NATURE CONSERVANCY INDIA SOLUTIONS PRIVATE LIMITED

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) FOR SCOPING STUDY FOR REGENRATIVE AGRICULTURE IN THE ARAVALLIS HILLS, INDIA

Date of Issue of RFP	27.11.2024
Last date for seeking clarifications	04.12.2024
Date of Pre-Proposal Meeting (Via VC)	11.12.2024
Last date for Submission of RFP	18.12.2024

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. Visit at www.tncindia.in to know more.

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 Nature Conservancy (TNC) is introducing a program in concurrence with the ‘Aravalli Green Wall (AGWL) Project’ as announced by the Government of India, in March 2023. AGWL is major Project to green the 5 km buffer area around the Aravalli Hill Range spread across in four states, viz., Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, and Delhi. The hill range is roughly 692 km.

The Aravalli range in Rajasthan is spread across Ajmer, Alwar, Bhilwara, Dungarpur, Jaipur, Jhunjhunu, Nagaur, Pali, Rajsamand, Sawai Madhopur, Sikar, Sirohi, Chittorgarh, Pratapgarh, Banswara, and Udaipur districts. In Haryana it is spread across Gurgaon, Faridabad, Nuh, Mahendargarh, and Rewari districts. In Gujarat it is spread across Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Mehsana and Aravalli districts. Six rivers originate through the Aravali range of hills, viz. Luni, Sabarmati, Banas, Ruparel, Sakhi and Sukri River (Raj and Sharma 2022).

Nature Conservancy India Solutions Private Limited (NCIS) is facilitating TNC in the program and therefore requesting for proposals for scoping study in the Aravallis in Rajasthan (the districts of Ajmer, Alwar, Bhilwara, Dungarpur, Jaipur, Jhunjhunu, Nagaur, Pali, Rajsamand, Sawai Madhopur, Sikar, Sirohi, Chitorgarh, Pratapgarh, Banswara, and Udaipur) and in Gujarat (mainly Banaskantha, Sabarkantha and Aravalli districts). NCIS will facilitate the AGWL project activities in India.

NEED FOR SCOPING STUDY ON REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE.

In accordance with the Government of India's priority project of Aravalli Green Wall to counteract desertification and land degradation, TNC India is creating a comprehensive landscape strategy for the Aravalli ranges, which are notable landforms that shape north-western India and are the oldest ranges in the world. The strategy will cover a wider range of interventions in several thematic areas, such as protection, better land management, freshwater restoration, agro-forestry, and natural climate solutions.

According to secondary data, the Land Use Dynamics (LUD) from 1975 to 2019 indicates a significant transformation in land usage, marked by an 86.16% rise in agricultural activities within the Aravalli ranges (Raj and Sharma, 2022). TNC India is planning to adopt a sectoral approach through its current scoping research to thoroughly investigate regenerative agricultural features of the Aravalli ranges by developing a distinct ‘Regenerative agriculture’ landscape strategy for the region.

PROPOSALS

NCIS invites proposals from project proponents for successful completion of the activities as mentioned in ‘Key Objectives’, i.e., to undertake the scoping study for ‘regenerative agriculture’ for the Aravalli Green Wall Project in India. NCIS reserves the right to postpone or cancel the bidding process for one or more clusters with no prior notice.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The project proponent is expected to put together a technical team of professionals to deliver the assignment. Below are the desirable experience, skills, and competencies of the team:

• Team members with post graduate degrees or above in relevant fields. Post graduate specialized courses / diploma in relevant subjects.
• Qualified GIS expert with relevant experience.
• Team members required to have work experience in relevant fields and of executing such a project and preparing detailed technical reports and following timelines.

The detailed RFP document will be shared on request on raju.kasambe@tnc.org

PRE-PROPOSAL QUERIES AND CLARIFICATIONS ON RFP

To clarify technical queries (excluding cost and fee) on RFP, Project proponents must submit questions via email to raju.kasambe@tnc.org, and any query relating to cost, proposal price, etc. must be submitted to jayalakshmi.nair@tnc.org by no later than 11:59pm IST, 4.12.2024 NCIS will make every effort to answer questions by 9.12.2024 before the scheduled pre-proposal meeting on 11.12.2024. Answers to all questions will be shared with all Project proponents.

SUBMISSION OF PROPOSAL

Last date for submission of proposal is 18.12.2024 by 11:59pm IST.

Technical and Financial Proposals are required in soft copy only. The subject line of the email submission should state “RFP for Aravalli Landscape” and will be shared at:

• Financial Proposal: jayalakshmi.nair@tnc.org
• Technical Proposal: raju.kasambe@tnc.org

To download the full RFP, click here

Tags Food, Agriculture and Nutrition Others