on RFP, Bidders must submit questions via email to somajita.paul@tnc.org ; raju.kasambe@tnc.org  and any query relating to cost, bid price, etc. must be submitted to jayalakshmi.nair@tnc.org ; sunil.choudhary@tnc.org  by no later than 11:59pm IST, 26.03.2025. NCIS will make every effort to answer questions by 28.03.2025, before the scheduled pre-proposal meeting on 01.04.2025. Answers to all questions will be shared with all Bidders.

1. Last date for submission of proposal is 05.04.2025, by 11:59pm IST.
2. Technical and Financial Proposals are required in soft copy only. The subject line of the email submission should state “RFP for DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR NCIS “and will be shared at:

Financial Bid:  jayalakshmi.nair@tnc.org; sunil.choudhary@tnc.org

Technical Bid: somajita.paul@tnc.org; raju.kasambe@tnc.org

Financial Bid must accompany with the following documents:

 

1. Copy of incorporation documents.
2. Copy of registration certificate under income tax and GST (If applicable).
3. Copy of last three years audited financial statements with audit report.
4. Copy of last three years income tax return.        
5. Copy of last two GST returns.
6. Copy of address proof.
7. List of similar projects executed with name of client, year of execution, and value.
   
8. In case the bidder is registered with MHA, please also share FCRA Registration number and validity.
9. Total number of staff (full time, part time and volunteer)

Note: - You are requested to send all financial information in one go to avoid disqualification if any. Bids with incomplete financial and other information as requested in this RFP will be rejected summarily.

Submission of the proposal to any other individual will result in the disqualification of the proposal. Bidder can submit only one bid. Submitting multiple bids under different name will result in automatic disqualification.

To download the full RFP, click here: RFP-for-AGWL-DSS.pdf

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